thy wither'd face Stre. You would faine cog your selfe into my favour again but till you bee converted from this Clitophon you shall not kisse the worst part about me Saph. O say not so Thou art more sweet than Yewe or Miscletoe Alex. O Clitophon Aminta every voyce Be fill'd with admiration sing rejoyce Till th' earth dance like our young Lambs till trees Grow active at the musick all degrees Of greefe are banish'd all our flocks shall play For joy Parthenia O Parthenia Clito. What of Parthenia Alex. Is return'd her right Beauty new shining like the Queen of night Appearing fresher after she did shroud Her gawdy forehead in a pitchy cloud Loves triumphs in her eyes audacious I That durst name love and faire Alexis by Be dumb for ever Sapho Stay Alexis She shall now revoke that loving tyranny Since our Parthenia 's return'd I 'le turne My Elegiack strains away and burn in high love raptures Alex. She must strait be wed to Lord Argalus The bridall bed is in preparing Sapho At a verse of mine Hymen shall light his Nuptiall flaming pine I will enchant them to embraces free With a devoted Epithalamy Till I sing day from Tothis armes and fire With ayry raptures the whole morning quire Till the small birds their Silvan notes display And sing with us joy to Parthenia Dance Exeunt The end of the third Act Actus 4. Scena 1. Argalus Parthenia Kalander Philarchus Kalan. SIt my most honor'd Cosen you are Lord Both of this house and feast the honest Shepheards Were taken too much o' th soddaine to provide A fitting entertainment but they 've striv'd With their most early haste t' expresse their duty Sapho inspir'd with her Poetique fury Will speake your Epithalamy They do intend to dance too I see This Musicke declares their purpose Musick Enter Shepheards and Shepheardesses Sap. The joyes of health and what the spring Of youth strength happinesse can bring Wait upon this noble paire Lady may you still be faire As earliest light may you enjoy Beauty which age cannot destroy May you be fruitfull as the day Never sigh but when you pray Know no griefe but what may be To temper your felicity And you my Lord may truest fame Still attend on your great name Live both of you espous'd to peace And with your yeares let love increase Goe late to Heaven but comming thither Shine there two glorious stars together Song and Dance Kalen. Does these presentments please you our dull wits Are not so fortunate in rich conceits As your quick Cyprian intellects Exeunt Sheepherds Arga. You vouchsafe Too much to grace them but Parthenia The King as conscious of my meane desert To make me seeme more worthy of thy love Has by imposing a command confer'd An honor greater on my sprightly hopes Then the addition of estate or bloud Before enrich'd me with possession of Part. Let me participate your happinesse My dearest Lord what is it Argal. An honor which like the Eldest child of Fame treads on the neck of glory Kalan. Come my Lord let 's leave these happy lovers to themselves Part. What may it portend tell me and I le rejoyce As much to heare it as when I recover'd my poyson'd beauty Arga. Thou shalt know 't And with lowd acclamations sound my fate For most compleatly happy by the King I am elected instantly to meet In single opposition honors type The brav'st of Soldiers and the best of men The noble Lord Amphialus Par. Blesse me divinity can you conceive my Lord That act an honor upon which the losse Of the unvalued treasure of your life Has strict dependence sure my Lord the King Cannot be such a Tyrant to employ You in your infant age of peacefull love To sutch a cruell warfare Arga. Now I see Parthenia loves not Argalus if she wish him Turne recreant to his valour what account Unlesse of Coward shall I give the King Should I refuse this honorable taske Which but to meet I 'de scale star-neighboring rocks Travell through desarts scarcely known to beasts And combat all that durst oppose my passage To this brave enterprise Par. My dearest Lord This resolution does oppresse my soule With torments worse than death there 's not a word Which you have utter'd but like mandraks grones Or howles of wolves affrights me Can there be Such a contempt of my regardlesse love Be got so soon Can you forsake my bed Before I scarce conceive my selfe a wife Or you a husband Oh Argalus I thought We should have liv'd and taught the erring world Affections primitive purenesse grown like Palmes That do with amorous mixture twine their boughes Into a league-union and so florish Old in each others armes when now if thou Proceed to triall in this bloudy taske My feares do with prophetike motion tell me We are undone eternally Arga. Have you so slight an estimation of my worth In managing bright armes that you can feare My persons suffrance O Parthenia Thou wouldst deprive me of that same which time Should he decline his restlesse course away Shall never equall from my youth-full head Thou wouldst detaine a chaplet of such bayes As not Penein Daphne first transform'd Could boast the like for freshnesse dry my love Those sacred eyes drowned in christall streames Or if thou wilt I 'le kisse away thy teares In stead of heavenly Nectar Part. This but ads to my misfortune Sir I am your wife And never yet requested any grant Unlesse your love deny me not my first And only suit leave my good Lord to tempt Your destiny Amphialus is so good In his kind love to women that I doubt not To find some meanes without your honors breach To put this fatall combat off Arga. No Parthenia 'T is but in vaine to tempt me with your prayers Could he spit thunder would afright the Gods Or wore at each lock of his haire a flash Of piercing lightning yet I should attempt To snatch the fery chaplet from his head And as a garland of victorious bayes Wreath it about these temples Par. Well my Lord since no perswasion will reclaime your will Goe and be happy in your disastrous task My maids and I will pay each houre to heaven A thousand vowes for your successe I give You my free licence O that deathfull word Comes from the Organs of my troubled soule As a constant does from a timorous maid To an inforcing ravisher Arga. Why now thou art my best Parthenia doubt not love But I will bring white victory to crown Thy glorious front give me but one kind look T will fill me with heroick force let 's in And fearelesse take a happy parting kisse Suspicion hinders loves immediat blisse Exeunt Clitophon Enter Clitophon Strephon Alexis Sapho Aminta Florida Clit. Sweet Sapho will you still persist and kill whom you might save Sapho 'T is your owne various will Inforces my contempt but heere 's no place T' afford our loves an answer the kinde grasse
the ayre To play with the sweet belropes of his hayre What a soft murmuring the tresses makes As did Medusa's locks or Alectos snakes Clito. Gentlest Virgin white as infant snow Pleasing as Ladon that does cooly flow Through our green meadows trust a loving swaine When he protest with truth Amin. There does remaine Enter Florida No such good property 'mongst men on Earth Truth is fled to Heaven with Justice Florida the newes Florid. The Lord Demagoras this way pursues And must have entertainment 't is a charge From our great Lady that we strait inlarge Our Pastorall devises Sapho We have none On such a sudden lesse she will have done Those that were for Argalus welcome meant Florid. Be prest with speed that greeting to present Chrisaclea Parthenia Demagoras Philarchus Clit. They are upon us ere we are ready for the action Chri. Florida are the shepheards here Florid. Madame they are Castalia only wants Chri. This Musick speaks her intrance Enter Castalia Please your Lordship Under this shadie Poplar sit and see Our rurall pastimes 1. Song Love 's a Childe and ought to be Wonne with smiles his Deity Is cloth'd in Panthers skinnes which hide Those parts which kill if but espide Hates warres but such as mildly led By Venus are to pleasures bed There does soft imbraces fight Kisses combat with delight Amorous lookes and sighes discover What will win a Virgin-Lover Demagor. 'T is too effeminate this I had rather heare The cryes of dying men than these nice straines Or Souldiers with loud clamours rend the aire With shouts of victory Phi. Patience my Lord the Shepherds are proceeding to dance 1. Dance Demag. I doe not like this Morall it includes Something that is distastefull a mans possest With eminent frensie that would a minute View these idle Morris-Dances Phi. That fellow That woo'd with such obsequiousnesse and wonne His yeelding Mistresse sure did represent Effeminate Argalus The other who With confidence attempting was repuls'd Figur'd my selfe This same was an abuse Such as no hospitality nor lawes Of true nobility can suffer Madam You have done well and justly I perceive You are as various in your giddy faith As your coy daughter in her choice reserve her For gracious Argalus but if this scorne Meet not a sudden and severe revenge May all my former glories be obscur'd Though to performe it I should scale the Starres And snatch them like quick wilde-fire from their Spheares Then dart them on the earth catch the dull clouds And squeese them into a deluge and aspire To startle Iove with terrour of my ire Exit Demag Chri. This is the suddenest passion I have seene Whence had it its originall My Lord Let 's follow and perswade him Exeunt The end of the first Act Actus 2. Scena 1. Argalus Kalander Philarchus YOu are too strangely timorous your full worth Speakes in as loud an accent of Desert As the most meriting Arcadian Lord Who boasts his Ancestry Arga. My Lord The faire Parthenia instructs all hearts Nobility with Musick of her voyce Miriads of joyes are in her looks her eyes Are Natures richest Diamonds set in foyles Of polish'd Ebony her breath expires Odours more sweet than issu'd from the trees Of Balme in Paradise Philar. Demagoras Drunk with opinion of himselfe declines As much her glorious merit as your just Expressions honors it Arga. 'T were sacriledge Not to confesse so manifest a truth 'T was shee when first I did salute the War With my unable person who inspir'd My soule with courage active as the wind Gave me a manly being and infus'd By the divine reflection of her love Thoughts fiery as that passion I do live Only her creature Borrow my poore heat From the extended vertue of her flame Kalan. You are too modest T' ascribe a greater glory to my niece Then the whole stock of women ever boasted You 'l make her proud my Lord 't is an excesse Of naturall sweetnesse in you you must temper With a more moderate confidence Arga. Alas my Lord Of more sincere devotion every thought My fancy offers is a sacrifice To the bright deity of Parthenia Whose noble freenesse though it may afford Me entertainment more repleat with grace Than she bestowes on every Suitor yet My timorous hopes dare not assume that life As to beleeve she loves me pray my Lord You are familiar with Parthenias thoughts Resolve your friends this questionable doubt Whom her affection at purity has chosen Her loves blest favorite Phi. My Lord you know him He 's your most intimat friend Arga. My friend Were he my utmost enemy and belov'd Of faire Parthenia that should be a tie Of adoration to me pray declare The man must be made fortunate with the title Of Lord of such perfection Phil. He is A noble generous and well manur'd youth Beares beauties ensignes in his gracious looks Has that supreme Divinity in his eyes As sparkles flames able to fire all hearts And the superlative vertue of his Mind Transcends his outward figure he is wise As most mature age Valiant in resolve As fames belov'd Child reputation Conjoine the masculine graces of his soule With lovely carriage and discret discourse Has not your knowledge reach'd him yet Arga. This character So far excelling me undoes my hopes Phi. My Lord were not to Secure your peace I 'de not disclose this secret 't is your selfe 'T is Argalus Parthenia has receiv'd A welcome guest into her open heart Amase not your quick senses 't is a truth Kalan. Your mutuall modesties Defer your just desires I must become The moderator 'twixt your bashfull hopes You do affect as timorously as Swans Cold as the brook they swim in who do bill With tardy modesty and chirring plead Their constant resolutions Enter Chrisaclea Chris. Noble Argalus My honor'd brother pray heaven our entertainment Be worthy your acceptance you must not expect That happy welcome here your house affords To such deserving guests My Lord Philarchus Saw you the Lord Demagoras lately Phi. Madam Not since he flung last night hence in a rage From the presentment by the Shepherds Kal. Demagoras Is of so haughty a disposition Though noble otherwise that I can wish No alliance with him sister I doe feare You are too zealous to advance the match him and your Parthenia her 's a Lord As great by birth and greater by the favour Done him by th' King but greatest by his owne Superlative goodnesse does affect her with So true a fancie that you much would wrong Humanity to dispose her to another Where such a meriting Suiter does pretend A holy interest in her Chri. Good brother doe not Question my honour so much I am loath To give the least occasion of distaste To my Lord Demagoras and since my daughter Cannot affect him I conceive he will Cease his unnecessary suit and leave her To her owne disposure Kala. I wish it My Lords and sister honour me to transferre Your companies to my Castle
That decks the plaines will smile when we do fit On its greene tapistry and aptly fit Our wilde affections Shepherdesses let Our woolly charge within our folds be set Lest the hoarse Wolfe to sate his ravenous thirst With blood of Lambes doe through our weak flocks burst After let 's meet upon the neighbouring plaine And there determine of our loves I 'le straine A little on your patience to rehearse On the late Nuptials this ensuing verse Amint. Doe my deare Sapho Flor. Shepherds attend her Layes Amint. They get us credit and our Sapho Bayes Sapho The holy Priest had joy'd their hands and now Night grew propitious to their Bridall vow Majestick Iuno and young Hymen flies To light their Pines at faire Parthenia's eyes The little Graces amourously did skip With the small Cupids from each lip to lip Venus her selfe was present and untide Her virgine Love when loe on either side Stood as her handmaids Chastity and Truth With that immaculate guider of her youth Rose-colour'd Modesty These did undresse The beauteous maid who now in readinesse The Nuptiall tapers waving 'bout her head Made poore her garments and enrich'd her bed While the fresh Bridegroome like the lusty Spring Did to the holy bride-bed with him bring Attending masculine vertues down he lay'd His snowy limbs by a far whiter mayd Their kisses linke their minds as they embrace A quire of Angels flew about the place Singing all blisse unto this paire for ever May they in love and union still persever Amin. 'T is almost sung for the nuptialls Why was 't not sung with musick Saph Castalia's voyce would have been tir'd with it Come let 's depart Love though obscur'd still flames about the heart Exeunt Enter Amphialus Argalus Philarchus Amph. I could have wish'd the King Had destin'd any to this fatall task But noble Argalus in him there rests Such a commanding fulnesse of true worth That as 't will be a glory to o'recome 'T will be a griefe equall to think 'gainst whom The present fury of my arme must be Unwillingly directed Arg. Famous Amphialus 'T is so much honour to be held your friend 'T were indiscretion in me to admit A thought of being your enemy we two Should meet my Lord to revell not to fight But since th' injustice of our Fates does force This sad contention deare Amphialus Think that two brothers may with hot resolve Strive to atchieve one crowne yet still be friends The lawrell destin'd for my head will wither If it be snatch'd from thine Amph. More famous Argalus Under whose hand the great Demais fell These attributes of curtesie doe speake Your noble natures freenesse you and I Should rather exercise our able armes In one anothers quarrell than imploy them Upon our selves Deare Argalus our fates Are too in just t' ingage our swords against Our bodies for in harming thee I offer Wounds to my selfe we two retaine so much Affinity by friendship we must needs be One individuall substance Phi. Good my Lords Since there 's that sympathie of love and nature 'Twixt your two soules dissolve it not the blow That shall divide your hearts will be more impious In sep'rating that union than in cutting Your twists of life asunder Arga. Philarchus you are so noble Our wills desir'd you an indifferent Judge In our unwilling difference since you are An equall friend to both Amph. Philarchus We two are fortunes scorne that we should be Such friends in soule yet by our deeds be thought Severest enemies Deare Argalus Let not thy lenity regard my life Which is so worth lesse 't is a weight I wish Rather to lose than keepe but guard thy owne Preserve that precious bloud which I shall grieve To see diffus'd on earth nay rather weepe Than shed a drop of it Arg. How much my Lord you vanquish him with curtesie Whom your arme means to conquer But Amphialus Since we are mutuall friends and yet must seeme Mutually enemies to testifie 'T is by our fate not malice we are foes I 'le make thee my full Executour bestow A gift upon thee of that pricelesse worth Posterity shall never boast its parallell When I am ashes if there be a wretch For some there are that dare blaspheme the Gods Does injure my Parthenia prithee friend Let be thy Care to punish that contempt 'Gainst vertuous purity and as the last And most supreme inducement of my love If by thy hand I perish let my heart Be sent to my Parthenia Amph. The same justice I beg of thee my Argalus to have mine Convay'd to my Philoclea and if fame As it may chance traduce me after death Noblest Argalus justifie thy friend Thy poore Amphialus and defend the deare Authour of my misfortune sweet Philoclea otherwise Posterity inform'd by bad report May black her precious memory and say A worthlesse man fell by thy sword Let us embrace my Argalus and take A true though sad farewell and once Let us employ our hands against our hearts Arg. Kill our selves mutually for who first does fall Leads but the way toth ' others funerall Fight Enter Parthenia Parth. Eternall darknesse seaze me O my Lord You are reported to be thrall to love for her sake you affect most doe not make A breach in ebbing nature More This bloud Clothing the grasse in purple does convert My heart to Alablaster O Argalus Arg. O Parthenia Never till now unwelcome have I liv'd To such an abject lownesse that my life Must like a malefactors be by prayers Redeem'd from death Let us renew the fight Ha Me thinks I tread on slippery glasse my unsupporting feet Dance measures on light waves and I am sinking Into the watery bosomes there to rest for all eternity Amph. I have seene So dying tapers as it were to light Their owne sad funerall expiring dart Being but stirr'd their most illustrious beames And so extinguish Parth. Angels if ye have charity afford Some Surgery from heaven Now I see the cause Why my sad heart fill'd with propheticke feare Sought to have stopt your journey and why I Compell'd by power of overruling Fate Follow'd you hither Oh Argalus Arga. Parthenia I doe feele A marble sweat about my heart which does Congeale the remnant of my bloud to Ice My Lord I doe forgive you friend farewell Parthenia showre on my pale lips a kisse 'T will waft my soule to its eternall blisse Parthenia O Parthenia Dies Phi. So cracks the cordage of his heart as Cables That guide the heavie Anchors cut by blasts Of some big tempest My Lord your wounds are many And dangerous 't is fit you doe withdraw And have 'm cur'd Amph. I am carelesse growne my life Is now more odious to me than the light Of day to Furies Madam I am past The thought of griefe for this sad fact and am Griefes individuall substance pray forgive me Heaven knowes it was not malice that betray'd Your Lords lov'd life but a necessitous force To save my owne Joy comfort