University of Virginia Library

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.