The Faithful Shepherdess | Page 2

Lambs shrink,?Makes me a cold: my fear says I am mortal:?Yet I have heard (my Mother told it me)?And now I do believe it, if I keep?My Virgin Flower uncropt, pure, chaste, and fair,?No Goblin, Wood-god, Fairy, Elfe, or Fiend,?Satyr or other power that haunts the Groves,?Shall hurt my body, or by vain illusion?Draw me to wander after idle fires;?Or voyces calling me in dead of night,?To make me follow, and so tole me on?Through mire and standing pools, to find my ruine:?Else why should this rough thing, who never knew?Manners, nor smooth humanity, whose heats?Are rougher than himself, and more mishapen,?Thus mildly kneel to me? sure there is a power?In that great name of Virgin, that binds fast?All rude uncivil bloods, all appetites?That break their confines: then strong Chastity?Be thou my strongest guard, for here I'le dwell?In opposition against Fate and Hell.
Enter an old_ Shepherd, _with him four couple of Shepherds and Shepherdesses.
Old Shep. Now we have done this holy Festival?In honour of our great God, and his rites?Perform'd, prepare your selves for chaste?And uncorrupted fires: that as the Priest,?With powerful hand shall sprinkle on [your] Brows?His pure and holy water, ye may be?From all hot flames of lust, and loose thoughts free.?Kneel Shepherds, kneel, here comes the Priest of Pan.
Enter Priest.
Priest. Shepherds, thus I purge away,?Whatsoever this great day,?Or the past hours gave not good,?To corrupt your Maiden blood:?From the high rebellious heat?Of the Grapes, and strength of meat;?From the wanton quick desires,?They do kindle by their fires,?I do wash you with this water,?Be you pure and fair hereafter.?From your Liver and your Veins,?Thus I take away the stains.?All your thoughts be smooth and fair,?Be ye fresh and free as Air.?Never more let lustful heat?Through your purged conduits beat,?Or a plighted troth be broken,?Or a wanton verse be spoken?In a Shepherdesses ear;?Go your wayes, ye are all clear.
[They rise and sing in praise of Pan.
The SONG.
_Sing his praises that doth keep?Our Flocks from harm,_?Pan _the Father of our Sheep,?And arm in arm?Tread we softly in a round,?Whilest the hollow neighbouring ground?Fills the Musick with her sound._
Pan, O great God_ Pan, to thee?Thus do we sing:?Thou that keep'st us chaste and free?As the young spring,?Ever be thy honour spoke,?From that place the morn is broke,?To that place Day doth unyoke._
[Exeunt omnes but_ Perigot _and Amoret.
Peri_. Stay gentle _Amoret, thou fair brow'd Maid,?Thy Shepherd prays thee stay, that holds thee dear,?Equal with his souls good.
Amo. Speak; I give?Thee freedom Shepherd, and thy tongue be still?The same it ever was; as free from ill,?As he whose conversation never knew?The Court or City be thou ever true.
Peri. When I fall off from my affection,?Or mingle my clean thoughts with foul desires,?First let our great God cease to keep my flocks,?That being left alone without a guard,?The Wolf, or Winters rage, Summers great heat,?And want of Water, Rots; or what to us?Of ill is yet unknown, full speedily,?And in their general ruine let me feel.
Amo. I pray thee gentle Shepherd wish not so,?I do believe thee: 'tis as hard for me?To think thee false, and harder than for thee?To hold me foul.
Peri. O you are fairer far?Than the chaste blushing morn, or that fair star?That guides the wandring Sea-men through the deep,?Straighter than straightest Pine upon the steep?Head of an aged mountain, and more white?Than the new Milk we strip before day-light?From the full fraighted bags of our fair flocks:?Your hair more beauteous than those hanging locks?Of young Apollo.
Amo. Shepherd be not lost,?Y'are sail'd too far already from the Coast?Of our discourse.
Peri. Did you not tell me once?I should not love alone, I should not lose?Those many passions, vows, and holy Oaths,?I've sent to Heaven? did you not give your hand,?Even that fair hand in hostage? Do not then?Give back again those sweets to other men,?You your self vow'd were mine.
Amo. Shepherd, so far as Maidens modesty?May give assurance, I am once more thine,?Once more I give my hand; be ever free?From that great foe to faith, foul jealousie.
Peri. I take it as my best good, and desire?For stronger confirmation of our love,?To meet this happy night in that fair Grove,?Where all true Shepherds have rewarded been?For their long service: say sweet, shall it hold?
Amo. Dear friend, you must not blame me if I make?A doubt of what the silent night may do,?Coupled with this dayes heat to move your bloud:?Maids must be fearful; sure you have not been?Wash'd white enough; for yet I see a stain?Stick in your Liver, go and purge again.
Peri. O do not wrong my honest simple truth,?My self and my affections are as pure?As those chaste flames that burn before the shrine?Of the great Dian: only my intent?To draw you thither, was to plight our troths,?With enterchange of mutual chaste embraces,?And ceremonious tying of our selves:?For to that