University of Virginia Library

ACTUS III.

SCENA I.

MELISSA, DIANA.
Melissa.
I say to thee again that I receive
Much pleasute at this news, that thou, Diana,
Art sister to the generous Thersander;
He hath inform'd me with the strange misfortune
Which separated on the churlish Sea
The Brother from the Sister, in what place
Upon a plank, escaped from the wrack,
The storm remov'd him from the anger of
Th'inraged Sea, what countries he hath seen,
What pains and troubles he hath undergone;
Lastly he nam'd the happy fortune which
Conducted him to us here; I thank Heaven,
That made thee know him, I'm as sensible
Of this content as thou canst be thy self;
He is so highly qualified, that he's worthy
The name of King, ye both shal find with me
A Sanctuary, and what ever fortune
Ye have, I will partake it good or bad;
My fortunes, ye shall share too, so that all things
Between us shall be common: I believe
Diana towards me will be so well
Dispos'd of her part, and that whatsoever
Concerns me, will touch her.

Diana.
Madam, I should
Be barbarously ingratefull otherwise;
I still remember that being on the Shore,
Cast as a wretched wrack there by the floods,
Expecting every minute deaths approach,
I met with you my port and sanctuary:
Oh that I have not power for all this goodness
T'express how much acknowledgement I have!

MELISSA.
Thou hast.

DIANA.
How Madam?

MELISSA.
In expecting nothing
But death as I do now, thou canst be to me
At thy turn both my port and sanctuary;
Thou canst subdue the enemy that braves me,
That of a Soveraign will make a slave;
He's in thy power, thou canst abate his courage.

Diana.
What is that enemy which troubles you?

Melissa.
He's one whose Magick can enchant the arms
Of the most Valiant; he can draw tears from
The most Heroick; nothing is so strong,
Which he can't compass; and without respect
To any place or person whatsoever,
He equally distributeth his flames.

Diana.
I know him not yet by this Character.

MELISSA.
How know'st thou not that tyrant of great Monarcks?
That famous Conqueror of Conquerours,
Who notwithstanding is but a blind child?

Diana.
If J durst to express me, J believe,
I know him.

MELISSA.
Speak it freely.

Diana.
I'm mistaken,
Or I have seen love painted in such colours,
Blind and a child, yet a great Conquerour.

MELISSA.
'Tis the same love whereof I speak unto thee

DIANA.
Who is the happy Lover that procures
Your martyrdome?

MELISSA.
Alas! could'st thou not spare me
The shame to speak him? cover, gentle night,
Immediately those places and my brow
With the same colour, so to please my heat;
I love; but let us finish since I've said
I love, Thersander is my object.

Diana.
What,
My Brother?

MELISSA.
He. If his heart be a prize
Not easie to be gain'd, there's nothing which
I would spare for him, I would arm to have him;
Nought should oppose me, every obstacle
J would o'rcome; already by some words
Which he observ'd not, spoken by the bie,
My love was half expressed.

Diana.
As he should not
Dare to pretend unto so great an honour,
He would be criminal, if he believed
To understand you.

MELISSA.
Well then, be thou here
The mouth and true interpreter of my heart,
Express the kind heat of my timerous soul;
Tell him that I'm a subject to his Laws,
That he may boldly fix his thoughts upon
The person of Melissa, and not fear
To be condemn'd, that his ambition
May soar so high a pitch, and not be check'd,
That he may sigh the same sighs with a King;
Husband thar heart for me, to which mine aims;
But let him not think that it comes from me;
My honour would receive a prejudice
By such a thought, thou only shalt acquaint him
With this, as from thy self.

Diana.
J understand you,
He must needs yield to this; I'l do your will.

MELISSA.
As soon as he appears, I will retire me,
And from one of these places I shall hear
Every word that you speak one to another
In reference to my flame.

Diana.
I should methinks
Act with more freeness, if J were to treat
With him alone.

MELISSA.
No, J will hear my self
What he thinks of me, J can best of all
Trust mine own ears and eyes in this affair.

Diana.
But, Madam, after all—

MELISSA.
Shepheardess,
The thing's resolv'd, thou need'st not say no more.
Untill he come, J pray thee, entertain
These woods here with some air, and let us see
If the Eccho will answer to thy discourse;

Diana.
Your prayer is a command; some plaints of love
Shall make the subject of it.

MELISSA.
DIANAS Song.
Eccho.
Eccho.

SCENA II.

THERSANDER, MELISSA, DIANA.
THERSANDER.
Diana 's here about, her voice assures me.

Melissa
to Diana
softly
Thy Brother comes here, take this opportunity.
Be sure thou speak unto him loud enough;
Thou art my only hope; I go from hence
To hear, and to observe thee.

Diana.
softly.
We are undone,
Thersander will discover all in speaking.

THERSANDER.
'Tis now no longer time to utter sighs,
Let us resume our joy, and dry our tears,
Crown our sad spirits with flowers, and think no more of
Our pass'd misfortunes, let's form our discourse
Of the most pleasant thoughts, and let us chat
Of love.

Diana.
Let me alone, I'l entertain thee
Upon that subject.

THEERSANDER.
It belongs to me
To speak of that, and when I do consider
With what darts in my heart—

Diana.
I know it well
'Tis of a longer date then from to day,
That I have read thy heart; and I believe
That never any one hath seen a Brother
To love his sister so.

THERSANDER.
The love wherewith
I am assaulted, and would make thee see,
Exceeds that of a brother, it begets,
Complaints and Sighs, it driveth to despair,
And kills; the love we bear unto a Sistet,
Makes not so many sufferings; but J love—

DIANA.
J divine whom, thon burnest with desire
To speak unto me here of Celiaes love.

THERSANDER.
Thou do'st divine right, J take a great pleasure
To speak of it with thee; methinks I see her
Still when J look on thee; how fit I find thee
To be the faithfull guardian of my love,
Assur'd of thy fidelity, and that
Thy heart is alwaies mine.

Diana.
Thou need'st not doubt it.

THERSANDER.
O my dear!

Diana.
Brother I'm not ignorant
How dear I am unto thee.

THIMANTES.
Thy fair eyes—

Diana.
How! flatter and court thy sister
By thy discourse?

THERSANDER.
I cannot speak, unto thee
Thou interrupt'st me still.

Diana.
Th'advice is worth it, and I'l give thee notice
That from esteem they pass to love for thee,
That scarce arrivedst thou unto this place
But thy good fortune without any trouble
Gain'd thee the conquest of a heart, for which
Great Kings will envie thee, it is Melissa's.

THERSANDER.
O Gods! what dost thou say?

Diana.
What doth astonish thee,
I see how thou art troubled to believe it.
This great heart finds no place yet in thy faith:
To make thee happy in't, I must imbrace thee.
She speaks softly to him, in imbracing him.
The Nymph hears our discourse, 'tis fit thou feign.
She speaks loud again.
Wilt thou not yield to this excess of honour?
Think that thy Celia in this conjuncture,
Hath no resentment in her heart, against thee,
Nor murmurs at it.

THERSANDER.
In this extasie
Wherein I am through this excess of honour,
I'm seeking of my self, but cannot find me.
How! dare to love the Nymph? t' aspire to her?
No my ambition's not so criminal.

DIANA.
Under those high respects, J see thy love.

THERSANDER.
How can I otherwise express it, Sister?
If the Nymph tempts me, and will make a crime on't,
It shall then have the name but of a lawfull
Respect; and if I see occasion
T'express me further on this point, this lawfull
Respect shall bear the bolder name of love.

Diana.
Brother, it hath that name, and J am ready
To boast unto her, her illustrious conquest:
But the Sun, J perceive, plungeth himself
I' th' waters, and the shadows seise the tops
O' th' Mountains, it is time now to betake me
Unto Melissa; but behold, she comes.

Melissa comes forth from the place where she was hidden.
MELISSA.
What serious discourse have you together?

Diana.
Our subjects is of Love, of Mistresses,
Of Servants, and of Sighs.

MELISSA.
What! hath Thersander
Already gotten him a Mistress?

THERSANDER.
Madam,
I have too little merit and address:
Besides to serve, to honour and obey you,
I have no other thought; our discourse was,
Your goodness for us, which my heart shall ever
Record as in a Register of Brass,
Where my acknowledgements shall never pass.

SCENA III.

MELINTUS, MELISSA, DIANA, THERSANDER.
MELINTVS.
calling.
Ho, Clidamant!

MELISSA.
It is enough, let's go,
I hear some noise, and would not be seen here
I'rh' night.—

Exeunt Melissa, Diana, Thersander.
MELINTUS,
continuing to call.
Ismenia, Clidamant! they hear,
But flie me, and the night robs my sight of them;
But this is not Ismenia, and I am
Deceived much, if I saw not the gate,
The stature, and the gesture of Diana;
Yes, Clidamant abus'd me with a lie,
Diana builds his fortune at my cost,
And that note which he would conceal from me
Without doubt was subscrib'd with her fair hand;
Yes, 'twas Dianaes, though he read Ismenia,
To spare my grief a little, and my trouble.
How simple was J that J followed
Not close upon his steps: but soft, methinks,
J hear a noise, perhaps it may be he.

SCENA IV.

CLIDAMANT, MELINTUS.
CLIDAMANT.
O night, lend me thy silence, make these woods
To hold their peace in th' absence of the day,
And let no sound be heard here but my love:
At last I'm happily delivered from
A troublesome companion, that would
Obstruct my fortune, that fame jealous Shepheard
Without respect and faith.

Melintus.
I'm much oblig'd
Unto thee for this noble character
Thou giv'st me; in despight of all my care
And cunning thou art come without my company
To see thy lovely Mistress.

Clidamant.
I came here
To meet another person: for my Mistress,
I have already spoken with her fully.

Melintus.
Yes, if mine eyes deceiv'd me not, thou talkd'st
Unto Diana, and seeing me follow,
Ye both fled at one time, these Woods conceal'd you.

Clidamant.
Good Gods! what saiest thou to me?

Melintus.
But I'l be
More wise another her time, and heed you better.

CLIDAMANT.
I understand not what this language means,
But this distrust doth me an injury:
Why covet'st thou t'accompany me thus,
Since th'object that expecteth me, forbids it;
Desirest thou to publish secret passions?
Ismenia in thy sight gave me those Tables;
'Tis she that doth expect me at the place
Appointed; for Diana, she knows nothing
Of this invention: if thou canst, injoy
That lovely Shepheardess and think not me
Guilty of any treason, I seek only
Ismenia, and shun society:
In this affair, Shepheard retire thy self
And leave my love in peace, why wouldst thou do me
So ill an office?

Melintus.
This appointed meeting
Denotes some artifice; I observ'd lately
At our last Games the amorous commerce
That pass'd between Diana and thy self,
So many kind respects, such gentle glances,
And private whisperings forming the suspicion
That still awakes me.

CLIDAMANT.
Cease to trouble me,
And thy self too unnecessarily;
Our discourse only was an effect of
Civility; I say again, I leave
Diana to thee; oh how perfectly
I hate those vain suspicions and condemn them!

Melintus.
Ismenia's very free she would have had
Boldness enough to express her love by day,
Why should she make choice of the night to speak it?
Why dar'd she not to utter it in words,
But writ it to thee?

Clidamant.
In vain jealous Shepheard,
Thou askest me that question, all that I
Can say unto thee, is that I am sent for;
I cannot tell thee more if the occasion
Be good or bad; if J could satisfie thee
Upon that point, believ't thou should'st excuse me.

Melintus.
I'l follow thee where ere thou goest.

CLIDAMANT.
Oh Gods!
What a Tormentor have I?

Melintus.
I attend thee.

Clidamant.
Then stay thou here, I'l leave the place unto thee.
I feign to withdraw, to withdraw him also.

softly.
Exit.
Melintus.
What! leav'st thou me alone? and cunningly
Hid'st me those secrets, which yet I must know:
Feign as much as thou wilt, in spight of thee
I will find out to which of those two objects
Thou giv'st thy faith, and dost direct they vows,
I'l be a witness of thy secret love;
Another's shall inform me on't, Thimantes
Will tell me all the Plot; to him I'l go,
And give him notice of the assignation;
He'l come to let me know sure, if Diana
Appeareth there; or if it be Ismenia,
J shall do him a mischief; when Thimantes
Shall see his Mistress appoint secret meetings
To others then himself at such an hour,
He hath a poor spirit if he loves her still:
So shall I have pleasure in my resentment
In weakning the fierceness of Ismenia,
And of her servant, I'l to him immediately.

SCENA V.

PARTHENIA, ISMENIA.
Parthenia
, upon the terrass.
I hear a noise, Ismenia, is't not Clidamant?

ISMENIA.
Fear not, we shall hear of him presently.

PARTHENIA.
J hear no more noise, all is husht and still;
Only the night, and silence raigneth here.

ISMENIA.
Hark, J hear something, let us handsomly
Dissemble now.

PARTHENIA.
Oh how I feel my soul
Seised with love and fear!

SCENA VI.

CLIDAMANT, ISMENIA, PARTHENIA.
CLIDAMANT.
No person follows me,
J am at liberty; jealous Melintus
Haunteth my steps no more.

ISMENIA.
Madam, 'tis he.

CLIDAMANT,
Well I'l go on ro instruct me what Ismenia
Hath to impart unto me in these Gardens:
Ismenia!

ISMENIA.
Clidamant.

CLIDAMANT.
Is it thee, Ismenia?

ISMENIA.
Yes, I expect thee.

CLIDAMANT.
Thou may'st have pretence
T'accuse my tardy comming, but a jealous—

ISMENIA.
It is enough, thou art belov'd, assure thee;
Draw neer; but let us speak soft, I'm afraid
We should be heard.—
Put yourself in my place and take this opportunity.

softly.

SCENA VII.

THIMANTES, CLIDAMANT, PARTHENIA, ISMENIA.
THIMANTES.
Speaking to Melintus behind the Stage.
I am oblig'd to thee for this advertisement;
If J find at the Eccho either of them,
Diana or Ismenia, believe me,
I'l faithfully report it, to remove
Thy trouble, if J can: Ismenia
Appoints me very often here to meet her,
Where, notwithstanding her inconstancy,
Her mouth in secret giveth me the hope
Of a most constant love, and for a pledge
Of her faith, never any but my self
At those hours entertains discourse with her:
I'l to her now, and charge her with this crime
Of comming here without acquainting me.
I'l approach softly without making noise
Lest it might raise a scandal in the night;
Ismenia,

CLIDAMANT.
quitting Parth.
Some noise hath struck mine ear,
I'l return to you—

Exit.
PARTHENIA.
O what feat is comparable
To mine! Ismenia, come to me presently.

Clidamant
, speaking to Thimantes, whom he takes for Melintus.
Melintus, really I can no longer
Suffer your importunity? why should you
Imagine that J am the Author of
Your trouble? J speak to no person here
But to the Shepheardess Ismenia;
J tell thee once again, she sent for me,
And J am certain that the note is written
And signed with her hand; 'tis true, this fair one
Sighs only for the love of me, her mouth
Hath told it me already, and I answer
Unto her fires with a mutual heat;
Assure your self, and settle upon this
My faithfull protestation, that Diana
Ne'r made me sigh.

THIMANTES.
softly.
O most perfidious!

Clidamant.
See what an injury you do me now,
To satisfie you yet more fully hold,
There are the writing Tables, see her name.
Examin't well, and take repose at last
Without disturbing mine. D'ye place your glory
In persecuting me?

THIMANTES.
softly.
Shame of my love,
Depart my memory, J have wherewith
Both to reproach, and to convict thy falshood;
And when I've done it, treacherous spirit, I'l quit thee,
And then J shall be satisfied.

Clidamant.
Melintus,
What is't thou, murmur'st yet? J must break with thee,
If this strange humour lasts, in acting thus,
You will lose all your friends, your jealous head,
And strange fantastick humours, but he's gone;
I will return unto the object which
Both charms and loves me.

PARTHENIA
, to ISMENIA.
There's our discourse,
Make an end on't thy self.

Clidamant.
I'm rid at last
Of my impertinent; jealous Melintus
Hath left me now.

Ismenia.
Adieu, let us retire.
I'm certainly inform'd that thy ambition
Aspireth to Parthenia, in vain then
Thou holdest me discourse.

CLIDAMANT.
In two words J will tell thee, that J have
Too full a knowledge of the eminence
Of her condition, as to dare to lift
My hope so high: Oh if I durst to love her;
But being less ambitious, I obey
My duty, and J better know my self,
Adieu until to morrow.

PARTHENIA
, to ISMENIA.
Oh Ismenia!
What content have J? and how skilfull art thou
In this affair of love? I do admire
Thy wit, and thy invention; the thing
Answered my wish.

Ismenia.
By this discourse of his
You may perceive love under that respect,
Like fire under its ashes; 'tis not lately,
Your charms have taken him.

PARTHENIA.
In the mean time—

ISMENIA.
In the mean time, live all fair wits, say J;
Without me, you had been reduc'd unto
A sad condition, to die with grief,
And love, without expressing it.

PARTHENIA.
'Tis late;
Come, in the absence of the day let's prove,
If sleep will follow on the steps of love.