the queen's arcadia

the qveenes arcadia .

actus primi .

scena . i. ergastus . melibaeus . erg. how is it melibaeus that we finde our countrey , faire , arcadia , so much changd from what it was , that was thou knowst of late , the gentle region of plaine honestie , the modest seat , of vndisguised trueth , inhabited with simple innocence : and now , i know not how , as if it were , vnhallowed , and diuested of that grace , hath put off that faire nature which it had , and growes like ruder countries , or more bad . mal. indeed ergastus i haue neuer knowne , so vniuersall a distemperature , in all parts of the body of our state , as now there is ; nor euer haue we heard so much complaining of disloyaltie , amongst our younger nimphes , nor euer found our heardsmen so deluded in their loues , as if there were no faith on either side . we neuer had in any age before so many spotlesse nimphes , so much distaind with black report , and wrongfull infamie , that few escape the tongue of malice free . erg. and me thinkes too , our very ayre is changd , our holesome climate growne more maladiue , the fogges , and the syrene offends vs more ( or we made thinke so ) then they did before , the windes of autumne , now are said to bring more noysomnesse , then those do of the spring : and all of vs feele new in infirmities , new feuers , new catarres , oppresse our powers , the milke wherewith we cur'd all maladies , hath either lost the nature , or we ours . mel. and we that neuer were accustomed to quarrell for our bounds , how do we see montanus and acrysius inter-striue how farre their seuerall sheep-walkes should extend , and cannot be agreed do what we can : as if some vnderworking hand strake fire , to th' apt inkindling tinder of debate , and fostred their contention and their hate . erg. and me thinkes too , the beautie of our nimphes is not the same , as it was wont to be . that rosie hew , the glory of the cheeke , is either stolne , or else they haue forgot , to blush with shame , or to be pale with feare : or else their shame doth make them alwayes blush for alwayes doth their beauties beare one hew , and either nature 's false , or that vntrue . mel. besides their various habits grow so strange , as that although their faces certaine are , their bodies are vncertaine euery day , and alwayes diffring from themselues so far , as if they scorn'd to be the same they are . and all of vs are so transformd , that we discerne not an arcadian by th' attyre , our ancient pastorall habits are dispisd , and all is strange , hearts , clothes , and all disguisd . erg. indeed vnto our griefe we may perceiue , the whole complection of arcadia chang'd , yet cannot finde th' occasion of this change : but let vs with more wary eye obserue whence the contagion of these customes rise , that haue infected thus our honest plaines , with cunning discorde , idle vanitie , deceiptfull wrong , and causelesse infamie . that by th' assistance of our grauer swaines , we now at first , may labour to preuent the further course of mischiefes , and restore our late cleane woods , to what they were before . mel. content ergastus , and euen here will be a place conuenient for so fit a worke : for here our nimphes , and heardsmen on this greene , do vsually resort , and in this groue we may obserue them best , and be vnseene .

actus . 1. scen. 2. colax . techne . col. come my deare techne , thou and i must plotte more cunning proiects yet , more strange designes amongst these simple grosse arcadians here , that know no other world , but their owne plaines , nor yet can apprehend the subtile traines we lay , to mock their rurall ignorance . but see , here comes two of their amorous swaines in hote contention , let vs close conuay our selues , here vnderneath this couerture , and ouer-heare their passionate discourse . tec. colax , this place well such a purpose fits , let vs sit close , and faith , it shall goe hard , vnlesse we make some profit by their wits . carinus . amyntas . ca. now fond amyntas , how cam'st thou possest with such a vaine presumption , as thou art , to thinke that cloris should affect thee best , when all arcadia knowes i haue her heart ? am. and how carinus canst thou be so mad , t' imagine cloris , can , or doth loue thee , when by so many signes , as i haue had , i finde her whole affection bent to me ? ca. what are those signes by which you come to cast , and calculate the fortune of your hopes ? am. more certaine signes , then thou canst euer shew . car. but they are more then signes , that i can shew . am. why let each then produce the best he can , to proue which may be thought the likeliest man . car. content amintas , and do thou begin . am. and i am well contented to begin . first if by chance , whilst she at barely-breake with other nimphes , do but perceiue me come , streight lookes her cheeke with such a rosie red , as giues the setting sunne vnto the west when morrow tempests are prefigured . car. euen so that hew prognosticates her wrath , which brings to thee , the stormie winds of sighes . am. and if i finde her , with her fellow nimphes gathering of flowers by some sweete riuers side , at my approach she straight way stands vpright , forgets her worke , and downe le ts slide her lap , and out fall all her flowers , vpon the ground . car. so doth the sillie sheepe forget to feed , when it perceiues the greedy wolfe at hand . am. and if she meete but with my dog , she takes and strokes him on the head playes with his eares , spits in his mouth , and claps him on the back , and sayes , come , come melampus go with me . car. she may loue what is thine , but yet hate thee . am. whilst at a chrystall spring the other day , shee washt her louely face , and seeing me come , she takes vp water with her daintie hand , and with a downe cast looke besprinckles me . car. that shews that she would gladly quench in thee the fire of loue , or else like loue doth beare , as did the delian goddesse , when she cast disdainefull water on actaeons face . am. as siluia , one day , sate with her alone , binding of certaine choice selected hearbes to her leaft arme , against bewitching spels ; ( and i at th' instant comming ) she perceiu'd her pulse with farre more violence to beat ( as sh' after told me ) then it did before . car. the like is felt when natures enemy , the hatefull feauer , doth surprise our powers . am. and euen but yester night , she going before with other maides , and seeing me following her , lets fall this daintie nosegay , hauing first bestowd a kisse thereon , to th' end i might receiue it so , and with it do the like . car. poore withred fauours , they might teach thee know , that she esteemes thee , and thy loue as light as those dead flowers , she wore but for a show , the day before , and cast a way at night . am. now friend carinus , thou that mutterest so at these plaine speaking figures of her loue , tell by what signes thou doest her fauours proue ? car. now silly man , doest thou imagine me so fond to blab the fauours of my loue ? am. was 't not a pact agreed twixt thee and me ? car. a pact to make thee tell thy secrecie . am. and hast thou then betrayd my easie trust , and dallyed with my open simplenesse ? car. and fitly art thou seru'd , that so wilt vaunt the imagin'd fauours , of a gentle nimphe ; and this is that which makes vs feele that dearth of grace , t' haue kindnesse at so hie a rate . this makes them wary how they do bestow the least regarde of common courtesie , when such as you poore , credulous , deuout , and humble soules , make all things miracles your faith conceiues , and vainely do conuert all shadowes to the figure of your hopes . am. carinus now thou doest me double wrong , first to deride my easie confidence , and then t' obrayd my trust , as if my tongue had here prophan'd faire cloris excellence , in telling of her mercies , or had sin'd in vttring th' honour of a modest grace bestowing comfort , in so iust a case . car. why man , thou hast no way deseru'd her loue . am. desert i cannot vrge , but faith i can , if that may haue reward , then happy man . car. but you know how i sau'd her from the hands of that rude satyre , who had else vndone her honour vtterly ; and therefore ought my loue of due raigne soueraigne in her thought . am. but how that free and vnsubdued heart , infranchisd by the charter of her eyes , will beare the imposition of a due i do not see , since loue knew neuer lord that could command the region of our will . and therefore vrge thy due , i for my part , must plead compassion , and a faithfull heart . car. plead thou thy faith , whilst i will get thy loue , for you kinde soules do seldome gracefull proue . am. the more vnkinde they , who should better way our honest vowes , and loue , for loue repay , but oft they beare the penance of their will , and for the wrong they do , they speed as ill .

scen. 3. colax . techne . col. alas poore fooles , how hotely they contend who shall possesse a prey that 's yet vngot . but techne , i must by thy help forestall the mart of both their hopes , and whilst they shall pursue the aire , i must surprise their gaine . and fitly now , thou maist occasion take by these aduantages discouered here , t' impresse in cloris tender heart that touch of deepe dislike of both their vanteries , as may conuert her wholy vnto me . tec. why will you then dorindas loue forsake , for whom you trauayld so , and made me take such labour to intice her to your loue ? col. tush techne we desire not what we haue , but what we would , our longings neuer stay with our attainings , but they goe beyond . tec. and why ? dorinda is as fayre as shee . col. that i confesse , but yet that payes not mee , for cloris is another and t is that , and onely that , which techne i desire . some thing there is peculiar , and alone to euery beawtie that doth giue an edge to our desires , and more we still conceiue in that we haue not , then in that we haue . and i haue heard , abrode where best experience , and witt is learnd , that all the fairest choyce of women in the world , serue but to make one perfect beautie , whereof each bringes part . one hath a pleasing smile , and nothing els : another but some sillie mole to grace th' area of a disproportion'd face ; another pleases not but when shee speakes , and some in silence onely graceful are : some till they laugh , we see , seeme to be fayre , some haue their bodies good , their gestures ill , some please in motion , some in sitting still , some are thought louely , that haue nothing faire , some againe fayre that nothing louely are . so that we see how beauty doth consist of diuers peeces , and yet all attract and therefore vnto al my loue aspires , as beauty varies , so doth my desires . tec. ah but yet colax doe not so much wrong vnto a nimph , now when thou hast subdude and wonne her heart , & knowst she holds thee deare . col. tush wrong is as men thinke it , and i see it keepes the world the best in exercise that els would languish , and haue nought to do . discord in parts , makes harmon ' in the whole : and some must laugh , whilst othersome condole . and so it be not of the side we are , let others beare it , what need we to care . and now dorinda somthing hath to doe , now she may sit , and thinke , and vexe , and plott , for ease , and ioying of her full delight would but haue dulld her spirits and marrd her quite . tec. alas yet i must pittie her poore soule in this distresse , i being one my selfe of that frayle corporation , and do know that she will take it verie greuously . and yet in troth sh 'is serud but well inow , that would neglect mirtillus honest loue , and trust strange protestations , and new othes , be wonne with garded words , and gawdie clothes . col. well , well , dorinda shall not waile alone , she shal haue others to consort her mone : for since my late returne from telos court i haue made twenty of their coyest nimphes turne louers , with a few protesting words and some choyce complementall periuries ; i made palaemon , to suspect the faith of his chast siluia , and chast siluia his , in hope thereby to worke her loue to me . i wrought coy daphne to infringe her vow made to menalcas , and i told her how those fetters which so heauily were layde vpon our free affections , onely were but customary bandes , not naturall . and i thinke techne thou hast done thy parte , here , in this gentle region of kind heartes , since thou cam'st hither , for i see thou thriu'st . tec. in deede whilst i in corinth did remaine , i hardly could procure the meanes to liue , there were so many of my trade , that sold complexions , dressings , tiffanies and tyres , devisors of new fashions and strange wiers bedbrokers , night wormes , and compositors that though i knew these arts as well as they yet being so many we could get smale pay . here , who but techne now is all in all ? techne is sent for , techne onely shewes new strange deuises to the choycest nimphes : and i thinke techne teaches them those trickes . as they wil not forget againe in haste . i haue so opened their vnapt conceipts vnto that vnderstanding of themselues , as they will shew in time they were wel taught , if they obserue my rules , and hide a fault . col. ah well done techne . thus must thou and i trade for our profit with their ignorance , and take our time , and they must haue their chaunce . but pray thee techne , do not thou forget to lay a traine for cloris . so adieu . tec. colax i will not , and the rather too , for that i beare a little leaning loue to sweete amintas , for mee thinkes he seemes the loueliest shepheard all arcadia yeeldes and i would gladly intercept his loue ,

scena . 4. melibaeus . ergastus . meli. so this is well . here 's one discouery made ; here are the heads of that distemperature , froì� whence these strange deban'shmeì�ts of our nimphs and vile deluding of our shepheards springs : here is a monster , that hath made his lustes as wide as is his will , and leaft his will without all bounds , and cares not whom he wrongs , so that he may his owne desires fulfill , and being all foule himselfe , would make all ill . this is that colax that from forraine lands , hath brought home that infection which vndoes his countrie goodnesse , and impoysons all . his being abroad would marre vs quite , at home . t is strange to see , that by his going out , he hath out-gone that natiue honestie , which here the breeding of his countrey gaue . for here i do remember him a childe , the sonne of nicoginus of the hill , a man though low in fortune , yet in minde high set , a man still practising t' aduance his forward sonne beyond the traine of our , arcadian breed , and still me thought i saw a disposition in the youth , bent to a selfe conceipted surlinesse , with an insinuating impudence . erg. a man the fitter made for courts abroade , where i would god he had remained still , with those loose-liuing wanton sybarites , where luxurie , hath made her outmost proofe . from whence pheare he comes , and hither brings their shames , to brand vs with the like reproach . and for this other viper , which you saw , i do remember how she came of late for succour to these parts , and sought to teach our younger maides to dresse , and trie out flaxe , and vse the distaffe , and to make a hem , and such like skill , being skill inough for them , but since i see she hath presum'd to deale in points of other science , different farre from that plaine arte of honest huswiferie , and as it seemes hath often made repaire vnto the neighbour citties round about , from whom she hath these strange disguises got t' abuse our nimphes , and as it seemes desires , to sute their mindes , as light as their attires , but we shall soone preuent this growing plague , of pride , and folly , now that she discry the true symptoma of this maladie , and by this ouerture thus made , we trust we shortly shall discouer all the rest .

actus 2.

scen. 1. siluia . cloris . sil. o cloris , here haue thou and i full oft sate and bene mery , in this shadie groue . here haue we sung full many a rundelay , told riddles , and made nosegayes , laught at loue , and others passions , whilst my selfe was free , from that intollerable miserie , whereto affection now inuassells me . now cloris i shall neuer more take ioy to see , or to be seene , with mortall eye , now sorrow must be all my companie . clo. why siluia , whence , should all this griefe arise ? sil. i am vndone cloris , let that suffice . clo. tell me , sweete siluia , how comes that to passe ? sil. o cloris if thou be , as once , i was free , from that miserable plague of loue , keepe thee so still , let my affliction warne thy youth , that neuer man haue power , to moue thy heart to liking , for beleeue me this , they are the most vnfaithfull impious race of creatures on the earth ; neuer beleeue their protestations , nor their vowes , nor teares , all is deceipt , none meanes the thing he sweares . trust a mans faith ? nay rather will i goe and giue my selfe a prey to sauage beasts , for all they seeke , and all they labour for , is but t' vndoe vs , and when that is done , they goe and triumph on the spoile the'haue wonne . trust men , or take compassion when they grieue , o cloris t is to chearish and relieue the frozen snake , which with our heat once warmd , will sting vs to the heart in recompence , and ã´ no maruaile tho the satyre shund , to liue with man , when he perceiu'd he could , with one and the same breath blow heat and cold . who would haue euer thought palaemons othes would haue prou'd false ? who would haue iudgd the face that promisd so much faith , and honestie , had bene the visor but of treacherie ? clo. is 't possible palemon should b' vntrue ? sil. 't is possible , palaemon is vntrue . clo. if it be so , deare siluia , i thinke then that thou saist truth , there is no trust in men , for i protest i neuer saw a face that promisd better of a heart then his , and if he faile , whose faith then constant is ? sil. o cloris if thou didst but know how long , and with what earnest suite , he sought my loue , what vows he vsd , what othes , what teares among what shewes he made , his constancie to prooue , you would admire : and then againe to see how i although i lou'd him with my heart stood out , and would by no meanes vrged be , to shew the least affection of my part . for i had heard that , which ( ã´ now too well ) i finde , that men were cunning , and would not regard the thing that easily was got . clo. siluia , indeed and i haue heard so too . sil. and therefore i would trie him , and not seeme his vowes , nor protestations to esteeme , at length one day , here in this selfe-same place , ( which i shall euer , and good cause i haue to thinke on whilst i liue ) walking with me , after he had vrgd me most earnestly : o siluia , said he , since nor othe , nor vow , nor teares , nor prayers , haue the power to moue , nor all that i can doe , can make thee know how true a heart , i offer to thy loue ; i must trie some way else to shew the same , and make thy vndiscerning wilfull youth know , though too late , ( perhaps vnto thy shame ) thy wayward error , and my constant truth : when thou maist sigh , and say in griefe of minde , palaemon lou'd , and siluia was vnkinde . with that wringing my hand , he turnes away , and though his teares would hardly let him looke , yet such a looke , did through his teares make way , as shew'd how sad a farewell there he tooke . and vp towards yonder craggie rock he goes , his armes incross'd , his head downe on one side , with such a mournfull pace , as shewd his woes way'd heauier then his passions could abide : faine would i haue recald him back , but shame , and modestie could not bring forth his name : and faine would i haue followed , yet me thought it did not fit the honour of a maide to follow one , yet still i sent from me , t' attend his going , feare , and a carefull eye . at length when he was gotten to the top , i might perceiue how with vnfolded armes , and lookes bent vp to heauen , he stands , and turnes his wofull face vnto the other side , whereas that hidious fearefull downfall is : and seem'd as if he would haue throwne him off : and as i thought , was now vpon the point : when my affrighted powers could hold no more , but pittie breaking all those bands of shame , that held me back ; i shrikd , and ran , god knowes , with all the speed my feeble feete could make , and clammering vp at length ( with much adoo ) breathlesse i got , and tooke him by the hand , and glad i had his hand , and was not come too late to haue it , and i puld him back : but could not speake one word , no more did he , sense seem'd to faile in him , and breath in me . and on before i went , and lead him on , and downe conducted him into this plaine . and yonder loe , vnder that fatall tree , looke cloris there , euen in that very place , we sate vs downe , my arme about his neck , which ioue thou know'st held neuer man before : there onely did my teares conferre with his , words we had none , it was inough to thinke , for passion was too busie now within , and had no time to come abroad in speach . and though i would haue spoken , yet me thought i should not , but my silence told him this , that tolde too much , that all i was was his . clo. well siluia , i haue heard so sad a tale , as that i grieue to be a woman borne , and that by nature we must be exposd vnto the mercie of vnconstant men . but what saide then palaemon in the ende ? sil. oh what he said , and what deepe vowes he made , when ioy and griefe , had let his senses loose . witnes ã´ gentle tree vnder whose shade , we sate the while ; witnes if euer mayde had more assurances by othes of man . and well may you beare witnes of this deede , for in a thousand of your barkes he hath incaru'd my name , and vnderwrote his vowes , which will remaine so long as you beare bowes . but , cloris , learne this lesson now of mee ; take head of pittie , pittie was the cause of my confusion , pittie hã¢th vndone thousands of gentle natures , in our sexe , for pittie is sworne seruant vnto loue , and this be sure , where euer it begin to make the way , it lets your maister in . clo. but what assurance haue you of his fraud : it may be you suspect him without cause ? sil. ah cloris , cloris , would i had no cause , he who beheld him wrong mee in these woods , and heard him courting nisa , and protest as deepe to her , as he had done to me , told me of all his wicked treachery . clo. pray who was that ? tell mee good siluia , tell . sil. why it was colax , one i know full well would not report vntruthes to gaine the world , a man of vertue , and of worthy partes , he told me all and more then i will shew , i would i knew not halfe of that i know ah had he none but nisa that base trull , the scorne and iest of all arcadia now to serue his lusts , and falsifie his vow ? ah had it yet bene any els , the touch of my disgrace , had neuer bin so much but to be leaft for such a one as she , the stale of all , what will folke thinke of me ? cloris in troth , it makes me so much loath my selfe , loath these woods , and euen hate the day , as i must hide my griefes out of the way i will be gone , cloris , i leaue thee here , i cannot stay , and prethee , cloris , yet pitty thy poore companion siluias care , and let her fortune make thee to beware . clo. siluia adieu , the gods relieue thy woes , since men thus faile , and loue no pittie showes ,

scen. 2. cloris . techne . clo. loue ? nay , i 'me taught for louing whilst i liue , siluia , thy councell hath lockt vp my heart so fast from loue , as let them sigh , and grieue , and pine , and waile who will , i for my part will pittie none of all this race of men . i see what showes so euer they pretend , their loue is neuer deadly , none of these that languish thus , haue dide of this disease that euer i could heare , i see all do recouer soone , that happen thereinto . and if they did not , there were no great hurt , they may indure , they are of stronger powers , better their hearts should ake , then they breake ours . well had i not bene thus forewarnd to day , out of all question , i had shortly falne , into the melting humour of compassion too ; that tender pittie that betrayes vs thus . for something i began to feele , me thought , to mooue within me , when as i beheld amyntas walke so sadly , and so pale , and euer where i went , still in my way , his lookes bent all to me , his care of mee , which well i saw , but would not seeme to see . but now he hath his arrent , let him go , pittie shall neuer cure that heart of his t' vndoo mine owne , the griefe is best where t is . tec. what cloris al alone , now fie for shame , how ill doth this become so faire a face , and that fresh youth to be without your loue ? clo. loue techne ? i haue here as many loues as i intende to haue , whilst i haue breath . tec. nay that you haue not , neuer hault with mee , for i know two at least possessors be of your kind fauors , as themselues doe boste . clo. boste of my fauors , no man rightly can . and otherwise , let them say what they can . tec. no cloris did not you the other night a gallant nosegay to amintas giue ? clo. i neuer gaue him nosegay in my life . tec, then trust me cloris he doth wrong you much : for he produc'd it there in open sight , and vaunted to carinus , that you first , did kisse the same , then gaue it vnto him : and tolde too , how farre gone you were in loue , what passion you would vse , when he was by , how you would iest with him , and wantonly cast water in his face ; cal his dogge yours , and shew him your affections by your eye . and then carinus on the other side he vaunts , that since he had redeemed you out of the satyres handes , he could commaund your loue and all , that you were onely his . this and much more , i heard them i protest giue out of you , how truly you know best . clo. techne , their idle talke , shal not vexe me , i know the ground i stand on , and how free my heart , and i inioye our liberty , and it amyntas , hath interpreated my looke , according to his owne conceipt , he hath mistooke the text , and he shall finde great difference , twixt his comment , and my minde and for his nosegay it shall make me take more care hereafter how i scatter flowers : let him preserue it well , and let him make much of his gaines , he gets no more of ours . but thus had i bene seru'd , had i reueald the least regarde of common courtesie to such as these : but i doe thanke the gods i haue reseru'd me , from that vanitie : for euer i suspected this to be the vaine of men , and this now settles me . and for carinus , let him vaunt what good he did for me , he can but haue againe my hearty thankes , the paiment for his paine , and that he shall : and ought in woman-hood . and as for loue , let him go looke on her that sits , and grieues , and languishes for him , poore amarillis , who affects him deare , and sought his loue with many an wofull teare . and well deserues a better man then be , though he be rich lupinus sonne , and stands much on his wealth , and his abilitie , she 'is wittie , faire and full of modestie . and were she of my minde , she rather would pull out her eyes , then that she would be seene , to offer vp so deare a sacrifice to his wilde youth , that scornes her in that wise . tec. cloris in troth , i like thy iudgement well , in not affecting of those home-bred swaines , that know not how to manage true delight , can neither hide their loue , nor shew it right . who would be troubled with grosse ignorance , that vnderstands not truely how to loue ? no cloris , if thou didst but know , how well thou art esteemd , of one that knowes indeed how to obserue thy worth , and his owne wayes , how to giue true delight , how to proceed with secrecie , and witte , in all assayes , perhaps you might thinke one day of the man . clo. what is this creature then you praise a man ? tec. a man ? yes cloris , what should he be else ? clo. nought else , it is enough he be a man . tec. yea and so rare a man as euer yet arcadia bred , that may be proud she bred a person of so admirable parts , a man that knowes the world , hath seene abrod , brings those perfections that do truly moue , a gallant spirit , an vnderstanding loue . o if you did but know how sweete it were , to come vnto the bed of worthinesse , of knowledge , of conceipt , where strange delights with strange discourses still shall intertaine your pleased thoughts , with fresh variety , ah you would loath to haue your youth confin'de , for euer more , betweene th' vnskilfull armes of one of these rude vnconceiuing swaines , who would but seeme a trunke without a minde ; as one that neuer saw but these poore plaines , knowes but to keepe his sheepe , and set his folde . pipe on an oaten reede , some rundelayes , and daunce a morrice on the holydayes . and so should you be alwayes sweetly sped with ignorance , and two fooles in a bed . but with this other gallant spirit you should be sure to ouerpasse that tediousnesse , and that saciety which cloyes this life , with such a variable cheerefulnesse , as you will blesse the time t' haue bene his wife . clo. what hath this man you thus commend fa name ? tec. a name ? why yes , no man but hath a name . his name is colax , and is one i sweare doth honour euen the ground whereon you tread , and oft , and many many times , god knowes , hath he with tender passion , talkt of you : and said ; well , there is one within these woods ( meaning by you ) that yet of all the nimphes mine eyes haue euer seene vpon the earth , in all perfections doth exceed them all . for all the beauties in that glorious court of telos , where i liu'd , nor all the starres of grece beside , could sparkle in my heart , the fire of any heat but onely she . then would he stay , and sigh ; and then againe ah what great pittie such a creature should be tide vnto a clogge of ignorance , whose body doth deserue to be imbrac'd , by the most mighty monarch vpon earth . ah that she knew her worth , and how vnfit that priuate woods should hide , that face , that wit . thus hath he often said , and this i say , obserue him when you will , you shall not see from his hye forehead , to his slender foote , a man in all parts , better made then he . clo. techne , me thinkes , the praises that you giue shewes your owne loue , and if he be that man you say , 't were good you kept him for your selfe . tec. i must not loue impossibilities , cloris , he were a most fit man for you . clo. for me ? alas techne you moue too late . tec. why haue you past your promise t' any yet ? clo. yes sure , my promise is already past . tec. and if it be , i trust you are so wise t' vnpasse the same againe for your owne good . clo. no that i may not when it is once past . tec. no cloris , i presume that wit of yours . that is so piersiue , can conceiue how that our promise must not preiudice our good : and that it is no reason that the tongue , tye the whole body to eternall wrong . clo. the tongue is but the agent of the heart . and onely as commissioner allowd by reason , and the will , for the whole state , which warrants all it shall negotiate . tec. but prethee tell me to what rustick swaine you pass'd your word to cast away your selfe ? clo. no i haue past my word to saue my selfe from the deceiptfull , impious periuries of treacherous men , and vowd vnto my heart , vntill i see more faith then yet i see , none of them all shall triumph ouer me . tec. nay then , and be no otherwise t is well , we shall haue other time to talke of this . but cloris i haue fitted you in faith , i haue here brought , the most conceipted tyre , the rarest dressing euer nimph put on . worth ten of that you weare , that now me thinkes doth not become you , and besides t is stale . clo. stale why ? i haue not worne it scarce a moneth . tec. a moneth ? why you must change theì� twise a day . hold hither cloris , this was not well laid , here is a fault , you haue not mixt it well to make it take , or els it is your haste to come abroad so soone into the ayre . but i must teach you to amend these faults , and ere i shall haue done with you , i thinke , i shall make some of these inamored youthes to hang themselues , or else runne madde for loue . but goe let 's trie this dressing i haue brought .

scen. 3. palaemon . mirtillus . pal. mirtillus did dorinda euer vow , or make thee any promise to be thine ? mir. palaemon no , she neuer made me vow , but i did euer hope she would be mine . for that i had deliuered vp my youth , my heart , my all , a tribute to her eyes , and had secur'd her of my constant truth , vnder so many faithfull specialties , as that although she did not graunt againe , with any shew the acquittance of my loue yet did she euer seeme to intertaine my affections , and my seruices t' approoue . till now of late i know not by what meane , ( ill fare that meane ) she grew to that dispight , as she not onely clowds her fauours cleane , but also scorn'd to haue me in her sight . that now i am not for her loue thus , mou'd but onely that she will not be belou'd . pal. if this be all th' occasion of thy griefe , mirtillus , thou arte then in better case then i suppos'd , and therefore cheere thy heart , and good cause too , being in the state thou art . for if thou didst but heare the historie of my distresse , and what part i haue shar'd of sad affliction , thou wilt then soone see there is no miserie vnlesse compar'd . for all arcadia , all these hills , and plaines , these holts and woods and euery christall spring . can testifie my teares , and tell my flames , and with how cleene a heart , how cleere a faith palaemon loued siluia , and how long . and when consum'd with griefe , and dri'd with care . euen at the poynt to sacrifice my life vnto her cruelty , then lo she yeelds , and was content for euer to be mine : and gaue m' assurance vnderneath her hand , sign'd with a faithfull vow , as i conceiu'd , and witnessed with many a louely kisse , that i thought sure i had attaine'd my blisse . and yet ( aye me ) i gote not what i got , siluia i haue , and yet i haue her not . mir. how may that be , palaemon pray thee tell ? pal. o know mirtillus that i rather could runne to some hollow caue , and burst and die in darknes , and in horrour , then vnfold her shamefull staine , and mine owne infamie . but yet it will abrode , her impudence will be the trumpet of her owne disgrace , and fill the wide , and open mouth of fame so full , as all the world shall know the same . mir. why what is siluia false , or is she gone ? pal. siluia is false and i am quite vndone . mil. ah out alasse who euer would haue thought , that modest looke , so innocent a face , so chast a blush , that shamefast countenance , could euer haue told how to wantonise ? ah what shal we poore louers hope for now who must to win , consume , and hauing wonne with hard and much adoe , must be vndone ? pal. ah but mirtillus if thou didst know who is now the man , her choyse hath lighted on , how wouldst thou wonder ? for that passes all , that i abhorre to tell : yet tell i shall ; for all that would will shortly know 't too well : it is base thyrsis that wild hare-braine youth whom euery milkmaid in arcadia skornes : thyrsis is now the man with whom she walkes alone , in thickets , and in groues remote . thyrsis is all in all , and none but he , with him she dallie , vnder euery tree . trust women ? ah mirtillus , rather trust the summer windes , th' oceans constancie , for all their substance is but leuitie : light are their wauing vailes , light their attires , light are their heads , and lighter their desires : let them lay on what couerture they will vpon themselues , of modestie and shame , they cannot hide the woman with the same . trust women ? ah mirtillus rather trust the false deuouring crocodiles of nile , for all they worke is but deceipt and guile : what haue they but is faind ? their haire is faind , their beauty fain'd , their stature fain'd , then pace , their iesture , motion , and their grace is fain'd and if that all be fain'd without , what then shall we suppose can be sincere within ? for if they do but weepe , or sing , or smile , smiles , teares , and tunes , are ingins to beguile . and all they are , and all they haue of grace , consists but in the out-side of a face . o loue and beautie , how are you ordaind like vnto fire , whose flames farre of delight , but if you be imbrac'd consume vs quight ? why cannot we make at a lower rate a purchase of you , but that we must giue the treasure of our hearts , and yet not haue what we haue bought so dearely for all that ? o siluia if thou needs wouldst haue bene gone , thou shouldst haue taken all away of thee ; and nothing leaft to haue remain'd with me . thou shouldst haue carryed hence the portraiture which thou hast left behinde within my heart , set in the table-frame of memory , that puts me still in minde of what thou wert , whilst thou wert honest , and thy thoughts were pure , so that i might not thus in euery place , where i shall set my carefull foote , conferre with it of thee , and euermore be told , that here sate siluia vnderneath this tree , and here she walkt , and len't vpon mine arme , there gathred flowers , and brought them vnto me . here by the murmour of this rusling spring , she sweetly lay , and in my bosome slept : here first she shew'd me comforts when i pin'de : as if in euery place her foote had stept , it had least siluia in a print behind . but yet , ã´ these were siluias images , then whilst her heart held faire , and she was chaste , now is her face all sullied with her fact , and why are not those former prints defac'd ? why should she hold , still in the forme she was , being now deform'd , and not the same she was ? o that i could mirtillus lock her out of my remembrance , that i might no more haue siluia here , when she will not be here . mir. but good palaemon , tell what proofes hast thou of her disloyalty , that makes thee show these heauie passions , and to grieue so much ? pal. mirtillus , proofes , that are alas too plaine ; for colax one thou know'st can well obserue and iudge of loue , a man both staid , and wise , a gentle heardsman , out of loue , and care he had of me , came and reported all : and how he saw them diuers times alone , imbracing each the other in the woods , besides she hath of late with sullaine lookes , that shew'd disliking , shund my company , kept her aloofe , and now i thinke to day , is gone to hide her quite our of the way . but siluia though thou goo and hide thy face , thou canst not hide thy shame , and thy disgrace , no secret thicket , groue , nor yet close grott , can couer shame , and that immodest blot . ah didst thou lend thy hand in kinde remorse , to saue me from one death , to giue m' a worse ? had it not yet bene better i had dy'de , by thy vnspotted honest cruelty , then now by thy disgraced infamie ? that so i might haue carried to my graue , the image of chaste siluia in my heart , and not haue had these notions , to ingraue a stained siluia there , as now thou art ? ah yes , it had bene better farre , i proue , t' haue perisht for thy loue , then with thy loue . mir. ah good palaemon cease these sad complaints , and moderate thy passions , thou shalt see she may returne , and these reports be found but idle fictions , on vncertaine ground . pal. mirtillus i perceiue my tedious tale , begins to be distastefull to thine eare , and therefore will i to some desart vale , to some close groue to waile , where none shall heare but beasts , and trees , whose sense i shall not tyre , with length of mone , for length is my desire . and therefore , gentle shepheard , now adieu , and trust not women , for they are vntrue . mir. adue palaemon , and thy sad distresse , shall make me wey dorindas losse the lesse : for if i should be hers , and she proue so , better to be mine owne , and let her go .

scena . 4. ergastus . melibaeus . erg. now melibaeus ; who would haue supposd , that had not seene these impious passages , that euer monstrous wretch could haue exposd , two honest hearts to these extremities , t' attaine his wicked ends ? by hauing wrought first in , vnto their easie confidence away , by an opinion to be thought , honest , discreet , of great experience . whereby we see open-fac't villany without a maske , no mischiefe could haue done , it was the couerture of honestie , that laid the snare , whereby they were vndone . and that 's the ingine that confounds vs all , that makes the breach whereby the world is sackt , and made a prey to cunning , when we fall into the hands of wise dishonestie : when as our weake credulitie is rackt by that opinion of sufficiencie , to all the inconueniences that guile , and impious craft can practise to beguile . and note but how these cankers alwayes seaze the choysest fruites with their infections , how they are still ordained to disease , the natures of the best complections . mel. t is true . and what an instrument hath he there got , to be the agent of his villany ? how truely she negotiats , and doth plot , to vndermine fraile imbecillitie . how strong , these spirits , combine them in a knot , to circumuent plaine open honesty ? and what a creature there is to conuerse with feeble maides , whose weaknesse soone is led with toyes , and new disguises , to reuerse the course wherein by custome they were bred ? and then what fitnesse too , her trade affordes , to trafficke with the secrets of their heart , and cheapen their affections with faire words . which women straight to women will impart ? and then to see how soone example will disperse it selfe , being met with our desire : how soone , it will inkindle others ill , like naptha , that takes fire by sight of fire ? so that vnlesse we runne with all the speed we can , to quench this new arising flame . of vanitie , and lust , it will proceed t' vndoe vs , ere we shall perceiue the same : how farre already is the mischiefe runne , before we scarse perceiu'd it was begun ?

actus 3.

scen. 1. alcon . lincus . al. what my friend lincus ? now in troth well met . lin. well met good alcon , this falles happilie , that we two thus incounter all alone , who had not any conference scarse this moneth . al. in troth i longd to heare how you proceed , in your new practise , here among , these swaines , for you and i must grace each others arte ; though you knew me , when i in patras dwelt , and waited on a poore phisitions man , and i knew you a pronotories boy , that wrote indentures at the towne house dore . yet are you here , now a great man of law , and i a graue phisition full of skill , and here we two are held the onely men . but how thriue you in your new practise now ? lin. alcon in troth not any thing to speake , for these poore people of arcadia here , are so contented each man with his owne , as they desire no more , nor will be drawne , to any contestation , nor indeed is there yet any frame composd , whereby contention may proceede in practicke forme ? for if they had this forme once to contend , then would they brawle and wrangle without end . for then might they be taught , and concell'd how to litigate perpetually you know ; and so might i be sure to doo some good : but hauing here no matter where vpon to furnish reall actions , as els where , no tenures , but a coustumarie hold of what they haue from their progenitors common , without indiuiduitie ; no purchasings , no contracts , no comerse , no politicque commands , no seruices , no generall assemblies but to feast and to delight themselues with fresh pastimes ; how can i hope that euer i shall thriue ? alc. i st possible that a societie can with so little noyse , and sweat subsist ? lin. it seemes it may , before men haue transform'd their state of nature in so many shapes of their owne managements , and are cast out into confusion by their knowledges . and either i must packe me hence , or els must labour wholy to dissolue the frame , and composition , of their strange built state . which now i seeke to doe , by drawing them to appr'hend of these proprieties of mine and thine and teach them to incroch and get them states apart , & priuate shares . and this i haue already set a worke if it will take , for i haue met with two the aptest spirits the country yelds , i know , montanus , and acrisius , who are both old , and both choloricke , and both peruerse , and both inclinable to auarice and if there quarrell hold , as t is begun i do not doubt , but all the rest will on . and if the worst should fall , if i could gaine the reputation but to arbitrate , and sway their strifes , i would get well by that . al. t is maruayle , that there long and easie peace that fosters plentie , and giues nought to doe , should not with them beget contention too , as well as other where we see it doth . lin. this peace of theirs , is not like others peace where craft layes trapps t' inrich it selfe with wiles , and men make prey of men , and rise by spoyles . this rather seemes a quiet then a peace . for this poore corner of arcadia here , this little angle of the world you see , which hath shut out of doore , all th' earth beside and are barrd vp with mountaines , and with rocks ; hath had no intertrading with the reste of men , nor yet will haue , but here alone , quite out of fortunes way , and vnderneath ambition , or desire , that waies them not they liue as if still in the golden age , when as the world was in his pupillage . but for myne owne parte , alcon i protest i enuie them that they thus make themselues , an euerlasting holyday of rest , whilst others worke , and i doe thinke it fit being in the world , they should be of the world , and if that other states should doe this too as god forbid , what should we lawyers doe ? but i hope shortly yet , we shall haue here as many of vs as are other where : and we shall sweate , and chafe , and talke as loud , brawle our selues hoarse , as well as they shall doe at patras , sparta , corinth or at thebes , and be as arrogant and euen as proud and then 't will be a world , and not before . but how dost thou with thy profession frame ? alc. no man can wish a better place then this to practise in my arte , for here they will be sicke for companie , they are so kinde . i haue now twenty patients at this time , that know not what they aile , no more doe i , and they haue phisicke all accordingly . first phillis got running at barly-breake a little cold , which i with certaine druggs i ministred , was thought to remedie , doris saw that , how phillis phisicke wrought ( for phillis had told her , she neuer tooke so delicate a thing in all her life that more reuiu'd her heart , and clear'd her bloud , ) doris would needes be sicke too , and take some . melina seeing that , she would the like , and so she had the very same receipt , for to say troth i haue no more but that , and one poore pill i vse for greater cures . but this is onely sweet and delicate , fit for young women , and is like th' hearb iohn , doth neither good nor hurte , but that 's all one , for if they but conceiue it doth , it doth , and it is that phisitions hold the chiefe in all their cures , conceipt , and strong beleefe : besids i am a straunger come from far which doth adde much vnto opinion too . for who now but th' arabian or the iewe in forraine lands , are held the onely men , although their knowledge be no more then mine . lin, t' is true friend alcon , he that hath once gote th' elixir of opinion hath got all , and h 'is th' man that turnes his brasse to gold . then can i talke of gallen , aucrois , hippocrates , rasis , and auicen and bookes i neuer read , and vse strange speach of symptoms , crisis , and the critique dayes , of trochiscs , opiats , apophilegmatismes , eclegmats , embrochs , lixiues , cataplasmes , with all the hideous termes , arte can deuise , t' amuse weake , and admiring ignorance lin. and that is right my trick , i ouer-whelme my practise too , with darknesse , and strange words , with paragraphs , condictions , codicilles , acceptilations , actions rescissorie , noxall , and hypothecall , and inuolue domestick matter in a forraine phrase . alc. then am i as abstruse and mysticall in caracter , and giuing my receipt obseruing still th' odd number in my pills , and certaine houres to gather and compound my simples , and make all t' attend the moone . then do i shew what rare ingredients i vse for some great cures , when need requires , the liuer of a wolfe , the lions gall , the leaft side of a mole , the foxes heart , the right foote of a tortuse , dragons bloud , and such strange sauage stuffe , as euen the names are phisick of them selues , to moue a man . and all the drugs i vse , must come from farre , beyond the ocean , and the sunne at least , or else it hath no vertue phisicall , these home-bred simples do no good at all . lin. no , no , it must be forraine stuffe , god wot , or something else , that is not to be got . al. but now in faith i haue found out a trick , that will perpetually so feed their rheumes , and intertaine their idle weaknesses , as nothing in the world could do the like , for lately being at corinth , 't was my chance t' incounter with a sea-man , new ariu'd of alexandria , who from india came , and brought a certaine hearbe wrapt vp in rowles , from th' island of nicosia , where it growes : infus'd i thinke in some pestiferous iuyce , ( produc'd in that contagious burning clime , contrarious to our nature , and our spirits ) or else sleep'd in the fuming sap , it selfe doth yeeld , t' inforce th' infecting power thereof , and this in powder made , and fir'd , he suckes out of a little hollow instrument of calcinated clay , the smoake thereof : which either he conuayes out of his nose , or downe into his stomack with a whiffe . and this he said a wondrous vertue had , to purge the head , and cure the great catarre , and to drie vp all other meaner rheumes , which when i saw , i streight way thought how well this new fantasticall deuise would please the foolish people here growne humerous . and vp i tooke all this commoditie , and here haue taught them how to vse the same . lin. and it is easie to bring in the vse of any thing , though neuer so absurd , when nations are prepar'd to all abuse , and th' humour of corruption once is stird . alc. t is true , and now to see with what a strange and gluttenous desire , th' exhaust the same how infinite , and how insatiably , they doe deuoure th' intoxicating fume , you would admire , as if their spirits thereby were taken , and inchanted , or transformd , by some infused philter in the drug . for whereas heretofore they wonted were at all their meetings , and their feastiualls , to passe the time in telling wittie tales , in questions , riddles , and in purposes , now do they nothing else , but sit and suck , and spit and slauer , all the time they sit . that i go by , and laugh vnto my selfe , and thinke that this will one day make some worke for me or others , but i feare it will b' another age will finde the hurt of this . but sure the time 's to come , when they looke back on this , will wonder with themselues to thinke that men of sense could euer be so mad , to suck so grosse a vapour , that consumes their spirits , spends nature , dries vp memorie , corrupts the bloud , and in a vanitie . lin. but alcon peace , here comes a patient , peace . al. lintus there doth indeed , therefore away . leaue me alone , for i must now resume my surly , graue , and doctorall aspect . this wench i know , t is daphne who hath wrongd her loue menalcas , and plaid fast and loose with colax , who reueald the whole to me .

scena . 2. daphne . alcon . daph. good doctor alcon , i am come to craue your counsaile , to aduise me for my health , for i suppose , in troth , i am not well , me thinkes i should be sick , yet cannot tell : some thing there is amisse that troubles me , for which i would take phisicke willingly . alc. welcome , faire nimph , come let me try your pulse . i cannot blame you , t' hold your selfe not well . some thing amisse quoth you , here 's all amisse , th' whole fabrick of your selfe distempred is , the systole , and dyastole of your pulse , do shew your passions most hystoricall , it seemes you haue not very carefull bene , t' obserue the prophilactick regiment of your owne body , so that we must now descend vnto the theraphenticall ; that so we may preuent the syndrome of symtomes , and may afterwards apply some analepticall elexipharmacum , that may be proper for your maladie : it seemes faire nimph you dreame much in the night . da. doctor , i do indeed . al. i know you doe , y' are troubled much with thought . dap. i am indeed . alc. i know you are . you haue great heauinesse about your heart . dap. now truly so i haue . alc. i know you haue . you wake oft in the night . dap. in troth i do . alc. all this i know you doe . and this vnlesse by phisicke you preuent , thinke whereto it may bring you in the end . and therefore you must first euacuate all those colaxicall hote humour which disturbe your heart , and then refrigerate your bloud by some menalchian cordials , which you must take , and you shall streight finde ease , and in the morning i will visit you . dap. i pray sir , let me take of that you gaue , to phillis th' other day , for that she said , did comfort wondrously , and cheere her heart . al. faire nimph , you must , if you will vse my arte , let me alone , to giue what i thinke good , i knew what fitted phillis maladie , and so , i thinke , i know what will serue you . exit . daphne sola . o what a wondrous skilfull man is this ? why he knowes all ? o god , who euer thought any man liuing , could haue told so right a womans griefe in all points as he hath ? why this is strange that by thy very pulse , he should know all i ayle , as well as i . beside i feare he sees too much in me , more then i would that any man should see . me thought ( although i could not well conceiue his words , he spake so learned and so strang ) he said i had misruld my bodie much , as if he meant that in some wanton sorte , i had abus'd my bodie with some man . o how should he know that what is my pulse become th' intelligencer of my shame ? or are my lookes the index of my heart ? sure so he said , and me thought too , he nam'd menalcas , or else some thing very like , and likewise nam'd that cunning treacherous wretch that hath vndone me , colax , that vile deuill , who is indeed the cause of all my griefe , for which i now seeke phisicke , but ã´ what can phisicke doe , to cure that hideous wound my lusts haue giuen my conscience ? which i see is that which onely is deseas'd with in and not my body now , that 's it doth so disquiet all the lodging of my spirits , as keeps me waking , that is , it presents , those ougly formes of terror that affright my broken sleepes , that layes vpon my heart this heauy loade that weighes it downe with griefe ; and no disease beside , for which there is no cure i see at all , nor no redresse . didst thou alledge vile man to my weake youth , how that those vowes i made vnto my loue were bands of custome , and could not lay on those manacles on nature , which should keepe her freedome prisoner by our dome of breath ? o impious wretch now nature giues the lie to thy foule heart , and telles my grieued soule , i haue done wrong , to falsifie that vow i first to my deare loue menalcas made . and sayes th' assurance and the faith is giuen by band on earth , the same is seald in heauen . and therefore how menalcas can these eyes that now abhorre to looke vpon my selfe , dare euer view that wronged face of thine , who hast relide on this false heart of mine ?

scen. 3. colax . techne . col. i st possible sweet techne , what you say , that cloris is so wittie , and so coy ? tec. 't is as i tell you , colax , sh is as coy and hath as shrewd a spirit , as quick conceipt as euer wench i brok'd in all my life . col. then there 's some glory in attaining her ; here now i shall be sure t' haue something yet besides dull beautie i shall lie with wit . for these faire creatures , haue such feeble spirits , and are so languishing , as giues no edge to appetite , and loue , but stuffes delight . tec. well if you ã��â��ã�� her , then you shall be sure to haue your wish ; and yet perhaps that store , you finde in her , may check your longing more then all their wants whom you haue tride before . col. how ? if i get her ? what do you suppose , i shall not get her , that were very strange . tec. yes sir , she may be got , but yet i know sh 'will put you to the tryall of your wit . col. let me alone , could i finde season fit to talke with her in priuate , she were mine . tec. that season may you now haue very well . for colax , she hath promised faith fully this euening late to meete me at the caue of erycina vnderneath the hill , where i must fit her with a new attyre . where with sh' is far in loue , and th' other day thinking to try it at her fathers house , ( whether i went with her to deale for you ) the old acrisius was himselfe at home , which did in force vs to deferre our worke vntil this euening , that we might alone there out of sight , more closely do the same : where while she stayes ( for i will make her stay for me a while ) you at your pleasure may haue th' opportunitie which you desire , col. o techne thou hast blest me , if i now on this aduantage conquere not her minde , let me be loathed , of all womenkind . and presently will i goe sute my selfe as brauely as i can , go set my lookes arme my discourse , frame speaches passionate and action both , fit for so great a worke . techne a thousand thankes and so adieu . ex. tec. well colax , she may yet deceiue thy hopes , and i perswade my selfe she is as like , as any subtile wench was euer borne , to giue as wise a man as you the skorne : but see where one whose faith hath better right vnto her loue then you , comes here forlorne like fortunes out-cast , full of heauines . ah poore amintas , would thou knewst how much thou art esteemd , although not where thou wouldst , yet where thou shouldst haue loue in that degree , as neuer liuing man had like to thee . ah see how i , who setts for others loue , am tooke my selfe , and intricated here with one , that hath his heart another where ? but i will labour to diuert the streame of his affections , and to turne his thoughts from that coye cloris , to the libertie of his owne heart , with hope to make him mine .

scen. 4. techne . amyntas . tech. now fie amyntas , why should you thus grieue for a most foolish way ward girle , that scornes your honest loue , and laughes at all you doe ; for shame amyntas let her goe as sh ' is you see her vaine , and how peruersly set , 't is fond so follow what we cannot get . am. o techne , techne , though i neuer get , yet will i euer follow whilst i breath , and if i perish by the way , yet shall my death be pleasing that for her i die . and one day she may hap to come that way , ( and be it , ã´ her way ) where i shall lye , and with her proud disdainefull foote she may tread on my tombe , and say , loe where he lyes , the triumph , and the conquest of mine eyes . and though i loose my selfe , and loose my teares , it shall be glory yet that i was hers . what haue i done of late , should make her thus my presence with that strange disdaine to flie , as if she did abhorre my company ? cloris god knowes , thou hast no cause therefore , vnlesse it be for louing more , and more . why thou wert wont to lend me yet an eare , and though thou wouldst not helpe , yet wouldst thou heare . tec. perhaps she thinkes thy heat wil be allayd , the fire being gone , and therefore doth she well not to be seene there where she will not aide . am. alas she knowes no hand but hers can quench that heat in mee , and therefore doth she wrong to fyre my heart , and then to runne away . and if she would not ayde , yet might she ease my carefull soule , if she would but stand by and onely looke vpon me while i die . tec, well well amintas , little dost thou know with whom that cunning wanton sortes her selfe , whilst thus thou mourn'st , and with what secret wiles she workes , to meete her louer in the woodes , with whom in groues , and caues she dallying sitts , and mocks thy passions , and thy dolefull fitts . am. no techne , no , i know that cannot be , and therefore doe not wrong her modestie , for cloris loues no man , and that 's some case vnto my griefe , and giues a hope that yet if euer soft affection touch her heart , she will looke back , and thinke on my desert . tec. if that be all , that hope is at an end , for if thou wilt this euening but attend and walke downe vnder ericinas groue , and place thy selfe in some close secret bush , right opposite vnto the hollow caue that looks into the vallye , thou shalt see that honestie , and that great modestie . am. if i see cloris there , i know i shall , see nothing els with her , but modestie . tec. yes something els wil grieue your heart to see : but you must be content , and thinke your selfe are not the first , that thus haue bene deceiud , with fayre appearing out-sides , and mistooke a wanton heart by a chaste steming looke . but i coniure you by the loue you beare vnto those eyes , which make you ( as you are th' example of compassion to the world ) sit close and be not seene in any case . am. well techne , if i shall see cloris there it is enough , then thither will i goe , who will go any where to looke on her . and cloris know , i do not goe to see , any thing else of thee , but onely thee . tec. well goe and thinke yet of her honest care , who giues thee note of such a shamefull dead , and iudge amyntas when thou shalt be free , who more deserues thy loue , or i or she .

scen. 5. melibaeus . ergastus . me. now what infernall proiects are here laid , t' afflict an honest heart , t' expose a maide , vnto the danger of alone assault , to make her to offend without her fault . er. and see what other new appearing spirits would raise the tempests of disturbances , vpon our rest , and labour to bring in all the whole ocean of vnquietnesse , to ouerwhelme the poore peace we liue in ? how one would faine instruct , and teach vs how to cut our throates with forme , and to contend with artificiall knowledge , to vndoo each other , and to brabble without end . as if that nature had not tooke more care for vs , then we for our owne selues can take , and makes vs better lawes then those we make . and as if all that science ought could giue vnto our blisse , but onely shewes vs how the better to contend , but not to liue . and euermore we see , how vice doth grow with knowledge , and brings forth a more increase , when skilfull men begin , how good men cease . and therefore how much better doe we liue , with quiet ignorance then we should doe with turbulent and euer-working skill , which makes vs not to liue but labour still . mel. and see that other vaine fantastick spirit , who would corrupt out bodies too likewise , as this our mindes , and make our health to be as troublesome as sicknesse , to deuise , that no part of vs euer should be free ; both forraging on our credulitie , take still th' aduantage of our weakenesses ; both cloath their friuolous vncertainties in strange attyres , to make it seene the lesse .

actus 4 ,

scen. 1. techne , amyntas . tec. amyntas must come back i know this way , and here it will be best for me to stay , and here , indeed he comes , poore man i site all quite dismaide and now i le worke on him . come , who tels troth amynta , who deceiues your expectation now , cloris , or i ? am. peace techne peace , and doe not interrupt the griefe that hath no leasure to attend ought but itselfe , and hath shut vp with it all other sense in priuate close within , from doing any thing , but onely thinke . te. thinke ? wheron should you think ? y'haue thought ynow and too too much , on such a one as shee . whom now you see y'haue tride her honestie : and let her goe proud girle accordingly , there 's none of these young wanton things that know how t' vse a man , or how to make their choyse . or answere mens affections as they ought , and if y' will thinke , thinke sh' is not worth a thought . good techne , leaue mee for thy speach and sight beare both that disproportion to my griefe , as that they trouble , trouble and confound confusion in my sorrowes , which doth loath that sound of wordes , that answeres not the tone of my dispayres in accents of like mone , and now hath sorrow no worse plague i see , then free and vnpartaking companie . who are not in the fashion of our woes , and whose affection do not looke likwise of that complection as our miseries ? and therefore pray thee leaue me or else leaue to speake , or if thou speake let it not be to me , or else let me , not answere thee . tec. wel i say nothing you know what y'haue seene . am. t is true i doe confesse that i haue seene the worst the world can shew me , and the worst that can be euer seene with mortall eye . i haue beheld the whole , of all where in my heart had any interest in this life ; to be disrent and torne from of my hopes , that nothing now is leaft , why i should liue : that ostage i had giuen the world , which was the hope of her that held me to hold truce with it , and with this life is gone , and now well may i breake with them , and breake i will and rend that pact of nature , and dissolue that league of bloud that ties me to my selfe . for cloris now hath thy immodestie infranchizd me , and made me free to die : which otherwise i could not least it might haue bene ( some staine and some disgrace to thee . ah was it not ynow for this poore heart t' indure the burthen of her proud disdayne ? that weigh'd it to the earth but that it must be crusht thus with th' oppression of her stayne ? the first wound yet though it were huge and wide , yet was it cleanely made , it festred not , but this now giuen , comes by a poysned shott , against all lawes of honors that are pure , and rankles deadly is without all cure . ah how she blusht when as she issued forth with her inamor'd mate out of the caue ? and well then might she blush at such a deed , and with how wild a looke shee casts about her fearefull eyes ? as if her loathsome sinne now comming thus into the open sight , with terror did her guiltines affright ; and vp she treades the hill with such a pace , as if shee gladly would haue out gone shame , which yet for all her hasting after came . and at their comming forth , me thought i heard the villayne vse my name , and she returne the same againe in very earnest sorte , which could be for no good i know to mee , but onely that perhaps it pleas'd her then to cast me vp by this way of her mouth from of her heart , least it might stuffe the same . but cloris know thou shalt not need to feare , i neuer more shall interrupt thy ioyes with my complayntes , nor more obserue thy waies ; and ã´ i would thy heart could be as free from sinne and shame , as thou shalt be from mee . i could ( and i haue reason so to do ) reuenge my wrong vpon that wicked wretch , who hath surpris'd my loue , and robb'd thy shame , and make his bloud th' oblation of my wrath euen at thy feete , that thou mightst see th' fane to expiate , for this iniustice donne , but that the fact examind would display thy infamie abroad vnto the world , which i had rather die then once bewray . and techne pray-thee , tell her thus from me , but yet , ah tell it softly in her eare , and be thou sure no liuing creature heare , that her immodestie hath lost this day , two the most honest guardians of her good she had in life , her honour , and my bloud . tec. now i may speake i trust you speake to me . am. no not yet techne , pray-thee stay a while , and tell her too , though she spares not her shame , my death shall shew , that i respect her fame . tec. then now i may . am. o techne no not yet . and bid her not forget amyntas faith , though she despised him , and one day yet she may be toucht with griefe , and that ere long , to thinke on her dishonour , and his wrong . now techne i haue done , and so farewell . tec. but stay amyntas , now must i begin . am. i cannot stay techne , let go your hold , it is in vaine i say , i must be gone . tec. now deare amyntas , heare me but one word . ah he is gone , and in that furie gone , as sure he will in this extremitie of his dispaire , do violence to himselfe : and therefore now what helpe shall i deuise to stay his ruine ? sure there is no meanes but to call cloris , and perswade with her to follow him , and to preuent his death ; for though this practise was for mine owne good , yet my deceipts vse not to stretch to bloud . but now i know not where i should find out that cruell maide , but i must cast about .

scen. 2. amarillis . dorinda . ama. dorinda , you are yet in happie case , you are belou'd , you need not to complaine ; 't is i haue reason onely to bewaile my fortunes , who am cast vpon disdaine , and on his rockie heart that wrackes my youth with stormes of sorowes , and contemnes my truth ; 't is i that am shut out from all delight this world can yeeld a maide , that am remou'd from th' onely ioy on earth , to be belou'd : cruell carinus scornes this faith of mine , and le ts poore amarillis grieue and pine . do. t is true indeed you say , i am belou'd , sweete amarillis , and perhaps much more then i would be : plentie doth make me poore . for now my heart , as if deuided stands betwixt two passions loue , and pitty both , that draw it either way with that maine force , as that i know not which to yeeld vnto : and then feare in the midst , holds m in suspence , least i loath both by mine improuidence . ama. how may that be dorinda ? you know this , you can enioy but one , and one there is ought to possesse your heart , and loue alone , who hunts two hares at one time , catches none . do. i must tell you deare friend the whole discourse from whom i cannot any thing conceale , arcadia knowes , and euery shepheard knowes how much mirtillus hath deseru'd of me , and how long time his wofull sute hath laine , depending on the mercie of mine eyes , for whom i doe confesse , pittie hath bene th' atturnie euermore that stands and pleades before my heart , the iustice of his cause , and sayes he ought haue loue , by loues owne lawes . but now the maister sou'raigne lord of hearts . that great commander , and that tyrant loue , who must haue all according to his will , whom pittie onely vshers goes before , as lightning doth the thunder , he sayes no , and will that colax onely haue my heart , that gallant heardsman full of skill and arte : and all experience of loues mysteries : to whom i must confesse me to haue giuen the earnest of my loue ; but since that time i neuer saw the man , which makes me much to wonder that his dealings should be such : for either loue , hath in respect that i despised haue the true and honest faith , of one that lou'd me with sinceritie , made me the spoile of falshood and contempt , or else perhaps the same is done to trie , my resolution , and my constancie ? but yet i feare the worst , and feare i may , least he now hauing got the victorie , cares for no more ; and seeing he knowes my loue turnes towards him , he turnes his back to me , so that i know not what were best resolue , either to stand vnto the doubtfull faith of one that bath so dangerously begun , or else returne t' accept mirtillus loue , who will perhaps when mine begins haue done so that inwrapt in this distracted toyle i vexe , and know not what to doe the while . and therefore amarillis i thinke sure , ( se'ing now how others loue in me hath prou'd ) you are most happy not to be belou'd .

seen 3. cloris , amarillis . dorinda . clo. now here between you two , kinde louing soules , i know there can be no talke but of loue , loue must be all the scope of your discourse , alas poore hearts , i wonder how you can in this deceiptfull world thinke of a man . for they doe nothing but make fooles of you , and laugh when they haue done , and prooue vntrue . am. well cloris well , reioyce that you are free , you may be toucht one day as well as we . clo. indeed and i had like so this last night , had i not lookt with such an angry eye , and frownd so sowre that i made loue afeard , there was a fellow needs forsooth , would haue my heart from me whether i would or not , and had as great aduantage one could haue , i tell you that he had me in a caue . do. what in a caue ? cloris , how came you there ? clo. truly dorinda i will tell you how . by no arte magique , but a plaine deuise of techne , who would trie her wit on me , for she had promisd me , to meete me there at such an houre , and thither bring with her a new strange dressing she had made for me , which there close out of sight , i should trie on : thither went i poore foole , at th' houre decreed , and there expecting technes company , in rushes steering colax after me . whom sure she sent of purpose to the place , and there with his affected apish grace and strained speach , offring to seaze on me , out rusht i from him , as indeed , amazd at his so sodaine and vnexpected sight . and after followes hee , vowes , sweares , protests by all the gods , he neuer lou'd before any one liuing in the world but me , and for me onely , would he spend his life . do. alas and what am i forgotten then ? why these were euen the wordes he spake to mee . clo. and then inueighes against amintas loue , vants his owne partes , and his great knowledges , and all so idle , as , in troth me thought i neuer heard a man more vainely talke , for so much as i heard , for vp the hill i went with such a pace and neuer staide to giue regard to any thing he said : as at the last i scarse had leaft him breath sufficient to forsweare himselfe with all . do. ah what hath then my silly ignorance done to be deceiud , and mockt by such a one ? clo. and when i had recouerd vp the hill , i fayrely ran away and leaft my man in middst of his coniuring periuries ; all emptie to returne with mightie losse of breath and labour , hauing cast away much foolish paines in tricking vp him selfe for this exployte , and goes without his game , which he in hope deuourd before he came . and i too , mist my dressing by this meanes . but i admire how any woman can ? be so vnwise to like of such a man , for i protest i see nought else but froth , and shallow impudence , affected grace , and some few idle practisd complement : and all the thing he is , he is without , for affection striues but to appeare , and neuer is of substance , nor sincere . and yet this dare of falshood hath beguild a thousand foolish wenches in his dayes . do. the more wretch he , & more hard hap was theirs . clo. why doe you sigh dorinda are you toucht with any of these passages of mine ? do. noe truly not of yours , but i haue cause in my particular that makes me sigh . clo. well well come on to put vs from this talke , let vs deuise some sporte to passe the time . am. faith i haue no great list to any sporte . do. nor i in troth 't is farthest from my minde . clo. then let vs tell old tales , repeat our dreames , or any thing rather then thinke of loue . am. and now you speake of dreames , in troth last night i was much troubled with a feareful dreame . do. and truly amarillis so was i . clo. and now i doe remember too , i , had a foolish idle dreame , and this it was : me thought the fayrest of montanus lambs , and one he lou'd the best of all his flock , was singled out , and chac'd b'a cruell curre , and in his hote pursuit makes towards me , ( me thought ) for succour , and about mee ran , as if it begd my ayde to saue his life , which i long time deferrd , and still lookt on , and would not rescue it , vntill at lenght i saw it euen quite wourried out of breath , and panting at my feete and could no more : and then me thought , i tooke it vp from death , and cherisht it with mee , and brought it back . home to montanus , who was glad to see the poore recouerd creature thus restor'd ; and i my selfe was greatly pleasd , me thought , that by my hand so good a deede was wrought , and amarillis now tell vs your dreame ? am. me thought as i in eremanthus walkt a fearful woolfe rusht forth from out a brake , and towards me makes with open hideous jawes from whom i ranne with all the speed i could , t' escape my danger , and t' ouertake one whom i saw before , that might lend ayde to me distrest , but he , me thought did runne as fast from me , as i did from the beast . i cride to him , ( but all in vaine ) to stay ; the more i cride , the more he ranne away ; and after i , and after me the wolfe , so long , as i began to faint in minde , seeing my despaire before , my death behinde : yet ranne i still , and loe , me thought , at length a little he began to slack his pace , which i perceiuing , put to all my strength and ranne , as if desire had wingd my heeles , and in the end me thought recou'red him . but neuer woman felt more ioy it seem'd to ouertake a man , then i did him , by whom i scapte the danger i was in , that when i wak'd , as presently i wak'd , toucht with that sodaine ioy , which my poore heart god knowes , had not bene vsd vnto of late : i found my selfe all in a moist faint sweate , which that affrighting horrour did beget , and though i were deliu'red of my feare , and felt this ioy , yet did the trembling last vpon my heart , when now the feare was past . clo. this amarillis may your good portend , that yet you may haue comfort in the end . am. god grant i may , it is the thing i want . clo. and now dorinda tell vs what you dreamt . do. i dreamt , that hauing gone to gather flowers , and weary of my worke , reposing me vpon a banke neere to a riuers side , a subtle serpent lurking in the grasse . came secretly , and seizd on my left breast , which though i saw , i had no power to stirre , but lay me still , till he had eate a way into my bosome , whence he tooke my heart , and in his mouth carrying the same away , returnes , me thought againe from whence he came , which i perceiuing presently arose , and after it most wofully i went , to see if i could finde my heart againe , and vp and downe , i sought but all in vaine . clo. in troth 't is no good luck to dreame of snakes , one shall be sure t' heare anger after it . do. and so it may be i haue done to day . clo. indeed and i haue heard it neuer failes .

scen. 4. techne . cloris . amarillis . dorinda . tec. come you are talking here in iollitie , whilst i haue sought you cloris all about : come , come , good cloris quickly come away . cl. what is the newes ? what haue we now to doo , haue you another caue to send me too ? tec. ah talke no more of that but come avvay , as euer you will saue the wofull life of a distressed man that dyes for you . clo. why what doth colax whom you sent to me into the caue , faint now with his repulse ? tec. i sent him not , you would so wisely goe , in open sight , as men might see you goe , and trace you thither all the way you went . but come , ah 't is not he , it is the man you ought to saue ; amyntas is the man your cruelty , and rigour hath vndone : o quickly come , or it will be too late ; for 't was his chance , and most vnluckely , to see both you and colax , as you came out of the caue , and he thinkes verily you are possest by him ; which so confounds his spirits , and sinckes his heart , that sure h 'is runne t' vndoe himselfe , and ã´ i feare 't is done . clo. if it be done , my helpe will come too late , and i may stay , and saue that labour here . am. ah cloris haste away , if this be so , and doe not , if thou hast a heart of flesh , and of a woman , stay and trifle time , goe runne , and saue thine owne , for if he die , 't is thine that dyes , his bloud is shed for thee , and what a horrour this will euer be hereafter to thy guiltie conscience , when yeares shall haue taught thee wit , and thou shalt finde this deed instampt in bloudy characters , within the black recordes of thine owne thoughts , which neuer will be raz'd whilst thou hast breath , nor yet will be forgotten by thy death . besides wide fame , will trumpet forth thy wrong , and thou shalt be with all posteritie , amongst th' examples held of crueltie , and haue this sauage deed of thine be made a sullein subiect for a tragedie , intitled cloris , that thereby thy name may serue to be an euerlasting shame ; and therefore goe preuent so foule a staine . do. ah goe , goe cloris , haste away with speed . clo. why whether should i goe ? i know not where to finde him now , and if he doe this deed , it is his error , and no fault of mine . yet pray thee techne , which way went the man ? tec. come cloris , i will shew which way he went , in most strange furie , and most desperate speed , still crying , cloris , hast thou done this deed ? clo. why had not you staid ? and perswaded him ? tec. i could not stay him by no meanes i vsd . though all the meanes i could deuise i vsd . clo. well i will goe , poore man , to seeke him out , though i can do him else , no other good . i know indeed he hath deseru'd my loue , and if i would like any , should be him , so that i thought he would be true to me . but thus my dreame may now chance come to passe , and i may happen to bring home indeed montanus sonne , amyntas that deere lambe he loues so well , and by my gracious deed , he may escape the danger he was in . which if i doe , and thereby doe inthrall my selfe , to free anothers misery , then will i sit and sigh , and talke of loue as well as you , and haue your company . for something i doe feele begin to moue , and yet i hope 't is nothing else but feare ; yet what know i ? that feare may hap be loue . well techne come , i would not haue him yet to perish , poore amyntas in this fit . exeunt . ama. well cloris yet he may , for ought i see before you come , vnlesse you make more haste . ah cruell maide , she little knowes the griefe of such a heart that 's desperate of reliefe , nor vnderstands she her owne happinesse , to haue so true a louer as he is . and yet i see sh 'is toucht , if not too late , for i perceiu'd her coulour come and goe , and though in pride she would haue hid her woe , yet i saw sorrow looke out at her eyes . and poore amyntas if thou now be gone , thou hast ( like to the bee that stinging dyes , and in anothers wound leaft his owne life ) transpierced by thy death , that marble heart , which liuing thou , couldst touch by no desert . and if thou shalt escape , thou hast suruiu'd her crueltie , which now repents her wrong , and thou shalt by her fauours be reuiu'd , after the affliction thou hast suffred long . which makes me thinke , that time , and patience may intenerat at length the hardest heart , and that i may yet after all my woe , liue t' ouertake carinus mercie too . do. and here this sad distresse of such a true , and constant louer , ouercome with griefe , presents vnto my guilty memorie the wrongs , mirtillus hath indur'd of me . and ã´ i would i knew now how he doth , i feare he is not well , i saw him not scarse these three dayes , i meruaile where he is , and yet what need i meruaile , who haue thus chac'd him from me with frownes , and vsage vile , and fondly leaft the substance of his faith , to catch the shadow of deceipt and guile ? was colax he i thought the onely man , and is he now prou'd to be such a one ? o that i euer lent an easie eare , vnto so false a wretches flatteries , whose very name i now abhorre to heare , and loath my selfe , for being so vnwise . what shall i doe sweete amarillis now , which way shall i betake me to recouer the losse of shame , and losse of such a louer ? ama. indeed dorinda you haue done him wrong , but your repentance , and compassion now may make amends , and you must learne to do as i long time haue done , indure and hope , and on that turne of fortunes scene depend , when all extremities must mend , or end .

scen. 5. melibaeus . ergastus . mel. well , come ergastus , we haue seene ynow , and it is more then time , that we prepare against this hydra of confusion now , which still presents new hideous heads of feare : and euery houre we see begets new broiles , and intricates our youth in desperate toyles . and therefore let th' aduantage of this day , which is the great , and generall hunting day in eremanthus , serue for this good deed : and when we meete ( as all of vs shall meete here in this place anone , as is decreed ) we will aduise our shepheards to intermit that worke , and fall to this imports vs more , to chase out these wild mischiefes that doe lurke , and worse infest , then th' eremanthian boare , or all beasts else , which onely spoile our fields , whilst these which are of more prodigious kindes , bend all their forces to destroy our mindes . erg. and this occasion will be very fit now to be tooke , for one day lost may lose more by example , then we shall reget in thousands , for when men shall once disclose the way of ill that lay vnknowne before , scarce all our paines will euer stop it more . man is a creature of a wilfull head , and hardly'i 's driuen , but easily is lead .

actus . 5.

scen. 1. amarillis . carinus . ama. ah gentle lelaps , prety louing dogge , where hast thou leaft thy maister , where is hee , that great commander ouer thee and mee ? thou wert not wont be far off from his feete , and ã´ no more would i , were he so pleasd ; but would as well as thou go follow him , through brakes , and thickets , ouer cliffes and rockes so long as i had life to follow him , would he but looke vpon me with that eye of fauour , as h 'is vs'd to looke on thee . thou canst be clapt , and strookt with that faire hande that thrustes away my heart , and beates it back from following him , which yet it euer will and though he fly mee i must after still . but here he comes , me thought he was not farre . car. what meane you amarillis in this sorte by taking vp my dogge to marre my sporte ? am. my deare carinus thou dost much mistake i doe not marre thy sporte , t is thou marrst mine , and killst my ioyes with that hard heart of thine . thy dooge perhaps by some instinct doth know how that i am his maisters creature too , and kindely comes himselfe , and fawnes on me to shew what you in nature ought to doe ? car. fie amarillis , you that know my minde should not me thinkes this euer trouble me . am. what is it troublesome to be belou'd ? how is it then carinus to be loath'd ? if i had donne like cloris , skornd your sute , and spourn'd your passions , in disdainefull sorte , i had bene woo'd , and sought , and highly prizd , but hauing n'other arte to win thy loue , saue by discouering mine , i am despisd . as if you would not haue the thing you sought , vnles you knew , it were not to be gote . and now because i lie here at thy feete , the humble booty of thy conquering eies , and lay my heart all open in thy sight , and tell thee i am thine , and tell thee right . and doe not sure my lookes , nor cloth my words in other coulours , then my thoughts do weare , but doe thee right in all , thou skornest me as if thou didst not loue sinceritie neuer did crystall more apparantly present the coulour it contayn'd with in then haue these eyes , these teares , this tongue of mine , bewreyd my heart , and told how much i 'am thine . ca. t is true i know you haue too much bewrayd and more then fitts the honour of a mayde . am. o if that nature hath not arm'd my breast with that strong temper of resisting proofe , but that by treason of my weake complection , i am made thus easy to the violent shott of passion , and th' affection i should not . me thinks yet you out of your strength and power , should not disdayne that weakenes , but should thinke it rather is your vertue , as indeed it is , that makes me thus against my kinde , t' vnlock my thoughs , and to let out my minde , when i should rather die and burst with loue then once to let my tongue to say , i loue . and if your worthy partes be of that power to vanquish nature , and i must be wonne do not disdayne the worke when you haue don , for in contemming me you do dispise that power of yours which makes me to be thus . ca. now what adoe is here with idle talke ? and to no purpose , for you know i haue ingagd long since my heart , my loue and all to cloris , who must haue the same and shall . am. why there is no such odds twixt her and me , i am a nimph , t is knowne as well as shee . there is no other difference betwixt vs twaine but that i loue , and she doth thee disdaine . no other reason can induce thy minde , but onely that which should diuert thy minde . i will attend thy flockes better then she , and dresse thy bower more sweete , more daintily , and cheerish thee with salets , and with fruites , and all fresh dainties as the season sutes ; i haue more skill in heat bes , then she , by farre , i know which nourish , which restoring are : and i will finde dictamnus for thy goates , and seeke out clauer for thy little lambes , and tetrifoll to cheerish vp their dammes . and this i know , i haue a better voyce then she , though she perhaps may haue more arte , but which is best ; i haue the faithfulst heart . besides amyntas hath her loue , i know , and she begins to manifest it now . car. amyntas haue her loue ? that were most strange . when he hath gotten that , you shall haue mine . am. o deere carinus , let me rest vpon that blessed word of thine , and i haue done .

scen. 2. mirtillus . carinus . amarillis . mir. well met carinus , i can tell you newes , your riuall , poore amyntas , hath vndone and spoild himselfe , and lyes in that weake case , as we thinke neuer more to see his face . car. mirtillus , i am sory t' heare so much : although amyntas be competitor in th' empire of her heart , wherein my life hath chiefest claime , i doe not wish his death : but by what chance , mirtillus pray thee tell ? mil. i will carinus , though i grieue to tell . as titerus , menaleus , and my selfe were placing of our toyles ( against anon that we shall hunt ) below within the straight , twixt eremanthus , and lycaeus mount , we might perceiue vnder a ragged cliffe , in that most vncouth desart , all alone , distrest amyntas lying on the ground , with his sad face , turnd close vnto the rock , as if he loathd to see more of the world , then that poore space , which was twixt him and it : his right hand stretcht , along vpon his side , his leaft , he makes the pillor to support his carefull head , his pipe he had hung vp vpon a beach tree by , where he likewise had plac'd his sheephooke , and his knife , wherewith he had incaru'd an wofull elegie , to shew th' occasion of his miserie . his dogge molampus sitting by his side , as if he were partaker of his woe : by which we knew 't was he , and to him went , and after we had call'd , and shooke him vp , and found him not to answere , nor to stirre and yet his eyes abroad , his body warme ; we tooke him vp , and held him from the ground , but could not make him stand by any meanes ; and sincking downe againe , we searcht to see if he had any wound , or blow , or wrinch , but none could finde : at last by chance we spide a little horne which he had slung aside , whereby we gest he had some poyson tooke . and therevpon we sent out presently to fetch vrania , whose great skill in hearbes is such , as if there any meanes will be , as i feare none will be , her onely arte must serue to bring him to himselfe againe . car. indeed vrania hath bene knowne t' haue done most desperate cures , and peraduenture may restore him yet , & i doe wish she may . mir. but hauing there vs'd all the helpe we could , and all in vaine , and standing by with griefe , ( as we might well , to see so sad a sight ) ( and such an worthy shepheard in that plight ) we might perceiue come running downe the hill , cloris , and techne , with what speed they could , but cloris had got ground , and was before , and made more haste , as it concernd her more . and neerer as she came , she faster went , as if she did desire to haue bene there before her feete , too flow for her swift feare . and comming to the place , she sodainely stopt , startes , and shrikt , and hauing made such haste t' haue something done , now could she nothing doe . perhaps our presence might perplexe her too , as being asham'd that any eye should see the new appearing of her naked heart , that neuer yet before was seene till now . car. and 't is ill hap for me it was seene now . mir. for we perceiu'd how loue and modestie with seu'rall ensignes , stroue within her cheekes which should be lord that day , and charged hard vpon each other , with their fresh supplies of different coulours , that still came , and went , and much disturb'd her but at length dissolu'd into affection , downe she casts her selfe vpon his senselesse body , where she saw the mercie she had brought was come too late : and to him calles ; ã´ deare amyntas speake , looke on me , sweete amyntas , it is i that calles thee , sit is , that holds thee here , within those armes thou haste esteem'd so deare . and though that loue were yet so young in her as that it knew not how to speake , or what , and that she neuer had that passion prou'd , being first a louer ere she knew she lou'd , yet what she could not vtter , she supplide , with her poore busie hands that rubb'd his face , chafd his pale temples , wrung his fingers ends , held vp his head , and puld him by the hands , and neuer leaft her worke , nor euer ceast . ama. alas the least of this regarde before , might haue holpe all , then when 't was in her power , t' haue sau'd his heart , and to reuiue his minde , now for all this , her mercie is vnkinde ; the good that 's out of season , is not good . there is no difference now twixt cruelty , and the compassion that 's not vnderstood . mir. but yet at length , as if those daintie hands , had had a power to haue awakened death , we might perceiue him moue his heauie eyes , which had stood fixt all the whole time before , and fastens them directly vpon her . which when she saw , it strooke her with that force , as that it pierc'd through all the spirits she had , made all the powers and parts of her shrinke vp , with that conuulsion of remorse and griefe , as out she shrik'd , ã´ deere , ã´ my deere heart , then shrinkes againe , and then againe cryes out . for now that looke of his did shake her more , then death or any thing had done before , that looke did read t' her new conceiuing heart , all the whole tragicke lecture of his loue , all his sad suffrings , all his griefes , and feare , and now in th' end what he had done for her . and with that powerfull force of mouing too , as all a world of words could neuer doe . ah what a silly messenger is speach , to be imploi'd in that great embassie of our affections , in respect of th' eye ? ah 't is the silent rhetorick of a looke , that worker the league betwixt the states of hearts , not words i see , nor knowledge of the booke , nor incantations made by hidden artes , for now this looke so melts her into teares , as that she powr'd them downe like thunder droppes , or else did nature taking pittie now of her distresse , imploy them in that store , to serue as vailes , and to be interposde betwixt her griefe and her , t' impeach her sight , from that full view of sorrow thus disclosde . and now with this came in vrania there , with other women , to imploy their best to saue his life , if b'any meanes they can . and so we came our way , being sent for now about some conference for our hunting sportes , and with vs techne comes , who is supposde , t' haue bene a speciall cause of much of this . car. alas this sad reporte doth grieue me much , and i did neuer thinke , that cloris had so deerely lou'd him as i finde she doth , for by this act of hers i plainely see , there will be neuer any hope for me . ama. there may for me , if now carinus thou wilt stand but to thy word , as thou hast said . mir. ah would to god dorinda had bene there , t' haue seene but cloris acte this wofull part ; it may be , it might haue deterr'd her heart from cruelty , so long as she had liu'd . am. and i am glad carinus hath but heard so much this day , for he may hap thereby to haue some feeling of my miserie , but for dorinda neuer doubt at all , she is more yours mirtillus then you thinke . mir. ah amarillis . ! i would that were true . but loe where come our chiefest heardsmen now , of all arcadia , we shall know more newes .

scen. 3. melibaeus , ergastus , montanus , acrisius , with other arcadians , bringing with them alcon , lincus , colax , techne , pistophoenax . meli. you gentle shepheards and inhabitors of these remote , and solitarie parts of montaynous arcadiae , shut vp here within these rockes , those vnfrequented clifts , the walles and bulwarkes of our libertie , from out the noise of tumult , and the throng of sweating toyle , ratling concurrencie , and haue continued still the same and one in all successions from antiquitie , whilst all the states on earth besides haue made a thousand reuolutions , and haue rowld from change to change , and neuer yet found rest , nor euer bettered their estates by change . you , i inuoke this day in generall , to doe a worke that now concernes vs all : least that we leaue not to posteritie , th' arcadia that we found continued thus by our forefathers care who leaft it vs . for none of you i know , whose iudgment 's graue can ought discerne , but sees how much we are transformd of late , and changd from vvhat we were ; and what distempers dayly doe arise amongst our people , neuer felt before , at which i know you meruaile , as indeed you well may meruaile , whence they should proceed : and so did good ergastus here , and i , vntill we set our selues more warily to search it out , which by good hap we haue , and found the authors of this wickednesse . which diuels attyr'd here in the shape of men , we haue produc'd before you , to the end you may take speedy order to suppresse our growing follies , and their impiousnesse . erg. indeed these odious wretches which you see , are they who haue brought in vpon our rest , these new and vnknowne mischiefes of debate , of wanton pride , of scandalous reportes , of vile deluding chaste and honest loues , of vndeseru'd suspitious desperate griefes , and all the sadnesse we haue seene of late . and first this man , this lincus here you see , montanus you , and you acrysius know , with what deceipt , and with what cunning arte , he intertaind your strifes , abusd you both , by first perswading you that you had right in your demandes , and then the right was yours , and would haue made as many rightes , as men had meanes , or power , or will to purchase them ; could he haue once attain'd to his desires . mon. we doe confesse our errour , that we were too easily perswaded by his craft , to wrangle for imagin'd titles , which we here renounce , and quit for euermore , acry. and we desire the memory thereof may dye with vs , that it be neuer knowne our feeble age hath such example showne . erg. and now this other strange impostour here , this alcon , who like lincus hath put on , the habite too of emptie grauitie , to catch opinion , and conceipt withall , comes here to set vs all at variance too , with nature , as this other with our selues , and would confound her , working with his arte , and labours how to make our minds first sick , before our bodies , and perswade our health it is not well , that he may haue thereby both it and sicknesse euer vnder cure . and forraine druggs bringes to distemper's here and make vs like the wanton world abroad . mel. but there are two the most pernicious spirit ; the world i thinke did euer yet produce . colax and techne , two such instruments of wantonnesse , of lust and treacherie , as are of power t' intice and to debaush the vniuersall state of honestie . erg. but techne who is that standes their by you , what is your companie increast of late ? te. truely it is a very honest man a friend of mine that comes to see me here . erg. he cannot then but be an honest man , if he be one of your acquintance sure . mel. this man i found with them now since you went mayntayning hote dispute with titerus about the rites , and misteries of pan . erg. h 'is like to be of their associats then . er. techne , what is this secret friend of yours ? tec. for-sooth he is a very holy man . erg. a very holy man ? what is his name ? tec. truely his name sir is pistophoenax . erg. what is he maskt , or is that face his ovvne ? tec. he is not maskt , t is his complection sure . erg. techne we cannot credite thy report . let one try whether it be so or not , o see a most deformed ougly face , wherewith if openly he should appeare , he would deterre all men from comming nere . and therefore hath that cunning wretch put on this pleasing visor of apparencie , t' intice and to delude the world withal ; so that you see with what strange inginiers , the proiect of our ruine is forecast . how they implanted haue their battery here , against all the maine pillors of our state , our rites ; our customes , nature , honestie . t' mbroyle , and to confound vs vtterly , reckning vs barbarous , but if thus their skill doth ciuilize let vs be barbarous still . mel. but now to shew the horrible effects of colax , and of technes practises , ( besides this last exploit they wrought vpon , amyntas ( who , poore youth , lies , now full weake : vnder vranias cure , whose skill we heare hath yet recall'd him to himselfe againe ) we haue sent out abrode into the woods , for siluia and palamon two chast soules whom they haue torturd so with iealosie , of each the other , as they made them run a part , to languish seuerally alone ; and we haue sent for diuers others too , whose heartes haue felt what impious craft can do . and here they come , and now you shall know all .

scen. 4. palaemon . mirtillus , carinus . siluia . dorinda . amarillis , daphne . cloris . amyntas . erg. come good palaemon , and good siluia come , you haue indurd too much , and too too long . sil. ah why ergastus doo you set our names so nere together , when our hearts so far , are distant from each other as they are ? indeed whilst we were one as once we were , and as we ought to be , were faith obserud , palaemon should not haue bene nam'd without : a siluia , nor yet siluia without him . but now we may ergastus , we are two . pal. siluia , there in the greater wrong you doe . sil. palaemon , nay the greater wrong you doe . erg. alas we know well where the wrong doth lie . sil. i know you doe , and all the world may know . pal. siluia , you see your fault cannot be hid . sil. it is no fault of mine palaemon , that your shame doth come to be reuealed here ; i neuer told it you your selfe haue not conceald your worke so closely as you should . pal. but there stands one can tel what you haue bene . sil. nay there he standes can tel what you haue bene . and sure is now in publicke here producd to testifie your shame , but not set on but me i doe protest , who rather would haue dide alone in secret with my griefe then had your infamie discouerd here . wherein my shame , must haue so great a share . pal. i haue not sought to manifest your shame which siluia , rather then haue done i would haue bene content t' indure the worst of deathes , i hauing such an intrest in the same . col, no siluia , no palaemon , i stand here not to accuse you but t' accuse my selfe of wrong , you both god knowes are cleare i haue abusd your apt credulitie , with false reportes of things that neuer were and therefore here craue pardon for the same . pal. why colax , did not siluia intertaine the loue of thyrsis then as you told me ? col. palaemon no , she neuer intertaind his loue , nor wrongd you as i euer knew . sil. but colax you saw how palaemon did with nisa falsifie his vow to me . col. siluia , by heauen and earth i sweare not i , but onely faind it out of subtiltie ; for some vngodly ends i had decreed . pal. o let not this be made some cunning baite to take my griefes with false beleefe , for i had rather liue with sorrow then deceipt , and still b' vndone , then to haue such reliefe . sil. ah let not this deuise be wrought to guild my bitternesse , to make me swallow ' it now , that i might be another time beguilde with confidence , and not trust what i know . pal. ah siluia now , how were i cleer'd of griefe , had i the power to vnbeleeue beliefe . but ah my heart hath dwelt so long in house with that first tale , at this which is come new , cannot be put in trust with my desire so soone , besides 't is too good to be true . sil. could i palaemon but vnthinke the thought of th' ill first heard , and that it were not so , how blest were i ? but loe i see how doubt comes in farre easier then it can get out . and in these miseries of iealousie , our eare hath greater credit then our eye . mel. stand not confusd deare louers any more , for this is now the certaine truth you heare , and this vile wretch hath done you both this wrong . pa. i st possible , and is this true you say , and doe i liue , and doe i see the day ? ah then come siluia , for i finde this wound that pierc'd into the center of my heart , hath let in loue farre deeper then it was . sil. if this be so , why then palaemon know , i likewise feele the loue that was before most in my heart , is now become farre more : and now ã´ pardon me you worthy race of men , it i in passion vttred ought in preiudice of your most noble sexe ; and thinke it was m' agrieued errour spake it knew not what , transported so , not i : pal. and pardon me you glorious company you starres of women , if m' inraged heat haue ought profan'de your reuerent dignitie , and thou bright pallas sou'raigne of at nimphes , the royall mistresse of our pastorall muse and thou diana honour of the woodes to whome i vow my songes , and vow my selfe , forgiue me mine offence and be you pleasd t' accept of my repentance now therefore , and grace me still , and i desire no more . sil. and now i would that cloris knew this much that so she might be vndeceiued too , whom i haue made beleeue so ill of men . but lo see where she comes , and as it seemes brings her beliefe already in her hand preuents my act , and is confirmd before . looke cloris looke , my feares haue idle bene , palaemon loues me there is trust in men . col. and siluia i must now beleeue so too or else god help i know not what to doe . pal. looke here mirtillus looke what i told you is now prou'd false , and women they are true , mi. so i perceiue palaemon , and it seemes but vaine conceipt that other wise esteemes . mo. alas here comes my deare restored sonne my louely child amyntas here is come . acry. and here is cloris my deare daughter come and lookes as if she were affrighted still , poore soule , with feare , and with her sodaine griefe . col. lo here montanus i haue brought you home although with much adoe , your sonne againe and sorry am with all my heart that i , haue bene the cause he hath indur'd so much . mon. and i restore him back againe to you deare cloris and doe wish you to forget your sorowes past , and pray the gods you may from henceforth lead your life with happie ioy . acr. do cloris take him , and i wish as much . erg. well then to make our ioyfull festiuals the more complet , dorinda , we intreat you also to accept mirtillus loue , who we are sure hath well deserued yours . do. although this be vppon short warning , yet for that i haue bene sommoned before by mine owne heart , and his deserts to me to yeeld to such a motion , i am now content t' accept his loue , and wil be his , mir. dorinda then i likewise haue my blisse and reckon all the sufferings i haue past worthy of thee to haue this ioy at last . mel. and you carinus looke on that good nimph whose eye is still on you , as if she thought her suffrings too , deserud some time of ioy and now expects her turne , hath brought her lap for comfort too whilst fortune deales good hap . and therefore let her haue it now poore soule for she is worthy to possesse your loue . car. i know she is , and she shall haue my loue , though colax had perswaded me before neuer t' accept or to beleeue the loue of any nimph , and oft to me hath sworne how he had tryde them all , and that none were as men , beguild by shewes , supposd they were : but now i doe perceiue his treachery , and that they haue both loue and constancie . ama. o deare carinus blest be this good howre , that i haue liu'd to ouertake at last that heart of thine which fled from me so fast . erg. and daphne , too me thinks your heauy lookes shew how that something is amisse with you . dap. nothing amisse with me , but that of late i tooke a fall , which some what grieues me yet . erg. that must aduise you daphne from henceforth to looke more warily vnto your feete , which if you doe , no doubt but all will be well , mel. then thus we see the sadnesse of this day is ended with the euening of our ioy : and now you impious spirits , who thus haue raisd the hideous tempests of these miseries , and thus abusd our simple innocence , we charge you all here presently t' auoyd , from out our confines , vnder paine to be cast downe , and dasht in peeces from these rockes , and t' haue your odious carkases deuour'd by beasts , being worse your selues then beasts to men . col. well then come techne , for i see we two must euen be forst to make a marriage too . and goe to corinth , or some cittie neere , and by our practise get our liuing there . which both together ioynd , perhaps we may : and this is now the worst of miseries could come vnto me , and yet worthily , for hauing thus abusd so many nimphes , and wrong'd the honour most vnreuerently of women , in that sort as i haue done , that now i 'am forst to vndergoe therefore , the worst of plagues : to marry with a w. alc. but lincus , let not this discourage vs , that this poore people iealous of their rest , exile vs thus , for we no doubt shall finde nations enough , that will most ready be to entertaine our skill , and cherish vs . and worthier people too , of subtler spirits , then these vnfashion'd , and vncomb'd rude swaine . lin. yea and those nations are farre sooner drawne t' all friuolous distractions then are these . for oft we see , the grosse doe manage things , farre better then the subtle , cunning brings confusion sooner then doth ignorance . al. yea and i doubt not whilst there shal be found fantasticke puling wenches in the world , but i shall florish , and liue iollily , for such as i by women must begin to gaine a name , and reputation winne . which when we haue attaind to , you know then how easily the women draw on men . lin. nor do i doubt but i shall likewise liue ; and thriue , where euer i shall plant my selfe ; for i haue all those helps my skill requires , a wrangling nature , a contesting grace , a clamorous voyce , and an audacious face . and i can cite the law t' oppugne the law , and make the glosse to ouerthrow the text i can alledge , and vouch authoritie , t' imbroyle th' intent , and sense of equitie : besides by hauing bene a notarie , and vs'd to frame litigious instruments and leaue aduantages for subtilty , and strife to worke on , i can so deuise that there shal be no writing made so sure but it shall yeeld occasion to contest at any time when men shall thinke it best , nor be thou checkt with this pistophoenax , that at thy first appearing thou art thus discou'red here , thou shall along with vs , and take thy fortune too , as well as we . pis. tush limus this can not discourage me , for we that trafficke with credulitie , and with opinion , still shall cherisht bee . but here your errour was to enter first and be before me , for you should haue let me made the way , that i might haue dislinkt that chayne of zeale that holds in amitie , and calld vp doubt in their establisht rites , which would haue made you such an easy way , as that you might haue brought in what you would , vpon their shaken and discattered mindes , for our profession any thing refutes , and all 's vnsetled whereas faith disputes . mel. now what a muttring keepe you there , away be gone i say , and best too , whilst you may . and since we haue redeem'd our selues so well out of the hands of mischiefe , let vs all exile with them their ill example too , which neuer more remaynes , as it begun , but is a wicked sire t' a far worse sonne , and stayes not till it makes vs slaues vnto ( that vniuersall tyran of the earth custome ) who takes from vs our priuiledge to be our selues , reades that great charter too of nature , and would likewise cancell man : and so inchaynes our iudgments , and discourse vnto the present vsances ; that we must all our senses there vnto refer , be as we finde our selues , not as we are , as if we had no other touch of truth and reason then the nations of the times and place wherein we liue , and being our selues corrupted , and a bastardized thus thinke all lookes ill , that doth not looke like vs . and therefore let vs recollect our selues dispersd into these strange confused ill , and be againe arcadians as we were in manners and in habit as we were . and so solempnize this our happie day , of restauration , with other feasts of ioy . finis .