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
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
His snares he slily wins on every heart And beaten off by force prevails by art Daph. Love at first in storms appears Waited on by sighs and tears Love has touch'd thee tho too late Into fondness turn'd thy hate Ah Amintas Sylvia's chang'd Weeps for Love and thou' rt reveng'd Now thou mayst the Conquest boast Which if living thou hadst lost Thou hast Dying left behind Such a sting in Sylvia's mind As will work more mischief there Than thou ever feltst for her Bees thus can 't their Stings outlive But perish with the wounds they give If thou' rt as I believe a Spirit fled From the bright mansions of the dead From heavenly Groves and sacred streams To play unseen about her Limbs See Sylvia weeps behold how much she 's mov'd You lov'd alive and are when dead belov'd ' If Destiny had so decreed ' That thou shouldst for thy Mistress bleed ' If in her thoughts she had resolv'd that this ' Whene're she sold her Love should be the price ' 'T is thine now thou hast done thy part ' And with thy Life hast bought her heart Chor. Too vainly sold and bought too dear ' For him too hard too infamous for her Syl. Oh that my Love could fetch again his breath Or my heart purchase him of Death Oh that my Life could be the Price I 'd gladly part with it for his Daph Too late you 're pitiful and wise Your tears are useless and in vain your sighs ACT IV. SCENE II. Ergastus Chorus Sylvia Daphne Ergastus PIty and horror have so far Possest my Soul I know not what I hear or see but every thing I meet amazes and afflicts me Chor. What tydings hast thou brought which make Thy looks thus troubled and thy words Confus'd Ergast I bring the bitter news Of poor Amintas death Syl. What is' t he says Ergast The noblest Shepherd of these Woods The kind the gay the gentle Swain Our Virgins and the Muses darling Young as he was is dead but how Oh! who can tell or hear it told Chor. Tell all that we may mourn with thee His sad misfortunes and our own Syl. Oh! how can I stay to hear This most horrid story out Where is all my fierceness now Oh! my heart so haughty once Shew thy Pride and if thou canst Stay and hear it all unmov'd Speak then what thou hast to say Shepherd let me know the worst Tell it me I 'm most concern'd Speak I 'm ready for thy news Ergast Nymph I know thou art concern'd Dying the Despairing wretch Call'd on thee and with thy name Finish'd his unhappy Life Daph. Prithee begin the dismal tale Ergest Sitting on yonder Hill where I Had laid some Nets I saw but now Amintas run that way his looks Distracted and his carriage wild His eyes his mein so chang'd I thought That something strange might happen since I lest the Vale he spy'd and shunn'd me Fearing the worst I then pursu'd O'retook and stopp'd him he grew calm Begg'd me to go and see him do A thing which he pretended then He was oblig'd to do but first Forc'd me to swear I would not stir Beyond the bounds he set nor lift My hands to hinder him I swore By Pan by Pallas by Pomona And all our Sylvan Deities Alas not thinking what he meant I would not stir nor lift my hands Unless he gave me leave This done He led me to a Precipice Where from the margent of the H Directly down the pathless dale Between high Blocks appears my head Grew giddy I stepp'd back afraid To view the depth Amintas smil'd And look'd serenely which deceiv'd My fears and made me more assur'd Thus then he said Ergastus tell The Nymphs and Swains what thou shalt see Since since he cry'd and then look'd down The Gods will not permit my end To be the same with Sylvia's since My Limbs must not be torn like hers And I 'm deny'd the Paws and Teeth Of Wolves to use as they serv'd Her lovely Body I must take Whatever death they please to send These Rocks direct the way I wish I had deserv'd the same with hers But this is sure and short Oh see I follow thee my Sylvia don't Disdain my Company in death I 'd dye contented were I sure ' I would not displease thee I should then Oh Sylvia follow thee with joy I come I follow thee I come And saying this He threw him headlong down While my heart chill'd to see him fall Daph. Oh miserable youth Sylv. Oh Heavens Chorus But why Ergastus did you not prevent him Was it your Oath that ty'd your hands And kept you back Ergast No I despise Such Oaths and look on them as vain When I perceiv'd his folly went So far and his deliberate despair Ready to fling him from the Precipice I ran to save him and as fate Would have it came in time enough To catch him by the Girdle which The burthen of the Body broke And left it rent thus in my hands Cho. Where went the miserable Body then Ergast I know not what became of that Horror and Pity struck my soul So deeply I had not the heart To see it dash in pieces Cho. Oh strange Oh woful accident Sylv. Sure my heart is made of stone Or it must have bled to death E're the dismal tale was done Oh! if he could dye for me One who hated him so much When he falsely thought me dead What shall I do now I know He is certainly no more I must dye and dye 1 will Swords and Rocks are left for me This precious Girdle is preserv'd To revenge its gentle Lord. Unhappy Girdle Dear Remains Of thy more unhappy Lord Be not angry that thou' rt kept From thy Master 't is to be The Instrument of Vengeance On the Maid for whom he dy'd I should I own I should have been Amintas kind Companion here But since I can't be so I will By thy assistance quickly follow him And bear him company in Death Chor. Comfort thy sell poor Virgin 't is The hand of Fate and not thy fault Sylv. Why weepst thou Swain if 't is for me Weep not for I deserve no tears No pity I who never knew What pity was If 't is for him For poor Amintas thou mayst weep A Sea of Tears and yet want more Daphne if thou dost mourn for me For Heavens sake prithee mourn no more I beg not out of pity to my self But out of pity to the man Who merited thy Love that thou Wouldst help me gather up his Bones And lay 'em in a Grave 't is this Which only shall prolong my Life This friendly office all that I Can pay him for his heart shall be my care The Piety of such a deed By my vile bands will be denfil'd Yet I believe whate're these hands Shall do for him will please his Ghost Since spite of all his wrongs I 'm sure He lov'd me to the last Daph. I 'll go And help
me and set Your souls against the cause of so much woe Oh! that you ail could in this minute lose Your native tenderness and that your rage Were equal to your hate that I might soon Be sent to meet him in those blissful plains Where he himself will treat me with more love Alfib. Sylvia forbear these sad complaints And don 't afflict your self for things Which heaven has wonderfully made The subject of our joy Amintas lives Syl. Ha Daphne whither are we got I heard a voice which said Amintas lives And in the midst of grief invites to joy Ha! see what heavenly vision strikes my eyes Behold it well my Friend and tell me then If any thing but my Amintas self Could look more lovely 'T is Amintas self I know him now I feel him at my heart It dances in my breast and bids me do What Love commands and you must all excuse Falls on Amin. Chorus How can Sylvia do all this She who is so proud and nice One would think should be asham'd Elpin Shame sometimes where Love is weak Keeps some Maids from being free But when it grows strong like hers Love 's too powerful for shame Syl. Where where is he who said Amintas lives Let him come here and tell me if he can Why his eyes languish why he looks so pale Why lifeless when his Sylvia clasps him thus And deaf to all she says Ah speak my Love Inform me if my glances hurt thy eyes And drive away thy Soul from what it loaths Whoe're thou art that said Amintas lives 'T was falsely said and with a vile intent To shew me hope and leave me in despair He lives indeed but in a better world Whence now methinks I hear him call on me And Sylvia's name is in Elysium sung Amin. Where am I on what happy Region thrown What Musick wakes me from the arms of death And charms me with the name of my belov'd Oh! all ye Glorious Spirits who in peace And perfect bliss possess these sacred Groves Direct me to the Bow'r where Sylvia waits For me whom now she can no longer hate Since all Paradice are friends Sylv. He speaks he lives and injur'd as he was Talks kindly of me still Look up Amintas Look on thy Sylvia with thy usual joy And let thy Eyes speak kindly like thy Tongue Amin. Who breathes new life into me with her kisses And quickens me with her embraces Ha! my Love My Sylvia winding in my arms I can scarce Spare time to ask the meaning of these things Have not I seen you all and been your friend And is not this the darling of my Soul Yes yes 't is she her Beauty shews 't is she Nor could I feel such Transports with another Alfib. His Love prevents my Art and he revives Faster than I expected Elpin But I fear The violence of such excessive bliss Will prejudice his health Chorus I rather think Its violence will help to cure him Alfibeus you must tell him what 's Most proper for his safety Alfib. I believe His safety is secur'd in Sylvia's Love How fares Amintas Amin Oh all is well and I begin to think Love has for me done Miracles to day Thyr. Love has indeed done Miracles to save Thy life and soften Sylvia's heart Syl. Tell us no more 't will interrupt our bliss Let him not know what dangers he has scap'd When he reflects how barb'rous I have been He 'll loath me for my Cruelty and hate A Maid who so unjustly hated him Amin. Oh Sylvia we 'll not think of what is past I 'll not enquire how I became so blest But thank the Gods and thee for what I know As for the rest thou could'st not but bâ— jâ—â—… And love decreed the troubles we have known To shew his Pow'r and make our bliss the greater Elp. There 's nothing wanting but Mantanâ—'s word To make 'em both as happy as they with Cho. They need not question his consent He longs to see his Daughters Sons To sport about him and revive His Age and soon will grant what they desire Alfib. Then let us to her Fathers house repair And see him join their hands and share his joy Amint. You all may by my fate perceive The Laws which Love prescribes Mankind By which Eternally he rules His Empire here Are not fantastastical and hard As sometimes we suppose his works Tho they 're mysterious are wise And such as we should ne're condemn With how much art thro' hidden ways And paths unknown he leads to bliss And when we think him ready to destroy He opens Paradice and leaves our Souls in joy FINIS