me?
I'll run to Daphnis in the hollow tree,
Whom I did mean to mock, though hope be small,
To make him bold; rather than none at all,
I'll try him; his heart, and my behaviour too
Perhaps may teach him what he ought to do. [Exit.

Enter Sullen Shepherd.

Sul. This was the place, 'twas but my feeble sight,
Mixt with the horrour of my deed, and night,
That shap't these fears, and made me run away,
And lose my beauteous hardly gotten prey.
Speak gentle Shepherdess, I am alone,
And tender love for love: but she is gone
From me, that having struck her Lover dead,
For silly fear left her alone and fled.
And see the wounded body is remov'd
By her of whom it was so well belov'd.

Enter Perigot and Amaryllis in the shape of Amoret.

But these fancies must be quite forgot,
I must lye close. Here comes young Perigot
With subtile Amaryllis in the shape
Of Amoret. Pray Love he may not 'scape.

Amar. Beloved Perigot, shew me some place, Where I may rest my limbs, weak with the Chace Of thee, an hour before thou cam'st at least.

Per. Beshrew my tardy steps: here shalt thou rest
Upon this holy bank, no deadly Snake
Upon this turf her self in folds doth make.
Here is no poyson for the Toad to feed;
Here boldly spread thy hands, no venom'd Weed
Dares blister them, no slimy Snail dare creep
Over thy face when thou art fast asleep;
Here never durst the babling Cuckow spit,
No slough of falling Star did ever hit
Upon this bank: let this thy Cabin be,
This other set with Violets for me.

Ama. Thou dost not love me Perigot.

Per. Fair maid, You only love to hear it often said; You do not doubt.

Amar. Believe me but I do.

Per. What shall we now begin again to woo? 'Tis the best way to make your Lover last, To play with him, when you have caught him fast.

Amar. By Pan I swear, I loved Perigot, And by yon Moon, I think thou lov'st me not.

Per. By Pan I swear, and if I falsely swear,
Let him not guard my flocks, let Foxes tear
My earliest Lambs, and Wolves whilst I do sleep
Fall on the rest, a Rot among my Sheep.
I love thee better than the careful Ewe
The new-yean'd Lamb that is of her own hew;
I dote upon thee more than the young Lamb
Doth on the bag that feeds him from his Dam.
Were there a sort of Wolves got in my Fold,
And one ran after thee, both young and old
Should be devour'd, and it should be my strife
To save thee, whom I love above my life.

Ama. How shall I trust thee when I see thee chuse Another Bed, and dost my side refuse?

Per. 'Twas only that the chast thoughts might be shewn 'Twixt thee and me, although we were alone.

Ama. Come, Perigot will shew his power, that he
Can make his Amoret, though she weary be,
Rise nimbly from her Couch, and come to his.
Here take thy Amoret, embrace and kiss.

Per. What means my Love?

Ama. To do as lovers shou'd,
That are to be enjoy'd, not to be woo'd.
There's ne'r a Shepherdess in all the plain
Can kiss thee with more Art, there's none can feign
More wanton tricks.

Per. Forbear, dear Soul, to trie Whether my Heart be pure; I'll rather die Than nourish one thought to dishonour thee.

Amar. Still think'st thou such a thing as Chastitie
Is amongst Women? Perigot there's none,
That with her Love is in a Wood alone,
And would come home a maid; be not abus'd
With thy fond first Belief, let time be us'd:
Why dost thou rise?

Per. My true heart thou hast slain.

Ama. Faith Perigot, I'll pluck thee down again.

Per. Let go, thou Serpent, that into my brest Hast with thy cunning div'd; art not in Jest?

Ama. Sweet love, lye down.

Per. Since this I live to see, Some bitter North-wind blast my flocks and me.

Ama. You swore you lov'd, yet will not do my will.

Per. O be as thou wert once, I'll love thee still.

Ama. I am, as still I was, and all my kind, Though other shows we have poor men to blind.

Per. Then here I end all Love, and lest my vain
Belief should ever draw me in again,
Before thy face that hast my Youth misled,
I end my life, my blood be on thy head.

Ama. O hold thy hands, thy Amoret doth cry.

Per. Thou counsel'st well, first Amoret shall dye, That is the cause of my eternal smart. [He runs after her.

Ama. O hold.

Per. This steel shall pierce thy lustful heart.

[The Sullen Shepherd steps out and uncharms her.

Sull. Up and down every where,
I strew the herbs to purge the air:
Let your Odour drive hence
All mists that dazel sence.
Herbs and Springs whose hidden might
Alters Shapes, and mocks the sight,
Thus I charge you to undo
All before I brought ye to:
Let her flye, let her 'scape,
Give again her own shape.

Enter Amaryllis in her own shape.

Amar. Forbear thou gentle Swain, thou dost mistake,
She whom thou follow'dst fled into the brake,
And as I crost thy way, I met thy wrath,
The only fear of which near slain me hath.

Per. Pardon fair Shepherdess, my rage and night
Were both upon me, and beguil'd my sight;
But far be it from me to spill the blood
Of harmless Maids that wander in the Wood. [Ex. Ama.

Enter Amoret.

Amor. Many a weary step in yonder path
Poor hopeless Amoret twice trodden hath
To seek her Perigot, yet cannot hear
His Voice; my Perigot, she loves thee dear
That calls.

Per. See yonder where she is, how fair She shows, and yet her breath infefts the air.

Amo. My Perigot.

Per. Here.

Amo. Happy.

Per. Hapless first: It lights on thee, the next blow is the worst.

Amo. Stay Perigot, my love, thou art unjust.

Peri. Death is the best reward that's due to lust. [Exit Perigot.

Sul. Now shall their love be crost, for being struck,
I'le throw her in the Fount, lest being took
By some night-travaller, whose honest care
May help to cure her. Shepherdess prepare
Your self to die.

Amo. No Mercy I do crave,
Thou canst not give a worse blow than I have;
Tell him that gave me this, who lov'd him too,
He struck my soul, and not my body through,
Tell him when I am dead, my soul shall be
At peace, if he but think he injur'd me.