LOVES METAMORPHOSIS A Wittie and Courtly Pastorall WRITTEN BY Mr. Iohn Lyllie First playd by the Children of Paules and now by the Children of the Chappell LONDON Printed for William Wood dwelling at the West end of Paules at the signe of Time 1601 Loues Metamorphosis Ramis Montanus Siluestris I Cannot see Montanus why it is fain'd by the Poets that Loue sat vpon the Chaos and created the world since in the world there is so little loue Mm. Ramos thou canst not see that which cannot with reason be imagined for it the diuine vertues of Loue had disperst themselues through the powers of the world so forcibly as to make them take by his influence the formes and qualities imprest within them no doubt they could not chuse but fauour more of his Diuinitie Sil. I doe not thinke Loue hath any sparke of Diuinitie in him since the end or his being is earthly In the bloud is he begot by the fraile fires of the eye quenche by the frayler shadowes of thought What reason haue we then to soothe his humor with such zeale and folow his fading delights with such passion Ram. We haue bodies Siluestris and humane bodies which in their owne natures being much more wretched then beastes and much more miserably then beasts pursue their owne ruines And since it will aske longer labour and studie to subdue the powers of our bloud to the rule of the soule then to satisfie them with the fruition of our loues let vs bee constant in the worlds errours and seeke our owne torments Mont. As good yeeld indeed submissiuely and satisfie part of our affections as bee stubburne without abilitie to resist and enioy none of them I am in worst plight since I loue a Nymph that mockes loue Ram. And I one that hates loue Sil. I one that thinkes her selfe aboue loue Ram. Let vs not dispute whose mistris is most bad since they be all cruell nor which of our fortunes be most froward since they bee all desperate I will hang my Skutchin on this tree in honour of Ceres and write this verse on the tree in hope of my successe Penelopen ipsam perstes mode tempore vinces Penelope will yeeld at last continue and conquer Mont. I this Fructus abest facies cum bona teste caret Faire faces lose their fauours if they admit no louers Ram. But why studiest thou What wilt thou write for thy Lady to read Sil. That which necessitie maketh me to indure loue reuerence wisdome wonder at Riualem patienter habe Mont. Come let vs euerie one to our walkes it may be we shall meete them walking Exeunt ACTVS PRIMVS SCENA SECVNDA Nisa Celia Niobe Fidelia Erisicthon Nisa It is time to hang vp our Garlands this is our haruest holyday wee must both sing and daunce in the honour of Ceres of what colours or flowers is thine made of Niobe Niob. Or Salamints which in the morning are white red at noone and in the Euening purple for in my affections shall there be no staiednesse but in unstaiednes but what is yours of Nisa Nisa Of Hollie because it is most holy which louely greene neither the Sunnes beames nor the winds blasts can alter or diminish But Celia what Garland haue you Celia Mine all of Cypres leaues which are broadest and beautifullest yet beareth the least fruit for beautie maketh the brightest shew being the slightest substance and I am content to wither before I bee worne and depriue my selfe of that which so many desire Niob. Come let vs make an end lest Ceres come and find vs slacke in performing that which wee owe But soft some haue beene here this Morning before vs Nis. The amorous Foresters or none for in the woods they haue eaten so much wake-Robin that they cannot sleepe for loue Celia Alas poore soules how ill loue sounds in their lips who telling a long tale of hunting thinke they haue bewray'd a sad passion of loue Niob. Giue them leaue to loue since we haue libertie to chuse for as great sport doe I take in coursing their tame hearts as they doe paines in hunting their wilde Harts Celia Niobe your affection is but pinned to your tongue which when you lift you can vnloose But let vs read what they haue written Penelopen ipsam perstes mode tempore vinces That is for you Nisa whome nothing will mooue yet hope makes him houer Nisa A fond Hobbie to houer ouer an Eagle Niob. But Forresters thinke all Birds to be Buntings What 's the nexte Fructus abest facies cum bona teste caret Celia the Forrester giues you good counsel take your penniworth whiles the market serues Celia I hope it will be market day till my deathes day Nisa Let me read to Riualem patienter habe Hee toucheth you Niobe on the quicke yet you see how patient he is in your constancie Niob. Inconstancie is a vice which I will not swap for all the vertues though I throwe one off with my whole hand I can pull him againe with my little finger let vs encourage them and write something if they censure in fauourably we know them fooles if angerly we wil say they are froward Nisa I will begin Cedit amor rebus res age tutus eris Celia Indeed better to tell stars then be idle yet better idle then ill employed Mine this Sat mihi sifacies sit bene nota mihi Niob. You care for nothing but a Glasse that is a flatterer Nisa Then all men are Glasses Celia Some Glasses are true Niob. No men are but this is mine Victoriatecum stabit Nisa Thou giuest hope Niob. He is worthy of that is patient Celia Let vs sing and so attend on Ceres for this day although into her heart neuer entred any motion of loue yet vsually to the Temple of Cupid hee offereth two white Doues as entreating his fauour and one Eagle as commanding his power Praecibusque minaes regaliter addet Cantant Saltant Erisict. What noyse is this what assembly what Idolatrie Is the modestie of virgins turnd to wantonnesse The honour of Ceres accompted immortal And Erisicthon ruler of this Forrest esteemed of no force Impudent giglots that you are to disturbe my game or dare doe honour to any but Erisicthon It is not your faire faces as smooth as leaâ—e nor your entysing eyes though they drew yron like Adamaints nor your filed speeches were they as forcible as Thessalides that shall make me any way flexible Niob. Erisicthon thy sterne lookes ioynd with thy stout speeches thy words as vnkembd as thy lockes were able to affright men of bold courage and to make vs silly girles franticke that are full of feare but knowe thou Erisicthon that were thy hands so vnstated as thy tongue and th' one as ready to execute mischiefe as the other to threaten it it should neither moue our hearts to aske pittie or remooue our bodies from this place wee are the hand-maides of diuine Ceres to faire Ceres
it were to heare thy sweete layes Syr. Liue still so thou loue me why standest thou amazed at the word Loue Prot. It is high time to preuent this mischiefe Nowe Neptune stand to thy promise and let me take suddenly the shape of an olde man so shall I marre what shee makes Pet. Not yet come to my selfe or if I bee I dare not credit mine eares Loue thee diuine goddesse Vouchsafe I may honour thee and liue by the imagination I haue of thy words and worthinesse Syr. I am a goddesse but a Ladie and a virgine whose loue if thou embrace thou shalt liue no lesse happie then the gods in heauen Prot. Beleeue not this Inchauntresse sweete youth who retaineth the face of a Virgine but the heart of a Fiend whose sweet tongue sheadeth more drops of bloud then it vttereth sillables Pet. Out dottrell whose dimme eyes cannot discerne beautie nor doting age iudge of loue Prot. If thou listen to her words thou shalt not liue to repent for her malice is as suddaine as her ioyes are sweete Pet. Thy siluer haires are not so precious as her golden lockes nor thy crooked age of that estimation as her flowring youth Syr. That old man measureth the hot assault of loue with the cold skirmishes of age Prot. That young cruell resembleth old Apes who kill by culling from the top of this Rocke whereon shee sitteth will shee throw thee headlong into the Sea whose song is the instrument of her witchcraft neuer smiling but when shee meaneth to smite and vnder the flatterie of loue practiseth the sheading of bloud Pet. What are thou which so blasphemest this diuine creature Prot. I am the Ghost of Vlisses who continually houer about these places where this Syren haunteth to saue those which otherwise should be spoyled stop thine eares as I did mine and succour the faire but by thy folly the most infortunate Protea Pet. Protea What dost thou heare Petulius Where is Protea Prot. In this thicket ready to hang her selfe because thou carest not for her that did sweare to follow curse this hag who onely hath the voice and face of a Virgine the rest all fish and feathers and filth follow me and strongly stoppe thine eares left the second encounter make the wound incurable Pet. Is this a Syren and thou Vlisses cursed be that hellish carkas and blessed be thy heauenly spirit Syr. I shrinke my head for shame O Vlisses is it not enough for thee to escape but also to teach others Sing and die nay die and neuer sing more Prot. Followe me at this doore and out at the other Pet. How am I deliuered the old man is vanished and here for him stands Protea Prot. Here standeth Protea that hath saued thy life thou must also prolong hers but let vs into the woods and there I will tell thee howe I came to Vlisses and the summe of all my fortunes which happily will breed in thee both loue and wonder Pet. I will and onely loue Protea and neuer cease to wonder at Protea Exeunt ACTVS QVINTVS SCENA PRIMA Ceres Cupid Tirtena Cer. Cupid thou hast transformed my Nymphes and incensed me them to shapes vnreasonable me to anger immortall for at one time I am both robd of mine honour and my Nymphes Cup. Ceres thy Nymphes were stubborne and thy selfe speaking so imperiously to Cupid somewhat stately If you aske the cause in choller Sic volo sic iubeo if in curtesie Quae venu ex merito poena dolenda venit They were disdainefull and haue their deserts thou Ceres doest but gouerne the guts of men I the hearts thou seekest to starue Erisicthon with thy ministred famine whome his daughter shall preserue by my vertue loue Cer. Thou art but a god Cupid Cup. No Ceres but such a god as maketh thunder fall out of Ioues hand by throwing thoughts into his heart and to bee more terrified with the sparkling of a Ladies eye then men with the flashes of his lightning such a god that hath kindled more fire in Neptunes bosome then the whole Sea which he is king of can quench such power haue I that Plutoes neuer dying fire doth but scorch in respect of my flames Diana hath felt some motions of loue Vesta doth Ceres shall Cer. Art thou so cruell Cup. To those that resist a Lyon to those that submit a Lambe Cer. Canst thou make such difference in affection and yet shall it all be loue Cup. Yea as much as betweene sicknesse and health though in both bee life those that yeeld and honour Cupid shall possesse sweete thoughts and enioy pleasing wishes the other shall bee tormented with vaine imaginations and impossible hopes Cer. How may my Nymphes be restored Cu. If thou restore Erisicthon they embrace their loues and all offer sacrifice to me Cer. Erisicthon did in contempt hewe downe my sacred tree Cup. Thy Nymphes did in disdaine scorne my constant loue Cer. Hee slew most cruelly my chast Fidelia whose bloud lieth yet on the ground Cup. But Diana hath chaunged her bloud to freshe flowers which are to be seene on the ground Cer. What honour shal he doe to Ceres What amends can he make to Fidelia Cup. All Ceres groue shall he decke with Garlands and accompt euerie tree holy a stately monument shall hee erect in remembraunce of Fidelia and offer yearely sacrifice Cer. What sacrifice shall I and my Nymphes offer thee For I will doe any thing to restore my Nymphes and honour thee Cup. You shall present in honour of my mother Venus Grapes and Wheate for Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus You shall suffer your Nymphes to play sometimes to be idle in the fauour of Cupid for Otiasitollas periere Cupidinis arcus So much for Ceres Thy Nymphes shall make no vowes to continue Virgins nor vse words to disgrace loue nor flie from oportunities that kindle affections if they be chast let them not bee cruell if faire not proud if louing not inconstant Crueltie is for Tygers pride for Peacockes inconstancie for fooles Cer. Cupid I yeeld and they shall but sweete Cupid let them not bee deceiued by flatterie which taketh the shape of affection nor by lust which is clothed in the habit of loue for men haue as many slights to delude as they haue words to speake Cup. Those that practise deceit shall perish Cupid fauoureth none but the faithfull Cer. Well I will goe to Erisicthon and bring him before thee Cup. Then shall thy Nymphes recouer their fames so as they yeeld to loue Cer. They shall Exeunt ACTVS QVINTVS SCENA PRIMA Petulius Protea Pet. A straunge discourse Protea by which I find the gods amorous and Virgines immortall goddesses full of crueltie and men of vnhappinesse Prot. I haue told both my Fathers misfortunes grown by stoutnesse and mine by weaknesse his thwarting of Ceres my yeelding to Neptune Pet. I know Protea that hard yron falling into fire waxeth soft and then the tender heart of a Virgine
being in loue must needes melt for what should a faire yong and wittie Ladie answere to the sweete inticements of loue but Molle meum leuibus cor est violabile telis Prot. I haue heard too that hearts of men stiffer then steele haue by loue beene made softer then wooll and then they crie Omnia vincit amor nos cedamus amori Pet. Men haue often fained sighs Prot. And women forged teares Pet. Suppose I loue not Prot. Suppose I care not Pet. If men sweare and lie howe will you trie their loues Prot. If women sweare they loue how will you trie their dissembling Pet. The gods put wit into women Prot. And nature deceite into men Pet. I did this but to trie your patience Prot. Nor I but to prooue your faith But see Petulius what miraculous punishments here are for deserts in loue this Rocke was a Nymph to Ceres so was this Rose so that Bird Pet. All chaung'd from their shapes Prot. All chaung'd by Cupid because they disdain'd loue or dissembl'd in it Pet. A faire warning to Protea I hope shee will loue without dissembling Prot. An Item for Petulius that hee delude not those that loue him for Cupid can also chaunge men Let vs in Exeunt ACTVS QVINTVS SCENA QVARTA Ramis Siluestris Montanus Ram. This goeth luckily that Cupid hath promised to restore our mistresses and Ceres that they shall accept our loues Mont. I did euer imagine that true loue would end with sweete ioyes though so was begun with deepe sighs Sil. But how shall we looke on them when we shal see them smile We must and perchaunce they will frowne Ram. Push let vs indure the bending of their faire browes and the scorching of their sparkling eyes so that we may possesse at last the depth of their affections Mont. Possesse Neuer doubt it for Ceres hath restored Erisicthon and therefore will perswade with them nay commaund them Sil. If it come by commaundement of Ceres not their owne motions I rather they should hate for what ioye can there be in our liues or in our loues sweetnesse when euerie kisse shall bee sealed with a curse and euerie kind word proceed of feare not affection enforcement is worse then enchantment Ram. Art thou so superstitious in loue that wast wont to be most carelesse Let them curse all day so I may haue but one kisse at night Mont. Thou art worse then Siluestris hee not content without absolute loue thou with indifferent Sil. But here commeth Ceres with Erisicthon let vs looke demurely for in her heart shee hates vs deepely ACTVS QVINTVS SCENA VLTIMA Cupid Ceres Nymphes Erisicthon Petulius Protea Erisict. I will hallow thy woods with solemne feastes and honour all thy Nymphes with due regard Cer. Well doe so and thanke Cupid that commands nay thanke my foolish Nymphes that know not how to obey here be the louers ready at receipt How now Gentlemen what seeke you Ram. Nothing but what Ceres would find Cer. Ceres hath found those that I would shee had lost vaine louers Ram. Ceres may lose that that Cupid would saue true louers Cer. You thinke so one of another Sil. Cupid knoweth so of vs all Cer. You might haue made me a counsell of your loues Mont. I madame if loue would admit counsell Cer. Cupid here is Erisicthon in his former state restore my Nymphs to theirs then shal they embrace these louers who wither out their youth Erisict. Honoured bee mightie Cupid that makes me liue Pet. Honoured bee mightie Cupid that makes me loue Prot. And me Cer. What more louers yet I thinke it bee impossible for Ceres to haue any follow her in one hower that is not in loue in the next Cup. Erisicthon bee thou carefull to honour Ceres and forget not to please her Nymphs The faithfull loue of thy daughter Protea hath wrought both pittie in me to graunt her desires and to release thy punishments Thou Petulius shalt enioy thy loue because I know thee loyall Pet. Then shall Petulius be most happie Prot. And Protea most fortunate Cup. But doe you Ramis continue your constant loue and you Montanus and you Siluestris Ram. Nothing can alter our affections which encrease while the meanes decrease and waxe stronger in being weakened Cup. Then Venus send downe that showre wherewith thou wert wont to wath those that doe thee worship and let loue by thy beames bee honoured in all the world and feared wished for and wondred at here are thy Nymphs Ceres Ram. Whome doe I see Nisa Mont. Diuine Celia fairer then euer shee was Sil. My sweete Niobe Cer. Why stare you my Nymphs as amazed triumph rather because you haue your shapes this great god Cupid that for your prides and follies changed hath by my praier and promise restored you Cup. You see Ladies what it is to make a mocke of loue or a scorne of Cupid see where your louers stand you must now take them for your husbands this is my iudgement this is Ceres promise Ram. Happie Ramis Mont. Happie Montanus Sil. Happie Siluestris Cer. Why speake you not Nymphes This must bee done and you must yeeld Nisa Not I Niob. Nor I Cel. Nor I Cer. Not yeeld Then shal Cupid in his furie turne you againe to sencelesse and shamefull shapes Cup. Will you not yeeld How say you Ramis Doo your loues continue Are your thoughts constant yours Montanus And yours Siluestris Ram. Mine most vnspotted Mont. And mine Sil. And mine Cupid which nothing can alter Cup. And will you not yeeld Virgins Nisa Not I Cupid neither doe I thanke thee that I am restored to life nor feare againe to be chaunged to stone for rather had I beene worne with the continuall beating of waues then dulled with the importunities of men whose open flatteries make way to their secret lustes retaining as little truth in their hearts as modestie in their words how happie was Nisa which felt nothing pined yet not felt the consumption vnfortunate wench that now haue eares to heare their cunning lies and eyes to behold their dissembling lookes turne me Cupid againe for loue I will not Ram. Miserable Ramis vnhappie to loue to chaunge the Ladie accurst and now lose her desperate Cel. Nor I Cupid well could I content my selfe to bud in the Summer and to die in the Winter for more good commeth of the Rose then can by loue when it is fresh it hath a sweete fauour loue a sowre taste the Rose when it is old loseth not his vertue loue when it is state waxeth loathsome The Rose distilled with fire yeeldeth sweete water loue in extremities kindles iealousies in the Rose how euer it be there is sweetnes in loue nothing but bitternesse If men looke pale and sweare sigh then forsooth women must yeeld because men say they loue as though our hearts were tied to their tongues and we must chuse them by appointment our selues feeling no affection and so haue our thoughtes bound prentises to
faire Celia yeelde to loue to sweete loue Celia Montanus thou art mad that hauing no breath almost in running so fast thou wilt yet spend more in speaking so foolishly yeeld to loue cannot or if I doe to thy loue I will not Mont. The fairest Wolfe chuseth the foulest if he bee faithfullest and he that indureth most griefe nor hee that hath most beautie Celia If my thoughts were woluish thy hopes might be as thy comparison is beastly Mon. I would thy words were as thy lookes are louely Celia I would thy lookes were as thy affection is blind Mont. Faire faces should haue smoothe hearts Celia Fresh flowres haue crooked rootes Mont. Womens beauties will waine and then no art can make them faire Celia Mens follies will euer waxe and then what reason can make them wise Mont. To be amiable and not to loue is like a painted Lady to haue colours and no life Celia To bee amorous and not louely is like a pleasant foole full of words and no deserts Mont. What call you deserts what louely Celia No louelier thing then wit no greater desert then patience Mont. Haue not I an excellent wit Celia If thou thinke so thy selfe thou art an excellent foole Mont. Foole No Celia thou shalt find me as wise as I doe thee proud and as little to disgest thy taunts as thou to brooke my loue Celia I thought Montanus that you could not deserue when I told you what it was Patience Mont. Sweete Celia I will be patient and forget this Celia Then want you wit that you can be content to be patient Mont. A hard choyse if I take all well to be a foole if find fault then to want patience Celia The fortune of loue and the vertue is neither to haue successe nor meane Farewel Mont. Farewell nay I will follow and I know not how it commeth to passe disdaine increaseth desire and the farther possibilitie standeth the neerer approacheth hope Sil. Polypus Niobe is euer of the colour of the stone it slicketh to and thou euer of his humor thou talkest with Niob. Find you fault that I loue Sil. So many Niob. Would you haue me like none Sil. Yes one Niob. Who shall make choyse but my selfe Sil. My selfe Niob. For another to put thoughts into my head were to pull the braynes out of my head take not measure of my affections but weigh your owne the Oake findeth no fault with the dewe because it also falleth on the bramble Beleeue me Siluestris the onely way to be mad is to bee constant Poets make their wreathes of Lawrell Ladies of sundrie flowers Sil. Sweete Niobe a ryuer running into diuers brookes becommeth shallow and a mind diuided into sundrie affections in the end will haue none what ioy can I take in the fortune of my loue when I shall know many to haue the like fauours Turtles flock by couples and breede both ioy and young ones Niob. But Bees in swarmes and bring forth waxe and honie Sil. Why doe you couet many that may find sweetnesse in one Niob. Why had Argus an hundred eyes and might haue seene with one Sil. Because whilest he slept with some he might wake with other some Niob. And I loue many because being deceiued by the inconstancie of diuers I might yet haue one Sil. That was but a deuice of Iuno that knewe Iupiters loue Nio. And this a rule of Venus that knew mens lightnes Sil. The whole heauen hath but one Sunne Niob. But starres infinite Sil. The Rainebow is euer in one compasse Niob. But of sundrie colours Sil. A woman hath but one heart Niob. But a thousand thoughts Sil. My Lute though it haue many strings maketh a sweete consent and a Ladies heart though it harbour many fancies should embrace but one loue Niob. The strings of my heart are tuned in a contrarie keye to your Lute and make as sweete harmonie in discords as yours in concord Sil. Why what strings are in Ladies hearts Not the base Niob. There is no base string in a womans heart Sil. The meane Niob. There was neuer meane in womans heart Sil. The treble Niob. Yea the treble double and treble and so are all my heart strings Farewell Sil. Sweete Niobe let vs sing that I may die with the Swanne Niob. It will make you sigh the more and liue with the Salamich Sil. Are thy tunes fire Niob. Are yours death Sil. No but when I haue heard thy voice I am content to die Niob. I will sing to content thee Cantant Sil. Inconstant Niobe vnhappie Siluestris yet had I rather shee should rather loue all then none for nowe though I haue no certaintie yet doe I find a kinde of sweetnesse Ram. Cruell Nisa borne to slaughter men Mont. Coy Celia bred vp in skoftes Sil. Wauering yet wittie Niobe but are wee all met Ram. Yea and met withall if your fortunes be answerable to mine for I find my Mistris immoueable and the hope I haue is to despaire Mont. Mine in pride intolerable who biddeth me looke for no other comfort then contempt Sil. Mine is best of all and worst this is my hope that either shee will haue many or none Ram. I feare our fortunes cannot thriue for Erisicthon hath felled downe the holy tree of Ceres which will encrease in her choler and in her Nymphes crueltie let vs see whether our Garlands bee there which we hanged on that tree and let vs hang our selues vpon another Sil. A remedie for loue irremoueable but I will first see whether all those that loue Niobe do like in the meane season I will content my selfe with my share Mont. Here is the tree O mischiefe scarce to be beleeued in possible to be pardoned Ram. Pardoned it is not for Erisicthon perisheth with famine and is able to starue those that looke on him Here hang our Garlands something is written read mine Sil. Cedit amor rebus res age tutus eris Mont. And mine Sil. Sat mihi si facies sit bene nota mihi Now for my selfe Victoriatecum stabit scilicet Mont. You see their posies is as their hearts and their hearts as their speeches cruell proud and wauering let vs all to the Temple of Cupid and intreate his fauour if not to obtaine their loues yet to reuenge their hates Cupid is a kinde god who knowing our vnsported thoughts will punish them or release vs Wee will studie what reuenge to haue that our paines proceeding of our owne minds then plagues may also proceed from theirs Are you all agreed Sil. I consent but what if Cupid denie helpe Mont. Then he is no god Sil. But if he yeeld what shall we aske Ram. Reuenge Mon. Then let vs prepare our selues for Cupids sacrifice Exeunt ACTVS TERTIVS SCENA SECVNDA Erisicthon Protea Marchant Erisict. Come Protea deare daughter that name must thou buy too deare necessitie causeth thee to be sold nature must frame thee to be contented Thou seest in how short a space I haue turned
their words turne me againe Yeeld I will not Mont. Which way shalt thou turne thy selfe since nothing will turne her heart Die Montanus with shame and griefe and both infinite Niob. Nor I Cupid let me hang alwayes in the ayre which I found more constant then mens words happie Niobe that touched not the ground where they goe but alwayes holding thy beake in the ayre didst neuer turne backe to behold the earth In the heauens I saw an orderly course in the earth nothing but disorderly loue and preuishnesse turne me againe Cupid for yeeld I will not Sil. I would my selfe were stone flower or fowle seeing that Nisa hath a heart harder then stone a face fairer then the Rose and a mind lighter then feathers Cup. What haue we here Hath punishment made you peruerse Ceres I vowe here by my sweete mother Venus that if they yeeld not I will turne them againe not to flowers or stones or birds but to monsters no lesse filthie to be seene then to bee named hatefull they shall creepe that now stand and be to all men odious and bee to themselues for the mind they shall retaine loathsome Cer. My sweete Nymphs for the honor of your sex for the loue of Ceres for regard of your own countrie yeeld to loue yeeld my sweete Nymphes to sweete loue Nisa Shall I yeeld to him that practised my destruction and when his loue was hotest caused me to bee chaunged to a rocke Ram. Nisa the extremitie of loue is madnesse and to be mad is to bee sencelesse vpon that Rocke did I resolue to end my life faire Nisa forgiue him thy chaunge that for himselfe prouided a harder chaunce Cel. Shall I yeeld to him that made so small accompt of my beautie that he studied how he might neuer behold it againe Mont. Faire Ladie in the Rose did I alwayes behold thy colour and resolu'd by continuall gazing to perish which I could not doe when thou wast in thine owne shape thou wast so coy and swift in flying from me Niob. Shall I yeeld to him that caused me haue wings that I might flie farther from him Sil. Sweete Niobe the farther you did seeme to bee from me the neerer I was to my death which to make it more speedy wisht thee wings to she into the ayre and my selfe lead on my heeles to sinke into the Sea Cer. Well my good Nymphes yeeld let Ceres intreat you yeeld Nisa I am content so as Ramis when hee finds me cold in loue or hard in beliefe hee attribute it to his owne folly in that I retaine some nature of the Rocke he chaunged me into Ram. O my sweete Nisa bee what thou wilt and let all thy imperfections bee excused by me so thou but say thou louest me Nisa I doe Ram. Happie Ramis Celia I consent so as Montanus when in the midst of his sweete delight shall find some bitter ouerthwarts impute it to his folly in that he suffered me to be a Rose that hath prickles with her pleasantnes as hee is like to haue with my loue shrewdnes Mont. Let me bleed euerie minute with the prickles of the Rose so I may enioy but one hower the sauour loue faire Celia and at thy pleasure comfort and confound Celia I doe Mont. Fortunate Montanus Niob. I yeelded first in mind though it bee my course last to speake but if Siluestris find me not euer at home let him curse himselfe that gaue me wings to flie abroad whose feathers if his iealousie shall breake my policie shall nip Nou custodiri ni velit vlla potest Sil. My sweete Niobe flie whither thou wilt all day so I may find thee in my nest at night I will loue thee and beloue thee Sit modo non feci dicere lingua memor Cup. I am glad you are all agreed enioy your loues and euerie one his delight Thou Erisicthon art restored of Ceres all the louers pleased by Cupid shee ioyfull I honoured Now Ladies I will make such vnspotted loue among you that there shall bee no suspition nor iarre no vnkindnesse nor iealousie but let all Ladies heereafter take heede that they resist not loue which worketh wonders Cer. I will charme my Nymphes as they shall neither be so stately as not to stoope to loue nor so light as presently to yeeld Cup. Here is none but is happie but doe not as Hippomanes did when by Venus ayd hee wonne Atlanta defile her Temple with vnchast desires and forgot to sacrifice vowes I will soare vp into heauen to settle the loues of the gods that in earth haue dispos'd the affections of men Cer. I to my haruest whose corne is now come out of the blade into the eare and let all this amorous troupe to the temple of Venus ther to consummate what Cupid hath commaunded Erisict. Im the honour of Cupid and Ceres will solemnize this feast within my house and learne if it be not too late againe to loue But you Forresters were vnkind that in all my maladies would not visit me Mont. Thou knowest Erisicthon that louers visit none but their mistresses Erisict. Well I wil not take it vnkindly since all ends in kindnesse Cer. Let it bee so these louers mind nothing what we say Ram. Yes we attend on Ceres Cer. Well doe Exeunt FINIS
confound themselues Cer. But let vs to the Temple of Cupid and offer sacrifice they that thinke it straunge for chastitie to humble it selfe to Cupid knowe neither the power of loue nor the nature of virginitie th' one hauing absolute authoritie to commaund the other difficultie to resist and where such continuall warre is betweene loue and vertue there must bee some parties and continuall perils Cupid was neuer conquered and therefore must bee flattered Virginitie hath and therefore must be humble Nisa Into my heart Madam there did neuer enter any motion of loue Cer. Those that often say they cannot loue or will not loue certainely they loue Didst thou neuer see Cupid Nisa No but I haue heard him described at the full and as I imagined foolishly First that he should bee a god blind and naked with wings with bowe with arrowes with free-brands swimming sometimes in the Sea playing sometimes on the shore with many other deuices which the Painters being the Poets Apes haue taken as great paines to shaddow as they to lie Can I thinke that gods that commaund all things would goe naked What should he doe with wings that knowes not where to slice Or what with arrowes that sees not howe to ayme The heart is a narrow marks go hit and rather requireth Argus eyes to take leuel ther a blind boy to shoote at randome If he were fire the Sea would quench those coles or the flame turne him into cinders Cer. Well Nisa thou shalt see him Nisa I feare Niobe hath felt him Niob. Not I Madam yet must I confesse that oftentimes I haue had sweete thoughts sometimes hard conceites betwixt both a kind of yeelding I know not what But certainely I thinke it is not loue sigh I can and find ease in melancholly smile I doe and take pleasure in imagination I feele in my selfe a pleasing paine a chill heate a delicate bitternesse how to terme it I know not without doubt it may be loue sure I am it is not hate Nisa Niobe is tender hearted whose thoughts are like water yeelding to euerie thing and nothing to bee seene Cer. Well let vs to Cupid and take heede that in your stubbornesse yo 'l offend him not whome by entreaties you ought to follow Dianas Nymphes were as chast as Ceres virgines as faire as wife how Cupid tormented them I had rather you should heare then feele but this is truth they all yeelded to loue looke not scornefully my Nymphes I say they are yeelded to loue This is the temple thou great god Cupid whome the gods regard and men reuerence let it bee lawfull for Ceres to offer her sacrifice Cup. Diuine Ceres Cupid accepteth any thing that commeth from Ceres which feedeth my Sparrowes with ripe corne my Pigeons with wholsome seedes and honourest my Temple with chast virgines Cer. Then Loue to thee I bring these white and spotlesse Doues in token that my heart is as free from any thought of loue as these from any blemish and as cleare in virginitie as these perfect in whitenesse But that my Nymphes may know both thy power and thy lawes and neither erre in ignorance nor pride let me aske some questions to instruct them that they offend not those whome resist they cannot In virgines what dost thou chiefest desire Cup. In those that are not in loue reuerent thoughts of loue in those that be faithfull vowes Cer. What doest thou most hate in virgines Cup. Pride in the beautifull bitter taunts in the wittie incredulitie in all Cer. What may protect my virgines that they may neuer loue Cup. That they be neuer idle Cer. Why didst thou so cruellie torment all Dianas Nymphes with loue Cup. Because they thought it impossible to loue Cer. What is the substance of loue Cup. Constancie and secrecie Cer. What the signes Cup. Sighes and teares Cer. What the causes Cup. Wit and idlenesse Cer. What the meanes Cup. Oportunitie and Importunitie Cer. What the end Cup. Happinesse without end Cer. What requirest thou of men Cup. That onely shall be knowne to men Cer. What reuenge for those that will not loue Cup. To be deceiued when they doe Cer. Well Cupid intreate my Nymphes with fauour and though to loue it be no vice yet spotlesse virginitie is the onely vertue let me keepe their thoughtes as chast as their bodies than Ceres may be happie they praised Cup. Why Ceres doe you thinke that lust followeth loue Ceres louers are chast for what is loue diuine loue but the quintescens of chastitie and affections binding by heauenly motions thou cannot bee vndone by earthly meanes 〈…〉 by any man Cer. 〈…〉 continuall sacrifice warme vs with mild 〈…〉 wee seeme immodest 〈…〉 â—ble like stockes Cup. Ceres 〈…〉 be light nor obstinacie 〈…〉 and faithfull so shall your flames warme but not burne delight and neuer discomfort Cer. How say you my Nymphs doth not Cupid speake like a god Counsel you I will not to loue but coniure you I must that you be not disdainefull let vs in and see how Erisicthon speedeth famine flieth swiftly and hath already seyzed on his stomacke Exeunt ACTVS TERTIVS SCENA PRIMA Ramis Nisa Montanus Celia Siluestris Niobe Ram. Stay cruell Nisa thou knowest not from whome thou fliest and therefore fliest I come not to offer violence but that which is inuiolable my thoughts are as holy as thy vowes and I as constant in loue as thou in crueltie lust followeth not my loue as shadowes doe bodies but truth is wouen into my loue as veines into bodies let me touch this tender arme and say my loue is endlesse Nisa And to no end Ram. It is without spot Nisa And shall be without hope Ram. Dost thou disdaine Loue and his lawes Nisa I doe not disdaine that which I thinke is not yet laugh at those that honour it if it be Ram. Time shall bring to passe that Nisa shall confesse there is loue Nisa Then also will loue make me confesse that Nisa is a foole Ram. Is it folly to loue which the gods accompt honourable and men esteeme holy Nisa The gods make any thing lawfull because they be gods and men honour shadowes for substance because they are men Ram. Both gods and men agree that loue is a consuming of the heart and restoring a bitter death in a sweete life Nisa Gods doe know and men should that loue is a consuming of wit and restoring of folly a staring blindnesse and a blind gazing Ram. Wouldst thou allot me death Nisa No but discretion Ram. Yeeld some hope Nisa Hope to dispaire Ram. Not so long as Nisa is a woman Nisa Therein Ramis you shew your selfe a man Ram. Why Nisa In flattering your selfe that all women wil yeeld Ram. All may Nisa Thou shalt sweare that we cannot Ram. I will follow thee and practise by denials to bee patient or by disdaining die and so be happie Exeunt Mont. Though thou hast ouer-taken me in loue yet haue I ouer-taken thee in running
all my goods into my guts where I feele a continuall fire which nothing can quench my famine increaseth by eating resembling the Sea which receiueth all things and cannot bee filled life is sweete hunger sharpe betweene them the contention must bee short vnlesse thou Protea prolong it I haue acknowledged my offence against Ceres make amends I cannot for the gods holding the ballance in their hands what recompence can equally weigh with their punishments Or what is hee that hauing but one ill thought of Ceres that can race it with a thousand dutifull actions such is the difference that none can find defence this is the ods we miserable and men they immortall and gods Prot. Deare father I will obey both to sale and slaughter accompting it the onely happinesse of my life should I liue an hundred yeares to prolong yours but one mynute I yeeld father chop and chaunge me I am readie but first let mee make my prayers to Neptune and withdraw your selfe till I haue done long it shall not bee now it must be Erisict. Stay sweete Protea and that great god heare thy prayer though Ceres stop her eares to mine Prot. Sacred Neptune whose godhead conquered my maiden-head bee as ready to heare my passions as I was to beleeue thine and performe that now I intreate which thou didst promise when thy selfe didst loue Let not me bee a pray to this Marchaunt who knowes no other god then Gold vnlesse it bee falsely swearing by a god to get gold let me as often as I be bought for money or pawnd for meate be turned into a Bird Hare or Lambe or any shape wherin I may be safe so shall I preserue mine owne honour my fathers life and neuer repent me of thy loue and now bestirre thee for of all men I hate that Marchant who if he find my beautie worth one pennie will put it to vse to gaine ten hauing no Religion in his mind nor word in his mouth but money Neptune heare now or neuer Father I haue done Erisict. In good time Protea thou hast done for loe the Marchant keepeth not onely day but hower Prot. If I had not beene here had I beene forfeited Erisict. No Protea but thy father famished Here Gentleman I am ready with my daughter Prot. Gentleman Mar. Yea Gentleman faire maide my conditions make me no lesse Prot. Your conditions in deed brought in your obligations your obligations your Vsurie your Vsurie your Gentrie Mar. Why doe you iudge no Marchants Gentlemen Prot. Yes many and some no men Mar. You shall be well intreated at my hands Prot. It may Commmaunded I will not be Mar. If you be mine by bargaine you shall Prot. Father hath this Marchant also bought my mind Erisict. He cannot buy that which cannot be sold Mar. Here is the money Erisict. Here the maide farewell my sweete daughter I commit thee to the gods and this mans curtesie who I hope will deale no worse with thee then hee would haue the gods with him I must bee gone left I doe starue as I stand Exit Prot. Farewell deare Father I will not cease continually to pray to Ceres for thy recouerie Mar. You are now mine Protea Prot. And mine owne Mar. In will not power Prot. In power if I will Mar. I perceiue Nettles gently touched sting but roughly handled make no smart Prot. Yet roughly handled Nettles are Nettles and a Waspe is a Waspe though shee lose her sting Mar. But then they doe no harme Prot. Nor good Mar. Come with me and you shall see that Marchaunts know their good as well as Gentlemen Prot. Sure I am they haue Gentlemens goods Exeunt ACTVS QVARTVS SCENA PRIMA Ramis Montanus Siluestris Cupid Ram. This is the Temple of our great god let vs offer our sacrifice Mont. I am readie Sil. And I Cupid thou god of loue whose arrowes haue pierced our hearts giue eare to our plaints Cup. If you come to Cupid speake boldly so must louers speake faithfully so must speeders Ram. These euer burning Lampes are signes of my neuer to be quenched flames this bleeding heart in which yet stickes the head of the golden shaft is the liuely picture of inward torments mine eyes shall bedewe thine Altars with teares and my sighes couer thy Temple with a darke smoake pittie poore Ramis Mont. With this distaffe haue I spun that my exercises may bee as womanish as my affections and so did Hercules and with this halter will I hang my selfe if my fortunes answere not my deserts and so did Iphis To thee diuine Cupid I present not a bleeding but a bloudlesse heart dried onely with sorrow and worne with faithfull seruice This picture Toffer carued with no other instrument then Loue pittie poore Montanus Sil. This fanne of Swans and Turtles feathers is token of my truth and iealousie iealousie without which loue is dotage and with which loue is madnesse without the which loue is lust and with which loue is folly This heart neither bleeding nor bloudlesse but swolne with sighes I offer to thy godhead protesting that all my thoughts are as my words without lust and all my loue as my fortune without sweetnesse This Garland of flowers which hath all colours of the Rainebowe witnesseth that my heart hath all torments of the world pittie poore Silvestris Cup. I accept your offers not without cause and wonder at your loues not without pleasure but bee your thoughts as true as your words Ram. Thou Cupid that giuest the wound knowest the heart for as impossible it is to conceale our affections as to resist thy force Cup. I know that where mine arrowe lighteth there breedeth loue but shooting euerie minute a thousand shafts I know not on whose heart they light though they fall on no place but hearts What are your mistresses Ram. Ceres maidens mine most cruell which shee calleth constancie Mont. Mine most faire but most proud Sil. Mine most wittie but most wauering Cup. Is the one cruell th' other coye the third inconstant Ram. Too cruell Mont. Too coye Sil. Too fickle Cup. What do they thinke of Cupid Ram. One saith hee hath no eyes because he hits hee knowes not whome Mont. Th' other that he hath no eares to heare those that call Sil. The third that he hath no nose for sauours are not found of louers Ram. All that hee hath no taste because sweete and sower is all one Mont. All that hee hath no sence because paines are pleasures and pleasures paines Sil. All that he is a foolish god working without reason and suffering the repulse without regard Cup. Dare they blaspheme my god-head which Ioue doth worship Neptune reuerence and all the gods tremble at To make them loue were a reuenge too gentle for Cupid to make you hate a recompence too smal for louers But of that anon what haue you vsed in loue Ram. All things that may procure loue giftes words othes sighs and swounings Cup. What said they of gifts Mont. That
affection could not bee bought with gold Cup. What of words Ram. That they were golden blastes out of Leaden bellowes Cup. What of othes Sil. That Iupiter neuer sware true to Iuno Cup. What of sighes Sil. That deceipt kept a forge in the hearts of fooles Cup. What of swounings Mont. Nothing but that they wished them deathes Cup. What reasons gaue they not to loue Sil. Womens reasons they would not because they would not Cup. Well then shall you see Cupid requite their reasons with his rigour What punishment doe you desire that Cupid will denie Ram. Mine being so hard as stone would I haue turned to stone that being to louers pittilesse shee may to all the world be sencelesse Mont. Mine being so faire and so proud would I haue turned into some flower that shee may know beautie is as fading as grasse which being fresh in the morning is withered before night Sil. Mine diuine Cupid whose affection nothing can make staied let her be turned to that Bird that liueth only by ayre and dieth if shee touch the earth because it is constant The bird of Paradise Cupid that drawing in her bowels nothing but ayre shee may know her heart fed on nothing but ficklenesse Cup. Your reuenges are reasonable and shall bee graunted Thou Nisa whose heart no teares could pearce shalt with continuall waues be wasted in stead of thy faire haire shalt thou haue greene mosse thy face of flint because thy heart is of marble thine eares shall bee holes for fishes whose eares were more deafe then fishes Thou Celia whome beautie made proud shalt haue the fruite of beautie that is to fade whiles it is flourishing and to blast before it is blowne Thy face as faire as the Damaske rose shall perish like the Damaske rose the canker shall eate thee in the bud and euerie little wind blow thee from the stalke and then shall men in the morning weare thee in their Hats and at night cast thee at their heeles Thou Niobe whome nothing can please but that which most displeaseth Cupid inconstancie shalt only breathe and sucke ayre for foode and weare feathers for silke beeing more wauering then ayre and lighter then feathers This will Cupid doe Therefore when next you shall behold your Ladies doe but send a faithfull sigh to Cupid and there shall arise a thicke mist which Proserpine shall send and in the moment you shall be reuenged and they chaunged Cupid proue himselfe a great god and they peeuish girles Ram. With what sacrifice shall wee shewe our selues thankfull or how may we requite this benefit Cup. You shal yerely at my Temple offer true hearts and howerly bestow all your wits in louing deuices thinke all the time lost that is not spent in loue let your othes be without number but not without truth your words full of alluring sweetnesse but not of broad flatterie your attires neate but not womanish your giftes of more price for the fine deuice then the great valewe and yet of such valew that the deuice seeme not beggerly nor your selues blockish be secrete that worketh myracles bee constant that bringeth secrecie this is all Cupid doth commaund Away Ram. And to this we all willingly consent Nowe what resteth but reuenge on them that haue practised malice on vs let mine be any thing seeing shee will not be onely mine Mont. Let vs not now stand wishing but presently seeke them out vsing as great speed in following reuenge as we did in pursuing our loue certainely wee shall find them about Ceres tree singing or sacrifizing Sil. But shall we not goe visit Erisicthon Mont. Not I left hee eate vs that deuoureth all things his lookes are of force to famish let vs in and let all Ladies beware to offend those in spight that loue them in honour for when the Crow shall set his foote in their eye and the blacke Oxe tread on their foote they shall finde their misfortunes to be equall with their deformities and men both to loath and laugh at them Exeunt ACTVS QVARTVS SCENA PRIMA Erisicthon Protea Petulius Syren Erisict. Come Protea tell me how didst thou escape from the Marchant Prot. Neptune that great god when I was ready to goe with the Marchant into the ship turned me to a Fisherman on the shore with an Angle in my hand and on my shoulder a net the Marchant missing me and yet finding me asked me who I was and whether I saw not a faire maiden I answered no Hee maruelling and raging was forced either to lose his passage or secke for mee among the Pebbles To make short a good wind caused him to goe I know not whither and me thanks be to Neptune to returne home Erisict. Thou art happie Protea though thy Father bee miserable and Neptune gracious though Ceres cruell escape from the Marchant breedeth in me life ioy and fulnesse Prot. My father cannot be miserable if Protea be happie for by selling me euerie day hee shall neuer want meate nor I shiftes to escape And now Father giue me leaue to enioy my Petulius that on this vnfortunate shore still seekes me sorrowing Erisict. Seeke him deare Protea find and enioy him and liue euer hereafter to thine owne comforts that hast hitherto beene the preseruer of mine Exit Prot. Aye me behold a Syren haunts this shore the gods forbid shee should entangle my Petulius Syren Syr. Accursed men whose loues haue no other meane then extremities nor hates end but mischiefe Prot. Vnnaturall monster no maide that accuseth men whose loues are built on truth and whose hearts are remoued by curtesie I will heare the depth of her malice Syr. Of all creatures most vnkind most cunning by whose subtilties I am halfe fish halfe flesh themselues being neither fish nor flesh in loue luke warme in crueltie red hot if they praise they flatter if flatter deceiue if deceiue destroy Prot. Shee rayles at men but seekes to intangle them this slight is prepared for my sweete Petulius I will withdraw my selfe close for Petulius followeth hee will without doubt be enamored of her enchaunted hee shall not be my charmes shall counteruaile hers it is he hath saued my Fathers life with money and must prolong mine with loue Pet. I maruaile Protea is so farre before me if shee runne I le flie sweete Protea where art thou it is Petulius calleth Protea Syr. Here commeth a braue youth Now Syren leaue out nothing that may allure thy golden lockes thy entising lookes thy tuned voice thy subtile speeche thy faire promises which neuer misled the heart of any but Vlisses Sing with a Glasse in her hand and a Combe Pet. What diuine goddesse is this What sweete harmonie My heart is rauished with such tickling thoughts and mine eyes stayed with such a bewitching beautie that I can neither find the meanes to remoue my affection nor to turne aside my lookes Sing againe Syren I yeeld to death but with such delight that I would not wish to liue vnlesse