Glorious Inscriptions( Arts ornaments) ●ayt,  
Truth to disguise, only on prosperous Fate;  
Such trains from jauning, mercenary wits  
His Fortune or his Temper not besitts  
No Judge praeposest; if approved; his Fame  
Shall want no other Monument but his Name.  
〈…〉    

ASTRAEA, OR, True Love's mirror. A PASTORAL. Composed BY LEONARD WILLAN, GENT.  
Pace floret Amor,  
Humilitate Innocentia.  
LONDON, Printed by R. White, for Henry Cripps, and Lodowick Lloyd, and are to be sold at their Shop in Popes-Head-Alley. 1651.   

TO The Illustrious Princess, MARY Duchess of Richmond and Lennox.  
Madam,  
THis figurative Star presented to your view( no sooner form generally distinguishable to our horizon) becoming suddenly obscured by the Eclipses of those greater Lights, from whom essentially it should have had both Influence and Lustre, hath moved concealed many years; till now by the Reflection of your affinitive eminence in virtue and Beauty; It hath presumed to assume a Being more communicable. Reject not, Madam, the Access hereof, because transacted to your hand by so despicable an Introducer. It solely is your Property, not only by the advantage of Worth( in civil rights of Honour and Respect) your Present: but by the advantage of Similitude( in rule of Dialect) your proper Attribute. The pretended perfection of Astraea's virtue and Beauty entitled her to a celestial Figure: the essential Graces whereof in you, shall really translate you to so transcendent a Glory, that those refulgent Lights are thereof but imperfect Shadows. Those Objects of true Love figured in her so happily to encounter as perfect a subject, to receive their Impressions, and mutually communicate the like effects to the forming of one mysterious Union: are visibly expressed in the admired, ravishing, and harmonious agreement of your Hymeneal amity. Astraea is figured to descend from noble Progeny, who to avoid the Military Fury of debording Multitudes( which passing frequently through Gaul, descended like an irresistible Torrent on the Roman Empire) were constrained to betake them to the humble Sanctuary of a Pastorical condition: This Circumstance will meet no trivial analogy in the Eminence of your Extraction, and Consequence of your present Rural Retreat: So that( with permission) may evidently be concluded, that in reference to your Natural perfections, Civil Transactions, or Accidental Occurrence, Astraea may( in equity) presume to be either your Type, Parallel, or Character. Disdain not, Madam, her Resemblance, in respect of the Humility figured in her condition; since 'tis the perfectest, and most proper Note of her Nobility: which( where divided) show the Original of such ostentive Attributes( with what glorious Titles soever illustrated) had but a reproachful Acquisition. And although your virtues need no other Monument but their own perfection to constitute their Memory eternal: yet since Fortune is the chiefest Agitator in human Occurrences, whose Power is still exercised in opposition of such eminent Faculties, your Counterfeit( in Astraea) may happily outlast your marble Epitaph or Figure: If so, It solely is the Crown and Glory of his Enterprise, whose vanity can aspire to no higher Honour, then to survive the Malice of his Fate in his unworthy Ministry to your Fame, under the Title of  
Your Graces Humble Servant LEO: WILLAN.   

Persons Represented.  

Adamas, a Priest.  
Lindamor, Lover to Galataea, a Noble man.  
Ligdamon, a Noble man, Lover to Sylva.  
Parish, alias Ergaste, supposed son to Adamas, but son to Bellinda.  
Celadon, a Shepherd, Lover to Astraea.  
Sylvander, a Shepherd, Lover to Diana.  
Lycidas, a Shepherd, Lover to Phillis, brother to Celadon.  
Tyrsis, a Shepherd, who laments the loss of Cleon.  
Hylas, a Shepherd, an inconstant Lover.  
Bellinda, Mother to Diana.  
Galataea, Princess of the Country.  
Leonida, one of her Nymphs, Niece to Adamas.  
Sylva, one of Galataea's Nymphs.  
Astraea Shepherdesses.  
Diana Shepherdesses.  
Phillis Shepherdesses.  
Leonice, a Shepherdess, in Love with Tyrsis.  
Stella, a Shepherdess, the last Mistress of Hylas.    

The Scene.  
THe frontispiece is a wreath of fresh Foliage, much like the entrance into a close Alley, the tops whereof interlaced, represent the perfect figure of an Arch; at whose intersection is a kind of knot, whereon is enscribed in letters of gold, FOREST: over which two little Cupidons by either hand support a Garland little distant from the same. At either foot hereof is placed on little pedestals the figure of a Shepherd and Shepherdess; the one in a pretty posture, merrily playing on a Flute, the other very intentively ordering her scattered flowers in form of a Garland. To which succeeds, in prospective order, close united Trees, which by degrees o●retop each other, the former not much exceeding the height of a man, through which the sight is conveyed to a very fair Palace; at foot whereof runneth a winding stream; the Canopy of the whole a Serene sky.  
THe Scene being a pretty while discovered, appears at far end thereof a Shepherdess, with a little Dog parried in Ribbons of several colours; when suddenly, privately within, are heard sundry voices, one answering the other, till each have sung his part: at the end whereof all join their voices; each voice is so ordered as may seem far distant from the Auditors, and a like distant from each other.   

SONG.  

Sung by a Mean. WHen Days bright Star appears,  
Th' airy Choristers fill our Ears  
With cheerful melody.   

Our earthly Star, say, say,  
Like Tribute, now, shall we not pay,  
In our best Harmony.   

A Treble answers. Yes, yes, alas we prize  
But to behold her beauteous eyes,  
Aurora's lesser Light.   

See, see, how envious Shame  
With blushie gild her Cheeks doth stain,  
To see our Star more bright.   

A Base answers. Shepherds, your Flocks unfold;  
These glorious Beams you now behold,  
Their Enemies disarm.   

Whose savage Rage with fear  
Alleys you Star i'th' upper Sphere,  
This, with Love beauty's charm.   

All. Those dreaming Shadows leave,  
Your Fancies which deceive;  
Your stupid Souls awake,  
If true joys you'll partake.    

Or thus in Dialogue by a Treble and a Base. SONG.  
1. WHat Star is that shoots through the sky?  
2. Blind Shepherd, 'tis Astraea's Eye.  
1. How like approaching Day, she clears the calm smiling air!  
2. Yet where she appears, threats clouds of dark despair;  
1. Cleared by pure Fire:  
2. Or consumed by rash Desire,  
1. A blessed Death  
2. By her Breath  
Our Souls so to expire.  
Both. Let's mix our Voices, each agree,  
Merrily yield her his Liberty.  
1. Unto her Altars Flowers bring,  
2. There dwelleth everlasting Spring.  
1. In Love's mysterious Orders, see, that they ranked be,  
2. She may in them read our silent elegy:  
1. In Garlands wound,  
2. Wherewith then our summits crowned,  
1. We gladly  
2. So may die  
Her Victims without wound.  
Both. Let's mix our Voices, all agree,  
Merrily yield her our Liberty.  
Which ended, the Shepherdess avanceth to the Frontispiece of the Scene.   

ERRATA.  
PAge 4. line 6. read now no time. p. 32. l. 1. r. Fate's. p. 49. l. 5. r. still keeping. p. 53. l. 7. r. How Mistress! p. 91. l. 25. r. her Orb. p. 93. l. 8. r. be Reproach. p. 93. l. 23. r. yet know. p. 99 l. 3. r. on Bounties. p. 100 l. 7. r. doth spring. p. 102. l. 3. r. their Summons. p. 102. l 5. r. not pretend p. 103. l. 17. r. laying waste. p. 111. l. 18. r. did draw   



Scene 1. Act. 1.  Astraea. 
CEase shepherds, cease, your Praises flattering bait  
Deceives our Sex but through ourselves conceit;  
I am become distasteful to my sense;  
You lose your Purpose in a vain Pr●tence:  
If otherwhise, I gloried in your Fame,  
'Twas but to fann my Lovers gentle Flame,  
Which now's extinguished with a new Desire,  
Leaving my fallen Hopes to their funeral fire.  
You that in Prince's Palaces reside,  
With wealth and honours to be dignified,  
Y'ave some Pretence, when with obsequ'ous Phrase,  
On weak Believers, you your Ends do raise:  
On my abused Faith what can any gain,  
Save from my Weakness, more reproachful Stain?  
● shameful Conquest 'tis by wile t'erect  
● Trophy there, where Innocence blinds Suspect.  
You Gods!( not to capitulate your Will,  
●ut it enlightened better to fulfil)  
●ay why, oh why did your first Law inspire  
●v'n senseless things with this myster'ous Fire,  
Which we call Love? Was't not in Peace to tie  
●ach disagreeing part by harmony?  
●ach might by Nature's hid propensi'on know  
What it supports, what it doth overthrow:  
Which else would( head long rushing to their End)  
The rafters of this well framed World distend.  
How comes it then that Reason hath less power?  
What you gave to preserve, doth me devour;  
It seems that Reason in this corrupt state,  
Forsaking Nature, doth prevaricate.  
But why him clad in nature's best array?  
As if through finest Lawn you would display  
Your purest Essences obviou●●o Sense,  
Which to all Fancies, else, were too immense;  
Since he so much degen'rates from their kind,  
In so fair Form bearing so false a Mind.  
As Mortals, you your best works do not use  
Our facile faith's the sooner to abuse;  
She lying on the Bank, which is raised with a little hollow to present a ●ivulet, calls ●er Dog to ●er. Rather thus much this seems to intimate,  
Ingrateful Man all Ties will violate.  
Come my Melampo! grateful more art thou,  
Who only nature's motives dost allow.  Celadon. 
With equal reverence, as the swarthy Lay  
Bow's to the early messenger of day,  
I offer at thy shrine a purer Flame  
Than his, to whom they Homage for the same.  
You Gods allow't, since in her milder Eye  
Y'ave raised a Throne more fit your deity.  
Why shrowds those beams, like to a sullen Morn,  
When, with contracted Clouds, she threats a Storm?  Astraea. 
S●● rises. Thy feigned Ignorance doth thyself accuse,  
Whilst with thy Craft thou wouldst me twice abuse;  
Could else thy Souls so oft vowed Unity,  
Cease to inform thee by Loves sympathy?  
But since th'estranged Thoughts have that virtue spilt,  
Look in thine Heart, and learn it of thy gild.  Celadon. 
If yet to try my never fading Love  
This Anger thou put'st on; invent and prove.  
If thou wouldst have me die, my Sentence give,  
And I shall think it even a Crime to live.  Astraea. 
Whereas the Truth so plainly doth appear,  
We need no farther Proofs our doubts to clear;  
For Punishment, no power is in my Breath,  
Thy Life will make it greater, than thy Death.  Celadon. 
Thy Cruelty speaks truth in that! yet stay, She seems to fly fro● him, who holds her, and kne●ls.  
My Life, my Death, give ear what I shall say;  
For unknown Crimes no pardon I pretend;  
'Tis guilt unpardonable, thee but t'offend.  
Severest Ex'cution do not defer,  
Sure I deserved, for sure thou canst not err.  Astraea. 
Unskilful is that Pilot, against one shelf,  
And by th'same storm, haps twice to lose himself.  
Disloyal wretch( till bid) no more come nigh She forces her s●l● from ●im.  
The vastest compass of my mournful eye.  Celadon. 
Stay, stay, she's gone; and all of her me left,  
Is this poor ribbon, her Force made my Theft; Me kiss●● it  
Sacred relic of my departed Saint,  
Be not offended with my just Constraint.  
But in my all, of all forsaken death,  
Witness to whose loved will I yield my breath. He ties it t● his ●rm.  
Let no rude hand from this part ere thee force,  
But ●e thou still the Orn'ment of my Co●rse,  
And if the curious World do seek to know ●e c●st● himself into a little descending place representing a River. Astraea, being retired ●o ●e●rken what ●e would say, comes back with je●lousie to see what was become of him. She seeing him fall into the River, ●als upon the bank thereof, and so ro●●s into the same place where he ●ell.  
How, or for what, I died, do thou it show.  Astraea. 
My jealous fear thus hasteth my return,  
The more I seem to quench, the more I burn:  
I was too harsh! to hear him I denied:  
Let's haste to help, 'tis now time to chide.  Lycidas, Phillis encounter. Lycidas. 
WHat wanton God pursues thy flying Fear,  
Making more Beauties, than thou wouldst, appear  
Let these mine arms thy Sanctuary be;  
No violence here but what proceeds from thee.  Phillis. 
H●stily and in some dist●●ction. Licidas, well met, let'● haste; from yonder wall  
I saw a shepherd in the River fall.  Lycidas. 
Whereabouts was't? observed you well?  Phillis. 
Here, here▪  
The sad Object of my ill-boding Fear.  
They li●● her up, who seems to come to he● 〈◊〉. Astraea! oh, my dear companion! speak;  
Or to associate Thine, my Heart shall break.  Astraea. 
Why doth untimely Charity affright  
My resting Soul with horror of the light▪  
Natures decree enjoineth but one Death;  
Why force you me surrender twice my breath?  
Lycidas! thy brother from the proud Stream save,  
Or these sad Floulds yield me a second Grave. She se●●s ● w●ep.  Phillis. 
Courage, my dear Companion; kinder Fate,  
In this your safeguard, seems to cease his hate.   

Scene 2. Act 1.  
AFter some intermission, three Nymphs appear on the Scene, their heads crowned with garlands; The sleeves of their garments turned up above the elbow, from whence false a fine transparent lawn plated and frowsed towards the hand; whereto with bracelets of pearl they seem fastened: with gilt Quivers by their sides; And each an ivory bow in her hand; the lower part of the garment turned up on their hips; which discovers their gilt buskins to the leg.  Galatea, Leonida, Sylva. Leonida. 
THis sure's the place; see how th'impetuous Brook  
Seems that outlying Bank to overlook;  
Then turning swiftly in his amorous Chase,  
Doth even with clasped arms the Shelf embrace.  
Consider well, that little ●uft of Trees,  
How well tothth' glasses Figure it agrees.  Galatea. 
Yet is this unfrequented place, in sense,  
Unlike to satisfy our chief Pretence.  Sylva. 
'Tis not without appearance; for no Tree  
The glass did represent, we hear not see.  Galatea. 
Well, since this seems most likely to the place,  
Let's, for the issue, here attend a space.  Sylva. 
Pointing with ●er hand, ●iscovers Cead●n in the River. See! how that shepherd hangeth o'er the deep;  
As rekeless of his life, he seems asleep:  Galatea. 
Peace, Sylva peace, disturb him not awhile,  
We will his pretty Secrets him beguile.  Leonida. 
His hanging limbs float on each beating wave;  
What you his Bed think, I believe his Grave;  
They haste and take him ●p. Madam, 'tis guilt this doubt not to decide,  
Slow Charity may prove an Homicide.  Galatea. 
She seems ●truck with love. Wonder of Nature● hath Death took this shape  
To make of mortals a more facile Rape?  
Cupid's unbanded beauty's being displayed,  
Compared to this dead Figures seem to fade.  
Or could these Graces in their spheres but move,  
They'd force again from heaven the Queen of Love,  
And make the horned Goddess of the Night  
Forsake her Orb; here she might place her light.  
Bow gently his fair corpse; comes yet no heat? She l●ies her hand on his breast.  
Me thinks I feel his panting heart to beat.  
You Gods, by whose appointment here I stand  
To take that Bliss you promised to my hand,  
Afford him breath with mutual Flames to burn,  
Or else enclose our ashes in one Urn.  Sylva. 
Madam, he breathes?  Leonida. 
Some fit place must give  
A second succour, 'ere he seem to live.  Galatea. 
Bear him to Coach! his welfare is my own;  
Or live, or die, our beings are but one.   

Scene 3. Act 1.  Lycidas encounters Astraea and Phillis. Lycidas. 
HIs body's lost, him churlish Fate denies  
Even pious Rites of mournful Obsequies; Celadons' hat he holds in his hands, he flings it on the Scene with a little astonishment.  
This slender Monument is all it gives,  
In whose despite, yet in all hearts he lives.  
How? Astraea! Can you restrain a Tear  
For him, to whom, than Life, you were more dear?  
Though his so faithful Love you have forgot,  
Yet on Humanity lay not such a spot:  
Thus unbewailed of thee lived he again  
But to behold, he surely twice were slain.  Astraea. 
Gentle shepherd! thy brother truly had  
Parts considerable might afflict the bad.  
'Tis not his Love, his Death can make me mourn;  
That Loss is light, where many Shares are born.  Lycidas. 
For charity's sake disquiet not the Dead,  
By unknown ills, thus heaping on his head.  
The world thy jealousy will much deride,  
If thou but think, his heart he could divide,  
His parent's Threats, Inemnity of blood,  
His purer Fire ever hath withstood.  
Those unsought conquests, which his Beauty made,  
His jealous Love to cherish was afraid:  
Nay, I believe the less-priz'd-Deity  
Thus punished his Idolatry of thee.  Astraea. 
It is no new thing Shepheard, what I say,  
Whereto each eye was witness every day;  
Which, undiscovered, often heard I have,  
While to Aminta his vowed Love he gave.  Lycidas. 
Just heaven, you have disclosed I plainly see,  
The guilty author of this tragedy.  
Celadon, of Love, and Courage had too much,  
To live, and hear, that Tongue this theme but touch:  
For his Obedience he is justly paid,  
His greatest Crime was that he thee obeyed:  
How oft on bended knees hath he besought  
Thee to revoke this burden from his Thought,  
And to impose on him a milder Death,  
Then fan a loathed Flame with feigned breath?  
Thou answer'dest, no, thou shall perform this wile,  
Our hostile Parents that we may beguile;  
And those respects of Love that I you see  
Tender to her, I'll take as done to me.  
Take this, not thy unstable doubts to clear, He flings ●er a Lett●r  
But that thy gild more Horror yet might wear,  
If more thou seekest; that Cypress tender rind,  
More sensible than thou, more speaks thy Crime.  
Mayest thou, what Punishment guilt e'er hath tried,  
Sue for, as Mercy, and be it denied.  
While thy remorseful Soul by civil Jar,  
Setteth thyself against thyself at war. Lyci. ●xit.  Astraea. 
How wild a Sea chases my unstable Mind!  
What I must seek, were even hell to find.  
If just, I'm clear; if unjust be my Hate,  
Each day a Death my Crime shall expiate.  
These Lights are stopped with issue of my Tears;  
Whilst I unlade Them, unlade thou my Fears. She gives her the Letter.  Phillis. 
Would heaven I could so soon bring to thee Rest.  
'Tis Celadons' writing; be not so oppressed.  
LETTER.  
Inquire no longer the actions of my life, in asking me She reads the Letter. what I do; know, still I continue in my wont pain, to love, yet not dare to show the same. Not love, yet vow the contrary. Dear brother, this is all the exercise, or rather punishment of thy Celadon. Men say two contraries cannot be in one and the same place at one and the same time: Nevertheless, true love, and f●ined, are the frequent actions of my life; Wonder not thereat; for I am forced to one by the perfection, to the other, by the command of my Astraea: If this seem strange to thee, remember that Miracles are the ordinary works of divinity; And what can we less expect from my Deity!  Astraea. 
●pe●king to herself s●●ewhat ●●r'd. Art thou so hardened with the use of Ill,  
As to withstand this gild, and not distil  
Into a Sea? while thy unbounded Course  
The narrow banks of guiltless Lignon force,  
And from him, with his Channel, take his Name,  
Lest after Ages, him, for thee should blame.  
Here she ●●rns to the cypress tree, where Licidas had told her that should ●ind more concerned 〈◊〉 subject. And thou, sad subject of Apollo's verse,  
Who mak'st even sorrow lovely on each hearse,  
Still fresh in mourning, as thou didst request,  
When thy rash Hand had robbed thee of thy Rest,  
Thou more innocent emblem of my Fate,  
Denounce, if more thou know'st, t'enlarge Self-hate.  Phillis. 
She seems to look on the trunk of the tree. She seems 〈◊〉 read them. These Characters are fresh; the same subject,  
And the same Hand, did sure the same direct.  
Why tyrant Love constrainest me to a Fact  
Against those Laws thou dost thyself enact,  
Forcing those Rites are only due to thee,  
Be tendered to a stranger's Deity?  
Be more Just to thyself, to me less Cruel,  
And take my Life for thy displeasures fuel.  Astraea. 
Each senseless thing upbraids me my Offence,  
Whilst my own gild yields them Intelligence;  
●hee takes the hat ●p. Thou unsuspected messenger of Love,  
Which to and fro in harmless Sports being drove  
●hee looking in the hat, betwixt the linings discovers a Letter, with a little astonishment. Into each others hands, conveydest our Lines,  
Yet standers by partook not our Designs;  
Didst thou so little of thy Master know,  
That to revenge his Death, thou'st naught to show?  
LETTER.  
FAir Astraea, if the Dissimulation which you enjoin be to kill me, you may more easily effect the same by one word from your mouth; If it be to punish my Presumption, you are too just a judge to inflict less punishment than Death. If it be to try the Power you have over me, why make you not choice of a more sudden Experiment than this, whose length can be but wearisome to you. I cannot believe'tis to conceal our Amity, as you pretend; Since not being able long to live in so much Constraint, my Death will, without doubt, give too sudden and deplorable Testimony thereof: Believe it, fair Astraea, what I have suffered is enough; 'tis now time you suffer me to act the personage of Celadon; having so long, and with so much pain, represented One that of all those in the world is most contrary to him.  Astraea. 
Thou nought canst add, I was so full before,  
Thou shalt again exhausted Grief restore,  
Whilst restless I life's weary minutes tell,  
In swanlike plaints sounding my Funeral knell.  Phillis. 
Sorrows first shock to no Advice will yield; To herself; then takes her by the hand, who seems to re●● on her.  
Who struggle with't, wound, what they thought to shield.   

Scene 4. Act 1.  Celadon, Leonida, Sylva. Celadon. 
NAture and Art seem married here to be,  
Where each agreeing part's a harmony;  
To himself. Yet is't to me, like Horror of the Night  
To the Guilty; banished Astraea's Sight,  
To them again. It seems designed an amorous Abode,  
To shroud the pleasures of some rural God.  
What place is that, whose close compacted shade,  
Phoebus in highest pride can scarce invade?  Leonida. 
Gentle shepherd, i'th' thickest of that Grove  
Is placed the fountain of the Truth of Love,  
Wherein each Lover may their loved see;  
And if by them any than loved be,  
Their Forms seem coupled; But as then, if None,  
The single Figure doth appear alone.  
It was erected by the famous Skill  
Of a magician, jealousy to kill.  Celadon. 
drop reg've heard the fame thereof; being so nigh,  
Are we not licenc'd the virtue to try?  Leonida. 
No gentle Swain, this fair Nymphs cruelty  
On incenest Love forbids that Liberty.  Celadon. 
As how I pray?  Leonida. 
That I shall strait relate. Pointing to Sylva.  
Nay frown not Sylva, now it is too late.  
This Nymph, whose Beauty, Worth and Grace,  
In all their hearts, that see her, hold a place:  
Amongst the rest, two noble Spirits rise,  
In Emulation, to make her their Prize:  
In nature's gifts and Fortunes both were rich;  
And their own virtues such, as might bewitch  
Any with Love, save Sylva's equal eye;  
Which bred 'twixt Rivals equal Amity;  
Long had they both without Advantage strove  
Each of the Other, or of Sylva's Love;  
At length, with one assent they both agree,  
To the best prized of her, her to leave free;  
Which her impartial Grace could not decide;  
They therefore to this Fountain them applied;  
Wherein each gazing with a greedy eye,  
Who should be honoured with preeminency,  
Found neither loved, her Figure still Alone,  
Together, and asunder, them being shown:  
At which, their Love gave place unto their Ire;  
With magicians they secretly conspire,  
This to make void; which not allowed to Art,  
They to fell Lions do the Guard impart,  
By art confined; nor can this Charm untie  
Till the two perfectest Lovers for it die:  Celadon. 
Sorrow attends my wonder!  Sylva. 
Me the blame,  
While this home-friend seeks to extend my shame.  Galatea. 
She embraceth Cal●●lon. My better self, drop reg've been too long away,  
Each Minute spent from thee, is a lost Day,  
He seems to faint, they support him. How fares my Life? some grief doth thee oppress,  
I fear it is thy Fevors reaccess.  Celadon. 
they're welcome Summons; such I would not fly.  Galatea. 
Render not fruitless so our Charity.  Leonida. 
Madam, this shepherd's safety doth depend  
On some skilled hand may give his griefs an end.  Galatea. 
Thee to believe my Fear doth me invite,  
But m'Honor's stained, he being exposed to sight.  Leonida. 
Madam, to me'tis dearer than mine own,  
As by my careful service shall be shown.  
My uncle's skill, his Faith, and Love to you  
( I know) your Grace misdoubts not to be true.  
He's your Creature, whose Prudence will conceal,  
And further your intents as his own weal.  
I'll thither haste with speed, if so you please,  
That his presence your Griefs, in his, may ease.  Galatea. 
Th'advice is good; yet him my Love not show, Extent All but Leo●●●●.  
Haste, Leonida; Fear says thou art too slow.  Leonida. 
I will not tax thee for unequal Flames, To herself.  
Titles are but Policies empty Names,  
Whilst Love, like Death, casteth those sceptres by,  
And gives all nature's works Equality.  
Had not the same Object, with equal Fire  
Inflamed my Soul, I'd cherished thy desire:  
Which in pretence of duty to the State,  
My jealous Love by Craft must violate.    


Scene 1. Act. 2.  Phillis, Diana, Astraea. Phillis. 
OUr discontinued Sports we must repair,  
Lest yielding Sorrows should our thoughts ensnare,  Diana. 
I saw some Company in yonder Plain;  
Let's bend our Courses them to entertain.  Leonida. 
Leonida appears: With a little stop. ●●rook with a kind of wonder. To herself. My uncle's absence gives me leave awhile,  
In rural Sports my Passion to beguile;  
As if a second Emulation drove  
T'a new Trial each goddess from above▪  
Nature is but a Niggard in our Courts,  
Prodigal here, beyond weak fame's reports;  
To them. Your flourishing Graces have made me poor,  
In my weak wishes to salute your store.  Phillis. 
Fair Nymph, if any such in us you see,  
'Tis from your Presence they imparted be.  Leonida. 
Nay, fair One, to vie( 'tis not my Pretence)  
With such false coin, might cost your Innocence.  
Leave that unto the self-deceiving Court,  
I come to partake of your Love and Sport.  Diana. 
Your honoured Presence will their worths exter.  
If your high raised Thoughts can so low descend.  Leonida. 
Rather such humble Calmness will enure▪ Sylvander appears on the Scene, walking as ●ot heedi●● them.  
To greater Thoughts, true Greatness to ensure.  
What Shepherd's that?  Diana. 
'Tis One in whom appears  
Nothing that's rustic, but the Coat he wears,  
Yet so insensible( I mean to Love)  
That any's Conquest he disdains to prove.  Leonida. 
Of whence?  Phillis. 
That were impossible to show,  
Since he himself the same ne'er yet could know:  
His Extraction he thinks hath been from hence,  
Which makes him here to place his Residence.  Diana. 
He sees us not; else his civil Aboard  
Would of himself more knowledge you afford,  Phillis. 
●air Nymph, wilt please you him to entertain?  Leonida. 
●our Character's too fair that to refrain.  Phillis 
He salutes them, but passeth by, the speaking to him turns back. Is this the fashion of those greater Towns  
Where you were bred, who us entitle Clowns,  
Our Entertainments thus to interrupt,  
And second it with a Depart abrupt?  Sylvander. 
Since 'twas m'ill hap, such Error to commit,  
The fault is less, not to continue it.  Diana. 
'Twas rather that no Object here you saw,  
You from yourself thought worthy to withdraw;  
Yet if on this fair Nymph your eyes you turn,  
you're too insensible if you not burn.  Sylvander. 
Fair Shepherdess, Loves sole attractive Ties  
Are only bred by equal Sympathies:  
The Disproportion 'twixt her worth and mine,  
May easily discharge me of that Crime.  Leonida. 
where's the Difference? in Body or in Mind?  
Y'ave equal Properties of both I find.  Sylvander. 
Fair Nymph, of every thing the real Prize,  
Not from th' Appearance, but the use doth rise;  
Else many Beasts'fore Man we might commend,  
In many Properties they him transcend.  
Yet since They for man's Use, Man for the Gods  
Was made, in Dignity this gives Man th' odds.  
The Gods which thus distinguished have each thing,  
Imparting worth as they design their Being,  
Were taxable, if equal Worth th' ordain  
In you for Nymph, in me but for a Swain.  Leonida. 
But why, these fair Ones then since as you say  
Of like Condition, could not they you stay?  Sylvander. 
The Lesser still gives place unto the Great.  Diana. 
Disdainful Swain, so lightly us to treat.  Sylvander. 
That is not such, which of her is a Part.  Diana. 
We have enough to force a milder Heart.  Sylvander. 
The principal you want that to fulfil.  Diana. 
And what may that be?  Sylvander. 
Fair One 'tis your will.  Phillis. 
Which is so contrary to that Effect, To Sylva●●er.  
As even Sylvander's is i'th' same respect.  Sylvander. 
●air Astraea I be you my Sanctuary, He ●●em● t●●ly behin● A●tre●▪  
●o shield me from invading Treachery.  Diana. 
Mine's the Outrage; whilst me thus to protect,  
She renders both my Cause and Force suspect.  Sylvander. 
Rather by th' last Stroke, seeing me o'erthrown,  
she'd steal that Glory you had made your Own.  Phillis. 
As though your worth were so consid'rable,  
To vanquish you were somewhat ho●'rable:  
But leaving Words, it by th' Effects let's prove,  
What Shepherdess hath it engaged to love?  Sylvander. 
All those to which it hath applied my Thought.  Phillis. 
As you would say, you yet ne'er any sought,  
Which shows your want of Courage or of Wit,  
Seeing what's lovely, and not loving it.  Sylvander. 
Or want of Will the same to undertake.  Phillis. 
Such is the proud Pretence you seem to make.  
To this Troop I appeal; what words can't clear,  
Let Demonstration make it to appear.  Leonida. 
That is but just.  Diana. 
To that we all agree.  Phillis. 
Then fair Diana you the Judge shall be;  
Enjoin him strait some Shepherdess to serve,  
On whose forced Love he prove he doth deserve.  Diana. 
Love violence to suffer doth disdain,  
But what his Object sweetly doth constrain;  
Yet thus much I ordain, on One he try,  
With due Respect to gain an Am●ty.  Sylvander. 
Though you pass Judgement ere you hear me speak,  
I do assent; Nor this decree will break,  
Provided such she be, you me design,  
Have Worth and Knowledge to distinguish mi●●.  Phillis. 
You seek Evasion you in vain to free;  
For even Diana's self the same shall be;  
She wanteth neither; none can it gainsay, Diana ●eem● a verse to that motion.  
She hath Worth worth to judge, Worth worth to pay.  Leonida. 
Nay fair One you're engaged too far to fly.  Astraea. 
'Tis the nymph's request, you must not deny.  Diana. 
So that three Moons decreased he not presume  
( My judgement past) such liberty t'assume.  Sylvander. 
To which he vows, with Purity no less  
He knelt and kisses 〈◊〉 hand. Then sacred Veftals, when they do profess.  
To you, fair Mistress, one Plaint I prefer  
For wrongs I suffer.  Diana. 
Say what you'd infer.  Sylvander. 
If because my Worth against one did it despise,  
I vainly held, to Proof condemned arise;  
Why ought not she, who, than I, vainer far,  
Suffer the like, being Author of this war?  Astraea. 
So just a suitor cannot be denied.  Leonida. 
It pretty music is, thus to divide.  Diana. 
Say there what is't?  Sylvander. 
That she research in Love  
Some Swain, th' advantage of her Worth to prove.  Diana. 
'Twere unreasonable; Reason doth not tie  
To make good aught with breach of Decency:  
On some Shepherdess she shall try the same.  Phillis. 
Let it Astraea be.  Astraea. 
That were your shame,  
That you suspect your Merit 'twill be thought,  
To choose work to your hand already wrought.  Leonida. 
This difference by one Judge should be decreed.  Astraea. 
Diana, 'tis your second Charge.  Phillis. She kisses Diana. 
Agreed.  Tyrsis, Leonice, Hylas. 

A SONG. They appear at far end of the Scene.  

TH'all-conquering Archers, All's Birth and End  
For Mastery By Tyrsis.  
Their Force do try  
Their Empires to extend.   

Death, in my Cleon, Loves Force did defeat:  
Love in my Heart,  
By her Desert,  
Frames yet a living Seat,   

Where she still lives; nor was it she that died;  
Our mutual souls  
Exchanging moles,  
'Tis I that death have tried.   

But thou, my Cleon, though thou scapdest this▪  
As thy Death me,  
My Sorrow thee  
Will quickly overthrow.    Leonida. 
What Shepherd's that which Sings?  Sylvander. 
'Tis one bewails  
His Mistress Death, whom Love again assails  
By th' Importunities of a new Desire,  
Inviting him to quench his former Fire.  Leonida. 
That Shepherdess you mean.  Sylvander. 
Fair Nymph, the same;  
You more shall know, when we them entertain.  

A SONG.  

By Hylas. FIe, fie upon this whining Love,  
Which Love's best flower fades;  
Love should Delight, but no Grief prove:  
Such Love weak Souls invades.   

Each hour a Beauty, as in May  
You would a fragrant Rose,  
Choose, choose; for wingy Times decay  
Hastes ere It doth disclose.    Leonida. 
This last it seems is of another Mind.  Sylvander. 
Fair Nymph, the pleasantest that you e'er shall find.  
To all Objects he doth his Heart enure,  
That who gives him the wound, may give the Cure.  Leonida. 
He's no Deceiver that declares the same.  Sylvander. 
He makes his Glory what we think his Shame.  Hylas. 
Should I, as you, each Mistress Loss lament, I'th'th' interim they come up to the fire of the Scene.  
Eternity not bound could griefs extent.  Tyrsis. 
Were you as I, you need lament but One.  Hylas. 
Were you as I, you would lament for None.  
Heartless Mistress, will you not Courage take,  
This shepherd's scornful usage to forsake?  Leonice. 
I grieve that thus my want of power is shown,  
Not for your Consid'ration, but my Own.  Hylas. 
Well, since you are of the same humour still,  
Though you command not yours, I do my will,  
I take my Leave, or else will give it you, Holds out his hand.  
My love grows Stale, I must exchange a New.  Sylvander. 
To Tyrsis. Gentle Shepherd, the cause of your sad Fate,  
Our country's custom wils you to relate.  Tyrsis. 
Knelt. First unto heaven my thanks, and then to you;  
What you desire to hear, we both must sue:  
By you it is th'Oracle doth intend  
To give our difference and our sorrow's end.  Sylvander. 
How haps e'er now so much you me ne'er told!  
Y'ave seen me often.  Tyrsis. 
He takes a little bills out of his Scrip and reads the Oracle. Oracle. even so heaven it would.  
Where Lignons crooked Stream doth flow,  
You shall a curious Shepherd see,  
Who first shall seek your Griefs to know;  
Him hear, for he your Judge shall be.  
Here of the Issue we have long desired,  
But you're the first that it of us required.  Sylvander. 
You must make vow t'observe what I decree.  Tyrsis. 
As to the Gods.  Leonice. 
We both to It agree.  Sylvander. 
To Diana, and takes her by the ●●nd. Fair Mistress, are you not disposed to sit?  Phillis. 
Your honour to the Nymph you do forget.  Sylvander. 
It should be so indeed in civil ties; They sit all but Leonice, and Tyrsis.  
But Loves rights are preferred 'fore Ceremonies.  Leonice. 
Most worthy judge, I hope you'll condescend Addressing herself, to Sylvander, who is more eminently seated then the rest.  
To me, as plaintiff, first your ear to bend.  Sylvander. 
It is your right:  Leonice. 
Be pleased then to know,  
Unto what Country we our beings owe.  
Night that great City, which, as says old Fame,  
From the Goddesses Judge first took the Name,  
Of one Cottage we are, and equal State;  
Nature seemed each for Other to create,  
Till like a harsh Stepdame she did produce  
A third, whose memory these Floods unsluice: She seems to weep.  
Whether with greater Endowments or less,  
● do not know; yet Greater you may guess,  
Since he thought so, whose thoughts alone give prize  
To all Beauty, at leastwise in my Eyes:  
He, as I him, pursues with eager Flames  
My happier Rival; me and my Love disdains.  
She yields at length? for who could him resist  
●n Love? I'm sure my bonds I often kissed  
Neglected; here his cruelty not stayed,  
But with new slights he me the author made  
Of my ruin; to cover, or provoke  
●heir exchanged Fires; he stoops to feigned Yoke,  
Makes me the Object, yet with her advice,  
So cunningly; that, thriving his disguise,  
As they intend, the world's eye to divert,  
He then on me the same craft would revert,  
Though for unequal Purposes; for now,  
Holding my facile Faith, with displeased brow,  
He dislikes what he sought; The world, he says,  
Doth over clearly on our freedoms gaze;  
Which to prevent, though true, he seems to feign  
Love unto Clëon, Clëon was her name:  
And this his Craft yet better to disguise,  
He me entreats her him to love advise;  
But juster heaven, whilst me he thus deceives,  
By Clëons' Death; Clëon's Love him bereaves.  
Yet, as to wrong my Love, he did delight,  
Fantastic Love he cherisheth with spite.  
She making reverence, retires Justice, just Judge, for this Abuse, I crave;  
Yet but his Love I seek, or else my Grave.  Sylvander. 
Gentle Shepherd, y'ave Liberty to speak.  Tyrsis. 
More Gentle Judge, more words we need not break,  
With obei●ance The Truth is said; The Truth we must avow;  
Yet this Request vouchsafe us to allow;  
That each, by lot an Advocate may have,  
So he appointed who th' Oracle gave.  Sylvander. 
Giving each a glove, they draw Lots. ti's granted you; who takes his Own must plead.  Hylas. 
Hylas forth' living;  Phillis. 
Phillis for the dead.  Hylas. 
Nature herself, whose true Rules cannot err, Hylas ●●●deth forth and makes his obeisance.  
Two invincible Arguments doth infer  
In this Different; and by a double Tye,  
This our Cause grants, the others doth deny,  
In this Shepherdess, both Beauty and Love:  
The 'ffect of One the Gods themselves do prove,  
Pigmalyon● like from the work of their hand:  
The other is wise nature's firmest band,  
Wherewith Sh'unites the world; whose purest Fire  
( No other Incense) do the Gods require;  
And shall weak Man then dare thus to reject,  
What Gods and Nature hallow with Respect?  
Th' other Objection, that doth him deny  
What he affects, Is Contrariety,  
Love's only Opposite his enemy;  
Can there 'twixt Life and Death be amity?  
Besides, man's Piety should even dread  
Thus to disturb the quiet of the Dead.  
Just Judge, to you thus I my Reasons show, He make●● obeisance, and reti●●●.  
My charge to clear; not, that you them not know.  Phillis. 
That self same Nature, whose spotless Decree Phillis wi●● obe●●ance 〈◊〉 the Judge ●tands 〈◊〉  
You would wrest to your Purpose; she, even she,  
By equal power of Beauty, and of Love,  
Reigns in this shepherd's heart; though yet above  
To Hylas. Your Apprehension; or your Loves Pretence,  
Which makes Love only th' Object of the Sense.  
But thou wouldst have him them again to try,  
As though in nature's Laws were a diversity.  
No, Shepherd, no; Disorder would o'erthrow  
What Nature links, if she proceeded so.  
True Love, of two souls is the unity,  
Which may without the Bodies Union be.  
If this you grant( as who can truth deny?)  
His Loves Object still lives; Souls cannot die:  
But thou think'st, th' are disjoined by heaven's distance,  
Know'st not her piercing nature, whose swift glance  
Can pass each sphere in twinkling of an eye,  
Nor can hers less, puts on Divinity;  
Besides, Love is an Act so freely born,  
Even our own wills subjection it doth scorn.  
How then can loathed Importunity gain,  
What our conspiring Selves cannot constrain.  
Just judge, they do themselves themselves deny,  
That ask of us Impossibility.  Sylvander. 
The chiefest point wherein ye agitate,  
With obey. ●ance she retires. Stands up. Is, if Loves Essence subject be to Fate,  
Perishable or not; Love hath two objects,  
The Body and the Soul; since both Effects  
This Shepherd feels; The Gods in me pronounce  
The Body perishable, such Love he renounce;  
But since soul's Love, as herself, cannot die,  
He that continue to Eternity;  
And that this Shepherdess her Pretences cease,  
Your vows observe, and sanctify your Peace.  Tyrsis. 
As ●eav'ns Edict!  Leonice. 
While my unruly Fire  
Threatening Revenge exchangeth into Ire.   

Scene. 2. Act. 2.  Parish, Adamas: encounter: Paris. 
IN your absence, Leonida hath been here, With re●erence.  
With such a haste as might beget a fear.  Adamas. 
Pray heaven the Nymph be well; where is she gone?  Paris. 
To yonder Plain she bent her course, alone,  
As I suppose herself to recreate  
●n rural Pastimes innocent Debate,  
Till your return;  Adamas. 
Haste, it to let her know.  
And in thy search, Paris, be not too slow;— E●it P●ris.  
● am in pain, till I the Subject hear Leonida appears: He ●●bra 〈◊〉 her:  
Of her arrive; and scarce delay can bear;  
So unexpected! how Fares the Nymph?  Leonida. 
Lost  
If by your happier hand that Sate's not crossed.  Adamas. 
Be brief;  Leonida. 
Oh sir! drop reg've scarcely had the time  
To know myself, since I disclosed a Crime  
Scarce hatched, from the Authors own glorying tongue.  
From which, perhaps, our ruins might gave sprung.  
As in my way, day's heat did me invade,  
I sought the shelter of a milder shade;  
Where being no sooner laid, a voice I heard,  
Which I well knew, though nought of him appeared  
It was Polemas, Lyndamors Rival,  
Their Love to Galatea's known to all.  
Polemas guilty of his own Desert,  
His slighted Courtship did at length convert  
To Stratagem; such, suspected of none,  
Till now to me, unseen, It was made known.  
While Clemanthe,( his Instrument) declares  
Him the procession of their false affairs.  
I blush to speak it; It was in this wise;  
In hermit's habit, he did him disguise;  
Nigh us, betakes him to a lonely Cell;  
'Twere too tedious, each circumstance to tell;  
How( when the Nymph did thither oft repair,  
As she intends, to sanctify her prayer.)  
This Impostor did strangely us beguile;  
In sum, as he could wish, so throve his wile;  
The Nymph with Faith he did possess, that she  
Should see that man, which should her husband be,  
If she would happiness enjoy; if not,  
Foretells, sh'incurtes a miserable Lot.  
The Place he did discover in a glass:  
Appoin'ts the Time, and Person, Polemas,  
Who should have us encountered there; but he  
Failing his Time; our well-led Charity  
Succurred an half drowned Shepherd, in whom,  
Galatea, prepossessed, believes her Doom;  
But the enamoured Shepherd doth reject  
Her Flames, seeming some other to respect:  
Yet she against honour, Reason, or his Hate,  
Vows to enthrone him in her Bed, and State.  
Yet my commission bids not this declare;  
Sir, he's fallen sick; which threats a new despair;  
In whose succour I'm sent t'implore your aid;  
Which cannot, but by miracle, be allayed;  
Save him; or save him not; such is her Doom;  
Her honour, or herself you must entomb.  Adamas. 
Do not despair, these clouds I'll quickly clear.  Leonida. 
Alas? my own love painteth thus my Fear! To herself.   

Scene 1. Act 2.  Sylvander. 
Victorious Archer, whose self-pleasing spoils  
Filleth my bosom with these homebred broils!  
Accept thy Conquest: I do not resist;  
But against a yielding Heart no more insist:  
Why representest thou still her glorious train  
Of charming Graces to reinforce my Pain?  
I 'fore thy shrine, like innocent victim stand;  
To sacrifice myself with mine own hand.  
Thus sporting in thy Flame, like silly fly,  
I sing my wings, and for that Folly die.  
If this the sacred Storehouse of thine Arms  
I have by stealth attempted, Mine own harms  
Punish that Crime; while rashly I aspire,  
Prometheus' Pain must follow my Desire.  
If for some God's Abode this Structure's raised,  
M Impiety's punished o'er curiously t' have gazed,  
While this Diana's presence I invade;  
Unto my rau'nos thoughts I am betrayed;  
If, as her worth, thou seekest t' enlarge despair,  
I will, with thee, against myself prepare  
This second Fuel: Her too much worth implies,  
That I must prove her double Sacrifice.  
Yet, Love, thou art too covetous be unjust force  
He seem●● to l●e him down to sleep. All Duties to thyself thus to engross:  
Forget not nature's rights, lest hers o'erthrown,  
Thou dost thyself deprive thee of thine Own.  Leonida, Celadon. Leonida. Leonida and Celadon appear upon the Scene with a woman's garment loosely cast about him. 
By this Disguise from those Bonds I thee free,  
Which all,( neglecting all) court, sovereignty:  
Nor wonder I, that thou dost it despise,  
Thou more subiectest with those commanding Eyes;  
Yet foolish I, thus to obey thy will,  
Steal thee from other; but myself do kill:  Celadon. 
Fair Nymph, do not that Beauty so debase,  
To sue, who should be sought to; nor desace  
The image of that Love, I did discover;  
I know you'd not accept a faithless Lover.  Leonida. 
Well; since to other destined is that heart,  
Gentle swain, vouchsafe me this to impart,  
That in your memory friendly place I have.  Celadon. 
Worth'est of Friends, even such unto my grave,  
Else may heaven's heau'est vengeance me pursue.  
A thousand thanks. They embrace Exit 〈◊〉,  Leonida. 
A thousand times adieu.  Celadon. 
Alas! my flight my Prison but extends,  
Since with my life my Bondage only end's.  
Can the World's vastest limits other be,  
For bad be Astraea Astraea not to see.  
Thus being deprived my Sun, day's clearest light  
Shall be to me but as the blackest Night.  
I'll in this Desert seek some hollow Cave  
Shall be to me a Mansion, and a Grave.  
Asleep! if grief these lights have not ore'thrown, H● spies Sylvand●●●sleep.  
Surely, methinks this Shepherd I have known.  
It is Sylvander, whose yet closed Lids,  
His Sorrows swelling Ruptures not forbids:  
Alas, poor Friend● I have heard of the change  
Thou hast made of thy Peace; nor think it strange,  
Thy Heart hath still harboured noblest Desires:  
And such Love thinketh fittest for his fires:  
Yet Mayest thou happier therein be than I,  
Whose only Love proves only Misery.  
The occasions fair; I will it not debate,  
I feel the hasty Summons of my Fate,  
Though Celadon be exiled Astraeas' sight,  
He puts his hand in his scrip, takes out pen and paper, and writes, and folds it up. Yet sure t' Astraea Celadon may write.  
More happy paper! haste unto her hand,  
Not to recall her over-harsh Command,  
But to assure her, since such is her will,  
Approaching Death her Sentence shall fulfil:  
While, unrepining, Hers I do depart,  
Though ruder Fate hath robbed me of her Heart.  
If but one tear her cheek thou chance to lave,  
I wish no other Monument to my Grave;  
Puts it in his hand. and goes ou●. Wakens and rising discovers the letter: He reads it. To thee, Sylvander, this office I commend,  
Even as the last any shall me befriend.  Sylvander. 
Ha! a letter! am I asleep or wake?  
If I still dream not, how came I this to take▪  
LETTER. To the most loved and most fair Shepherdess of the universe, The most unfortunate, and most faithful of her Servants, wisheth that weal, which Fortune him denies.  
My extreme Affection shall never consent to give the name of Pain or Punishment to what by your Command I suffer: Nor shall ever permit Complaint to come from that mouth was only destined for your Praise: But It may permit me to say, that the State wherein I am( which an Other would perhaps, think insupportable) contenteth me; insomuch as I know, you will, and ordain It such. Be not scrupulous to extend yet farther( if possible) your commands; I shall still continue my Obedience, to the end that if my Life hath not been capable to assure my fidelity, my Death may.  
'Tis doubtless I; the daemon guards my Soul,  
Reading my passion, doth it here enrol.  
To the most fair; Diana must be she: Looks upon the letter.  
And most beloved; that, sure is meant of me.  
Then she, not other object such love can give:  
Then I, n' other subject such love receive.  
Thanks my good Geni'us; better skilled than I,  
With their own figure dost my thoughts supply.   

Scene. 4. Act. 2.  Leonice, Lycidas: encounter▪ Leonice. 
PRopitious Fate; as I could wish! 'tis he; To herself.  
Now thrive my Vengeance by my subtlety.  
Gentle Shepherd! saw you not pass this way To him.  
A lonely Swain, seems from himself to stray?  Lycidas. 
Fair Shepherdess, how should I know the same?  Leonice. 
'tis One, doth his dead Mistress Loss complain;  
I heard he in the Company should be  
Of Phillis, and her Servant:  Lycydas. 
who is he?  Leonice. 
He's sensible I see;— 'tis one they call  
Silander or Sylvander, slender, and tall; To herself.  Lycidas. 
By what judge you him her Servant to be?  Leonice. 
By some seen freedoms of their Amity;  
Which to my own Practice therein applied,  
That they are Lovers should not be denied,  Lycidas. 
To himself. She speaks my fears; yet she a stranger is  
To them, or me, which confirms true it is.  Leonice. 
You saw none such?  Lycidas. 
Not any, pass this way.  Leonice. 
Good morrow swain.  Lycidas. 
To you a better day.  
Exit leonince What Perfection can Man in woman find,  
That may arrest the Levity of her Mind?  Phillis. Diana, Astraea, She aboards Lycidas who Walks in a discontented posture. She takes him by the arm. He flings from her, goes out and she follows him. Phillis. 
Why walks my shepherd with so sad a cheer?  Lycidas. 
As thou were't innocent!— away, forbear.  Diana. 
What sudden change is this?  Astraea. 
His hate to me,  
Since his brother's death.  Diana. 
Or his jealousy.  
Our purer Fire bent to each other sex,  
This churlish Inmate us can never vex. She kisses her.  Astraea. 
I must not so conclude; for even now  
I feel those Flames, that you so disavow,  Diana. 
As how?  Astraea. 
I fear by that intended Tress, Diana having a bracelet of hair in her hand.  
Others than I more favour should possess.  Diana. 
'Tis but for Wager; I am wholly Thine; Smiling. Embraces her. They sit down seeming to finish it.  
Come, thou shalt help the Residue to twine.  Astraea. 
You blame th' Effects, yet still the Means supply  
To administer to that jealousy.  
If Sylvander see this his Rival wear,  
Impossible 'twere this Passion to forbear.  Diana. 
I think she sought it with the same Intent.  Astraea. 
And as unjustly you her it assent.  Diana. 
As how?  Astraea. 
In this to make his Enemy  
Sylvander stralingly approacheth. Triumph before determined Victory;  
You are their Judge, and should with equal Eye,  
As doth the Sun, reflect your Clemency.  Diana. 
And surpriseth them. She for this Favour made to me her suit.  Astraea. 
And you, like Fortune, must reject the mute.  Sylvander. 
Knelt to Diana. If nothing else remain, on bended knee  
I shall for It devoutest Suppli'ant be.  Astraea. 
How, Sylvander! are you become so bold  
T'intrude your Mistress privacies, t'unfold  
Her secrets?  Sylvander. 
Fair Shepherdess, they're mine Own,  
Which not of her learned, are to myself unknown.  
But my rude Fate leads now but me to show  
In m'Enemies Glory mine own overthrow.  
Fair Mistress, if but yourself to free  
Fro'th' violence of Importunity,  
You granted this: to greater Flames design  
Your equal Bounties; hers cannot equal mine.  Astraea. 
Why so? one Object doth you both inflame;  
Why follows not, th' Effects should be the same?  Sylvander. 
Difference is not from th' Agents Quality,  
But from the Pati'ent's Incapacity;  
So doth the equal Sun on either shine,  
Corrupt the dunghill, but every the mine.  Astraea. 
Then must her Love of yours th' Advantage gain,  
Since hers produceth what yours can't obtain.  Sylvander. 
Not by defect of Love, but unjust Fate,  
Which against the worthiest still doth bend his hate.  Astraea. 
You have a double Conquest still in me;  
Your En'my will your Intercessor be.  
Shall Phillis interest against us both prevail? Yo Dia●●.  
My Share's but light if't cannot turn the Scale.  Diana. 
You wrong my Love Competitor to take; To Astraea.  
The expired term must restitution make. She flings Sylvander the bracelet.  Sylvander. 
As for my being such Gratitude I owe, To Phillis returning somewhat disturbed. 〈◊〉 shows the bracelet.  
I pay it you, since you it better so.  
Where's now your boasting ensigns of Desert?  Phillis. 
The want thereof that doth on thee revert.  Sylvander. 
How mean you that?  Phillis. 
To th' balance light in weight  
Must still be added a superflu'ous Freight.  Sylvander. 
So doth the Envi'ous miserable blame  
What his own fruitless Travel can't obtain.  Phillis. 
To Diana and Astraea. It is to you my just Ire should extend,  
Who violate the rights of Judge and Friend.  Sylvander. 
Fair Mistress, prudent Love that reads our hearts,  
Hath justly thus rewarded our Deserts;  
For now you see her jealousy doth prove,  
That she incapable is of true Love.  Phillis. 
How so?  Sylvander. 
Love still is an active desire,  
Kindled by virtue of a secret Fire;  
But jealousy( you know) a passive Fear,  
Which always barren coldness Ensigns bear;  
In one at once Contraries cannot be,  
Nor Phillis feel both Love and jealousy.  Phillis. 
The coldest Flint oft Fire doth unfold.  Sylvander. 
●ut yet the fire ne'er produceth cold.  Phillis. 
Ashes, which are, it doth.  Sylvander 
So't may be said,  
Jealousy is sign of Love, but Love that's dead.  Diana. 
As ancient ruins signs of Buildings are;  
Not that still Such they be, but such they were.  Phillis. 
My Judge my Adversary? my cause must fail, Sylvander lets fall a Letter.  
When they should It protect, do it assail.  Astraea. 
No more of this Subject; for as I fear,  
Phillis in this Case hath a Cause more near. Phillis takes it up.  Phillis. 
'Tis Celadons; how comes it to his hand?  Astraea. 
His Mistress that of him may best command.  Diana. 
Servant: whose Letters this? to whom addressed?  Sylvander. With a little astonishment, mi●les the Letter. 
That ●n my Heart your Beauties have expressed,  
Conferred with th' Inscription, to you which are  
Of all the most Beloved and most Fair;  
From your faithful, unhappy servant, me.  Diana. 
If so, this would your own hand-writing be.  Sylvander. 
Finding a better Secretar'e than I,  
With his Expressions I mine own supply;  
Which must proceed from some Agent divine,  
Since it to your Hand comes, as't came to mine.  Diana. 
What riddle's this?  Sylvander. 
Last night o'er charged with thought,  
In yonder Grove my Sense asleep was brought;  
Waking, with wonder I was seized to find  
So lively Characters of my dying Mind,  
Which I intended to yourself; but see  
My better Genius hath prevented me.  Diana. 
Could you not, think you, guide us to that place?  Sylvander. 
Takes her by the hand and leads her out. They follow My best Endeavours shall that Hope embrace.    


Scene 1. Act. 3.  Leonida, Adamas. Leonida. 
IT was not far from hence I saw him last,  
Who●e scarce known Visage Grief had so overcast,  
As't had not left one Character to be  
Deciphered for another Misery.  
So well delineated the angry Gods  
To see in Criminals would let fall their Rods.  
From yonder Stream oft he his Thirst allayed,  
And what his Hands took forth, his Eyes repaied.  
Him hasting to aboard, his flying Fear  
Avoided me, his Sorrows to endear.  Adamas. 
The heavens will guide us, who do me ordain  
To heal my Own, in curing of his Pain.  
Their Oracle I late consulted have,  
Who me, as readily, this Answer gave.  Oracle. 
Seek that Shepherd, and him unite  
To his Mistress in Hymen's right;  
Só shall be ended his Annoy,  
And thy Age crowned with endless Joy.  Leonida. 
I hear a voice, but the o'er charged Bows  
T'approach the same no passage us allows.  

SONG.  

The Scene is changed by the discovery of an arbour, wh●r●in ●eladon sits ●nd sings. DUll jailor of Mortality,  
Why wilt thou not accept this thy right?  
Waitest not sometimes on charity?  
Or art thou always armed with spite?  
I am nothing but voice,  
To cry, to cry, Night and Day to cry  
Ah! Astraea, Astraea, Astraea!  
If Celadon be dead to your Eye,  
Raise him with a milder Ray.   

Or dost her Image Reverence bear?  
Thou dar'st not strike my flaming Heart.  
Eternal be my Pain, thy Fear;  
For from't I ne'er will consent to part,  
Echo like waste to voice,  
To cry, to cry, &c.    Celadon. 
He comes forth his arbour. Not only Death, but each thing doth forsake  
Their proper Nature, wretched me to make.  
To himself. That angry God, whose force I long have tried,  
Against his power his power seems to divide.  
Love doth itself, elsewhere, by Absence kill:  
But ah! in Mine, Love doth but Love fulfil.  
These unfrequented Shades, m'infernal cell▪  
With hollow whist'ling Winds my funeral knell,  
Though Emblems of Horror, cease to affright▪  
And to augment my Grief, do it delight.  
And thou fair Stream, Repriever of my Life,  
Thy Nature bade thee then to end this Strife;  
But thou denydest, foreseeing from mine Eyes,  
T'enlarge thy flood a second Source should rise. He discovers them and seems to ●●ie. Takes hold of him.  Leonida. 
Fly not, but from thyself, whose Cruelty  
Hath thus betrayed our failing Charity;  Adamas. 
Was it for this that thou didst me require,  
Free thee from Others, against thyself conspire?  
But thou t'obey thy Mistress seemest bent;  
Not thee to lose, but try, was her Intent.  
Improvidence 'twere that trial t'undergo,  
Wherewith we should the tried overthrow.  Celadon. 
Not me to try, but because I incurred her Hate,  
She thus ordains me to this banished State.  Adamas. 
That act of hate, was but th'effect of Love,  
Jealousy, which this Evidence doth remove:  Celadon. 
Not her Sentence,  Adamas. 
Thus observed, did she know,  
A second Sentence would that overthrow.  Celadon. 
She cannot err, nor other witness needs,  
Save this my Heart which t'her immolished bleeds.  Leonida. 
Will you then Murder to her charge thus lay,  
For so you must, if thus yourself you slay.  Celadon. 
No more than when before their Shrine doth fall  
Th' innocent Lamb, the Gods we guilty call.  Leonida. 
Those are their own, and they may them require.  Celadon. 
So am I hers, to whom I now expire.  Adamas. 
But you against heaven's will, can't yourself dispose.  Celadon. 
Such is heaven's will; those Beauties who disclose,  
Printing thereon their vis'ible Majesty,  
Not disobeyed without Impiety.  Adamas. 
Beauty, 'tis true, is of the Gods a Ray,  
But not the Matter must the Form obey:  
That were to change th' order of Providence,  
Since the one gives the other's Excellence.  
Perhaps youl'l say 'tis th' Intellectu'l part  
That holdeth this Predominance o'er your Heart:  
That neither must; for Forms Equality  
Must not exact of Forms sou'raignity.  Celadon. 
But by the power of Love ours One became;  
And what One wills, the other wils the same.  Adamas. 
I must seek to supplant by Craft, not Strength. To himself.  
Unto this course of Life, of Time what length  
Do you assign?  Celadon. 
Alas! I must not choose;  
My souls Functions, who I them gave, must use.  Adamas. 
Still seeking her Command, would you her see?  Celadon. 
Extend not Hope t'impossibility.  Adamas. 
The Gods by special order have decreed  
You to my Charge, and if you be agreed,  
I shall Means find t'effect what I do say.  Celadon. 
I do assent, so I still her obey.  Adamas. 
Name the same Words, which her commandment bear.  Celadon. 
Till commanded 'fore her I not appear.  Adamas. 
The Gods themselves do favour thy Content.  
I have a Daughter for thy Safety lent,  
Doth so resemble thee in Form, like clad,  
Knowledge of Either scarcely can be had.  
She by the custom of our Law's designed  
( From her Childhood) to live by vow confined;  
Yetis dispensed the same to forego,  
If slightest Sickness threat anOverthrow:  
Great Ill't portends, if any there do die;  
She, I'll give out, is sick; while you supply  
Her place, and Habit, t'entertain each day  
Your fair Mistress, yet her notdisobey.  Celadon. 
How can that be?' fore her I must appear.  Adamas. 
As Alexis, not Celadon you were.  Celadon. 
I submit to yourPrudence.  Adamas. 
Thenretire,  
And straight I'll send you disguisingAttire.   

Scene 2. Act 3.  Sylvander, Diana, Astraea, Phillis. Sylvander. 
Leads her by thehand. SAy fair Mistress, what Judgement may we prove  
In yourfair Thoughts on different of ourLove?  Diana. 
Phillis, methinks, scarce counterfeiteth well;  
The mast'rie's yours; youher in It excel.  Sylvander. 
It were Impiety so toprophane  
Divine Beauty with inexpi'able stain.  
It's true, at first, Love did lay down his Arms,  
To Sport, not Fight, to shewth'force of your Charms  
In this his facile Conquest; But eu'nnow,  
That I his purest Flames do feel, do vow  
Even by thoseyour own sacred Beams, whose light  
Hath found a way to Murder withDelight.  Diana. 
'Tis better still toconfirm what I say,  
But better lose this Subject than ourWay.  
Have we yet far unto theplace?  Sylvander. 
You hill  
Will our Journey, with your commandfulfill.  Diana. 
It seemsimpassible.  Sylvander. 
I'll force aWay. He makes 〈◊〉 though he would gobefore.  Astraea. 
And leave yourEnemy here you tobetray.  Sylvander. 
Friendly warning; Fair Mistress her command  
To this your Service that she join herhand.  Phillis. 
Now you are guilty of the same Suspect,  
Of which you sought me lately todetect.  Sylvander. 
Not my Mistress, but Enemy 'tis Ifear.  Phillis. 
Therein your Jealousieof her is clear:  
If you do not suspect your MistrisLove,  
Why am I thus redoubtable It toprove?  Sylvander. 
Not of her Love, but of your Treachery.  Phillis. 
you're Jealous then of her Sufficiency;  
For to your advantage you heardher say,  
I had no skill the Counterfeit toplay.  Sylvander. 
On that belief dothyour Advantage rise,  
With greater ease, neglected, tosurprize.  Phillis. 
To Diana andAstraea. ●xtunt Sil. and Phil. I do assent to It, lest at thelength,  
He say I him o'ercome with Slight, not Strength.  Diana. 
What doth thisShepherd to thy Thoughts appear?  Astraea. Leonice ●●●alingly listens be●ind them. 
What youme ask unnto yourself is clear,  
Even so as Children in the Tapersflame  
Sport with their finger till they burn the same.  
Butwhat think you? how do you thisaffect?  Diana. 
Alas! myself I beginto suspect.  Astraea. 
Blush not, dear Companion, Love'sno gild; Leonice ●●●ires.  
If such it were, Beauty andWorth were spilt.  Leonice. 
This wasbut wanting, full Revenge to take,  
On which I will the sureFoundation make.  Sylvander, Hylas Phillis. Return Hylasencounters them. Sylvander. 
FairMistris, the Passage now is free,  
Something w'ave found worthCuriosity.  Hylas. 
Now Mistress, leavethat Shepherd; I suspect To Phillis.  
That with his Venomehe will thee infect;  
His false axioms have buried one alive;  
So will they thee, if thou with him survive.  Sylvander. 
What's he?  Hylas. 
Tyrsis, who Mortals hath forsaken,  
And to his grave, his Cell, hath him betook,  
In yonder forest, where with howling note,  
As do his fellow Wolves, set's forth his throat;  
A pretty effect of Love to court th'air,  
And for what can't be had so to despair.  Phillis. 
Servant, I think, my prayers were but in vain, To Hyla●.  
Should I implore you not incur the same.  Hylas. 
Spare them good Mistress, you may well suppose,  
That my wise Love some End will still propose.  
To Sylvan●er. What End hath his? you that his cause maintain's.  Sylvander. 
Love is a God, who himself entertains  
Within himself; nor doth he ought require  
Without himself to cherish his De●ire.  
He is the centre of his own Being,  
Whence his delight doth ever fall and spring,  
As you may see in a well figured Sphere,  
His End's beginning and end is eu'rywhere.  Hylas. 
A pretty mystery! Love doth nought require  
Forth his own self; Love then is no Desire,  
Since no Desire from what we have is known,  Sylvander. 
But this Desire, that makes of Two but One,  
Which both the Lover and the loved so chains,  
That wha●s desired It in itself contains.  Hylas. 
So, so, this proves my Grandames Saying true,  
Of one Error another doth ensue.  
If Lovers to their loved we changed could see,  
Than I not Hylas, but Phillis should be.  Syl●●nder. 
That follows not; for you do not her love;  
But such Effects I in Diana prove.  Hylas. 
Is not your Hat become her Hood? Looks on his hat.  Sylvander. 
Oh fie,  
You know 'tis not my Hat that loves, 'tis I.  Hylas. 
A modest Sepherdess, and Breeches wear!  
'Tis very strange!  Sylvander. 
Thus I these doubts will clear,  
It is the Soul all Actions doth produce,  
The Body but the instrument for her use;  
So that it being the Soul which only loves,  
'Tis the Soul only Transformation proves.  Hylas. 
But since I love the Body with the Mind,  
Why do not I now myself Phillis find?  Sylvander. 
It is Equality, that Love begets;  
The Body, Soul's inferior, it not admits;  
The Soul only the Soul can love; But see  
A more plain Reason for this Unity:  
The Understanding, Will, and Memory  
Are said the Soul in every Faculty.  
Of only what we know, can Love remain,  
The knowledge and thing known are but the same.  
Like Transformation doth each Function prove,  
Since they all join th' Affection but to move:  
Will to the willed, the Memory is brought  
Into the thing whereon it employs the Thought:  
If thus each Function, then must needs the Whole  
Transmute itself into the loved Soul.  Hylas. 
You fetch this far; yet this not much avails,  
Since still the body's Transformation fails.  Sylvander. 
Phillis Body of here's no part; for dead,  
Not that 'tis, but was Phillis, 'twould be said.  Hylas. 
Unite me to her Body, take the Rest,  
And see which of them both shall please us best.  Phillis. 
They advance to the far side of the theatre. You have too long withheld us; Night draws near.  Sylvander. 
Ha! a Temple, whose Inscription doth bear;  
From hence, far, far, avoid all ye  
Are untouched with Love's purit●.  
Within this sacred Grove each day  
Burneth a true immolished Heart,  
Which liveth only by loves Art  
T'adore the Goddess Astraea.  Diana. 
Is this the place y'intended us to lead?  Sylvander. 
I ne'er, before, on it did ever tread,  
I have mistake that way.  Phillis. 
May we draw nigh?  Sylvander. 
Not without reverence to this Deity.  
Thou diune power, who herein worshipped art, Make ●●●●●ance to the ●emple and goes in.  
Accept as thou requirest so pure a Heart.  Hylas. 
I do suspect my own Love's purity,  
He hath so oft told me the Contrary.  Phillis. 
Why how now Servant! is your Love so weak, They enter while Hyl●● lies dow● a● the door.  
It forceth you our Company to break?  Hylas. 
It is an Argument of my Piety;  
No jesting, Mistress, with a Deity.  Sylvander. 

The table of Love's laws, which to embrace He takes ou● a ●able and ●eads.  
He doth command on penalty of Disgrace.   

Who will a perfect Lover be,  
Mu what he loves, love inf●nitely:  
Extremity gives Love the prize,  
Mediocrity therein doth rise  
Rather from wa●'●ing Treachery,  
Then from a firm Fidelity.   

That he ne'er love but in one place,  
Which Love as a God let him embrace,  
That he adore It above all▪  
Nor thereof but one object shall;  
That every Bliss such do pretend,  
Still in, and for that subject End.   

All Pleasure he in it confine,  
And that he fix his chief design  
Unto that service, which t'increase,  
Self proper Love in him must cease;  
Unless as loved of's loves Object,  
Himself h'esteem for her Respect.   Hylas. 
I do believe what thou hast read, is ta'en  
From whence 'twas hatched, thy melancholy Brain;  
Which thou ventest as from this deity,  
To give thereto better Authority.  Sylvander. 
That might well be, if none could read but I.  Hylas. 
Confirm me with the sight thereof.  Sylvander. 
Not I.  
If your Body this holy place profane,  
Their holier Laws much more your Eyes will stain.  Phillis. 
Hydas steals forth the table, where ●nseen he altars them. 'Tis Celadons' hand.  Diana. 
And that Picture we see  
Upon the Altar, should Astraeas be.  Phillis. 
Then 'tis an Argument he is yet alive.  Astraea. 
My dying Sorrow do not again revive.  Phillis. 
This rather is a cause of Joy, than Grief.  Astraea. 
If you make him alive in my Belief,  
And prove it not; he is twice slain to me.  Sylvander. 
Our Druy'ds do teach us this Divinity;  
Those Bodies on earth unburieed remain,  
Their Souls still wander up and down the same;  
Such may be his; whose body being drowned,  
Could not be interred, because it could not be found.  
Yet in this Case, the Ceremonies will  
Appease his Ghost, if all rights we fulfil.  Astraea. 
Which my sad Piety shall undertake.  Diana. 
A druyed there is hard by; let's thither make.  Hylas. 
Mistress! I see, here dwells some deity;  
I feel a scruple of my Impiety  
In Love; and would an unfeigned Convert be,  
If that the Tables laws I might but see.  Phillis. 
Why you have heard them▪  Hylas. 
From an Enemy,  
Against me framed of Contrariety.  Diana. 
That is but just,  Sylvander. 
Though unprofitable,  
To fix a mind s'extreamly vari'able.  Hylas. 
Wilt thou engage thyself with me by vow,  
What is therein to follow and allow?  Sylvander. 
I will dispense with yours: Love is my tye.  Hylas. 
Phillis brings the ●able to him, and he reads. And what I find therein, such Ties will I,  
If thou wilt perfect lover be:  
What thou lov'st, love not inf'nitely.  Sylvander. 
Read right Shepherd:  Hylas. 
Mistress; do you oresee.  
Else he'll suspect, 'tis but my treachery.  
Phillis overlooks him. Med'ocrity, gives love the prize,  
Extremity therein doth rise  
Rather from a self Treachery.  
Then from a firm Fidelity:  Sylvander. 
Can it be so?  Phillis. 
I'm sure, so I it find.  Sylvander. 
Then you must make me believe I was blind.  Hylas. 
Mistrists! had I not Reason to suspect?  
And you, Shepherd, to your vow have Respect.  Diana. 
Here's that will end the difference; oh Deceit? Diana looking on the table finds the deceit.  
Neither need fail; here each reads his Conceit;  
Both what 'twas and is;  Sylvander. 
It must repaired be  
With his own hand;  All. E●●●t. 
To that we all agree.  

A SONG.  

THe purest love that ere adorned the Earth. Sung in the in●ermis●●●●.  
Lies buri'ed in a wave.  
Thus, what gave to his Beauteous Mother birth,  
Gives him untimely Grave.   

The Reason, We suppose, is palpable;  
So purely burnt his Flame,  
A Sea of floods was only capable,  
To extinguish the same.   

Rest gentle Ghost, to consummate thy Night;  
And gentle Earth unto his Bones be light.  
Farewell Celadon, Celadon, farewell;  
Our Dolefull Notes thus ring thy sun'rall Knell;     

Scene 3. Act 3.  Adamas, Alexis, Leonida. Adamas. 
Celadon in vestal. habit. Leonida encounters them. To Leonida, WHat music's that which so far off we hear?  Leonida. 
My haste to you doth that Relation bear,  
Astraea this your Guest believing dead,  
Thus celebrates his funeral in yo● Mead.  Adamas. 
'Tis better still to further our Intent;  Leonida. 
Which finished, their Course is hither bent,  
To visit this our fair disguised druyed.  Alexis. 
My approaching ruin!  Adamas. 
Your Fancies still endued  
With those vain shadows! 
* To Leonida:  Where's Paris, my Son?  
To Celadon. Cast off thy Fears; our joys are now begun:  
To Leonida Bid him to haste before, them to receive;  Leonida. 
His Love hath discharged that Duty, believe.  Adamas. 
Love! to whom?  Leonida. 
T' one, were not Celadon here;  
I should say, she Astraea's equal were  
In Beauty; ti's the fair Diana:  Adamas. 
She!  
He meets my wishes in that Amity;  
Nor is't the meanness of a Stock so low  
Shall me engage not suffer it to grow;  
These Shepherds which on Lignon seated be,  
Are of th' Extraction of Nobility;  
Who from the world seeking a calm Repose  
To shelter them, this humble Being chose.  
But our Devotions to their Rites me call,  
So let them know; and kindly welcome all. Exit Adamas:  Leonida. 
Comfort, fair dried; what you now fear to see,  
Should your wishes,  Alexis. 
Rather my ruin be;  Paris, Diana, Phillis, Stella Astraea, Hylas, Sylvander. Paris. 
●uch Joy this Place your presence doth afford, Leading D●ana by the hand. To her:  
●s if descending Jove did it aboard:  
●ut for our Entertainment fain we would,  
●ike him, on you distil a shower of Gold;  Diana. 
Gentle Parish! your worth and courtesy  
Have in my thoughts far greater Efficacy.  Paris. 
If Perfection of both extracted were,  
In my eye, yet, too mean they would appear,  
Did not Magnificence and Majesty meet,  
Like humble vassals, prostrate at your feet.  Leonida. They insequence. 
Our hasty Loves, long expecting, would blame.  
Had not this unexpected, cleared the same;  Diana. 
The bad courtier's humour, is with us met;  
Rather to make Present, then pay a Debt.  Astraea. 
Fair Nymph, you us t'excuse custom invites,  
Particulars are ●low to Common Rites.  Leonida. 
Yet, if most not mistake, this fair Abstract,  
At your hands, more than common Rites exact.  Astraea. To Astrea presenting Alexis, she ta●●tes her. 
Such Perfections heaven reserves for His use;  
Particular Right to them were an Abuse.  Hylas. 
Hylas interpreseth them. With heaven's favour, and yours, I do prepare,  
In those of this fair Dr●y ●● to have a share.  Alexis. Returns ●● Astrea. 
Those Graces which in you excelling are,  
Can only speak a worthy Devotaire.  Hylas. 
Phillis My late Mistress adieu, adieu; Takes her by the hand.  
Hylas before the Old prefers the New;  Phillis. 
Will you leave me?  Hylas. 
I took you to that end.  Alexis. 
And so e'er long to me you will pretend. Hylas kis●es Alexis hand.  Hylas. 
Suspect not Hylas, Hylas cannot change.  Phillis. 
For Hylas, so long Hylas, still will range.  Alexis. 
Those things by us may easily be spared,  
Against whose loss Expectation is prepared.  Phillis. 
That he a sudden Penitent may be,  
My worth in your Judgement now let him see, To Dla●●  
Mistress, this is the day, the term's expired,  
And from yourself our sentence is required.  Diana. 
It must be granted; 
* To Alexis.  If you not distaft,  
Your better hours in tr●●●es so to waste.  Alexis. 
Not to partake your innocent Pastime,  
Were against mine own Peace to commit a Crime.  Diana. 
To Leonida. Fair Nymph, it is but just; you see the end,  
Since you the birth saw:  Leonida. 
Gladly I attend.  
But what says Sylvander?  Sylvander. 
He cannot fear,  
Spotless, before so just a judge, t' appear.  Leonida. 
She gives Diana a garland▪ being all 〈◊〉: Unto you first a Garland, than a seat;  
And now the progress of your Loves repeat;  
'Twas Phillis first began this Difference,  
And Phillis first must speak her own pretence.  Phillis. 
She stands 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Fair Mistress, now my Judge, wonder takes place,  
To see one yet alive of Ixion's race,  
Vain and pres●●● p●uous, that durst undertake  
Those divine Graces the Object to make  
Of his aspiring Hope; All it so deem,  
By his Service, thus to seek your Esteem.  
But leaving this, Let's first disclose the spring,  
Whence issueth forth true Lóves proper being;  
Equality, and Sympathy( himself doth say)  
The sources are; which Argument I may  
Use against himself; So resemblance in sex  
Must give me to your Love fairest pretexe;  
Whose nourishment from Conversation grows:  
My habits therein on me most bestows;  
Since even but yesterday he did obtain  
Knowledge of your Beauties, or of your Name;  
Besides, if worth herein may be a Plea,  
Th' advantage therein can mine only be,  
Being of your sex; nor can he it deny,  
Without offence unto Loves Deity,  
And yours: Besides, did ever any hear  
Dissimulation loveworthy should appear,  
Which took not being from his Mistress Beauty;  
But from our wager, and his vanity;  
Or if I grant in true Loves flames he burn,  
This doth but still to my advantage turn;  
Since I the Author am he undertook  
On those divine Beauties with Love to look,  
Which his own want of Courage or of wit  
Would not have seen; or to Love him admit,  
But that I did provoke him; more t'inferr, She with a ●ow reverence retires.  
Would now but serve my Glories to defer. Sylvander stands forth▪ and after low reverence 〈◊〉 knelt  Sylvander. 
Those Poets fain the last of heavenly Race  
Was fled from Earth, foresaw not hers, your place.  
'Fore our Astraeas' Temple, I must join  
With my adversary; against myself combine;  
Our difference was who should deserve your Grace,  
By our poor Services; 'twas to embrace  
( I yield to what she doth allege) a cloud,  
And give our too rash Thoughts too fair a shroud;  
The Gods, who only such Perfections frame,  
In their Breasts Fire bear worthy of the same.  
'Tis nature I should blame, were I not sure,  
All Mortals the same rigorous Law endure.  
Yet thus I may, why such Perfections gave,  
And wrought nought worth Relati'on them to have;  
What she in you requires, though I can't give:  
Yet what in me affords, I shall, whil' I live;  
Nor can be taxed of Presumpti'on, herein;  
Since from those forcing Beauties Love did spring;  
Which can't be slight, as my Adversare objects,  
Produced from such all excelling Subjects;  
Nor is my pure Flame from equality,  
( As she insists) Natures common decree;  
In mine, your excellence doth most appear,  
That thus my thoughts 'bove nature's laws can rear.  
Why do you say they want of Reason prove,  
Who see what's am'iable, and it not love,  
Yet not allow, even in the same Respect,  
That this my Love, as such, she should protect.  
For Love being bred from what is good and fair,  
What is bred of't, such Nature still must wear.  
It follows then, she like Resentments have  
For those Effects which her own Beauties gave,  
Unless you'll profane her Capacity,  
In giving it the same Deficiency;  
But that, you'll say, infers my Love, not me,  
Should be esteemed; you yet do not foresee  
My Love is joined with such mysterious ties;  
Me thus to love, but proper Love implies;  
You plead th' advantage of your sex, as bent  
To love semblable were nature's Intent;  
In Beasts see where her motives simple be,  
Their Preservations bind t' each contrary.  
The gentle Turtle mourns, her male Mate dead,  
From whom removed, the Palm hangs down her head.  
But 'tis perhaps, elective Love you claim,  
By your so long Conversat'ion, the same  
Your imperfections better do discover,  
Showing you are an Insufficient Lover;  
Th' Advantage of your sex, again's your Aid,  
Then ours more worthy; that is not gainsaid;  
Nature to you most Perfections doth lend,  
Whence best Discourses take their births and end:  
But you forsaking th' Impress'ions She gave,  
By your defect in Love are more deprave.  
You pretend to the glory of my Love;  
Th' Author thereof seeking yourself to prove.  
This must be judged according to th' Intent,  
Which but to Dissimusat'ion here was bent,  
For which you deserve Punishment; My H'art  
Did only true, unsaigned Love impart,  
Which being produced beyond either's Design,  
Shows that the secret author was divine:  
But both our Pleas and Services are vain,  
Striving by either her Esteem to gain,  
Perfect'ions 'bove Natures, her Laws her free; Makes low reverence▪ and retires.  
Ours, not as Presents, but Rights tendered be.  Diana. 
The Subject now in difference judged should be,  
Not from words only, but th' Effects we see;  
Which since I both in equal balance way:  
This Sentence, as your Judge, pronounce I may:  
Phillis more ami'able, I do approve,  
But Sylvander knows better to make Love. She takes Phillis by the hand and sets her in her seat.  
For which respects, to each, with equal hand,  
You I ordain my Seat; you my Garland.  Alexis. 
An equal Judge: ne'er Sentence was like this: On Sylvanders' head kneeling the places h●r garland, and gives him her hand to ki●●  
Where thus each Party full contented is;  Hylas. 
A goodly recompense! and must this be,  
My fair Mistress, an Example for me?  Alexis. 
So much of me to yourself not propose,  
We are the God's; they only us dispose.  Hylas. 
Insomuch as when I would kiss those eyes,  
To consult th' Oracle, I must Sacrifice.  Alexis. 
They will not grant what is against our Vow.  Hylas. 
What then for all my service do y'allow?  Alexis. 
The satisfaction to have loved me.  Hylas. 
With that, the voyage not discharged will be.  Alexis. 
I see you seek Pretences, me to leave.  Hylas. 
Mistress, I will no longer you deceive.  
If you Shepherdess continue me to please,  
As she hath done within this hour, I seize  
He kisses her hand and turns to Stella. Kisses Stellas hand. On a new Object; yet grant me but this  
For all my Services, your hand to kiss.  
Fair One, to you I tender all the Grace  
I'ere received, and seat you in their place.  Sylvander. 
They are but violences.  Hylas. 
Him give no ear.  Stella. 
I know him well, your Enemy not fear.  
Since you'll me serve, I think ●● fit we draw  
Cou'nants of Love, may he to each a Law.  Hylas. 
My future Mistress, So I must you call,  
Till by this Covenant, yours you me install,  
So much delight from our Loves I foresee, He hastily takes a paper ou● of his Scrip, and seems to write, still reading, as he wri●●s.  
This shall no longer di●●onti●n'd be.  
That neither do usurp Authority  
O'er each other, which we call Tyranny;  
That each the Lover and the loved shall be;  
Without Constraint shall be our Amity;  
That each may Love so long as each shall please;  
And that when either will, either may cease;  
That when each will, each one may others love,  
And keep our old Loves or the same remove.  
That jealousy, Sorrows, Complaints banished be,  
As incompatible with our Amity:  
That in our Words and Actions each be free,  
Without the others Incommodity.  
That none be liars in Word or Effect,  
Terms of Fidelity and Love reject;  
That both or one without the other may  
Cease, or continue our Loves to obey;  
That when both, or one, of love is deprived,  
Of both, or one, agained't may be revived:  
That long Love and long Hatred we omit,  
We will both Love and Injury forget.  
Do you like them?  Stella. 
It cannot be denied.  Hylas. 
She seems to set her hand to't. Then next your Servants name your own subscribe.  Sylvander. 
Hold, I think fit this other added be,  
Without Constraint to keep your Liberty.  Hylas. 
What may that be?  Sylvander. 
That each may, when each lift,  
From any One or All these Laws desist.  Hylas. 
He ●●ems to write. 'Tis not amiss, the Counsel is so good,  
Though from my En'my, it must not be withstood.  Astraea. 
O'er envious Night with cloudy brows deni●  
Farther Delight to our Societies.  Alexis. 
The loss is ours, but each Day shall renew  
Our pa●ting Pleasures with fresh interview.    


Scene 1. Act. 4.  Leonice. 
I too long do neglect my Love, I find,  
So sweet is Revenge to an injured Mind.  
A new Occasion I have found this day,  
Which for the Execut'ion shall make way;  
I wait fit time, Then Tyrsis to thee fly,  
In solitude to gain thy love or die.  
Fortune my Hope doth still anticipate;  
Here is the ground where I must sow Debate. They appear.  Phillis, Hylas, Diana. Phillis. 
And what will Stella say that you her leave? Hylas leads Diana by the hand.  Hylas. 
My late Mistress, you do yourself deceive;  
I do but give her Company; and will  
What is contained in our Laws fulfil.  Phillis. 
But what Sylvander, when he this shall see,  
Who is your Rival and your Enemy?  Hylas. 
'Twil make my fading Love more fresh, more keen.  Diana. 
Where should he be, so long we have not seen?  Leonice. 
Sylvander is't you seek?  Phillis. 
Him we would find.  Leonice. 
I saw him late with so perplexed a Mind  
Take leave of his Madontha, who this day,  
Alone accompanied her on her way:  
Her denials, nor Modesty availed:  
Against them both his Love and Tears prevail●d.  Phillis. 
Sure you mistake; Sylvander Love doth fly.  Hylas. 
Of all Attaints but fair Diana's eye.  Phillis. 
Which but for wage● is.  Leonice. 
So, oft he vowed  
Unto Madontha, when she it disallowed.  
I would, said he( Than Tears gush● out at●ain)  
You in her place, she in yours might remain;  
Then should you see how each Day should invite  
To feast our Fancies with a new Delight.  
But I must cherish now thy Memory,  
In whom Fate grants a mean Resemblancy;  
Which with perseu'ring ●●int I will embrace,  
As the imperfect Figure of thy Face.  
While what's to you indifferent I make known,  
I forget what's important of mine own.  
Know ye not, gentle Swains, where Tyrsis is?  Hylas. 
My ancient Mistress, I'll show you for a kiss.  Leonice. 
You may oblige me.  Hylas. 
Mistress, with your leave,  
But to restore what Hatred would bereave.  Leonice. 
Fair companions, To Die●r. good day.  Phillis. 
To you the same.  Diana. 
Oh man's Ingratitude! my only Shame!  
Was it for this I suffered thee to cover  
All thy proceedings, as a feigned Lover,  
With greater Liberty me to entertain  
Of( thought) true Love; true Love thou didst but feign.  
Was this so oft praised beauty no more prized,  
Then for Madontha's thou shouldst it despise?  
Or hast Inconstancy so long assailed  
●n Others, It against thee hath prevailed?  Phillis. 
I have no Faith in this.  Diana. 
Faith did foretell  
No less at first, he counterfeits so well.  Phillis. 
I see no ground for this Report.  Diana. 
What Ground  
Canst thou demand where Levity is found?  
Let not th'Incredulity him excuse;  
Unless thou wouldst Diana twice abuse;  
But force from him the Bracelet which he wears,  
On that possess'ion depend all my fears,  
lest he should triumph in his Victory  
Raised on my weakness and his Treachery.  Phillis. 
But will you him condemn before you hear?  Diana. 
As thou me lov'st, me to dissuade forbear.  Phillis. 
It is a Charm, but see unhappy Fate  
Affords no time your Ire to mitigate.  Sylvander. Sylvander appears. Diana hides herself. 
Fair Enemy, retain you still that Name?  
Or since our Quarrel's ended, ends the same?  
Why so alone, and with dejected Eye?  Phillis. 
Poor Shepherd, it foretells thy Destiny,  
That Bracelet which you wear, you must restore  
Unto my hand, whose Right it was before.  Sylvander. 
Our Contenti'ons must then have no respite,  
Since even your Sorrows thus in them delight:  
By whose Authority?  Phillis. 
Hers you it gave.  Sylvander. 
My Mistresses! With astoni●●ment.  Phillis. 
I know none such you have;  
The Term's expired, and both you must resign.  Sylvander. 
Oh wherein is't? of Love you powers divine,  
I have transgressed.  Phillis. 
In vain you do him prove,  
Who still neglecteth all Deceits in Love.  Sylvander. 
Why, doth she think me false?  Phillis. 
Else all not true.  Sylvander. 
She taking off the ●racel●t. he false in a swonn. Then to my dying Soul, such, Gods, be you.  Phillis. 
He faints! Sylvander! oh, Sylvander! hear,  
And let thy setting Soul once more appear.  
Leave not the world unto eternal Night  
Diana app●ar●. Of Love and virtue; you only it inlight.  
Alas Diana! we have Sylvander slain.  Diana. 
She kn●els by him. 'Twere double gild these chaste Tears to refrain.  Phillis. 
Now you'll believe, unless, as of us sed,  
You think he still dissembles being dead.  Diana. 
Myself, than thee, I far more wounded have;  
Thy dying proves to me ● living grave.  
Which to adorn, I will embalm thy hearse  
With these warm Tears, whilst I thy Love rehearse.  Phillis. 
Diana retire●. He begins to 〈◊〉 to himself. I feel him breath; you with your Grief retire;  
Concealed still should be a Virgin Fire.  Sylvander. 
Where, or from whence, I know not: but still why  
Thus disturbed, I have fresh Memory;  
Why took ye not this Function of my Soul,  
Which serveth but my Mis●ries to unroll?  
If I the common Instrument have left,  
Why not of what subsists by is bere●t▪  
This is an Argument I still do live,  
But to a second Death myself to give.  Phillis. 
His wild Aspect denotes distracted Sense,  
As on Himself he would act Violence. To herself.  Sylvander. 
What bright shadow art thou?  Phillis. 
He doth me take  
●or his good Angel; such myself I'll make, To herself.  
To remove his despair:— your better Guide, To him.  
Who cometh for your Safety to provide;  
Ere three days, if you frustrate not the same,  
Your Mistress favour shall return again. Exit.  Sylvander. 
I thank thy Charity; Hope me quickened hath; He rises.  
Heaven leads me now in a directer Path. Exit.   

Scene 2. Act 4.  Alexis. 
WHy sad? thou graspest a full Felicity  
In her favours, in her Society:  
〈◊〉 Liberty thou hast on her to gaze,  
●nd lose thy Senses in a lover's Maze;  
●eginning where ending; ending where begun,  
●o long, till like a Statue I become;  
●●ile she with blushing Smile awakes delight,  
And left o'er suddenness should it affright,  
Softly she whispers, yet fearing too loud,  
Her amorous Accents 'twixt my lips doth shroud,  
With so long fixed self-ravishing Desire,  
As that great workman did his work inspire;  
Whilst I new Being take, myself again  
To lose myself cannot myself refrain.  
Such heavenly Raptures only are expressed  
When Immortality doth the Soul invest,  
Which to make perfect, she oft plays my part,  
Exchanging Beings by our amorous Art:  
No place is left for Wish, Hope is but vain,  
Yet all is fruitless wanting Celadons' name.  
'Twixt my divided self there is Debate;  
Celadon envieth Alexis State;  
Alexis feareth His; Nor can have bliss  
In any place where Celadon absent is.  
Desirable is the state of Celadon,  
But redoubtable if to her made known.  
Desire must cease where nought it higher rears,  
And where so wretched is no place for Fears:  
Yet still fresh Torments of them Both me press,  
The One would regain what he did possess;  
The Other struggleth what he hath to hold,  
And still denies the Other to unfold.  
But while myself thus doth myself revise,  
He lai●s ●imself to sleep. Nature's' oft Slumbers would us reconcile.  Astraea. 
I am become a Truant in my Love,  
So long dull Sleep the Object doth remove.  
'Tis full an hour since Days alarm rung  
Her lofty Notes to greet th'approaching Sun.  
Yet why by them do I account my Time?  
It must be late, my Star hath left her Clime:  
But see, her watchful Thoughts are forced repay  
What they took from the Night unto the Day.  
Thou universal Minister of peace,  
T'exact these thy untimely Tributes cease;  
Whisper unto her while she it enlight,  
The world is covered in a mourning Night;  
Yet lest thou shouldst astonish her with Fear,  
See that in my shape thou to her appear.  
While I stolen Tributes of my Love exact, Kisses her.  
And yet but satisfy half the Contract;  
Since thou from me withholdest the better Share,  
These little more than dreaming Shadows are:  
How my Tongue unawares leads me to truth!  
This, though awake, is but th' object of Ruth;  
Which rather than my Senses should delight,  
It should with Horror of my gild affrigh●:  
Yet since to cherish Celadon Death denies,  
I'll worship here his sweet resembling Eyes.  
Why, oh why! doth now churlish Fate refuse  
Him thou presentest the Figure thus to use; Kisses her.  
These Kisses would not be less innocent,  
If on more Heat and Moisture they were spent;  
My better Self, my Pardon, I have broke She awake▪  
Those balmy Slumbers, Love did it provoke.  Alexis. 
Dear Astraea! how long here thus alone?  Astraea. 
No longer than two Kisses I have stolen.  Alexis. 
Love was consenting, who these Pleasures knew, Kisses her.  
But dreaming false, awaking to be true:  
Yet why so early?  Astraea. 
My unquiet Heart  
Admits no Truce foreseeing your depart  
To your devout Society, unless  
With you I may enjoy like Happiness,  
To which lend me your Aid.  Alexis. 
For my Aid sue!  
Alas! 'tis that I must attend from you.  Astraea. 
To you wherein can I be Profitable?  Alexis. 
That we for ever be Inseparable.  Astraea. 
'Tis mine own Wish, which but on you depends.  Alexis. 
In our Agreements both must have their Ends.  Astraea. 
To mine ye holy powers Witnesses be,  
Which broke, punish with just Severity.  Alexis. 
It is enough, yet one thing more remains.  Astraea. 
Hasten it quickly, than our Souls enchains;  
Nothing if not impossible it be,  
Can hinder this our sweet Felicity.  Alexis. 
Then command me; but— She ab●●pti● stops, and seems to faint: I● supported by A●rr●.  Astraea. 
Your grief to assuage.  
Do you want nothing?  Alexis. 
Nothing but Courage.  Phillis, Lycidas, Diana. Phillis. 
'Twas just; the Author of your jealousy  
Hath from her own mouth given the remedy.  Lycidas. 
Which gives a new Displeasure; my Remorse, Gi●● him he● 〈◊〉 to ki●s.  
That durst attempt our Loves so to divorce:  Phillis. 
Which thus I cancel.  Lycidas. 
With a firmer Tie, To Diana;  
To bind our Loves unto Eternity.  Phillis. 
Next is your part.  Diana. 
Which I shall expiate  
●t first Encounter.  Phillis. 
Pray heaven not too late.  Astraea. 
From whence, my dear Compan'ions, pleased so well?  Phillis. 
From discovering Treason by Miracle,  
As we to shun the rigour of Days pride  
Did us a well united shade provide;  
We heard to Tyrsis Leonice recite  
The foul Effects of her incensed Spite  
Against me, and Sylvander; who( as you know)  
Did by his Judgement her Love overthrow.  Astraea. 
Diana was there.  Phillis. 
Or else still( I fear)  
Would last her jealousy.  Diana. 
Which now is clear.  Alexis. 
Sylvander must have Right.  Diana. 
I not deny,  
Preserving still a virgin's Modesty.  Sylvander. Appears in ● discontente● posture. Phillis. 
Sylvander, the Triumph at length is mine,  
And you your usurped Trophies must resign;  
Whether by Force or by subtlety,  
Matters not which; glorious stil's Victory.  
Do you remember by feigned Love to me  
You strove t'increase Licidas jealousy.  
I now am quit, that Message which I brought  
Was but the Stratagem wherewith I fought.  Sylvander. 
What do you mean?  Phillis. 
Those words I said to you,  
Were things invented Diana ne'er knew.  Sylvander. 
No more my Foe, and justify but this,  
Who by you is subdued, crowned is.  Phillis. 
For better proof, first I surrend my Theft, Flin●s him 〈◊〉 bra●●●  
Those Tears content me which it hath berest.  Sylvander. 
To heaven, to you, and to Diana give  
My humble thanks, I by your Favours live. K●tel●, kisses the bracel●●, and puts it on his arm. Who was ●● distance before appro●ches.  Diana. 
What part have I in your Discourse? I hear  
You named me.  Phillis. 
Not now such are, but were;  
As pleased me to represent you still,  
In Words or Actions both framed by my Will.  Diana. 
I thank you, but I hope you have well chose,  
Since you so freely of them both dispose.  Diana. 
As for mine own Advantage best might prove.  Phillis. 
I thank you dear Companion for your Love.  Sylvander. 
The Satisfaction's greater which I have,  
To Phillis. Then the Displeasure which before you gave;  
But know, th' unhappy Effects of this Strife  
Can never cease but with my unhappy Life.  Phillis. 
My vengeance never did so far pretend.  Lycidas. 
Those ills ar● great which cease but with our End.  Diana. 
'Tis just, methinks, that Phillis bear her share,  
Since she the Author was of his despair.  Lycidas. 
Unto the Cure at least.  Phillis. 
Provided still,  
That you t'effect the same will grant your Will. To Dia●●.  Diana. 
Your Skill on others Help you do repose.  Alexis. 
You can't deny what Char'ity doth propose.  Diana. 
I m●st submit.  Phillis. 
The Cure I'll undertake,  
If he have courage his ills known to make,  Sylvander. 
Know then, by this your wile, o'er charged with Grief,  
I to th' Oracle flew for my Relief,  
But in the Answer more cause of It found,  
With this irr'evocable Edict being bound.  Oracle. 

Thy present ills e'er long shall end; ●● take a little bilk●● and read●.  
But Her thou wouldst, Paris shall wed.  
To thy Desires do not pretend,  
Until such time Sylvander's dead.   

Thou fair Disposer of my Soul, though Fate ●●●els ● Dian●.  
On this poor trunk seem● thus to vent his Hate.  
Lest I you Others see, suffer me die,  
Then suffer still of Death's variety:  
'Tis but the hast'ning of mine own Desire,  
Which is accomplished when I do expire.   Phillis. 
Phillis having paw●'d a ●hil●. No, no, this Oracle no such Sense bears,  
Each Oracle mysterious Senses wears;  
Diana, you'll not from your Promise fly?  Astraea. 
We all become therein her surety.  Phillis. 
First, that your present ills e'er long should end;  
On what is now past plainly did depend:  
Next is, but whom thou wouldst, Paris shall wed▪  
Wed is oft in a double sense used,  
The priest's office herein it doth include:  
Paris, whom you would, wed's to you as druyed.  Sylvander. 
But where( your Desire's not pretend) 'tis said,  
What Remedy until Sylvander's dead.  Phillis. 
O thou Ignorant in Love's Mysteries,  
Who loves an Other, to Himself he dies.  
'Tis your own Doctrine.  Lycidas. 
Nothing is more clear.  Alexis. 
As she with heaven Intelligencer were.  Phillis. 
Diana's promise must the Rest fulfil.  Diana. 
Wherein? I see no need thereof.  Phillis. 
Your will:  
Without you aid him this cannot be tr●e,  
That he should die in Him, and live in You;  
Such mystery in Love, as yet, was ne'er known,  
This could in any wise subsist by One.  Alexis. 
We are engaged.  Astraea. 
And must not see you fail.  Diana. 
What is required of Both must needs prevail.  Phillis. 
Since he unto Himself must cease to live,  
You must likewise yourself unto him give.  Diana. 
It is too much.  Sylvander. 
For my Worth.  Phillis. 
But no less,  
From her own Self exacteth her promesses; Phillis tak●● Diana by the hand, and gives it Sylvand●●●● kiss.  
Here, take her Hand, and thereon seal your Vows.  Sylvander. 
Thus guarded, heaven i● vain you bend your brows.   

Scene 3. Act 4.  Paris in ●●ep●eards ●pp●rrel. Leonida, and Par●s encounter. Leonida. 
What metamorphis's this? Paris a druyed  
Become a Shepherd?  Paris. 
Even such, well viewed,  
All powerful Love transformed all powerful Jove,  
No wonder Mortals such Effects do prove:  
But could you view my Inside, you should see,  
Paris within yet far more changed to be.  
My thoughts do feel an universal Spring,  
And charm themselves with Harmony they sing:  
Each Fancy doth beget a various flower,  
( As doth, in April, a distilling shower)  
T' enamel richly our Hymenal Wreath,  
Which shall with every wanton Zephir breathe  
More fragrant odours, than th' Arabian hills,  
When each perfumed Le●f with honey fills  
The no more busy Bee, who thus o'reflow●  
With plenty of delight, becomes a Drone;  
While we therewith being crowned by Virgin hands,  
Unite our Souls in everlasting Bands.  Leonida. 
Oh excellent! But whence all this? or why?  Paris. 
To welcome my fulfraught Felicity;  
Thou know'st my Love to Diana, and how  
My Father gladly did the same allow;  
My wingie Passions, greedy of their Prey,  
Have got the mother's Will; Children obey:  
So said she, when my Love I did disclose;  
She had no power, Bellinda must dispose.  
Our Parents are agreed, the Contract's done,  
And nothing wanting but tomorrow's Sun.  
Who shall with such a reverence be beheld,  
As other Lights, Himself he had excelled.  Leonida. 
Enure your Pass'ions to a milder Strain,  
You are not sure Diana's Will to gain.  Paris. 
She is the Image of true Piety;  
Her Obedience to doubt were heresy:  
But here in vain my hours I do waste,  
To find her out I will renew my haste.  
My stay here was my Happ'iness to make known,  
Which was imperfect till to others shown. Exit.  Leonida. 
'Tis very sudden, this Report being true,  
To Sylvander, pray heaven, no Ill ensue. Alexis appears.  
Now fair disguised druyed, what monstrous Race  
Must we expect of this Cloud you embrace?  
Thrice hath the Moon filled full her horned Crest:  
And thrice again her Orbs she hath depressed,  
Since you this Habit took, and yet I see  
Of this our Purpose no Fertility,  
Unless you do delight your selft'inflict,  
( As did the Gods their Host, they did convict)  
Placed in happiness to the very Lip,  
Yet not suffer your thirsty Soul to sip.  Alexis. 
Here cause is of your pity.  Leonida. 
Or my Blame,  
That you so often have abused the same;  
Frustrating It with your own self-Neglect.  Alexis. 
Blame rather my Love's too severe Respect.  Leonida. 
Respect, to what?  Alexis. 
To what I do obey.  Leonida. 
Which her Repentance cancels every day;  
Those Tributes of her Love she pays to thee,  
Are Sacrifices to thy Memory,  
Unto her dead; not by hers, but thy gild  
Art thou become so, since so it thou wilt:  
Nor do I think she would thee ere forgive,  
Knew she thou from her hold'st whom thou couldst give:  
How oft thee in her amorous Arms inchain'd,  
Hath she thee in her stifled Sighings named.  
Wishing thee Such, yet jealous of each Ear,  
Scattered the Motions of her modest Fear  
Into her Cheeks, which there such Thoughts betrayed,  
As such, she would thou wert, she were afraid.  Alexis. 
This being granted, why doth she not revoke  
Her own Sentence, and ease me of my Yoke?  Leonida. 
She knows not that you are, or if she did,  
Not knowing where you are, why it forbid?  
Advise betimes, you long not concealed can,  
A woman's Habit long not hides a Man:  
Besides, if such discovery you befall,  
To Adamas 'twill be a reproach, to All.  Alexis. 
Alas! I often it attempted have,  
But want of Courage oft Repulses gave.  Leonida. 
See, see, is this an Object to affright? Astrea appears.  
It rather is an Object to invite;  
Still so intentive on your amorous Chase, Astrea ab●●●ds Alexis and 〈◊〉 her.  
I know you Celadon rather had embrace  
Then this fair druyed; Nay, let not his fair Name  
Die those fair Roses in a deeper Stain,  
Unless it be it silently t'avow,  
That is no Crime to which the Gods do bow.  Astraea. 
Fair Nymph, I know not why I should aver  
Before Alexis Love I His prefer.  Leonida. 
In vain you do from me your Passions hide,  
I have to trace them a more subtle Guide  
Than you yet known of, who hath to me shown  
Each passage of your Loves to your selués known:  
For proof whereof, the Cause of his late Death  
Was not, as you report; your Aid, but Breath.  Astraea. 
I am amazed with wonder; but whereby  
Comes this to your Knowledge?  Leonida. 
I'll satisfy  
Your Thoughts in that, provided you conceal,  
As religi'ous Secrets, what I reveal.  Astraea. 
I shall.  Leonida. 
My Uncle hath a secret Art,  
Which he to me not long since did impart;  
By which, of what is, was, or yet shall be.  
We have true Knowledge: this said mystery  
Enlightened me in what ay you disclosed,  
And more had said, had you it not opposed.  Astraea. 
It were a second Inj'ury to his Love,  
Should I deny that I such Passion prove;  
Nor shall ought I can hear of him offend,  
Unless it be the Subject of his End.  Leonida. 
If you him love, you would him wish to see.  Astraea. 
Beyond imaginary Felicity.  Leonida. 
Then know, the Power of my Art I'll try,  
Provided you your succour no● deny.  Astraea. 
I am afraid we shall disturb the Peace  
Of his eternal Rest.  Leonida. 
Those your Fears cease.  Astraea. 
Nor shall I Courage have to see the air  
With horror masked, while you your Charms prepare.  Leonida. 
Nothing less, th' air shall be more calm, more bright,  
And smile on each thing with more fresh delight.  
Each Tree, and Flower, reassume their Spring,  
Each eary Chorister more clearly sing.  Astraea. 
● do assent.  Leonida. 
Then you must first untie  
What your Command imposed; That to your eye  
He may appear.  Astraea. 
If my Love still have force  
●o reunite, as it had to divorce;  
●eladon, I command thee to appear,  
●nd leave those Bonds of thy respectful Fear.  Leonida. 
Leonida with a book of Characters in one hand, and a bough in the other, after many turnings, knelt and invokes. Enough. You happy Spirits, who still prove  
The everflourishing delights of Love;  
Afford us One from your Society,  
We will rear Altars to your deity.  
There he is, do you not him see?  Astraea. 
Not I.  Leonida. 
Your Intents wanting to his Liberty,  
Although your Words seem essent'al to be.  Astraea. 
They both are truly present.  Alexis. 
So is he;  
Alexis false ●n his knee and embraces Astraea's. receive thy Cel'adon, whom the milder Wave,  
lest it should quench his Flame, denied a Grave.  Astraea. 
Why do you mock me? sweet Alexis rise.  Alexis. 
Alexis I am not, but in Disguise;  
See here the spoils unwittingly I forced  
She shows her from her breast fir●● a ribbon, than a picture. From thy fair self, when from't I was divorced;  
Or if thy Celadon thou knowest not,  
See if thine own Face thou hast not forgot.  Astraea. 
Ah cruel wretch! thy Impr'dence hath betrayed,  
With thy false Charms, the Modesty of a Maid:  
Thou Impudent Attempter against my Fame,  
How dar'st thou to thy Treach'eries seal thy Name?  
Or before me thyself thus represent,  
Whose knowledge all my life I must repent:  
Diss'yal Deceiver! haste thee from mine Eye  
Unto thy ruin, hence, away and die;  
Since thou hadst Courage to incur my Hate,  
Take it again the Same to expiate.  Alexis. 
Still honoured Mistress, I ne'●e did attend, He holds her who sirngles to be gone.  
To what you me reproach, a fairer End;  
Yet since you do death's Sentence me pronounce,  
Tell me what kind of Death you do denounce. She flings from him, whom Leo, ●id● runs after.  Astraea. 
Such as thou wilt, so thou Mayst cease to be. But seeing Celadon fly another way, she pursues him with distraction,  Leonida. 
Astraea, Celadon, why thus disagree.   

Scene 4. Act 4.  Lycidas, Phillis, Diana. Phillis encounters them in 〈◊〉 Lycidas. 
SEE whom we seek?  Phillis. 
Lycidas, my hasty fear  
Must fill with Wonder thy ast●nish't Ear,  
And yours Diana; Celadon yet lives,  
But whom heaven did, Astraea not forgives;  
Celadon did, in Alexis' disguise,  
Both him present, and withhold from our eyes,  
Which known t' Astraea, her offended Shame,  
That she too lavishly had fed her flame  
On this false Object, who from her again  
As lavishly had still r'exact the same:  
Hath rashly him pronounced a second Doom,  
Thus of our Joys, Grief must possess the room.  
But he by none to be resisted, fled  
Into the Woods: And as soon lives, is dead,  
Unless your hasty search do him prevent,  
But my Relation precious Time hath spent.  Lycidas. 
So strange Amazement hath my sense bereft,  
That I can scarce believe I'm not deceived.  Diana. 
Nor I.  Lycidas. 
Sure Nature did herself belie,  
To such Beauty gave no Humanity.  Di●na. 
'Tis very strange.  Lycidas. 
Prodigious Amity  
That works th' Effects of stern Hostility.  Phillis. 
Her now collected Sense the same repents,  
And what she did desire, done, she laments,  
Stay not, in her reviles, your search.  Lycidas. Exit. 
I fly.  Phillis. 
With your leave; her to comfort. To Diana. Exit.  Diana. 
I to die.  
Fond Astraea! thus to build thy Mishap  
On beauty's Fortune showered in thy lap,  
Thou art thyself unto thyself ill Fate,  
Too hasty ills thus to anticipate;  
And why thus doth thy Happiness distaste?  
Because, before thou wouldst, thou happy wast.  
Alas! had Fate to me been half so kind,  
I had not, sure, as thou, been half so blind:  
What lessens thine, me double Grief doth frame,  
In that the author I must never blame.  
My Mother 'tis; my Mother who me bred,  
By whom I am to Execution led▪  
Whose former Pie'ty nothing doth avail,  
If on pretended piety she assail  
My ruin; must from my Obedience rise,  
To fill, and justify her Sacrifice;  
But she, alas, claims nature's laws her due,  
As if against her Laws, what she framed destrue,  
'Tis none of hers; abandoned hers we have,  
Who sweetens Evils, even those she gave  
Were but to salve those that ourselves we give,  
Whilst we more careless of ourselves here live.  
Blind customs( from blind opinion sprung)  
They are, observed because once begun.  
What more ●njust against Nature or all Right,  
Thus wilfully t'extinguish either's Light,  
Those, One observes with so much Piety,  
Another thinks offends his Deity;  
If our mild mother-Nature's laws they were,  
All would agree in what they were to bear.  
The gentle Dove elects her loved Mate,  
Without control, or Envy, or Debate:  
Which from a secret Sympathy doth spring,  
At whose approach Love Harmony doth sing,  
Without Discourse, Direction or their Will;  
B'instinctive Motives, they their Loves fulfil:  
Happy Couples, thus joined, happy forlorn,  
Who may alone each others Losses mourn!  
Sylvander appears in a discontented posture. He not seeming to look up, she goes to him and joggs him. But while in Plaints Grief would itself subdue,  
The Object, see, doth it again renew.  
Sylvander, Sylvander, must Diana be  
Thy oft Invoker, yet thou her not see?  Sylvander. 
He starts as ami●d● Ha! who called? I heard Diana named,  
It is herself, and by herself am blamed.  
Pardon thou sweet Attracter of my Soul,  
Knelt and rises. My too wild Thoughts laboured but to inroul  
My own Losses, with such intentive Care;  
Unhappy Stewards, as thy Treasures were.  
But thou in this fair Volume hast laid open  
Briefer accounts of my dispensed Hope:  
Diana is another's, the whole Sum  
Not able to discharge, I'm quite undone.  Diana. 
I am thy equal Partner; one poor Bark  
Bore both our Fortunes fired by one Spark.  Sylvander. 
Alas, it was with such Abundance fraught,  
I still mis●oubted it would ne'er be brought  
To harbour, Heaven doubting our Content  
Should It forget, thus did our Loves prevent;  
Nor was it just that Diana should be  
Linked to a Vagabond in her Amity.  
Go give to Paris happier Birth, and Wealth,  
What would have been to me but counted Stealth.  Diana. 
Why wrongs Sylvander his Diana's Choice,  
Staining thyself with thy distempered Voice?  
Though thou a Stranger be, poor and unknown,  
Yet by thy richer Virtue 'tis well shown,  
Thy Stock could not be mean; Nor in my Eyes,  
Can any Riches equal thy Loves prize?  Sylvander. 
Be merciful, and cherish not my ●lame,  
It thus to fan, thou dost ●'inflame the same;  
Tell me thou dost me hate, invent some Spite,  
With less Displeasure I may leave the Light.  Diana. 
And leave me charged, with a distasteful Crime  
Would never be wiped out with any Time;  
Nor must you reassume the right you gave  
To your disposure; which I only have;  
By force whereof, I charge you not exact  
Of your own self any unlawful Act  
Against thyself; dost thou believe my Love  
Is yet so faint, it gladly would not prove,  
Even what thou now against thyself dost threat,  
I would it often on myself repeat,  
Until this Trunk, Sacrifices became  
Num'rously infinite, as our fair Loves flame,  
But that those powers divine who have us plac'●  
In these fair Holds, forbid to have them razed  
By us, to whose Charge they did them commit,  
Which Office we, till called, must not remit.  Sylvander. 
Such are the Summons, th' Oracles Decree,  
Which must by Mortal not rejected be.  
Sylvander, his desires must not peetend,  
Until the same Sylvander have an End:  
Why should we struggle with their immoved Will.  
To them be pious, grant I may it fulfil;  
Else kind to me, withhold not my Desire,  
Accomplish it; but bid me to expire.  Diana. 
No more with these Fears my frail thoughts distract,  
Till I am Others, see thou it protract;  
Mean while, take this assurance which I give,  
Than not as thine, rather I had not live:  
She gives him her hand to kiss. farewell, I fear my mother's sad Surprise.  Sylvander. 
Nought fear I worse, then parting from those Eyes.    


Scene 1. Act 5.  Alexis. 
LOnely D●sert! affrighting Solitude!  
Such winding Path like Error hath endued  
My wilder Thoughts; whose Turnings as thine might  
Lead to the entrails of eternal Night;  
How you become my Fortunes thus o' regrown  
With Time, and Neglect, and thus still alone:  
No rude Hand comes to fell your high raised Crown,  
To land your Branches, or your Trunks cut down,  
Unless some Tempest do a Member tear;  
Yet none, but such, as long corrupted were,  
Which like a faithful Surgeon takes away,  
Le●t it the Whole to ruin should betray;  
While you close ranked in your united Band,  
His rude encounter securely withstand.  
Alas, my scattered Thoughts disbanded are,  
And wage against themselves a civil War,  
In their divided discord lying waste,  
What should, like thine, a mournful Peace have graced;  
The Cause I would relate; But that, I fear,  
It would to you itself so much endear;  
In tears you would your fertile juice dispend,  
So with your fragrant burdens you would end  
Continual Food her Altars to supply,  
Whose acceptable Sacrifice, I die.  
Ne'er Victim yet immolished twice became,  
'Tis only I must suffer twice the same;  
And since my Love all others doth exceed,  
'Tis fit more often I for it should bleed:  
Nor yet Astraea, shall less cruel Fate,  
As once before, again renew thy Hate.  
Not thy Sentence to shun, I yet do live,  
But greater glory I the same may give;  
My better Genius prompts me to an Act  
Doth hitherto mine own sought End protract,  
Wherein, as Authors, those fair eyes shall be  
True witness to true Loves Fidelity;  
I hear the Boughs rustle; myself I'll hide,  
Retires. Lest to prevent me Fate some hither guide.  Sylvander. 
Why against the heaven's irrevocable Decree  
Yet struggles th●s my weak Humanity?  
If it not power have these twins to divorce,  
Yet sure Diana's Sentence is of force.  
I charge thee, said she, till I others be,  
Against thyself act no Hostility;  
I am from that Protraction now dismissed,  
And from the Execution long will not desist,  
As curious Fear me to you Valley led,  
I met a Swain, whose care-discharged head  
Rung on his Oaten Reed such merry Notes,  
As Birds when Emulation strains their throats.  
His nimble Feet did equal Measure beat,  
To what his nimbler Fingers did repeat;  
I him approached, and of him sought to know  
Why he in Mirth did so much overflow?  
Who said, our shepherd's Glory's wed to day,  
And 'tis our universal Holiday.  
A secret Fear seized my distracted Sense  
Presaging strait without Intelligence  
That it Diana was; which true I found,  
When of his Mirth he had disclosed the Ground.  
Cruel Diana! did thy command intend  
To witness this should be deferred my End?  
But 'tis no Time for Plaints; both heaven and thee  
Do glut yourselves with your slow Cruelty;  
Yet stay! what shall the welcome Agent be?  
Or Sword, or flood? in neither's Certainty;  
I'll to you heaven neighbouring Mountains summit,  
And where he do●h his head out hanging jet,  
I will precipitate myself to Dust,  
And make my hasty Execution just;  
He, that pretends to such divinity,  
Must fall like him, who to the heavens' would fly. Alexis discovers herself, and holds him.  Alexis. 
Stay thy rash Execution yet a while;  
Of thy charitable Office, not beguile  
( In misery) thy Companion.  Sylvander. 
Celadon!  
For such, disguised, thou we●'t to me made known.  Alexis. 
And such I am.  Sylvander. 
Wherein can I thee aid?  
Who to my own Misfortunes am betrayed?  Alexis. 
If that my own Griefs had left any room  
For an Increase, they greater would become;  
Let thy favour give to my Grave a Peace,  
And from me bid m'incensed Brother cease  
His renewed Enmity t' Astraea's Race,  
Whose Command, dying, tell her I embrace;  
And will revive to all Posterity  
The forbid Fountain of Loves Verity  
With my own Death, wherein she plain shall see,  
My Love most prized by that Divinity.  Sylvander. 
I envy this thy Glory, and do blame  
Myself, I thought not to attempt the same.  
Like Charity I must request of you,  
That which you sought of me, to me now show;  
Admit me Partner to your Enterprise,  
From you the Glory only shall arise.  Alexis. 
Preserve thy virtue to a greater End,  
It may a Nation, nay a World defend.  Sylvander. 
I must not leave you.  Alexis. 
They 〈◊〉 Nor must be denied,  
With thee 'tis Glory Glory to divide.   

Scene 2. Act 5.  Astraea, Diana. Astraea. 
WHile yet Death's elder brother doth exact  
His welcome Tributes; with Death we contract,  
Hid with the Vale of yet unmasked Night,  
From all Attachments we secure our Flight.  
Yet by fair Cynthia's glimmering light we see,  
I judge this our intended Path should be.  Diana. 
How hardy Love the frailty doth subdue  
Of our weak Sex? No Fear doth us pursue,  
Th' horror of Night, unguarded and alone  
Dismays us not, because no Evil known.  Astraea. 
Such are thy happy sufferings; but my gild  
Is only cleared, when for't my blood is spilt:  
Thou art not faulty, cause another's Force,  
Not thine, as mine, wrought thy fair Loves Divorce.  
'Tis just for it that I should only die.  Diana. 
Envy me not in Death Society;  
Thine own Words plead thy Life, all do agree,  
That Victyms spotless, innocent should be.  Astraea. 
And such shall make me these repentant Floods. She seems to weep.  
Desist to die; needless are both our Bloods;  
One only of our Sex must satisfy  
Of true Loves Fountain the Divinity;  
Whose wisdom will provide a Lover fit  
For the releasement worthy to submit.  Diana. 
With your Pardon, why should it not be I?  
My Heart tells me it feels an Amity,  
●s such as is required; a faithful pair  
Of t●e most perfect Lovers ever were,  
whose only Deaths the secret Charm unties.  Astraea. 
Disputes are vain to make known amity's.  
Fair Diana, the Gods betwixt us judge,  
Who will I hope preserve thee.  Diana. 
Do not grudg●  
Me thy fair Glory thus but to partake.  Astraea. 
Love in his Glory will no Rival make.  
Our difference ends! see, see, the new born day,  
The fountains discovered, they approach, & Astraea first knelt. The fountain's figure to us doth display:  
All powerful Love, who Nature dost preserve,  
But me destroy'st; unband thee and observe,  
As my pure Love is perfect in thine Eyes,  
Receive me worthy for thy Sacrifice,  
T'appease thine Ire; this Fountain to set free,  
And render Lovers thy hid mystery.  Diana. 
She knelt. Thou divine power of Love, I need not tell  
My Love is perfect, for thou know'st it well.  
Command thy Lions insensible to be  
To fair Astraea, spare her sweet Beauty,  
Else you destroy the Power you have got,  
Amongst Mortals your Name will be forgot;  
Your Temples raced, your Tapers no more shine,  
Your altar's smoke, nor you no more divine.  
Accept my Death, your Anger to assuage,  
I yield my corpse to satisfy their Rage.  Astraea. 
Dear Diana, wrong not yourself and me,  
'Tis even herein your own preeminency  
That pleads your preservation, if the Gods  
Be just, and can distinguish Beauties odds;  
Therefore I do again your powers implore,  
Preserve her, and preserve your Treasures store. She knelt again. Diana would kneel, but is withheld by, Astraea. They embrace one another, and fall one 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 side of the fountain, the other on the other, fa●● asleep.  
No more; I do conjure thee by our Love,  
Against my Desire, and Peace, the Gods not move.  Alexis, Sylvander. Alexis. 
Each Mountains pride with new gilt Crown appears,  
And fair Aurora hath dried up her Tears;  
Let us renew our Speed; I fear some sent  
In search of us, should our Design prevent.  
Ha! Astraea!  Sylvander. They draw nigh the fountain, and discover Astrea and Di●●●. 
Good Gods! Diana see.  Alexis. 
Or doth heaven mock our weak Humanity?  
If she, you Gods, why grant you such Repose  
To her unjustly caused me mine to lose?  Sylvander. 
What hath ye hither brought, ye beauteous Pair?  
Was it again our Lives to reinsnare?  
They are become your Triumphs and your Spoils.  
Cease yet again thus to renew their Broils.  Alexis. 
Knelt. You Soul-charming Power! unclose her Eye,  
Not to appease, but see her Cruelty.  
You do withhold an Object more would please,  
Then doth this your untimely flattering Ease:  
But you know better it doth her delight,  
Thus to deprive me of her loved Sight;  
In vain I you implore; Astraea hath shown  
Diu'nities now insensible are grown.  Sylvander. 
Thou fair Inchainer of my Soul, receive  
Kisses Diana. My last farewell; And do not me bereave  
Thy blessed memory; which favour if thou give,  
I shall not die, but in thee still shall live,  
Kisses her hand. filled with those Joys, which Mortals do recite,  
When to the Gods they shall themse●ves unite.  Alexis. 
Kisses Astrea. The like farewell to thee, thou glorious Pride  
Of her that framed thee, now we must divide.  
But to what heaven so ever I do go,  
Deprived of thee, I shall not think it so.  
I'll there attend thee like a mournful Dove,  
Kisses her hand. Perhaps when dead, thou wilt approve my Love;  
Why tempt we so our Frailty? thus to greet,  
Approaching Death makes Heaven with Hell to meet.  Sylvander. 
They both rise. Yet be persuaded gentle Friend to live,  
She that was once offended may forgive;  
Can any think, who sees that heavenly Face,  
Anger there moves a Circulary Race.  Alexis. 
A greedy Partner thus to dispossess  
Him that did give thee to thy Share Access.  
My jealous Love would me provoke to chide▪ They ●●brace. He knelt 〈◊〉 the fountai●.  
But that we must Unite ere we divide,  
You power inclined to pity, who inspires  
This only Cure to unquiet Desires,  
lest that my Grief, as your Divinity;  
Both immortal, and infinite should be,  
Receive this Body for your Sacrifice,  
My Soul too you should have, but that her Eye  
With sacred Charms so captive it retains,  
( Though cruel she) It other Bonds disdains,  
Yet let my Death, to satisfy her Crime  
Against my Love, be to you a Victyme.  
Let the Subject of our unhappy Strife  
Be subject to prolong her Peace and Life.  Sylvander. Knelt to 〈◊〉 fountain. 
Thou cruel power, whose irrevocable Law,  
My Soul through all those ills could hap, didst draw. He rises.  
See your Sentence fulfilled, and see that you,  
As in the Evil, in the Good be true.  Alexis. 
I fear these Beasts should forth their Limits stray,  
And hurt these fair Ones.  Sylvander. 
Let's bear them away.  Alexis. 
The eager Beasts approach.  Sylvander. 
Let's them defend.  Alexis. 
Alexis hastily enters, Sylvander follows and 〈◊〉 down as the entry. Rather secure them avancing our End.  Phillis, Adamas, Bellinda, Paris, Lycidas, Hylas, Stella, Leonida. Phillis. 
Undoubtedly they're there, the Shepherd said  
He saw them both asleep, but being afraid,  
Durst not approach, the Lions being nigh  
Unto the same place, whereon both did lie.  Adamas. 
'Tis very strange! from thence we are not far.  Phillis. 
Approaching, She spice them. Whereof Each one may be Discoverer.  Bellinda. 
The company afar off seem distracted with wonder. B●llinda would run to her daughter, but i● withhold by Adamas. Oh my Shame I thus unto the world made known,  
And in thy Disobedience only shown.  Adamas. 
Stop your rash Speed, you must approach no nye'r,  
We must invent some Means them to retire.  Paris. 
Betwixt my Wonder, Sorrow and my Love,  
I strange Distractions in myself do prove.  Lycidas. 
But see, methinks i'th' Fountain doth appear,  
As if two other Persons yet there were,  Phillis. 
By their Habits they should your Brother be,  
And Sylvander.  Lycidas. 
Would heaven I could him see!  Adamas. 
How strangely hath the Day forsook his Light,  
Our scarce born Noon is even become our Night! After thunder & lightning, a flaming Cupid, on a Porphir Pyramid, appears as 'twere in the midst of the fountain. They fall on their knees; after some intermission the Oracle is delivered.  
See, how contracted Clouds do mask the sky,  
Almost forbidding their Discovery.  Oracle. 
Let this your Wonder cease,  
Your Murmurs not increase  
Against my Miracles:  
Those corpse convey away;  
And next ensuing day,  
Consult my Oracles. Cupid v●. nisherb; they approach the fountain, and find the bodies as dead, and without blemish, Lions converted to marble.  Adamas. 
Ha! they are unblemished.  Lycidas. 
And yet are dead.  Phillis. 
Without a Bruise.  Paris. 
Or any blood being shed.  Adamas. 
These Lions which so fearful did appear,  
To coldest marble now converted are.  Bellinda. Of Diana. 
Thy just Punishment, but my double wrong.  Lycidas. 
Too soon I find, what I have sought too long.  Paris. 
Oh my afflicted Soul!  Phillis. 
Oh cruel death!  Adamas. 
Heaven hath you charged to cease your murmuring breath.  Hylas. 
They carry forth the corpse. See now the wise Effects of constant love,  
Which in their ends such Tragedies still prove.   

Scene 3. Act 5.  Leonice. 
What I have often heard, now true I see;  
The Wise are to themselves their Destiny.  
The favourable Gods do still assist  
Those that untired with Industry persist:  
How long them unrelenting I assailed  
With Tears, Vows, Prayers, and yet herein failed  
Of what my subtlety hath brought to pass.  
My Joy is doubled, I the Author was▪  
Who secretly, and in the dead of Night  
This desert did invade; what could affright  
Being armed with Love, and my Tyrsis to find,  
Whose Plaints became my Guides; till then ne'er kind,  
Unseen at Distance following to his Cave,  
Which when securest sleep had made his Grave,  
I entered, him with feigned Voice to awake,  
Reciting oft Tyrsis, Tyrsis, then spoke  
These hollow Accents, I the shadow am  
Of her thou vainly lovest, and now came  
But to conjure thee to yield up my Right  
To Leonice; cease unto her thy spite:  
Heaven wils it so, and Cleon it commands,  
Who shall delight in your united Bands.  
When strait he it confirming with a groan,  
I vanished, and left him there alone;  
But lest he should believe it but Conceit  
Wrought on his Fancy, again my Deceit  
Attempts a second Proof: But see th' effect,  
Which in my Search his wand'ring steps direct;  
Yet what with craft I sought, with craft I'll shun, She retires on one side, Tyrsis enters.  
Lest I should mar what is so well begun.  Tyrsis. 
Thou blessed Shadow, whom I yet adore,  
Why dost thou thus command me to restore  
Thy Right unto Another? can it be  
That thou art tired with Importunity  
Of Love? or dost my Sighs and Tears disdain,  
As too mean offerings, empty, fruitless, vain?  
Alas! though these effects oft fail, and die,  
The cause endureth to Eternity:  
My love which now an unknown Trial proves,  
Since to destroy itself thy Will it moves,  
Tempt yet the same to possibility,  
Inflict some yet unheard of Cruelty:  
( If any yet is left, I did not try)  
And I shall count it gild thee to deny:  
Which now is such, thee even to obey,  
Since thou command'st my Love, my Love betray.  
Who shall dispense those holy Vows did tie  
Our sympathising Souls in Harmony?  
Even she whose Power only did them frame,  
Her Power only must dissolve the same.  
If but t'unloose my Love she did intend,  
Why since hers could not, seeks she not my End?  
Perhaps, when Souls cast off this Earth, delight  
T'in infinite objects their loves to unite:  
No jealousy can touch their pure Essence,  
Which only but the Object is of Sense:  
All all possess in so equal degree,  
Even 'twixt themselves Distinction cannot be.  
Why then defer I her to satisfy?  
He discovers Leonice. Propitious heaven! see that Divinity,  
Who my Commander was, is now my Guide.  
She seems to ●●ie, he takes hold on her and knelt. Leonice! even she that did us divide,  
Is now become the means us to unite.  
If for my Punishment your exchanged Spite,  
Then mine more just, have not o'erthrown your Love.  Leonice. 
What Miracle is this? you Gods above  
Mock not our Frailty; if this Tyrsis be,  
What I of him sought, why seeks he now of me?  
Or is it but his shadow you have ta'en,  
T'increase my Sorrow, and reproach my Shame?  Tyrsis. 
'Tis that Tyrsis, who for Cleon's Respect,  
Did long so much thy injured Love neglect;  
But being by her discharged from my vow,  
No other Object can my Love allow.  
Then thy fair self; let no Reproach reveal  
He kisses her hand. My Shame; on this true Penitence I seal.  Leonice. 
This doth confirm that you are truly he;  
But your intention yet I cannot see.  Tyrsis. 
Ever to be yours, if my former Hate  
My true Love and Remorse may expiate.  Leonice. 
How shall either be known?  Tyrsis. 
Heau'n's holy Bands  
Shall both confirm, joining both Hearts and Hands.   

Scene. 4. Act. 5.  Stella, Hylas. Stella. 
YOur pleasant humour you have left, I find;  
If not to me, be to yourself more kind:  
Shake Dulness off; can his own enemy's Death  
Thus droopingly stop merry Hylas' breath?  Hylas. 
It was from his my Harmony did spring,  
And now is ended where it did begin;  
Opposites support each other; one Wit Enter Phillis with a merry countenance smilng on Hylas.  
Begets Another, and subsists by It.  
How, Phillis! doth that Countenance become  
These Times? Or hath thy Inmate left his room?  
In your Sex ne'er Inhabitant was Sorrow,  
For still 'tis here to day and gone to morrow.  Phillis. 
Hylas! I'd persecute thee thus an Age,  
And change thy wont Mirth into a Rage,  
Leonice and Tyrsis listen at distance to their discourse. Could I my Joy within itself contain;  
Know then, whom thou thought'st were, are now not slain:  Hylas. 
Ha!  Phillis. 
Astraea, Diana thou shalt see,  
With Celadon and Sylvander living be.  Hylas. 
By what strange Miracle?  Phillis. 
It seems the force  
Of magic Charms were here, not to divorce  
The Soul and Body, as thought, but t'invade  
The deprived Senses with Death's seeming shade,  
A breathless Slumber, which now having end,  
New life to us in their revivings send.  Hylas. 
I do begin my heresy to forsake,  
But such another will a Convert make.  Leonice. 
Leonice and Tyrsis en●er. By such Another, such you Other see.  
Phillis me pardon your Loves jealousy.  Tyrsis. 
And let the Innocent your Grace partake.  Phillis. 
Ye both are such, if such I both can make.  Hylas. 
I'm thunder-stricken! how, join quick and dead?  
I will believe now any thing can be said.  Leonice. 
We did partake your Sorrows when t'us shown,  
Which by your Joy had death so soon as known.  Tyrsis. 
To perfect which, let us them haste to see,  Phillis. 
To that your eyes may present witness be.  The whole troop of Shepherds enter in solemn manner, with great silence; which at distance making a stand, after a while Adamas alone approacheth the Temple, and kneeleth: which done, all the rest do the like at that distance they were at. Adamas. 
Adored Divinity, fair Venus' son,  
Who Agent art of all that e'er begun,  
Foe to Confusion; first of heavenly race;  
As thou didst Chaos, so vouchsafe thy Grace  
Our amazed Doubts to order and enlight.  
We come not Cur'osity to delight,  
But thy prescribed ordinance to obey,  
In consulting thy Oracle this day.  
Pronounce thou God in favour of our Groves,  
What Destiny thou dost disign their loves.  
Th' object of our Demands is to please thee; A ●aming Cupid appears in the midst of the fountain 〈◊〉 ● Porphis pedestal.  
Let our Content thy Answers Subject be.  O●acle. 
Since that faithful Lover required,  
Alexis, is to all expired,  
Celadon receive thy happy Choice,  
Astraea thee heaven doth present,  
The price of thy long Discontent,  
To which let none oppose his voice.  Celadon. 
My humble thanks, just Love, for this thy Grace; Heavante●● and again knelt in shepherd's habit.  
Thy Ordinances still I will embrace  
Above all Deities: To thee each day  
I will fresh Tributes of Devotion pay;  
In stead of Sighs and Tears, I will renew  
The purest Flames thy Altar ever knew,  
Which shall like Vestal's fire never die,  
Replenished still by her Sun-staining Eye;  
And since thou hast in Love given me the Prize,  
I will for ever be thy Sacrifice.  Adamas. 
Celadon rising, retires to the rest of the company: all continue kneeling. Great God, propitious still, once more disclose,  
How of Sylvander doth your will dispose.  Oracle. 
Sylvander must no longer live.  
To Paris I Diana give,  
And Adamas my just Command  
Bids that he die by thine own Hand.  Sylvander. 
Cupid vanisheth. Sylvander hastily runs and casts himself on his knees before the Altar, while all the rest rise. Thou ireful God, who become envi'us art  
Of my Fdelity; glut thee with a Heart  
Enshrines a Beauty would thee dispossess  
Of thy usurped power, didst not supress  
By unjust Force her humble Devotairs,  
Winding them thus in these thy cruel Snares;  
Yet this I have to thank thee for, that I  
He rises. Shall have the Glory thus for her to die.  Diana. 
You cruel Gods, mix Mercy with your spite,  
Both Lives and Loves see that you disunite.  Paris. 
My Soul doth grieve it cannot happy be  
Without this his preceding Misery.  Celadon. 
My Joy's imperfect.  Lycidas. 
Alas poor Lover!  
He hath tried one Death, now must try' nother.  Adamas. 
The God's more cruel are! who me to live  
Do suffer yet, then that they Death thee give;  
Yet must our Piety obey their Will.  
Prepare you strait their Sentence to fulfil.  Sylvander. He approacheth to Diana, knelt and kisses her hand still holding it. 
First then to thee fair Author of this Strife,  
Not to the Gods, I offer up my Life;  
They it compelled, but thou it willing haste,  
With more Piety, since heaven's in thee placed.  Diana. 
I will precede thee in thy hasty Flight, She faints, and is supported by her mother. Astrea, and Phillis.  
And veil my Soul in ever mournful Night.  Sylvander. 
Let nought disturb your Joys, to all adieu,  
Now in my blood your zealous Sword imbrue.  Adamas. An Officer stands ready with a ba●●a. Sylvander knelt. 
First to observe our wont Ceremony,  
With Victims blood the Altar sprinkled see,  
Truss up your Sleeve, and then extend your Arm.  
That well-known Mark my feeble Senses charm; Here he stops, and after some amazement, false on his neck; Sylvander still kneeling. He rises▪ shows the company his arm.  
My Son! Paris my Son! God's cannot lie,  
For by my hand doth now Sylvander die:  
Let Wonder cease; see, see, a Branch! see here,  
Of that fresh Tree, we welcome the new Year!  
This confirms thou art mine, whom Soldiers Rage  
In unjust War made innocent Pillage:  
Paris, but for thy sake, is Paris named;  
Thou art my Son▪ him only such I fram  
To salve my Sorrow with a false relief;  
Turns to Paris. Still thou art such in Love; forsake thy Grief.  
I will unite thy Alliance to my blood.  
She pawses, while he gives Paris hand to her. Here Niece to thee.  Leonida. 
You must not be withstood.  Adamas. 
With half my Wealth; nor is he of Stock mean,  
As I suppose; I found him nigh yond Stream;  
A child of equal Age and Fate to mine  
Whom I had lost, and even about that time.  
About his neck did hang in Chain of gold  
A rich Jewel did this Inscription fold,  
Born of a Lion; Which he still doth wear  
They look on it. Bellinda knowing it false upon his neck. As to all eyes it plainly may appear.  Bellinda. 
My son Ergaste! My too long lost Son!  
Not of a Lion born, but of Alion.  Astraea. 
Fie, Diana! lift up thine eyes, see, see,  
Sylvander shall again thine living be.  Diana. 
Sighing awakes as out of a dream. Why do you thus my dying soul distract.  Bellinda. 
Taking Sylvander and joining his hand with Diana's. I will it cure with this welcome Contract.  Diana. 
Sylvander presenting himself on his knees is by Adamas separated. They kneel. Adamas takes him by the hand, & again leads him to the Altar, with a silent astonishment of all the troop, expecting some new trouble. If yet I dream, then let me never wake,  
Lest these unexpressed Joys I should forsake.  Sylvander. 
They are Essential.  Adamas. 
Yet a while forbear;  
Once more before the Gods you must appear.  
You holy powers, doth this you satisfy,  
That thus Sylvander doth in Paris die?  
If not, although it sealed be with mine own,  
Paris with Sylvander shall be o'erthrown.  
A still kind of music is heard with great Reverence, and once more Cupid appears in white; In either hand a Garland of Myrrh, which he casteth to Celadon and Sylvander, at which he vanisheth.  Then is heard this Song. 

SONG.  

'TIs enough, Mortals, dry up your Tears;  
The smiling God is satisfied,  
Whose Cunning now may be descried,  
Inciting so oft succeeding fears;  
It was but to prepare your heightened Appetites  
More eagerly to feast on plentiful Delights.   

Each now a double Tribute exact,  
Of your Flames, which so purely burn,  
Since what ye take, ye do return,  
Though extort, you justify the Fact.  
Rifle those uncoucht Treasures then, make them your spoils,  
A Harmony springeth from Lovers civil broils.    
At which many little Cupidons appear joining their Voices, and casting Garlands of Myrrh to the whole Troop.  Adamas. 
Thus heaven and I you join. Adamas takes Silva●. and gives him to Diana.  Hylas. 
More wonders still! Hylas extends his hand to Stella.  
Which I mean with a greater to fulfil;  
Stella, thy hand; no longer Mistress now,  
The whole 〈◊〉 smile to see Hyla●●●rious. That Name I'll cancel with another vow.  Phillis. 
Miraculous!  Adamas. 
Now Celadon approve  
The fountains Force.  Celadon. 
'Twere Injury to Love.  Adamas. 
Astraea, your Command.  Astraea. 
'Twere jealousy  
Of Both our loves, not suffer both to try.  Adamas. 
Celadon first enters, they all follow. A perfect mirror of each perfect Mind,  
Which shall a heaven in their nigh Unions find,  
By mine own Hands; But first your sports prepare  
To greet our Princes, Galataea fair;  
I at my house do Her expect to Night;  
Let each Invention spring a new Delight.   

Scene 5. Act 5.  Lindamor, Galataea, Silva, Ligdamon. Lindamor. 
WHat strange Disorder we in each part find!  Galataea. 
As if the world were forsaken of Mankind.  Ligdamon. 
With one Consent all from themselves are fled.  Lindamor. 
Nor hath the chasing of a Foe this bred,  
Unless the favour of distempered Broils  
Hath made him to forget his better Spoils.  Silva. 
The wand'ring flocks do stray without their Guides.  Lindamor. 
Some panic Terror thus their Fear derides.  Galataea. 
Here's one will clear our Doubts; Adamas, why Adamas enters, knelt and kisses her hand.  
Thus all hid, lost, or dead?  Adamas. 
Madam! that I  
Must leave our Lovers to relate; But know,  
Fair Princess, thus our Joys do overflow.  Galataea. 
We have in part had thereof a Report,  
Which is one Cause why hither we resort.  Adamas. 
Madam, your Vassal still receives from you  
Additions of honour; One more endew  
My zealous Duty, your Aventure show.  Galataea. 
'Tis crowned in Polemas overthrow,  
By this blessed Hand, with which I come to tie, Takes Lindamor by the hand.  
In Hymen's rights, our purest Amity.  Adamas. 
My feeble Sense, like an o'refruitful Tree,  
Threatens my ruin, thus o'recharged to be.  Galataea. 
●●t why us thus your Company berest?  Adamas. 
He turns behind him & shows the maskers who placed in several po●●●res as disco●sing with their Mistresses. The figure is a round mount encompassed with Sicamo●●, and in the midst is a greater, that o'respreads all the 〈◊〉. To render more agreeable my Theft,  
See Madam.  Galataea. 
Ha! a lovely spectacle!  Lindamor. 
A fair Troop!  Ligdamon. 
A smiling Miracle!  A Chorus appearing( consisting of Shepherds) in order, at some distance one behind another, on either side of the Scene, by degrees approach to the frontispiece thereof, singing as followeth: Which ended, and they retired, the Shepherds descend and dance their Masque. 

SONG.  

Cyn●hi' a give place  
You glittering spangles of the sable Night,  
Hide now your face;  
Mortals no more shall want your feeble Light;  
Nor yet Presage of you require;  
With your influence  
We will dispense,  
Cherished by a heau'nlyer Fi're.   


Chorus.  No Cloud shall mask our serene air,  
Unless the more pleased Senses to unite;  
Nor whispering Sigh murmur Despair,  
Unless expired in Excess of Delight.   

Each happy Mind  
By Loves mysterious Unanimity,  
Here heaven doth find,  
Reflected from mut'al Divinity:  
Which our mean Thoughts to that height rears,   

As ravished  
Our souls are led  
Dancing to their harmonious Spheres.  
No cloud shall, 
Chorus.  &c.    Adamas. 
First, I restore what I berest by Craft. Takes Celadon by the hand and leads him to Galatea.  Galataea. 
Celadon, Cupid hath exchanged his Shaft;  
But still I love thee, though with other Flames.  Adamas. 
These my exchanged Sons have changed Names. The like by Paris or Ergaste. She courteously receives them; they kiss her hand.  Galataea. 
Mysterious Joys!  Adamas. 
My Niece doth humbly crave She kisses her hand.  
Your Pardon and your Favour she may have.  Galataea. 
Receive it with my Grace, and thanks to all;  
Such meeting Joys Mortals seldom befall.  Lindamor. 
Now let us to the holy Temple haste,  
Each may Loves long wished fruitful Harvest taste.  Galataea. 
Which shall with full Delight our Spirits move,  
When each recites the Story of his Love.  Where at the Chorus of the Shepherds placed in their first stations, sing as followeth. 

1.  
Song. YOur ecstasy of Wonder cease,  
Astonished Spectators, know,  
True Judgement may Delight increase,  
But blind Amazement it overthrow:  
Though these fair Troops have charmed  
Your ravished Sense,  
So powerfully armed  
With Excellence:  
Yet we must truly tell  
You, they are human; our Desire  
Is not to make them yet divine,  
That, than they are, would make them less,  
And them of Glory dispossess,  
Their Natures they excel.   

Chorus. Your high raised Fancies wake from birthless Dreams  
Here taste of Pleasures more essential Streams.  
Haste, haste away, with them your Band unite;  
So changed, not ended, shall be your Delight.   

2.  
Though their Appearance we translate,  
The●● supposed Natures they retain  
Desiring to communicate  
Their Graces in your Entertain;  
Fly from your Orbs, fix here,  
That you may lend  
New motion to this sphere,  
Sprung from its end:  
Here it redoubled shall  
Not add to Time plumes, but to Love,  
Whose active Flames do higher move,  
And purge their own Refulgency,  
When quickened by sweet Harmony,  
Their food material.  
Chorus. Your high raised fancies wake, &c.   Whereat the theatre is opened, and both Compan● uniting themselves, spend the rest of the Night 〈◊〉 their accustomed Dances. 
FINIS.