what have they committed Worthy of such a punishment for having Hid their love from you lived in your Court Under the name of brother and of sister Deceiv'd the hope and envy of their Rivals Conserv'd their honour and perhaps their life â—s this so great a crime as should be punish'd By charmes which have no end must they be made To dye and to revive continually By turns and by a strange unworthy fate The living be inforc'd successively Still to lament the dead their pittious cryes And hideous clamours give both souls mouths Unto those rocks to join in plaints with me The whole Isle's moved with them and disturb'd PARTHENIA Madam I join in this petition Vouchsafe to hear me O forbear to dart Thunder and wrath upon this happy place Where the Gods liberally pour upon mortals So many and so great felicities Begin not to disturb the sweet repose Of an abode that 's favoured by Heaven To please those Shepheards whose devotions May fix upon some other Sanctuary More safe and other Soveraigns more sweet THIMANTES Yes Madam stop the mouth of this sad murmur Let it be smother'd this inchantment hath Continued too long break break the charm And pacifie our spirits immediately Which are astonished at this proceeding ISMENIA If in the freedom which J use too frequently My mouth might date to speak and not diplease you I should then tell you that this rigid course You take would leave you here ner Shepheardesses Nor Shepheards they would seek this place no more For their retrait and sanctuary but shun it Like a destroying rock and this fair Iland The glory of the world would be a wilderness To enjoy subjects rule your passions better â—â—d be more soveraign over your self MELISSA Shepheards and Shepheardesses your discourses Astonish and surprize me know my Art Is a sufficient warrant for my actions J could do greater yet and stranger too Though this which you have seen seemeth unjust Unto you have you any right or priviledge To complain to me and to murmur thus Much less to reprehend and censure me How should the bold Shepheard Thersander dare To injure me and to deride my power Should he presume to lay aside his duty And respect for me and I wink at it That so can punish such an insolence Presume it not the blood of Zoroastres Is not yet born under so ill a star J know its influence better and can use it To the destruction of those that wrong me Yes Shepheards I am skilful in the qualities Of herbs and roots and as I have occasion J chuse them some for poyson some for medicine When I wil I prescribed some to confound The memorie and to distract the spirit But those obnoxious weeds I never use But for their punishment that do offend me Have I not reason to maintain my rank In dignity and honour those that dare To brave me without doubt hazard themselves My scepter's guarded with enwreathed serpents Whose fearful aspects bid all keep aloof And threaten death to those that dare to touch it Thirsis hath felt their stings what reason had he To be an enemy to his ovvn fortune And interest in foolishly refusing The honour of the name to be my Nephevv I will advance him and expect that he Shall yet accept this honourable title Of Husband to my Neece Parthenia Your colour changes but in vain you hide Your thoughts from me I can discover them I know that you love Clidamant and more What you design and what you do discourse But understand both one and t'other of you That I must be obey'd in what I will My power can force it take heed ye provoke not My anger if J may not be belov'd J will be fear'd PARTHENIA Madam MELISSA It is enough You know my prohibition CLIDAMANT I hope To bend her but at present let 's say nothing THIMANTES We all know your high rank and quality With reverence and respect so in that notion We imploy but our prayers to perswade you They are our onely arms be touched with them And dissipate these charms Thersander now Begins t' awake out of his fatal fit You 'l hear his plaints and clamours presently His cryes and his despair for his dear Mistress This is the hour wherein he is tormented This object without doubt before your eyes Will raise up pitty Madam in your heart His sighs will quench your anger and prevail Much more then we see he begins to move Madam you will be touch'd to hear him speak SCENA IV. THERSANDER DIANA MELISSA ISMENIA PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT THIMANTES THERSANDER by DIANAS body O Lamentable object why mine eyes Were ye not cover'd with eternal darkness That J might not have seen this fatal spectacle Oh! what cause have I to complain of fortune That my sleep is not the last sleep of death In the night of the Grave I should take rest And not be ty'd to die thus all my life I should be there but dust and this sad sight Should not have martyred my heart and eyes Yes my dear Mistress sometime my delight Thy sight is now my greatest punishment And in this sad estate wherein I see thee Thou which wert once my joy art now my grief Thy body 's but a trunk that gives me horror Thy head all over's smoaking with thy blood The graces lodge no more there I see death In every place where I saw love before How dost thou live no more then have I lost thee As soon as found thee hopes born and destroy'd With an immortal love fantosine of fortune Which lasts good but a day wealth too soon lost Brightness too soon put out excessive joy To which so many plaints so soon succeed Why in that splendor where with all you slatter'd My name did you promice so much unto me And give so little Fair eyes sometimes conquerous Whose lightsafe shut up in eternal night In spight of all my prayers call me not From death unto the light is' t possible That I can see here what Diana sees not No no I live no more since she is dead Yet my heart moves but this last strugling is But a small spark that 's left behind and shines A little after death 't is but a vapour An exaltation a wind a smoak Last dying and last kindled I am coming To join with thee object of my desire To give thee soul for soul and sigh for sigh Death is my aid my hope is but in her I will express that I am faithful to thee In that not able to survive thy fate I put my self into the arms of death CLIDAMANT Madam you see how great his torment is And whereunto your hatred hath reduc'd him You see besides how far without proportion Of the crime to the punishment the power Of your inchantment goes these woods weep at it And these rocks which before heard no complaints Are pierc'd now with his cryes and become soft And sensible the Eccho likewise mourns And should you
THERSANDER Madam this Merchant doth compose Romants And tells you all these strange adventures only To shew his wit and faculty that way MELISSA Yet his discourse in not without some ground I find good reason so to judge of it If I remember well you willingly Did put the interest of Celia Into your sisters hands she promised To make all fair of that side and to answer To you for her Merchant another time See us again How both of you abuse me With an Imposture form'd under false name 's To carry on your love in a disguise What in my Palace in my Court my presence Sport with my person thus in a contempt Insolent wretches you shall feel what force My anger hath when thus provok'd I 'l make you THERSANDER Oh Madam MELISSA Go Impostor thou shalt answer For all the troubles of my heart none ever Affro ntd me yet without punishment I 'l sacrifice you both to my disgrace In such a manner that ye shal repent Eternally that e'r ye made me blush Depart my sight THERSANDER O what misfortune 's this MELISSA to MELINTUS See that you separate them one from another In several apartment that they may Hold no discourse together O misfortune Not to be parallell'd What shall I do Of whom should I take counsel in this case Shall I hear yet my love that murmureth Ought I to suffer or repel the injury It is resolv'd in my offended heart That those black Passions shal succeed my love By which the soul when in disorder breaks The chain wherewith she 's ti'd break forth my fury And ruine these ingratefull they shal know My power as they have seen my goodness to the They shall not mock at my simplicity Nor reproach me for my credulity How treacherous Thersander oh that name Thersander combats yet within my heart In its defence my spirits at this name Are wavering and my anger 's weak my hate Is in suspense I am not pleas'd with that Which I demand I fear what J would most Ha traitor must J to torment my self Suspend my judgement upon thy destruction Must J dispute the case within myself As doubtfull to determine no pass sentence Against him for this barbarous affront Arm my despair and inspire thou my rage And let me see how faithfully my Art Will serve my vengeance in the punishment Of these ingratefull Lovers I intend not To give a sudden death to either of them But they shall suffer that which shall be worse By the effect and strange force of my charms They shall have without dying every day A thousand deaths I will continually By turns afflict the sad eyes of the Lover And of his Mistress both of them shal see That they may suffer equally each other To die and to revive this punishment Is strange and cruell but 't is that I use In my revenges come why loiter we In our design my heart like flint shall be Insensible of their calamity The end of the Fourth Act. ACTUS V. SCENA I. CLIDAMANT PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT MIne eyes and ears ne'r saw nor heard the like The miserable cryes of those poor Lovers Fill all these places with astonishment Thersander and Diana are so chang'd I could scarce know them as I now came from them Pale death by turns skipping from face to face Can't make them yet to dye unto their love But Madam is it true what 's publish'd here Among the people that those strange inchantments Come from Melissa PARTHENIA Yes they are the works Of her Art without doubt she could do more yet Nothing 's too hard for her the destiny Of mortals seems to be held in her hands And as she pleaseth she disposeth it What can she not do when she is in choler The miserable Thirsis feels th' effect And rigour of her power by sad experience Hath not same yet inform'd you with his sufferings CLIDAMANT Yes Madam J have heard them fully spoken PARTHENIA You know then that he lov'd Roselia And so deceiv'd the expectation And desire of the Nymph who hitherto Design'd him for my husband and knows not That I have love for you to her commands This Shepheard was Rebellious what did she Roselia was fair she became sick She wept she pined she complain'd the brightnes Of her fair eyes extinguish'd in a moment The whiteness of her Lillies as soon faded And of so many beauties there remain'd Only the place where sometime their seat was Her Lover that perceiv'd her taken from him Seeks her in every place but cannot find her That was a Master-piece of her Apprentiship But this without doubt is another work Of higer knowledge if in her resentment But for my interest she made poor Thirsis A miserable Lover judge how far She may be carried mov'd at her offence In her revenge for her own interest CLIDAMANT If the Nymph knew the love I have for you I could expect no other usage from her She would without doubt cause me to be carried unto some fearfull Island where I should Be rendered miserable all my days But let her art do what it can against me Imployed by her hate it shall work nothing Upon my faith to do it prejudice Oh! could I flatter me with the same hope That you would have like constancy for me PARTHENIA You need not doubt of it I 'm wholly yours My love is strong and little fears her anger I 'l keep it still sincere and firm unto you And you shall find me constant unto death Should she destroy me with her power kil me I 'le rather dye my self then my affection My life can't pay the debt J owe unto you SCENA II. ISMENIA THIMANTES PARTHENIA CLIDAMANT ISNENIA WHat strange news do we hear is it true Madam That by th' effects of fortune and inchantment Thesander and Diana dye by turns And live again to wail their miseries PARTHENIA Ismenia t is too true they are inchanted THIMANTES If I durst speak my thoughts what I 've heard They impute this injuftice to the Nymph PARTHENIA It is not to be doubted but she is The Author of it and this cruel punishment Denoteth that she studies high revenge When she 's offended CLIDAMANT Whatso'er her power be Which causeth fear let us go presently With our complaint unto her in my judgement This is no way to make her self obey'd Fear is the parent not of love but hate And that same fatal art which her revenge Calls to her aid establisheth her crime And not her power But here J see she comes SCENA III. MELISSA MELINTUS CLIDAMAT PARTHENIA THIMANTES ISMENIA MELISSA to MELINTUS WHat doth this stroak surprize thee MELINTUS Truly Madam Their punishment's too great and all the Jsfland Murmureth at it MELISSA Shepheards what say you Can J revenge me of an injury CLIDAMANT Ye Madam and th' estate wherin y 'ave put them Hath made all those their friends that envi'd them Hear our petitions for them and be pleas'd To do them justice
heart the ey hath then more light The face receiveth thence its full perfection Then we esteem us then we please our selves And know out utmost value we correct By art even to the least defect we call Our Glass to counsel in the ordering Our gate our carriage and our countenance There our eye cheers with smiles or kills with frowns Or faintly darts its glances or with strength Either to wound neer hand or further of Therefore once more for thy own interest I say unto thee love at least a little Thersander that adores thee DIANA Really Thou dost surprise me to speak thus unto me Thou that hast never yet had love nor thought Tending to that sick passion thou that mak'st So many Lovers only for thy glory Without remembring one of them thou that Pleasest thy self by turns in their discourse Thou that wilt gain all conserve thee nothing Thou sufferest Thimantes to adore thee To day but tell me wilt thou entertain His love to morrow ISMENIA I love but I have alwayes had my method In love the Lover that is troublesome Unto me is my Lover for a day I burn not yet for love not do I sigh for 't I make a sport on 't still but ne'r a torment In thrusting no one of I 'm every day Attended by a multitude of servants That present courtship to me and all strive Who shall be formost on whom I command And raign as Princess they suppose they please me In putting up my praises when I go Unto the Temple they fail not to follow And carefully to tread in all my steps I am not pleas'd to see in such brave Shepheards A troop of slaves attending on my train I please them all in flattering their desires I 'm much delighted when I make them jealous Provided that their jealousy extend not So far as to betake themselves to arms For th' honour of my beautyl this high point Of evidences might perhaps enrage Even all my other lovers DIANA Ha! how ill Thou know'st love and his maximes I behold Thy changes as so many crimes for my part If my heart were ta'ne with an object once I could not pass from love unto contempt I should be fix'd unto my first Idea And that God wholly should possess my thoughts ISMENIA Well then Diana love if thou think'st fit Beyond the grave and make so fait a fire Arise beneath thy ashes DIANA Oh alas ISMENIA What signify those sighs DIANA They signify The sorrow of the heart ISMENIA But whence proceeds That sorrow is it from thy brothers death Or from some lovers come deal plainly with me Dost thou not love Thersander yet at last DIANA No I assure thee ISMENIA Speak I 'm very secret DIANA I 'le tell thee then in Sevil I receiv'd Both life and love Cleagenor Ismenia Is the name of the Conquerour whose image Is graven in my heart ISMENIA O Gods how this discourse Hath cosened my thought I was about To give instructions but pursue DIANA Our parents Approv'd our love and the day for our marriage Already was appointed when Nearchus Provoked by an infamous desire Came to solicit me unlawfully In favour of his flame this favourite Unto the King after a passion painted And coloured with sighs called his presents To the assistance of his faith but this Proving effectless he resolv'd my ruin He came with open force to satisfy His beastly and unruly appetite And to that end would carry me away My Mother having notice at that instant Of his design made me to take a drink To frustrate it and then her subt'le policy Spread through the Town the rumour of my death Indeed the vertue of this drink procur'd me So long a sleep that it appear'd to be The sleep of death Nearchus terrified With this sad news came to behold it painted Upon my face remorse of conscience Within his heart then quarrel'd with his love His sad despair arm'd him to kill himself But whilst his soul was troubled herewith I was conveyed secretly into A Bark scarce had I yet finish'd my sleep But at my first waking I saw my self Upon the Sea My Mother then related The whole adventure to me and the secret Imposture of my feigned death when suddenly A storm brake the discourse horrour and death March'd on the floods alas what shall I say Our vessel being carried by the fury O' th' winds and waves was split upon a rock The several pieces floated on the waters I know not which o' th' Gods took care of me In putting one under my trembling hand Which making me pass on those moving graves Through the disturbed empire of the winds Carried me to the shore in all apparence Devoid of life here in this quiet Island Of Erithrea where Melissa raigns My body found a receptacle she Returning at that instant from the chase Perceiv'd it lying which th' enraged Sea Yet threatened on its banks and that same God Which would compleat his miracle inclin'd Her heart to pitty at this spectacle She caus'd me to be carried to her Court It is unto her succour that I owe The remnant of my dayes here I first chang'd My name the better to assure my flight And so to disappoint Nearchus pursuit ISMENIA How Shepheardess is not thy Name Diana DIANNA No Celia was my true and only name But for my safety I made to Metissa A feign'd relation of the miseries Of my sad life since she receiv'd me Into her palace where I live with her And am now of her Court Seven times the Sun Hath finish'd his Carier since I have seen Or heard news of my mother ISMENIA Was Cleagenor Inform'd of all this DIANA Oh alas this is One of the point that causeth my affliction Cleagener surprised by the same Imposture came to see me in my bed As in my grave I wonder that the noise Of his redoubled cryes brake not my sleep The heat to revenge me dry'd all his tears He found his rival and assaulted him They fought on equal terms Nearchus fell Under his arms for dead Cleagenor was forc'd to fly t' avoid the fury of Th' offended King his sudden flight gave not My Mother oportunity t' inform him As she intended with the fiction Of my pretended death since his departure 'T is now seven years compleat in all which time I 've heard no news of him so that I know not Whether I mourn the living or the dead In the mean time to weep my fate more freely And to conceal my miserable fortune I feign'd a Brothers death ISMENIA I 'm sensible Of thy misfortune and will bear a part In thy sad grief if that will make it lesse I no more now condemne thy sighs nor tears But yet at last preserve thy beauty from Those murthering sorrows in this doubtfull case Fix thy fair thoughts upon some other object If death hath seiz'd thy Servant sure thou losest Too many tears and sighs or grant he live I st probable that he
that 's new here MERCATOR Shepheardess This rope of Pearl is very rich and new 'T would make you look more fair more gay more sparkling MELISSA Without those Ornaments of Art she is Charming enough she needs no strange additions She maketh all our Shepheards die for love But for all this though you are fair without them I will bestow them on you if you like them What saies Diana DIANA Madam your great bounties MELISSA Lay them aside MERCATOR But Madam look upon This Master-piece of Art it is the Portrait In little of the King of Andalousia MELISSA He 's one of the best made that I have seen And who is this MERCATOR It is his favourite Nearchus sometime Prince of Pichery Who by a beauty fatal through her charms Gave up his arms and life unto his Rival A gallant Gentleman his name Cleagenor THERSANDER the first line softly May I believe good Gods how he observes me But are you certain of Nearchus death MERCATOR He return'd sorely wounded from the fight And died four daies after as all know MELISSA His valour seems yet painted in his face MERCATOR But he that conquer'd him had more by much Behold his Portrait THERSANDER softly Oh! what sheweth he MELISSA Is this that valiiant Cleagenor MERCATOR Yes 't is his picture THERSANDER softly O unlucky accident MERCATOR Of all those that J had this only 's left me Th' offended King commanded me to carry them Unto all places where J went and traffick'd That so he might be known and then arrested For after this great Combat to secure His head from pursuit he took flight immediately MELISSA Thersander in my judgement nothing can Better resemble you J think your sister Will say as much THERSANDER Madam we see that Nature Sports sometimes in her works and makes some feitures In faces to resemble somewhat neerly MELISSA This Merchant I believe 's of my opinion MERCATOR Madam without doubt 't is Cleagenor THERSANDER The thing is little certain on the faith And bare ground of a Portrait MERCATOR Sir you are The very same I am confirmed now In my first thoughts all that which hitherto Hindered me to judge so was the name of Thersander and the habit of a Shepheard THERSANDER Who J Cleagenor MERCATOR Yes Sir J saw you The last yeer in the fortunate Islands and Not above four moneths since in Portugal Sevll's your native Country since you meet here Your safety to what purpose should you cover Those things with silence MELISSA Sure you need not blush Thersander at this fair acknowledgement THERSANDER I confess Madam that J blush a little Not that mine arm hath not done all that which It ought to do in the death of my Rival Nearchus was too rash and insolent From the fair and unspotted object which Made my most chast desires he in his thoughts Formed the object of his filthy pleasures But he hath paid for 't and his death is just Only the thing that troubles and afflicts me And for which I am sorry at my heart Is that J told you nothing of my secret MELISSA J guess the cause of it and know your thought And what fear troubled it and that you chose Another name only to free you from The penalty o' th' Law but fear not any thing I 'l oppose power to power for your defence Your interests are mine J'l make your peace The King of Andalousia shall be weary Of persecuting you if he persift To trouble your repose J'l invade his If he refuse to grant what we demand From our request we will proceed to arms THERSANDER What obligation have you upon me For all your goodness MELISSA But let 's make an end Of seeing all the rarities MERCATOR Behold With admiration Madam this rare piece It is Diana's Picture MELISSA How Dianaes DIANA softly O sad misfotrune MERCATOK It is the Divinity Whose Temple 's here the Goddess of this place DIANA softly I cease to tremble all is well again MELISSA What Portrait's this MERCATOR It is a Beauties Madam Whose heavenly graces made two desperate Lovers That sight for her arm for the field and fight It is that fair ones whom I told you of For Whom Cleagenor and Nearchus burn'd And who pursued hotly by two Rivals Coft the one flight and life unto the other After Nearchus death I bought his Portraits This that he had without doubt's to the life But who can better then Cleagenor Instruct you in this point MELISSA to THERSANDER D' ye know this piece THERSANDER I know not what to say on 't MELISSA I observe Much of thy sisters air in 't DIANA O ye Gods Turn aside this misfortune MELISSA Really The glass Diana which receives thy image Represents less thy shape and countenance And any other but the Painter would Believe indeed that the finish'd this Portrait Upon thy presence MERCATOR There 's no doubt of it One may admire in this adventure how Art imitateth nature it is she For whom Nearchus sigh'd THERSANDER softly O Gods where are we Our fortunes now are desperate DIANA Know'st thou me MERCATOR I am of the same Town and therefore know you Your mother is Melora and she dwells At Sevil I shal make her a glad woman At my return to tell her that her Celia Lives yet and is in health here in this Island MELISSA How Celia MERCATOR Yes Madam that is her name DIANA What could of errour blindeth thy soul thus That Celia whom thou mean'st and dost discourse of Died before Nearchus MERCATORS It was believ'd so At first but since all Sevil knows the contrary And that false death is now no more a mystery Unto me J know where the mourning went And how a Coffin only was interr'd Instead of you that this apparent sign Of your death only could secure you from Nearchus ill designs I know besides That you betook your self unto the Sea Where you sight not but for Cleagenor The Sea prov'd false to you and to your mother And separated you one from another By the assistance of a hideous storm She having sav'd her self upon a plank Sought you from one end of the World to th' other But hearing no news of you she believ'd At her return to Sevil that the Sea Had swallowed you and death had made her search Unprofitable DIANA Thou knowest secrets which To me are Riddles MERCATOR Wherefore should you Lady Dissemble thus your knowledge of a thing Which is no more conceal'd one of your people A complice of the Plot divulg'd it lately Melora too since her return reveal'd The whole Imposture all impediment Being remov'd after Nearchus death This that I know I understood from her THERSANDER All this thou saiest is strange news unto us MERCATOR You have the art I see well to dissemble But by your favour might it not be you That did imploy a friend unto me lately To pray me to receive into my bark Two Shepheards natives of the Town of Sevil
onely Madam be without Compassion for him MELISSA Yes without compassion Since he took pleasure alwaies to displease me I 'le please my self by a most just return Jn my revenge and never cease t' afflict him No think not that J will incline to pitty I 'm too much injur'd to be pacifi'd His sorrow makes my joy and I am glad To see that by this famous punishment I shall establish my authority THIMANTES Diana's turn is now see he revives To weep her lover and immediately To follow him by the force of your Art Sad spectacle hearken unto her grief And ope your eyes and heart to her complaints Diana upon Thersanders body DIANA What my dear Lover art thou then but dust Alas thy mouth wants speech and thine eyes light But inspight of the plot which makes me sigh I have the happiness yet to lament thee Flow flow my tears and pour upon this object Torrents of flame not water there is nothing So cold in the dark bosom of the Grave Which the fire of these Rivers cannot warm Yes by my tears at last my cryes my plaints Dear ashes I will kindle you again Though cold now and extinguish'd like the Phenix I 'le raise you up again by force of sights Which you shall Eccho to me THIMANTES Madam can you Behold this sight and not be moved at it DIANA Love canst thou not answer to my desires Thou art a miracle thy self and therefore Methinks should'st do one art thou in the world No more a source of life oh canst thou not Restore my lover to me from whose armes They 'ave ravish'd him which of the Gods can call him Back from the gates of death if thou canst not My dear Cleagenor J pray thee answer me By these my tender sighs by Celia's name How 's this I can pronounce thy name and mine And yet O Gods thou answerest me nothing I see alas thy mouth and eyes still shut He 's dead and these names cannot touch him now Love since thou hast no power to succour me In that point as to make him live at least Make me to dye I come my faithful lover It is impossible I should survive thee I feel that my despair t' enjoy thee here Gives me to death my heart hath lost the spirits Which made it move J scarce can utter more Happy thy Celia if her death could give Thee life again if thy sleep might have end By mine and if I could with all my blood Redeem thine J have done any love is coming To meet thy flame and I espire upon thee The rest of my sad soul CLIDAMANT What! is your heart Not touch'd yet with this object are you still Jnsensible of so much grief as she Suffers by your means oh let pitty yet Disarm your anger the Inchanted Lovers Have suffered enough Nymph break the charm MELISSA Yes I am touch'd at last J must confess And really am sorry for the evil Which they have drawn through their temerity Upon themselves but though their grief appeaseth My anger now the charm which I have made J can't undo to tell you truly Shepheards Jt is so strong that onely a Divinity Can break the chance on 't t is decree'd by fate That it shall last yet longer and J cannot Prevent it though it be my proper work THIMANTES How cannot you prevent it heavenly Gods What saying's this no no you have not left Your anger but retain it still and willing To punish them and to revenge your wrong Will make of them a lasting spectacle Unto the eyes of all and to excuse Your self the better of this cruelty Would put it off to some Divinity But the Gods by our prayers and tears appeas'd Jnspight of your attempts wil stop your charms Yes Madam the great Gods condemn your plots They are the Soveraigns and absolute Masters Of destiny we hope all things from them And that they 'l suffer crime no longer here To raign and tyranize Thou Goddess which Art in this place ador'd which holdest fate And fortune in thy hands which hatest crime and whose cares keep the Shepheards that serve thee In this delightful Island look upon The sad estate whereto love hat reduc'd Two miserable Lovers whom the Nymph Pursues with horrid cruelty to death By fatal charmes destroy the power of them And render to this government again The liberty to lover and to declare it Thunder and lightning PARTHENIA Ha! what a sudden flash of lightning's this That strikes mine eyes and what a clap of thunder Shakes all this place ISMENIA With what a thick black cloud The Skie is cover'd MELISSA I believe Heaven trembles And its Arch openeth behold the Goddess Descends and maketh sign as if she 'd speak We must give audience SCENA Ultima The Goddesse DIANA DIANA YOur prayers are heard let nothing trouble you Fair Celia and her Lover both shal live And love for ever their afflictions Are ended and I have dissolv'd the charm No accident shall henceforth trouble them They stir'd up pity in you now they may Make you to envy them search all Records You 'l find no subject equal to their love THERSANDER to DIANA By what inchantment is thy life restord DIANA to THERSANDER By what inchantment do'ft thou live again The Goddesse continues I 'l recompense their inexemplar vertues And pay the price of their affection To consummate their happy Nuptials I 'l ope my Temple and assure you all Of my protection 'T is my pleasure also That the love of the Shepheard Clidamant Be at the same time crown'd with Hymen's honours And that he end his daies with sweet Parthenia That henceforth he command in the Isle with her My justice hath made choice of them to reign The Nymph I do degrade she is too criminal And dispense you of your obedience to her I 'l make the power of her Art unusefull And free this Island from all future fear And danger but to save her from the Thunder Of the offended Gods I will recive her Into my Temple which shall be her Sanctuary Her Sex hath long enough ruled the Province I 'l change the order of its Government And henceforth it shall be under the power And wise administration of a Prince Which shall be of the blood of Clidamant From father unto son Melissa seeing the Goddess to ascend MELISSA I confesse Goddesse You do me justice in approving crime One makes himself a complice without you The Gods high Soveraigns Masters and disposers Of destiny would sure have punish'd me With death I go into your temple now To imploy other charms to wash away My criminal defilements with my tears To pray unto the immortal powers whilst J Have breath and so disarm them at your Altars But to the end her law may be fullfill'd In every point Cleagener fail not To love your Celia THERSANDER O how redevable Am I to your rare goodness MELISSA Clidamant Enjoy what you deserve accept Parthenia With her the crown and succeed happily The rank which I freely resign unto you CLIDAMANT You command still and keep your Soveraign rank When the raign is conferr'd upon your blood And by all my respects I shall express That 't is but in your name that I 'l be Master PARTHENIA Though Heavens kind hand chuseth a husband for me Since you allow him I 'l hold him of you And will possess no honour here nor power But to express the more my service to you And my acknowledgements THIMANTES Ismenia Must we not couple too ISMENIA Yes if the Goddess Had said it we 'l defer our marriage Till she descends again CLIDAMANT Ismenia I command in this place now and J will it ISMENIA Since you will have it I accept his vows Offaithfull service If Melintus too Hath shaken of his jealousie J must Be reconcil'd with him MELINTUS Well J agree to 't Let us remain friends CLIDAMANT Heaven hath promis'd us That we shall all be happy let us go Forthwith unto the Temple to conclude This triple marriage and henceforth we shall Honour this day as a great Festival FINIS