University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

The Scene, Loves Temple, many passing toward it: afterwards
Philander Solus.
Phi.
Hail happy land, where if th'Oracle prove
But true, Philander agen shall find his Love,
Whom six Moons now have just been in their wain,
And six with light replenished again,
Since in a storm I lost, whilst I detain'd,
A wofull Captive have e'r since remaind;
Until at last releast, I suddenly
Addrest me to th'sacred Oracle, to know
Whether my dear Bellinda liv'd, or no,
And consequently to know, whe'r I
Should either live or dye;
When this answer I receiv'd,
That as on Cyprian Seas I lost her, where
Venus, Loves Queen, floating did first appear,
So I should find her on Cyprian Land again,
Where Venus fix'd perpetually does remain.

SCENE II.

Euphanes, Philander.
Eup.
Impatient of expectancy, I'm come
Hither to the Temple, to await my doom,
Fear of which made me absent my self before,
Untill in lieu of one fear, a thousand more
Soliciting my breast, I did conclude,
Still more in absence, than presence, sollicitude
Does urge our bosoms, as Terrors do more affright
I'th' dark, than in the light.

Philan.
Strange! th'houses should be all so desolate,
As some Plague had swept'um, and th'land depopulat,
As th'Enemy had mow'd it with his sword!
But see one here to inform my wonder,
And curiosity. Gentle Sir,
Might a stranger newly ariv'd here, desire to know,
Why all do flock unto the Temple so?
Is't any annual feast (perhaps) they celebrat?

Eup.
No Sir, but one
Meer Accident has produc'd to day,
For understanding which, be pleas'd to know,
That by this Ilands Laws all Strangers, after
A six-months residence, are solemnly
To swear they love some one here, or else
Abjure the Isle:—
Now Sir, six months to day are just expir'd,
Since there ariv'd here one o'th' most admir'd
Nymphs, as ever in Cypres yet was known,
And most deserving Admiration,
By tempest cast on shore here, surprizing so th'while
With her excellent beauty th'Inhabitants of this Isle,
With pious error they all adored her
As a second Venus, a second time
Ascending from the Sea. Nor was this Idolatry
By Venus punished as any crime at all,
Since Cupid's self did on th'like error fall,
Imagining her his Mother, she was so fair,
And so at all parts most resembling her.

Philan.
The Time and every Circumstance agree
[aside.]
It should be she,—and her Name I pray Sir?

Eup.
Bellinda—

Phila.
Her name too, then
No farther evidence nor circumstance do's need,
For to confirm me it is shee indeed—
[aside]
And where's this Nymph Sir now?

Eup.
I'th sacred Cell
Straight to be produc'd to take the solelmn Oath.

Phi.
And i'st suppos'd she'll take it?

Eup.
That's doubtfull yet, but this I know,
That lesse she do, you behold in me here Sir
The wofullest Lover as ever yet for love
Sighing and groaning gaspt out his latest breath,
The Dreggs of life, and Harbingers of death.

Phi.
Ha! I like not this—
And has she given you no hope Sir of her love?
For love without hope's but a dry morsell, and goes
But hardly down.

Eup.
Only this Sir, that if any one she loves
Sh'as promis'd it should be me.

Phi.
Nay then you have enough, for Nature gives not
Youth and beauty, but o'th' condition
Of loving, and their sex gives pledges unto love
Reciprocally again—But why goe I vainly thus
Hunting with mine own curiosity,
Mine own disquiet—I've ta'n in poyson already at
Mine Ear,
And feel it working—defend me Reason from
Thine Enemy Rage, and thou defend me Love
From thy more deadly Enemy Iealousie,
Thou bring'st forth just as the Viper does its brood,
When all its endeavour after all its strife,
Is to give death to thee who gav'st it life—
But see in happy time variety
Of other objects to divert my mind
From farther thought of it.

SCENE III.

Chorus, Pamphilus, &c. to them
Mysti.

Cho.
sings.
O fly then far,
Glances that are
But sparkles of a wanton fire,
And pledges of a loose desire,
Fly rowling eyes that but betray
A heart that rowls as well as they:

Pam.
Here's Doctrine' with a murren, able to infect all
The young Wenches in the Parish.

[aside]
Mysti.

Chorus
sings.
O fly then far
Kisses, that are
Incentives of foul Lust, which no
Virgins lips shou'd ever know;
Whose lips once with kissing us'd,
Are but just like Cherries bruz'd.

Pam.
Heyday! no kissing neither?
God help the poor Country wenches then,
For all their sport is marr'd.

Mysti.

Chorus
sings.
O fly then far
Touches, that are
Things, Youth and Beauty chiefly blasts,
And on them foulest blemish casts,
Which once fading in their hew,
Youth and Beauty then Adieu.

Pam.
Pity a their breeding! these wenches will be quite spoyl'd
With this Education, and good for nothing, but
To make Inckle and bone-lace.

Mysti.

Chorus
sings.
O fly then far
Your men that are
Only born for to destroy you,
Since if once they but enjoy you,
Whatsoe'r they did before,
They never care for Women more.

Pam.
Were not Love's Inquisition here so severe,
I could teach 'um other doctrine, whose Liberty
Would please 'um a great deal better; but well,
Wou'd I had my Moppet agen,
At all adventures, for that's the likelyest thing
To a Wench I'm like to get here, for ought I see,
If they be taught a-this manner.

Eup.
By Philostrates return
They should be coming; oh how my heart does burn,
And throb now, with doubtful expectation
Of the event!

SCENE IV.

Philostrates, Polydor, Bellinda, Philena, to them, &c.
Philos.
So now produce her.

Pol.
Behold great Sir she's here.

Bellinda veiled lead by Philena, & presented by Polydor
Phila.
If there be any Sympathy
In Lovers hearts, 'tis she.

Philos.
Draw nigh then Nymph, and laying your hands
Upon this sacred Volume here,
Where on the skins of Doves and Swans
Love's 'holy Laws recorded are,
Swear; But swear truly, on penalty of no lesse
Than forfeiture of life if you transgresse:
Unveil her there.

Phila.
They unveil her and she suddenly casts her eyes aside towards the place where Euphanes and Philander stand.
Ha, 'tis she! ye Gods 'tis she,
But Oh my jealousie, tell me some one
Skilfull in decyphering Love's Character,
Whether that glance the superscription of
An amorous heart was directed to him or me.

Eup.
What ails this stranger!

Pol.
What means these sudden starts of hers.
And change of colour.

Philo.
Veil her presently again, since she so ill
Governs her eys, th'are straying still—
They veil her again.
Fie Nymph be more Religious-wise
And restrain those wandring eys,
Who in objects takes delight,
Brings distraction with the sight,
In their breasts do never find
A holy recollected mind—
Now approach her nearer.

Eup.
Now I shall know my destiny,
And whether I'm to live or die.

Phila.
Now Philander thou shalt know
Whether she be true or no.

Phile.
Now Philena thou shalt soon
Proove her faith, and know thy doom,

Philos.
(waves his wand
Proceed and swear then, thus I uncharm thy Tongue.

Bel.
Then by Love's sacred Deity I swear,
I love one here.

Philos.
with the waving of his wand he charms her silent again.
Enough.

Eup.
O blest voice which heavenly minds applaud
With their celestial wings;
Oh me most happy!

Philan.
And most unhappy I.

Pol.
Did I not tel you it was impossible
But she shou'd Love. O day ever to be
Recorded in the Calendar of Love,
For holy and festival; Which never may
Oblivion, that like a torrent rouls
All things along with't to the Lethean Lake,
Abolish the happy memory of.

Phile.
Oh the Dissembler, how she as deceiv'd me!

Philost.

Chorus
sings.
[as she goes out.]
Prais'd be Love, that does command
In Fire, Water, Air, and Land,
And so gently does inspire
All in Land, Air, Water, Fire.

Manent Philena, Pamphilus, Flamette.
Pam.
I should laugh now, if I were he she lov'd,
As who knows but she may be enamoured
Of my person, as I of hers, there's nothing impossible.

Phile.
Well, for her sake I'll ne'r trust Stranger more.

Pam.
Fair Nymph, I should desire
The honour of conducting you to your lodging, If
't might not be troublesom.

Fla.
Troublesom? who doubts it? why
Th'art nothing else but trouble.

Phile.
Fie Flamette, this is discourteous,
And to a stranger too!

Pam.
She tels you true,—pray be gone,
And don't trouble us,—you see there are some will accept
Of my Courtesie now, though you won't

he leads Philena out
Fla.
Neither wou'd she, did she know thee as well as I,
But let her go, when th'ast abus'd her curtesy,
As thou dost others, to molestation, she'll know thee better.
But this sudden turn of Bellinda's affection
Is wondrous strange!

SCENE V.

Euphanes, Philander, Polydor, severally.
Phila.
Bellinda false! O ye Gods where then
Are Faith and Vowes and Oaths; nay where are you
Your selves; for I shall doubt whe'r Love
Have any Divinity now at all, and think
All's but Idolatry, and women that y'ar Angels
Till we make you Devils by our adoring ye.

Eup.
There's no joy like your unexpected one
't comes so striking—not falling upon
The expectation first, that deads and dulls
The blow. This intermixing difficulty
With Love, and leading you unto the very brink
Of despair, and then hoysting you up again,
There is the Art on't, and that she
Grand Artifex of it as she is
Full well did understand.

Philan.
The more I think on't, the more
It puzzles my belief and imagination, I will
Suspend my faith and patience then until
Her farther Declaration may confirm me,
And give my passions their full carier.

Eup.
Heavens I am so over-joy'd,
So ravished with't, and in so high transport,
Me thinks like Metors I even walk in Air,
And have nought of Earth about me, nor other fear
But only presently to expire and die
In Bellinda's sweet embraces.

Phila.
Nay then
Were my patience bound in Adamantine chains
I'd break 'um all—know Sir you have
Another Victory to obtain before
You triumph thus—and perhaps too the Fates
Have provided you another death to die
Than what you fear so much.

Eup.
[Enter Polydor]
What's that I pray?

Phila.
Why, to die by Philanders hand, for know Sir Bellinda
's my espous'd.

Eup.
Yours?

Phila.
Yes mine, for all your scorn Sir,
And be assur'd, long as I live, that man
Is not alive shall injoy her besides my self.

Pol.
How's this? but this
Must be prevented

[Exit hastily
Phil.
Wherefore or quit and relinquish your claim of her,
Or follow me strait to the shore, where she first
Set foot a land, that so that ground she then did tread
May receive one of us dead,
Who cann't be enjoy'd by both of us alive.

Eup.
Although bold stranger I might well decline
Thy challenge, not knowing whe'r thy quality
Be equal unto mine, and assured
Our conditions are not (by thine own confession)
I being as happy in Bellinda's love
As thou unhappy, which makes thee desperate of
Thy life perhaps: yet know I'll be so noble
For Bellinda's sake to kill thee this once my self,
Who else might leave
Thee to a hundred more ignoble deaths:
Nor is this Arrogance in me, but Confidence
That those who have honour of Bellinda's love
Cann't but come off victorious in fight.

Philan.
Elated by good Fortune, you talk high Sir,
Pray Heaven you do so,—but Love
Shall straight determine who has the better cause,
Th'injust possessor of Bellinda, or
Th'injuriously depriv'd of her, If thou dar'st but fight
In so unjust a Quarrel.

Eup.
Ha, ha, ha, if I dare? for that never fear,
I'll but instantly arm my self, and meet thee there.

SCENE VI.

Polydor with Guards, Euphanes, Philander.
Pol.
Stay,—
By order from Philostrates I'm to
Secure your persons.

Phil.
Mine?

[offers to draw.]
Pol.
Hold,—
In Love's Dominion, where no force is offer'd,
In vain is all resistance.—
Now though bold stranger the disturbance of
The peace here, and sowing of
Enmity and Dissention in a happy soyl
Produces nought but Gentle Peace and Amity,
Deserves a more exemplar Chastisement, yet here
Wher favors are to th'utmost extended, & punishment
The most contracted,
Confinement to your Chamber shall
Be all your punishment.

Phil.
And is't a-this manner then
Lovers in Love's Dominion are treated, not only
To be depriv'd of their Liberties, but of
Their Spouses too?

Pol.
What Spouse?

Philan.
Bellinda.

Pol.
And is she then your Spouse?

Phil.
All Greece can witnesse it.

Pol.
Too much of witness already you have here,
If this be true. But this must be examined
More narrowly by Philostrates; mean time
Indiscreetly have you done in publishing a secret
Might better have bin conceal'd, which now tis known
May prove Bellinda's ruine, and your own,—
You Euphanes.
Have your Chamber for prison—you must along with me

Eup.
I obey you Sir.

Phila.
And I necessity.

Exeunt several way Guarded.