Classic Poem

ACT. V. SCEN. I.

Chorus. Palaemon.

Did euer yet Arcadia heare before
Of two so worthy louers, as we find
Thirsis and Siluia were? or euer had
Cleare truth, and simple constant honesty,
So lamentable an euent as this?
But heere comes foorth Palaemon , we shall now
Learne all of him, what hath beene done within.
Pal. Goe Pollio , summon all th' Arcadia youth
Heere, round about, and will them to prepare
To celebrate with all delights they can
This ioyfull houre, that hath restor'd to vs
The worthiest paire of hearts that euer were.
Will them to shew the height of musiques art,
And all the straines of cunning they can shew:
That we may make these rockes and hilles about,
Ring with the Eccho of redoubled notes.
And will Charinus and Medorus too,
The aged parents of this worthy paire,
To come with speed, whose ioy, good soules, wil be
More then their speed; and yet their speed I know,
Will be beyond th'allowance of their yeares,
When they shall vnderstand this happy newes.
And summon likewise all the traine of nymphes
That glorifie our plaines, and all that can
Giue honour to this day.
Goe Pollio hast away, and as you go
Vnbind Montanus that rude sauage swaine:
And though he be vnworthy to be here,
Yet let him come. He hath beene in his dayes
Held a good fellow, howsoeuer now
His rage and loue transported him in this.
Cho. Palaemon , we are glad to see you thus
Delightfull, now we hope there is good newes.
Pal. Good newes my friends, and I will tell it you.
Siluia and Thirsis being to my cottage brought,
The skilfull Lamia comes and searcht the wound
Which Siluia had receiu'd of this rude swaine,
And finding it not deadly, she applide
Those remedies she knew of best effect.
And binds it vp, and powres into her mouth
Such cordiall waters as ruiue the spirits:
And so much wrought, as she at length perceiu'd
Life was not quite gone out, but lay opprest.
With like endeauours we on Thirsis worke,
And ministred like Cordials vnto him:
At length we might heare Siluia fetch a groane,
And therewithall Thirsis perceiu'd to moue,
Then Thirsis set a groane, and Siluia mou'd
As if their liues were made both of one peece.
Whereat we ioyd, and then remou'd and set
Each before other and held vp their heads,
And chaf'd their temples, rub'd and stroak'd their cheekes:
Wherewith first Siluia cast vp her dimme eyes,
And presently did Thirsis lift vp his.
And then againe they both together sigh'd,
And each on other fixt an vnseeing eye:
For yet t'was scarse the twylight of their new
Returning day, out of the night of death.
And though they saw, they did not yet perceiue
Each other, and yet both turn'd to one point
As toucht alike, and held their lookes direct.
At length we might perceiue, as life began
T'appeare; and make the morning in their eyes,
Their beames were cleerer, and their opener lookes
Did shew as if they tooke some little note
Of each the other: yet not so as they
Could thorowly difcerne who themselues were.
And then we tooke and ioyn'd their hands in one
And held them so a while, vntill we fealt
How euen each others touch, the motion gaue
Vnto their feeling, and they trembling wrung
Their hands together, and so held them lockt:
Lookt still vpon each other, but no words at all.
Then we call'd out to Thirsis, Thirsis looke,
It is thy Siluia thou here holdst, she is
Return'd, reuiu'd and safe. Siluia , behold thou hast
Thy Thirsis , and shalt euer haue him thine.
Then did we set them both vpon their feete
And there they stood in act, euer as before
Looking vpon each other, hand in hand:
At last we saw a blushing red appeare
In both their cheekes, which sense sent as a lampe
To light their vnderstanding. And forthwith
The tears gusht forth their eyes, which hindred them
A while from seeing each other, till they had
Cleared them againe. And then as if new wak'd
From out a fearefull dreame, they stand and doubt
Whether they were awake indeed, or else
Still in a dreame, distrusting their owne eyes.
Their long indured miseries, would not
Let them beleeue their sudden happinesse,
Although they saw it: till with much adoe
They had confirm'd their credit, and had kist
Each other and imbrac'd, and kist againe,
And yet still dumbe: their ioy now seem'd to be
Too busie with their thoughts, t'allow them words.
And then they walkt a little, then stood still,
Then walkt againe, and still held other fast
As if they fear'd, they should be lost againe.
And when at last they spake, it was but thus,
O Siluia , and O Thirsis , and ther stopt.
We, lest our sight and presence (being there
So many) hinder might the passage of
Their modest, simple, and vnpractis'd loue,
Came all our way, and onely Lamia left;
Whose spirit, and that sufficient skill she hath
Will serue no doubt, to see they shall doe well.
Cho. Well may they do deere couple, who haue thus
Grac'd our Arcadia with their faithfulnesse.

SCEN. II.

Phillis. Lidia. Cloris.

What shall we now do Lidia ? now am I
Vtterly sham'd: this youth turn'd woman is.
Clarindo, Siluia is become; how now?
Can I for euer looke on her againe?
Or come in any company for shame?
Now must I needs be made a common ieast
And laughing stocke to euery one that shall
But heare how grossely I behau'd my selfe.
Lid. Faith Phillis as it is falne out, your case
Is very crazy, and to make it whole
There is no way but euen to laugh it out,
And set as good a face, as you can doe
Vpon the matter, and say thus: How you
Knew well enough it was no man whom you
Affected so, who neuer could loue man
Nor euer would, and that by meere instinct
And simpathy of Sexe, you fancied him:
So put it off, and turne it to a ieast.
Phi. That shall I neuer do, but euer blush
Either, to thinke what she will thinke of me,
Who did bewray my selfe so foolishly.
Lid. Are you here Cloris ? you are blest to day
For being mistres vnto such a boy:
You may reioyce that euer this fell out.
Clo. Reioyce? ah Lidia , neuer was there nymph
Had more occasion to be sad then I,
For I am quite vndone and sham'd hereby.
For I imploy'd this my supposed boy
In message vnto Thirsis , whom I lou'd
I must confesse, more dearely then my life:
And told him all the secrets of my heart.
And therefore with what face can euer I
Looke vpon them that know thus much by me?
No Lidia , I will now take Thirsis course:
Hide me for euer in these desert woods,
And neuer come in company againe;
They shall not laugh at me in their great ioyes.
Lid. But Cloris , I would laugh with them, were I as you.
And howsoeuer felt my selfe within,
Yet would I seeme be otherwise without.
Cannot you say, that you knew well enough
How it was Siluia that you intertain'd,
Although you would not seeme to take such note;
And thereupon imploy'd her in that sort
To Thirsis , knowing who it was would giue
To him the greatest comfort vpon earth,
And thus faire Nymphes you fitly may excuse
These simple slips, and know that they shall still
Haue crosses with their piles, who thus do play
Their fortunes with their loues, as you two did;
But you must frame your countenance thereto
And looke with other faces then your owne.
As many else do here, who in their parts
Set shining lookes vpon their cloudy hearts.
And let vs mixe vs with this company
That here appeares with mirth and iollity.

The Song of the fifth Chorus.

Who euer saw so faire a sight,
Love and vertue met aright:
And that wonder Constancy,
Like a Comet to the eye
Seldome euer seene so bright?
Sound out aloud so rare a thing,
That all the Hilles and Vales may ring.

Looke Louers looke, with passion see,
If that any such there bee:
As there cannot but be such
Who doe feele that noble touch
In this glorious company,
Sound out aloud, &c.