The Faithful Shepherdess | Page 8

me then,?How shall we part their faithful loves, and when??Shall I bely him to her, shall I swear?His faith is false, and he loves every where??I'le say he mockt her th' other day to you,?Which will by your confirming shew as true,?For he is of so pure an honesty,?To think (because he will not) none will lye:?Or else to him I'le slander Amoret,?And say, she but seems chaste; I'le swear she met?Me 'mongst the shady Sycamores last night?And loosely offred up her flame and spright?Into my bosom, made a wanton bed?Of leaves and many flowers, where she spread?Her willing body to be prest by me;?There have I carv'd her name on many a tree,?Together with mine own; to make this show?More full of seeming, Hobinall you know,?Son to the aged Shepherd of the glen,?Him I have sorted out of many men,?To say he found us at our private sport,?And rouz'd us 'fore our time by his resort:?This to confirm, I have promis'd to the boy?Many a pretty knack, and many a toy,?As gins to catch him birds, with bow and bolt,?To shoot at nimble Squirrels in the holt;?A pair of painted Buskins, and a Lamb,?Soft as his own locks, or the down of swan;?This I have done to win ye, which doth give?Me double pleasure. Discord makes me live.
Amar. Lov'd swain, I thank ye, these tricks might prevail With other rustick Shepherds, but will fail?Even once to stir, much more to overthrow?His fixed love from judgement, who doth know?Your nature, my end, and his chosens merit;?Therefore some stranger way must force his spirit,?Which I have found: give second, and my love?Is everlasting thine.
Sul. Try me and prove.
Amar. These happy pair of lovers meet straightway,?Soon as they fold their flocks up with the day,?In the thick grove bordering upon yon Hill,?In whose hard side Nature hath carv'd a well,?And but that matchless spring which Poets know,?Was ne're the like to this: by it doth grow?About the sides, all herbs which Witches use,?All simples good for Medicine or abuse,?All sweets that crown the happy Nuptial day,?With all their colours, there the month of May?Is ever dwelling, all is young and green,?There's not a grass on which was ever seen?The falling Autumn, or cold Winters hand,?So full of heat and vertue is the land,?About this fountain, which doth slowly break?Below yon Mountains foot, into a Creek?That waters all the vally, giving Fish?Of many sorts, to fill the Shepherds dish.?This holy well, my grandam that is dead,?Right wise in charms, hath often to me said,?Hath power to change the form of any creature,?Being thrice dipt o're the head, into what feature,?Or shape 'twould please the letter down to crave,?Who must pronounce this charm too, which she gave?Me on her death-bed; told me what, and how,?I should apply unto the Patients brow,?That would be chang'd, casting them thrice asleep,?Before I trusted them into this deep.?All this she shew'd me, and did charge me prove?This secret of her Art, if crost in love.?I'le this attempt; now Shepherd, I have here?All her prescriptions, and I will not fear?To be my self dipt: come, my temples bind?With these sad herbs, and when I sleep you find,?As you do speak your charm, thrice down me let,?And bid the water raise me Amoret;?Which being done, leave me to my affair,?And e're the day shall quite it self out-wear,?I will return unto my Shepherds arm,?Dip me again, and then repeat this charm,?And pluck me up my self, whom freely take,?And the hotst fire of thine affection slake.
Sul. And if I fit thee not, then fit not me:?I long the truth of this wells power to see. [Exeunt.
Enter Daphnis.
Daph. Here will I stay, for this the covert is?Where I appointed Cloe; do not miss,?Thou bright-ey'd virgin, come, O come my fair,?Be not abus'd with fear, nor let cold care?Of honour stay thee from the Shepherds arm,?Who would as hard be won to offer harm?To thy chast thoughts, as whiteness from the day,?Or yon great round to move another way.?My language shall be honest, full of truth,?My flames as smooth and spotless as my youth:?I will not entertain that wandring thought,?Whose easie current may at length be brought?To a loose vastness.
Alexis within. Cloe!
Daph. 'Tis her voyce,?And I must answer, Cloe! Oh the choice?Of dear embraces, chast and holy strains?Our hands shall give! I charge you all my veins?Through which the blood and spirit take their way,?Lock up your disobedient heats, and stay?Those mutinous desires that else would grow?To strong rebellion: do not wilder show?Than blushing modesty may entertain.
Alexis within. Cloe!
Daph. There sounds that [blessed] name again,
Enter Alexis.
And I will meet it: let me not mistake,?This is some Shepherd! sure I am awake;?What may this riddle mean? I will retire,?To give my self more knowledg.
Alex. Oh my fire,?How thou consum'st me! Cloe, answer me,?Alexis_,