University of Virginia Library

Scene 3.

Leonice.
What I have often heard, now true I see;
The Wise are to themselves their Destiny.
The favourable Gods do still assist
Those that untir'd with Industry persist:
How long them unrelenting I assail'd
With Tears, Vows, Prayers, and yet herein fail'd
Of what my Subtilty hath brought to pass.
My Joy is doubled, I the Author was,
Who secretly, and in the dead of Night
This Desart did invade; what could affright
Being arm'd with Love, and my Tyrsis to find,
Whose Plaints became my Guides; till then ne'er kind,
Unseen at Distance following to his Cave,
VVhich when securest sleep had made his Grave,
I enter'd, him with fain'd Voice to awake,
Reciting oft Tyrsis, Tyrsis, then spake
These hollow Accents, I the shadow am
Of her thou vainly lovest, and now came
But to conjure thee to yield up my Right
To Leonice; cease unto her thy Spight:
Heav'n wils it so, and Cleon it commands,
VVho shall delight in your united Bands.
VVhen strait he it confirming with a Grone,
I vanished, and left him there alone;
But lest he should believe it but Conceit
VVrought on his Fancy, again my Deceit
Attempts a second Proof: But see th'effect,
VVhich in my Search his wandring steps direct;
Yet what with Craft I sought, with Craft Ile shun,
She retires on one side, Tyrsis enters.
Lest I should mar what is so well begun.

Tyrsis.
Thou blessed Shadow, whom I yet adore,
Why do'st thou thus command me to restore
Thy Right unto Another? can it be
That thou art tyr'd with Importunity
Of Love? or do'st my Sighs and Tears disdain,
As too mean Offrings, empty, fruitless, vaine?
Alas! though these effects oft fail, and die,
The cause endureth to Eternity:
My love which now an unknown Trial proves,
Since to destroy it self thy Will it moves,
Tempt yet the same to possibility,
Inflict some yet unheard of Cruelty:
(If any yet is left, I did not trie)
And I shall count it Guilt thee to deny:
VVhich now is such, thee even to obey,
Since thou command'st my Love, my Love betray.
Who shall dispense those holy Vows did tie
Our sympathising Souls in Harmony?
Ev'n she whose Power only did them frame,
Her Power only must dissolve the same.
If but t'unloose my Love she did intend,
Why since hers could not, seeks she not my End?
Perhaps, when Souls cast off this Earth, delight
T'in infinite objects their loves to unite:
No Jealousie can touch their pure Essence,
Which only but the Object is of Sense:
All all possess in so equal degree,
Ev'n 'twixt themselves Distinction cannot be.
Why then defer I her to satisfie?
He discovers Leonice.
Propitious Heav'n! see that Divinity,
VVho my Commander was, is now my Guide.
She seems to flie, he takes hold on her and kneels.
Leonice! ev'n she that did us divide,
Is now become the means us to unite.
If for my Punishment your exchang'd Spite,
Then mine more just, have not o'rethrown your Love.

Leonice.
VVhat Miracle is this? you Gods above
Mock not our Frailty; if this Tyrsis be,
What I of him sought, why seeks he now of me?
Or is it but his shadow you have tane,
T'increase my Sorrow, and reproach my Shame?

Tyrsis.
'Tis that Tyrsis, who for Cleons Respect,
Did long so much thy injur'd Love neglect;
But be'ing by her discharged from my vow,
No other Object can my Love allow
Then thy fair self; let no Reproach reveal
He kisses her hand.
My Shame; on this true Penitence I seale.

Leonice.
This doth confirm that you are truly he;
But your intention yet I cannot see.

Tyrsis.
Ever to be yours, if my former Hate
My true Love and Remorse may expiate.

Leonice.
How shall either be known?

Tyrsis.
Heav'n's holy Bands
Shall both confirm, joyning both Hearts and Hands.