The Faithful Shepherdess eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 92 pages of information about The Faithful Shepherdess.

The Faithful Shepherdess eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 92 pages of information about The Faithful Shepherdess.
To set them once more in a pleasing smile: 
Be like a rock made firmly up ’gainst all
The power of angry Heaven, or the strong fall
Of Neptunes battery; if ye yield, I die
To all affection; ’tis that loyaltie
Ye tie unto this grave I so admire;
And yet there’s something else I would desire,
If you would hear me, but withall deny. 
O Pan, what an uncertain destiny
Hangs over all my hopes!  I will retire,
For if I longer stay, this double fire
Will lick my life up.

Clor.  Doe, let time wear out What Art and Nature cannot bring about.

Then.  Farewel thou soul of vertue, and be blest
For ever, whilst that here I wretched rest
Thus to my self; yet grant me leave to dwell
In kenning of this Arbor; yon same dell
O’retopt with morning Cypress and sad Yew
Shall be my Cabin, where I’le early rew,
Before the Sun hath kist this dew away,
The hard uncertain chance which Fate doth lay
Upon this head.

Clor.  The gods give quick release And happy cure unto thy hard disease. [Exeunt.

Enter Sullen Shepherd.

Sullen.  I do not love this wench that I should meet,
For ne’r did my unconstant eye yet greet
That beauty, were it sweeter or more fair,
Than the new blossoms, when the morning air
Blows gently on the[m], or the breaking light,
When many maiden blushes to our sight
Shoot from his early face:  were all these set
In some neat form before me, ’twould not get
The least love from me; some desire it might,
Or present burning:  all to me in sight
Are equal, be they fair, or black, or brown,
Virgin, or careless wanton, I can crown
My appetite with any; swear as oft
And weep, as any, melt my words as soft
Into a maiden[s] ears, and tell how long
My heart has been her servant, and how strong
My passions are:  call her unkind and cruel,
Offer her all I have to gain the Jewel
Maidens so highly prize:  then loath, and fly: 
This do I hold a blessed destiny.

Enter Amaryllis.

Amar.  Hail Shepherd, Pan bless both thy flock and thee, For being mindful of thy word to me.

Sul.  Welcom fair Shepherdess, thy loving swain
Gives thee the self same wishes back again,
Who till this present hour ne’re knew that eye,
Could make me cross mine arms, or daily dye
With fresh consumings:  boldly tell me then,
How shall we part their faithful loves, and when? 
Shall I bely him to her, shall I swear
His faith is false, and he loves every where? 
I’le say he mockt her th’ other day to you,
Which will by your confirming shew as true,
For he is of so pure an honesty,
To think (because he will not) none will lye: 
Or else to him I’le slander Amoret,
And say, she but seems chaste; I’le swear she met

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Faithful Shepherdess from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.