University of Virginia Library

ACTUS 5.

Filena Sola.
The Scene, a Wood or Boscage.
Filena.
The poison now's arriv'd unto my heart,
The place assign'd where life and I must part;
And where I must resign my latest breath,
Then farewel life, and welcome sweetest death;
To prisoners freedom, to the weary rest,
Comfort to th'sad, and ease to the opprest:
Who'd then indure such worlds of miseries,
When life's but pain, and death no more but this!
Now, now I dye, yet Love lives in me still,
Falls.
As if what Love does wound, Death durst not kill.
Who doubt then whether thou immortal art,
(O mighty Love) could they but see my heart,
And bosom here, where thou canst never dye,
It would assert thy immortality.

Enter Pamphilus.
Pam.
Bless me!
amongst what a generation of Nymphs
am I fallen here, who are all so precise and pure,
as when they come but where men are, they take
the wind of 'um, for fear of being got with child,
as Spanish Ginnets are, and when they go away
brush themselves carefully from the dust, for fear
of a spice of fornication, ever since
they understood that man's but made of dust.
Ha! what have we here? a Nymph a sleep:
ah pretty rogue, have I caught you napping?
she sleeps as snug and soundly
as a young sucking pig,
you can scarce perceive her breath;
what a great blessing is a sleeping woman?
for they'l lie quietly yet—
methinks I shud know her.

(Enter Lydia.
Lyd.
No news of her yet? 'tis strange?
but who is here? my goblin agen?
what's that he looks so wistly at
I wonder? a Nymph asleep?
for modesties sake I'le wake her—out alas
'tis she? and dead? help, help the glory of
Our Hamlets here, the pride of all our plains,
Grace of the Nymphs, delight of, all the Swains,
Our Isles chief ornament; Filena's dead!
The gentlest Nymph as Cyprus ever bread.

(Exit.
Pam.
How, is she dead? what a beast was I then
to let her go, for I'me sure she was alive.

Enter Lydia agen with Polydor and Guards.
Pol.
A Nymph dead in our wood! it cannot be,
here are no Savage Beasts, and much less men
so barbarous and savage to kill and murther 'um—
where is she?

Lyd.
There.

Pol.
Alas, 'tis she indeed,
how came she dead, d'ye know?

Lyd.
Not I, onely in this
posture I found her, and that stranger by her there.

Pol.
Oh, I know him,
and have cause to suspect,
considering his former misdemeanors here;
that he's the likeliest man to have murther'd her,
seize on him, and let him be examined.

Pam.
So, now am I finely serv'd
for hunting after wenches, to be catcht
my self, instead of catching them, and like
to be hang'd for it, for ought I see:
well, if I be, my comfort is
I'm not the first man that wenching has brought
unto the Gallows, nor am like to be the last.

Enter Amaranthe, with the other Nymphs.
Am,
Where is she? where is she?
stand from about her there.—

Pam.
So wou'd I with all my heart,
if I cu'd get away.

Am.
She is not dead, but onely intranc't.—

Pam.
Marry and I'm but little better.

Am.
You'l see
with this cool water she'l strait revive again.

Pam.
And hot water will scarce
bring me to my self again.

Mel.
Take my tears too if water can only do't,

Lyd.
And mine,

Clo.
And mine,

Mel.
And all of ours to boot.

(Enter Palemon.
Pol.
O Palemon welcome, I sent for you
by order of Theotimus, to let you know
strange news of Bellinda.

Pal.
I fear I am but too
familiar with it already.

(they whisper.
Am.
See, she begins to stir,
And opens her eyes; I told you their fair light
Was but ecclipst and not extinguisht quite.

Pol.
Then you may let him go;

Pam.
Marry,
and I'le be gone then as fast as I can,
and flye the land too, before I'le be put in such
a fright again.

(Exit.
Fil.
Where am I? in what Region of the dead!
not in hell sure, for there
are far more horrid visions then are here;
nor yet in heaven, for there agen
are far more glorious ones; where am I then?

An.
She thinks she's dead still.

Fil.
Ha, Palemon here! nay then I see
Love takes delight still in tormenting me,
And there's some middle place 'twixt Heaven and Hell,
Where wretched Lovers, such as I, do dwell;
Where sh'ud I go to flye the sight of men,
And where to flye Loves fires and arrows, when
Where e're I go, just like the wounded Dear,
I flye in vain, that which I carry here.

(Exit.
Am.
Go follow her,
and look carefully unto her,
Her wandring minde you'l see will come anon
unto its self, when her amazement's gone.

Pal.
Whate're it be, methinks there's somewhat here
Whispers remorse, and chides me (as it were)
For my unkindness, and stern cruelty
Unto this Nymph, who thus wo'd dye for me;
But as loud windes won't let us hear the soft
And gentle voice of others; so the thought
Of dying for Bellinda, will not let
Me hear its voice nor hearken to it yet.

Enter Diophantes.
Dio.
O noble youth! whose famous memory
Shall never be forgot, or ever be
remembred without praise.

Pal.
What news brings Diophantes,
he's so transported with it?

Dio.
Thât, which had I a thousand tongues to tell,
Or you a thousand ears to hear, wou'd well
Deserve them all.—Soon as 'twas rumored,
Bellinda must dye for having falsified
The sacred Oath: but this stranger instantly
Offered himself with such alacrity
to dye for her; as Love
ne're gain'd so glorious a victory, nor
ever so triumpht over death before.

Pal.
Oh me! if this be so, I shall become
th'derision and the scorn of every one;
and was his offer accepted?

Dio.
That you know
by th'Laws here co'd not be refus'd him.

Pal.
How!
Ha's he prevented me? but do I stand
Senseless and stupid, as I were dead here,—and
Had not a life to lose as well as he?
No generous stranger whosoe're thou be,
Since thou wert born my Rival, thou shalt prove
I'le rival thee in Death as well as Love.

(Exit.
Pol.
I fear the event of this!

Am.
And so do I;
But wherefore is Bellinda doom'd to dye?

Pol.
For perjury and falshood, whilst she swore,
She lov'd one here, being betroath'd before
unto that stranger there.

Am.
All thât may be
Without forswearing yet and perjury;
For what if he she swore she lov'd be he
she was betroath'd unto?

Pol.
That cannot be,
For she was in the sacred Cell 'tis clear,
Long time before he e're arrived here;
In Sequestration, separated from
Society of all, mean time her tongue
Charm'd silent, and eyes blinded as they were,
How co'd she see or know that he was here?

Dio.
Are you convinced yet?

Am.
No, not alwayes they
Convinced are, who know not what to say;
For my part until farther proof shall shew
Her guilty, I shall ne're believe her so:
For just as Images in Tapestry
Do all appear distorted and awry,
Until they're fully explicate, and then
We see they appear all right and streight agen;
So shê we now think guilty, we may finde
Innocent perhaps, when she explains her minde.

Pol.
Pray heaven she may! mean time let us go see
This stranger, who shall ever honour'd be
Alive and dead; and be all Lovers boast,
and honour to Love's Kingdom.

Am.
And that most
deservedly, for never any yet
For truly loving did more honour get;
Nor ever any whilst the world lasts, or
There's Lovers in the world shall e're get more.

Exeunt.
Enter Theotimus, Chorus of Musicians, Philander led to Sacrifice crown'd Victim-wise, Youths and Virgins with baskets of flowers strewing the way, &c. Evander.
The.

Chorus
sings.
Thus shall he ever honour'd be,
Who dyes for Love and Constancy;
And thus be ever prais'd, who dyes
Love's Martyr, and his Sacrifice.

The.

Chorus
sings.
Thus shall he ever honour'd be,
Who dyes for Love and Constancy;
And thus be ever prais'd, who dyes
Love's Martyr, and his Sacrifice.

Enter Palemon, Diophantes, Polydor, Amaranthe, &c. following.
Pal.
Justice, Justice, Sir.

The.
For what? or against whom?

Pal.
Against that stranger there,
who'd rob me of the honour and happiness
of dying for Bellinda.

Phi.
He's more unjust then I,
who 'as rob'd me of the honour and happiness
of living for her, and now won't let me dye.

Pal.
As if no rocks nor seas, nor flames there were
Nor other wayes of dying, but for her?
Chuse any of them you please, your choice is free,
Onely dying for her belongs to me.

Phi.
You may live for her, what wo'd you more? were I
So happy as you, who's list for me shu'd dye.

Pal.
You talk as if there were no life to come,
No blessed Shades nor no Elizium;
Where those who have been Lovers here possess
Eternity of joyes and happiness.

Phi.
Heaven is my witness I ne're think upon
The joyes and pleasures of Elizium,
Nor any joyes or pleasures whatsoe're
But that of dying and suffering for her.

Ev.
How like two towering Hawks they mount and soar,
Love never flew so high a flight before!

Dio.
There'l be no end of this.

Pol.
Peace, let them alone,
Greater example of Love was never shown!

The.
Then let Bellinda come, and sentence give
Whether of them shu'd dye, and whether live;
Are you content?

Pal.
I am.

Phi.
And so am I
ready for her either to live or dye.

The.

The Song, sung whilst the Nymphs put on their mourning Veils.
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Never was there greater woe,
Let us all the habits borrow,
And the face of grief and sorrow;
Who'd not spare a sigh nor tear
From all mishaps to spend it here!

Enter Bellinda veil'd, brought in by Polydor, the Popa, or sacred Executioner before her, all the Nymphs weeping, &c.
Ev.
Wherefore this ceremony, since she's not to dye?

Di.
Onely for terrour and formality.

Th.
Come,—thus I unveil thy eyes, that thou mayest see
Unto what misery and calamity
T'hast brought thy self and us, and thus uncharm
Thy tongue, the fatal cause of all this harm.

Bel.
What means these sable weeds and mourning chear?
Whilst not a face but wears death's Livery here!

Th.
'Tis all for thee, (unhappy Nymph) put on,
That thou shud'st dye so untimely, and so young.

Bel.
I understand you not, nor can I fear
Death, whilst my dearest life, Philander's here.

Pal.
How's this?

(She goes to embrace Philander, and he turns away
Ev.
This is more strange then t'other!

Bel.
Ha!
Philander prove unkinde! nay, then away
With the fatal Axe and Executioner,
And all these deadly preparations here,
They need not now; one unkinde look or two
Of his, can kill me sooner then they can do.

The.
It is thy falshood and perfidity,
(Unfortunate Nymph) that kills thee, and not he;
Whilst falsly and perfidiously you swore,
You lov'd one here, being betroath'd before
unto another.

Bel.
How! I ne're did swear,
That I lov'd any but Philander here!

Pal.
Oh killing declaration!

The.
That cant't be.
For as for him, all Cyprus knows that he
Arriv'd not here, till after you were inclos'd
Ith' facred Cell, and separated from
All conversation; ith' mean time your tongue
Charm'd silent, and Eyes blinded as they were,
How could you see or know that he was here?

Bel.
Love is a fire, and there needs no eye,
But onely heat to tell when fire is nigh;
And Lovers by their glowing bosoms know
When those are near they love: but lest this now
Might seem too mystical, to make't more clear,
As in the Temple I came forth to swear,
I heard his voice, and swounding instantly
For joy to hear it, whilst officiously
They lifted up my Veil to give me air,
I glanc'd my eyes aside, and saw him there,

The.
Can any thing be more clear?

Pol.
Or any more
Deceiv'd in judgement, then we were before?

Am.
Did I not tell you she was innocent, I?

Bel.
Yet can you doubt my faith and constancy?

Phi.
No, but I doubt whet'r yet I wake or dream,
My extasie and joy is so extream.

(They embrace.
Ev.
See how they stand so ravisht with delight,
And so transported each in t'others sight,
'T can scarcely be conceiv'd by humane breast,
Much less by humane tongue can be exprest.

Th.
Disturb them not,—& now a word with you
Palemon.

Fi.
Now Love grant my hopes be true.

Bel.
Co'd you be jealous of me?

Phi.
Dearest know,
I shu'd not love so dearly as I do,
Were I not jealous; for jealousie
'S but scorching of Loves fire, and he shu'd be
But a cold Lover, who sometimes at least
Felt not a little of it in his breast.

The.
Come, come, I here command you to restore
That heart unto her, you took from her before;
For all the Isle knows 'twas Filena, who
Enkindled the first sparks of Love in you;
Till (haplesly for both) Bellinda came,
And after rais'd those sparks unto a flame,
And holy Vestals ne're with greater care
Preserve their fires, then we Loves fire's air,
Enkindling one straight in anothers room.

Pal.
In tepid hearths fires kindle not so soon.

The.
Call not that tepid, where late such a fire
Did burn, ne're any in Cyprus flamed higher.

Pal.
But Loves fires once extinguisht, leave hearts more
Tepid, and cold then e're they were before.

The.
Come, don't dispute, for I'm to be obey'd,
And now but look upon this gentle maid,
And tell me truly, did you ever see
A fairer, or a sweeter Nymph then she!
One for whose love there's not a gentle Swain
In all the Land, but sighs, and sighs in vain;
And she to love you, and to love you so,
She willingly would dye for love of you:
What cleansing water, or what purging flame
Can expiate your not loving her again?

Fi.
Fall all the fault on this devoted head,
Rather then blame him for't, wou'd I were dead;
'Tis my unworthiness, and no fault of his,
He does not love, if any fault there is.

The.
Yet (obstinate as you are) are you not mov'd
To love again where y'are so dearly lov'd?

Pal.
These vaults and walls built for eternity,
Love's Temple shall be sooner mov'd then I:

The.
Nay then 'tis needful we apply I see
Our utmost and extreamest remedy,
Lest the contagion o'th' example shu'd
Nourish bad humors, and corrupt the good:)
Let him to th'desart Island straight be led
Whither all Loves Rebels are banished.

Pal.
Unto what place so e're I am confin'd,
I may change place, but cannot change my mind:
But stay! what sudden earthquakes this I feel,
Makes the walls totter, and foundations reel
o'th' Temple here!

The.
'Tis well, 'tis a good sign,
Love who moves stones will move that heart of thine,
More hard then they—and see O wondrous sight!
The Temples fill'd with unaccustom'd light;
And love with flaming brand amidst it flyes,
Illuminating with it all the skies:
Now (rebel as thou art) thou soon shalt know
Whether Love's God have any power or no.

Pal.
Just as some gentle gale does fan the fire,
There's somewhat here within that does inspire
My breast, and now't increases more and more,
Till that which onely was a spark before
Does by degrees so mighty a flame become,
As I am all but one incendium!
O Love, to whom all bosoms must submit,
I feel thy mighty hand, and reverence it!

The.

Chorus
sings.
So gentle Love does all command
In fire and water, air and land,
And all with his commands inspire
In Land and water, aire and fire.

Pal.
And can you pardon me?

Fi.
I can pardon any thing
in my Palemon, but onely his doubting
whether I can or no. And for the rest,
Account my self by Love most highly blest,
(Who payes debts best the longer he forbears)
T'have all my morning sighs and evening tears,
My daily griefs and nightly sorrows past,
Rewarded thus abundantly at last.

Pal.
My dear Filena.

They embrace.
Fi.
My dearest, dearest Palemon.

The.
Enough, enough, leave your embraces till
At fitter season you may take your fill
Of such delicious pleasures and contents,
Such sweet delights, such joyes and ravishments,
No heart can e're conceive, no tongue express
The thousandth part of their deliciousness.—
(To Phi. and Bel.
Now see and wonder, these are Lovers too,
This is the least of miracles Love can do.

Phi.
Noble Palemon, I congratulate
Your and the fair Filena's happy fate:

Pal.
And I, noble Philander, rejoyce no less
At your and fair Bellinda's happiness.

The.
Never was more abundant joy, and now
To th'paradice of happy Lovers go,
Where with redoubled flames Love's God does prove
Whose hearts are most capacious of love:
And then with all becoming rites and state,
When once your marriages are celebrate;
Philander you, and fair Bellinda may
At your best pleasure either go or stay.

(Exeunt:
Manet Evander, to whom Pamphilus enters:
Pam.
And what shall we do?

Evan.
I for my part, since
there's so much joy and happiness
in marriage, resolve first to go home
and dispose of all I have, and after come
and marry here.

Pam.
Promise you so won't I,
if there be no wenches
nor wenching businesses here,
it is no place for me; wherefore my word is,
Come here no more.

Ev.
And mine is, Come agen.

Pam.
I'm sure I shall have the greatest part
of my opinion.

Ev.
And I all the nobler and the better—
And now let's see which number is the greater.