PALAEMON

But Thyrsis you must tell me what is the cause? Good Thyrsis by what means, I pray thee tell This is no news, you tell, of Silvia's death. That was long since: why should you wail her now? But Thyrsis, you know how her father meant To match her with Alexis, and a day To celebrate the nuptials was prefixed. Women's affections do Like flashes prove, They oft show passion when they feel small love. Alas with what poor Coin are lovers paid, And taken with the smallest bait is laid? Fie Thyrsis, with what found remembrances Dost thou these idle passion entertain? For shame leave off to waste your youth in vain, And feed on shadows: make your choice anew. You other Nymph's shall find, no doubt will be As lovely, and as fair: and sweet as she. Thou mayest be such a found I dolater To die for love; though that were very strange. Love hath few Saints, but many confessors. And time no doubt will raze out all these notes, And leave a room at length for other thoughts. There is no dealing with this man, I see, This humour must be let to spend it self Unto a lesser substance, ere that we Can any way apply a remedy. But I lament his case, and so I know Do all that see him in this woeful plighted: And therefore will I leave him to himself, For sorrow that is full, hates others sighed. In troth, Charinus, I have oftentimes, As one that suffered for his grievances, Assayed to find a way into the cause Of his so strange dismay; and by all means Advised him make redemption of himself, And come to life again, and be a man With men: but all serves not, I find him locked Fast to his will, allege I what I can. The cause is love; but it is such a love, As is not to be had. She is not in Arcadia whom he loves, Nor in the world, and yet he dearly loves. Thus plainly; he's in love with a dead woman, And that so far, as with the thought of her Which hath shut out all other, he alone Lives, and abhors to be, or seen, or known. Fair Silvia, old Medorus daughter, who Was two years passed reported to be slain By savage beasts upon our country shore. Assure your self Charinus, as I have So will I still employ my utmost pour, To save him; for me thinks it pity were, So rare a piece of worth should so be lost, That ought to be preserved at any cost. Ah worthy Thyrsis, entertain that spirit What ever else thou do: set all the doors Of thine affections open thereunto. But Thyrsis think that this must have and end, And more it would approve your worth to make The same your work, then time should make it his. You may mistake the meaning of those words Which is not known before it be fulfilled. Yield you to what the gods command, if not Unto your friends desires: reserve your self For better days, and think the Oracle Is not untrue, although not understood. But howsoever, let it not be said That Thyrsis being a man of so rare parts, So understanding and discreet, should pine in love And languish for a silly woman thus: To be the fable of the vulgar, made Ascorne, and laughed at, by inferior wits. Well Thyrsis, well, how ever you do guild Your passion, to endear them to your self, You never shall induce me to believe, That sicknesses can be of such effect. And so farewell, until you shall be well. Good Thyrsis, I am sorry I should give The least occasion of disease to you; I will be gone and leave you to your rest. So now he sleeps, or else does seem to sleep; But howsoever, I will not trouble him. It may be Thyrsis, more his fear then hurt: Stay him a while, and I will haste and send For Lamia, who with ointments, oil and herbs If any help remain, will help him sure. Go Pollio, summon all the Arcadia youth Here, round about, and will them to prepare To celebrate with all delights they can This joyful hour, that hath restored to us The worthiest pair of hearts that ever were, Will them to show the height of musiques art, And all the strains of cunning they can show: That we may make these rocks and hills about, Ring with the Echo of redoubled notes. And will Charinus and Medorus too, The aged parents of this worthy pair, To come with speed, whose joy, good souls, will be More then their speed; and yet their speed I know, Will be beyond th'allowance of their years, When they shall understand this happy news. And summon likewise all the train of nymphs That glorify our plains, and all that can Give honour to this day. Go Pollio hast away, and as you go Unbind Montanus that rude savage swain: And though he be unworthy to be here, Yet let him come. He hath be in his days Held a good fellow, howsoever now His rage and love transported him in this. Good news my friends, and I will tell it you, Silvia and Thyrsis being to my cottage brought, The skilful Lamia comes and searched the wound Which Silvia had received of this rude swain, And finding it not deadly she applied Those remedies she knew of best effect. And binds it up, and powers into her mouth Such cordial waters as revive the spirits: And so much wrought, as she at length perceived Life was not quite gone out, but lay oppressed. With Like endeavours we on Thyrsis work, And ministered Like Cordials unto him: At length we might hear Silvia fetch a groan, And there withal Thyrsis perceived to move, Then Thyrsis fetched a groan, and Silvia moved As if their lives were made both of one piece. Whereat we joyed, and then remoud' and set Each before other, & held up their heads, And chafed their temples, rubbed and stroked their cheeks: Wherewith first Silvia casts up her dim eyes, And presently did Thyrsis lift up his. And then again they both together sighed, And each on other fixed and unseeing eye: For yet was scarce the twilight of their new Returning day, out of the night of death. And though they saw, they did not yet perceive Each other, and yet both turned to one point As touched alike, and held their looks direct. At length we might perceive, as life began Appear; and make the morning in their eyes, Their beams were clearer, & their opener looks Did show as if they took some little note Of each the other: yet not so as they Could thoroughly discern who themselves were. And then we took and joined their hands in one, And held them so a while, until we fealt How even each others touch, the motion gave Unto their feeling, and they trembling wrung Their hands together, and so held them locked, Looked still upon each other, but no words at all. Then we called out to Thyrsis Thyrsis look, It is thy Silvia thou here holdest, she is Returned revived, and safe. Silvia, behold thou hast Thy Thyrsis, and shalt ever have him thine. Then did we set them both upon their feet And there they stood in act, even as before Looking upon each other hand in hand: At last we saw a blushing read appear In both their cheeks, which sense sent as a Iampe To light their understanding. And forthwith The tears gushed forth their eyes, which hindered the ̄ A while from seeing each other, till they had Cleared them again. And then as if new waked From out a fearful dream, they stand and doubt Whither they were awake indeed, or else Still in a dream, distrusting their own eyes. Their long endured Misery's, would not Let them believe their sudden happiness, Although they saw it: till with much ado They had confirmed their credit, and had kissed Each other and embraced, and kissed again, And yet still dumb: their joy now seemed to be Too busy with their thoughts, t'allow them words. And then they walked a little, then stood still, Then walked again, and still held other fast As if they feared, they should be lost again. And when at last they spoke, it was but thus, Oh Silvia, and Oh Thyrsis, and there stopped. We, lest our sighed and presence So many) hinder might the passage of being there Their modest, simple, and unpractised love, Came all our way, and only Lamia left Whose spirit, and that sufficient skill she hath Will serve no doubt, to see they shall do well. But how knowest thou her love was such to thee? Cheer Thyrsis, Lamia will come presently And bring the best preservatives she hath. What now? Who lies discovered here? Ay me, A woman dead? Is this that boy transformed? Why, this is Silvia, Oh good Thyrsis how Comes this to pass? Friend Thyrsis, Thyrsis speak. Good Thyrsis tell me. Out alas he sownes, As well as she, and both seem gone alike. Come gentle heards men, come and carry them To yonder sheepcote quickly, that we may (If possible) recover them again. If not perform those rites that appertain Unto so rare a couple. Come my friends, make hast. DId ever yet Arcadia hear before Of two so worthy lovers, as we find Thyrsis and Silvia were? or ever had Clear truth, and simple constant honesty, So lamentable and event as this? But here comes forth Palaemon, we shall now Learn all of him, what hath been done within.