English

PROLOGUE.

For who can longer hold? when every Press,
The Bar and Pulpit too has broke the peace?
When every scribling Fool at the alarms
Has drawn his Pen, and rises up in Arms?
And not a dull Pretender of the Town,
But vents his gall in pamphlet up and down?
When all with license rail, and who will not,
Must be almost suspected of the PLOT ,
And bring his Zeal, or else, his parts in doubt?
In vain our Preaching Tribe attack the Foes,
In vain their weak Artillery oppose:

[The Epilogue]

VENUSSES Search for Cupid

Downe from the third heav'n, I (that am
His queene, goddesse, & mother) come
To seeke my sonne, (the run-away
Cupid. ) I lost him yesterday.
As he lay playing in my lapp
(Whether of purpose, or by happ
I cannot say,) but his golde shaft
Fell with the point on my left side,
And prickt me'; and when my hurt he spide,
(As erst h'has serv'd me') he flew away, and laught.
But though somtime I angry seem,

Actus Quintus. scena Prima

Elpine, Chorus. Elp:

Doubtlesse the lawes wherewith Love governeth
His Empire evermore, are neither hard
To follow, nor unjust; and those his workes
Which many men do condemne wrongfully,
Are full of providence, and mistery.
Lo with what art,
And by how many unknowne wales, he leades
His votaries unto their happinesse;
And placeth them among the highest joyes
And pleasures of his amorous Paradise,
When oftentimes they feele themselves sunk downe

Nuntius, Chorus, Silvia, Daphne. [Nun:]

I am so full of woe, so full of horror
As all I heare and whatsoere I looke on
Me thinks afflicts, disquiets, and affrights me. Cho:

What strange newes brings this man, that seemes to me
So troubled in his lookes, and in his speech? Nun:

I bring the sad newes of Aminta's death. Sil:

Ay me what sayes he? Nun:

Aminta noblest Shepherd of these woods;
That was so comely and so gratious;
So deare unto the Nymphes, and to the Muses;
And dead but ev'ne a ladd. Cho:

Daphne. Silvia. Chorus. [Da:]

Now may the winde upon his wings beare hence
All ill may happen thee; together with
Th' accursed newes so lately spread of thee.
Thou art alive (the gods be thank'd for't)
And ev'n but now I did beleeve thee dead;
So had Nerina painted to the life
Thy late hap; but I would shee had bin dumbe,
Or some that heard her deafe. Sil:

Indeed I scap'd
So narrowly, as I beleeve she might
Full well suppose me dead. Da:

Suppose she might
Yet not have told it with such certainty.

Aminta, Daphne, Nerina.[ Am :

Pittilesse (Daphne) was that Pitty of thine,
When thou held'st backe the dart; because my death
Will but more painefull be, the more delay' de:
And now, why doest thou stay me trifling thus,
And hold me' in vaine with these thy long discourses?
If thou beest fearefull of my death, thou fear'st
My happinesse. Daph :

Leave leave Aminta
This thy unjust despaire: I know her well;
And 'twas her bashfulnesse, not cruelty,
That made her runne away so fast from thee. Am :

Thirsis. Chorus.

Thi :

O Savage cruelty: O th' ungratefull minde
Of a most most ungratefull Mayde; O Sexe
Full of ingratitude: and thou lewd Nature,
Nigligent mistresse, and maker of things,
Wherefore, ah wherefore mad'st thou womankinde
So faire, and sweet, and milde onely without;
And didst forget to make their insides good?
Poore youth, I feare 'has made away himselfe
Ere this; alas I cannot finde him out:
Three houres from place to place, & wher I left him
Have I bin seeking him; but cannot finde

Actus Secundus. Scena Tertia. [ Am ]

Now shall I see what Thirsi' has done for me;
And if he have done nothing, ere my woes
Melt me' into nothing, I' le go kill my selfe
Before the proud face of that cruell mayde,
That so delights to see my hearts deepe wound
Made by her murth' ring eyes, as sure it can
Please her no lesse, to see her sad command
Fulfill'd on my owne brest with my owne hand. Thi :

Newes, newes Aminta, happy newes I bring thee;
Cleare then thy browe, and cast thy griefes away. Am

Actus Secundus. Scen: Secunda. Da :

Thirsis (as I have tolde thee) well I knowe
How well, Aminta Silvia loves; heav'n knowes
How many friendly offices I have,
And will do for him; and so much the rather
For that thou do'st intreate in his behalfe;
But I would sooner take in hand to tame
A Beare, or Tygar then a fond young wench;
The silly thing (simple as faire) sees not
How sharpe and burning be her beauties rayes,
But smiles or cries; yet wounds where ere she goe,
And fondly knowes not if shee hurt or no. Thi :

Satyr solus . [ Sat: ]

Small is the Bee; but yet with his small sting
Does greater mischiefe, then a greater thing.
But what of all things can be lesse then Love,
That through so narrow passages can pierce,
And in so narrow roome lye hid? sometime
Under the shaddow of an eye-lids fault,
Now in the small curle of a shining tresse,
Now in the little pitts which forme sweet smiles
In an inamo'ring cheeke; yet makes so deepe,
So deadly and immedicable wounds.