withal which thou seest all bedew'd With our distilling tears Narete Then I must go my self Amynt Come come Narete come me-thinks she stirs Niso. Quickly Nar•te come fair Celia lives And 'gins to breath again Nar. O blest eternal providence O happy tears strange powerful Antidote Which trickling down upon her face prevails Against this poysonous hearb and so recals Her wandring soul into her breast again Niso. Ah Celia Amynt Celia Nar. Disturb her not see she makes shew to rise Lend her your help Cel. How hard and wearisom's the way to death I am quite tir'd all my visage melts Into faint drops of sweat Nar. Amazed yet she raves and thinks your tears Are drops of sweat upon her fainting face Cel. I am arriv'd at last within the skirts Of the vast shady empire and these are The baleful Stygian fields Nar. Go both of you and hold her up Cel. Who presseth on me thus now out alass Behold th' infernal Monsters which are wont In form of their abused Lovers to torment False faithless souls Niso. Ah Celia C•l. Ah me Nar. Go from her shepheards go and silent stand Conceal'd apart till I can undeceive Her poor distracted fancie thus abus'd Cel. And yet their looks renew within my soul The wonted fire of love Ah me can then Th' infernal Monsters breath out loving flames O hell is too too cruel if it burn With the hot flames of love Nar. O daughter Cel. But who is he with that white hoary beard Perhaps 't is aged Charon am I not Yet past then to the other side Nar. Celia thou talk'st idlely call again Thy wandring sences thou art yet alive And if thou wilt not credit what I say Look up and see the heavens turning round The Sun descending down into the West Which not long since thou sawst rise in the East Observe that with the motion of the air These fading leaves doe fall In the infernal region of the deep The Sun doth never rise nor never set Nor doth a falling leaf there ere adorn Those black eternal plants Thou still art on the earth 'mongst mortal men And still thou liv'st I am Narete these Are the sweet fields of Scyros know'st thou not The meddow where the Fountain springs this wood Euro's great mountain and Ormino's hill The hill where thou wert born why do'st thou look So wistly round about thou know'st them all Speak then leave musing art not yet awake Cel. I am alive then it is too too true Narete saith it yet my fence of grief Makes me beleeve it rather true then he But I was dead and once I was below Within deaths empire and there one by one Saw all the hellish furies horrid hags And fearful torments which doe there abide Who then had power to draw me thus by force Out of th' infernal deep Nar. Thy wofull lovers mourning for thy death Were able by their tears to give thee life Cel. 'T was ill for me their tears had power to make Even hell it self seem pittifull but sure 'T was not their tears for I am well assur'd Where Hydra's hiss and bawling Cerberus Sends out his howling noise no other voice Can there be heard It was the horror of this faithless soul Which horrid hell it self could not endure But sent it back And woes me do I live Doe I live still and is my hatefull life The vomit of th' infernal pit Niso. Mark good Narete how she is involv'd In the chymeraes still of hell and death Cel. Unhappy life when even death it self Proves false to thy desires Nar. Do you without disturbing her take heed She doe not come again to her despair And act a second death C•l. But thou eternal justice of the heavens Thou happily art pleased to decree That being doubly false I should return Into this life again that once again I might submit to death and double death Might so revenge my double hearted sin Niso. But thou Narete whither do'st thou go Ah leave us not here all alone to act So hard a part as this Nar. I goe into the valley of Alcander and Will straight return with hearbs to purge the brain And free her from this extasie Cel. To death then let us go to death Act. 4. Scen. 6. Amyntas Celia Niso. Amynt TO death my Celia to death again If thou wilt needs be dying take this soul This grieved soul of mine and dye with it For thou canst never dye unless it flit Out of this wounded breast Niso. He speaks to her yet she flies not away Celia Why art thou so unwilling I should dye Wilt thou deny me then a remedy Against my wo wilt thou contend against The just decree of heaven Niso. Nay more she hears him and doth answer him Amynt The heavens prescribe another remedy Now to thy woes then by a second death Cel. What other remedy canst thou beleeve My woes can find since even death it self Which is the end of all mans ill cannot Yet put an end unto my miseries Niso. But I will soon break off this their so sweet And amorous discourse Amynt My death not thine and with my death the lo•• Of Niso now the heavens have decreed To be the remedy for all thy ills Niso. But I will not disturb them I will first With silence hear them speak Cel. Ah! ah Amy•t. Do not disdain me first with favour hear The reasons I can bring Dear Celia If thou do'st love thy Niso Niso. He pleads against me now Amynt With reason thou do'st love thy Niso the Niso deserves thy love Ni•o that knew How to take fire so quickly from thy flame Even then when dying he did open first His dazled eyes to gaze upon thy light And happy he though late he saw the sun Yet late it was not ere his fire begun So that in Scyros he may rightly be Esteem'd a new come guest but cannot yet Be tax'd for tardy love Niso. Where will he pitch what is it he intends Amynt In me alass what canst thou well discern Which may deserve thy love who every way Voyd of desert do love and burn 't is true But like a sensless block that 's good for nought Such sensless blocks are long ere they take fire But burn to ashes straight and such am I That could for many years behold those eyes And never yet take fire So late a love Cannot deserve such speedy pitty then I am not worth thy love nor doe I crave Thy smallest pitty such a blessedness Great love denies me I do onely beg That thou wouldst let me dye and that my death Thrice happy death may so restore thee to Thy perfect health again then mayst thou love Amyn as and thy Niso too and yet Be neither cruel nor a faithless love For loving one alive the other dead Him thou mayst love enjoying love again Me thou mayst love in mourning for my pain Nor shalt thou mourn too long one gentle tear Shed for my death shall pay for all my
not but already understand That when the Thracian bold Grand Signior first Mel. O sad beginning from a Tyrants name Sir Subdu'd unto his barbarous Empire all The Towns and Cities seated round the Coasts Of the Aegean Sea He a most cruel tribute then impos'd Not of fine Wool nor of our woolly flocks Not of our horned Heards of Gold or Gems The baser off-spring of Dame Natures Womb But of our proper Children which to us Are the dear gifts of Heaven of those sweet Imps And tender Infants which from two years old Had not yet breath'd out five years of their Age Mel. I know it well Sir He then doth every fifteen years imploy A Captain from these Coasts to bear away Those pretty little slaves who from each place Some ten a hundred or a thousand takes According as the place abounds in store And from this most unhappy Island here Great onely in the sorrows which it feels Twenty and twenty he exacts by course Such as amongst a thousand chosen first By his own will shall by a cursed lot Be destin'd to his power That cursed lot which fifteen years agone Made poor Ormino and my self become Above all forlorn Parents most forlorn Alas I cannot hold from sad laments Each minute that I think on 't Then then I say this self same man this same Oronte snatcht from him Thirsis his son From me my daughter Phillis and from both Our very hearts O me most wretched man Mel. Could not the children of Ormino then And of Siren which are descended from The great Achilles those young Imps of love Through whom all Scyros is so famous grown Be spar'd in Scyros Is there no regard In Kings to those that are deriv'd from Kings Sir O no Melisso no Kings Royal blood Without a Royal Scepter brings smal good And who dos't thou beleeve would think to find Under a lowly Hut a Shepheards Weed Amidst our simple manners Royal Seed Mel. If men cannot Sireno yet Heaven should Bright Heaven which sees what yet the Sun nere saw And Heaven may one day yet some pitty take And some Compassion of our Misery But tell me then is he that 's here arriv'd A Thracian Captain and a Thracian born Sir A Thracian of Bisantium and the great Servant and Favorite of the Thracian King If all be true which when his fatal foot Last trode in Scyros I was made beleeve And his great charge it is to take a care Of all these tributes upon which his thoughts Are so intentive as he hath not past One day of his due time since fifteen yeers Are this day just compleat and he return'd Hither again to re•ovate our woes As if both Winds and Waters had conspir'd To bring him flying hither Mel. No more new cares even now suggest themselves Unto my thoughts and bid me hast away Sir Go and be happy as thy heart can wish And I will to the Temple bend my steps And thence unto the place where under Tents Oronte lies lodg'd by the Ocean shore To learn at least if my poor Phillis came Alive unto the Thracian strand Act. 1 Scen 2. Cloris Melisso CLo. Celia my Celia But shee 's not here nor answers to my call Mel. Ah daughter Cloris Clo. Alas my father whither now so fast Why with so sad a look Mel. To thee I come my child Clo. To me so troubled woes me what 's the cause What is the sad misfortune that you bring Mel. Thracians arriv'd in Scyros to this shore Death comes conducted by thine enemies Thou know'st too well how that great Tyrant seeks And thirsteth for thy bloud Clo. Ah me Thirsis ô Thirsis Ah my dearest Soul Mel. But fear not daughter and yet prithee fear Fear yea and tremble too a surer Guard Then fear is cannot now preserve thee safe In thine own hands thy welfare then consists And to a tender maidens heart and easier help Cannot be well prescrib'd then fear Clo. You are deceiv'd Sir Heaven yet d•nies To grant me such a favour as to fear Whil'st I am unresolv'd and cannot learn Whether my Thirsis be alive or dead I cannot well tell whether I should fear Or rather seek mine end O Thirsis Thirsis If I a thousand times on thy loud name Have cal'd in vain at least in this so great So suddain danger answer me and say Art thou alive or dead Dead or alive my Thirsis tell me Dear Where must I seek thee out amongst the cold And naked shadows of uncloathed souls Or amongst living Men Mel. Poor silly fool See how her fancy raves Still upon love Dost thou beleeve that death Bears such an Amorous look that thou darst play Thus with thy love whilest he sits on thy Brow Clo. If my lov'd Thrisis be amongst the dead Death cannot but seem lovely then to me And if perhaps dear Father you have sought Out of a needless pitty to my woe Still to conceal his death High Heaven then I know not which to say Reward or pardon this your pious fraud For what is past already But since Fate By these rude Thracians hands doth open now So large a Path unto my wished end Cease then at last that merciful deceit Which is to me so cruel For if death Have seiz'd upon my Thirsis then I know That Death and He expect me both below And since he fees me now so neer the Bark That may transport me thither loe me thinks I see him come to meet me and whilest he Kinde loving soul puts forth his hand to me Shall I turn back from him Ay me Mel. With those deep sighs let all thy fancies end Thy Thirsis lives I say thy Thirsis lives But thou art too incredulous I oft Have sworn by Heaven and Earth t is true yet thou Wilt not beleeve it see I swear again Again he lives and to thy love he lives And to thy Spousal Rites and to thy Life His Life he still preserves Clo. Is it then true and may it be beleev'd Lives yet my Thirsis shall I ever see That day when I may see him once again Mel. Thou shalt if thou wilt but attend the time Clo. But when how long how long shall that time be Mel. Not long Dost thou not see that Heaven which brings And Marshals all our days is restless still And in continual motion hastens on With all the speed it can Suffer the Fates then to produce their Will In their appointed time and force them not By an abortive Birth to bring thy Hopes To an untimely end Clo. What shall I doe then where which way shall I Defend my Life from cruel Thracians Hands Already I do fear and tremble Mel. Even Hope it self hath taught thee now to fear Clo. Will you that in the Fields the Woods the Caves I hide my self or seek remoter parts Mel. But what remoter Parts can be found out Where thou mayst follow either Beasts or Heards And not a Thracian trace thee by thy steps A Fair young Maid
This did I never do but say I did Am I the first of Loves professed foes Whom he hath overcome Niso. I would thou wert so I might see thee once By Love in triumph brought into the troops Of his sworn servants then perhaps I might With confidence unfold the wound that now Lyes hid within and grates my bleeding heart Whereas I yet dare scarce let go a sigh Lest thou shouldst once take notice when it breaths Woes me how many have I forced back Even from my lips into my heart again And if at unawares one hath stoln out How have I fear'd lest while thou shouldst deride My feeling passion Love should in his rage Let sly his Dart at me for having spent His treasures so profusely before those Who do despise his power Amynt Niso thou art deceiv'd for even I Can pitty others sighs O that I could As soon give ease to him that sighs for love Perhaps I might a Shepheard then restore To life again who now lyes at deaths door But thou that long hast learn't to know Loves wiles Hear but his case and tell me then if yet In all Loves kingdom there may be found out A means to cure his ill Niso. I in loves Kingdom nothing know but how With art to drop Salt tears upon the flame That burns within my heart To weep and burn is all I know of love But is that Shepherd one whom I have seen Amyn. Yes thou hast seen him and dost love him too As dearly as thy life Niso. What 's she for whom he mourns Amyn. The fairest Nimph that ere these fruitful fields Of Scyros here have yet beheld display The dangling Tresses of her golden Hair That every gentle blast might therein weave A net to catch poor loving souls withal But more of her anone Thou first shalt hear The mournful story of her dying love Mournful indeed it is and yet but short Since one short hour brought him to misery Yet even he did once profess himself Loves open enemy till at the last His fate would have it so that by mis-chance He too was wounded in his Nimphs defence Niso. But for what cause Amyn. That thou shalt know hereafter now observe The Nimph thus far took pitty of his hurt That many a time and oft she bath'd his wounds In the distilled flouds of lukewarm tears And sweetly breathing on them with her sighs She seem'd to murmur out some powerful charme With which she hop't to mitigate his pain But whilst his tender hearted Surgeon thus Applyed her salves of pitty to his wounds She struck him to the heart when he poor soul Finding he had receiv'd a mortal blow Su'd for relief but in an instance she Turn'd all her pitty into cruelty And flying thence as from a Basilisque Could never since be drawn to see him more Niso. Oh my belov'd Amyntas I must needs Hug thee within these Armes and kiss thee for This pretty quaint disguise Amynt Canst thou imagine then who 't is I mean Niso. And canst thou think I can be ignorant Of him thou wouldst decipher though his name Be lock't up still in silence Amyn. Do thou pronounce it then for I confess I blush so for him that I dare not do 't Niso. I will and if thou do'st desire it in a voyce That 's audible to all the world 'T is Niso Niso do not blush for me For I shall bless my fates that it is so Go thou that livest free from loves command And from his amorous bonds lift up thy proud Untamed Crest to me this yoke is sweet And Niso doth profess himself to be The Shepheard thus subdu'd to loves behest She that with pitty wounded him at fi•st And kills him now with cruelty is cal'd The fairest C•lia for Celia alas For Celia I burn for her I sigh It cannot be deny'd Amyn. Though sigh for Celia sure it cannot be Nor can I yet beleeve it can be so It is another fuel feeds thy flame And all thy sighs sound out another name Niso. Wilt thou not then beleeve me or is this A gentle Artifice for my new love To tax my fault blame mine inconstancie If I have other fuel to my fire Or other heat to warme my fainting soul That fuel is to Ashes burnt by this And all that heat extinguisht by this flame If any other name sound in my sighes 'T is barely then a name a shaddow void Of any subject or a beauty spent And long agone extinct But now for Celia in lively flames I burn indeed and so shall burning die Unless Amyntas help me speedily Amyn. See see alas he seeks to me for help That gives me my deaths wound But I cannot beleeve thee yet say how And when did Love possess thee thus Niso. Whilst wounded there I lay almost extinct Within the arms of death the gentle gale Of her sweet breathing sighs under th' aspect Of two heart-killing Stars O fatal birth My love at first took life And Love becoming thus the Son of Death In imitation of his Mothers power Kils me and yet remains himself alive And thus I dye yet even after death My love must live and love eternally Amynt Thus Love hath in one strait and by one toyl Within in one instant gain'd a double spoyl Niso. As well then as thou feignest thou do'st know That under other shaddows thou hast now From point to point declar'd my malady Nor can I tell how long my silence should Thus blazon forth my wo Unless perhaps I told it in a dream Or talking idly at the point of death The Soul which then doth commonly reflect More truly on her self and so becomes Far wiser than she was hath publisht it Of purpose so to free her self from pain Or else perhaps to glory in the pride Of that fierce cruelty that vanquisht me Fair Celia her self hath made it known Wilt thou not answer me Amyntas is' t not so •myntas whither art thou gone out of thy self Thou seemest stupify'd do'st thou not hear What strong imagination thus transports Thy sences from their sence Amynt Doth Niso burn in love for Celia And is it true that he dissembles not But tell me then what if another should For love of Celia burn as well as he What saith thy heart could it then leave to love Niso. No rather leave to live ah me Thou strick'st my through and through if this be so There is no way but death Amynt No I 'll dye first my self clear up thy brow I spoke it but in jest Niso. I prithee good Amyntas leave to use Such bitter jests as these they come too near I 'll pardon thee this once because thou hast So little sense of Love Amynt What now is in my power shall be employ'd To work thee some relief but time goes on The Sun already from our Zenith bends His course to view the lowly Vales again And near the Temple old Narete staies Attending there to celebrate the pomp And solemn
what have I done I err'd For happily my Phillis is not dead But say she be not yet 't is too too sure That I have given her a mortal wound And what i' st I can hope for can I think To hide the foul injustice of my Crime Under a faint dismal No See then The just revenge of love that made me thus With mine own tongue and that before her face With thousand wicked sighs and faithless tears Accuse my self of infidelity But be it as it will alive or dead I wil go seek her out and so will dye Just at her foot that for my death at least If for nought else I may seem dear to her O Celia Celia love Amyntas now Faithful Amyntas live with him and leave Me to dye for my Phillis if I can Do nothing else yet I can dye for her I will dye for my Phillis lead the way Where art thou Fillino but he is gone Who now shall be my guide I le take my chance To him in whose vext heart despair resides Fury and rage are the most certain guides Act. 5. Scen. 1. PERINDO O Sacriledge the royal image of Our mighty Lord the King of mighty Kings Before whose throne so many knees doe bow His Image on the ground See thou divine Thou sacred Idol low to thee I bend And prostrate at thy foot thus lay my head But thou uuhappy wretch who ere thou art Out of whose hand the sacred image fell Who ere thou art thou dyest nor can he live 'Gainst whom high heaven is so far incens'd As to permit him cast his life away With his own proper hands But who was he Who was that impious wretch how shall we learn A way to find him out This Task must be Orontes care within whose power doth rest The law it self much more the punishment To him I flye and 't is enough for me If I make him acquainted with the fact But I may wander well out of my way Yet I was here if I mistake it not This very morning with Oronte yes This is the very place and this the path By which we came by this we did return And t is the shorter way Shepheard O ho The ready way unto the tents Act. 5. Scen. 2. Narete Cloris Nar. DIrectly forward Sir Though to such beasts Such barbarous beasts as thou the better way Were that which leads unto the horrid den Of an accursed death I did beleeve I should come short of finding Celia here But it imports not much since she was left In so good hands and now my care must be Imployed here Come on good daughter come Clo. Courteous Narete let me now return Alone unto my wonted solitude Nar. No no thy grief is such I will not trust Thy life in thine own hands I le see to that High heaven for thy safety more then hers Guided my steps to seek for wholsom hearbs There where I found thee dying in despair Clo. What a strange pitty's this Narete know I am already dead nor have I left Or heart or soul and whilst thou dost deny Me leave to dye thou onely dost restrain This body from a tomb not me from death And canst thou take delight then thus to drag About the fields unburied carkasses Nar. Thou shalt not have thy will unless at least Thou tell me first the cause of thy despair Clo. See where he comes ah me Nar. Who comes why dost thou hide thy self Act 5. Scen 3. Narete Niso Cloris LOok daughter it is Niso Niso ho Where hast thou left thy Celia what 's become Of young Amyntas that I see him not Niso. O my Narete in how short a space How great a change is wrought in me 't is strange That thou shouldst know me now I am no more That Niso that I was nor can I say That now I live fair Celia's no more mine Amyntas is with her and they are gone To seek out Cloris and 't is Cloris I Am seeking too canst thou then tell me where Alive or dead fair Cloris may be found Nar. She is alive and is not far from hence But what is this thou sayst and what 's the cause That thus doth trouble and perplex thy thoughts Niso. That thou shalt hear anon but tell me first Where Cloris is and is she then alive Is she not far from hence Clo. And yet I cannot but behold his face O with what sweetness under those fair locks Lyes maskt so false a heart Nar. See where she is Cloris come forth 't is Niso child come forth Niso. Ah me I me dead Nar. Thou heardst but even now that Celia he And young Amyntas ran from place to place To seek thee out and thou from thence mayst see How Nymphs and Shepheards are perplexed with The rumour of thy death Niso. And could I see the light of those fair eyes Blind that I am and yet not know them straight Clo. Thou dost not know this man Narete if The rumour of my death have troubled him It is delight not pitty doth disturb His fancy then 'T was he that caus'd my death And he but comes to glory in it now Nar. Caus'd he thy death Niso dost thou not hear What 't is she saith Niso. Alass what shall become of me can I Yet have the heart to speak to her can she With patience hearken unto what I say Nar. He answers not nor can I understand What 't is he mutters to himself apart Niso. Love at so great a need inspire my heart Grant me those looks are worthy of my grief Do thou direct my words Phillis ah my dear Phillis Ah me Nar. Phillis art thou or Cloris Niso. Ah me I cannot sighs will stop my words Narete Shee 's so besides her self she takes no care What 't is I say But tell me Niso then Niso. Phillis my dearest soul Narete My dearest soul this phrase too sounds of love But sure my voice decays and that 's the cause I am not understoop Niso. I was deceiv'd poor soul I was deceiv'd Narete I may be yet a silent looker on And see a wonder here Niso. O do not turn thy face another way Perhaps thou thinkest by denying thus That lovely visage to these eyes of mine To punish my misdeeds but think not so Look on me still and mark me what I say For if thou knowst it not I le tell thee then A more severe revenger of thy wrongs Thou canst not have then those fair eyes of thine Which by those shining beams that wound my heart Punish me more then all the world can do What greater pain can'st thou inflict on me Then still to keep as fire before my face That lovely beauty which I have betrayd That beauty I have lost I have done ill Wretch that I am I have done very ill And though I do complain beleeve not yet I hope to purchase pardon by my plaints I know too well that from this breast of mine And from these eyes which
on my person for a time suspend Your hasty flight as once before you did When the renown'd Alcides was conceiv'd And let the restlesse Spokes and whirling Nathes Of my Eternal Chariot on the proud Aspiring back of towring A•las rest Nor let the shining God which by his beams Makes such a difference in your borr•wed lights Seem discontent that I usurp a while Vpon the time prescribed for my raign In our devided Empire for hims•lf Whil'st once he needs would stay to be a kind Spectator of anothers Victory Held in his hand his burning torch beyond The limits of his hours so to befriend That brave Heroick Hebrew in the fight He made against the opposers of his might But least perhaps the kn•wledge who I am Should seem as dark to any as my looks And this my gloomy visage seems obscure Let them that do desire to know my name And what the truth of my condition is Behold this Sable Chariot and observe These golden trappings and from thence collect Both who and what I am The heedlesse rout Of the self-heady multitude do call Me impious Nurse of Error mother of Enchantments and foul horror and a friend To Vice and wickednesse But I am she That do produce true Mirth and •ollity The quaint allayer of unquiet thoughts The sole dispencer of sweet pleasing dreams And Vniversal rest Great Queen of Shades Eternal Warrior That lead under the Colours which I bear Adorn'd with silver spangles Legions of Bright shining Stars which do incamp me round Whilst I arm'd all in darknesse do destroy The glorious day and after crown'd with lights And carried through this spacious Hemisphere In this eternal Chariot do triumph Over the day so foild 'T is I that to you Mortals shew the Mines Of precious Saphires and the treasure of Immortal Carbuncles and so divide Into a world of sparks one fire alone As shews a thousand shining Suns for one Night night the daughter of the earth I am Do you not know me you blest lovers Can You n•w forget her whom you oft have call'd The faithful Secretary of your close And amorous thefts how many times have I Conceal'd you under my black gloomy shades Whilest you have s•cretly past free from sight To reap your stoln delights And you young Damsels what sweet hidden joys What private pleasures have you of 't injoy'd Vnder the shadow of my dusky raies How often by the gentle virtue of This my sweet gentle son although he be Deaths elder brother have I chear'd your fain• And wearied spirits and r•stor'd you to The powers of life again and shutting up Your dull dim eyes have let your fancies see Those pleasing Images of Loves best joys Which rapt your souls into a Paradice O• amorou• delig•t• To you at least I cannot but be dear If I b not deceiv'd Magnanimous Brave Heroes since I alone am she By whom your everlasting monuments Describ'd in glist ring characters of gold And w•itten in the spacious volume of The vast celestial sphere amongst my clear Bright shining signs do live eternally Environ'd there with troops of glorious Stars Amongst a thousand others clearly shines He that so many cruel Monsters queld Nor can I doubt but I shall be as dear To you my amorous spectators who Within your sweet aspects do sweetly bear Beauty and Love since all my care is how To imitate in my bright shining Lamps The glorious beams which shine out of your eyes And since the Goddesse of rich beau•y and That lovely Star which gently doth inspire Into your gentle hearts the flames of Love Is not the least of those bright Sisters which Attend up•n my train From you I therefore do desire to kn•w The cause of this so rare an accident What is it I behold here is not this The Isle of Scyros this the River where Led by the power of Fate the Thracian ship All rent and torn so lately furled up Her weather-beaten sails 't is not long since I saw the brinish Waves fall swoln with pride So raise their fierce aspiring rage against High Heaven it self as that together with Those other Fishes which instead of Scales Are all adorned with bright shining stars The swift Celestial Dolphin might have swum Within the neighbouring Sea 'T is not long since I saw those flashing beams With blazing Ensigns of hot burning flames Run through the spacious Region of the Air And every minute threaten this whole Isle With endlesse Battels of confounding blasts And ever showring Rain Loud claps of Thunder with their roaring noise As Trumpets of the universe were heard Now here now there in those confused wars Of all the troubled Elements to sound The bold defiance of the winds Impetuous Whirl-winds with most horrid flaws Those blustring Combatants might then be seen With fearful Shocks to Iust and Tourney both In a fierce Duel 'twixt them two fought here Within the circuit of this Hemisphere Then tell me Mortals tell me who is he To whom high Heaven hath vouchsaf't that Grace To reconcile the disagreeing jars Of such fierce enemies and settle them Thus in a friendly peace Who is it that clears up my duskie looks Dries my now humide Mantle and thus gilds My sable hair that was so lately hung With dangling Pearls of cold congealed hail And moistned in the fogs of cloudy mysts What new created light thus forceth me To change my innate quality Behold The late distemper'd Heavens seem to smile The waters smile the earth adorn'd with flowers Opens her fruitful bosome and displaies Her various store in emulation of My brighter April stars I see no more now of a Tempest here But flashing beams of Honour blazing lights Of Love and Beauty O rare Miracle What cannot the all powerfull virtue of Divine Celestial beauty bring to passe Yours be the thanks blest eyes in whose Serene Triumphant Arches still so clearly shines A gentle Rainbow which can pacifie Not winds and storms alon• but all the Gusts Of a disturbed Soul But Oh! what glorious raies now dart their light Vpon my gloomy visage What bright Lamp With too much splendor blinds my feeble sight Though like an immense Peacock I do bear Within my train the sparkling glory of A thousand glittering eyes yet all come short Of this so bright an object and as one That still d•sires to gaze upon so clear So rich a Paradice of beauty now I wish I had a thousand more But stay for there me thinks I see the Sun Eternal Painter now begin to rise And Limn the Heavens in Vermilian Dye And having dipt his Pencil aptly fram'd Already in the colour of the Morn With various temper he doth mix in one Darkn•sse and light And drawing curiously Straight golden lines quite thwart the duskie skie A rough draught of the day he seems to yeeld With Red and Tawny in an Azure Field Already by the clattring of their Bits Their gingling harnesse and their neighing sound I hear Eous and fierce
not ere this At least in secret tell it to his heart Nerea Or else perhaps delighted with the fair Rich beauty of the gold as who can tell Perhaps she may desire it for her self For old in those that are the nicest can Both blear their eyes and dazle too their hearts Niso. What ere it be 't is more then time my soul Should be resolv'd at last Clo. But foolish I why do I thus retard My happiness too long too long alas My torments have endur'd Nerea Stand off a while I le put her out of doubt Clo. I will disclose my self Nerea Cloris Clo. Do not disturb me Nerea for my heart Cals me another way Nerea Yet stay a while thou art too squeamish now What i' st thou fear'st That in this ring some train of love is layd Against thy self be confident there 's none This gentle Shepherd here for Celia And not for thee for Celia I say And not for thee do'st thou conceive me For Celia he sighs and burns and dyes To Celia to whom he gives his heart To her this gift is sent but yet thou mayst In pitty be a means to give it her This is a smal request and more then this Is not desir'd of thee do thou but grant To be the Messenger and then let love Himself work out the rest Cloris Thersis Thersis for Celia Nerea Niso not Thersis Cloris Ah-me For Celia doth he sigh and burn and dye To Celia doth he send the Ring and I Must I conveigh his sacriligious gift Niso. Cloris is troubled and undoubtedly Will nocon sent Nerea Ah! though thou still be cruel to thy self At least to others yet be pittiful One gentle word to do another good Cannot it cannot sure impeach the height And Majesty of thy just rigor Niso. I hear Amyntas voice but see him not Amyntas Cloris Oh false perfidious love Oh faith betrayed Oh perjur'd Heaven Oh most wretched I Nerea Ah me and why so troubled wherefore thus Distracted do'st thou look and Cloris whether Whether away so fast at least restore The Ring again hark stay awhile Act. 3. Scen. 5. Niso. Amyntas Celia Niso. THou com'st in time in time Amyntas sure The Heavens did conduct thee to this place My life 's in question here Amyntas see But whether woes me whether are they gone Vanisht so soon What Cloris Nerea Cloris I say they have abus'd me both Follow Amyntas follow Amyn. Which way shall I follow Niso That And I will follow them about this Hill Celia Oh most delicious drink sweet to this taste Which thirsted after death Am•n. They do not keep the path and if they chance To take into the Wood I gaze in vain Celia I am here all alone now in the hands Of death why do not I then dye Niso. T•is way they are not gone is there left yet Another way to find Celia Ah me what do I see Niso. Amyntas look look there 's my Sun Amyn. Ah peace if she perceive us she will straight Vanish out of our sight and then those rays Will rather seem a flash of lightening then The chearful beams of this bright shining Sun Niso. Already she hath spyed us and it seems That even very now she looks this way But yet with high disdain And see'st thou not Me thinks she looks as she were full of woe I see in that fair face the Gilliflowers And Roses withered and look wonderous pale Celia They go not hence nor I cannot remove Nor yet doth death come to deliver Amyn. She reasons with her self and happily Shee 's angry that she findes us here Niso. But yet amidst those woes there may be seen A smiling beauty and a flour•shing Amidst those withered flowers Oh heavenly Oh thou diviner beauty can it be That other fair ones have the fairness of The richest coulours and the fairest flowers But she not as from them but from her self is fair Celia Unhappy eyes what ere the world hath fair May there be seen but not by you and then What more then death can you desire to see Niso. Ah me before so fair a fire I burn And fry in scorching heat and canst thou then Look on it and be mute and look again And yet not burn Ah! I cannot contain My self within this heat Amyn. Stay whether wilt thou go Niso. I must perforce I will speak to her straight And at the least I le tell her that I dye Amynt Speak to her man and do'st thou not then fear The force of her reproach hast thou forgot The cruel prohibition which she sent Did Nereas not tell it thee if then thou lov'st Beware thou do not move her to disdan Cel. But from a sight so pleasing wo is me Mine eyes doe drink new po yson and perhaps That may retard the operation of The drink I drunk before Niso. Shall I then dye in silence shall I dye Without a breathing fit no't shall not be The Plants at least shall hear the Plants shall hear The mournsull accents of my sad laments For they will be less deaf unto my moan Than Celia is to them hard hearted she Forbids me not to speak Celia What do'st thou death what darst thou not close up These eyes of mine which love keeps open thus Yet I must dye and though mine eyes delay My heart makes hast to goe that dismal way Shepheards doe you remove unto some other place Or I of force must flie from this Niso. Ah! thou most cruel Nymph Amynt Peace Niso peace do'st thou not see That with her foot already in the air She threatens to be gone le ts leave her then Le ts leave her here in peace and go our way The Woods doe not want trees to which thou mayst As well as to these Beeches here complain And in thy depth of sorrow sigh in vain Niso. Le ts goe O cruel Nymph Amynt Ah me most miserable Act. 3. Scen. 6. CELIA Cel. SOuls of my soul away from me you fly And 't is but reason since I needs must dye And now I dye but you dear lovely sights Which even now gave light unto mine eyes If ever you by chance on earth behold These most unhappy limbs here lye extinct Depriv'd of heat and motion not so much As one poor sigh no nor a tear I crave This only I entreat that your proud feet As just revengers of your injur'd hearts Would kick these bones unto the savage beasts And fling the dust thereof into the air But with that dust let then the air conveigh Into the den of deep forgetfulness All memory of my black sin O happy death If with my life my faults may vanish too But I still live and 't is perhaps because A few small hearbs cannot prevail with death He must have more and therefore I have here My lap full of them and I will renew Their poyson once again Ah me I dye Amyntas Niso Ah I dye O love Betrayed love O falsified faith Come now behold
and see the just revenge See and triumph behold the vengeance due Unto my fatal error see the end Of all my torturing pain Come gentle plant And stay the ruins of this falling bulk And since under thy shaddow I must dye Ah! with those leaves those withered leaves at least Which with the wind are tossed too and fro For pitty cover these unburied limbs But thou do'st fly me and so doth the earth The heavens hide themselves and wretched I Since neither earth nor heaven will receive This wofull soul where shall I then remain See see behold th' infernal deep there plac't You borrid furies whereon doe you gaze And thou black Cerberus why bark'st thou so Make room I come to bear a share in all The torments you endure or rather leave Leave all your pains to me begon and tell That I alone will here alone make hell Ah me ah me Act. 4. Scen. 1. SERPILLA CLORIS Serp. I Can no more stay here a while and give If not unto my legs yet to my heart A poor short breathing fit Clo. Stay where it like thee best for all vain Hither and thither I remove my steps But cannot find nor hill nor lowly plain Nor open air nor darksom shade that can Bring the least comfort to my wounding pain No place can give me ease but all alike Seems fitted to torment my wearied soul In this same very place my woes begun There first I view'd again my cruel foe And here I first discover'd it was he Here was I glad and here as suddainly With the short sound of one sad killing word Even in this very place unhappy I Slipt back again into my former pain And fell so swiftly down that precipice As death to me cannot but now appear Tardy and slow Serp. Phillis ah my dear daughter mitigate This fierce tormenting grief which thus infests Thy soul with fury for in fine if thou Consider well Thirsis is still thine own Nor lives she can deprive thee of thy hopes True faith betwixt your gentle hearts hath knit A lasting and indissoluble knot And love sometimes perhaps may be forgot But never a true faith that faith which once Iove with his thundring hand hath firmly writ And deep engrav'd in heaven Clo. But yet alass what can I gain thereby For faith depriv'd of love ties up our hands But fetters not our hearts and thus fast bound The bonds are too too hard For my part then Let them be loosed quite and let me live Free from that hand that lives without a heart No no Serpilla no if he deny His love to me his faith I do defie Serp. But thou dispairest yet before 't is time Thirsis beleeves thee dead and justly may Within his youthfull breast then entertain New flames of love and yet therein be free From the least shew of doing injury To that rich beauty which he thinks extinct And happily hath mourn'd for long ago But when he shall perceive thee here alive His old lost love will then with the revive Clo. That love Serpilla which can be remov'd With the light breath of an imagin'd death Is but a faint weak love nor care I much Whether it live again or still lye dead Even I my self beleev'd him long ago Dead and enclosed within an earthen Urn And yet abhorring any other love I only lov'd that pale-fac'd beauty still And those dry bones dissolved into dust And underneath their ashes kept alive The lively flames of my still burning fire Thou knowst it well who oftentimes hast seen And griev'dst to see my miserable state My misbeleeved death then cannot make His fault or yet my sorrows seem the less Ah me it cannot no but he is false Alass hee s false and I most wretched am Nor can his faithless error be excus'd Or my sad grief admit the least relief What shall I do then who shall counsel me Shall love alass it cannot when love meets With infidelity it rests depriv'd Of all advice then I must now repair For counsel to my fury and despair Serp. Come with me daughter or at least consent That I may go and seek thy Thirsis out I le have him know thee once again I must Once see you both confronted face to face And thou shalt hear then what himself can say And thence wee 'l take advice Clo. That ever he shall look on me again No I have not the heart I know too well That whilst I look upon his once lov'd eyes Their beams will mitigate my just disdain That just disdain which I must keep entire For mine own safety therefore peace no more No more of that Serpilla Serp. Yes but I must and he must once again See thee my heart I will not be denied He shall come see thee I will have it so If not to ease thy sad perplexed thoughts At least to aggravate his biting wo And now I go but Thirsis sojourns yet At young Amyntat house and this the path That leadeth thither by the shortest way Stay then at home or for me there leave word Where I may come to thee Clo. Yes yes go on go on Serp. O! if I could now be so blest to free Phillis and Celia both from misery Clo. I will leave word where thou mayst come to me But thou must come then to deaths darksom Cell For thither I perceive my sorrows will Bring me e'r long Thirsis thou nere must see This face again for there remains no more Comfort for me nor do I wish thy pain For false and cruel though thou be to me Yet I must love thee still Ah me I love And if my love can for no other cause Be dear to thee yet cruel let it be Dear as it will be cause of death to me Oh my ingrateful Thirsis Ah false man Phillis for thee was born liv'd by thine eyes And now for thee forsaken Phillis dyes Act. 4. Scen. 2. NISO I Here the name of Phillis and but now Me thinks it eccho'd through the empty ayre Unto my lovesick soul but whence then comes This faigned voice which thus recals again The cold dead ashes of my dying heart Unto there wonted flames can it be thou Or i' st not rather the fair gentle shade Of my lost Phillis is it that which strays Depriv'd of rest about these fields to draw My erring heart unto her love again Alas what wouldst thou have of me thou know'st That since thy death no part of me remains But tears and sighs and if thou take delight To see me greeve thou mai'st when ere thou please Whilest I live here renew the funeral pomp Of my sad tears and heart consuming sighs Take then these brinish drops rest satisfied With these deep groans which here I consecrate Unto our love and to thy sweet repose And re•• Ah me poor soul now rest in peace Act. 4. Scen. 3. Amyntas Niso. Amyn. HEe 's all alone Niso whom speak'st thou to Niso. To empty shadows my Amyntas Ah! I
sighs And thou thy self shalt then with endless joy Enjoy thy Niso's love Niso. O unaccustomed piety both of a friend And of a faithfull love I did him wrong To doubt his truth but now I do repent Amynt Then live still both and may you happy live Whilst I dye for you both and here I make A solemn vow to sacrifice my life To thee great love and in thy Temple there Let this poor carkass rest Niso. There is no longer time for silence now 'T were baseness to continue still reserv'd I have a heart can die Amyntas too Yea and a soul that can desire to dye Nay life it self is onely dear to me That I may live to dye and by my death Make both my love and friend live happily Cel. Shepheards forbear be silent both and both Content your selves 't is I 't is only I That have transgrest and only I must dye Live both still live and take no pitty on A cruel pittiless and savage beast Let not the love of a most faithless love Warm either of your hearts Can you beleeve This face these eyes these hapless dangling locks Oregrown with grief refus'd by palefac'd death Can ever now be worthy of your lov• Or love still if you will I le not gain say 't But yet love so that love may breath disdain No pitty in your hearts I love Amyntas doth not Niso then Hate me therefore And I love Niso can Amyntas then Be free from jealous hate Ah me if both If both of you hate not my falshood now 'T is too too sure you doe not love me then Love is not there where when just cause doth move He breaths not fury 'gainst a faithless love Woes me you injur'd lovers do not strive Betwixt your selves which of you dying now Should giue me life rather contend for this Which of you both should be the first to strike Me dying to the heart for 't is high time That I my self should now conspire with you Against my self and each of us should bring His talent to the work you hands of wrath And I my naked breast you your just darts And I my guilty soul and when you first Have pierc'st my heart I will breath out my life Thus you by wounding I by dying shall Revenge your wrongs and crown my funeral Act. 4. Scen. 4. Filino Celia Amyn••s Niso. Fil. ANd art thou here whom I had almost past Without perceiving thee I ran so fast Ah Celia dost thou not know thy Cloris ah What heavy news of Cloris dost thou bring Which may deserve these sighs Say doth she live or dye Filino Ah me she dyes Amyn. Unhappy fate Niso. What 's that he saith Celia Woes me and where and how Filino Within the Vale Celia Quickly dispatch Filino Gently for I can scarce recover breath Within the Valley of Alcander there I left her even now and there she lyes Not in the shade or on the new sprung grass But in the parching heat of the Suns beams Amongst rude rugged stones there with sad sighs She took her leave of Heaven and this fair light And with a mournful voice bad death make hast But he was too too near I saw him there Where he already with his wings abroad Had cast a gloomy shaddow ore her face Niso. O most unhappy day Celia Ah me what sad occasion wrought This sad effect in her Amyn. Perhaps the rumour which is spread abroad Of thy late death Oh Celia was the cause For if thou dye who would remain alive Niso. Amyntas is this Cloris unto whom I gave the Ring Amyn. The very same Celia O sad misfortune most unhappy chance Niso. Let us go thither Celia and perhaps We may find some relief Celia Filino le ts go Amyn. Where is it that thou say'st she lies Filino Within the Valley of Alcandor close Within the wood and yet not far away From the fresh springing fountain there You cannot miss but I will now return Unto my flocks to play with my young Kid Celia Ah! Cloris my sweet soul the Heavens grant That I may find thee but alive and then I cannot doubt but when thou hear'st what cause I have to dye thou wilt approve of all Give thy consent and parting kindly say Rest my dear heart in peace Filino Ho! Niso hark a word with thee Niso. What i' st Fil. 'T was almost quite forgot Niso. Speak quickly then for Celio flies away Folino Stay take it away thy self She put it on but I cannot undo 't Niso. Yes yes this is my Ring thanks to the Gods But yet what 's this I see here is the part Which Phillis had to boot 't is certain true For round about it plainly do appear The figures now entire which in mine own Were but by halves before My Filino where hadst thou this Filino Cloris did give it me Niso. And where had she it then Filino I know not that but when I softly came Unto the place where she did mourning sit I saw it lye before her on the ground And with her weeping eyes still fixt thereon She bath'd it with her tears and often cryed O false ungrateful Thirsis O unhappy Phillis Amyn. Ah me what can this be go on go on Filino And whether wouldst thou have me go Niso. How did she give it thee what did she say Filino She saw me and cal'd to me I obey'd And with her hand but a faint trembling hand Cold as a stone about my neck she clasp'd This hoop of gold and weeping to me said But in a tone that I could scarcely hear So weak her voice was gentle boy quoth she Go and the Heavens guide thee go with speed Carry this Ring that none my see it else Unto the Shepherd whom men here do call Niso and say to him Niso. What should'st thou say to him Filino Disturb me not Yes yes 't was even so Say that in this entire round hoop of gold He in Egyptian Charracters may read The falsified faith of Thirsis say I wish That he may still live happy in his love As I unhappy dye Niso. Ah me 't is Phillis out of doubt What need I fear yet see me now become In my best fortune most unfortunate O my sweet Phillis is it then decreed That I should finde thee once again alive Onely to be th' occasion of thy death Was not thy death sufficient in it self To make me miserable every way Unless my self became thy murderer Filino If thou wilt nothing more with me I 'me gon Niso. But thou unhappy Ring that all at once Art both th' accuser and the guilty cause Of my foul fault go thou into the depth Of dark oblivion Filino Alas 't is thrown into the stream Niso. There there accuse my fault prepare my pains And thither er 't be long I le follow thee Filino He 's grown so furious and so without sence As • begin to be amaz'd with fear And therefore I le be gon Niso. Fool that I am
could both sigh and weep For others love No sigh no tear can fall Which can have power to purchase ought of thee And since that nothing but my death can please Let then my death beg pardon for my fault Such powerful Sutors should not be deny'd Deny not then the thing it onely craves For I will dye and do thou pardon me That 's all I beg both for my wandring soul And for this frame when it is turn'd to dust Cloris Shepherd the Heavens know and love can tell Whether thou hast done ill or no he can Punish thy fault and let him pardon thee I a mean Silly Shepherdess a poor Abused maid forsaken and forlorn Have no•disdain which he need to regard Who did so slenderly regard my love Niso. Ah me Clo. Ah Thirsis Thirsis Narete Phillis was she before now Thirsis he Clo. Thou falsifier of those amorous sighs Can it be thou that mournest can it be And thou that hast already kill'd me thus Can it be thou that with such fervent zeal Desirest now to dye and dye for me Cannot thy stony heart rest satisfied With my tormenting pain unless thou strive Even in thy pitty to be cruel too 'T is faigned pitty and those sighs are faign'd I know them too too well faign'd are thy tears Thy grief is feign'd and feigned thy desire Yet can I not endure to see thee greeve Thou I am sure thou dost but feign to greeve The very naming of thy death affrights My poor afflicted soul be quiet then And live since thou hast one will dye for thee Live and in peace enjoy thy new lov'd love In which if thou hadst freedom by the bruit Of my supposed and perhaps by thee Long wisht for death I do not now desire My life should be the accuser of thy faults Or interrupt thy joys No I will dye Take courage then I le dye and pray the Heavens They may not arm their fierce revengeful wrath Against thy faults for if thou didst offend This heart endures for thee such horrid pains That heaven may well accept my sufferings For all thy foul offence Why say I mine No they are thine I had them all from thee And I endure them all to set thee free Act 5. Scen. 4. Melisso Niso Cloris Narete Mel. O Cloris how I tremble yet Dost thou not know my child nor do not you Kind Shepheards know who is that wofull wight That most unhappy wight that on the ground Did cast the proud insulting image of The Thracian Emperour Niso. And why with so much fear dost thou desire To know the man Mel. Ah if thou know him go and bid him fly Fly swift away or he 's but a dead man And shall we not be gone too daughter for Here come the Thracians hard at hand And now In greater rage than ever Clo. Why should I fly away from Thracians now When Thracians are to me my best beloved Ni•o. But why should that man dye and for what cause Mel. Their barbarous Law condemns him that 's enough Clori• lets go dost thou not know too well Hast thou forgot le ts go Nar. I prethee stay and tell me what new wo Their barbarous fury brings us which is still Fruitfull in bringing forth our miseries Mel. I le tel you then but yet do you mean while Look well about lest any of them come The Thracians have a Law that wheresoere The royal image of their tyrant Lord Shall be by any seen it shall be there By him ador'd And 't is no less than forfeit of his life Who shall by chance on set purpose shew The least contempt to it whoere he be Nar. Inhumane Law see if proud man cannot Exhalt his horns so high till towring up At last he doth confront even heaven it self Niso. Shepheard proceed Mel. The Captain with his troops was going up Unto the Temple there to see brought in The tribute of our children which we pay And I conceal'd within the bushes sate To view them as they past when one of them Who sure did come this way addrest himself Unto their Captain and thus humbly said Behold great Sir and gave him in his hand I know not what but sure it was of Gold For in those bushes I could see no more And scarcely could perceive the gold to shine Behold quoth he the sacred image here Which even now I found upon the bank Of a swift running stream O sacriledg I found it there cast down upon the ground Without respect to him whose shape it bears At which the rest foaming with rage and ire I know not whether out of custom or As an effect of fury rent their clothes And then the Captain taking by the hand Him that had brought the news of that misdeed Withdrew aside and talking with him there I by a secret path thence stole away And sure they cannot be far off but see See where they come ah daughter le ts away Nar. No for by going thus they may conceive Thee guilty of the fact Act. 5. Scen. 5. Oronte Niso Cloris Melisso Narete Perindo Oront FOr ceatain this is it this is the Ring I know 't exceeding well but yet the Law The Law is plain against the faulty man And he without all hope must lose his head Who cast the royal image on the ground Niso. Now Phillis thou shalt see whether my grief And my desire be feigned yea or no Oront If I can find the wretch if I can find But who it was that did possess this Ring Niso. He 's found already Sir and comes to take At thy great hands deserved punishment The Ring is mine and I am he that threw The royal image here upon the ground This is the faulty hand and this the head Condemned for the fact to be cut off Send for the sword then that it may revenge So capital a crime Mel. O desperate attempt come let us flie Le ts fly my dearest Cloris hence from death Clo. Fly thou unto the place that likes thee best For I must seek my life by meeting death Sir this man labours but to find the means To dye for me The Ring is mine and this the neck which now It hath encompast many years for see It bears the fresh impressions of it still The Ring is mine and I Niso. Ah Cloris Nar. Ah me Perind Shepheards forbear keep silence and take he•d That no man dare to move his foot or tongue Oront Thou Nymph goe on Clo. The Ring is mine and I was she that threw The royal image here upon the ground And if by dying I may satisfie For such a foul offence let no man else Pay for the forfeit I have made for I Even I too have a head which once cut off And separated from this liveless trunk Can find a way to fall and drench in blood The fatal sword which shall revenge the wrong Offer'd unto this sacred image here Niso. O peace a while great Sir she raves for love And
it will not become you to give ear Unto the dreams and fancies of a Soul Grown frantick in her Passion it is true And I will not deny but that she hath Her part in that same fatal ring but yet No share at all in the offence for when Or where was it she threw it or who can Bear witnesse of the fact I threw it there Just there before you on that craggy cliffe Which to the River lends a rugged Path I know the place full well Per. 'T is true and there close by the River side I took it up Niso. Fillino saw me when I threw it there Poor simple Fillino who wants the wit To frame a Lie and he will witnesse it Clo. Cruel though thou hast rob'd me of Both life and soul permit me yet at least The liberty to die Oro. What do'st thou say Perindo me thinks now In these their riper looks I do perceive The lively semblance of that sweet aspect Their younger age did bear Niso. Do'st thou my Phillis haply grieve to see That I that am thus guilty of thy death Should die for any other cause but thine Per. See what a strife love works sure these are they These are those pretty little Lovers mark How love himself is grown up with their age And he that like a Child in Thracia seem'd To play the little wanton in affection now Shews forth a perfect love which draws them thus Do you observe it to contend and strive How death in one may th' other keep alive Oron. Tel me young maid thy name where wer 't thou born• Who was thy father tell me that Mel. Her name is Cloris and Melisso mine She is my daughter and we both were born Within the fruitful fields of Smyrna Cloris Cloris of Smyrna and the daughter of Melisso I was cal'd whilst I desir'd Under these feigned names to fly from death But now I am no more that Cloris no I now am Phillis and in Thracia Some time I liv'd that Phillis I am now Whose death thy cruel Lord so much desires More of my self I know not this may serve If onely now thou aymest at my death Oron. Cheating old dotard darst thou then to me With such an impudent and shameless face Vent thy pernitious lies Mel. Mercy great Sir mercy I crave my life Lies now within your power Arban of Smyr•a tursted to my care The charge of this young maid and to avoyd Both hers and his and mine own danger thus I labour'd to conceal the truth Oron. Thou speak'st confusedly still nor am I yet Well satisfied in what I did demand Tell me in plainer terms how first she came To live within thy power Mel. Sir I will tell you but restrain a while Your just incensed rage Ah me Oron. Leave off those sighs and answer me with speed Mel. Then when the King of Smyrna did assault The Thracians confines with his armed Troops One of his men that Arban whom but now I named to you took as prisoners This Nimph then but a child and with her too A Boy about her age Niso. And lo Oron. Peace not a word but thou go on Mel. Their looks their cloaths and their behaviour Seem'd to declare their fortune was not mean And therefore Arban much delighted with So rare a booty fearing least the King Might afterwards deprive him of his joy Keeps them conceal'd Nor cares he to obey A strict decree that every souldier should Deposite in his Royal hands such spoyls And all such prisoners as he had got Mean while the King of Thracia full of rage With threatening terms demands his children back Nor can I tell whether that strict demand Proceeded from desire to see them dead Clo. Oh? did not Arban tell thee that it did Hast thou not told me so a thousand times From whence then on a suddain rise these doubts Mel. Arban 't is true did tell me so but yet Perhaps with art he feign'd it purposely You Sir are like to know Oro. I know full well proceed Mel. The King of Thracia urgeth his demand The King of Smyrna hears no news of them And yet desires to send them back to Thrace So to appease the high displeasure of His now incensed enemy and to obtain A speedy wisht for peace And therefore straight proclames just punishment To him that should conceal and large reward To him that should discove• what he sought Arban that fear'd his yet conceal'd theft At last might come to light conveighs them both By night unto the neighbouring mountains where He oft times us'd to hunt and there •e chang'd Their habit and their names fully resolv'd They should unknown lead a rude ru••ick life In country base attire and that the •ne Might not be by the other sooner known To me he gave this maiden and the boy Unto Dametas an inhabitant Of a remoter tract Besides as one that knew 't was ill to tr•st Two loving souls in two such tender breasts He made the two young lovers each beleeve The other surely dead Oron. And how from Smyrna then art thou become A dweller here in Scyros Mel. The fury of the War increased still And as if it intended to assault High heaven it self it first ascended up Into those towring hills and I Poor I alas when I beheld with grief An inundation of fierce armed men To break in round about when I beheld Troops of proud furious horsemen swarm below And fill the neighbouring Vales when I did hear The shril mouth'd Trumpets eccho from the hills With fearfull Birds and harmlesse heards of Beasts I took me to my flight and hither came Where my Progenitors at first did live I flying came to Scyros but Ay me Where can we flie from that which Heaven wills Since the great power of Heaven all places fills Oro. And of the youth Mel. I can tell nothing more of him Niso. If for his death thou askest after him Great sir he is not far behold me here I am that Thirsis whom Arbano gave Unto Dametas and with him I liv'd Untill last April when the warmer Sun Return'd again to melt the Icy snow Then I alone within a steerlesse Bark By an impetuous torrent far from help Was driven off to sea where onely fate Provided me of Sails and in short space I know not how but I was safe convey'd And cast upon this Shore Clo. Sir I begin to faint grief breaks my heart And if thou make not hast it will deprive Thee of the honour of my death Niso. Give ear to me Sir and let her alone At least till I be dead Oro. I do both hear and understand enough I see that both of you desire to die And I will give you both content Per. Alas what wil you do Sir Oro. Perindo peace Mel. Ay me I go for 't is not possible That living I should here behold my death Oro. But let us go unto the Temple straight That in a place of greater eminence And with more