the Fountain I return'd In hopes to find Amintas there I found him not and fear he 's gone To end his troubles with his Life Chorus Tho Lovers often talk of death Few of them practice what they talk Thyr. I wish he may be one of those Chorus He will you may be sure he will Thyr. I 'll go to Sage Elpinus Bow'r There if he lives perhaps he 's gone Elpinus Pipe has often sooth'd his griefs Compos'd his thoughts and gave him rest Rocks listen to the Shepherds heavenly Songs Ev'n Mountains by his Musick charm'd Have danc'd and Rivers flow'd with Milk Honey from Briars have distill'd And dying Lovers been with pleasure fill'd ACT III. SCENE II. Amintas Daphne Nerina Amin. OH Pityless pity cruel friend To snatch away my Dart with which I might have ended all my woes The longer I retard my death 'T will be the sharper when it comes Ah! Daphne why wouldst thou perswade A wretch to live in misery But all thy reasons are too weak The hopes that thou wouldst give me vain Why wouldst thou flatter me from death Since 't is my interest to dye Daph. Despair no more for if I know Sylvia's mind 't was more her shame Than fear or scorn that made her fly Amin. There 's safety in despair but hope Would quickly ruin me I fee You only would be specious hopes Prevent my death a while for what Ah! can there be a torment worse Than Life to such a wretch as me Daph. Live wretched as thou thinkst thy self And under all thy pains support Thy heart that after so much woe Thou mayst tho late o'recome 'em and be blest Let this encourage thee to hope Think on the Beauties thou hast seen And as thou justly mayst expect That all those treasures will be thine Amin. Fortune and Love did only shew Those Beauties to me that my Eyes Might see the riches I 'm deny'd Ner. Why like the Raven must I be The omen of bad news Ah poor Montano how wilt thou survive Thy Daughters loss thy Sylvia's death The death of one thou lov'dst so well No more a Father now at least Without a Child Daph. I hear the voice Of one that talks of death Amin. I hear My Sylvia nam'd it strikes my heart Who calls on Sylvia Daph. Ha Nerina ' So dear to Cynthia so fair ' Her face so white her hands ' Her mien so soft so full of grace ' That she 's the glory of our Woods Nerina 'T is necessary thou shouldst know thy loss Montano that thou mayst procure The miserable relicts of thy Child Oh Sylvia oh unhappy Maid Amint. Ha! what of Sylvia speak Nerina Oh Daphne Daph. What wouldst thou have of Daphne say Why dost thou mourn and call on Sylvia Nerina I 've cause to mourn the fatal things Which have been to day will make You him and every body mourn Amin. What things Ah tell me all my heart Chills at thy words Speak does she live Daph. Tell us what fatal things are done Nerina Why have I liv'd oh Heaven to be The messenger of these sad tydings Sylvia came naked to our house You know perhaps the fatal cause Where being cloath'd she fain would go And forc'd me with he to the Chace We went and in the Forest found The Nymphs who by appointment met Were ready to begin the sport When from the Thicket I perceiv'd A Wolf of monstrous size rush forth Licking his bloody Lips whose foam Reeking and Crimson made us shake with fear But Sylvia from her Quiver took An Arrow put it to the Bow I gave her which she nimbly bent And taking at the Beast just aim She shot him near the Head the Wolf enrag'd Fled to the Thicket Sylvia drew And brandishing her Dart pursu'd Him in the Woods Amint. Oh doleful story Of which if 't is so sad to hear So much what must it be to know The rest Nerina I with another Dart Follow'd 'em by the blood the Wolf had spilt But could not reach 'em they were gone too far I lost her her in the Woods yet still Kept on alone and wander'd thro The frightful Thicket till I came To its most unfrequented tracts Where Sylvia's Dart lay on the ground And at a little distance thence Her veil and while I gaz'd on these I spy'd seven Wolves around a Corps Who tore it with their bloody Teeth So eager on their Prey I saw they woful sight unseen by them With fear and pity mov'd I turn'd My steps and got in safety home This this is all that I can tell Shews the Veil This all of Sylvia which remains Amin. Ah! thou hast told too much Oh! Dear Remains Oh! precious Blood Oh Sylvia now alas no more Daph. Ah! What Nerina hast thou said It strikes his Soul he swoons he dyes Nerina Perhaps 't is but a Lovers fit He breathes still see he comes to life Amint. Ah! Grief too mighty to be born And yet too weak to be my death This office for my hand 's reserv'd And by my hand shall be perform'd If my misfortunes are so sure If Sylvia's dead oh Daphne why Why didst thou renew my pain By bringing me to life again How good how pleasant had it been If â—n an extasie of woe Thou hadst permitted me to dye The Gods who knew I should by this Prevent the torments they 've prepar'd For me to feel inspir'd your hearts With pity that being forc'd to live I might endure 'em all and all I have endur'd for Sylvia's dead Nor is it possible for me To be more wretched than I am And now methinks 't is just that Heav'n and you And all should suffer me to dye Daph. At least defer it till you know the truth Amin. I know the truth I know too much And have deferr'd my death too long Nerina Oh heaven I wish I had been mute When I began the story Amin. Lend me Nerina lend the Veil All that is left me of my love That on it I may feast my Eyes The little way I have to go The little time I have to live That looking on her Blood I may Go boldly to my doom But oh What need such little helps To lead me to my end Nerina No Swain You must not have the Veil if this Is your design I 'll not promote Your death Amint. Ah! canst thou Nymph deny So small a favour to a man Who ne're will ask another The fates still persecute me still declare Against me and in little things Shew what I must expect in great Keep keep the Veil and live in peace Let misery with me forsake these Woods I go to other Shades and never shall return Daph. Stay stay Amintas oh I fear His fury Nerina But we can't prevent What he intends he flies Too fast for us we should in vain Pursue him and in vain attempt To stop him in his course In silence I 'll their fortune mourn Let others tell Montano if they please Few people
beautiful and young her form Of such a mould so soft so sweet That 't were impossible to think It lodg'd a Soul averse to Love If to my cost I had not found That things inanimate are less Insensible of pity than her heart Thyrsis Lambs feed on Grass and Wolves on Lambs They 're fatisfy'd in time but Love Who feeds on Tears is never satisfy'd Amin. If Tears cou'd glut his appetite He had been surfeited e're this Or if the Virgin cou'd be mov'd With Seas of Tears I had been blest No they both hunger after Blood And I resolve to give 'em mine ' Thyr. ' Ah! why Amintas will you talk ' Of Blood If she is so severe ' Are there not other Maids as young ' As fair as she Look out and try ' Another Beauty may be kind ' Amint. Where shall I look or how expect to find 'A Maid to please me when I 've lost my self Thyr. Don't flatter your despair but hope This cruel fair may yield at last Lyons and Tygers may be tam'd And she you Love with Love be overcome Amin. But who so wretched who so near To death as I am can be pleas'd With Life or bear the torment long Thyr. The torment will not be so long As you suspect for Womens minds Are movable like Aspin leaves And what they may this minute hate They 'll love the next But say my friend Where lives and who 's this haughty Maid That treats Amintas with such scorn You 've told me often that you love But never told me whom be free And open all your heart without reserve Amin. Well you shall hear what every Wood What all our Hills and Streams have heard But no Man ever knew before 'T is fit now I 'm so near the Grave Some friend should know the fatal cause And write my sorrows on the Tomb Where my pale body shall be laid That every passenger may read My fate and she for whom I dye Be pleas'd to triumph o're my dust It may be when she sees how far Despair has carry'd me the thought And yet I fear I hope too much Will fetch a sigh or force a tear And make her pity me and wish That poor Amintas were alive Hear then Thyr. I hearken and perhaps For better ends than you suppose Amin. While I was yet a little Boy Scarce tall enough to reach a Bough Or pluck an Apple from a Tree I felt my heart engag'd to love The fairest Creature ever liv'd Sylvia the glory of the Woods Montano's and Cydippe's Daughter Sylvia whose beauty mien and youth Charm every heart as well as mine Our Houses joyn'd but were not half So close united as our Hearts Two Friends ne're lov'd as we did then Two Turtles ne're so fondly sought Each others company as we did Our pleasures with our years agreed The same diversions suited both We sometimes Hunted sometimes Fish'd Sometimes we laid our Nets for Birds And always shar'd the Game we caught But while we pleasantly pursu'd Our mutual sports alas I felt Strange wishes growing in my heart Like Flow'rs that on a sudden spring From beds where they were never set Whene're we parted now I wept For grief and when we met for joy I suckt in poison from her eyes Which seem'd delicious to the taste But left a bitter smart behind I saw her now with new delight I found new Graces in her face I often sigh'd but knew not why I lov'd but did not know 't was love Till chance discover'd it Thyr. Pray how Amin. Sylvia Phillis and my self Sitting underneath a Shade Saw a Bee fly round the bank Gathering Honey from the Flow'rs Which adorn'd our happy seat Weary'd there he fled to us Pitcht on Phillis who has Cheeks Fairer sweeter than the Rose Fancying every Grace a Flow'r There he hung a while and suckt Sweets much richer than his own Phillis wept to feel the smart Sylvia bid her weep no more I she crys can say a Charm That will quickly give you ease 'T is a Secret which I learnt Of wise Aricia to whom For her Art I gave my Horn Tipt with Ivory and Gold Then she put her fragrant Lips To the Cheek the Bee had stung Said some Verses o're the Wound And as soon as Sylvia spoke Phillis felt the pain no more See the wonderful effects See the force of Magic words Or what I would rather think See what Sylvia's Lips can do Every thing they touch they heal Thyr. How Amintas could you find Love had wounded you by this Amin. I till this desir'd no more Than to see her radiant Eyes Or to listen to her Voice Soft as Rivulets that glide Murmuring thro our smiling Vales Soft as Zephr's evening breath Playing with the Leaves of Trees But as soon as I observ'd What her Lips had lately done Then I wish'd 'em close to mine And I know not how contriv'd Ways to taste of what I wish'd Thyr. None want artifice to gain What they covet to possess All are cunning when in love Amin. I to touch her rosy mouth Feign'd a Bee had stung me too And complain'd with such an air That it seem'd to beg the Cure Which my tongue cou'd ne'r have askt Sylvia kindly did to me What she had to Phillis done And her Lips thus fix'd to mine Cur'd the counterfeited smart But encreast my real pain Bees sure never from their Flow'rs Drew such Honey as I suckt From my Sylvia's humid kisses Sure no Roses but what grow On her Lips can yield such sweets Tho my pleasure was disturb'd By my shame and guilty fears Yet I counterfeited still And by this deceit prevail'd O're her to repeat the Charm Something sweet from ev'ry kiss Mixt with poyson struck my heart Which at last grew so inflam'd That when once we met to play With some other Nymphs and Swains I just dying with my fears Softly whisper'd her I Love Thyr. How did Sylvia take the news That you seem so much concern'd Amin. Soon her fiery blushes shew'd Both her anger and her shame She stood silent but I read By her silence what she meant That she never wou'd forgive me Now she flies me and will since Not so much as hear me speak Thrice our Golden Fields have bent Under their rich loads and thrice Winter has with nipping frosts Made our Groves and Forests bare Since I 've try'd a thousand ways To appease her but I find Death can only calm her rage Death shall calm her then my blood Shall appease her for my fault I cou'd dye methinks with joy Were I sure my Death would make her Either sorrowful or glad and I know not which to wish Yes her Pity would reward All my sufferings and shew What my Constancy deserv'd Yet ah why should I desire That her beauteous Eyes should weep Or her Rest be lost for me Thyr. Oh! could she hear such killing words Such just complaints 't would melt her heart And make her pity ye Amin. I
fear it But were she sensible of pity She flies and will not hear me speak What hopes then that my just complaints Will melt her heart that must not reach her ear Thyr. Cease cease your grief I 'll plead your Cause Perhaps my Reasons may succeed And something promises they will If you would not despair ' Amin. I 've reason to despair for ever ' Sage Mopsus has foretold my fate ' Mopsus who understands so well ' The virtues of all Herbs and Drugs ' Who by long study has acquir'd 'To know things past and things to come ' Mopsus has said I must despair ' Thyr. Which Mopsus He who speaks so fair ' And with grave smiles declares events ' Dark and treacherous to deceive ' Such as suppose his Oracles divine ' He tells them with a solemn look ' Things that will never come to pass ' His Prophecies prove always lies ' Believe me for I know him false ' Be chearful you have cause enough 'To hope your fortune will be good ' Since Mopsus has pronounc'd it ill ' Amin. Tell me if you 'd revive my hopes ' What makes you Thyrsis think him false ' Thyr. When I first settled in these Plains I lov'd ' Like you to hear him talk and thought his words ' As wise as they were grave but quickly found ' Mopsus a Cheat and what he talks of Lyes ' For once when I resolv'd to go and see ' The famous City which adorns the banks ' Of our great River and by that 's adorn'd ' I told him my intentions as a fiend ' And thus the envious Hypocrite reply'd ' You know not Thyrsis what you have resolv'd ' Nor the vast danger you 're about to run ' For Treason reigns within her Marble walls ' Where nothing kind or honest's to be found ' And ev'n the name of friendship is unknown ' Her Citizens grow wealthy by deceit ' By treachery her Courties grow renown'd ' On Downy Beds and under Gilded Roofs ' Both seem to sleep yet both are kept awake ' By plotting death and ruin for the weak 'A thousand horrid Fields in various shapes ' Stalk thro her streets all ready to destroy ' Such innocent and easie fools as you ' There you will hear 'em laugh at your rude mien ' Despise a Shepherds life and mock our Songs ' But above all her shining Palace fly ' Let nothing tempt you to approach her Gates ' Amin. And what could he suggest to have you shun ' So rich a sight which I should long to see ' Thyr. He told me all things were Enchanted there ' That the pretended Diamonds were but Glass ' And all their Golden Vessels real Brass ' That empty bags her massy Coffers fill'd ' And her high Walls were rais'd up with such art ' That they can hear and answer what is said ' As Eccho answers in these Woods to us ' This difference only that they sometimes speak ' What they ne'r heard which Eccho never does ' That every thing you meet there has a Tongue ' Thus prepossest by him I went to Court ' But soon was undeceiv'd by Glorious Quires ' Of Heavenly Virgins who like Syrens sung ' Their voices sweeter but not half so false ' Charm'd with their notes a while I stood amaz'd 'Till a great Prince magnificently drest ' His air majestick and his mien sublime 'A Prince Amintas destin'd by the Gods 'To vanquish Tyrants and secure us Peace ' Invited me as rude as I appear'd 'To see the Glories which adorn'd his Court. ' I enter'd then but never can relare ' The Miracles I saw a thousand Suns ' Shot forth bright Rays and lookt as they were warm ' I saw young Goddesses in all her Rooms ' But met with one so eminently fair ' Her mien so graceful and her looks so sweet ' That 't is not strange if I could be deceiv'd ' And fancy'd that she was the Queen of Heaven ' I saw the Muses painted with their God 'Our Sage Elpinus sitting pensive by ' And from that minute felt a noble fire ' Rage in my breast and I resolv'd to sing ' Of War and scorn the dying notes of Love ' Tho since to please another I 'm oblig'd 'To quit the City and return to you ' Yet my Pipe still preserves her Courtly note ' Like the loud Trumpet in our Forests sounds ' Mopsus has listen'd and admires with shame 'To hear such Musick eccho from our Woods ' Asham'd to find that I have prov'd him false ' And seem so much and learnt to sing so well ' Will ye believe still ' Amin. I 'm glad to hear ' We have such reason to mistrust his words ' On your success my happiness depends ' Thyr. Depend on my success and have a care ' The nearest way to ruin 's to despair CHORUS AH the Golden Age is past Which our happy Fathers blest When whate're they long'd to taste They but wish for and possest The Meads were painted still with Flow'rs The Birds ne'r ceas'd to sing And then without the help of show'rs They saw eternal Spring Rivers then with Milk were fill'd Honey from their Woods distill'd None attempted then the Main Nor expos'd their Lives for gain Free from danger want or care Free from tumult noise and war They a thousand Joys possest Peace and Plenty were the least Ah! the Golden c. ' Honour whose Laws are so severe ' So hard to be obey'd ' Who reigns with so much rigor here ' Ne're o're their pleasures sway'd ' They only maxim which they knew ' They were by Nature taught ' That what they had a mind to do ' They might without a fauâ—t ' The Virgin never blush'd to shew ' By day her naked Charms ' And when she lov'd a Swain would go ' With freedom to his arms ' By Woods on Greens they danc'd and play'd ' In Fountains kist and toy'd ' The youth then boldly took his Maid ' And what he lik'd enjoy'd ' But now when men the blessing want ' They long must court the fair in vain ' For Honor will not let 'em grant ' The pleasure they deny with pain 'T was honour that first swell'd their hearts ' That taught 'em shame and to be coy 'To frown and use those little arts ' Which only cheat 'em of their joy ' Hence thou Idol Honour hence ' Leave us to our humble sports ' Reign in Cities and in courts ' Honor is the child of Pride ' Here let Nature be our Guide ' Hence thou Idol Honour hence ACT II. SCENE I. Daphne Thyrsis Daph. I Knew long since Amintas lov'd The haughty Sylvia and Heaven knows Have oft endeavour'd to dispose Her heart to be as much concern'd As he deserves and I could wish But all that I can say's in vain For Bears and Tygers may be tam'd Sooner than such a simple Maid As proud and silly as she 's fair Who ignorant of what she does Or that her Eyes
thank us for such tales as these CHORUS Ye Nymphs no more take pains to hide Your Love but own your passion For Virtue if too nice is pride And Coyness Affectation Cupid make our Virgins tender Maké 'em easie to be won Let 'em presently surrender When the Treaty's once begun Such as like a tedious wooing Let 'em cruel Damsels find But for such as would be doing Prithee Cupid make 'em kind By a Shepherdess The fair in the City Don't understand pity Yet vainly pretend they are wiser than we are But the Nymph of the plain Should make much of her Swain And think that the wiser Maids are they 're the freer B◠a Shepherd When we go to our Lasses To ask their good graces They ought to receive us and each take her man And when we meet first Since both know the worst Let 's agree to be happy as fast as we can ACT IV. SCENE I. Daphne Sylvia Chorus Daph. THanks to the Gods that all our tears Were needless all our plaints and fears In vain since she for whom we mourn'd Is living and in health return'd Long mayst thou live and Heaven protect The Life which you too much neglect Nerina in confusion said Such things as made us think you dead I wish t o've sav'd us so much grief She had been dumb or others deaf Sylvia The risque was great and had you seen The mighty danger I was in You would your self have said so too Daph. Not if I had n't known it true Tell me the risque you ran and how You scap't the danger Sylvia You shall know Too day I at the Chase pursu'd A Wolf so far into the Wood I lost my Game I lost the track And turn'd on purpose to come back When with seven other Wolves I found The Beast and knew him by his wound Round some dead Animal they stood And tore its flesh and lickt its blood The Wolf I shot soon spy'd me out And left his prey to meet his foe I with my Dart oppos'd his way Tho mistress of my art you know I very seldom miss my blow Yet by bad luck I mist it now And my Dart rested in a Bough The Wolf at this more furious grew And got so near me that I knew My Bow would stand in little stead So to preserve my self I fled And as I fled I was me thought By something which oppos'd me caught The Veil I wore hitcht in a Tree And with my hair entangled me I pull'd my Veil I tore my hair And yet was forc'd to leave it there Wing'd by my fright away I flew Like air and so got safe to you Why Daphne are you now so sad What can't my safety make you glad Dap. You live I 'm glad to find it true And wish another was as safe as you Sylv. Perhaps you hate me you appear No more concern'd to see me here Daph. I hate you not I joy in your return But for anothers death must mourn Sylv. Whose Daph. Poor Amintas Sylvia Tell me how He dy'd Daph. Ah! that I want to know We are not certain yet he 's dead But we believe 't Sylvia What hast thou said Ah Daphne say to what alas Do people attribute the cause Daph. Thy death Sylvia Explain your self Daph. The news He heard will certainly produce Some dreadful deed Despair will lend Him arms to help him to his end Sylvia It may be your suspicions are in vain And he as well as I may rise again From Death besides 't is very rare For men to let their troubles go so far Daph. Sylvia little dost thou know What some men in Love will do Thou dost little think how much Every accident will touch Hearts of Flesh and not of Stone Not so cruel as thy own Hadst thou known the man that dyes Lov'd thee better than his Eyes Thou wouldst have been lest severe And prevented his despair Had you seen him but to day After you were ran away Sylvia you 'd with reason fear Your disdain has gone too far Such ingratitude you show'd To the man to whom you ow'd Life and Honour all that 's dear I can tell for I was there I can witness what was done Saw him save you and you run VVhen sure after that had past He deferv'd to be embrac'd Then I saw him rake his Dart Turn the point against his heart Strike his breast and from the wound Saw the blood flow on the ground I came in and much ado Hinder'd him a second blow Sylvia thus you see how far Some are hurry'd by despair So much may by this be guest We have cause to dread the rest Sylvia What have I heard Daph. Things indeed Enough alas to make thee dread What thou art yet to hear Thence as we were coming back We met the Nymph who by mistake Inform'd us you were slain the youth Without examining the truth Believ'd despair'd and in the heat Of grief fell breathless at our seet We took him up he breath'd again We strove to comfort him in vain For all the reasons we could give Could not prevail on him to live But rushing forth away he fled To death and I believe is dead Syl. D' ye really believe it Daph. Yes Syl. Ah! why Did you not follow him and fly Fast as his fury to prevent The consequence of his intent Ah let us seek him out and strive To make him yet consent to live Since he that for my Death would dye Should for my Life revive Daph. We follow'd but he flew like wind He left us panting far behind And long e're this has done what he design'd Whither then Sylvia would you run And who shall tell us where the wretch is gone Syl. Ah let us go where grief and pity lead Haste Daphne haste or he 'll be dead By himself murder'd Daph. You would save The unhappy Lover from the Grave To murder him your self To you You think the Glory 's only due But you 've no reason to repine For let the blow be his or thine T will be his death and thou mayst see With comfort that he dy'd for thee Syl. Daph. It torments my mind When I consider how unkind How cruel I have been Pride I call'd Honour once perhaps 'T was Honour but 't was too severe And such as will if he is dead Sharpen my grief my cruelty reprove And force me to repent I wrong'd his Love Daph. Oh Heaven She 's pitiful repents Her heart grows tender she relents She weeps Is thy pride humbled then O strange Whence Sylvia comes this mighty change Whence all these tears from Pity or from Love Syl. Pity not Love attracts my tears Daph. Pity 's Love 's Messenger and shews As Lightning before Thunder goes Love is not far Chorus When he 'd surprize a Maid Who of his Empire is afraid Who by false honour would defend her heart And be secure against his Dart He takes his Servant Pity 's shape And in that figure few escape