THE ARGVMEN [...] Of the PASTORALL of Florimen [...] with the Discription of the Scoenes and Intermedij.
PRESENTED BY THE Queenes MATESTIES Commandment, before the Kings Maiesty in the Hall at White-hall, on S. THOMAS day the 21. of December. M.DC.XXXV.
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Walkley, neere White-hall. 1635
The names of the Persons in this Pastorall.
- FLorimene a shepheardesse.
- Filene, a shepheard of Arcadia, disguised in the habite of a Woman, cals himselfe Dorine, in Love with Florimene.
- Anfrize, a shepheard in love with Florimene.
- Lucinde, a shepheardesse in Love with Aristee.
- Aristee, a shepheard, brother to Florimene, in Love with the faigned Dorine.
- Lycoris a shepheardesse of Arcadia, disguised in the habite of a Man, in Love with Filene.
- Florelle a shepheardesse, friend to Florimene.
- Damon a shepheard, Friend to Filene.
- Filandre a shepheard, Friend to Anfrize.
- Diana, a Goddesse.
- Clarice, Diana's Nymph.
THE DESCRIPTION OF the Scoene.
THe Ornament inclosing the Scoene, was made of a Pastorall invention, proper to the subject, with a figure sitting on each side, representing a noble shepheard and shepheardesse, playing on Rurall instruments, over them Garlands held up by naked Boyes, as the prize of their Uictory.
Above all, ranne a large Freese, and in it children in severall postures, imitating the Pastorall Rights and sacrifices, in the midst was placed a rich compartment, in which was written FLORIMENE.
The curtaine being drawne up, the Scoene was discovered, consisting of Groves, Hils, Plaines, and here and there scattering, some shepheards cottages, and a far off, to terminate the sight, was the mayne Sea, expressing this place to be the Isle of Delos.
SHould I appeare holding, &c.
The Jntroduction.
THe Scoene changeth into a stately Temple, with a Portico of two rowes of Collumes, and in the midst on a Pedestall was raised the Statue of Diana, unto whom this Temple was dedicated.
The Musicke enters, representing the Priests of
Diana, with the Arch Flamine and Sacrificers, who sing this Song.
Solue du Solier Honneur, &c.
The while the Priests sings, the high Priest passeth betweene them, and goeth into the Temple, all the Shepheards and Shepheardesses present their offrings to
Diana, after which is sung this song.
Eny devant nostre soliel, &c.
The Scoene returnes to the Isle of Delos.
Actus 1. Scoena prima.
DAmon a Shepheard, dwelling in the Isse o [...] Delos, having visited Filene a young shepheard, one of his intimate Friends, living in Arcadia, perswadeth Filene to go with him into his Countrey of Delos, to see the solemnity which by the shepheards and shepheardesses, were to be celebrated in honour of Diana; and beeing there arrived, Damon conducted him to the Temple, where after Filene had wel considered the beauty of all the shepheardesses, fell deepely in Love with Florimene: Hee findes his Friend Damon, and tels him of his new flame, which having never felt before; desires his helpe to ease his passion. Damon promiseth him all favourable assistance: hee knowing best the humor of Florimene, beeing his Kinswoman, and his sister Florelle her daily Companion, hee perswades Filene to disguise himselfe in the habit of a woman, and call his name Dorine, and promiseth him that his sister Florelle shall bring him to see Florimine, to which Filene consenting, they go to finde out Florelle.
Scoena 2.
ANfrize comes foorth with his Friend Filandre, to whom he recounteth how much the beauty of Florimene had ravished his senses, and that hee can no longer live without expressing his affection to her: Filandre who beeing free from the passions of Love, counsels him to leave that fond inclination; [Page 6]but seeing hee could not divert him, promiseth to [...]reat with Florimene's friends to that purpose: Anfrize satisfied with that promise, gives him thanks, and then goes forth.
Scoena 3.
FLorimene being yet free from any touch of Love, comes to seeke some sollitary place, where she might entertaine her selfe with the pleasure of her free thoughts: thither Damon and his sister Florelle immediately come, and espying Florimene, Damon sends his sister to her to speake in favour of Filene, who at that time was at her house, disguising himselfe in the habite of a woman: Florelle comes to Florimene, and tels her there was a young Shepheardesse, lately come from an neighbouring Iland, to see the celebration of the great feast which was prepared in honour of Diana, and that if shee pleased to see her, she should finde her a Shepheardesse accomplished in all perfections: Floremene desirous to see her; Florelle willed her to stay at that Fountaine, whilst she fetcheth the strange Shepheardesse.
Scoena 4.
ARistee a shepheard of the Ile of Delos, is followed by Lucinde a young shepheardesse, passionately in love with him, she tels him the paine she suffers by his unkindnesse, but hee contemnes [Page 5]her, and leaves her to her plaints. Lucinde seeing her selfe dispised, yet takes courage, and resolves the more Aristee disdaines her, the more she wil follow him, hoping in the end he will love her, for her constancy.
The first Intermedium.
THe Scoene is changed into a snowy Land-schipe with leave-lesse trees, and a dusky skie, and here and there some houses for shelter, expressing the Winter.
AN old Man, and sings some French Uerses in prayse of the King: after him followes foure old Men leaning upon their staves; in habits of the old fashion. They dance, and so goe off.
Actus 2. Scoena 1.
DIana out of her affection to the Inhabitants of Delos, having left the Heaven, and discended unto the Earth, to take the pleasure [Page 6]of hunting, to which effect she called one of her Nymphs to follow her in that exercise.
Scoena 2.
FLorimene sitting at the Fountaine, thinkes that Florelle stayes too long; but seeing her comming with the young shepheardesse (which was the disguised Filene) hindred her further reprehension: Florimene seemeth well pleased with the acquaintance of Dorine, and Dorine much joyed to bee in the presence of Florimene. Their salutations being past, Dorine speaketh with Florelle, imbracing her with great joy; Florelle desires her not to shewe her selfe to be transported, least Florimene might suspect some thing: after many complements passed on both sides, Florimene desires Dorine not to take it unkindly, if she leave her company so soone, and prayes herto be excused because it is late, and desires her to continue the affection professed to her, and promises to meet her in the same place the next day, to have the honour of her conversation; and so goes out: Dorine sayes to Florelle, they must goe seeke Damon, to tell him of their successe.
Scoena 3.
ARistee brother to Florimene, beeing hidden behind a Bush, the whilst his sister and Dorine speake together, and taking Dorine for a woman, fals in Love with her; and to the end hee may discover his passion to her, hee resolves to be there the next day in the same place, and goes his way.
Scoena 4.
ANfrize meeting with his friend Filandre, demaunds of him what hee hath done, who answeres him, that it is not in his power to perswade Florimene from her cruelty, but seeing how much paynes Anfrize suffred; he tels him of a young shepheardesse which lodges at Damons house, who is so much in the good opinion of Florimene, as he beleeves shee can perswade her to bee more gracious unto him, if he doe entreate her, to speake for him. Anfrize assuring himselfe of the curtesie of that shephearnesse, goes to attempt that way.
Scoena 5.
LIcoris a shepheardesse in love, and disdained of Filene puts her selfe into mans apparrell, and resolves never to leave him, untill she perswades him to love her.
The second Intermedium.
THe Scoene is varied, and there appeares a spacious Garden, with walkes, perterraes, close Arbours, and Cypresse trees, and in the farthest part stands a delicious Villa, all which figureth the spring.
And sings, after which enters three young couple of men and maids, they dance and so retyre.
Actus 3. Scoena 1.
DAmon having met with the fained Dorine, doth congratulate with him of the good successe which his disguise had procured him with his Mistresse, and Councels him to loose no time, but discover unto Florimene the affection he beares her: Filene having dissigned to follow his Councell, tels him that a young shepheard, called Anfrize, taking him for a woman, hath intreated him to speake to Florimene in his behalfe, and under the pretext of speaking for another, hee hopes to dispose the thoughts of Florimene, so well as to bring her to taste the power of love; he entreateth Damon not to leave him, for his presence would imbolden him to entertaine Florimeue with that subject, who presently comes in.
Scaena 2.
FLorimene seeing Dorine and Damon together, said to Damon, that without doubt, he was in love with Dorine, and that she judged so by his melancholy countenance: Damon marvailes to here her speake of love, which had alway so much disdayned it: Florimene answered, that love being a trouble to the [Page 9]thoughts, and a depriving of liberty, shee hated the very name of love: Dorine taking her at that word, answeres, that all things created had their being, and their contentments from love, and then tels her of the great affection which Anfrize had borne her, and seeing her well disposed to here her discourse of him, she continues to speak further in his favour, until she was interrupted by Anfri [...]e, who comes in.
Scoena 3.
ANfrize seeing Florimene, kneeles downe, and desires her to heare him, he tels her of the great paines, hee hath long suffered for her, which he never durst presume to tell her, untill now: Florimene having heard him speake, shewed her selfe to bee very sencible of his paines, and tels him hee may hope to be rewarded for his long sufferance, and the more to assure him of her inclination to love, she invites him to sit downe by her under those Elmes, and Dorine to come with her, who stayes behinde a while, exclaiming against fortune, and blaming her owne tongue, for having so well spoken for her rivall: But resolves to be revenged on Anfrize if he leaves not the love of Florimene.
Scoena 4.
ARistee comes to finde Dorine, whom hee verily beleeves to be a woman, and speakes to her of the love he bares her, and as shee refuseth him, Lucinde who is in love, but scorned by Aristee, comes [Page 10]in; who seeing him thus rejected by Dorine rejoyceth to see him punished in the same kinde as he disdained her: Dorine being troubled with Aristees importunity, goes her way: And Lucinde not able to perswade Aristee to love her, leaves the place: Aristee resolves to gaine the love of Dorine, and purposes to put on his sister Florimenes clothes, unto whom he is very like, and being dressed like a woman, may be taken for her, hoping by that meanes to sound the thoughts of Dorine.
Scaena 5.
CLarice a young Nymph comes to seeke Diana, whom she thinkes to be in the woods, she discourses of the pleasure of hunting, and the discontentments suffered by lovers.
The third Intermedium.
THe Scoene is turned into fields of Corne, meddowes with Hay-cocks, and shady woods, shewing a prospect of Summer.
Representing Summer, and sings, after her enters five reapers, having sickles in the one hand, and ripe corne in the other: they dance and then go forth.
Actus 4. Scoena 1.
DOrine comes to looke for Florimene, to the end she may tell her who she is, and discover her passions unto her; but shee is met by
Scoena 2.
ARistee, apparrelled in his sister Florimenes clothes, and he is so like her, as Dorine takes him for Florimene, and in that beleefe, discovers unto him that she loves Florimene, which hath beene the cause of her disguise: Aristee astonished to heere that Dorine is a man, goes his way without more speech, Dorine seeing himselfe unkindely used: goes forth.
Scoena 3.
ARistee coms in againe, much confused inknowing Dorine to be a man; and now repents him of his disdaine to Lucinde, and goes away with a resolution to seeke her out, and to tell all the world of the Imposture of Filene.
Scoena 4.
LIcoris a shepheardesse of Arcadia who loved Filene having taken the habit of a shepheard persevering in her love to him, and perceiving Lucinde to [Page 12]complaine of the ingratitude of her lover Aristee, she coms neere her; & asks her if she knows Filene, and tels her he is his elder brother; Lucinde saies if he be in that Countrey, he wil not faile to come to that Fountaine, where all the shepheards do use to meete, and having well beheld Lycoris taking her for a man, fals in love with him, and presently began to discover her affection, but Lycoris not willing to abuse her, tels her the cause of her disguise, Lucinde hearing that Lycoris was a maide, is ashamed, and went her waies, and Lycoris goes forth to looke for Filene.
Scoena 5.
ANfrize and Filandre speake together of the disguise of Filene: Anfrize feares that when Filene shall discover himselfe, and askes pardon of Florimene, she wil forgive Filene, and disgrace him; and therfore to hinder that misfortune, he desires Filandre, as his friend, to doe his best to keepe him in his mistresse grace.
Scoena 6.
FLorimene comes and knowing the desceit of Filene, complains of Florelle that she did unkindly in not discovering unto her his disguise, being as shee conceives impossible, but she should know it, and forbids Florelle ever to speake any more of him to her. The meane while Lycoris who heard all that was said of Filene, was ravished with joy, and comes neere to Florimene, and tels her what she is, and that her love to Filene, caused her to leave her owne Countrey [Page 13]of Arcadia, and desires Florimene to speake to Filene in favour of her who so much loves him, the which Florimene promises, and Filene comes in.
Scoena 7.
FIlene tels Damon, that he is much griev'd that his disguise is discovered to Florimene, not knowing how to remedy what is passed: hee desires Damon to councel him; Damon adviseth him to speak to Florimene himselfe, and humbly aske her pardon, which he doubts not but he may obtaine; in the meane time Lycoris drawes neere, and makes knowne to him the great paines which she hath long endured for him, and desires him to have pitty on her. Filene saies the same to Florimene, and kneeling downe, desires her pardon for his fault, and to have pitty of his long sufferance. But Florimene will by no meanes heare him speake, but goes away with Floreble; that suddaine departure, put Filene into despairation; Damon seeks by perswasions to appease him; and Lycoris speaks to him againe of her love; but Filene wil not give her any hope of his affection, untill she can obtaine his pardon of Florimene: Lycoris promises him to doe what she can possible, and goes her way: Damon still comforts Filene with fresh hope: they goe forth.
Scena 8.
FLorelle shews unto Florimene the misery of Filene, whom she hath put unto despairation, Florimene [Page 14]beginning to relent; confesses she never hated Filene, but hath alwaies affected him; wherefore she desires Florelle to goe with her to Dianes Temple, to pray the goddesse that she may enjoy his love.
Scoena 9.
ARistee meeting with Lucinde desires him to forgive him his neglect of her love; praying her now to accept him as her servant: But Lucinde rejects him, and saith that she cannot now love him, and so goes away; but hee stil followes her, desiring her to have pitty on him.
The fourth Intermedium.
THis Scoene becomes Hills of easie ascent, set all with Vines, the trees and verdures, seeming somewhat faded, and in some parts are placed those vessels fit for vintage, to expresse the propriety of Autumne.
Representing Autumne, supported by two Satyres and followed by two Sileni, they sing; after them enterthree boone Companions; the first attir'd like a Dutch-man, having a bottle in his hand; the second like a Souldier, with a Tobacco pipe and Bolonia Sausages; the third drest in a Fantasticall habite, with a Gammon of Bacon, and other provision tyed in a Napkin; they dance, and then sit downe to their Colation: When on the suddain, foure Satyres come leaping in, at which affrighted, they runne away, [Page 15]leaving their Victuals behinde them; the Satyres strive for the Bottle, and then drinke one to the other, till being heate with VVine, they dance with wanton Action, and so fal downe a sleep: whilst they fleep, the Dutch-man and the rest come softly in, and steale away the Bottle of VVine, and their Meate.
Pan enters and dances, then awake the Satyres; they kneele to Pan, as craving pardon; they dance about him, and carry him out.
Actus 5. Scoena 1.
FLorimene being now enamour'd of Filene, confesses her errour in refusing the love of such an accomplished shepheard, resolving that when she sees him, she will make knowne unto him how much she loves him, whereupon Lycoris enters.
Scoena 2.
LYcoris comes forth to Florimene, and as much as shee may with modesty, desires her to admit Filene to see her, and speake with her, at first Florimene seemes to refuse her, but in the end she consents, and at that instant Filene comes in: Lycoris goes to [Page 16]him, and tels him that she had obtained of Florimene to heare him speake: so Lycoris goes her way, fearing to haere him protest more loue to Florimene then she desires to know.
Scoena 3.
FIlene aproaching neere to Florimene, prostrates himselfe at her feete, desiring her pardon, which Florimene willingly grants him, and moreover promi [...]es him ever hereafter to love him; and that the jealousie of Anfrize, had beene the cause of her discourtesie towards him: Filene ravish'd with joy, to finde himselfe beloved of his Mist [...]esse, gives thankes to the Gods, that his disguise had brought his dessignes to so good effect. During this discourse, Filandre being hidden, heares all their talke, and goes to tell his friend Anfrize, who presently comes in, in great fury, to reproach Florimene of her inconstancy, just as Florimene and Filene were giving assurance to one another of their mutuall affections.
Scoena 4.
ANfrize seeing Filene so neere to Florimene, begins to quarrell with him, but Filene answered him so, that Anfrize became extreame furious, and passing the bonds of civell respect, would have killed him with his dart, if Florimene had not hindred him with her sheepe-hooke, telling him that for this indiscretion, he must never pretend any part in her affection Anfrize kneeles downe before her, and desires her to excuse him, and that she would be pleased [Page 17]to remember that he was the first that had the honor to love her, Filene kneeling downe, sayes as much for himselfe: But Florimene tels them both, they must goe to the Temple of Diana, and there pray Diana to declare which of them her deity would appoint to be her husband, which she promises not to refuse after sentence given by the goddesse: when they are gone she prayes her selfe to Diana, that shee may enjoy Filene.
Scoena 5.
ARistee continueth his pursuite of Lucinde, who still contemnes him: Lycoris comes in to looke for Filene: Aristee comes to her, and prayes her to speake to Lucinde in his favour; but Lycoris could obtaine nothing of her more then himselfe. The meane while they are interrupted by the comming of the goddesse Diana, who enters, and they all kneele downe.
Scoena 6.
DIana commands Lucinde to love Aristee, and to take him for her husband, and then tels Lycoris, that Filene is her owne brother, and that Montan is not her father, as shee hath ever beleeved, but that he [...]ooke her from Orcan, which had saved her from the cruelty of a Satyre, which stole her from her Father Tytire in Arcadia: Diana having ended her discourse, sees Filene and Anfrize,
Scoena 7.
WHo came to make their request to Diana, as Florimene commanded them, Diana bid Anfrize speake first, who having recounted al his wealth and riches, which he more presumed on then all other reasons, that he could alledge for his marrying of Florimene: then Diana commands Filene to speake, who could not vaunt of his riches, but saith, hee had onely his vertue to deserve her: Diana pronounceth her sentence in favour of Filene, and gives Lyeoris to Anfrize for his wife, Florelle who hath heard all this, wisheth that her couzen Florimene knew the newes, At which
Scoena 8.
FLorimene appeares; Florelle goes to her, and tels her the sentence of Diana, concerning her marriage, with which Florimene was much joyed, she presently perceiveth Filene with all the other shepheards and shepheardesses standing before the Temple. Diana seeing Florimene, to confirme her joy, tels her she must have Filene for her husband, and commands them both to continue their affections, and bids Anfrize to content himselfe with that beauty which she hath appoynted for him. They all give Diana thanks.
At which time the lovers and their mistresses doe protest one to another their mutual affections, and ful contentments: After which Diana dismisseth them.