COLAX

Come my deer Techne, thou and I must plot More cunning projects yet, more strange designs Amongst these simple gross Arcadians here, That know no other world, but their own plains, Nor yet can apprehend the subtle trains We lay, to mock their rural ignorance. But see, here comes two of their amorous Swains In hight contention, let us close convey Our selves, here underneath this coverture, And overhear their passionate discourse. Alas poor fools, how hotly they contend Who shall possess a prey that's yet ungot. But Techne, I must by thy help forestall The Mars of both their Hope's, and while they shall Pursue the Air, I must surprise their gain. And fitly now, thou mayest occasion take By these advantages discovered here, Impress in Cloris tender heart that touch Of deep dislike of both their vanteries, As may convert her wholly unto me. Tush Techne we desire not what we have, But what we would, our longings never stay With our attainings, but they go beyond. That I confess, but yet that pays not me, For Cloris is another and 'tis that, And only that, which Techne I desire. Some thing there is peculiar, and alone To every beauty that does give and edge To our desires, and more we still conceive In that we have not, then in that we have. And I have herd, abroad where best experience, And wit is learned, that all the fairest choice Of women in the world, serve but to make One perfect beauty, whereof each brings partly. One hath a pleasing smile, and nothing else: Another but some silly Mole to grace the aream of a disproportioned face; Another pleases not but when she speaks, And some in silence only graceful are: Some till they laugh, we see, seem to be fair, Some have their bodies good, their gestures ill, Some please in Motion, some in sitting still, Some are thought lovely, that have nothing fair, Some again fair that nothing lovely are. So that we see how beauty does consist Of diverse pieces, and yet all attract And therefore unto all my love aspires, As beauty varies, so does my desires. Tush wrong is as men think it, and I see It keeps the world the best in exercise That else would languish, and have nought to do. Discord in parts, makes harmon' in the whole: And some must laugh, while othersome condole. And so it be not of the side we are, Let others bear it, what needs we to care. And now Dorinda something hath to do, Now she may fit, and think, and vex, and plot, For ease, and joying of her full delight Would but have dulld her spirits and marred her quite. Well, well, Dorinda shall not wail alone, She shall have others to consort her moan: For since my late return from Telos Court I hauemade twenty of their coyest Nymph's Turn lovers, with a few protesting words And some choice complemental perjuries; I made Palaemon, to suspect the faith Of his chased Silvia, and chased Silvia his, In hope thereby to work her love to me. I wrought coy Daphne to infringe her vow Made to Menalcas, and I told her how Those fetters which so heavily were laid Upon our free affections, only were But customary bands, not natural. And I think Techne thou hast done thy part, Here, in this gentle region of kind hearts, Since thou camest hither, for I see thou thriu'st. Ah well done Techne. Thus must thou and I Trade for our profit with their ignorance, And take our time, and they must have their chance. But pray thee Techne, do not thou forget To lay a train for Cloris. So adieu. Is't possible sweet Techne, what you say, That Cloris is so witty, and so coy? Then there's some glory in attaining her; Here now I shall be sure to-have something yet Beside dull beauty I shall lie with wit. For these fair create res, have such feeble spirits, And are so languisli ng, as gives no edge To appetite, and lo , but stuffs delight. How? if I get her? what do you suppose, I shall not get her, that were very strange. Let me alone, could I find season fit To talk with her in private, she were mine. Oh Techne thou hast blessed me, if I now On this advantage conquer not her mind, Let me be loathed, of all womankind. And presently will I go suit my self As bravely as I can, go set my looks Arm my discourse, frame speeches passionate And Actium both, fit for so great a work. Techne a thousand thanks and so adieu. Palaemon no, she never entertained His love, nor wronged you as I ever knew. Silvia, by heaven and earth I swear not I, But only feigned it out of subtlety; For some ungodly ends I had decreed. And Silvia I must now believe so too Or else God help I know not what to do. Lo here Montanus I have brought you home Although with much ado, your son again And sorry am with all my heart that I, Have be the cause he hath endured so much. Well then come Techne, for I see we two Must even be forced to make a marriage too. And go to Corinth, or some City near, And by our practice get our living there. Which both together joined, perhaps we may: And this is now the worst of Misery's Could come unto me, and yet worthily, For having thus abused so many Nymph's, And wronged the honour most unreverently Of women, in that sort as I have done, That now I'am forced to undergo therefore, The worst of Plagues: To marry with a W. No Silvia, no Palaemon, I stand here Not to accuse you but t'accuse my self Of wrong, you both God knows are clear I have abused your apt credulity, With false reports of things that never were And therefore here crave pardon for the same.