 | The Enchanted Lovers |  |
53
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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