New South Wales

The amber-tinted level sands
Unbroken stretch for leagues away
Beyond these granite slabs, dull grey
And lifeless, herbless — save where stands
The mighty rock-flow'r towering high,
With carmine blooms crowned gloriously:
A giant amongst flowers it reigns,
The glory of these Austral plains.

Sunrise

The lightning-stricken giant gum
Stands leafless, dead — a giant still
But heedless of this sunrise-thrill:
What stir is this where all was dumb? —
What seem like old dead leaves break swift,
And lo, a hundred wings uplift
A cloud of birds that to and fro
Dart joyous midst the sunrise-glow.

Satyr I

By hell 'twas bravely done! what less than this?
What sacrifice of meaner worth and price
Could we have offer'd up for our success?
So fare all they, whoe're provoke our hate,
Who by like ways presume to tempt their fate;
Fare each like this bold medling Fool, and be
As well secur'd, as well dispatch'd as he:
Would he were here, yet warm, that we might drain
His reeking gore, and drink up ev'ry vein!
That were a glorious sanction, much like thine,
Great Roman! made upon a like design:

PROLOGUE.

For who can longer hold? when every Press,
The Bar and Pulpit too has broke the peace?
When every scribling Fool at the alarms
Has drawn his Pen, and rises up in Arms?
And not a dull Pretender of the Town,
But vents his gall in pamphlet up and down?
When all with license rail, and who will not,
Must be almost suspected of the PLOT ,
And bring his Zeal, or else, his parts in doubt?
In vain our Preaching Tribe attack the Foes,
In vain their weak Artillery oppose:
Mistaken honest Men who gravely blame,

[The Epilogue]

VENUSSES Search for Cupid

Downe from the third heav'n, I (that am
His queene, goddesse, & mother) come
To seeke my sonne, (the run-away
Cupid. ) I lost him yesterday.
As he lay playing in my lapp
(Whether of purpose, or by happ
I cannot say,) but his golde shaft
Fell with the point on my left side,
And prickt me'; and when my hurt he spide,
(As erst h'has serv'd me') he flew away, and laught.
But though somtime I angry seem,

Actus Quintus. scena Prima

Elpine, Chorus. Elp:

Doubtlesse the lawes wherewith Love governeth
His Empire evermore, are neither hard
To follow, nor unjust; and those his workes
Which many men do condemne wrongfully,
Are full of providence, and mistery.
Lo with what art,
And by how many unknowne wales, he leades
His votaries unto their happinesse;
And placeth them among the highest joyes
And pleasures of his amorous Paradise,
When oftentimes they feele themselves sunk downe

Nuntius, Chorus, Silvia, Daphne. [Nun:]

I am so full of woe, so full of horror
As all I heare and whatsoere I looke on
Me thinks afflicts, disquiets, and affrights me. Cho:

What strange newes brings this man, that seemes to me
So troubled in his lookes, and in his speech? Nun:

I bring the sad newes of Aminta's death. Sil:

Ay me what sayes he? Nun:

Aminta noblest Shepherd of these woods;
That was so comely and so gratious;
So deare unto the Nymphes, and to the Muses;
And dead but ev'ne a ladd. Cho:

Daphne. Silvia. Chorus. [Da:]

Now may the winde upon his wings beare hence
All ill may happen thee; together with
Th' accursed newes so lately spread of thee.
Thou art alive (the gods be thank'd for't)
And ev'n but now I did beleeve thee dead;
So had Nerina painted to the life
Thy late hap; but I would shee had bin dumbe,
Or some that heard her deafe. Sil:

Indeed I scap'd
So narrowly, as I beleeve she might
Full well suppose me dead. Da:

Suppose she might
Yet not have told it with such certainty.

Aminta, Daphne, Nerina.[ Am :

Pittilesse (Daphne) was that Pitty of thine,
When thou held'st backe the dart; because my death
Will but more painefull be, the more delay' de:
And now, why doest thou stay me trifling thus,
And hold me' in vaine with these thy long discourses?
If thou beest fearefull of my death, thou fear'st
My happinesse. Daph :

Leave leave Aminta
This thy unjust despaire: I know her well;
And 'twas her bashfulnesse, not cruelty,
That made her runne away so fast from thee. Am :

Thirsis. Chorus.

Thi :

O Savage cruelty: O th' ungratefull minde
Of a most most ungratefull Mayde; O Sexe
Full of ingratitude: and thou lewd Nature,
Nigligent mistresse, and maker of things,
Wherefore, ah wherefore mad'st thou womankinde
So faire, and sweet, and milde onely without;
And didst forget to make their insides good?
Poore youth, I feare 'has made away himselfe
Ere this; alas I cannot finde him out:
Three houres from place to place, & wher I left him
Have I bin seeking him; but cannot finde