STESIAS

But as thou wilt, so give me sweet or sour: For in thy pleasure must be my content. We fly. Then make I vow, by Pallas shepherd's Queen, That Stesias will allow Pandora's choice. But if he speed that less deserves then I, I'll rather die, then grudge or make complaint. The word hath almost slain me with delight. Stay not my decree, for in thy looks I live. Did base Learchus court my heavenly love? Pardon me Pan if to revenge this deed, I shed the blood of that dissembling swain, With Jealous fire my heart begins to burn. Ah bring me where he is Gunophilus, Least he entice Pandora from my bower. What will the shepherd's banquet with my wife. Oh light Pandora canst thou be thus false? Tell me where is this wanton banquet kept? That I may hurl the dishes at their heads, Mingle the wine with blood and end the feast, With Tragic outcries Like the Theban Lord, Where fair Hippodamia was espoused. Where might I hide me to hehold the same. But then I shall not see them when they kiss, But do so then my sweet Gunophilus And as a strong wind bruising from the earth, So will I rise out of this hollow vault: making the woods shake with my furious words. Not for the world unless I hear thee call, Or else their wanton speech provoke me forth. where is the villain that hath kissed my love why strive they then? whither is my wife gone? Ah Pandora pardon me thou art chaste, Thou madest me to suspect her, take thou that. Oh Stesias what a heavenly love hast thou? A love as chaste as is Apollo's tree: As modest as a vestal Virgins eye, And yet as bright as Glow worms in the night: With which the morning decks her lovers hair. Oh fair Pandora, blessed Stesias. Detested falsor that to Stesias eyes. Art more insestious then the Basilisk Stay I am well 'tis thou that makest me rave, Thou playdst the wanton with my fellow swains. Divine Pandora rise and pardon me. Oh stay my love I know it their devise Was ever silly shepherd thus abused? All three afirmd Pandora held them deer. Do so sweet wife, and they shall buy it deer I cannot stay my sheep must to the fouled. Exit. Learchus will you stand unto your words. They lay the fault on thee, and thou on them, But take thee that. Out of my ground Learchus, from my land, And from hence forward come not near my lawns, Pandora come: Gunophilus away. Follow me, follow me, here comes Stesias. Either to the river, or else to thy graven. But Stesias is her deputy he comes. And with his shephook greets Learchus thus. Why dost thou tell me the contrary take that, She is honest but thou wouldst seduce her. Away from my grove, out of my land, Did I not give thee warning? I see Pandora and Gunophilus. Gunophilus thou hast inveigled her, And robbed me of my treasure and my wife. I'll strip thee to the skin for this offence, And put thee in a wood to be devoured, Of empty Tigers, and of hungry Wolves, Nor shall thy sad looks move me unto rues, I fear it is too true that he reports. Pandora speak, love thou Gunophilus? Now I perceive that she is lunatic, What may I do to bring her to her wits? Pandora, my love Pandora. I will allure her with fair promises, And when I have her in my leavy bower, Pray to our water Nymph's and Sylvan gods, To cure her of this piteous lunacy, I'll give thee streams whose pebble shall be pearl, Love birds whose feathers shall be beaten gold. Muskflyes with amber berries in their mouths, Milk white Squirrels, singing Popinjays, A boat of deer skins, and a fleeting I'll, A sugar cane, and line of twisted silk. Ah whither runs my love Pandora? stay, Gentle Pandora stay, run not so fast. For you she raves, that meant to ravish her, Help to recover her or else ye die. Come come Pandora sleep within my arms, Oh no Gunophilus there let her sleep, And let us pray that she may be recurd. Yet will you slay me with your slanderous words Did you not all swear for her chastety. Wertenberg thou the messenger unto them all. Ah how my heart swells at these miscreants words. Go life, fly soul, go wretched Stesias, Cursed be Utopia for Pandora's sake, Let wild boars with their tusks blow up my lawns, Devouring Woules come shake my tender lambs, Driven up my goats unto some steepy rock, And let them fallen down headlong in the sea, She shall not live, nor thou Gunophilus, To triumph in poor Stesias overthrow. For thee base strumpet am I pale and won. Not for Utopia, no, not for the world. To slay her self that I may live alone. If thou be Jove convey her from the earth, And punish this Gunophilus her man. Go where thou wilt so I be rid of thee, I'll rather die then bear her company, Then to revenge me of Gunophilus, I'll rend this hathorne with my furious hands And bear this bush, if ear she look but back, I'll scratch her face that was so false to me. Oh that they had my room. Let us with reverence kiss her Lily hands, They all kneel to her. And by deserts in service win her love. Sweet Dame, if Stesias may content thine eye, Command my Neat, my flock, and tender Kids: Whereof great store do overspread our plains, Grant me sweet Mistress but to kiss thy hand. She hits him on the lips. No kiss? nor touch? nor friendly look? What churlish influence deprives her mind? For Nature said, that she was innocent, And fully fraught with virtuous qualities: But speak sweet love: thou canst not speak but well. Oh then to sift that humour from her heart, Let us with Rundelayes delight her ear: For I have herd that Music is a mean, To calm the rage of melancholy mood. They sing. She starts up and runs away at the end of the Song, saying. Now Stesias speak. Sweet honey words, but sawest with bitter gawle. He fell not down till I had goard his side. Lay down, or I shall lay thee on the earth. Here strike thy fill make lavish of my life, That in my death my love may find relief: Lance up my side, that when my heart leaps out, Thou mayest behold how it is scorched with love, And every way croswounded with desire, There shalt thou read my passion deep engraved, And in the amid only Pandora's name. Ah ruthless heart, harder then Adamant, Whose ears are deaf against affections plaints. And eyes are blind, when sorrow sheds her tears: Neither contented that I live nor die. But fondling as I am, why grieve I thus? Is not Pandora mistress of my life? Yes, yes, and every act of hers is joust. Her hardest words are but a gentle wind: Her greatest wound is but a pleasing harm, Death at her hands is but a second life. Exit Stesi. Mars descendeth. Mars hath enforced Pandora gainst her kind, To manage arms and quarrel with her friends: And thus I leave her, all incensed with ire: Let Solemnizing cool that which I have set on fire. Exit. If soluere amorem signify to love, Then means this prophesy good to Stesias: But if it signify to withdraw love, Then is it ill aboadement to us both: But speak Pandora while the God inspyres. Forward and back, these also are alike And sense all one, the pointing only changed: They but import Pandora's praise and mine. See cruel fair, how thou hast wronged thy friend. He shows his shirt all bloody. To spill his blood that kept it but for thee, The my desert: And here is my reward, Pointing first to the head on the ground: and then to his wound. I dare not say of and ingrateful mind: But if Pandora had been well advised, This dare I say, that Stesias had been sparde. What meanest thou Iphicles? My love? no Shepherds this is but a stale, To make me hate Pandora whom I love, So whispered late the false Gunophilus, Let it suffice that I believe you not. Sirrah, bid your Mistress come hither. I never hung about Pandora's neck, She played not unto Melos in her bower, I kill her not, nor did she term me love. These words argue Pandora to be light. She played the wanton with these amorous swains, By all these streams that interlaced these floods. Which may be venom to her thirsty soul. I'll be revenged as never shepherd was, Now foul Pandora, wicked Stesias. Here is Stesias, Melos you are deceived. So will not I sir, I mean simply. This is Enip , here she should be, I have them in my bower, come follow me? See where she sits, in whom we must delight, Beware she sleeps: no noise for waking her. Oh sweet Gunophilus further our attempts. Tell on my deer, when comes that happy hour, Whereon thy love shall guerden my desire. Oh speak sweet love. Here let us stay till fair Pandora come, And then shall Stesias have his endue reward. Blessed be the hand that made so happy wound, For in my sufferance have I won thy love, And blessed thou, that having tried my faith, Hast given admittance to my hearts desert, Now all is well, and all my hurt is whole, And I in paradise of my delight. Come lovely spouse, let us go walk the woods, Where warbling birds record our happiness: And whistling leaves make music to our mirth, And Flora strews her bower to welcome thee. Thou Sovereign Queen and Author of the world, Of all that was, or is, or shall be framed. To finish up the heap of thy great gifts, Vouchsafe thy simple servants one request. And I Beatrice thee for good will to her. What hast thou to do betwixt man and wife.?