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.
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Title
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.
Author
Guarini, Battista, 1538-1612.
Publication
London :: Printed by R. Raworth,
1647.
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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A42281.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A42281.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2024.
Pages
Scena secunda.
TITIRO, Messenger.
Tit.
WHich first, my Daughter, shall I mourn in thee,Thy losse of Life, or of thy Chastitie?I'le mourn thy Chastitie: for thou wert bornOf mortall parents, but not bad. I'le mournNot thy life lost, but mine preserv'd, to seeThy losse of Life, and of thy Chastitie.Thou with thy Oracles mysterious cloud(Wrongly conceiv'd Montano,) and thy proud
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Despiser both of love, and of my Daughter,Unto this miserable end hast brought her.Ay me! how much more certain at this timeMy Oracles have shew'd themselves then thine!" For honesty in a young heart doth prove" But a weak sconce against assaulting love." And 'tis most true, a woman that's alone," Hath a most dangerous companion.
Mess.
Were he not under ground, or flown through th'air,I should have found him sure. But soft, he's there(I think) where least I thought. Th'art met by meToo late, old Father, but too soon for thee:I've news.
Tit.
What bringst thou in thy mouth? the knifeThat hath bereft my Daughter of her life?
Mess.
Not that; yet little lesse. But how I prayGot'st thou this news so soon another way?
Tit.
Doth she then live?
Mess.
She lives, and in her choiceIt is to Live or Die.
Tit.
Blest be that voice!Why is she then not safe, if she may giveHer no to death?
Mess.
Because she will not live.
Tit.
Will not? what madnesse makes her life despise?
Mess.
Another's death. And (if that thy adviceRemove her not) she is thereon so bent▪That all the world cannot her death prevent.
Tit.
Why stand we talking here then? Let us go.
Mess.
Stay: yet the Temple's shut. Dost thou not knowThat none but holy feet on holy earthMay tread, till from the vestry they bring forth
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The destin'd Sacrifice in all it's trim?
Tit.
But before that—
Mess.
She's watch't.
Tit.
I'th' interimRelate then all that's past, and to me showThe truth unveil'd.
Mess.
Thy wretched Daughter (OhSad spectacle!) being brought before the Priest,Did not alone from the beholders wrestSalt tears; but (trust me) made the marble melt,And the hard flint the dint of pity felt.Shee was accus'd, convict, and sentence pastAll in a trice.
Tit.
(Poor girl!) and why such haste?
Mess.
Because the evidence was cleer as day:Besides, a certain Nymph (who she did sayCould witnesse she was guiltlesse) was not there,Nor could by any search be brought t' appear.Then the dire Omens of some threatned illAnd horrid visions which the Temple fillBrook no delay, to us more frightfull farre,By how much more unusuall they are,Nor ever seen, since the vext Pow'rs aboveReveng'd the wrong of scorn'd Aminta's Love.(Who was their Priest whence all our woes had birth)The Goddesse sweats cold drops of blood, the EarthIs Palsey-shook; the sacred Cavern howlsWith such unwonted sounds as tortur'd soulsSend out of graves, and belches up a smellFrom its fowl jawes, scarce to be match'd in hell.His sad Procession now the Priest beganTo lead t' a bloody death thy Daughter, whan
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Mirtillo seeing her, (behold a strangeProof of Affection!) profferd to exchangeHis life for hers; crying aloud, Her handsUntie (Ah how unworthy of such bands!)And in her stead (who is design'd to beA Sacrifice to Dian) offer meA sacrifice to Amarillis.
Tit.
ThereSpake a true Lover, and above base fear!
Mess.
The wonder follows: she that was afraidBefore of dying, on the sudden madeNow valiant by Mirtillo's words, reply'd,Thus, with a heart at death unterrifi'd,But dost thou think (Mirtillo) then to giveLife by thy death to her, who in thee doth live?It cannot, must not be: Come Priests, awayWith me to th' Altar now without delay.Ah! (cry'd the Swain) such love I did not lack:Back cruell Amarillis, O come back:Now thou art more unkind then e're thou wert:'Tis I should die. Quoth she, thou act'st my part.And here between them grew so fierce a strife,As if that life were death, and death were life.O noble souls! O Pair eternallyTo be renown'd, whether ye live or die!O glorious Lovers! if I had tongues moreThen Heaven hath eyes, or sands are on the shore,Their voices would be drowned in the main-Sea of your endlesse Praises, Glorious Dame,
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Daughter of Iove (eternall as thy Father)That Mortals deeds immortallizest, gatherThou the fair story, and in diamond pagesWith golden letters write to after agesThe bravery of both Lovers.
Tit.
But who wanThe conquest in that strife of death?
Mess.
The Man.Strange warre! which to the victor death did give,And where the vanquish't was condemn'd to live.For thus unto thy daughter spake the Priest;Nymph, let's alone, and set thy heart at rest;Chang'd for another none can be again,Who for another in exchange was ta'ne.This is our Law. Then a strict charge he gave,Upon the Maid such carefull watch to have,As that she might not lay a violent handUpon her self through sorrow. Thus did standThe state of matters, when in search of theeMontano sent me.
Tit.
'Tis most true I see," Well-water'd Meads may be without sweet flowers" In Spring; without their verdant honour Bowers;" And without chirping birds a pleasant Grove;" 'Ere a fair maid and young without her Love.But if we loiter here, how shall we knowThe hour when to the Temple we should go?
Mess.
Here better then elsewhere: For here it isThe honest Swain must be a sacrifice.
Tit.
And why not in the Temple?
Mess.
Because inThe place 'twas done our law doth punish sin.
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Tit.
Then why not in the cave? The sin was there.
Mess.
Because it must be in the open air.
Tit.
By whom hast thou these mysteries been told?
Mess.
By the chief Minister, and hee by oldTirenio; who the false Lucrina knewSo sacrificed, and Aminta true.But now 'tis time to go indeed; for see,The sacred pomp descends the hill! yet weeMay for thy daughter to the Temple goBefore they come: "Devotion marches slow.
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