To say he found us at our private sport,
And roused us fore our time by his resort:
This to confirm, I've promised to the boy
Many a pretty knack and many a toy;

As grins to catch him birds, with bow and bolt
To shoot at nimble squirrels in the holt;
A pair of painted buskins, and a lamb

Soft as his own locks or the down of swan.
This I have done to win ye; which doth give
Me double pleasure: discord makes me live.

Amar. Loved swain, I thank ye. These tricks might
prevail

With other rustic shepherds, but will fail

Even once to stir, much more to overthrow,

50

55

His fixed love from judgement, who doth know
Your nature, my end, and his chosen's merit;

60

Therefore some stronger way must force his spirit,
Which I have found: give second, and my love
Is everlasting thine.

Sull. Shep.

Try me, and prove.

Amar. These happy'pair of lovers meet straightway, 65 Soon as they fold their flocks up with the day,

In the thick grove bordering upon yon hill,
In whose hard side nature hath carved a well,

And, but that matchless spring which poets know,
Was ne'er the like to this: by it doth grow,
About the sides, all herbs which witches use,

70

All simples good for medicine or abuse,

All sweets that crown the happy nuptial day,

With all their colours; there the month of May

Is ever dwelling, all is young and green;

75

There's not a grass on which was ever seen

The falling autumn or cold winter's hand;
So full of heat and virtue is the land

About this fountain, which doth slowly break,
Below yon mountain's foot, into a creek

80

51 grins] i. e. snares. grinnes Qq. gins F, Dyce, a distinct word with the same meaning.

52 nimble squirrels] So QI (B.M. copy), etc., Dyce. Conies, squirrels QI (Dyce & Bodl. copies).

63 second] i. e. support, more common as a verb than a substantive.

69 that matchless spring] i. e. Helicon.

That waters all the valley, giving fish

Of many sorts to fill the shepherd's dish.
This holy well, my grandame that is dead,
Right wise in charms, hath often to me said,
Hath power to change the form of any creature,
Being thrice dipp'd over the head, into what feature
Or shape 'twould please the letter-down to crave,
Who must pronounce this charm too, which she gave
Me on her death-bed; told me what, and how,
I should apply unto the patient's brow

85

90

That would be changed, casting them thrice asleep,
Before I trusted them into this deep :

All this she show'd me, and did charge me prove

I'll this attempt now, shepherd; I have here

95

This secret of her art, if crost in love.

All her prescriptions, and I will not fear
To be myself dipp'd. Come, my temples bind
With these sad herbs, and when I sleep, you find,
As you do speak your charm, thrice down me let,
And bid the water raise me Amoret;
Which being done, leave me to my affair,
And ere the day shall quite itself outwear,
I will return unto my shepherd's arm;
Dip me again, and then repeat this charm,
And pluck me up myself, whom freely take,
And the hott'st fire of thine affection slake.
Sull. Shep. And if I fit thee not, then fit not me.
I long the truth of this well's power to see.

86 over] So QI. o're Q2, etc., Dyce.

88 Dyce added the direction Showing a scroll.

[Exeunt.

100

105

90' patient's] Dyce printed patients'. Brow seems to necessitate the singular, and them in 11. 91-2 is easily accounted for as the indefinite use of the plural where the gender is doubtful. Cf. Jonson's use in the Sad Shepherd as quoted above, I. ii. 102-4.

91 thrice] K. Deighton (Conjectural Readings, 1896, p. 89) points out that this is pretty nearly if not quite nonsense. He proposes to read 'That would be changed, casting them asleep'; but this does not explain how the error arose. I am a little suspicious, myself, of the phrase 'casting asleep,' but have no emendation to offer.

102 day] Ought we not to read night?

SCENE IV.

Another part of the Wood.

Enter DAPHNIS.

Daph. Here will I stay, for this the covert is
Where I appointed Cloe. Do not miss,

Thou bright-eyed virgin; come, oh come, my fair!
Be not abused with fear, or let cold care

Of honour stay thee from thy shepherd's arm
Who would as hard be won to offer harm

To thy chaste thoughts, as whiteness from the day,
Or yon great round to move another way:
My language shall be honest, full of truth,
My flame as smooth and spotless as my youth;
I will not entertain that wandering thought,
Whose easy current may at length be brought
To a loose vastness.

Alexis. [within.] Cloe!
Daph.

'Tis her voice,

And I must answer.-Cloe !-Oh, the choice
Of dear embraces, chaste and holy strains

5

IO

15

Our hands shall give! I charge you, all my veins,

Through which the blood and spirit take their way,
Lock up your disobedient heats, and stay

Those mutinous desires that else would grow
To strong rebellion; do not wilder show

Than blushing modesty may entertain.
Alexis. [within.] Cloe!

Daph.

There sounds that blessèd name again,

And I will meet it.

Enter ALEXIS.

Let me not mistake;

This is some shepherd. Sure, I am awake:
What may this riddle mean? I will retire,

To give myself more knowledge.

20

25

[Retires.

SCENE IV.] Marked in QI only of the odd eds. Locality added by Dyce. 10 flame] So QI. flames Q2, etc., Dyce.

23 s.d. Qq place this at the end of 1. 22, F and Dyce at the end of 1. 23. 26 s.d. Added by Dyce.

Alexis.

Oh, my fire,

How thou consum'st me!-Cloe, answer me!

Alexis, strong Alexis, high and free,

Calls upon Cloe. See, mine arms are full

Of entertainment, ready for to pull

That golden fruit which too too long hath hung

Tempting the greedy eye. Thou stayest too long;

I am impatient of these mad delays:

30

I must not leave unsought those many ways

That lead into this centre, till I find

35

[Exit.

Quench for my burning lust. I come, unkind!

Daph. Can my imagination work me so much ill, That I may credit this for truth, and still

Believe mine eyes? or shall I firmly hold

Her yet untainted, and these sights but bold
Illusion? Sure, such fancies oft have been
Sent to abuse true love, and yet are seen

40

Daring to blind the virtuous thought with error;
But be they far from me with their fond terror!
I am resolved my Cloe yet is true.

Cloe. [within.] Cloe!

Daph.

voice is new,

45

Whose shrillness, like the sounding of a bell,

Tells me it is a woman.-Cloe, tell

Thy blessèd name again.

Cloe. [within.]

Here!

Daph. Oh, what a grief is this, to be so near,

Shepherd, we are met:

50

Draw close into the covert, lest the wet,

Which falls like lazy mists upon the ground,

Soak through your startups.

39-40 hold Her] So Q2, etc., Dyce. hold her Her QI.

43 thought] So Q3, etc., Dyce. though QI, 2.

44 fond i. e. foolish.

49 Here! So Qq, F. Cloe! here! Dyce.

54 startups] i. e. a sort of rustic shoes with high tops, galoches, or halfgaiters.'-Dyce.

Fairest, are you found?

Daph.
How have we wander'd, that the better part
Of this good night is perished? Oh, my heart!
How have I long'd to meet ye, how to kiss
Those lily hands, how to receive the bliss
That charming tongue gives to the happy ear
Of him that drinks your language! But I fear
I am too much unmanner'd, far too rude,
And almost grown lascivious, to intrude
These hot behaviours; where regard of fame,
Honour and modesty, a virtuous name,
And such discourse as one fair sister may
Without offence unto the tother say,
Should rather have been tender'd.

But, believe,

Here dwells a better temper: do not grieve,
Then, ever-kindest, that my first salute

55

60

65

Seasons so much of fancy; I am mute
Henceforth to all discourses but shall be
Suiting to your sweet thoughts and modesty.
Indeed, I will not ask a kiss of you,
No, not to wring your fingers, nor to sue

70

To those blest pair of fixèd stars for smiles;
All a young lover's cunning, all his wiles,
And pretty wanton dyings, shall to me
Be strangers; only to your chastity

I am devoted ever.

Cloe.

75

Honest swain,

First let me thank you, then return again

80

As much of my love.-[Aside.] No, thou art too cold,

Unhappy boy, not temper'd to my mould;

Thy blood falls heavy downward. 'Tis not fear

To offend in boldness wins; they never wear
Deservèd favours that deny to take

85

When they are offer'd freely. Do I wake,
To see a man of his youth, years, and feature,
And such a one as we call goodly creature,
Thus backward? What a world of precious art
Were merely lost, to make him do his part!

90

66 tother] brother Qq, F, Dyce, who, however, conjectured other. 70 fancy] i. e. amorousness.

90 merely] i. e. utterly.