Act 4 — [Scene IV.][3479]

Peri. Night, do not steal away; I woo thee yet To hold a hard hand o’er the rusty bit That guides thy lazy team. Go back again, Boötes, thou that driv’st thy frozen wain Round as a ring, and bring a second night,5 To hide my sorrows from the coming light; Let not the eyes of men stare on my face, And read my falling; give me some black place, Where never sunbeam shot his wholesome light, That I may sit and pour out my sad sprite10 Like running water, never to be known After the forced fall and sound is gone.

Amo. This is the bottom.[3480]—Speak, if thou be here, My Perigot! Thy Amoret, thy dear, Calls on thy loved name. Peri. What art thou dare15 Tread these forbidden paths, where death and care Dwell on the face of darkness? Amo. ’T is thy friend, Thy Amoret, come hither, to give end To these consumings. Look up, gentle boy: I have forgot those pains and dear annoy20 I suffer’d for thy sake, and am content To be thy love again. Why hast thou rent Those curled locks, where I have often hung Ribands and damask-roses, and have flung Waters distill’d, to make thee fresh and gay,25 Sweeter than nosegays on a bridal day? Why dost thou cross thine arms, and hang thy face Down to thy bosom, letting fall apace From those two little heavens, upon the ground, Showers of more price, more orient, and more round,30 Than those that hang upon the moon’s pale brow? Cease these complainings, shepherd: I am now The same I ever was, as kind and free, And can forgive before you ask of me; Indeed, I can and will. Peri. So spoke my fair!35 Oh, you great working powers of earth and air, Water and forming fire, why have you lent Your hidden virtues of so ill intent? Even such a face, so fair, so bright of hue, Had Amoret: such words, so smooth and new, Came flowing from her tongue; such was her eye,41 And such the pointed sparkle that did fly Forth like a bleeding shaft; all is the same, The robe and buskins, painted hook, and frame Of all her body. Oh me, Amoret!45 Amo. Shepherd, what means this riddle? Why hath set So strong a difference ’twixt myself and me, That I am grown another? Look, and see The ring thou gav’st me, and about my wrist That curious bracelet thou thyself dist twist50 From those fair tresses. Know’st thou Amoret? Hath not some newer love forc’d thee forget Thy ancient faith? Peri. Still nearer to my love! These be the very words she oft did prove Upon my temper: so she still would take55 Wonder into her face, and silent make Signs with her head and hand, as who would say, “Shepherd, remember this another day.” Amo. Am I not Amoret? Where was I lost? Can there be heaven, and time, and men, and most60 Of these unconstant? Faith, where art thou fled? Are all the vows and protestations dead, The hands held up, the wishes and the heart? Is there not one remaining, not a part Of all these to be found? Why, then, I see65 Men never knew that virtue, constancy. Peri. Men ever were most blessed, till cross fate Brought love and women forth, unfortunate To all that ever tasted of their smiles; Whose actions are all double, full of wiles;70 Like to the subtle hare, that ’fore the hounds Makes many turnings, leaps, and many rounds, This way and that way, to deceive the scent Of her pursuers. Amo. ’T is but to prevent Their speedy coming on, that seek her fall;75 The hands of cruel men, more bestial, And of a nature more refusing good Than beasts themselves, or fishes of the flood. Peri. Thou art all these, and more than nature meant When she created all; frowns, joys, content;80 Extreme fire for an hour, and presently Colder than sleepy poison, or the sea Upon whose face sits a continual frost; Your actions ever driven to the most, Then down again as low, that none can find85 The rise or falling of a woman’s mind. Amo. Can there be any age, or days, or time, Or tongues of men, guilty so great a crime As wronging simple maid? Oh, Perigot, Thou that wast yesterday without a blot;90 Thou that wast every good and every thing That men call blessed; thou that wast the spring From whence our looser grooms drew all their best; Thou that wast always just and always blest In faith and promise; thou that hadst the name95 Of virtuous given thee, and made good the same Ev’n from thy cradle; thou that wast that all That men delighted in! Oh, what a fall Is this, to have been so, and now to be The only best in wrong and infamy!100 And I to live to know this! and by me, That lov’d thee dearer than mine eyes, or that Which we esteem’d our honour, virgin state! Dearer than swallows love the early morn, Or dogs of chase the sound of merry horn;105 Dearer than thou canst love thy new love, if thou hast Another, and far dearer than the last; Dearer than thou canst love thyself, though all The self-love were within thee that did fall109 With that coy swain that now is made a flower, For whose dear sake Echo weeps many a shower! And am I thus rewarded for my flame? Lov’d worthily to get a wanton’s name? Come, thou forsaken willow, wind my head, And noise it to the world, my love is dead!115 I am forsaken, I am cast away, And left for every lazy groom to say I was unconstant, light, and sooner lost Than the quick clouds we see, or the chill frost When the hot sun beats on it! Tell me yet,120 Canst thou not love again thy Amoret? Peri. Thou art not worthy of that blessed name; I must not know thee. Fling thy wanton flame Upon some lighter blood that may be hot With words and feigned passions; Perigot125 Was ever yet unstain’d, and shall not now Stoop to the meltings of a borrowed brow. Amo. Then hear me, Heaven, to whom I call for right, And you, fair twinkling stars, that crown the night;129 And hear me, woods, and silence of this place, And ye, sad hours, that move a sullen pace; Hear me, ye shadows, that delight to dwell In horrid darkness, and ye powers of hell, Whilst I breathe out my last! I am that maid, That yet-untainted Amoret, that play’d135 The careless prodigal, and gave away My soul to this young man that now dares say I am a stranger, not the same, more vild;[3481] And thus with much belief I was beguil’d. I am that maid, that have delay’d, deni’d,140 And almost scorn’d the loves of all that tri’d To win me, but this swain; and yet confess I have been woo’d by many with no less Soul of affection; and have often had Rings, belts, and cracknels,[3482] sent me from the lad145 That feeds his flocks down westward; lambs and doves By young Alexis; Daphnis sent me gloves; All which I gave to thee: nor these nor they That sent them did I smile on, or e’er lay Up to my after-memory. But why150 Do I resolve to grieve, and not to die? Happy had been the stroke thou gav’st, if home; By this time had I found a quiet room, Where every slave is free, and every breast, That living bred new care, now lies at rest;155 And thither will poor Amoret. Peri. Thou must. Was ever any man so loth to trust His eyes as I? or was there ever yet Any so like as this to Amoret? For whose dear sake I promise, if there be160 A living soul within thee, thus to free Thy body from it? He hurts her again. Amo. [falling.] So, this work hath end. Farewell, and live; be constant to thy friend That loves thee next.

Sat. See, the day begins to break,165 And the light shoots like a streak Of subtle fire; the wind blows cold, Whilst the morning doth unfold; Now the birds begin to rouse, And the squirrel from the boughs170 Leaps, to get him nuts and fruit. The early lark, that erst was mute, Carols to the rising day Many a note and many a lay: Therefore here I end my watch,175 Lest the wand’ring swain should catch Harm, or lose himself. Amo. Ah me! Sat. Speak again, whate’er thou be; I am ready; speak, I say; By the dawning of the day,180 By the power of night and Pan, I enforce thee speak again! Amo. Oh, I am most unhappy. Sat. Yet more blood! Sure, these wanton swains are wood.[3483]185 Can there be a hand or heart Dare commit so vild a part As this murder? By the moon, That hid herself when this was done, Never was a sweeter face:190 I will bear her to the place Where my goddess keeps, and crave Her to give her life or grave. Exit [carrying Amoret].