University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Philostrates, Polydor, Euphanes, Love's Mysti, Chorus of old, young, and middle age, &c.
Pol.
And what dispatch to the Provincial governours,
Touching Platonique Love?

Philo.
Tell 'um we're men, pure spirits, and had no other end
But only the propagating Ideas this communicating
Of minds to minds might passe, which now has
So slippery a way to go:
It's outre tendance most commonly falls fowl
O'th'Body in its passage towards the Soul,
Yet in those colder climats have Phlegm enough
To quench their amorous flames, 'tmay be allow'd,
But no ways to those hotter Nations,
Whose sulphurous Spirits presently take fire
At presence of their Mistresses; Nor Is't but with
Much caution to be permitted to different Sexes,
Unlesse of age more different: for distinction
Is the Art of Wisdom, and who imagins
One measure for all Bodies may suffice,
And one rule for all minds, are equally unwise.

Pol.
The sacred Philostrates speaks divinest truth.

Phi.
So 'mongst these Chymerical speculations,
Like the Alchymists great Elixar, rarely
Or never are reducible to Art,
And practice, it may pass—An other abuse
They much complain of (and deservedly)
Is the confounding Love with Liking, and
Calling of every trivial passion Love;
Each Peasant now who likes but a dairy Maid,
Crying out, He is in Love, profaning so
The Divinity of Love, by making him companion
Of every vulgar breast.

Pol.
As every School-boy too
Once past the School, and School-boys toys, next toy
He gets, is a Mistress, whom he straightways courts
I'th' canting language of Enamourists,
Of darts and flames, and dying and languishing,
Which he calls Love forsooth, so many degrees
Remov'd from't, tis scarce the coverture
Love is infolded in, (a dutious heart,
Obsequious services, and sincere respects.)

Phi.

Enter Chorus and Euphanes.
Mysti.
Now our doctrine to begin,
From Love's diviner origin;
Know two different Loves there are
In hearts, incessantly do warr,
Th'on a lustfull brutish one,
Tother Venus Urania's Son,
With his Celestial darts and fires
In chast hearts kindling pure desires,
Distance 'twixt whom as much there is,
As 'twixt high Heaven, and deep Abyss;
As by th'effects you'll easily find,
Since th'one imbrutes and soils a mind,
Whilst th'others purity ne'r can
Admit of blemish, spot, nor stain.
As unconsistent too as night
And darknesse is with cleerest light,
“For i'th' same place, on the same day,
“The Swine and Ermin never lay.
In a word then for to tell
What virtuous Love is, mark me well,
'tis a just temper of our Souls,
All vitious extreams controuls,
'tis the gust we have and sense
Of every noble Excellence,
It is that whereby we know
Whether our Souls have sense or know,
It is the main spring that our minds
To fair and virtuous things inclines,
And 't's that and only that in fine,
Which makes men next unto Divine

Eup.
I better can tell you what it is—
'tis a mixture and compound of all
We happy and unhappy call,
'tis a contradiction again
A bitter sweetnesse and a pleasant pain;
In one word what Love is to tell,
Look in Bellinda's Eyes it is a Heaven,
Look in Euphanes Heart it is a Hell.

Exit
Phil.

Exit Chorus singing.
Phil.
Now to the rest
Of our affairs: Is the Nymph summon'd to
The Temple yet?

Pol.
'Tis yet not time.

Phil.
When 'tis,
Be it your care to see it done, and all
The rites and ceremonies in prepare
For the great solemnity:
This day peculiarly Love is thine
Work miracles on't, and shew thy self divine.

Exeunt