Chapter 2

_Alex._ If I stay behind, An everlasting dulness, and the wind, That as he passeth by shuts up the stream Of _Rhine_ or _Volga_, whilst the suns hot beam Beats back again, seise me, and let me turn To coldness more than ice: oh how I burn And rise in youth and fire! I dare not stay.

_Cloe._ My name shall be your word.

_Alex._ Fly, fly thou day. [_Exit._

_Cloe._ My grief is great if both these boyes should fail: He that will use all winds must shift his sail. [_Exit._

_Actus Secundus. Scena Prima._

_Enter an old_ Shepherd, _with a bell ringing, and the Priest of Pan following._

_Priest._ O Shepherds all, and maidens fair, Fold your flocks up, for the Air 'Gins to thicken, and the sun Already his great course hath run. See the dew-drops how they kiss Every little flower that is: Hanging on their velvet heads, Like a rope of crystal beads. See the heavy clouds low falling, And bright _Hesperus_ down calling The dead night from under ground, At whose rising mists unsound, Damps, and vapours fly apace, Hovering o're the wanton face Of these pastures, where they come, Striking dead both bud and bloom; Therefore from such danger lock Every one his loved flock, And let your Dogs lye loose without, Lest the Wolf come as a scout From the mountain, and e're day Bear a Lamb or kid away, Or the crafty theevish Fox, Break upon your simple flocks: To secure your selves from these, Be not too secure in ease; Let one eye his watches keep, Whilst the t'other eye doth sleep; So you shall good Shepherds prove, And for ever hold the love Of our great god. Sweetest slumbers And soft silence fall in numbers On your eye-lids: so farewel, Thus I end my evenings knel. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ Clorin, _the_ Shepherdess, _sorting of herbs, and telling the natures of them._

_Clor._ Now let me know what my best Art hath done, Helpt by the great power of the vertuous moon In her full light; O you sons of Earth, You only brood, unto whose happy birth Vertue was given, holding more of nature Than man her first born and most perfect creature, Let me adore you; you that only can Help or kill nature, drawing out that span Of life and breath even to the end of time; You that these hands did crop, long before prime Of day; give me your names, and next your hidden power. This is the _Clote_ bearing a yellow flower, And this black Horehound, both are very good For sheep or Shepherd, bitten by a wood- Dogs venom'd tooth; these Ramuns branches are, Which stuck in entries, or about the bar That holds the door fast, kill all inchantments, charms, Were they _Medeas_ verses that doe harms To men or cattel; these for frenzy be A speedy and a soveraign remedie, The bitter Wormwood, Sage, and Marigold, Such sympathy with mans good they do hold; This Tormentil, whose vertue is to part All deadly killing poyson from the heart; And here _Narcissus_ roots for swellings be: Yellow _Lysimacus_, to give sweet rest To the faint Shepherd, killing where it comes All busie gnats, and every fly that hums: For leprosie, Darnel, and Sellondine, With Calamint, whose vertues do refine The blood of man, making it free and fair As the first hour it breath'd, or the best air. Here other two, but your rebellious use Is not for me, whose goodness is abuse; Therefore foul Standergrass, from me and mine I banish thee, with lustful Turpentine, You that intice the veins and stir the heat To civil mutiny, scaling the seat Our reason moves in, and deluding it With dreams and wanton fancies, till the fit Of burning lust be quencht; by appetite, Robbing the soul of blessedness and light: And thou light _Varvin_ too, thou must go after, Provoking easie souls to mirth and laughter; No more shall I dip thee in water now, And sprinkle every post, and every bough With thy well pleasing juyce, to make the grooms Swell with high mirth, as with joy all the rooms.

_Enter_ Thenot.

_The_. This is the Cabin where the best of all Her Sex, that ever breath'd, or ever shall Give heat or happiness to the Shepherds side, Doth only to her worthy self abide. Thou blessed star, I thank thee for thy light, Thou by whose power the darkness of sad night Is banisht from the Earth, in whose dull place Thy chaster beams play on the heavy face Of all the world, making the blue Sea smile, To see how cunningly thou dost beguile Thy Brother of his brightness, giving day Again from _Chaos_, whiter than that way That leads to _Joves_ high Court, and chaster far Than chastity it self, yon blessed star That nightly shines: Thou, all the constancie That in all women was, or e're shall be, From whose fair eye-balls flyes that holy fire, That Poets stile the Mother of desire, Infusing into every gentle brest A soul of greater price, and far more blest Than that quick power, which gives a difference, 'Twixt man and creatures of a lower sense.

_Clor_. Shepherd, how cam'st thou hither to this place? No way is troden, all the verdant grass The spring shot up, stands yet unbruised here Of any foot, only the dapled Deer Far from the feared sound of crooked horn Dwels in this fastness.

_Th_. Chaster than the morn, I have not wandred, or by strong illusion Into this vertuous place have made intrusion: But hither am I come (believe me fair) To seek you out, of whose great good the air Is full, and strongly labours, whilst the sound Breaks against Heaven, and drives into a stound The amazed Shepherd, that such vertue can Be resident in lesser than a man.

_Clor_. If any art I have, or hidden skill May cure thee of disease or festred ill, Whose grief or greenness to anothers eye May seem impossible of remedy, I dare yet undertake it.

_The_. 'Tis no pain I suffer through disease, no beating vein Conveyes infection dangerous to the heart, No part impostum'd to be cur'd by Art, This body holds; and yet a feller grief Than ever skilfull hand did give relief Dwells on my soul, and may be heal'd by you, Fair beauteous Virgin.

_Clor_. Then Shepherd, let me sue To know thy grief; that man yet never knew The way to health, that durst not shew his sore.

_Then_. Then fairest, know, I love you.

_C[l]or_. Swain, no more, Thou hast abus'd the strictness of this place, And offred Sacrilegious foul disgrace To the sweet rest of these interred bones, For fear of whose ascending, fly at once, Thou and thy idle passions, that the sight Of death and speedy vengeance may not fright Thy very soul with horror.

_Then_. Let me not (Thou all perfection) merit such a blot For my true zealous faith.

_Clor_. Dar'st thou abide To see this holy Earth at once divide And give her body up? for sure it will, If thou pursu'st with wanton flames to fill This hallowed place; therefore repent and goe, Whilst I with praise appease his Ghost below, That else would tell thee what it were to be A rival in that vertuous love that he Imbraces yet.

_Then_. 'Tis not the white or red Inhabits in your cheek that thus can wed My mind to adoration; nor your eye, Though it be full and fair, your forehead high, And smooth as _Pelops_ shoulder; not the smile Lies watching in those dimples to beguile The easie soul, your hands and fingers long With veins inamel'd richly, nor your tongue, Though it spoke sweeter than _Arions_ Harp, Your hair wove into many a curious warp, Able in endless errour to infold The wandring soul, nor the true perfect mould Of all your body, which as pure doth show In Maiden whiteness as the Alpsian snow. All these, were but your constancie away, Would please me less than a black stormy day The wretched Seaman toyling through the deep. But whilst this honour'd strictness you dare keep, Though all the plagues that e're begotten were In the great womb of air, were setled here, In opposition, I would, like the tree, Shake off those drops of weakness, and be free Even in the arm of danger.

_Clor_. Wouldst thou have Me raise again (fond man) from silent grave, Those sparks that long agoe were buried here, With my dead friends cold ashes?

_Then_. Dearest dear, I dare not ask it, nor you must not grant; Stand strongly to your vow, and do not faint: Remember how he lov'd ye, and be still The same Opinion speaks ye; let not will, And that great god of women, appetite, Set up your blood again; do not invite Desire and fancie from their long exile, To set them once more in a pleasing smile: Be like a rock made firmly up 'gainst all The power of angry Heaven, or the strong fall Of _Neptunes_ battery; if ye yield, I die To all affection; 'tis that loyaltie Ye tie unto this grave I so admire; And yet there's something else I would desire, If you would hear me, but withall deny. O _Pan_, what an uncertain destiny Hangs over all my hopes! I will retire, For if I longer stay, this double fire Will lick my life up.

_Clor_. Doe, let time wear out What Art and Nature cannot bring about.

_Then_. Farewel thou soul of vertue, and be blest For ever, whilst that here I wretched rest Thus to my self; yet grant me leave to dwell In kenning of this Arbor; yon same dell O'retopt with morning Cypress and sad Yew Shall be my Cabin, where I'le early rew, Before the Sun hath kist this dew away, The hard uncertain chance which Fate doth lay Upon this head.

_Clor_. The gods give quick release And happy cure unto thy hard disease. [_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ Sullen Shepherd.

_Sullen_. I do not love this wench that I should meet, For ne'r did my unconstant eye yet greet That beauty, were it sweeter or more fair, Than the new blossoms, when the morning air Blows gently on the[m], or the breaking light, When many maiden blushes to our sight Shoot from his early face: were all these set In some neat form before me, 'twould not get The least love from me; some desire it might, Or present burning: all to me in sight Are equal, be they fair, or black, or brown, Virgin, or careless wanton, I can crown My appetite with any; swear as oft And weep, as any, melt my words as soft Into a maiden[s] ears, and tell how long My heart has been her servant, and how strong My passions are: call her unkind and cruel, Offer her all I have to gain the Jewel Maidens so highly prize: then loath, and fly: This do I hold a blessed destiny.

_Enter_ Amaryllis.

_Amar_. Hail Shepherd, _Pan_ bless both thy flock and thee, For being mindful of thy word to me.

_Sul_. Welcom fair Shepherdess, thy loving swain Gives thee the self same wishes back again, Who till this present hour ne're knew that eye, Could make me cross mine arms, or daily dye With fresh consumings: boldly tell me then, How shall we part their faithful loves, and when? Shall I bely him to her, shall I swear His faith is false, and he loves every where? I'le say he mockt her th' other day to you, Which will by your confirming shew as true, For he is of so pure an honesty, To think (because he will not) none will lye: Or else to him I'le slander _Amoret_, And say, she but seems chaste; I'le swear she met Me 'mongst the shady Sycamores last night And loosely offred up her flame and spright Into my bosom, made a wanton bed Of leaves and many flowers, where she spread Her willing body to be prest by me; There have I carv'd her name on many a tree, Together with mine own; to make this show More full of seeming, _Hobinall_ you know, Son to the aged Shepherd of the glen, Him I have sorted out of many men, To say he found us at our private sport, And rouz'd us 'fore our time by his resort: This to confirm, I have promis'd to the boy Many a pretty knack, and many a toy, As gins to catch him birds, with bow and bolt, To shoot at nimble Squirrels in the holt; A pair of painted Buskins, and a Lamb, Soft as his own locks, or the down of swan; This I have done to win ye, which doth give Me double pleasure. Discord makes me live.

_Amar_. Lov'd swain, I thank ye, these tricks might prevail With other rustick Shepherds, but will fail Even once to stir, much more to overthrow His fixed love from judgement, who doth know Your nature, my end, and his chosens merit; Therefore some stranger way must force his spirit, Which I have found: give second, and my love Is everlasting thine.

_Sul_. Try me and prove.

_Amar_. These happy pair of lovers meet straightway, Soon as they fold their flocks up with the day, In the thick grove bordering upon yon Hill, In whose hard side Nature hath carv'd a well, And but that matchless spring which Poets know, Was ne're the like to this: by it doth grow About the sides, all herbs which Witches use, All simples good for Medicine or abuse, All sweets that crown the happy Nuptial day, With all their colours, there the month of _May_ Is ever dwelling, all is young and green, There's not a grass on which was ever seen The falling _Autumn_, or cold Winters hand, So full of heat and vertue is the land, About this fountain, which doth slowly break Below yon Mountains foot, into a Creek That waters all the vally, giving Fish Of many sorts, to fill the Shepherds dish. This holy well, my grandam that is dead, Right wise in charms, hath often to me said, Hath power to change the form of any creature, Being thrice dipt o're the head, into what feature, Or shape 'twould please the letter down to crave, Who must pronounce this charm too, which she gave Me on her death-bed; told me what, and how, I should apply unto the Patients brow, That would be chang'd, casting them thrice asleep, Before I trusted them into this deep. All this she shew'd me, and did charge me prove This secret of her Art, if crost in love. I'le this attempt; now Shepherd, I have here All her prescriptions, and I will not fear To be my self dipt: come, my temples bind With these sad herbs, and when I sleep you find, As you do speak your charm, thrice down me let, And bid the water raise me _Amoret_; Which being done, leave me to my affair, And e're the day shall quite it self out-wear, I will return unto my Shepherds arm, Dip me again, and then repeat this charm, And pluck me up my self, whom freely take, And the hotst fire of thine affection slake.

_Sul._ And if I fit thee not, then fit not me: I long the truth of this wells power to see. [_Exeunt._

_Enter Daphnis._

_Daph._ Here will I stay, for this the covert is Where I appointed _Cloe_; do not miss, Thou bright-ey'd virgin, come, O come my fair, Be not abus'd with fear, nor let cold care Of honour stay thee from the Shepherds arm, Who would as hard be won to offer harm To thy chast thoughts, as whiteness from the day, Or yon great round to move another way. My language shall be honest, full of truth, My flames as smooth and spotless as my youth: I will not entertain that wandring thought, Whose easie current may at length be brought To a loose vastness.

_Alexis within._ Cloe!

_Daph._ 'Tis her voyce, And I must answer, _Cloe_! Oh the choice Of dear embraces, chast and holy strains Our hands shall give! I charge you all my veins Through which the blood and spirit take their way, Lock up your disobedient heats, and stay Those mutinous desires that else would grow To strong rebellion: do not wilder show Than blushing modesty may entertain.

_Alexis within._ Cloe!

_Daph._ There sounds that [blessed] name again,

_Enter_ Alexis.

And I will meet it: let me not mistake, This is some Shepherd! sure I am awake; What may this riddle mean? I will retire, To give my self more knowledg.

_Alex._ Oh my fire, How thou consum'st me! _Cloe,_ answer me, _Alexis_, strong _Alexis_ , high and free, Calls upon _Cloe_. See mine arms are full Of entertainment, ready for to pull That golden fruit which too too long hath hung Tempting the greedy eye: thou stayest too long, I am impatient of these mad delayes; I must not leave unsought these many ways That lead into this center, till I find Quench for my burning lust. I come, unkind. [_Exit_ Alexis.

_Daph._ Can my imagination work me so much ill, That I may credit this for truth, and still Believe mine eyes? or shall I firmly hold Her yet untainted, and these sights but bold Illusion? Sure such fancies oft have been Sent to abuse true love, and yet are seen, Daring to blind the vertuous thought with errour. But be they far from me with their fond terrour: I am resolv'd my _Cloe_ yet is true. [Cloe _within._ _Cloe_, hark, _Cloe_: Sure this voyce is new, Whose shrilness like the sounding of a Bell, Tells me it is a Woman: _Cloe_, tell Thy blessed name again. _Cloe_. [_within_] Here. Oh what a grief is this to be so near, And not incounter!

_Enter_ Cloe.

_Clo._ Shepherd, we are met, Draw close into the covert, lest the wet Which falls like lazy mists upon the ground Soke through your Startups.

_Daph._ Fairest are you found? How have we wandred, that the better part Of this good night is perisht? Oh my heart! How have I long'd to meet ye, how to kiss Those lilly hands, how to receive the bliss That charming tongue gives to the happy ear Of him that drinks your language! but I fear I am too much unmanner'd, far too rude, And almost grown lascivious to intrude These hot behaviours; where regard of fame, Honour, and modesty, a vertuous name, And such discourse as one fair Sister may Without offence unto the Brother say, Should rather have been tendred: but believe, Here dwells a better temper; do not grieve Then, ever kindest, that my first salute Seasons so much of fancy, I am mute Henceforth to all discourses, but shall be Suiting to your sweet thoughts and modestie. Indeed I will not ask a kiss of you, No not to wring your fingers, nor to sue To those blest pair of fixed stars for smiles, All a young lovers cunning, all his wiles, And pretty wanton dyings, shall to me Be strangers; only to your chastitie I am devoted ever.

_Clo_. Honest Swain, First let me thank you, then return again As much of my love: no thou art too cold, Unhappy Boy, not tempred to my mold, Thy blood falls heavy downward, 'tis not fear To offend in boldness wins, they never wear Deserved favours that deny to take When they are offered freely: Do I wake To see a man of his youth, years and feature, And such a one as we call goodly creature, Thus backward? What a world of precious Art Were meerly lost, to make him do his part? But I will shake him off, that dares not hold, Let men that hope to be belov'd be bold. _Daphnis_, I do desire, since we are met So happily, our lives and fortunes set Upon one stake, to give assurance now, By interchange of hands and holy vow, Never to break again: walk you that way Whilest I in zealous meditation stray A little this way: when we both have ended These rites and duties, by the woods befriended, And secrecie of night, retire and find An aged Oak, whose hollowness may bind Us both within his body, thither go, It stands within yon bottom.

_Daph_. Be it so. [_Ex_. Daph.

_Clo_. And I will meet there never more with thee, Thou idle shamefastness.

_Alex. [within] Chloe!_

_Clo_. 'Tis he That dare I hope be bolder.

_Alex. Cloe!_

_Clo_. Now Great _Pan_ for _Syrinx_ sake bid speed our Plow. [_Exit_ Cloe.

_Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.

_Enter_ Sullen Shepherd _with_ Amaryllis _in a sleep._

_Sull_. From thy forehead thus I take These herbs, and charge thee not awake Till in yonder holy Well, Thrice with powerful Magick spell, Fill'd with many a baleful word, Thou hast been dipt; thus with my cord Of blasted Hemp, by Moon-light twin'd, I do thy sleepy body bind; I turn thy head into the East, And thy feet into the West, Thy left arm to the South put forth, And thy right unto the North: I take thy body from the ground, In this deep and deadly swound, And into this holy spring I let thee slide down by my string. Take this Maid thou holy pit, To thy bottom, nearer yet, In thy water pure and sweet, By thy leave I dip her feet; Thus I let her lower yet, That her ankles may be wet; Yet down lower, let her knee In thy waters washed be; There stop: Fly away Every thing that loves the day. Truth that hath but one face, Thus I charm thee from this place. Snakes that cast your coats for new, Camelions that alter hue, Hares that yearly Sexes change, _Proteus_ alt'ring oft and strange, _Hecate_ with shapes three, Let this Maiden changed be, With this holy water wet, To the shape of _Amoret_: _Cynthia_ work thou with my charm, Thus I draw thee free from harm Up out of this blessed Lake, Rise both like her and awake. [_She awakes_.

_Amar_. Speak Shepherd, am I _Amoret_ to sight? Or hast thou mist in any Magick rite; For want of which any defect in me, May make our practices discovered be.

_Sul_. By yonder Moon, but that I here do stand, Whose breath hath thus transform'd thee, and whose hand Let thee down dry, and pluckt thee up thus wet, I should my self take thee for _Amoret_; Thou art in cloths, in feature, voice and hew So like, that sense cannot distinguish you.

_Amar_. Then this deceit which cannot crossed be, At once shall lose her him, and gain thee me. Hither she needs must come by promise made, And sure his nature never was so bad, To bid a Virgin meet him in the wood, When night and fear are up, but understood, 'Twas his part to come first: being come, I'le say, My constant love made me come first and stay, Then will I lead him further to the grove, But stay you here, and if his own true love Shall seek him here, set her in some wrong path, Which say, her lover lately troden hath; I'le not be far from hence, if need there be, Here is another charm, whose power will free The dazeled sense, read by the Moons beams clear, And in my own true map make me appear.

_Enter_ Perigot.

_Sull_. Stand close, here's _Perigot_, whose constant heart Longs to behold her in whose shape thou art.

_Per_. This is the place (fair _Amoret_) the hour Is yet scarce come: Here every Sylvan power Delights to be about yon sacred Well, Which they have blest with many a powerful Spell; For never Traveller in dead of Night, Nor strayed Beasts have faln in, but when sight Hath fail'd them, then their right way they have found By help of them, so holy is the ground: But I will farther seek, lest _Amoret_ Should be first come, and so stray long unmet. My _Amoret, Amoret_. [_Ex_. Amaryllis, Perigot.

_Per_. My Love.

_Amar_. I come my Love. [_Exit_.

_Sull_. Now she has got Her own desires, and I shall gainer be Of my long lookt for hopes as well as she. How bright the moon shines here, as if she strove To show her Glory in this little Grove,

_Enter_ Amoret.

To some new loved Shepherd. Yonder is Another _Amoret_. Where differs this From that? but that she _Perigot_ hath met, I should have ta'n this for the counterfeit: Herbs, Woods, and Springs, the power that in you lies, If mortal men could know your Properties!

_Amo_. Methinks it is not Night, I have no fear, Walking this Wood, of Lions, or the Bear, Whose Names at other times have made me quake, When any Shepherdess in her tale spake Of some of them, that underneath a Wood Have torn true Lovers that together stood. Methinks there are no Goblins, and mens talk, That in these Woods the nimble Fairies walk, Are fables; such a strong heart I have got, Because I come to meet with _Perigot_. My _Perigot_! who's that, my _Perigot_?

_Sull_. Fair maid.

_Amo_. Ay me, thou art not _Perigot_.

_Sull_. But I can tell ye news of _Perigot_: An hour together under yonder tree He sate with wreathed arms and call'd on thee, And said, why _Amoret_ stayest thou so long? Then starting up, down yonder path he flung, Lest thou hadst miss'd thy way: were it day light, He could not yet have born him out of sight.

_Amor_. Thanks, gentle Shepherd, and beshrew my stay, That made me fearful I had lost my way: As fast as my weak Legs (that cannot be Weary with seeking him) will carry me, I'll seek him out; and for thy Courtesie Pray _Pan_ thy Love may ever follow thee. [_Exit_.