The Faithful Shepherdess Part 10

_Sat_. There at hand, some Swain doth stand, Stretching out a bloudy hand.

_Peri_. Come _Clorin_, bring thy holy waters clear, To wash my hand.

_Clo_. What wonders have been here To night? stretch forth thy hand young Swain, Wash and rub it whilest I rain Holy water.

_Peri_. Still you pour, But my hand will never scower.

_Clor. Satyr_, bring him to the Bower, We will try the Soveraign power Of other waters.

_Satyr_. Mortal, sure 'Tis the Blood of Maiden pure That stains thee so.

[_The_ Satyr _leadeth him to the Bower, where he spieth_ Amoret, _and kneeling down, she knoweth him_.

_Peri_. What e're thou be, Be'st thou her spright, or some divinitie, That in her shape thinks good to walk this grove, Pardon poor _Perigot_.

_Amor_. I am thy love, Thy _Amoret_, for evermore thy love: Strike once more on my naked breast, I'le prove As constant still. O couldst thou love me yet; How soon should I my former griefs forget!

_Peri_. So over-great with joy, that you live, now I am, that no desire of knowing how Doth seize me; hast thou still power to forgive?

_Amo_. Whilest thou hast power to love, or I to live; More welcome now than hadst thou never gone Astray from me.

_Peri_. And when thou lov'st alone And not I, death, or some lingring pain That's worse, light on me.

_Clor_. Now your stain This perhaps will cleanse again; See the blood that erst did stay, With the water drops away.

All the powers again are pleas'd, And with this new knot appeas'd.

Joyn your hands, and rise together, _Pan_ be blest that brought you hither.

_Enter_ Priest, _and_ Old Shephe[rd].

_Clor_. Go back again what ere thou art, unless Smooth Maiden thoughts possess thee, do not press This hallowed ground. Go _Satyr_, take his hand, And give him present trial.

_Satyr_. Mortal stand, Till by fire I have made known Whether thou be such a one, That mayst freely tread this place.

Hold thy hand up; never was More untainted flesh than this.

Fairest, he is full of bliss.

_Clor_. Then boldly speak, why dost thou seek this place?

_Priest_. First, honour'd Virgin, to behold thy face Where all good dwells that is: Next for to try The truth of late report was given to me: Those Shepherds that have met with foul mischance, Through much neglect, and more ill governance, Whether the wounds they have may yet endure The open Air, or stay a longer cure.

And lastly, what the doom may be shall light Upon those guilty wretches, through whose spight All this confusion fell: For to this place, Thou holy Maiden, have I brought the race Of these offenders, who have freely told, Both why, and by what means they gave this bold Attempt upon their lives.

_Clor_. Fume all the ground, And sprinkle holy water, for unsound And foul infection 'gins to fill the Air: It gathers yet more strongly; take a pair Of Censors fill'd with Frankincense and Mirrh, Together with cold Camphyre: quickly stir Thee, gentle _Satyr_, for the place begins To sweat and labour with the abhorred sins Of those offenders; let them not come nigh, For full of itching flame and leprosie Their very souls are, that the ground goes back, And shrinks to feel the sullen weight of black And so unheard of venome; hie thee fast Thou holy man, and banish from the chast These manlike monsters, let them never more Be known upon these downs, but long before The next Suns rising, put them from the sight And memory of every honest wight.

Be quick in expedition, lest the sores Of these weak Patients break into new gores. [_Ex_. Priest.

_Per_. My dear, dear _Amoret_, how happy are Those blessed pairs, in whom a little jar Hath bred an everlasting love, too strong For time, or steel, or envy to do wrong?

How do you feel your hurts? Alas poor heart, How much I was abus'd; give me the smart For it is justly mine.

_Amo_. I do believe.

It is enough dear friend, leave off to grieve, And let us once more in despight of ill Give hands and hearts again.

_Per_. With better will Than e're I went to find in hottest day Cool Crystal of the Fountain, to allay My eager thirst: may this band never break.

Hear us O Heaven.

_Amo_. Be constant.

_Per_. Else _Pan_ wreak, With [d]ouble vengeance, my disloyalty; Let me not dare to know the company Of men, or any more behold those eyes.

_Amo_. Thus Shepherd with a kiss all envy dyes.

_Enter_ Priest.

_Priest_. Bright Maid, I have perform'd your will, the Swain In whom such heat and black rebellions raign Hath undergone your sentence, and disgrace: Only the Maid I have reserv'd, whose face Shews much amendment, many a tear doth fall In sorrow of her fault, great fair recal Your heavy doom, in hope of better daies, Which I dare promise; once again upraise Her heavy Spirit that near drowned lyes In self consuming care that never dyes.

_Clor_. I am content to pardon, call her in; The Air grows cool again, and doth begin To purge it self, how bright the day doth show After this stormy Cloud! go _Satyr_, go, And with this Taper boldly try her hand, If she be pure and good, and firmly stand To be so still, we have perform'd a work Worthy the G.o.ds themselves. [_Satyr brings_ Amaryllis _in_.

_Satyr_. Come forward Maiden, do not lurk Nor hide your face with grief and shame, Now or never get a name That may raise thee, and recure All thy life that was impure: Hold your hand unto the flame, If thou beest a perfect dame, Or hast truely vow'd to mend, This pale fire will be thy friend.

See the Taper hurts her not.

Go thy wayes, let never spot Henceforth seize upon thy blood.

Thank the G.o.ds and still be good.

_Clor_. Young Shepherdess now ye are brought again To Virgin state, be so, and so remain To thy last day, unless the faithful love Of some good Shepherd force thee to remove; Th[e]n labour to be true to him, and live As such a one, that ever strives to give A blessed memory to after time.

Be famous for your good, not for your crime.

Now holy man, I offer up again These patients full of health, and free from pain: Keep them from after ills, be ever near Unto their actions, teach them how to clear The tedious way they pa.s.s through, from suspect, Keep them from wronging others, or neglect Of duty in themselves, correct the bloud With thrifty bits and labour, let the floud, Or the next neighbouring spring give remedy To greedy thirst, and travel not the tree That hangs with wanton cl.u.s.ters, [let] not wine, Unless in sacrifice, or rites divine, Be ever known of Shepherd, have a care Thou man of holy life. Now do not spare Their faults through much remissness, nor forget To cherish him, whose many pains and swet Hath giv'n increase, and added to the downs.

Sort all your Shepherds from the lazy clowns That feed their Heifers in the budded Brooms: Teach the young Maidens strictness, that the grooms May ever fear to tempt their blowing youth; Banish all complements, but single truth From every tongue, and every Shepherds heart, Let them still use perswading, but no Art: Thus holy _Priest_, I wish to thee and these, All the best goods and comforts that may please.

_Alex_. And all those blessings Heaven did ever give, We pray upon this Bower may ever live.

_Priest_. Kneel every Shepherd, whilest with powerful hand I bless your after labours, and the Land You feed your flocks upon. Great _Pan_ defend you From misfortune, and amend you, Keep you from those dangers still, That are followed by your will, Give ye means to know at length All your riches, all your strength, Cannot keep your foot from falling To lewd l.u.s.t, that still is calling At your Cottage, till his power Bring again that golden hour Of peace and rest to every soul.

May his care of you controul All diseases, sores or pain That in after time may raign Either in your flocks or you, Give ye all affections new, New desires, and tempers new, That ye may be ever true.

Now rise and go, and as ye pa.s.s away Sing to the G.o.d of Sheep, that happy lay, That honest _Dorus_ taught ye, _Dorus_, he That was the soul and G.o.d of melodie.

The SONG. [_They all Sing

All ye woods, and trees and bowers, All you vertues and ye powers That inhabit in the lakes, In the pleasant springs or brakes, Move your feet To our sound, Whilest we greet All this ground, With his honour and his name That defends our flocks from blame.

He is great, and he is Just, He is ever good, and must Thus be honour'd: Daffodillies, Roses, Pinks, and loved Lillies, Let us fling, Whilest we sing, Ever holy, Ever holy, Ever honoured ever young, Thus great_ Pan _is ever sung. [Exeunt.

Satyr._ Thou divinest, fairest, brightest, Thou m[o]st powerful Maid, and whitest, Thou most vertuous and most blessed, Eyes of stars, and golden tressed Like _Apollo_, tell me sweetest What new service now is meetest For the _Satyr_? shall I stray In the middle Air, and stay The sayling Rack, or nimbly take Hold by the Moon, and gently make Sute to the pale Queen of night For a beam to give thee light?

Shall I dive into the Sea, And bring thee Coral, making way Through the rising waves that fall In snowie fleeces; dearest, shall I catch the wanton Fawns, or Flyes, Whose woven wings the Summer dyes Of many colours? get thee fruit?

Or steal from Heaven old _Orpheus_ Lute?

All these I'le venture for, and more, To do her service all these woods adore.

_Clor_. No other service, _Satyr_, but thy watch About these thickets, lest harmless people catch Mischief or sad mischance.

_Satyr_. Holy Virgin, I will dance Round about these woods as quick As the breaking light, and p.r.i.c.k Down the Lawns, and down the vails Faster than the Wind-mill sails.

So I take my leave, and pray All the comforts of the day, Such as _Phoebus_ heat doth send On the earth, may still befriend Thee, and this arbour.

_Clo_. And to thee, All thy Masters love be free. [_Exeunt_.