TITIRUS

Love always slowres in our green time of age. With timely flowers love ever brings forth fruit. Hither I came not for to jest ( Montane ) Nor to contend with you. But I the father am Of a deer only child, and (if't be lawful so to say) A worthy child, and by your leave of many sought. Brings thou the weapon that hath slain my child? Why lives she then? O blessed be thou that lifts me up from death: But how is she unsafe, since at her choice it is To live or die? She will not live? What madness makes her thust Why stay we? let us go! How if shee'ffect her purpose in the while? in mean time, Then tell truly how all this is come to pass? Oh wretched child, and why was she condemned? Oh admirable deed of faithful love. And noble heart. But what end had this mortal quarrel then? In sooth 'tis true, sweet scented Flowers shall cease To dwell on Rivers banks, and Woods in Spring Shall be without their Leaves, before a Maid Adorned with youth, shall set sweet Love at nought: But if we stay still here, how shall we know When it is time unto the Church to go? And why not in the Church? And why not in the Cave? there was the fault. And how knowest thou all these mysterial rites? Is this the child the flood so bore away? And for this then dost thou Montanus call thy self a wretched father? Oh monstrous blindness of these earthly minds, In what a dark profound and mystie night Of errors be they drowned? when thou Oh heavenly son Dost not enlighten them: Montanus thou Art blinder in thy mind then I of eyes, That dost not see thy self the happiest father And dearest to the gods that ever yet did child beget. This was the secret which the Fates did hide. This is that happy day, with so much blood So many tears we did expect. This is the bl ssed end of our distress. Oh thou Montanus turn into thy self, How is the famous Oracle forgotten, Printed i'the hearts of all Arcad a? No end there is for that which you offends, Till two of heavens issue love unite, The tears of joy so satisfy my heart I cannot utter it. No end there I , No end there is to that which you offends, Till two of heavens issue love unite, And for the ancient fault of that false wight, A faithful shepherd's pity make amends. Tell me Montanus, is not this thy son Heavens issue? is not Amarillis so? Who hath united them but only love? Silvio by parents force espoused was To Amarillis, whom he hated still, If thou the rest examine, you shall plainly see The fatal voice only Mirtillo meant. For since Amyntas chance where have we seen Such faith in love that might coequal this? Who since Amyntas willing was to die For any Nymph, only Mirtill except. This is that faithful Shepherds pity, which deserves To cancel that same ancient error of Lucrine. With this deed is the heavens ire appeased, Rather then with the shedding humane blood, Rendering unto th'eternall justice, that Which female treachery did take away. Hence was no sooner he unto the temple came, There to renew his vow, but straight did cease All those prodigious signs, now did The holy Image sweat out blood no more, Nor shook the ground, nor any noise nor stinch Came from the Cave, save gracious harmony, And odours. Oh sweet mighty providence, Oh heavenly Cods, had I all words, all hearts, All to thy honour would I consecrate: But to my power I'll render you your endue. Behold upon my knees o heavenly powers, I praise your name, how much am I obliged That you have let me live until this day? And hundred years I have already worn, And never yet was life so sweet as now: I but begun to to live, now am I born again. Why lose I time with words that unto deeds is endue? Help me up son, without thee can I not Upraise these weak and feeble members son. Why stay we Montane now? heavens not expect A sacrifice of rage, but thanks and love, In stead of death our Goddess now commands Of marriage knot a sweet solemnity: But say how far's to night? Then to the Temple turn, where let thy son Espoused be to Amarillis straight, whom he may lead Unto his father's house before the sun be set, So heavens command. Come, gow Montanus, gow. That doubt's well cleared, now let us go. Taste of a beast, heel neueuer woman Like. But always love is natural to youth. Dreams in the end prove dreams, but what saw you? Who can guess otherwise? and I remember now, You told me of this your mishap before: A memorable misadventure sure, And you may say, you have two sons begotten, One to the woods, the other to the waves. Our dreams are rather representments vain Of Idle Hope's, then any things to come: Only days thoughts made fables for the night. Well, of cur children what the heavens disposed have, Is quite unknown to us, but sure it is, Yours gainst the law of nature feels not love. And mine hath but the bound of his faith given For her reward. I cannot say she loves, But well I wot she hath made many love: And t'is unlike, she tastes not that she makes So many taste. Me thinks she's altered much From that she was: for full of sport and mirth, She's wont to be. But t'is a grievous thing, To keep a woman married and unmarried thus. For Like a Rose that in some garden grows, How dainty t'is against the Sun does rise, Presuming with sweet odours round about, Bidding the humming bees to honey feast: But if you then neglect to gather it, And suffer Titan in his midday's course To scorch her sides, and burn her dainty seat, Then ere Sunset, discoloured she falls, And nothing worth upon the shadowed hedge. Even so a maid whom mother's care does keep, Shu king her heart from amorous desires. But if the piercing looks of hungry lovers eyes Come but to view her, if she hear him sighs, Her heart soon ope's, her breast soon takes in love: Which if for shame she hide, or fear contain, The silent wretch in deep desire consumes. So fades beauty if that fire endure, And leesing time, good fortune's lost be sure. A he Goat bring Dametas from my herd.