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 nona.

Chorus of Shepherds, CORISCA, AMARILLIS, MIRTILLO.

Cho.

HOly Hymen hear our pray'r And our Song! The Earth hath not A more happy loving pair: Both of them Divinely got; Pull holy Hymen, pull the destin'd knot.

Cor.

Ay me! Ergasto told me true (I see) This is the fruits (wretch) of thy vanitie. O thoughts! O wishes! as unjust, as vain And fond. Would I an innocent have slain To compasse my unbridled will! So blind, So cruell was I? Who doth now unbind Mine eyes? Ah wretch! what do I see? my sin With the mask off just as 'tis here within.

Cho.

Holy Hymen hear our pray'r And our song! The Earth hath not A more happy loving Pair: Both of them divinely got: Pull holy Hymen, pull the destin'd knot. See (thou Faithfull Shepherd) where After many a briny tear, After many a stormy blast, Thou art landed now at last! Is not this (behold her!) shee Heav'n and Earth deny'd to thee? And thy cruell Destinie? And her Icie Chastitie? And thy degree so far beneath? And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Contract? and thy Death? Yet Mirtillo (loe!) shee's thine. That sweet face, those eyes divine, Brest and hands, and all that thou See'st and hear'st, and touchest now, And so often hast in vain

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Sigh'd for, now thou dost obtain, As thy constant Love's reward: Yet thy lips hath silence barr'd?

Mir.

'Cannot speak: I do not know Whether I'm alive or no. Or if these things reall be Which I seem to hear and see. Sweetest Amarillis mine, (For my soul is lodg'd in thine) I from thee would gladly know, (Tell me Love) are these things so?

Cho.

Holy Hymen hear our pray'r And our song! The Earth hath not A more happy loving Pair: Both of them divinely got: Pull holy Hymen, pull the destin'd knot.

Cor.

But why do you, you still about me stay, Arts to deceive the world, arts to betray? (The body's robes, but the souls rags.) For one, I'm sure shee's cousen'd by you, and undone. Pack hence: and as from worms ye had your birth, Return to worms, and strew your grandame earth. Once ye were weapons of lascivious Love: But now the trophies of fair Vertue prove.

Cho.

Holy Hymen hear our pray'r And our Song! The Earth hath not A more happy loving pair: Both of them Divinely got;

Pull holy Hymen, pull the destin'd knot.

Cor.

What stick'st thou at Corisca? 'tis a day Of Pardons this: then ask without dismay. What dost thou dread? no punishment what-ere Can fall so heavie, as thy fault lies here. Fair, and happy pair (the Love Of us here, and those above) If all earthly Pow'r this day To your conquering Fates give way, Let her likewise Homage doe To your conquering Fates, and you, Who all earthly Pow'r imploy'd To have made their Ord'nance voyd. Amarillis (true it is) He had mine, who had thy heart: But thou onely hast gain'd his, 'Cause thou onely worthy art. Thou enjoy'st the loyall'st Lad Living; and Mirtillo thou The best Nymph the world ere had From the birth of Time till now: I the touch-stone was to both, Try'd her chastitie, his troth. But thou (Courteous Nymph) before Thou on me thy anger powre, Look but on thy Bridegrooms Face: Something thou wilt spy therein That will force thee to shew grace,

As it forced mee to sin. For so sweet a Lovers sake Upon love no vengeance take; But since thou the flames dost prove, Pardon thou the fault of Love.

Am.

I do not onely pardon, but respect Thee as my friend, regarding the effect, And not the cause. " For poysons if they make " Us well, the name of soveraign Med'cines take; " And painfull lancings for that cause are dear: So whether friend or foe, or whatso e're Thou wert to me in purpose and intent; Yet my Fate us'd thee as her instrument To work my blisse, and that's enough: for me 'Twas a good Treason, a blest Fallacy I'm sure. And if thou please to grace our Feast, And to rejoyce with us, thou art my guest.

Cor.

Thy pardon is to me a better feast: A greater joy, my conscience now at rest.

Mir.

And I all faults 'gainst me can pardon wel, But this long stop.

Cor.

Joys on you both! Farewell.

Cho.

Holy Hymen hear our pray'r And our Song! The Earth hath not A more happy loving Pair: Both of them divinely got: Pull holy Hymen, pull the destin'd knot.