AMYNTAS

No, no, Thyrsis, alas: Love lacks no tears of Amyntas, Surly Cupido's full, stuftfull with tears of Amyntas, And thirsts now for blood, seeks blood of woeful Amyntas, And what he seeks, he shall have; I'll que ̄ changed their thirst by my hartblood, Blind boy's, proud girls thirst: and glut their eyes with abundant Streams of purpled gore of too too wretched Amyntas. Find brave gyrls? o grief: if Amyntas find not Amyntas, How can he find others? o how shall he find bony Lasses, If that he lose himself? o how shall I seek any other, Since my settled soul and heart are Like to and aged And well grounded tree, which now is come to the full groat, And will rather break, than bend, or yield to be turned. Hate augments my love; her frowns give fire to my fancy, As gentle spaniel, whom beating makes to be loving. Yea, but alas long time's too long for wretched Amyntas: Death must speedily speed, no wretch can abide any long time. Know o Thyrsis then, know this mine infinite anguish, Which these hills well know, which these sweet watery wells know, And yet no man knows: my fatal hour is approaching, My death draws so near, that now its time to provide some Time to provide some friend, which may and will be reporter Of death and death's cause, which will for a friendly remembrance Death and cause of death engrave in Bark of a beech tree, Hard by the damned place, where corpse of murdered Amyntas Bloodless corpse shall lie, that when that brave bony damsel That pytiles Phillis shall chance that way to be passing, Her proved foot, and yet sweet foot may joy to be treading Treading and trampling these baleful bones of Amyntas. And that serpents tonge, thus take a delight to be vaunting, This death is my triumph, these bruised bones my trophaeum; That such strange travelers as this way chance to be wandering, And foreign Pastor's that pass by the graven of Amyntas, May know this conquest, and make it known to the country. And perchance (o no, that's too too good for Amyntas ) Yet perchance one day may once come, when bony Phillis When bony sweet Phillis, now moved with a lovely repentance, Lovely remorse, may take some small compassion on me, And, when 'tis too-late, lament this lose of Amyntas, Shedding some sweet tears for death of murdered Amyntas, His death; whom when he live, herself did cause to be dying; Saying, Oh that he were, that he were not a murdered Amyntas, Oh that he lived now, and were my lover Amyntas. But now harck and mark of cares and woe the beginning. When that I was but a wag, young wag, so young, that I could scarce Reach mine outstretched arm to the bending bows of a plumtree; Was my luck (ill luck) acquaint myself with a brave girl, Bravest girl that spreads her golden locks to the tender Wind, fair Phillis I mean, but alas what meant I to mean her? Phillis a flame to the soul, and Phillis a flower to the forest, Phillis a Townish gyrls disgrace, and grace to the country, Phillis a fame to the Parck, and Phillis a shame to the Palace, Phillis that first made Cydippe for to be mother, Phillis that first made that rich Montanus a father: With that Phillis I was (most woeful was, when I am not) With that Phillis I live (o luckless live, when I live not) Phillis a turtle dove, and faithful turtle Amyntas: Both our bowers were nigh, which made us both to be neighbours, Both our minds more nigh, which caused us both to be friendly: Both our ages like, which first was cause of a liking, Both our lives more like, which still gave fire to a fancy. If that Amyntas were disposed for to be fishing, Phillis a fishing went: if Amyntas meant to be fowling, Phillis a fowling went: if Phillis longed for a filbert, Younker Amyntas clymbde: if Phillis would be a hunting, Who but Amyntas then, but green-coat Huntsman Amyntas? Either's sport was like, and eithers portion aequal. But when Amyntas thus bestowed himself on his angling, Other baits and hooks took secret hold of Amyntas: While that Amyntas thus laid traps and snares for a Redbrest, White-breast laid new snares and hidden traps for Amyntas: While that Amyntas I say ran pricking after a Pricket, Far more poisoned darts have pricked hart-root of Amyntas. For, by degrees there grew (as and herb that grows of her own self) In my breast there grew, but I wist not whence, a desiring Still to be with Phillis, poor fool, and still to be gazing On those burning lamps, whence still still I sucked a sweetness, Strange kind of sweetness which ended still with a sourness. Oftentimes did I sighs, yet knew no cause of a sighing, And was a lover afore that I knew what was to be loving: But now Thyrsis, I know, and mark, I'll tell thee the manner. Once on a day (o day, o dismallest day of a thousand) Once on a summer's day (o summer worse than a winter) Under a beech (o beech of Amyntas woe the beginning) Phillis sat her down, and down sat Cassiopoea, And I between them both: when a Be that gathered honey Here and there from the flowers, conveys herself in a moment Unto the red-rose cheek of smiling Cassiopoea, And there bites and bites fair cheek of Cassiopoea, Thinking sure, (as I think) her red-rose cheeks to be roses. Be bites, biting smarts, and smarting Cassiopoea Wringeth her hands and cries: But, peace, quoth my bony Phillis, Cassiopoea, be still, cry not sweet Cassiopoea: I'll with a word or two soon cause thy pain to be ceasing, I'll soon charm thy cheek; this secret lately I learned Of beldame Sagane, for and ivory comb that I gave her. Then sh'applyes her lips (life-geeuing lips to a Lover, And yet alas, yet alas life-taking lips from a Lover) Unto the smarting cheek of whining Cassiopoea, And with a sweet sweet found her spells she begins to be mumbling: By and by (strange thing) her pain was passed in a moment, Whither charming words did work so mighty a wonder, Or that Phillis mouth (which rather may be believed) Heals where it tutcheth by some great grace of Apollo. Then then, whereas afore I desired but to be seeing Hart-inflaming eyes, I desired but to be hearing Soul-invading voice, sweet voice, and Like to the purling Streams of a silver brook that creeps with a lovely resounding Murmur among small stones, or like to the daintily warbling Noise of a gentle wind, that makes green leaves to be trembling, Then then alas did I long and look and wish to be joining This my mournful mouth to the mouth of my bony Phillis: And in fine I devised (Love finds out wily devises) How to obtain my desire: for I feigned, that a wasp from the bushes Flew to my face in a rage, and poor lips all to be stinged; And my doleful looks did look and crave to be charmed, Though my tongue was afraid, and made no suit to the charmer, Then simple Phillis, who took my tale for a Gospel, Came of her own accord and joined her lips to my sore-lipp, Sore-sick lip God knows: But alas, while Phillis a feigned Wound with sweet lips healed, her sweet lips gave me a true-wound, Gave me a mortal wound that ran from the lips to the liver, Nay, immortal wound that pierced from the mouth to the marrow. No busy Be can suck more sweet and sugared honey From sweet-smelling flowers, than was distilled from the roses Of chery-lipt Phillis by the boiling breath of Amyntas; Although bashful fear was somewhat a curb to my kisses, And restrained my joys: which made me the more to desire that Poisoned bittersweet, and feign yet again that I smarted, That with Phillis lips my lips might freshly be charmed: And so charmed I was, so stinged, so deadly bewitched, So soar enchanted with spill-soul spells, that I must needs Either break my heart, or break my love to my Phillis: This breaking of love was a loves-break; better it had be Harts-break or necks-break to the soar hart-wounded Amyntas. Once on a time when Nymphs and Pastor's chanced to be sporting. Standing all in a round, and each one whispered a secret Into and others ear, poor fool I began to be buzzing, Phillis, I burn with love, o take compassion on me, Help or I die Phillis: But Phillis straight with a lowering Look and frowning face, and downcast eyes to the groundward, Blushed for spite and shame, and gave not a word for and answer, But couueyd her away, and flew from the place in a fury. From that time, no time would Phillis abide with Amyntas, Lend no eyes to the tears, no ears to the plaints of Amyntas. And now flaxen wheat his ripened stalk to the sickle Hath threetimes yielded, now cheerful spring, to the forest Flowering bows hath brought threetimes, and flowers to the meadow, And each thing but death long since was tried by Amyntas For t'appease Phillis; my death now only remains For t'appease Phillis: which death should soon be procured, So that I were once sure that I should by my deadly departure Wring any tears from her eyes, or bring any joy to her hard heart, Make her weep or laugh; and whether should I be wishing? Indeed Phillis tears and mind with mercy relenting Were far better amends for death of murdered Amyntas, And more friendly reward for luckless love of Amyntas, But that I may not wish sweet Phillis mind to be grieved, Nor Phillis fair face and eyes with tears to be blubbered. Oh good Thyrsis, I doubt, for I never gin to be speaking, But she recoils from my words, as subtle snake from the charmer. If thou get that I speak, then nought shall I get by my speaking. Mopsus alas Mopsus foretold me my destiny long-since, Soothsayer Mopsus that knows what mystery secret And hidden virtues in stones and herbs be abiding, And by the flight and chirp of birds can tell many wonders. What news? life, or death? And what great cowrrage, or what resolution is this? Yea, with a better will, than girls or boys to the stooleball. Yea, with a greater joy, than thirsting Heart to the fountain, I'll with a good will go through scorching flames of a furnace, I'll through swelling streams increased with snow from the mountains, I'll through damnable hell, through loathsome Styx, to my Phillis, If that can be a hell where heu'ns-ioy Phillis abideth: But say, show me all. What? does my deer life, does my love fit by a wellspring? What? does Phillis alone and naked stay for Amyntas? Oh wellspring of woe; this cold conclusion endeth All my hope conceived, and draws confusion onward; Oh pytyles Thyrsis, was sowl-tormented Amyntas Not yet plagued enough, but thou must heap on a new plague? How ruled? Thyr. Take that good, which opportunity offereth. God forbid, that I take such opportunity offered As t'attempt any thing displeasing unto my Phyills. Yet did I never thing offensive unto my Phillis, But that I loved her alas, yet alas she'enforc't me to love her, That fault's hers, not mine, and beauty to blame, not Amyntas. That, will I never say Thyrsis, nor never imagine, Love will not consent, that I ever leave to be loving. In despite? o no, yet needs needs must I be loving. Thy long experience, o Thyrsis, makes the be talking, Makes the be discoursing of love: but freshman Amyntas Is possessed with love, and love must frame him and answer, Love, that clogs hartty'd and tongty'd lover Amyntas. Oh but alas who knows, that Phillis liketh Amyntas? Oh stay good Thyrsis, let's here consult for a while yet. Owretch; sole despair, that dryues all hope from Amyntas, Is my sole comfort: fond hope first wounded Amyntas; And found hope, even now (o endless grief) is a budding In my baleful breast, and only because that I live yet, Which is of all others the deuourïngst worm to the wretched. Had not fell fortune and lewd love plagued Amyntas With pains sufficient, but wellsprings must be presented Unto my eyes: and then to my scorched tonge be denied? Oh that rueful sighed makes my cold heart to be rueful: Is my Phillis alive? Daph. Good Fulvia kill not Amyntas With so long suspense, let's know what may be the matter. And is this not enough? o lawn of my bony Phillis: Oh bony Phillis blood, th'art dead my sweet bony Phillis. Grief, leave of lingering: make quick dispatch of Amyntas: Grief, th'art too too slow; if death be reserved for Amyntas Hand, he'll take it in hand. For alas, if nought be a wanting Unto the highest point of grief, if nought's to be added Unto Amyntas woe, for what then stays Amyntas Oh Daphne, Daphne, was Amyntas lately repelled From death, sweet death's door by Daphne's means? Was Amyntas Kept saulf for these joys? Oh, then, then I might in a good time Have discharged myself of a huge and horrible Aetna: But Daphne would not, but cursed Destiny would not, Least that I might by death those plagues have timely prevented, Which accursed Fates for Amyntas lately prepared. But now, since my woes at last are come to a full groat, Destiny and Daphne may well, well let me be dying. Live or die? who doubts? would God that were to be doubted. Geaue me the lawn, good Nymph, white lawn, which only remains Of sweet-white Phillis, that I may in stead of a Phillis Kiss my Phillis lawn, and so my joys be prolonging, So my shortened days with contentation ending. Nymph extremely cruel, that thinks it much to be geuuing One poor piece of lawn, even at last gasp of Amyntas. Well, then I yield to my death, and destiny noe-pity-taking: Let lawn stay with you, and you stay here for Amyntas. If too-late, rotten. Oyet, come sweet light of these mine eyes to the harbour, And ten-thousand woes with a good-turn once be requiting. Harck in your ear then. Yet let's sleep for a while; for your sake long was I watching. How can I hear in sleep? Phil. What pleasure then can Amyntas Take, when he sleeps by my side, if he feel nothing when he sleepeth? And yet I can not sleep, for joy, that I found my Amyntas. Then let's kiss: kissed mouth is nothing worse for a kissing: So Be sucks sweet flowers, flowers nothing worse for a sucking; And you kiss roses, then think my lips to be roses. If nought else, yet give me leave those eyes to be kissing, Those fair eyes, and so shall I seem fair soul to be kissing. Now I desire your eyes of purpose for to be kissing, Thereby so to declare by this so lovely a token, That your murdering eyes, my cursing lips be for ever Now made faithful Friends, and all contention ended. And, if Phillis think herself not fully revenged, Then let her own teeth bite these lying lips of Amyntas. If no kind of kiss from Phillis may be procured, Yet let and embracement to Amyntas his arms be afforded. Oh what guyft shall I grant? what boon seeks my bony Phillis? How can I come to the tree for briars and soe-many bushes? If that I may clasp it, then doubt not, Phillis, Amyntas Will climb up to the tree, or shake down foemany apples. My life, give me the leave, this fair read rose to be putting In this bosom, where my heart hath made his abiding, Grant me this one grace yet: this favour do me for all this, Give me thy snowwhite hand, to be clipped and kissed of Amyntas. What kind of love's this, that Phillis bear's to Amyntas. They sing these Asclepiades. Sweet face, why be the heavens so to the bountiful, Making that radiant beauty of all the stars Bright-burning, to be fair Phillis her ornament? And yet seem to be so spitefully partial, As not for to afford Argus his eyes to me, Eyes too Few to behold Phillis her ornament? Let come fair Helene, Troys tribulation, Or brave Endymions sweet speculation, Or Nymph Idalian friendly to passion; None but Phillis alone holds Amyntas hands: None but Phillis alone pleases Amyntas eyes: None but Phillis alone wounds Amyntas heart. Let me help you up: your hand is in hand of Amyntas Now at last surprised: yet I ask but a kiss for a ransom. That which cost you not a dodkin, And yet would content my mind much more than a treasure. Tell speedily, Thyrsis, Most good; what better will to Amyntas?