The Faithful Shepherdess Part 4

He's dead, or else is with his little might Crept from the Bank for fear of that ill Spright.

Then where art thou that struck'st my love? O stay, Bring me thy self in change, and then I'll say Thou hast some justice, I will make thee trim With Flowers and Garlands that were meant for him; I'll clip thee round with both mine arms, as fast As I did mean he should have been embrac'd: But thou art fled. What hope is left for me?

I'll run to _Daphnis_ in the hollow tree, Whom I did mean to mock, though hope be small, To make him bold; rather than none at all, I'll try him; his heart, and my behaviour too Perhaps may teach him what he ought to do. [_Exit_.

_Enter_ Sullen Shepherd.

_Sul_. This was the place, 'twas but my feeble sight, Mixt with the horrour of my deed, and night, That shap't these fears, and made me run away, And lose my beauteous hardly gotten prey.

Speak gentle Shepherdess, I am alone, And tender love for love: but she is gone From me, that having struck her Lover dead, For silly fear left her alone and fled.

And see the wounded body is remov'd By her of whom it was so well belov'd.

_Enter_ Perigot _and_ Amaryllis _in the shape of_ Amoret.

But these fancies must be quite forgot, I must lye close. Here comes young _Perigot_ With subtile _Amaryllis_ in the shape Of _Amoret_. Pray Love he may not 'scape.

_Amar_. Beloved _Perigot_, shew me some place, Where I may rest my limbs, weak with the Chace Of thee, an hour before thou cam'st at least.

_Per_. Beshrew my tardy steps: here shalt thou rest Upon this holy bank, no deadly Snake Upon this turf her self in folds doth make.

Here is no poyson for the Toad to feed; Here boldly spread thy hands, no venom'd Weed Dares blister them, no slimy Snail dare creep Over thy face when thou art fast asleep; Here never durst the babling Cuckow spit, No slough of falling Star did ever hit Upon this bank: let this thy Cabin be, This other set with Violets for me.

_Ama_. Thou dost not love me _Perigot_.

_Per_. Fair maid, You only love to hear it often said; You do not doubt.

_Amar_. Believe me but I do.

_Per_. What shall we now begin again to woo?

'Tis the best way to make your Lover last, To play with him, when you have caught him fast.

_Amar_. By _Pan_ I swear, I loved _Perigot_, And by yon Moon, I think thou lov'st me not.

_Per_. By _Pan_ I swear, and if I falsely swear, Let him not guard my flocks, let Foxes tear My earliest Lambs, and Wolves whilst I do sleep Fall on the rest, a Rot among my Sheep.

I love thee better than the careful Ewe The new-yean'd Lamb that is of her own hew; I dote upon thee more than the young Lamb Doth on the bag that feeds him from his Dam.

Were there a sort of Wolves got in my Fold, And one ran after thee, both young and old Should be devour'd, and it should be my strife To save thee, whom I love above my life.

_Ama_. How shall I trust thee when I see thee chuse Another Bed, and dost my side refuse?

_Per_. 'Twas only that the chast thoughts might be shewn 'Twixt thee and me, although we were alone.

_Ama_. Come, _Perigot_ will shew his power, that he Can make his _Amoret_, though she weary be, Rise nimbly from her Couch, and come to his.

Here take thy _Amoret_, embrace and kiss.

_Per_. What means my Love?

_Ama_. To do as lovers shou'd, That are to be enjoy'd, not to be woo'd.

There's ne'r a Shepherdess in all the plain Can kiss thee with more Art, there's none can feign More wanton tricks.

_Per_. Forbear, dear Soul, to trie Whether my Heart be pure; I'll rather die Than nourish one thought to dishonour thee.

_Amar_. Still think'st thou such a thing as Chast.i.tie Is amongst Women? _Perigot_ there's none, That with her Love is in a Wood alone, And would come home a maid; be not abus'd With thy fond first Belief, let time be us'd: Why dost thou rise?

_Per_. My true heart thou hast slain.

_Ama_. Faith _Perigot_, I'll pluck thee down again.

_Per_. Let go, thou Serpent, that into my brest Hast with thy cunning div'd; art not in Jest?

_Ama_. Sweet love, lye down.

_Per_. Since this I live to see, Some bitter North-wind blast my flocks and me.

_Ama_. You swore you lov'd, yet will not do my will.

_Per_. O be as thou wert once, I'll love thee still.

_Ama_. I am, as still I was, and all my kind, Though other shows we have poor men to blind.

_Per_. Then here I end all Love, and lest my vain Belief should ever draw me in again, Before thy face that hast my Youth misled, I end my life, my blood be on thy head.

_Ama._ O hold thy hands, thy _Amoret_ doth cry.

_Per._ Thou counsel'st well, first _Amoret_ shall dye, That is the cause of my eternal smart. [_He runs after her._

_Ama._ O hold.

_Per._ This steel shall pierce thy l.u.s.tful heart.

[_The Sullen Shepherd steps out and uncharms her._

_Sull._ Up and down every where, I strew the herbs to purge the air: Let your Odour drive hence All mists that dazel sence.

Herbs and Springs whose hidden might Alters Shapes, and mocks the sight, Thus I charge you to undo All before I brought ye to: Let her flye, let her 'scape, Give again her own shape.

_Enter_ Amaryllis _in her own shape._

_Amar._ Forbear thou gentle Swain, thou dost mistake, She whom thou follow'dst fled into the brake, And as I crost thy way, I met thy wrath, The only fear of which near slain me hath.

_Per._ Pardon fair Shepherdess, my rage and night Were both upon me, and beguil'd my sight; But far be it from me to spill the blood Of harmless Maids that wander in the Wood. [_Ex._ Ama.

_Enter_ Amoret.

_Amor._ Many a weary step in yonder path Poor hopeless _Amoret_ twice trodden hath To seek her _Perigot_, yet cannot hear His Voice; my _Perigot_, she loves thee dear That calls.

_Per._ See yonder where she is, how fair She shows, and yet her breath infefts the air.

_Amo._ My Perigot.

_Per._ Here.

_Amo._ Happy.

_Per._ Hapless first: It lights on thee, the next blow is the worst.