Classic Poem

ACT . III. S CEN. V.

To them Philaenis with a couple of Napkins . Eum .

How now Philaenis ?
Are you turn'd Sewer to the Lady-Errant? Phi .
Lady I'm sent to wipe away the Bloud
From these two Myrtles. Eum .
Bless me! what Bloud Philaenis ? Luc .
I hope the Song will not prove ominous. Phi .
'Tis fit we have some Wars at home too, else
My Lady would have no employment left. Luc .
What Wars? whose Bloud? Phi .
A pair of froward Lovers,
Olyndus , and the Stranger, fought, it seems,
Here till they almost kill'd themselves: and when
Neither did fear, but both did faint, it seems
Olyndus lean'd there, and the Stranger there,
And with their Blouds besmear'd the Trees a little;
We did not think your Highness should have seen it. Luc .

Is this Olyndus way of mingling Souls? Eum .
Is this the Others Enterchange of Breasts? Luc .
O Heavens! durst your Olyndus thus? Eum .
O Heav'ns,
And O ye Gods too! durst that other this? Luc .
Did he then stay behind for this Eumela ? Eum .
And did he leave his Country to destroy
One worth it all, here in our very Bosoms? Luc .
H' has ruin'd one, whose like if Nature will
Shew to the World again, she must lay up,
And gather, till she hath store enough of Graces
To throw into the World. Eum .
Olyndus stood
As high; and brave as he, his Enemy had
But this advantage of him, that he was
A Cretan , as by Birth, so too in Faith. Luc .
Were he the Birth of some unshelter'd Cottage,
He were yet fairer in the Eye o'th' World
Than e'r Olyndus could have been, in that
He was a Princess's thoughts; 'twas I that lov'd him. Eum .
Although the Name of Princess be upon you,
And signs you Dread, and Soveraign, yet I must
Tell you that Love's a Princess too in me,
And stamps as much Heroick Majesty
Upon my Thoughts, as Birth hath done on yours. Luc .
Though, as a Princess, I could make thy Love
And thee forgotten Names, yet I depose
My self, and am thy Equall. Eum .
'Tis no need
That you descend, Love carries up Eumela
To be as high as is her Princess, and
In this sad Fate placeth her equall with
Her Dread Lucasia . Luc .
Hear, hear this brave man!
And if thou liv'st revenge it on Olyndus . Eum .
And thou the Spirit of my dear Olyndus ,
Be thou still worthy, still thy self. Speak thou
O Nature, was there not the same clay knead
To make our Hearts? did not the same Fire kindle
Our Souls? and thou, O Love, was't not the same
Metall that wounded both? you must not count
The Princess into th' worth of your Affection;
Love when he ballanceth the Hearts that come
Under his Power, casts not in their Births,
Fortunes, and Titles. Luc .
Would some powerfull God
Would change our Persons, and make thee Lucasia ,
And me Eumela , that I might avow
The justice of my Love in spight of State. Mal .
Forbear Eumela . Flor .
'Tis the Princess speaks. Eum .
Nor Prince, nor Subject speaks, but Love in both.