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
are arm'd with death Commits new Murders every hour And kills when she has no design to wound Thyr. Where Daphne can you find a Maid So weak so innocent so young As to be ign'rant of her Charms They early deck themselves with smiles They know the wounds their Eyes have made They know to what will cure those wounds And raise their Slaves from misery to bliss Daphne Who teaches 'em all this Thyr. The same That teaches Nightingales to sing The Peacock how to spread his Plumes That teaches Bulls to use their Horns The Ram to push and Fish to swim Nature instructs em what to do Without the Mother or the Nurses help Daphne Nay Thyrsis now I plainly see Thou' rt both malicious and a fool But to speak truth I don't believe That Sylvia is as ignorant As she pretends for t'other day I found her in the little Isle That stands in yonder spacious Meads Encompast with a Crystal Lake In whose clear Waters she beheld Her Beauties ravish'd with the sight She seem'd to ask 'em how to place Her hair and put her Garland on She often with her Cheeks compar'd A Rose and Lillies with her Neck On Rose and Lilly then she look'd With scorn as if she said O Flow'rs Yield yield to me I wear ye now That you may blush to be outdone And not for ornament for see I 've better Graces of my own While thus she with the Waters play'd She look'd around and spy'd me out She drest herself in haste and dropt Her Flow'rs asham'd to be perceiv'd I laugh'd aloud and she I saw Was more asham'd to see me laugh Yet did not dress her in such haste But to the Fountain once or twice She ran to fee her hair was set In order and with pleasure saw Those locks in sweet confusion flow Which haste had forc'd her to neglect I look'd and laugh'd and said no more Thyr. I ever did believe as much Tho I could never prove it true Daph. I 've heard that once the Nymphs and Swains Scorn'd to adorn themselves by art Nor was it thus when I was young But now alas the world grows old And older as it grows decays Thyr. The Citizens then seldom came To us the Shepherds seldom went To them but all things now are chang'd We learn their manners and forget Our Customs by observing theirs This Daphne is not our concern D' ye think that Sylvia ne're will let Amintas talk with her alone Or when you only shall be by Daph. I can't tell She 's extremely proud Thyr. And he respectful to extreams Daph. Respect in Lovers is a Vice You who are his friend should tell him That to succeed he must be told Sollicit sue entreat demand And if this method may not take Seize on the blessing he desires Don't you know Thyrsis womens tricks They only fly to be pursu'd Refuse what they would have ye take And fight that you may overcome I tell you freely all our faults And beg they may not be expos'd Thyrsis You need not fear that I will speak More than you would have me say But I conjure thee by the thoughts The pleasing thoughts of thy past youth That you 'll assist Amintas in his Love And save the wretch from death Daph. By my part youth the only thing Which if I could I would forget Yet this you now conjure me by Well what is' t you would have me do Thyr. You want no counsel you can tell As well as I what must be done To save him if you 're so dispos'd Daph. Sylvia and my self anon Are to bath us in the Brook Which is from Diana call'd Where the Nymphs that love the Chace Play beneath the Plantain shade In the fiercest heats of noon There I tell you Sylvia baths And leaves naked all her Charms Thyr. What then Daph. What then Why thou' rt a fool Can't you guess my meaning then Thyr. I guess your meaning tho I fear Amintas will not dare to do 't Daph. Not dare then truly he may stay Till me seeks him Thyr. 'T will be no more Than he deserves ' Daph. Enough of this ' Let 's now talk something of your self ' D' ye never Thyrsis think of Love ' If I remember well your age ' You 're not much older yet than he ' This is the season of desire ' Methinks you should not waste your youth ' In idleness but long to taste ' What 't is to Love ' For that 's the only comfort of our lives ' Thyr. The man who hates to be in Love ' May be as fond of its delights ' As one that languishes in tears ' He shuns the bitter and enjoys the sweet ' Daph. The bitter relishes the sweet ' The pleasure you come at with ease ' Soon cloys and is not half so great ' As that which you must get by pain ' Thyr. And I had rather soon be cloy'd ' Than always hunger after food ' Daph. But when the food is once possest ' 'T is then you taste it with delight ' And fain would taste again ' Thyr. Who can be when he will possest ' Of such rich food ' And taste it when his hunger calls ' Daph. He that ne're seeks can never find ' Thyr. 'T is dangerous to seek the Joys ' Which pleas'd perhaps when they are found ' But plague us more if mist ' When sighs and tears are not requir'd ' Thyrsis may be in love again ' I 've wept and sigh'd my share and now ' Let others take their turn ' Daph. You could not stay for your reward ' Thyr. Rewards may be too dearly bought ' And such I 'm not ambitious of ' Daph. You 'd better be inclin'd than forc'd to Love Thyr. ' I who from the reach of Love ' Live so far despise his power ' By my distance I 'm secure ' Daph. Who lives beyond the reach of Love ' Thyr. Such as fear and fly his snares ' Daph. Such as fear him fly in vain ' Love has Wings as well as Fear ' Thyr. When young his Feathers are so short ' He hardly can extend his Wings ' And has not strength enough to fly ' Daph. None perceive him when he 's young ' E're you 're certain of his birth ' His Wings grow large are fit to spread ' And he has strength enough to fly ' Thyr. Those who have been never caught May be tempted by his Baits ' Daph. Well let 's see if you can still ' All his baits and snares escape ' Do your best for if at last ' You should be surpriz'd again ' If I ever hear you sigh ' See you languish weep and mourn ' If you mould be griev'd to death ' And a touch a step or word ' Would assist thee in thy Love ' Thou shouldst want such little helps ' And dye unpity'd with despair ' Thyr. Could ye Daphne see me dye ' That indeed would be severe ' If you long to see me Love ' Love
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