ELPINUS

Friends leave of mourning: you herd false news of Amyntas. Hear, o hear then that, whereof these eyes the beholders Were, and whereof now this tonge may well be reporter. By my cave did I fit with Thyrsis down by the downfall, Talking of my love, lovels yet lovely Lycoris: When from and high we saw some man fallen down on a soddayn. There was a heap of thorns and bows compact on a cluster Somewhat above our heads; 'twas his hap there first to be lighting: Which although by the swing and weight it bursted a sunder, And all came tumbling, and fell down flatly before us, Yet by this encounter that fallen proved not to be mortal, Though soar and painful, making him lie as amazed One whole hour and more, as unable his eyes to be opening. We twooe, astonied to behold so fearful and object, Stood stark dumb for a while, although we knew was Amyntas; But perceiving that this fallen seemed not to be mortal, Our whole endeavours w'apply'de, his woe to be suaging, And sent one forthwith, for cunning Alphesiboeus, Alphesiboeus whom that great God learned Apollo Made to be skilful in herbs, when he gave me the guyft to be singing. But now in mean time, when Thyrsis gan to rehearse me All those secret woes and forepast pangs of Amyntas, Daphne and Phillis did meet us there on a soddayne, Daphne and Phillis, who sought bruysd bones of Amyntas Whom they thought to be dead, as then was told me by Daphne. But when Phillis saw her longlookt lover Amyntas, Discolored, bruised, sorewounded then with a raging Voice, and beaten breast on Amyntas flatly she falls, Face to Amyntas face, and mouth to the mouth of Amyntas: Shame to a feynthart love does sometime serve for a bridle; But true love indeed contemns so basheful a bridle. Afterwards with tears his bloodless cheeks she bewashed, And those tears so wrought that Amyntas quickly revived, Oped his eyes, and breathed; which breath so luckily uttered Encountering Phillis sweet breath was lovely received. With what and endless joy these twooe lay sweetly together, Either in others arms, and either sure of and others Life and love, lovers may think, none else can imagine. Saulfe and found, but that those thorns have partly defaced His fair cheeks, and sides did somewhat chance to be bruised: But that's joust nothing, and works no woe to Amyntas, (Happy Amyntas now, that showed such sign of a loving Heart, and so at last obtained to be loved of a loving Soul, his passed pains, make present joys to be greater) As yourselves shall see: for Phillis coms with Amyntas Hytherward hard by: myself must first to the lodging Of rich Montanus, persuading him to be yielding Unto the purposed match; and thither they be appointed Shortly to come, this way: and now its time to be walking.