Loves Dominion, A dramatic Piece, Full of Excellent morality; Written as a Pattern for the REFORMED STAGE.  Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. 
In DOMINO CONFIDO  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1654.   

To the Lady Elizabeth Claypole.  
Madam,  
I Present you here with my Love's Dominion, to which you are no Stranger having the Art, by your many Excellent Qualities, to make yourself honoured, and beloved of all: Neither is it a Stranger unto you, you having been pleased to like it, when I made you but a confused relation of it, and will much more now( I hope) representing it more clearly to your view. I must entreat you to favour it a little, for never a more Innocenter thing appeared in Court; and I do not know how much it would be out of Countenance, were it not encouraged and Countenanced by you; For the rest, I dare not Interest you in its more public Representation, not knowing how the palate of the Time may relish such Things yet, which, till it was disgusted with them, was formerly numbered amongst its chiefest Dainties, and is so much ●onged for still, by all the nobler and better sort, as could it but be effected by your mediation, you, should infinitely oblige them all; and in parti●ar,  
Madam, Your most humble, obedient, and obliged Servant, RICHARD- FLECKNO.   

The Preface to the Reader.  
THe Stage, or theatre, is but the World in little, as the World is but a great theatre, where men enter, act their parts, and have their exits, &c. 'tis an Academy of choicest language, a Map of the best manners and behaviour; and finally a mirror representing the Actions of men( and therefore by a better title than that of Plays, called Actions by some, and Operaes, or works, by others) proposing the good for our example and imitation, and the bad to deter us from it, and for the avoiding it.  
I deny not but aspersions( these latter ●mes) have been cast upon it by the ink 〈◊〉 some who have written obscen●ly & ●currilously, &c. but instead of wiping them off, to break the Glass, was too rigid and severe. For my part I have en●eavoured here the clearing of it, and re●oring it to its former splendour, and first ●●stitution( of teaching Virtue, reproving ●ice, and amendment of Manners,) so as 〈◊〉 the rest but imitate my example, those who shall be Enemies of it hereafter, must declare themselves Enemies of Virtue, as formerly they did of Vice: Whence we may justly hope to see it restored again, with the qualification of an humble coadjutor of the Pulpit, to teach Mora●ity, in order to the others Divinity, and th' ●oulding and tempering men's minds for the better receiving the impressions of Godliness. Devotion,( like gilding to matter) cleaving not, nor sticking to rough and unpolished minds, unless they be first prepared with politeness of manners, and the tincture of good education, for the receiving it; which is best taught on the theatre, by how much those precepts move the mind more forcibly and efficaciously, which besides the allowance of the Ear, have a powerful recommendation of the Eye; And sure that ancient meant somewhat like the Stage, when he said, That could Virtue be seen but by mortal Eyes, it would ravish all with its love and admi●ation, &c.  
Especially we may hope it now, when we are rid of our sullen Masters, of so cynic a devotion, as they would enforce men to serve God spite of Humanity, and shake us into Religion with fear and trembling, not remembering that we are oftener invited to it( in the Holy Scripture) with rejoicing and jubilation, cheerfulness having been always accounted the exterior mark of true piety and devotion. And it is that for my part I labour to introduce, as a thing no doubt more acceptable to Almighty God, Hilarem enim Datorem diligit Deus, than to see us go about his service with a sad countenance, and sullen cheer. Mean time, let who's list take the black melancholy spirit, give me the light cheerful one, which has hitherto been accounted the better one I am sure, and will be still, unless we all turn Ethiopians▪  
And now having reform the Stage, we may justly expect they should reform the Pulpit too, who preach so much against it, whereof late there has been uttered more scandalous and libellous stuff, than ever yet was uttered on the Stage,( especially against those in Authority, I know not from what spirit, but I am sure not from the Spirit of God, who commands us to obey our superiors, without exceptions) a spirit so much the more dangerous, by how much it pretends more Scripture and Religion, than the Stage, for what it does; and you know, Corruptio optimi pessima, that the corruption of the best things is the worst. Neither are we to believe these people the sooner, for their saying that this Spirit is Here or There, Truth and falsehood ever entering by the same ports into the Mind; and 'tis so ordinary now for every one( though contradictory amongst themselves) to affirm they have it, as, if this Trade last, we shall shortly amongst the cries of London, have every Girl and Fellow crying it in the Streets. Mean time, God send us the Spirit of Humility, such as St. Paul had, when he doubted whether he had it or no; a Spirit I shall believe a hundred times sooner, than theirs who so confidently and peremptorily affirm they have it. To conclude with them, if I may not believe a juggler's which I see, they shall excuse me if I will not believe theirs, which I see not, of which there is so little probability, as the Beadle who should whip it out of them might as well pretend unto it, as they themselves.  
And so much for this turbulent and seditious Spirit, whom only we intend by what we have writ. And now from this necessary digression to return to our matter; For the Design or choice of the subject, I thought it necessary there first to apply the Remedy, where the harm was most universal, Love being the general passion of every breast, and there to begin the Reformation of the Stage, where its abuse was most frequent, and most notororious, its greatest disreglement having been in point of Love, and therefore 'twas first to be rectified, and first to be reduced to its right channel, where its overflow and debordment was the most dangerous.  
For the Plot, I have taken a middle way betwixt the French and English, the one making it too plain, and the other too confused and intrigued. I imagining one of these pieces not like a simple Alley, where one walks always in the same tract; nor as a Wilderness, where one is lost through so many diversions: but as a pleasant Garden composed of divers walks, with variety and uniformity so mixed, as one part handsomely introduces you into another, & every one has correspondence amongst themselves, and to the whole.  
For the manner of handling it, I have so mixed your profit with your pleasure, as( observe it) and you shall find a third running throughout the whole Piece, eqnally interwoven, of Passion for your Tender Soul, Mirth for your Lighter, and music and Document for your more grave and serious; as finding by experience, That the main reason why Virtue is no better followed, is, because 'tis no more delightfully persuaded, which also may be the reason, why more sleep at Sermons than at these Representations.  
For the rest, I have observed all the Rules of Art in handling it, the Scene at Amathonte in Cypres, never going out of view, nor out of the Precincts of Love's Temple; Continued to the End of the Act, to make an entire piece of every Act, and some distinction( by clearing of the Stage) betwixt the end of an Act, and the ending of a Scene; The Time only from Morning till Night, to which not to add, nor diminish any thing thereof, I will detain thee no longer Reader with this Preface, but remit thee to the perusal of the Piece itself.   

The Persons Represented, and their Habits.  
PHilostrates, Love's sovereign pontiff, and governor of cypress: in Pontificial Ornaments, a tiara on his head, &c.  
Euphanes, a Noble Cypriot loving Bellinda, and beloved by Philena: like your ancient Heroes in Military array, a Javelin in his hand.  
Philander, a Stranger, and Bellinda's betrothed: habited at all parts like Euphanes, but girt with a scimitar, &c.  
Polydor, one of Love's Ministers, and Confident of Euphanes: in Roba longa of taffeta unto the knee, white Buskins, crowned with myrtle, or Roses, &c.  
Pamph●us. a coxcomb, Stranger to the Customs of Love's Dominions: in Ridiculous fantastic Equipage.  
Mysti and Chorus: like the ancient Egyptian▪ Priests, in long Robes, crowned with Roses or myrtles, Buskins, &c.  
Philena, a Noble Nymph of cypress, hospitably entertaining Bellinda, and loving Euphanes: in long taffeta robes to the mid-leg, with a Tynsel mantle of different colour, fastened on the one shoulder, and hanging down under the other arm, silvered Buskins with falls of white Tynsel on either side; her hair curled, wreathed, or pleated, with a Coronet of Roses or myrtle, white gloves, a collar of Pearl about her neck, &c.  
Bellinda, a Noble Nymph, cast on shore in cypress by strange Accident: habited at all parts like Philena, their colours only different.  
Flamette, a facetious Nymph of cypress, and Confident of Philena: more simply and matronly habited than the rest.  

Masquers.  

Prologue.  
Hope In green Garments.  
Fear In pale Ash-colour.  
Joy In white.  
Fruition In Sky-colour.  
Lover, and his Mistress, All properly habited for the Dance.  
Guards,  
Executioner,  
Grex of Youths and Virgins, &c.     

Love's Dominion.  

The first ACT.  The Scene, a Boscage, with the adjacent Prospect of a delightful Valley, here and there Inhabited, with a magnificent Temple afar off discovered. 

Scene I.  A Chorus of Love's Priests with Asperges and Thuribles lustrating the place. 1 Mysti. 
WE with pure Conspersions thus,  
Sacred rites, and hallowed Thus,  
To render every Lover true,  
Do Element Love's dominions new;  
That no heart too strongly beat,  
We give his Fires temperate heat;  
We give his Waters virtuous force,  
T' assuage 'em taken in their source;  
●ogg of perjured Vows and Oaths,  
Which fair Truth, and candour loathes,  
We purge the Air from, and the Earth  
From every fowl and monstrous birth;  
For, as some Lands their Monsters fear,  
Unruly Lust's our Monster here;  
As others poisonous Beasts molest,  
So Avarice is our poisonous Beast,  
From which, when once a Realm is freed,  
Then Love's d●ominion 'tis indeed.   

SCENE II.  Euphanes in desperate Action of throwing himself on his javelin, withheld by Polydor. Pol. 
YOu won't be mad?  Eup. 
I will be nothing but  
For Love, and for Love I will be any thing.  
Pray unhand me— shall Bellinda, the  
Divine Bellinda, who is to Beauty what  
Beauty is to others, all Grace and Ornament,  
Shall she be banished hence to day? and shall  
Euphanes live to see't?  Pol. 
And shall Euphanes,  
The gallant, and the brave Euphanes die  
Only to prevent death? how low  
And poorly would it show?— and that's the worst  
That can come on't,— but I hope better still;  
Venus, the Goddess of this Isle, has oft  
Done greater miracles than this, to make one young,  
And fair, to love.  Eup. 
" Who has only miracles  
" For Hopes, has Hopes but nigh Despair.  Pol. 
Yet Time's  
A mighty Qualifier of Fortune's harms,  
And he who headlong throws himself into  
Despair, precipitates his life, whilst he  
Circumvents death, who lets himself down into it by  
degrees;— But pray consider, has she not promised  
you, If any in cypress she loves, it shall be you? and  
Is this no hope?  
No comfort?  Eup. 
Just as much  
As 'mong the numerous and unhappy throng  
Of excluded Lovers, to stand next the door,  
First exposed t' affronts, and most concerned  
In the disgrace.  Pol. 
Nay, if you give yourself  
Despair, there's none can give you Hope; at worst  
If Euphanes loves Bellinda, as he says,  
What hinders him following her whersoe'r she goes?  
" Bootlessly and idly does he complain  
" Of Winter, who but following of the Sun  
" Might still enjoy the Spring.  Eup. 
But following an  
Eclipsed Sun, what should he gain by it,  
But only dark and dismal visions to  
His eyes, and to his Heart black  
Melancholy thoughts?  Pol. 
Well Euphanes, as the Experient prove,  
There are strange turns, strange mysteries in Love,  
Who oft( as by experience we find)  
Changes the most obstinate, obdurate mind:  
For know, the Temple of Love is not composed,  
As by th' gross ignorant vulgar 'tis supposed,  
O'th' dull materials, Of dead senseless stones,  
But he has more sensible and living ones,  
The hearts of every one which he does fit,  
And apt at pleasure for composing it,  
Of which some Nature makes so fit to love,  
They with small difficulty Lovers prove:  
Others so stuborn and unapt again,  
They love not, but with mighty toil and pain;  
And those who finally so useless prove  
they're wholly unfit for th' fabric of Love,  
As in Bellinda,( It may be) you'll see to day,  
Offended Love does cast'um quite away—  
But far be th' omen from my words, for though  
It be more yet to be wished than hoped, it is  
Impossible she should not feel Love who  
Does make so many feel it, nor have no fire  
In her herself, who kindles it in so many breasts—  
But see Philena here makes me behold you as  
A thing of pity.  
Go hapless youth, and sacrifice to Love,  
Whose Deity you must have highly offended sure  
Inflicts on you so heavy punishment,  
To love one who neglects you, and neglect  
Her here so dearly loves you:  Eup. 
Stay, you will  
Not go I hope?  Pol. 
Excuse me, i'th' quarrels of Lovers  
'tis dangerous interposing.  E●p. 
I'll warrant you.  
Love shoots not his darts so fast and vehemently  
From either of our encountering eyes  
You need fear being shot.  Pol. 
How ever I'll not trust you,  
For in these pretty skirmishes  
None knows  
When you are friends or foes:  
For now there's falling out,  
Now truce, Now war,  
And then  
Amity and peace again.  
So if you be foes, I'll not hinder your making friends;  
If friends, Love keep you so.   

SCENE III.  PHILENA, EUPHANES. Eup. 
NOw shall i  
〈…〉 to madness with her importunity,  
Lest 〈…〉 her, and with one importunity  
expel another— Philena happily met,  
For in you I meet my wishes.  Phi. 
Most happy I, if my hopes now don't delude  
And flatter me into deceit.  [ aside] Eup. 
Thou know'st my life  
So much depends on th' Fortune of this day,  
As should Bellinda part hence, I of  
Necessity must part with Life and all,  
Whose Love the Fates have with so strong a tie  
Fastened to my very heart strings, they cannot snatch  
Her hence, but they must rend and tear my heart  
Out of my bosom too— Go prithee, go then,  
And in this last moment when the Fates are busiest  
At work in finishing their design, endear  
Thy diligence, and redeem thy Tardiness.  
" Time is a Treasure few or none do care  
" To save till it's's almost lost—  
Thou know'st those softer minutes when Nymphs minds  
Are best disposed for the Impressions of Love:  
Couldst thou but instamp me in her bosom then,  
And glide a thought of me into her memory,  
Just as she passes to the Temple, thou shouldst infinitely  
Oblige Euphanes, and make him ever happy.  Phi. 
And myself ever unhappy by't, ah me!  
Was ever any more miserable than I  [ aside] 
To be made confident of my Rivals Love  
Against myself?  Eup. 
What should I say more? tell her  
How much I love her,— yet that is not enough,  
How much I Reverence & Adore her, dost thou hear?  Phi. 
I do;— & will you hear me now?  Eup. 
If th' hast any thing new to say I will;  
But of old businesses I pray no more.  Phi. 
That can't be old that's every day renewed.  Eup. 
Rather that can't be new, that every day  
Needs renovation,— but of this enough.  
See how thou stand'st now ● as if my life were not  
Concerned in thy haste; Go, prithee go;  
And if perchance th' art aught concerned in't, know  
‛ Less thou dost this to day, thoust seen the last  
Of wretched Euphanes.  Exit. Phi. 
And if I do't to day,  
The world has seen the last of more wretched  
Philena,— Oh me! I now do see  
" Love is a burden two hearts equally  
" Should bear, and then 'tis light and pleasant, but  
" Grievous and intolerable when th' one  
" Does bear it all alone.  
Mean time what shall I do? he well deserves  
To find no pity, who affords me none:  
But love ne'er stands upon such nice respects,  
Who there where unfeignedly it does Love profess▪  
It does never sin, but in officiousness.  
I am resolved to plead for him then against  
Myself; and though my heart do disavow  
All my tongue says, spite of my heart,( in fine)  
It shall say it, or I'll not avow it to be mine.  Exit.  

SCENE IV.  PAMPHILUS peeping after her. Pam. 
HAy,— whurr,— there bolts another wench;  
The Warren's full of them; and I do but think  
What dainty sport I shall have  
In ferreting 'em;  
The very name o't●' place had Attraction  
Enough to draw me hither, where I expect  
To find all Women as coming and tractable, as  
Kids-leather gloves, one gentle pull or two  
Will easily draw 'em on. I do not like  
Your difficil ones, who come as hardly off  
As a wet summer's boot;—  
hay! there's another; and  
Alone too? this opportunity  
Is the shell Love's hatched of, and the wenches here,  
Like lapwings, run away with't on their heads.  
I'll accost her;— she's right I'll warrant ye.   

SCENE V.  FLAMETTE; PAMPHILUS. Pam. 
FAir Nymph, might I be so bold( I pray)  
To request the time o'th'day of you?  Fla. 
With all my heart Sir, take what time you will,  
It shall be any thing o'th' clock you please, for me.  Pam. 
Le ye there now?  
There's never a sexton's wife in all cypress  
Could answer you more courteously— Let's see,  
What's next now? pox on it, we young practitioners  
Of compliment, and dabblers in Love,  
When once w' are out of our legs & fac●s, are presently out  
Of our discourse,— ●, it shall be so—  
And how, and how have you done Faith since I saw you last?  Fla. 
Most methodical! how d'ye, and what's a clock?  
I'll wager with any one now, next is, what News?  
Or somewhat about the Weather; the ordinary  
Discourse of those who can discourse of nothing:  
And when( I pray) was it you saw me last?  Pam. 
Why in Plato's great year, don't you remember it?  
When just after such an encounter as this, I took  
You by the hand, and kissing it, offered  
To lead you just into such another Grove as this.  Fla. 
Just no such matter,— pray, pray Sir stay,  
Sure you do ned remember well?  Pam. 
Most perfectly,  
By the same token I offered to salute you too.  [ she puts him by. Fla. 
I knew you were quite wide,  
And out Sir, I?— not me I can assure you.  Pam. 
You can't deny it I'm sure;  
Think, think, and you must needs remember it,  
I do as perfectly as if it were but to day—  
And how I told you, having so fair an opportunity,  
But lose it, and you'd never have the like again.  Fla. 
Wider and wider still from my remembrance.  Pam. 
And that such kind offers, from such kind youths as I,  
Came not every day;— and I added too withal,  
That I assured myself the Nymphs of this country  
Were so well learned, their Husbands on the marriage night  
Could teach 'em nothing, but what they knew before  Fla. 
Bless me! I never heard  [ aside.] 
Man talk a this manner.  Pam. 
And for your particular,  
I durst be sworn first time y' add Liberty,  
After fourteen to walk abroad alone,  
Returning home, you found that you had left  
Some such odd toys, as your Scarf, your Mask, & gloves,  
And perhaps your maidenhead, behind ye too.  Fla. She spies some coming. 
Thanks Love, thou hast redeemed me—  
Oh! cry mercy Sir.  
Now I remember it  
Perfectly well: Lord what a Treacherous  
Memory have ●!  Pam. 
Oh d'ye so? I knew you would at last—  
Now she's mine own, I'm sure on't.  Fla. 
By the same token, just  
As you talked thus wildly and licentiously  
Philostrates, Love's sovereign pontiff, and  
Governor o'th' Isle past by.  Pam. 
Mass, and I think  
Yonder he comes indeed.  Fla. 
When I  
Addressing me to him, and complaining of  
Your unworthy rudeness, he presently  
Invited you most honourably to dance  
To a certain sprightly Instrument, called a Whip,  
Worth a hundred of your Pochets and Violins  
To make such Gallants as you to frisk and caper.  Pam. 
I remember nothing of all this now—  
But beshrew me I begin to fear, next Plato's great year  
I shall indeed, if I tarry longer here.  Exiturus Fla. 
Hark ye, hark ye Sir,  
Now I can tell you what time o'th' day 'tis too.  Pam. 
I know it now, I thank you, well enough,  
'tis time for me to be gone as I take it.  Exit. Fla. 
Farewell then my  
Platonique Lover, and a fair riddance— But to  
My business. I wonder where all  
The Nymphs are, that none of them appears. I must go seek 'em out.   

SCENE VI.  PHILOSTRATES, POLYDOR, EUPHANES, Love's Mysti, Chorus of old, young, and middle age, &c. Pol. 
ANd what dispatch to the Provincial governors,  
Touching Platonique Love?  Phile. 
Tell 'em we're men, pure spirits, and had no other end  
But only the propagating Ideas, this communicating  
Of minds to minds might pass, which now has  
So slippery a way to go:  
It's outre tendance most commonly falls fowl  
O'th' Body in its passage towards the Soul,  
Yet in those colder climates have Phlegm enough  
To quench their amorous flames, 'tmay be allowed,  
But no ways to those hotter Nations,  
Whose sulphurous Spirits presently take fire  
At presence of their Mistresses; Nor Is't but with  
Much caution to be permitted to different Sexes,  
Unless of age more different: for distinction  
Is the Art of Wisdom, and who imagines  
One measure for all Bodies may suffice,  
And one rule for all minds, are equally unwise.  Pol. 
The sacred Philostrates speaks divinest truth.  Phi. 
So amongst these chimerical speculations,  
Like the alchemists great elixir, rarely  
Or never are reducible to Art,  
And practice, it may pass— An other abuse  
They much complain of( and deservedly)  
Is the confounding Love with Liking, and  
Calling of every trivial passion Love;  
Each Peasant now who likes but a dairy Maid,  
Crying out, He is in Love, profaning so  
The Divinity of Love, by making him companion  
Of every vulgar breast.  Pol. 
As every schoolboy too  
Once past the School, and schoolboys toys, next toy  
He gets, is a Mistress, whom he straightways courts  
I'th' canting language of Enamourists,  
Of darts and flames, and dying and languishing,  
Which he calls Love forsooth, so many degrees  
Removed from't, 'tis scarce the coverture  
Love is enfolded in,( a duteous heart,  
Obsequious services, and sincere respects.)  Phi. 
True Polydor, such affected triflings  
Are as far from Love, as Valour is from Boast,  
Or Wisdom from Levity; But who can hinder  
The ignorant from being ignorant still?  
So let us leave 'em, and pass to our other Affairs:  
Let the Chorus advance singing in praise of Love,  
Whilst the Mysti explicate its sacred mysteries,  
To inform, and indoctrinate the tender minds  
Of Youths and Virgins in its Religious rites;  
For music and Poetry,  
Are the Language, and the Accent of the Gods,  
Speaking unto us in a diviner strain,  
And moving our minds with far more energy;  
Than plain dull rhetoric▪ Religion  
Still entering easilier, and penetrating more  
Profoundly, those hearts th' ave softened before.  Chorus sings. Enter Chorus and Euphanes. 
Praised be the Deities above.  Old. 
We loved.  Mid. 
We Love.  Young. 
And we shall Love.  Chorus. 
Thus by succession we go,  
Love to Love connecting so;  
Whilst link of Age to Age we knit,  
With eternize, and perpetuate it.  Mysti. 
Now our doctrine to begin,  
From Love's diviner origin;  
Know two different Loves there are  
In hearts, incessantly do war,  
Th' on a lustful brutish one,  
T'other Venus Urania's Son,  
With his Celestial darts and fires  
In chaste hearts kindling pure desires,  
Distance 'twixt whom as much there is,  
As 'twixt high Heaven, and deep Abyss;  
As by th' effects you'll easily find,  
Since th'one imbrutes and soils a mind,  
Whilst th' others purity ne'er can  
Admit of blemish, spot, nor stain.  
As unconsistent too as night  
And darkness is with clearest light,  
" For i'th' same place, on the same day,  
" The Swine and ermine never lay.  
In a word then for to tell  
What virtuous Love is, mark me well,  
'tis a just temper of our Souls,  
All vicious extremes controls,  
'tis the gust we have and sense  
Of every noble Excellence,  
It is that whereby we know  
Whether our Souls have sense or know,  
It is the main spring that our minds  
To fair and virtuous things inclines,  
And it's's that and only that in fine,  
Which makes man's next unto Divine▪  Eup. 
I better can tell you what it is—  
'tis a mixture and compound of all  
We happy and unhappy call,  
'tis a contradiction again  
A bitter sweetness and a pleasant pain;  
In one word what Love is to tell,  
Look in Bellinda's Eyes it is a Heaven,  
Look in Euphanes Heart it is a Hell.  Exit Phil. 
So now march on before,  
And as you have initiated so proceed,  
And finish the solemnity of the day.  Exit Chorus singing Cho. 
Praised be the deities above.  Old. 
We loved.  Middle. 
We love.  You. 
And we shall love.  Cho. 
THus by succession we go,  
Love to Love connecting so;  
Whilst link of Age to Age we knit,  
With eternize, and perpetuate it.  Phil. 
Now to the rest  
Of our affairs: Is the Nymph summoned to  
The Temple yet?  Pol. 
'Tis yet not time.  Phil. 
When 'tis,  
Be it your care to see it done, and all  
The rites and ceremonies in prepare  
For the great solemnity:  
This day peculiarly Love is thine  
Work miracles on't, and show thyself divine.  Exeunt 
Finis Actus primi    


ACT. II. SCENE I.  BELLINDA sola. Bell. 
YE aged Oaks, the semigods abodes,  
And who yourselves in ancient times were gods;  
Ye silent walks, and solitary groves,  
Places which melancholy passion loves,  
You I make only Confident of  
My secret thoughts; I love. O dissipate  
My words some gentle wind, in such minute,  
And airy particles, none in soft Characters  
May ever read, nor ever find impressed,  
This most important secret of my breast;  
But whenever my loved Philander live, or no,  
Heaven knows, I do not know  
By other Argument than that I live myself,  
Have so dear sympathy with him, infallibly,  
Were he but dead, I instantly should die,  
Our Loves and Lives having but one third, one knife,  
And once but cut our Loves, and cut our Life:  
Mean time my daily musings; which only are  
But waking dreams, and nightly Dreams, which are  
But sleeping Actions, both testimony bears,  
" Love's a solicitous thing, and full of Fears,—  
But soft, drop reg've blabed too much I fear,  
See Philena coming here.   

SCENE II.  PHILENA, BELLINDA. Phi. 
MY dear Bellinda! and where have you been so long  
Without Philena! to call me your life, and live  
so long without me! to call me your heart, and make  
●e such a stranger to your breast! trust me 'tis most  
unkindly, most unnaturally done.  Bel. 
sweetest Philena, until my heart was all  
●epleat with bitterness, I called you my heart indeed;  
and till I was a weary of my li●e,  
●esteem'd you as my life; but now all the joy,  
delight, and Comfort lost, Bellinda has  
my heart and life, being all comfited  
〈◊〉 bitterness and woe,  
〈◊〉 is not fit I longer call you so.  Phi. 
● sad compliment, this Bellinda, and such  
●little should have attended from so dear a friend:  
Compliments in friendship being like Sinister ba●s  
〈◊〉 Haraldry, but marks of Bastardice;  
Why serve friends, but when cares and woes molest,  
to lighten th' heavy burden of our breast?  
But to be confident w'ye, I much suspect  
You are not so with me, and that there's somewhat  
Of Artifice in't, you decline my company  
So much, and make me not partaker of  
Your secret thoughts.  Bel. 
Of all I know, I will,  
And do Philena; but the gods know there's  
Somewhat in my breast I do not know myself;  
You who are my heart, divine it if you can.  Phi. 
Nay if you know it not, how should your heart  
That's but a part of you? But give me leave  
Bellinda to admire, that in so general a  
Commotion and solicitude for you,  
You should appear so little solicitous,  
So little moved, and so unconcerned to day, whilst all  
Are concerned so much for you; Trust me 'tis  
A Temper, or above, or below humanity.  Bel. 
I'll tell thee Philena, I have considered,  
That of all Creatures, Man's the most ingenious  
In's own own affliction, and in's consolation the  
Most dull; and that i'th' navigation of  
This life, in this frail barque of ours, where th' Gods  
Are Pilots, and the World the Sea, our solicitude  
For the future no more avails  
Than that of every common Passenger, how  
The ship is governed: Whence I conclude that best  
Way for our quiets and rest,  
Is to leave all our solicitude to the Gods,  
To whom we're dearer than we're unto ourselves,  
They having a hundred times more tender care of us;  
And this 'tis now makes me for the future no more  
solicitous,  Phi 
This Bellinda for our sex  
Is high Philosophy, but the gods making  
Every one Architect of their own fortunes; what  
Should hinder you to day, to make a fair  
And noble one of yours? and but declare  
You love Euphanes, as already you have declared,  
If any one in th' Isle you love it shall be he.  Bell. 
And so I do again, let that suffice,  
And seek not Philena, I prithee, to advance  
An unprofitable knowledge, Time will, but too soon,  
Accelarat, and bring to light.  Phi. 
Ay me! what says my friend?  Bell. 
To explicate  
My meaning clearer, too soon, for you I mean,  
Are interest by your Goodness and Gentleness  
So far in my Affairs, you necessarily must  
Or lose a friend, or Lover by't.   

SCENE III.  POLYDOR, PHILENA, BELLINDA. Phi. 
NOw gentle Polydor,  
What news from th' Temple?  Pol. 
All there is in prepare  
For th' great solemnity, and only fair  
Bellindas' presence expected; Into whose breast  
May th' God of Love propitiously inspire  
As many loving thoughts, as ever yet  
Were crowded into any's breast,  
Or amorous bosom had capacity to receive.  Bel. 
Come Philena, let's away then.  Phi. 
So sudden, and so unmoved!  [ aside.] 
I suspect her more and more; to doubtful things  
We run not with such haste and Resolution;  
And if she be resolved, there's somewhat in't,  
That she conceals it from me!  Pol. 
'Tis happy Augury,  
( No doubt) this haste of hers: Love has invisible  
Attractions, and chains, which who follows, visibly  
Perceives at last, this gentle force of his  
Does but conduct them to their greater bliss.   

SCENE IV.  PAMPHILUS looking after the Nymphs, POLYDOR. Pam. 
SUch a Wench  
Would I give a Limb for now, although I begged  
On Crutches ever after, and were confiscated to  
The Hospital,— I must needs have her; and this  
Same fellow shall be my agent in the business,  
D'ye here Sir? do you know  
Any of these Nymphs, I pray?  Pol. 
That I do Sir, very well,  
What then?  Pam. 
Why then I should desire  
Your better acquaintance: For look ye Sir, suppose  
A man should have a mind to one of them.  Pol. 
A mind! What mind d' ye mean?  Pam. 
Why a month's mind or so.  Pol. 
Why then Sir after a month, for aught I know  
You may be rid on't— This is  ( Aside 
Some foolish stranger, rather deserving my  
Pity than Anger.  Pam. 
I hope you do not mock me Sir?  Pol. 
Indeed Sir but I do.  Pam. 
●tis well you confess it, otherwise  
● should be very angry— But since I see  
You're a little dull; in plainer terms, I'd fain  
Have a bout with one of them; d'ye apprehend me Sir?  Pol. 
I think I shall do— But know you Sir where you are,  
That you dare talk thus?  Pom. 
Why, in Love's Dominious,  
Where should I be?  Pol. 
In Lust● rather, for Loves is not for you, if you  
Be such an one, and so as Loves Minister,  
Less you better know to temper your tongue, and mend  
Your behaviour, I command you sir  
Straight to depart the Isle.  Pam. 
I hope you are not in earnest?  Pol. 
Indeed sir but I am.  Pam. 
'tis well you are so, for I  
Don't love to be jested with I tell you plain.  Pol. 
It seems you love to jest Sir, but  
Look to't, and so farewell.  Exi Pam. 
'Slud, this is the unreasonablest Fellow  
I ever met withal in my life, a man  
Can't talk of a Wench but he is angry!  
Temper your Tongue, and mend your behaviour,  
When can you tell? Loves Minister d' ye call him,  
If he teach no better doctrine, he scarce deserves  
To be Minister to the Family of Love.   

SCENE V.  FLAMETTE with others, PAMPHILUS, &c. Fla. 
What? my Enamourist again!  
Sure then, being so well accompanied  
I'll have some sport with him.  Pam. 
God's so, she here!  
I'll away then.  Exituru Fla. 
D'y hear d'ye hear Sir? pray come forwards here,  
And don't turn Sea-crab,— d'ye behold that Gentleman?  
He is one of the terriblest persecutors of young nymphs▪  
H'as no mercy with him; And's so in love with himself,  
He imagines all women are in love with him too;  
Nay, will swear it, if they but look upon him once,—  
There is nothing so cold, as to hear him talk of flames;  
And 'twere enough to make a body forswear love, but  
To see how he makes it;— nay, be ned ashamed  
Of your own Commendations.  Pam. 
Commendations d'ye call it? what are your reproaches pray?  
●f these be your Commendations?  [ aside.] Fla. 
Then if he pretend  
To Poetry( that's rhyming with him) he wearies Phoebus  
And all the Muses, to find him out similitudes  
Of R●bies, Pearl, Gold, and Diamonds,  
To compare with his Mistress' lips, teeth, eyes, & hair:  
If not, he is yet a more solemn fool in Prose,  
With's speech embroidered, just like your masking clothes,  
With Oos and Aspirations, and never a word  
Of sense in them,— see now how he fleers and grins,  
The common put-off of the Fool and Impudent.  Pam. 
To have an Anatomy Lecture  
Read over me alive thus, there's no enduring it.  Fla. 
Nay, I'll promise ye  
You shall endure it, and twenty times more to boot,  
If I meet with you again.  Pam. 
Y'ave met with me  
Already, I thank you, but if I meet with you  
Alone, I'll make y' endure somewhat too for this.  Fla. 
Threatened too? nay then have at you with  
Another trick; well Sir, having sufficiently tried  
Your patience, and finding it invincible,  
I'll let you see now all the Nymphs here are not  
So cruel as you imagine them,— meet me but hereabouts  
When Bellinda's gone to the temple, & I'll promise you  
I'll bring you to the gentlest Nymph in cypress,  
So far from coy, you may do what you will with her,  
She can deny you nothing nor say nay to any thing.  Pam. 
I marry Sir, & such an one would I meet withal,  
I knew I could not be so grossly deceived  
In the dispositions of the Nymphs minds here,  
And Constitutions of their Bodies.  Fla. 
Look you fail not now.  Pam. 
Nay, if I fail at such Assignations,  
Call me Eunuch.  Fla. [ music.] 
And if I don't fit you, call me fool— but hark,  
The pomp draws nigh, and the procession  
From the Temple, dilating of itself,  
And swelling with numerous multitudes, fills up all  
The spacious and ample Plain.   

SCENE VI.  PHILOSTRATES, POLYDOR, FLAMETTE, PAMPHILUS, CHORUS, BELLINDA, PHILENA, &c. Cho. sings 
HOly Love that dost command  
In Fire, Water, Air, and Land,  
Gently thy commands inspire  
To all in Land, Air, Water, Fire,  Philos. [ Enter Polydor] 
Now is the Nymph come?  Pol. 
Behold great Sir she's here—  
Know you the reason Philena why Euphanes  
Is not present?  [ aside] Phile. 
He misdoubts his temper,  
And therefore wisely does absent himself.  Pol. 
I feared some other cause, & am glad he's so discreet—  
Stand by there.  to Pamphilus in his way Pam. 
What are you there whiffling again?  
Goodly, Goodly, here's more ado  
With your under Officers  Philos. 
Draw nigh then Nymph, and t'understand  
What Sacred mysteries in every Ceremony  
Involved lie, Know first  
By this sprinkling's signified  he sprinkles her with his asperge 
How minds are to be purified  
Er' they receive the Deity,  
Who deigns in purified breasts alone  
To make on earth its habitation:  
Next for your eyes and Ears by which two ports  
There often issues forth, and enters in  
Much pollution and sin  
( And by one sluice bootlessly we should drain  
Out Objects, if by another we let them in again)  
Veiling your eyes we're to conduct you to  
The sacred Cell, where far from noise  
Of Tumult and the public voice,  
Only attending to holy orisons  
An hour enclosed you're to remain:  
No bosom( ●in fine) but wholly abstracted and  
Sequestered from human consortship,  
Being capable of Divine—  
So before( for compliment of all)  
We charm you silent, If you have aught to say  
Now freely spoke  Bel. 
Unto the Gods  
I need not speak seeing they know my mind,  
And to men I will not, seeing it is not fit  
They know it yet— what should I say then, but  
Behold th' entirely resigned Bellinda here stands  
Ready to obey your holy orders and  
The God's Divine commands.  Phil. 
Reach us the sacred wand then, whilst we thus  
Invoke with due solemnity silence to come,  
And in its softer chains bind up her Tongue.  
Still born silence thou that art  he waves his wand above her head. 
Floodgate of the deeper heart  
Offspring of a heavenly kind,  
F●ost o'th' mouth, and Thaw o'th' mind,  
〈◊〉 Confident, and he  
That makes Religion mystery;  
Admirations speakingst tongue,  
Leave thy desert shades, among  
Reverend Hermits hallowed cells,  
Where retir'dst devotion dwells,  
With thy Enthusiasms come  
Seize this Nymph, and strike her dumb,—  
Now give us the sacred veil  he veils her. 
To veil her eyes,— thus Nymph  
We close your eyes towards Earth, and open 'em  
Towards Heaven—  
Now whilst the air you sweetly move,  
Gently excite her mind to Love,  
" For music to Religion,  
" 's just like those who temper and mould the wax  
" For th' seals impression  The Song voce sola. 
Whilst with her lily and rosy hands  
Nature moulds beauteous forms, Love stands,  
And ever as he does ●spy  
A fair and gentle one,  
This, this, is fit for me  
To work upon, says he,  
And lays it by.  Chorus. 
What fools are those then who can miss,  
So grossly to suppose  
Bellinda, and mark how gentle she is  
And fair: were none of those  
Whom Love's own hands had chose?  Philost. 
Now let the pompous train move on, and let  
The music in sweet harmonious strains,  
O'er all these spacious plains,  
Resounding higher yet,  
Invocate Loves sacred Deity  
T' impose blessed end to this solemnity.  Chorus sings. 
HOly Love, that dost command  
In Fire, Water, Air, and Land,  
Gently thy commands inspire,  
To all in Land, Air, Water, Fire.  Exeunt omnes▪ Manet Pamphilus, Flamette. Pam. 
Here's a do indeed!  
I could have dispatched her my way  
In half this time, and with half these Ceremonies too;  
But let her go, and●now if this Wench  
Perform but her promise, she'll redeem  
Herself and this Isle from my ill opinion;—  
And see just where she comes.  Flamette Enters. Fla. 
Oh! 'tis well you're here.  
The Nymph I told you of—  Pam. 
Ay, where is she? where is she? I long  
To see her.  Fla. 
You shall find  
Sleeping in the wood there▪  Pam. 
Excellent opportunity!  
And is she so kind say you?  Fla. 
So kind( as I told you) and so far from coy,  
You may do what you will with her— she can  
Deny you nothing, nor say no to any thing.  Pam. 
And I'll put her too't presently  Fla. 
Behold her there,  
But look you don't disturb her.  Pam. a Nymph sleeping discovered. 
Ah pretty Rogue?  
Have I caught you napping?  at these breaches he looks nearly on her. 
She sleeps as snugg & soundly as  
A sucking pig— you can scarce hear her breath,—  
she's handsome, exceeding handsome, I see that,  
A very Goddess;— the gods make me thankful,  
hay, hay,— how jocund shall I be?  [ Capers▪] Fla. 
Softly, softly.  Pam. 
Oh! I'd forgot,— soft  he spruces up himself. 
● think she stirs, ●●what a sloven was I  
Not to put on a clean band to day?  
No 'twas only the leaves,— I'll jog her softly,—  
But first I'll steal a kiss of her whilst she sleeps,—  
Ha! how's this?  he discovers it to be a Puppet only. Fla. 
Ha, ha, ha.  Pam. 
By this hand  
A Maukin, a Mammet, a very Moppet with  
No more life in't than a scarecrow, or  
The Puppet of a Tire woman's stall▪  Fla. 
Ha ha ha,  
Make much of your Mistress Sir.  [ Exit] Pam. 
D' you laugh too? shame on her how she has cozened me;  
Is this your Gentle Nymph with a vengeance▪  
So far from coy you may do what you will with her,  
She can deny you nothing, nor say no to any thing:  
So methinks indeed— hay  discovers the wood. 
This is the Log now  
And t'other the stork, 'tis' question which would make  
The better Mistress— only this I may mock  
While t'other mocks me— farewell to your Ladyship.  throws it away and Exit. 
Finis Actus secundi    


ACT III. SCENE I.  The Scene, Loves Temple, many passing toward it▪ afterwards PHILANDER Solus. Phi. 
HAil happy land, where if th' Oracle prove  
But true, Philander again shall find his Love,  
Whom six Moons now have just been in their wain,  
And six with light replenished again,  
Since in a storm I lost, whilst I detained,  
A woeful Captive have e'er since remained;  
Until at last released, I suddenly  
Addressed me to th' sacred Oracle, to know  
Whether my dear Bellinda lived, or no,  
And consequently to know, whenever I  
Should either live or die;  
When this answer I received,  
That as on Cyprian Seas I lost her, where  
Venus, Loves Queen, floating did first appear,  
So I should find her on Cyprian Land again,  
Where Venus fixed perpetually does remain.   

SCENE II.  EUPHANES, PHILANDER. Eup. 
IMpatient of expectance, I'm come  
Hither to the Temple, to await my doom,  
Fear of which made me absent myself before,  
Until in lieu of one fear, a thousand more  
Soliciting my breast, I did conclude,  
Still more in absence, than presence, solicitude  
Does urge our bosoms, as Terrors do more affright  
I'th' dark, than in the light.  Philan. 
Strange! th' houses should be all so desolate,  
As some Plague had swept 'em, and th' land depopulat,  
As th' Enemy had mowed it with his sword!  
But see one here to inform my wonder,  
And curiosity. Gentle Sir,  
Might a stranger newly arrived here, desire to know,  
Why all do flock unto the Temple so?  
Is't any annual feast( perhaps) they celebrat?  Eup. 
No Sir, but one  
Mere Accident has produced to day,  
For understanding which, be pleased to know,  
That by this Island's Laws all Strangers, after  
A six-months residence, are solemnly  
To swear they love some one here, or else  
Abjure the Isle:—  
Now Sir, six months to day are just expired,  
Since there arrived here one o'th' most admired  
Nymphs, as ever in cypress yet was known,  
And most deserving Admiration,  
By tempest cast on shore here, surprising so th' while  
With her excellent beauty th' Inhabitants of this Isle,  
With pious error they all adored her  
As a second Venus, a second time  
Ascending from the Sea. Nor was this Idolatry  
By Venus punished as any crime at all,  
Since Cupid's self did on th' like error fall,  
Imagining her his Mother, she was so fair,  
And so at all parts most resembling her.  Philan. 
The Time and every Circumstance agree  [ aside.] 
It should be she,— and her Name I pray Sir?  Eup. 
Bellinda—  Phila. 
Her name too, then  
No farther evidence nor circumstance does need,  
For to confirm me it is she indeed—  [ aside] 
And where's this Nymph Sir now?  Eup. 
●'th sacred Cell  
Straight to be produced to take the solelmn Oath.  Phi. 
And is't supposed she'll take it?  Eup. 
That's doubtful yet, but this I know,  
That less she do, you behold in me here Sir  
The woefullest Lover as ever yet for love  
Sighing and groaning gasped out his latest breath,  
The dregs of life, and Harbingers of death.  Phi. 
Ha! I like not this—  
And has she given you no hope Sir of her love?  
For love without hope's but a dry morsel, and goes  
But hardly down.  Eup. 
Only this Sir, that if any one she loves  
She as promised it should be me.  Phi. 
Nay then you have enough, for Nature gives not  
Youth and beauty, but o'th' condition  
Of loving, and their sex gives pledges unto love  
Reciprocally again— But why go I vainly thus  
Hunting with mine own curiosity,  
Mine own disquiet— drop reg've ta'en in poison already at  
Mine Ear,  
And feel it working— defend me Reason from  
Thine Enemy Rage, and thou defend me Love  
From thy more deadly Enemy jealousy,  
Thou bringest forth just as the Viper does its brood,  
When all its endeavour after all its strife,  
Is to give death to thee who gav'st it life—  
But see in happy time variety  
Of other objects to divert my mind  
From farther thought of it.   

SCENE III.  Chorus, PAMPHILUS, &c. to them Mysti. 
NOw you Virgins all draw near,  
And most needful doctrine hear;  
First be modest as you go,  
For each loser glance you strew  
Will be interpreted a snare  
To catch those youths that present are,  
And your rolling eyes betray  
A heart that rowls as well as they.  Cho. sings. 
O Fly then far,  
Glances that are  
But sparkles of a wanton fire,  
And pledges of a loose desire,  
Fly rolling eyes that but betray  
A heart that rowls as well as they.  Pam. 
Here's Doctrine' with a ●urren, able to infect all  
The young Wenches in the Parish.  [ aside] Mysti 
Then for kisses, Oh be sure  
Never Virgins those endure,  
Are but bellows blows the fire  
Of Lascivious desire,  
But seals of Lust, and poison, that  
Infect the Mind and Body strait;  
And your lips with kissing used,  
Are but just like Cherries bruised.  Chorus sings. 
O Fly then far  
Kisses, that are  
Incentives of foul Lust, which no  
Virgins lips should ever know;  
Whose lips once with kissing used,  
Are but just like Cherries bruised.  Pam. 
Heyday! no kissing neither?  
God help the poor Country wenches then,  
For all their sport is marred.  Mysti. 
But 'bove all Virgins again,  
Look you fly the Touch of men,  
For you're flowers, and every Touch,  
Does your fresher beauty smutch:  
And Youth's a thing so delicate,  
But touch it, and it withers strait,  
Which once fading in their hew,  
Youth and Beauty then Adieu.  Chorus sings. 
O Fly then far  
Touches, that are  
Things, Youth and Beauty chiefly blasts,  
And on them foulest blemish casts,  
Which once fading in their hew,  
Youth and Beauty then Adieu.  Pam. 
Pity a their breeding! these wenches will be quite spoyl'●  
With this Education, and good for nothing, but  
To make inkle and bonelace.  Mysti. 
Lastly, for enjoying, I  
Need not warn you that to fly,  
For flowers gathered there's no talk,  
E'er to piece 'em to their stalk;  
And 'tis only that the while,  
Makes you so contemned, and vile,  
Men, what e'er they did before,  
Never care for Women more.  Chorus sings. 
O Fly then far  
Your men that are  
Only born for to destroy you,  
Since if once they but enjoy you,  
Whatsoever they did before,  
They never care for Women more.  Pam. 
Were not Love's Inquisition here so severe,  
I could teach 'em other doctrine, whose Liberty  
Would please 'em a great deal better; but well,  
Would I had my Moppet again,  
At all adventures, for that's the likeliest thing  
To a Wench I'm like to get here, for aught I see,  
If they be taught a-this manner.  Eup. 
By Philostrates return  
They should be coming; oh how my heart does burn,  
And throb now, with doubtful expectation  
Of the event!   

SCENE IV.  PHILOSTRATES, POLYDOR, BELLINDA, PHILENA, to them, &c. Philos. 
SO now produce her.  Pol. 
Behold great Sir she's here.  Bellinda veiled lead by Philena, & presented by Polydor Phila. 
If there be any Sympathy  
In Lovers hearts, 'tis she.  Philos. 
Draw nigh then Nymph, and laying your hands  
Upon this sacred Volume here,  
Where on the skins of Doves and Swans  
Love's' holy Laws recorded are,  
Swear; But swear truly, on penalty of no less  
Than forfeiture of life if you transgress:  
Unveil her there.  They unveil her and she suddenly casts her eyes aside towards the place where Euphanes and Philander stand. Phila. 
Ha, 'tis she! ye God's 'tis she,  
But Oh my jealousy, tell me some one  
Skilful in deciphering Love's Character,  
Whether that glance the superscription of  
An amorous heart was directed to him or me.  Eup. 
What ails this stranger!  Pol. 
What means these sudden starts of hers,  
And change of colour.  Philo. 
Veil her presently again, since she so ill  
Governs her eyes, they're straying still—  They veil her again. 
Fie Nymph be more Religious-wise  
And restrain those wand'ring eyes,  
Who in objects takes delight,  
Brings distraction with the sight,  
In their breasts do never find  
A holy recollected mind—  
Now approach her nearer.  Eup. 
Now I shall know my destiny,  
And whether I'm to live or die.  Phila. 
Now Philander thou shalt know  
Whether she be true or no.  Phile. 
Now Philena thou shalt soon  
Prove her faith, and know thy doom,  Philos. ( waves his wand▪ 
Proceed and swear then, thus I uncharm thy Tongue.  Bel. 
Then by Love's sacred Deity I swear,  
I love one here.  Philos. With the waving of his wand he charms her silent again. 
Enough.  Eup. 
O blessed voice which heavenly minds applaud  
With their celestial wings;  
Oh me most happy!  Philan. 
And most unhappy I.  Pol. 
Did I not tell you it was impossible  
But she should Love. O day ever to be  
Recorded in the Calendar of Love,  
For holy and festival; Which never may  
Oblivion, that like a torrent rolls  
All things along with't to the L●thean Lake,  
Abolish the happy memory of.  Phile. 
Oh the Dissembler, how she' as deceived me!  Philost. 
Conduct her again now to the sacred cell,  
Where yet an hour she's to remain,  
E'er we dissolve our magic spell;  
And then with indicible joy we are again to produce her,  
And solemnly deliver her for ever to repose  
●n's dear embraces she has for Lover chose.  Chorus sings. [ as she goes out.] 
Praised be Love, that does command  
In Fire, Water, Air, and Land,  
And so gently does inspire  
All in Land, Air, Water, Fire.  Manent Philena, Pamphilus, Flamette. Pam. 
● should laugh now, if I were he she loved,  
●s who knows but she may be enamoured  
Of my person, as I of hers, there's nothing impossible.  Phile. 
●ell, for her sake I'll ne'er trust Stranger more.  Pam. 
●air Nymph, I should desire  
The honour of conducting you to your lodging, If  
It might not be troublesome.  Fla. 
Troublesome? who doubts it? why  
thou'rt nothing else but trouble.  Phile. 
Fie Flamette, this is discourteous,  
And to a stranger too!  Pam. 
She tells you true,— pray be gone,  
And don't trouble us,- you see there are some will accept  
Of my courtesy now, though you won't  he leads Philena out Fla. 
Neither would she, did she know thee as well as I,  
But let her go, when thoust abused her courtesy,  
As thou dost others, to molestation, she'll know thee better.  
But this sudden turn of Bellinda's affection  
Is wondrous strange!   

SCENE V.  EUPHANES, PHILANDER, POLYDOR, severally. Phila. 
BEllinda false! O ye Gods where then  
Are Faith and vows and Oaths; nay where are you  
Yourselves; for I shall doubt whenever Love  
Have any Divinity now at all, and think  
All's but Idolatry, and women that you're Angels  
Till we make you Devils by our adoring ye.  Eup. 
There's no joy like your unexpected one  
●t comes so striking— not falling upon  
The expectation first, that deads' and dulls  
The blow. This intermixing difficulty  
With Love, and leading you unto the very brink  
Of despair▪ and then hoisting you up again,  
There is the Art on't, and that she  
Grand Artifex of it as she is  
●ull well did understand.  Philan. 
The more I think on't, the more  
●t puzzles my belief and imagination, I will  
●uspend my faith and patience then until  
●er farther Declaration may confirm me,  
and give my passions their full carrier.  Eup. 
Heavens! I am so overjoyed,  
so ravished with't, and in so high transport,  
Me thinks like meteors I even walk in Air,  
And have nought of Earth about me, nor other fear  
But only presently to expire and die  
in Bellinda's sweet embraces.  Phila. 
Nay then  
Were my patience bound in Adamantine chains  
●'d break 'em all— know Sir you have  
Another Victory to obtain before  
You triumph thus— and perhaps too the Fates  
Have provided you another death to die  
Than what you fear so much.  Eup. [ Enter Polydor] 
What's that I pray?  Phila. 
Why, to die by Philander's hand, for know Sir Bellinda  
●'s my espoussed.  Eup. 
Yours?  Phila. 
Yes mine, for all your scorn Sir,  
And be assured, long as I live, that man  
Is not alive shall enjoy her besides myself.  Pol. 
How's this? but this  
Must be prevented  [ Exi hastily Phil. 
Wherefore or quit and relinquish your claim of her,  
Or follow me strait to the shore, where she first  
Set foot a land, that so that ground she then did tread  
May receive one of us dead,  
Who can't be enjoyed by both of us alive.  Eup. 
Although bold stranger I might well decline  
Thy challenge, not knowing whenever thy quality  
Be equal unto mine, and assured  
Our conditions are not( by thine own confession)  
I being as happy in Bellinda's love  
As thou unhappy, which makes thee desperate of  
Thy life perhaps: yet know I'll be so noble  
For Bellinda's sake to kill thee this once myself,  
Who else might leave  
Thee to a hundred more ignoble deaths:  
Nor is this Arrogance in me, but Confidence  
That those who have honour of Bellinda's love  
Can't but come off victorious in fight.  Philan. 
●lated by good Fortune, you talk high Sir,  
Pray Heaven you do so,— but Love  
Shall straight determine who has the better cause,  
Th' injust possessor of Bellinda, or  
Th' injuriously deprived of her, If thou dar'st but fight  
in so unjust a Quarrel.  Eup. 
Ha, ha, ha, if I dare? for that never fear,  
●'ll but instantly arm myself, and meet thee there.   

SCENE VI.  POLIDOR with Guards, EUPHANES, PHILANDER. Pol. 
STay,—  
By order from Philostrates I'm to  
Secure your persons.  Phil. 
Mine?  [ offers to draw.] Pol. 
Hold,—  
In Love's Dominion, where no force is offered,  
in vain is all resistance.—  
Now though bold stranger the disturbance of  
The peace here, and sowing of  
Enmity and dissension in a happy soil  
Produces nought but Gentle Peace and Amity,  
Deserves a more exemplar Chastisement, yet here  
Where favors are to th'utmost extended, & punishment  
The most contracted,  
Confinement to your Chamber shall  
Be all your punishment.  Phil. 
And is't a-this manner than  
Lovers in Love's Dominion are treated, not only  
To be deprived of their Liberties, but of  
Their Spouses too?  Pol. 
What Spouse?  Philan. 
Bellinda.  Pol. 
And is she than your Spouse?  Phil. 
All Greece can witness it.  Pol. 
Too much of witness already you have here,  
If this be true. But this must be examined  
More narrowly by Philostrates; mean time  
Indiscreetly have you done▪ in publishing a secret  
Might better have been concealed, which now 'tis known  
May prove Bellinda's ruin, and your own,—  
You Euphanes  
Have your Chamber for prison— you must along with me  Eup. 
I obey you Sir.  Phila. 
And I necessity.  Exeunt several way Guarded. 
Finis Actus Tertii.    

ACT IV.  The Scene as at first. 

SCENE I.  PAMPHILUS, PHILENA. Phi. 
SO now Sir my humble thanks  
For the honour you'rea pleased to do me.  Pam. 
Nay Lady, I'll  
Wait upon you in, that's certain, I'm not  
So coarsely bred, nor so ill mannered.  Phi. 
I should be at least Sir, to trouble you farther— and  
Engage your courtesy so much▪  Pam. 
No trouble in the world,  
●tis pleasure to me rather.  Phi. 
Pray Sir excuse me, I am presently  
To go forth again on visit.  Pam. 
Why I'll accompany you,  
And wait upon you thither too.  Phi. 
By no means Sir, 'tis to a friend of mine  
You're not acquainted with, besides I have  
Some business—  Pam. 
Nay an't be to a friend of yours  
I must needs  
Be acquainted with them, being so much your servant as I am,  
And for your business, my presence  
Shall no ways hinder its dispatch.  Phi. 
Now I think on't too, I must visit by the way  
A friend of mine there lately brought a-bed,—  
Won't that shake him off?  [ aside.] Pam. 
I'll wait upon you thither too. I  
Am the welcomest man amongst the Gossips,  
You won't think how they love my Company.  Phi. 
'tis a sign I'm none then,— no getting rid of him!  
Oh see in happy Time Flamette here.   

SCENE II.  FLAMETTE, PAMPHILUS, PHILENA. Phil. 
Prithee Flamette, and thou lov'st me, get me rid  
Of this Importune here; is more tedious  
Than a painful-sleepless night, and worse than  
A fever or Catharr, I am even sick of him.  Fla. 
Oh! have you found him then?  
This comes of your complacency, I told ye so,  
All courtesy is cast away on him, and discourtesy  
Is no discourtesy to such as he,  
Who either brag of favours they ne'er received,  
Or else abuse those they receive of us.  Pam. 
Ay, I shall be sure  
Of your good word still, but no matter what  
You say, she knows me well enough, and I  
Know what I owe too, to such Nymphs as she.  Fla. 
Nothing but a blanquetting as I know of.  Pam. 
Come Lady shall we go?  offers to take her by the hand. Phi. 
What shall I do to rid me of this Importune?  Fla. 
Why and take my counsel, a flat denyal's best,  
And if that won't do, a good Cudgel; I know  
No other way.  Pam. 
Come, come, let her talk  
Till her tongue's weary, and let us go.  Phi. 
Still does this Burr  
Stick on me?  Fla. 
Burr? he is Pitch rather, defiles all those  
He touches; 'tis imputation enough of courtesan  
For any Nymph but to be seen in's Company:  
But hear you not the News?  Pam. 
H●h! she must come  
Tattling with her News now!  Phi. 
No, what is't?  Fla. 
The lamentablest and dolefullest.  
As ever yet was heard in cypress,  
Will leave, I fear, no heart without a sorrow▪  
No eye without a tear.  Phi. 
For heavens Love what?  Fla. 
Why Bellinda,  
The lovely Bellinda, and so beloved of all,  
Who merited to live beyond the natural bounds  
Of life, this day untimely is to die.  Phi. 
Ay me! how so?  Fla. 
Condemned to death  
By our lands Laws, for falsifying her faith  
To Gods and men, in swearing she loved one here,  
Whilst 'tis proved she was betrothed before  
Unto another.  Phi. 
And how's that known?  Fla. 
By a Stranger's arrival here  
Just on the point she took the sacred Oath,  
And proving her forsworn.  Phi. 
Strange! but on a strangers bare information  
This may not be believed, there may be malice,  
And consequently falsehood in it,— and may't not be  
That other to whom she was betrothed, she swears she( loves?  Fla. 
The Oath you know admits no such equivocation,  
Being expressly limited to some one in the Isle.  Phi. 
and so may he be for aught we know,  Fla. 
●hat probability of that?  
and you at her lodging ne'er know of it!—  
no no, her guilt's but too apparent.  Pam. 
●gh, ugh, ugh.  [ He cries] Fla. 
●hat ails the Fool?  Pam. 
●h drop reg've lost the best Wife, the best Wife  
●s ever poor Husband had— what shall I do?  
What shall I do?  Fla: 
Why prithee go hang thyself,  
So we were rid of thee.  Pam. 
Oh, oh, such a Wife! such a wife!  [ exit crying] Phi. 
● see now  
The man is vain and foolish,— but this is wondrous strange;  
The patient gods latter or sooner still  
Follow( 'tis true) all crimes with punishment,  
But just i'th' Act to meet her punishment  
Declares them mightily offended— I can't believe it yet,  
Where there is gain in sin, there is excuse  
For sinning, but he sins twice who commits  
An unprofitable crime, as must be this of hers,  
To lose her life for nothing, for an Oath,  
A breath.  Fla. 
Unhappy breath the Whilst,  
And most unhappy she▪  
That what is cause of others living should be  
Her cause of death— but see where Polydor comes,  
We shall know all of him.   

SCENE III.  POLYDOR to them, speaking to some within: Pol. 
FOr the Prisoners now you may restore 'em to their liberties;  
With prohibition only of wearing arms,  
Death being their rival▪ there's no fear now  
Of their farther Rivalship.  Phi. 
O Polydor  
Is this news true?  Pol. 
Too true alas, unfortunate she the while,  
Unfortunate we, unfortunate all the Isle.  Phi. 
Never gave Fate then a greater document,  
If the fair Bellinda be to die,  
No beauty's proof 'gainst death and calamity—  
But this comes of dissembling, and now I see  
That falsehood and Dissembling are but twins,  
And where t'one ends, the● other but begins.   

SCENE IV.  Chorus, MYSTI, POLYDOR. Pol. 
OWelcom, welcome, and in this general dismay,  
Tell us, since Love so gentle was of old,  
As w'ar by ancient Sages told,  
Whence is it, that to day  
He so tyrannical and cruel proves?  Mysti. 
That's fortune's fault, & none of Love's,— for know,  
Love and Death o'th' way once meeting,  
Having passed a friendly greeting,  
Sleep their weary eyelids closing,  
Lay them down themselves reposing;  
When this Fortune did befall 'em,  
Which after did so much appall 'em:  
Love whom divers cares molested,  
Could not sleep, but whilst Death rested,  
All in haste away he posts him,  
But his haste full dearly costs him;  
For it chanced that going to sleeping,  
Both had given their darts in keeping  
Unto Night, who, Errors mother,  
Blindly knowing not th' one from th' other,  
Gave Love Death's, and ne'er perceived it,  
Whilst as blindly Love received it;  
Since which time, their darts confounding,  
Love now kills, instead of wounding,  
Death our hearts with sweetness filling,  
Gently wounds, instead of killing.  Pol. 
Next, pray tell us with what fire  
Our breasts are charged, that our desire  
And hearts so vehemently should move  
Towards the Object of our Love?  Mysti. 
That speculation is more high,  
And deeper the philosophy;  
Know, thât from the Impulsion  
Of self-divided things does come,  
Which separated, are in pain  
To reunite and join again,  
As branches we asunder bend,  
Forcibly again towards one another tend;  
For Nature did both sexes knit▪  
At first in one hermaphrodite,  
Till finding by conjunction so near,  
Both but more dull, and more unactive were  
To edge their Appetite again  
She severed and disjoined them,  
Whence does proceed that gentle pain,  
And longing appetite to conjoin again.   

SCENE VI.  EUPHANES to them. Eup. 
BEllinda to die!  
O ye just gods, whom yet I will not blame,  
Nor asperse with foul imputation and stain  
Of such a horrid crime, till she be dead;  
And then though you shower down all your punishments  
And plauges upon my head,  
I'll say 'twas cruelly and unjustly done.  Phi. Enter Philander another way. 
O Heaven and Earth!  
Why does not t' one sink under me? and t'other  
Fall on my cursed head, am guilty of  
Bellinda's death? but yet 'tis needless too,  
For though they both  
forbear to punish me, I do so loath  
My ha●ed life for't, I'll die in spite of them,  
If flames, or steel, or precipices have any force  
To take away a life.  Eup. 
To be conducted by Love only to Hope,  
And have only a glimpse of Hope to light  
Me to despair! if this be to Love and Hope,  
Happy who hate, and those who desperate are.  Phi. 
To have sought her only to find her false!  
And found her, only to be the loss of her!  Eup. 
Cruel Fortune thus to have lifted me up,  
Only to throw me more violently down again.  Phi. 
But I dally and trifle, a friendly Sword  
Might do me a pleasure now; and see in happy time  
Euphanes who for need could help me.  Eup. 
Art thou there murderer? complete thy wickedness then  
And take my life too, Bellinda's but half dead yet;  
When thou hast slain me, thou shalt find the other half  
Here panting in my Bosom.  Phi. 
I prithee spare  
Thy reproaches Euphanes, and do not add  
Affliction to Affliction; have more humanity  
Than to wound a dying man: know I am more  
Miserable already than misery's self  
Can make me, or thou thyself couldst wish.  
Bellinda's murderer?  Eup. 
Yet killing of me thou might'st add unto thy crime.  Phi. 
But it would take from thine  
By killing me▪  Eup. 
If thou knowest no better way  
To die, than by my hand, I wish thee no  
Greater punishment than still to live:  
The Sword is Angers weapon, faint-hearted Coward,  
Grief has a keener one, if thou canst find it out.  Phi. 
Thou advisest well, a single death  
Suffices not for Philander's crime indeed,  
And I shall but redouble it, by seeing of her die.   

SCENE VI.  PHILOSTRATES, PHILENA, Chorus to them, &c. Philos. 
THat a Nymph so fair and young  
Should rush thus voluntarily upon  
A sacrilegious Oath, and so incur  
Her own destruction, 's a folly and rashness to  
Be expiated equally with a prodigy.—  
Go let a Sacrifice presently be prepared,  
I' appease the angry Deity.  Phile. 
Too much of Blood  
We have already, the water of mine Eyes  
Shall furnish out the rest of sacrifice;  
As who's so hard-hearted, so avaricious  
Of sorrow and grief, he would not spare a tear  
From all calamities, to spend it here?  
But see Euphanes. Now still and still  
D'ye persever ill-advised Youth to love,  
Where you're not loved, and prefer Bellinda's  
Falsehood to Philena's Truth?  Eup. 
Thy heart than never by experience it seems did prove,  
Only to love where we're beloved again  
Is bargain, and not Love,—  
And what, silly Nymph, avails it you  
Toward the obtaining of Euphanes love, that Bellinda's false,  
Who but collects from thence, no woman can be true?  Philost. 
Bring forth our sable robes, and let  
The Executioner with the fatal axe  
Be ready against the hour expires.  Mysti. 
Behold'em here.  Phil. 
Then whilst we vest us all in solemn black,  
Let music make a Funeral doleful moan,  
For her, whose sad disaster moves the very Rocks  
Unto compassion.  Chorus sings. 

Woe to what we virtuous call,  
Woe to fair and sweet withal,  
Since she must die who was 'em all.   

Let 'em seek in all their story  
They shall find she was their glory,  
Oh! what heart then is not sorry?   

Come music with thy doleful tones,  
Come Sorrow with thy sighs and groans,  
And assist our grievous moans.   

Since all love had of sweet and fair,  
All the world of good and rare,  
Is to perish now with her.    

SCENE VII.  POLYDOR, with BELLINDA veiled, &c. to them. Pol. 
ROom, room before there.  Eup. 
She comes, she comes; now to declare  
A Resolution great as its causes are,  
Dar'st thou Philander, when her death we see,  
Resolve to die with me?  Philan. 
For my resolve Euphanes, never fear,  
I will not say to die with you, but her.  Philos. 
Now unveil her, whilst thus it is with pain,  with his Wand he uncharms her. 
O open the port of speech,  
Shortly by death's hand to be closed up again.  Bel. 
Ha! what means this deadly tragic spectacle,  
This Funeral Livery, & those bloody Ensigns of cruel  
And abhorred death! is there any thing can be  
In Philander's presence able to frighten me?—  Eup. 
How's this?  Bel. She runs & embraces him, and he looks strangely on her. 
Ha! he unkindly reject me,  
Nay then away with all  
These deadly preparations,  
The shadows of death itself,  
The Axe and th' Executioner too,  
For one unkind look of Philander's  
Can kill me sooner than all the rest can do.  Philos. 
Thy falsehood Nymph makes him behold thee so,  
Occasioning all this affliction and woe,  
To swear thou lov'dst one here, betrothed before  
Unto another.  Bel. 
And what else should I swear,  embraces him agen 
Beholding my betrothed Philander here?  
When passing along to take the sacred Oath  
And hearing of his voice amidst the Throng  
I glanced mine eyes aside,  
And instantly espied  
My dear Philander, For Lovers are quick sighted,  
Though Love be blind.  Pol. 
Error of human minds.  
How were we all deceived then.  Philos. [ all shout for joy] 
Strange, but so 'tis in Religious minds,  
Still in high contemplation  
Error of human things is often found,  
As those who most do contemplate the Stars  
Do soonest fall to ground.  Phila. 
But that I of all men should be so deceived?  
Knowing my Bellinda so well, is an Error I  
Shall ne'er pardon in myself, nor do I know  
Dearest whenever thou canst ever pardon or no.  Bel. 
Well, well.  Pol. 
See how she sweetly nods, and smiling  
Out th' rest does seem to say,  
Well, well Philander, I'll be jealous another day.  Philos. 
Away with these doleful preparations then,  
And resume your former joyful ones again.  Pam. Enter Pamphilus crying. 
Ugh, ugh, ugh,  
I have lost the best Wife, the best wife,  
As ever poor Husband had— But soft what this?  
Alive again! and in another's Arms!  
How comes this about? this is fine gear I faith.  Fla. 
Why thou perpetual dolt,  
Thou unconscionable ass Thou; mak'st People  
Kill themselves with laughing at thee, If she'ave  
 
Philander's, both before she arrived here,  
And since, and now, when should she be thy Wife  
I prithee?  Pam. 
Why even when she pleases,  
I am ready for my part.  Fla. 
I dare swear thou art for any one.  Pol. 
See how hand in hand,  
These happy Lovers stand,  
So lost in joy for their escape from death,  
As yet they do not know,  
Whether they live, or no▪  
Mean time you may perceive  
By their ey-beams twisted, their fixed regards,  
Their unmovable posture, and their minds surprise,  
there's nothing glews so fast as lover's eyes.  Philost. 
O happy pair!  
Now safely to your Port arrived are;  
Happy whose former sufferance and annoy,  
Does now but heighten more your present joy;  
Happy, who after you've so long  
On fortune's rough tempestuous Seas been tossed,  
May truly say, you'd been lost indeed,  
Unless you had been lost.  Bel. 
Oh my dearest, and don't my eyes deceive me?  Phil. she tenderly reclines her head upon his Arm. 
My dearest, dearest heart,  
Come, come, let's go, and take from Love,  
And Fortune both, the power they had before,  
Of making us ever miserable more;  
For yet some farther proof there needs, and some  
More true and real joy, to let us know,  
whenever that w'enjoy be real, true, or no.  Philost. 
Lead on unto the Temple then,  
There to conjoin them by Hymen's sacred hands  
In eternal, and unseparable bands,  
And as unto the Temple they pass along,  
Let th' Chorus sing aloud their Nuptial Song,  Chorus sings. 
ALL the joys that unto heart,  
Heaven & Earth did e'er impart,  
All the pleasures that the Spring,  
Or Love, to Youth did ever bring,  
All contentments too, that e'er  
Yet in any's bosom were,  
With a Ravishment to boat,  
At all parts answerable too't;  
May blessed Hymen all, and more  
In these lover's bosoms store,  
Till satiat with it, they may cry,  
To piteous heaven, it would let 'em die,  
And to a better life translate 'em,  
Where joys, pleasures, contents ne' tiate 'em.  Exeunt. Manent Philena, Flamette, Euphanes. Fla. 
And won't you go along?  Phile. 
No Flamette, to a heart  
And palate so sad and so out of taste as mine,  
No music, no Feast can relish, and the sight  
Of others wealth and happiness, would but make me  
More sensible of mine own poverty and misery;  
Let them abound with happiness then, and surfeit with  
Deliciousness, I envy not their fortunes,  
But pity and lament my own.  Fla. 
Excellent sweetness! Heaven's my witness I  
Heartily pity her.  Phi. 
But see where Euphanes stands, turned musing statue▪  
Who knows but now may be the fittest time  
To move my suit again? to love beyond  
The possibility of enjoying, is Hope  
Too far stretched beyond the end of Love;  
I'll try then, now Bellinda's love  
Is probably extinct in him, whether Philena's yet  
Have any flame to enkindle it again,—  
Euphanes—  Eup. 
Hence troublesome and importune,—  
Out of how profound a slumber, and sweet  
Reveree has she awaked me, whilst I imagined  
With grateful Error, Philander's happiness  
Might possibly have been mine own, had Love  
And Fortune pleased,— the more fool I the whilst,  
Who with these fancied joys, and imaginary wealth,  
But feed my Thoughts, whilst I am starved myself.  Phile. 
Cruel and pittyless! Is this then all the thanks,  
And reward I have, for preferring thy Loves  
Interest to my own? and betraying mine own  
Love, in pleading for thee to Bellinda  
Against myself?  Eup. 
And what's the effect of it?  Phile. 
Th' ingrateful only judge by the Event,  
The grateful by the Act and the Intent;  
Thy face belies thy heart, for that is gentle,  
And full of Love; but with my heart now what  
Shall I do, since thou, whose 'tis, rejectest it?  
Would I could gratify thee with it any ways,  
Though I tore it out of my bosom.  Eup. 
Prithee  
If thou'lt gratify me, let me never see thee more.  Exit abruptly. Phil. 
And so perhaps( cruel as thou art,)  
Thou never shalt;  
My mind condenses with multitude of thoughts  
I feel transporting me to somewhat high and brave—  
Let's see;— but for that which we approve ourselves,  
And can't be approved by others until it be done,  
There needs but small deliberation.—  
Flamette, a word with thee.  Exeunt. 
Finis Actus Quarti.    


ACT V. SCENE I.  PHILENA, FLAMETTE, Phi 
FLamette,  
Thou know'st the secrets of every herb and plant,  
And nothing's in Nature so hidden and abstruse,  
Thou penetrat'st not with thy skill; Amongst the rest,  
I remember th' other day,  
Feeding thy Flocks i'th' pasture there below,  
And spying suddenly one of thy tender Lambs  
All-trembling, stretching out its fainting limbs,  
And closing its dying eyes, thou straight cried'st out  
A venumous herb had poisoned it, and bidst  
Lycisca bear him to the River with all speed,  
And drive thy Flocks from thence.—  Fla. 
'Tis true;— and what of this?  Phile. 
Nothing, but the seeing these wondrous effects,  
Gives me a curiosity to learn of thee  
A little of thy skill; and to know what herb it is  
That works so by surprise, it steals away  
A Life so insensibly, one scarce perceives it,—  
A friendly office it might do to some,  
Who weary of living▪ fear not so much to die,  
As the pains devancing death—  Fla. 
Take heed Philena,  
This is a Curiosity more dangerous  
Than knowing the cheats of Gaming, by how much life  
Is more precious than coin,— and those  
Who know these tricks, 'tis feared at need will use 'em.  Phil. 
Thou art deceived, they'd rather know them to  
Avoid them; therefore I prithee tell me  
What herb 'twas.  Fla. 
If you desire, as you say, to learn my skill,  
I'll teach you the natures of a hundred  
More sovereignly virtuous.  Phi. 
Malicious wench!  
That wilt not understand me.  Fla. 
I fear I understand you but too well.  Phi. 
Must I be put to't then,  
To discover a secret to thee that concerns  
My life so nearly?  Fla. 
Ay, that's it I fear.  Phi. 
Yet why should I dissemble?  
Dissimulation is child of Fear,  
And how fearless are those who are resolved to die,  
Not only of those lesser Tyrants, Want,  
And Misery, but of those greater, Love,  
And Fortune, of whom now I quit all my fears,  
Being Deaths subject, and no longer theirs—  
Know then since thou'lt needs know't, weary of  
Repulse upon repulse, weary of  
Euphanes scorns, and finally weary of  
●y wretched being, I am resolved to die.  Fla. 
●h! far from so gentle a bosom be  
o cruel thought.  Phi. 
●hey are rather cruel would divert me from't;  
●ruel as those would keep poor wretches still  
●pon the Torture, rather than dispatch their pain,  Fla. 
●ut d'ye know what 'tis to die?  Phi. 
I know what 'tis to sleep; the afflictedest ease,  
Repose o'th' weary, comfort of the distressed,  
When all our troubles, all our cares do cease;  
And sleep, and death; but in the length, and the  
Continuance nothing differ, so as deferring  
My death, thou but deferest my happiness,  
For know Flamette when life is misery,  
'tis happiness to die.  Fla. 
You talk the while  
As if all were fabulous of the other world,  
Furies there were none, nothing  
Their Torments, and no  
Gods to punish those Impiously leave  
There stations here on Earth e'er they command.  Phi. 
Troublesome ignorance; those who understand  
Their Language, the Gods perpetually command:  
So when we virtue eagerly pursue,  
They bid go on, when we abstain from ill  
By repentance or avoidance, it is they who still  
Recall us, or prohibit us, and finally▪  
When we feel in us a desire to leave this life,  
'tis they infallibly command us for to die.  Fla. 
But consider—  Phi. 
Prithee no more consideration; Flamette I ask help,  
Not counsel of thee, wilt do  
What I desire?  Fla. 
I'll see.  Phi. 
Nay, who give us doubtful help,  
Do but deny us in necessity;  
Say't shall be done, yet that's too slow, prithee say  
'tis done.  Fla, 
Since bootless 'tis to deny you, I'll but run  
To th' mead, and instantly be here again.  [ Exit Fla. Phi. 
Thou shalt find me in the cypress grove—  
So now my minds at ease, and it rejoices me  
To think how I shall triumph over Love  
And Fortune, yet o'er Love for Euphanes sake  
I'll do't more gently, and not insult too much; but o'er Fortune  
I'll march in state, while she to her despite shall ●ee't  
How I'm above her, now tramples me under feet.—  
But stay, being to divest me of this life;  
And strait to die, 'tis requisite I make  
My latest Legacy; first than my sufferance I bequeathe  
To desperate Lovers, my constancy to death,  
My sighs to th' winds, to th' ocean my tears,  
To Bellinda my hoped-for joys,  
To Fuphanes my memory; and lastly, my hopes and fears  
to those would live in longer misery;  
Philena will not; for the rest,  
All other passions die with us, only Love  
Accompanies us to th' blessed Mansions above.  Exit.  

SCENE II.  PAMPHILUS leering after her. Pam. 
IUst like a dog with's mouth watering at  
A Frumetty pot had scalded his chaps before,  
I look after these Wenches now, who are all too hot for me;  
Besides, that which keeps me most in awe,  
Is the inkling I have of an odd punishment they have here,  
To marry unruly Youngsters to old women, just  
Like dogs no●es, beyond all possibility  
Of ever heating 'em, and this they call forsooth  
Mortification, in the devil's name,  
A good cooler for him, but too cool for me.  
But see where my quondam wife comes here with her Gallant,  
Who took her from me, my stomach rises at him,—  
Scurvy fellow,— none but my wife serve his turn?—  
A little thing would make me bombast him,—  
If I thought he would not bombast me again.  Exit Grumbling, and looking spitefully towards Philander  

SCENE III.  PHILANDER, BELLINDA. Bel. 
NAy I could tell you too  
A hundred other stories, as how the Cabin,  
Wherein you'd enclosed me from seeing  
The danger of the storm, by a violent wave  
Being washed away, and driven here on shore,  
I ever since have only sustained my life,  
With expectation of your arrival here;  
My dreams, the faint shadows of our waking thoughts,  
And oftentimes obscure representations  
Of future Events, being so favourable still,  
To promise me that happiness, and your life,  
Till at last, wearied out with long expectance,  
And my six month's Residence here almost expired,  
I took resolution to abjure the Isle,  
And depart in search of you, just as you arrived here,—  
Mean time, I'll warrant ye, you ne'er thought of me?  Phil. 
Alas! no sooner I saw  
Your danger, and was o'th' point  
( Had I not violently been withheld)  
To cast myself after you into the Sea,  
But pirates making towards us  
All resistless took us Captives, we paying so  
At expense of our Liberties the Ransom of our Lives,  
So straightly guarded the whilst, as till th'other day  
I was released,( I as soon could tell  
To send to th' other world, as well  
As when you were) when repairing to  
The Oracle, by its directions I found you out—  
But tell me,  
How have you past your time here ever since?  
And pray, who is that Philena and that Euphanes  
Y'ave contracted so straight an Amity withal?  Bel. 
O you're jealous are ye?— I could find in my heart I faith  
To defer answering you, till I had informed myself  
What Mistresses you have had since I saw you last—  
But not to hold you longer in suspense,  
Know that Philena is a noble Nymph  
Of cypress here who when I was cast on shore  
First found me, and hospitably entertained me,  
And Euphanes one would needs love me against my Will:  
To avoid whose importunity,  
I promised if any in the Isle I loved  
It should be him; now are you satisfied?  
Or shall I bring you all cypress to testify  
How like a Salamander midst of other flames,  
To all their admirations, I have still lived here as cold as Ice,  
And yet you are jealous?  Phi. 
Not jealous sweet, but so covetous of the dear  
Treasure drop reg've in thy Love, as I confess  
When thou prayest in the Temple to the Gods above,  
I even do grudge 'em part of it.  She inclines her head gently on his bosom. Bel. 
Fie, to those who have given't you all?  
That is too much Philander,— but oh my dear  
What would I have given a few days since for  
The happiness I now enjoy, to which,  
Through how many miseries have I past?  Phil. 
That, dearest, is it that gives our present joys  
The sweeter taste and relish, none being more  
Happy than those were miserable before;  
But who are these come here?  Bel. 
Some neighbour Swains it seems,  
Who in kind expressions of their loves, are come  
To present us with some Pastoral show, or Rural mask.   

SCENE IV.  PROLOGUE to them, and divers others, pressing to behold the Pastime, and encompassing PHILANDER and BELLINDA, who seat themselves: POLYDOR, EUPHANES, FLAMETTE, entering afterwards. Pro. 
We, whose due Affections move  
Us to congratulate your Love,  
Are come in Dance, to personate  
The Emblem of a lover's state;  
As how wavering 'twixt Hopes and Fears  
He stands distracted, till appears  
The Mistress of his soul and mind  
To's love propitiously inclined,  
When Hopes and Fears no more annoy,  
But are converted all to joy.  The Dance. Expressing in its Figure all that formerly hath been declared under the abstract persons of Hope and Fear, with the Lover, & Fruition & Joy, with his Mistress, all six properly Habited, &c. Fear with doubtful and trembling pace, Hope more confident; the Lover as he converts himself to th' one or th' other, participating their several Affections, till at the Entrance of his Mistress the Dance changes into a more sprightly Measure; at the end of the Dance, Enter Polydor distractedly, with Flamette. Pol. 
Can Joy be ne'er sincere, but still some grief  
Be intermixed, to bitter all its sweets?  
And is there nothing permanent here below,  
But all, like th' Sea, perpetually must ebb and flow?  
Away with all light jollity then, and lets  
With heavy sorrow prepare to weep again.  Bel. 
Alas! for what?  Pol. 
For poor Philena, who yonder lies  
a-dying, or rather by this time dead,  
The lamentablest spectacle was ever exhibited  
On fortune's theatre!  Bel. 
Alack! alack, the woeful day!  to Euph. entering & offering to go out again seeing Philander and Bellinda. Pol. 
Nay, nay, draw nigh,  
Know you that hand? read there,  
Cruel as thou art, if thou canst without a tear,  
And when thoust read it, thou must have a heart of stone  
Or rather none at all, if't be not mollified with't,  
By Philena's own hand writ 'twixt tears and blood,  
Who, after thrice she had cried out on Euphanes'  
Name,— as if't were he, cruel he alone that killed her,  
Poor Gentle soul she died.  Fla. 
Cruel, barbarous Euphanes,  
Nursed sure with tiger's milk, if a tiger's self  
Were not the dam of thee.  Eup. 
What writes she here?  [ reads.] Farewell my best Euphanes, from her, who since she could not live thine, chose to die thine at least. Philena. 
— Hum!  Fla. 
Now triumph in your victory,  
And glory in your triumph, to have slain  
An innocent Nymph, with scorn and with disdain,  
So great a glory t'ye, as Euphanes' name  
Amongst Nymphs and Virgins shall ever be the mark  
Of infamy and shame, to shoot their hatreds at.  Bel. 
But why defer we to seek her out, and see  
If possibly there may be any remedy yet  
To save her life?  Eup. 
I am awaked  
By their reproaches, but much more  
By somewhat here within, now lets me see  
I was to blame to use her so cruelly,  
And now I perceive, for all our corporal and  
External sight, we nothing see, till Heaven  
Do give our souls within Internal light—  
And art thou dead for me, for me?  
O extremity of love, beyond even life itself—  
And shall I nothing do for thee again?  
Ay, it shall be so, thou'st got the start  
Of honour of me, but I may o'ertake thee yet.  [ Exi hastily] PAMPHILUS. Pam. 
NOt so fast I pray,  
he'd like to overthrown me,  
And I'm little better than overthrown already— for  
No Wenches! no Wenches! for love nor money;  
'tis a hard case, this you'll say— but I'm  
Well enough served, I longed for change of● Pasture,  
And see what's come on't,  
I shall return home again nothing  
But skin and bones— but no flesh at all to be got—  
But soft, what's this?—  He spies Philona as she is discovered lying dead. 
What another Moppet?  
They shall catch me no more I'll warrant 'em,  
They know what baits to lay for me it seems,  
And would make a Gudgeon of me,  
But I'll watch 'em well enough for that.   

SCENE VI.  PHILOSTRATES, MYSTI, at●endants, &c. Phil. 
A Nymph slain in our woods!  
Unheard of prodigy, there are no savage beasts  
And much less men so savage and barbarous  
To violate the lives and Honours of our Nymphs—  
Stay, is not that she there? alas it is  
Too true, behold Philena dead—  Pam. 
Hum Philena, 'tis a strange case this  
One cannot know the Mopets from the Wenches here,  
They are all so dead and spiritless.  Mysti▪ 
Stay! who is that  
Stands suspiciously there, is't not he has murdered her?  Philos. 
Cease on him, and till he can acquit himself  
Of the crime, let him stand charged with it.  Pam. 
Ah! now I'm paid  
For my following of Wenches,  
No warning, no warning would serve my turn,  
And see what comes on't▪  
Now if I be hanged, what a goodly exhortation  
Shall I make, with an— oh good people,  
Let all young men take warning by me; for  
This comes of following of Wenches,  
drop reg've been a wicked liver in my days,  
And one o'th' greatest Wenchers— and  
See what't has brought me to,  
The Gallows, a wry-mouth, a neck as long  
As a Cranes, and so with a thump on the breast,  
There'll be an end of Pamphilus.   

SCENE VII.  BELLINDA, PHILANDER, FLAMETTE, &c. to them EUPHANES after. Bell. 
Ay, Here she is—  
Rest gentle soul, and may nought heavy lie  
Upon thee, to press thee to the shades beneath,  
But ever in the Elysian fields, among  
The blessed Quires of Lovers, mayst thou be honoured, a●d  
Adored as Love's Martyr, and in his calendar  
Be ever recorded as a rubric Saint;  
Mean time, upon thy Anniversary day,  
Each year, we'll pay our vows unto thy Tomb,  
And to the King and Queen of Shades erect  
Two grassy Altars, whereon we'll offer our  
Libations every year, so as all living Lovers  
Envying thee, shall wish them dead to have the like  
Obsequies; and lastly, we'll  
Inscribe an Epitaph on thy sepulchre,  
In reading which, all passing by shall know,  
A gentler soul walks not i'th' shades below.  [ Enter Euphanes: Eup. 
Room, room, for the most concerned  
In this Catastrophe— Fair sweetest f●ower,  
By rigid Winter of Euphanes frowns and scorns  
Untimely dead, what parentations  
Shall wretched Euphanes use now, to appease  
Thy angry Ghost?  
And with what sad Libations shall I invoke  
Thy blessed Manes? take here this hair of mine  [ tears his hair. 
I offer on thy Tomb; and fairest soul,  
For ever wailed, for ever pitied, if  
thou't deign to look upon me from the Groves  
Of fair Elysium, behold, behold  
Euphanes so strangely metamorphosed  
Who living loved thee not, he now loves thee dead,  
Thus ready with's life to expiate the crime  
Which he committed, in being the loss of thine.  Fla. 
Hold, hold, and know  
Philena is not dead.  offers to kill himself, & is withheld by Flamette. Eup. 
We trifle both,— away.  Fla. 
I adjure the sacred deity  
She is not, but only by my Art entranced,  
So deceiving and deluding her despair;  
In witness oft, besprinkle but her face  
With water, and you'll see she'll instantly return to 〈◊〉 again  Eup. 
Nay, if water may revive her, no other than my tears  
Shall have the honour of't,  [ he weeps over her 
And if those will not do't,  
I'll let out all my blood on her to boot.  Bel. 
Oh! happy we if this be so.  Fla. 
See, see, she begins to stir already.  Pam. 
Marry and I'm glad on't, for I began to stink  
With the fright they put me in.  Phi. 
●a! where am I? in Hell I cannot be  
●ince Euphanes who's my Heaven is here with me,  
Nor can I be in Heaven, until I know  
whenever Euphanes will be kind to me or no▪  Eup. 
Alas, alas, 'tis I rather my dear Philena am  
In Hell until I know  
whenever thou canst forgive my unkindness to thee or no.  Phi. 
Nay, if't only does depends on that,  
There is no fear, I can resolve thee strait,  
W'ar both in Heaven Euphanes since for me,  
I do desire no greater Heaven than thee.  Philos. 
●oy unto both, and joy then to us all  
In the accession to our Festival,  
O'th' glad conjunction of his happy pair,  
●'th' joy of which each has peculiar share;  
Let us conduct 'em to their marriage then,  
And whilst to th' Temple they are going,  
Tell 'em this most worth their knowing▪  
Love that tends but too enjoying  
●s satiate soon and easily cloying,  
Only that o'th' Soul still does  
Wax perfecter, and more lasting grows▪  
So we compare those light desires,  
Only unto blazing fires,  
Whilst these like fire o'th' Element,  
●ast always, and are never spent.—  
Now what will Bellinda and Philander do?  Phi. 
For us here, where we have found our happiness,  
We are resolved, better to conserve it, even to remain,  
And exchange our native Country for this happy soil.  Pam. 
Beshrew me so wo'ned I,  
For drop reg've enough on't, if there be no Wenches here to be had;  
Perhaps I may come here again when I'm old,  
And have a mind to be good.  Pol. 
Mean time who put off goodness to old age, are just like those  
Who defer their Creditors till all their moneys spent.  Philos. 
For you,  to Philander & Bellinda. 
What should we say then for Conclusion,  
But you're most welcome to Love's Dominion.  All [ to the Auditors.] 
You're most welcome to Love's Dominion.  [ Exeunt Omnes.] 
FINIS.