The Faithful Shepherdess Part 9

_Alex._ Take not her, take my life first.

_Clor._ See, his wound again is burst: Keep her near, here in the Wood, Till I ha' stopt these Streams of Blood.

Soon again he ease shall find, If I can but still his mind: This Curtain thus I do display, To keep the piercing air away.

_Enter_ old Shepherd, _and_ Priest.

_Priest_. Sure they are lost for ever; 'tis in vain To find 'em out with trouble and much pain, That have a ripe desire, and forward will To flye the Company of all but ill, What shall be counsel'd now? shall we retire?

Or constant follow still that first desire We had to find them?

_Old_. Stay a little while; For if the Morning mist do not beguile My sight with shadows, sure I see a Swain; One of this jolly Troop's come back again.

_Enter_ Thenot.

_Pri._ Dost thou not blush young Shepherd to be known, Thus without care, leaving thy flocks alone, And following what desire and present blood Shapes out before thy burning sense, for good, Having forgot what tongue hereafter may Tell to the World thy falling off, and say Thou art regardless both of good and shame, Spurning at Vertue, and a vertuous Name, And like a glorious, desperate man that buys A poyson of much price, by which he dies, Dost thou lay out for l.u.s.t, whose only gain Is foul disease, with present age and pain, And then a Grave? These be the fruits that grow In such hot Veins that only beat to know Where they may take most ease, and grow ambitious Through their own wanton fire, and pride delicious.

_The_. Right holy Sir, I have not known this night, What the smooth face of Mirth was, or the sight Of any looseness; musick, joy, and ease, Have been to me as bitter drugs to please A Stomach lost with weakness, not a game That I am skill'd at throughly; nor a Dame, Went her tongue smoother than the feet of Time, Her beauty ever living like the Rime Our blessed _t.i.tyrus_ did sing of yore, No, were she more enticing than the store Of fruitful Summer, when the loaden Tree Bids the faint Traveller be bold and free, 'Twere but to me like thunder 'gainst the bay, Whose lightning may enclose but never stay Upon his charmed branches; such am I Against the catching flames of Womans eye.

_Priest_. Then wherefore hast thou wandred?

_The_. 'Twas a Vow That drew me out last night, which I have now Strictly perform'd, and homewards go to give Fresh pasture to my Sheep, that they may live.

_Pri_. 'Tis good to hear ye, Shepherd, if the heart In this well sounding Musick bear his part.

Where have you left the rest?

_The_. I have not seen, Since yesternight we met upon this green To fold our Flocks up, any of that train; Yet have I walkt these Woods round, and have lain All this same night under an aged Tree, Yet neither wandring Shepherd did I see, Or Shepherdess, or drew into mine ear The sound of living thing, unless it were The Nightingale among the thick leav'd spring That sits alone in sorrow, and doth sing Whole nights away in mourning, or the Owl, Or our great enemy that still doth howl Against the Moons cold beams.

_Priest_. Go and beware Of after falling.

_The_. Father 'tis my care. [_Exit_ Thenot.

_Enter_ Daphnis.

_Old_. Here comes another Stragler, sure I see A Shame in this young Shepherd. _Daphnis_!

_Daph_. He.

_Pri_. Where hast thou left the rest, that should have been Long before this, grazing upon the green Their yet imprison'd flocks?

_Daph_. Thou holy man, Give me a little breathing till I can Be able to unfold what I have seen; Such horrour that the like hath never been Known to the ear of Shepherd: Oh my heart Labours a double motion to impart So heavy tidings! You all know the Bower Where the chast _Clorin_ lives, by whose great power Sick men and Cattel have been often cur'd, There lovely _Amoret_ that was a.s.sur'd To l.u.s.ty _Perigot_, bleeds out her life, Forc'd by some Iron hand and fatal knife; And by her young _Alexis_.

_Enter_ Amaryllis _running from her_ Sullen Shepherd.

_Amar_. If there be Ever a Neighbour Brook, or hollow tree, Receive my Body, close me up from l.u.s.t That follows at my heels; be ever just, Thou G.o.d of Shepherds, _Pan_, for her dear sake That loves the Rivers brinks, and still doth shake In cold remembrance of thy quick pursuit: Let me be made a reed, and ever mute, Nod to the waters fall, whilst every blast Sings through my slender leaves that I was chast.

_Pri_. This is a night of wonder, _Amaryll_ Be comforted, the holy G.o.ds are still Revengers of these wrongs.

_Amar_. Thou blessed man, Honour'd upon these plains, and lov'd of _Pan_, Hear me, and save from endless infamie My yet unblasted Flower, _Virginitie_: By all the Garlands that have crown'd that head, By the chaste office, and the Marriage bed That still is blest by thee, by all the rights Due to our G.o.ds; and by those Virgin lights That burn before his Altar, let me not Fall from my former state to gain the blot That never shall be purg'd: I am not now That wanton _Amaryllis_: here I vow To Heaven, and thee grave Father, if I may 'Scape this unhappy Night, to know the Day, To live a Virgin, never to endure The tongues, or Company of men impure.

I hear him come, save me.

_Pri_. Retire a while Behind this Bush, till we have known that vile Abuser of young Maidens.

_Enter_ Sullen.

_Sul_. Stay thy pace, Most loved _Amaryllis_, let the Chase Grow calm and milder, flye me not so fast, I fear the pointed Brambles have unlac'd Thy golden Buskins; turn again and see Thy Shepherd follow, that is strong and free, Able to give thee all content and ease.

I am not bashful, Virgin, I can please At first encounter, hug thee in mine arm, And give thee many Kisses, soft and warm As those the Sun prints on the smiling Cheek Of Plums, or mellow Peaches; I am sleek And smooth as _Neptune_, when stern _Eolus_ Locks up his surly Winds, and nimbly thus Can shew my active Youth; why dost thou flye?

Remember _Amaryllis_, it was I That kill'd _Alexis_ for thy sake, and set An everlasting hate 'twixt _Amoret_ And her beloved _Perigot_: 'twas I That drown'd her in the Well, where she must lye Till Time shall leave to be; then turn again, Turn with thy open arms, and clip the Swain That hath perform'd all this, turn, turn I say: I must not be deluded.

_Pri_. Monster stay, Thou that art like a Canker to the State Thou liv'st and breath'st in, eating with debate Through every honest bosome, forcing still The Veins of any that may serve thy Will, Thou that hast offer'd with a sinful hand To seize upon this Virgin that doth stand Yet trembling here.

_Sull_. Good holiness declare, What had the danger been, if being bare I had embrac'd her, tell me by your Art, What coming wonders would that sight impart?

_Pri_. l.u.s.t, and a branded Soul.

_Sull_. Yet tell me more, Hath not our Mother Nature for her store And great encrease, said it is good and just, And wills that every living Creature must Beget his like?

_Pri_. Ye are better read than I, I must confess, in blood and Lechery.

Now to the Bower, and bring this Beast along, Where he may suffer Penance for his wrong. [_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ Perigot _with his hands b.l.o.o.d.y_.

_Per_. Here will I wash it in this mornings dew, Which she on every little gra.s.s doth strew In silver drops against the Sun's appear: 'Tis holy water, and will make me clear.

My hands will not be cleans'd. My wronged Love, If thy chaste spirit in the air yet move, Look mildly down on him that yet doth stand All full of guilt, thy blood upon his hand, And though I struck thee undeservedly, Let my revenge on her that injur'd thee Make less a fault which I intended not, And let these dew drops wash away my spot.

It will not cleanse. O to what sacred Flood Shall I resort to wash away this blood?

Amid'st these Trees the holy _Clorin_ dwells In a low Cabin of cut Boughs, and heals All Wounds; to her I will my self address, And my rash faults repentantly confess; Perhaps she'll find a means by Art or Prayer, To make my hand with chaste blood stained, fair: That done, not far hence underneath some Tree, I'll have a little Cabin built, since she Whom I ador'd is dead, there will I give My self to strictness, and like _Clorin_ live. [_Exit_.

_The Curtain is drawn_, Clorin _appears sitting in the Cabin,_ Amoret _sitting on the one side of her_, Alexis _and_ Cloe _on the other, the_ Satyr _standing by._

_Clo_. Shepherd, once more your blood is staid, Take example by this Maid, Who is heal'd ere you be pure, So hard it is lewd l.u.s.t to cure.

Take heed then how you turn your eye On each other l.u.s.tfully: And Shepherdess take heed lest you Move his willing eye thereto; Let no wring, nor pinch, nor smile Of yours his weaker sense beguile.

Is your Love yet true and chaste, And for ever so to last?

_Alex_. I have forgot all vain desires, All looser thoughts, ill tempred fires, True Love I find a pleasant fume, Whose moderate heat can ne'r consume.

_Clo_. And I a new fire feel in me, Whose chaste flame is not quencht to be.

_Clor_. Join your hands with modest touch, And for ever keep you such.

_Enter_ Perigot.

_Per_. Yon is her Cabin, thus far off I'll stand, And call her forth; for my unhallowed hand I dare not bring so near yon sacred place.

_Clorin_ come forth, and do a timely grace To a poor Swain.

_Clo_. What art thou that dost call?

_Clorin_ is ready to do good to all: Come near.

_Peri_. I dare not.

_Clor. Satyr_, see Who it is that calls on me.