Il pastor fido The faithfull shepherd : a pastorall / written in Italian by Baptista Guarini, a Knight of Italie ; and now newly translated out of the originall.

Scena tertia.

CHORUS, ERGASTO.

Cho.

HAve ye heard Shepherds that our Demy-God (Montano's and Alcides worthy blood) This day hath freed us from that dreadfull beast Which all Arcadia lately did infest? And that he is preparing himself now l'th' Temple for it to perform his vow?

If for so great a benefit wee'd show Our gratitude, to meet him let us go, And joyn our tongues and hearts together there, To honour him as our Deliverer. " Which honour, though it be reward too small " For such a fair and valiant soul; 'tis all " Vertue can have on earth.

Erg.

O sad disaster! O bitter chance! O wound that hath no plaister! O day to be for ever steep'd in tears!

Cho.

What dolefull voice is this that strikes our ears?

Erg.

Starres, that are enemies to man alwayes, Why do you mock our faith? why do you raise Our hope on high, that when it falls again The precipice may be with greater pain?

Cho.

Ergasto by his voice; and it is hee.

Erg.

But why do I acuse Heav'n wrongfully? Accuse thy self Ergasto: Thou alone, Thou, thou against the steel didst knock the stone; Thou layd'st the match unto the tinder; whence A flame unquenchable is kindled since. But Heav'n doth know, I for the best did do it, And pitie onely did induce me to it. O ill starr'd Lovers! wretched Titiro! Poor Amarillis! childlesse Father! O Mourning Montano! O Arcadia gone In a consumption far! and we undone! In short, most sad, all I have seen! or see! Or speak! or hear! or think!

Cho.

What may this be

(Alas!) that in one accident alone Includes a generall desolation? This way hee bends his course, let us go meet Him (swains).

Erg.

Eternall Gods! is it not yet Time to abate your wrath?

Cho.

Unfold to us (Courteous Ergasto) what afflicts thee thus. What dost thou moane?

Erg.

Your ruine and mine own: The ruine of Arcadia I moane.

Cho.

Alas! why so?

Erg.

The very staffe, the stay Of all our hope is broke, is pull'd away.

Cho.

Speak plainer.

Erg.

Titiro's daughter, that sole prop Of her old House, and Father, the sole hope Of our deliverance, promis'd here below, Above decreed to marry Silvio, As th' onely means that should Arcadia save; That Heav'nly Maid, so sober, and so grave, That President of honour (crown'd with Lillies Of chastitie) that peerlesse Amarillis; Shee, she (alas! I have no heart, no breath To tell it you).

Cho.

Is dead?

Erg.

Is neer her death.

Cho.

Alas! what have we heard?

Erg.

Nothing as yet: She dies a malefactresse: That, That's it.

Cho.

A malefactresse Amarillis? how Ergasto?

Erg.

Caught with an Adult'rer now. And, if ye stay a little longer here, Led pinion'd to the Temple ye shall see her.

Cho.

" O female structures, glorious and most fair, " But weak withall! O chastitie, how rare

Art thou! and shall it then be truly taxt, No woman's chast but shee that ne're was akst?

Erg.

Indeed, when she that's vertue's self doth fall, We well may doubt the vertue of them all.

Cho.

Pray, if it will not too much trouble be, Tell the whole story to these swains and me.

Erg.

I will: The Priest early to day (ye know) Did with this wretched Nymph's sad Father go Unto the sacred Temple; with one care Both moved, to facilitate with pray'r Their childrens desired marriage. For this end At once their incense did to heav'n ascend, At once their offrings bled, their sacrifice At once was done with due solemnities, And such glad auspice, that no entrails e're Were fairer seen, no flame was more sincere, And lesse ecclips'd with smoke: mov'd with such signes, Thus the blind prophet speaks, and thus divines; This day (Montano) shall thy Silvio love: Thy Daughter (Titiro) a wife shall prove: Go and prepare the Marriage. O absurd, And vain depending on an Augur's word! And thou as blind in soul, as in thy eyes! If thou hadst said, Prepare her Obsequies, Then a true Prophet thou hadst prov'd indeed. Yet all the standers by were comforted, And the old Fathers wept for joy apace, And Titiro was parted from the place.

When in the Temple suddenly were heard Sinister omens, and dire signes appear'd Boading Heav'ns wrath. At which (alas!) if each Stood there astonisht and berest of speech After so fair beginnings, Friends, judge you. Mean while the Priests themselves alone withdrew Into an inner room: and whilst they there And we without intent in praying were, Devout and weeping; puffing through the presse The curled Satyr (loe!) demands accesse Unto the Priests. I (Porter of that place) Admit him: Hee then (O he has a face To bring ill news!) cry'd; Fathers, if your Pray'r Find not the Gods, your vows and incense are Not acceptable, and your sacrifice; If from your altars an impure flame rise, Think it not strange, that likewise is impure Which is committing now hard by your door, In Ericina's cave: a false Nymph there Is breaking with a base adulterer Your lawes, and her own faith. Send with me now Your Ministers, and I will shew them how I'th' act to take 'em. Then (O humane mind, When thy Fate's neer, how dull thou art! how blind!) The good Priests breat••'d: supposing 'twas no more But remove them, and Heaven would as before Look on their sacrifice beni'nely. There- Upon they order their chief Minister

Nicandro presently to take that guide, And bring both Lovers to the Temple ty'd: With all his under-ministers he goes, Pursuing that vile Satyr through a close And crooked way into the cave. The Maid, Strook with their torches sudden light, assay'd From where she was to run out of the door, Which that base dog had stopt (it seems) before.

Cho.

And what did he the while?

Erg.

He went his waies When he had led Nicandro to the place. But (friends) I cannot tell the generall Astonishment that fell upon us all, When it the Daughter prov'd of Titiro: Who taken, in a trice (I do not know Out of what place) forth bold Mirtillo flew, And a sharp dart which he was arm'd with threw Like lightning at Nicandro: which, if it The place that it was aimed at had hit, Had sent him to the shades: But (whether I May call it Fortune, or agility) At the same instant the one aim'd his blow, The other stept a little backward; so The mortall steel past by, leaving his brest Untoucht, and in his coat of skins did rest, Into the which (I know not how) 'twas wove So intricately, that Mirtillo strove In vain to pull it out; and so he too Was taken.

Cho.

And with him what did they do?

Erg.

He to the Temple by himself was brought.

Cho.

For what?

Erg.

To try if he'd discover ought Touching the fact in question. Perhaps too Th' affront he in their Minister did do Unto the priestly majesty might some Penance deserve. Would yet I might have come To comfort my poor friend!

Cho.

What hindred thee?

Erg.

The waiters at the altar may not be Admitted to delinquents: therefore I Sequesterd from the other company, Go by my self unto the Temple; where With many a prayer and devouter tear I'le beg of Heaven that it would chase away This sullen storm that overclouds our day. Deer Shepherds rest in peace, and joyn with ours Your pray'rs, to batter the celestiall towers.

Cho.

We will, when we have paid to Silvio That duty first we to his goodnesse owe. O ye great Gods! now, now, if ever, prove Your anger lesse eternall then your love.