colours; there the month of May
Is ever dwelling, all is young and green;
There’s not a grass on which
was ever seen
The falling autumn or cold winter’s hand;
So full of heat and virtue is the land
About this
fountain, which doth slowly break,
Below yon mountain’s foot, into a creek
That waters all the valley, giving
fish
Of many sorts to fill the shepherd’s dish.
This holy well, my grandame that is dead,
Right wise in charms,
hath often to me said,
Hath power to change the form of any creature,
Being thrice dipped o’er the head,
into what feature
Or shape ’twould please the letter-down to crave,
Who must pronounce this charm too,
which she gave
[Showing a scroll.
I should apply unto the patient’s brow
That would be changed, casting them thrice asleep,
Before I trusted them into this deep:
All this she showed me, and did charge me prove
This secret of her art, if crost in love.
I’ll this attempt now, shepherd; I have here
All her prescriptions, and I will not fear
To be myself dipped. Come, my temples bind
With these sad herbs, and when I sleep you find,
As you do speak your charm, thrice down me let,
And bid the water raise me Amoret;
Which being done, leave me to my affair,
And ere the day shall quite itself outwear,
I will return unto my shepherd’s arm;
Dip me again, and then repeat this charm,
And pluck me up myself, whom freely take,
And the hott’st fire of thine affection slake.
Sull. Shep. And if I fit thee not, then fit not me.
I long the truth of this well’s power to see.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.—Another part of the Wood.
Enter Daphnis.
Daph. Here will I stay, for this the covert is
Where I appointed Cloe. Do not miss,
Thou bright-eyed virgin; come,
oh come, my fair!
Be not abused with fear, nor let cold care
Of honour stay thee from thy shepherd’s arm,
Who
would as hard be won to offer harm
To thy chaste thoughts, as whiteness from the day,
Or yon great round
to move another way:
My language shall be honest, full of truth,
My flames as smooth and spotless as my
youth;
I will not entertain that wandering thought,
Whose easy current may at length be brought
To a loose
vastness.
Alexis. [Within.] Cloe!
Daph. ’Tis her voice,
And I must answer.—Cloe!—Oh, the choice
Of dear embraces, chaste and holy
strains
Our hands shall give! I charge you, all my veins,
Through which the blood and spirit take their
way,
Lock up your disobedient heats, and stay
Those mutinous desires that else would grow
To strong
rebellion; do not wilder show
That blushing modesty may entertain.
Alexis. [Within.] Cloe!
Daph. There sounds that blessèed name again,
And I will meet it. Let me not mistake;
Enter Alexis.
What may this riddle mean? I will retire,
To give myself more knowledge.
[Retires.
Alexis. Oh, my fire, How thou consum’st me!—Cloe, answer me!
Alexis, strong Alexis, high and free,
Calls
upon Cloe. See, mine arms are full
Of entertainment, ready for to pull
That golden fruit which too, too
long hath hung
Tempting the greedy eye. Thou stay’st too long;
I am impatient of these mad delays:
I
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