Hylas and Nerina she upbraids him with having once stolen a kiss of her, and dismisses him in seeming anger; immediately he is gone, however, delivering herself of a soliloquy in which she confesses her love for him, which her father’s commands forbid her to reveal.  Daphnis, finding her cold to his suit, seeks the help of Alcon, who supplies him with a magic glass, in which whoso looks shall not choose but love the giver.  In reality it is poisoned, and upon his giving it to Nerina she faints, and in appearance dies, after obtaining as her last request her father’s favour to her love for Hylas.  The scene now shifts to court.  Silvia, who it appears is none other than the daughter of King Euarchus, recounts how she had fled owing to the unwelcome suit of Cleander, the son of the old councillor Eubulus, and on account of her love of the shepherd Thirsis, whom she had seen and heard at the annual show which the country folk were wont to perform at court.  After a while, however, Cleander had discovered her retreat and forced her to return.  The shepherds are now again about to present their rustic pageant, and she takes the opportunity of sending a private message, seeking an interview with Thirsis.  Meanwhile Eubulus has explained to his son Cleander how Silvia is really his own daughter, and consequently Cleander’s sister.  An oracle had led the king to believe that if a son were born to him harm would ensue, and therefore commanded that in that case the child should be destroyed.  A son was born, but Eubulus substituted his own daughter, whom he feigned dead, and carried away the king’s son with a necklace round his neck, intending to commit him to the care of some shepherds, but being surprised by robbers fled leaving the child to its fate.  Returning now to the shepherds, the play shows us Daphnis and Alcon seeking the tomb of Nerina with a restorative.  The glass, it seems, was intentionally poisoned by Alcon, who adopted this elaborate device for placing the nymph in the power of her lover should she continue obdurate.  They restore her, and finding her still unmoved by his suit Daphnis threatens her with violence.  Her cries, however, attract the swains, who arrive with Hylas at their head.  Daphnis, overcome with shame at the exposure of his villany, is glad to find a friend in the despised Dorinda, while Nerina rewards her faithful Hylas in accordance with her father’s promise.  Meanwhile at court Silvia and Thirsis have been surprised in their secret interview, and both doomed to die by the anger of the king.  The necklace on Thirsis’ neck, however, leads to the discovery of his identity as the king’s son, and all ends happily.[332]