University of Virginia Library

Scene V.

Mon.
You then desire, gentle Sheepherd,
(To Clarimond)
Henceforth to dwell with us, in these faire Plaines?
Your change of Habit makes me so presume.

Clar.
I'm come for cure of my consuming flames.

Angel.
Sheepherd, I then perceive you are in love.

Clar.
Ah—'tis too true, I languish night and day;
But say (I pray) before I tell my story,
Doe I not talk with the Nymph Angelica?

Angel.
Yes, if on her depends your Remedy,
She's ready here to give you all assistance.

Clar.
Great Drudge! fam'd for thy mirac'lous art,
I here attend thy Oracles effects!
Love make thee now propitious to my fires!—

Angel.
What charming object forc'd from you that sigh?

Clar.
Alas! that I dare not presume to tell you

Angel.
Sheepherd, you may, nor feare to hurt,
All here partake already of your griefe.

Clar.
I adore her in Idea though unknown.

Ly.
Not know her?

Clar.
Heare the story of my life;
My name is Philiris, in Arcadia born.

Ly.
That Country alwaies fruitfull was in Sheepherds;
But to heare't better, let us all sit round,
It is the Pastorall Order.

Angel.
Take your place.—
Here's green Turf.—

(They all sit down, Lysis lying at Charita's feet.)
Ly.
Oh my dear Sun—for Heaven's sake,
Mod'rate thy Rayes, or thou wilt quite consume me.

Angel.
Come now (Sir) all are silent, you may speak.

Clar.
Know them great Nymph, and you faire sheepherdesse,
You gentle Sheepherds—such are my misfortunes—
In that blest Climate where I first took birth,
Pan is less fear'd than is the God of Love:
For that no Hearts, no Sheepherds are so great,
Whom that fierce Tyran doth not make his Slave:
(And would to the just Heavens that I could do but
Whether his yoak be easie to be born)
But yet admire by what strange prodigie
My freedome's subject to his cruell lawes;
Sitting one day beneath a shady Elme,
Free from all care, although I kept my Flock,
Surpriz'd with sleep, congested beames of light,
Depriv'd my senses of their wonted vigour,
And then discover'd to my blinded eyes,
A precious treasure of unheard-of charms:
A Sheepherdess, in whom the Graces seem'd
To chuse their places, as if there enthron'd
A lovely Arrogance, a noble State
Seem'd sweetness there to joyn with Majesty.
Nere did the Gods in a more noble frame,
Set forth the Image of their Deitie:
Oh—Nymph—I saw her, judge then how I lov'd her,
How with those sudden flames my heart was fir'd;
And what strength the surprizall of my sense
Could leave me, to resist her charms assaults!
But sad Catastrophe! when day was ended,
I found my Error so, but not my Love.
My soule possest of so great rarities,
When I awak'd still kept their strong Idea,
But so confus'dly, that I never could
Retrive the Object, where those Beauties shin'd,
Yet still I lov'd that imperfect Idea.
Here did my freedom finde its overthrow,
And from that instant I am so in love,
That I have no esteem for other objects.
Thus forc'd to love, and without hope of comfort,
I am constrain'd to burn, and yet be silent.
But though this sad constraint augments my pain,
I must detect the secrets of my heart:
A famous Drudge, that when he is private,
Seemes daily to interpret Destiny:
Was th'Oracle Divine, that by these words,
First gave my wav'ring spirit some repose.
(He riseth, and as it were suddenly surprized with a new light, continues his addresse to Charita.)
But Gods! What see I now? What rayes of light,
That in an instant thus unfeele mine eyes?
Oh Sheepherdess, 'tis you that thus have charm'd me,
Your wonderfull Idea 'twas thus inflam'd me:
You are the lovely object of my sighs,
You who—.

Ly.
Soft, Sheepherd, you are pleas'd to say so,
Goe to Arcadia there to act your Trances:
Charita is my Mistris.

Clar.
And mine too.

Char.
This heat is very quick.

Clar.
Yet 'tis extream.—

Ly.
Pitty thy selfe, for Heaven's sake honest Sheepherd,
If I'm thy Rivall, what hope's left for thee?

Cla.
Some promise to themselves more than they get.

Ly.
My flame as the more ancient shall prevaile.

Clar.
That which I feel is full as great as thine:
Tis more than three yeares since my heart was wounded.

Angel.
Gods how this wonder does amaze my thoughts!
What sayes Lucida?

Lucid.
The Sheepherd does deserve
For all these services Charita's love,
And to possesse her heart.

Ly.
What you plead for him?
Ah—Nymph, I die, at least am very near it—

Clar.
To lose no time in frivolous disputes,
Let's see what deeds will answer all these words,
My passion prompts me to a glorious project;
Charita is the object of our Loves,
And both of us sigh equally for her;
And since the cause of our dispute's so faire,
Let Combat here decide it in her sight,
And shew which of us doth deserve her best,
She shall be judge.

Ly.
Agreed, it shall be so.
Renounce her for a few dry bangs o'th' Crook?

—aside.
Char.
You will be Conqueror.

(To Lys.)
Ly.
I do not doubt it,
If thy faire eye stand second to mine arm:
Pan give the victory to my boundlesse love,
And I will hang his Crook between thy Horns!
Sheepherd prepare thy self—
(As he puts himselfe into a posture to fight with his Crooke; Clar. drawes out a Sword hid within his Crook.)
But what means this.
A sword? Art mad thus to defend thy self?

Clar.
T'enjoy Charita you must take my life:
Think of death onely.

Ly,
I have no such thought.
I'm a Sheepherd of Honour, and no Murtherer:
Besides, though I were nere so stout in fight,
What can my Sheepherd arm against a sword?

Ans.
Courage brave Sheepherd, I will make 'em equal,
(Taking likewise a Sword out of his Crook presents it Lys.)
Too happy to oblige the best of Lovers.

Ly.
Oh Villain Sheepherds with their iron tooles!

(aside.
Ansel.
Here take this sword.

Ly.
Not I.

Mon.
Desperate Lysis,
Refuse a Combate for Charita's sake!
Why all the world must know this cowardize!

Ly.
And why? I've heart enough to serve my turn:
But—

Mon.
But what?

Ly.
What need ye press me farther?
Ile not infringe our customes for a world.

Ansel.
What custome is't you mean?

Ly.
Where can you shew me,
That ever any Sheepherds fought with Swords?

Mon.
Yes, once Filander for Diana fought.

Ly.
True, to secure her from prophane assaults;
But yet he fought with Slings, and to his cost.

Angel.
W'ave said too muh t'excite this Sheepherds valour;
His want of love appeares to faire Charita,
For his refusall gives her up, and quits her.
Brave stranger, come the victory is yours.

Clar.
How much that sweet Decree makes me your Debter.

Angel.
And thou ingrateful Sheepherd that dost fear
To shed one drop of thy ignoble blood,
And durst not hazard for thy Love that little
Was wanting, to orecome and to possesse her:
Go, it's apparent now thou wert a Traitour;
Dare not to come hereafter in our sight.
Sheepherds let's go.

Ly.
Ah cruell hearted Nymph!
Than Myrmidon, or Dollope more fell.

Char.
Farewell sad Sheepherd.

Ly.
Ah what dost thou say?

Char.
The sentence being past we must subscribe.

Ly.
Dost thou forsake me then?

Char.
I'm in despaire;
Yet may the Gods permit us meet again:
In th'mean time die not, but live still assur'd,
Thou nere shalt see thy Rivall in thy place.

Ly.
Flatter my woes at least by sighing for me.

Char.
I grieve for both of us—but no more sighs;—
My heart is so lockt up I cannot do it.

Ly.
Oh of all faire Ones the most unrelenting!

Char.
Perhaps you suffer least in this our parting:
Farewell—Pan comfort and dwell ever with thee.

Ex.