The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
Kala grant, their marrying day was appointed, which because it fell
out in this time I think it shall not be impertinent, to remember a
little our shepherds, while the other great persons, are either
sleeping or otherwise troubled. Thyrsis’s marriage-time once known,
there needed no inviting of the neighbours in that valley, for so well
was {505} Thyrsis beloved, that they were all ready to do him credit,
neither yet came they like harpies to devour him; but one brought a
fat pig, the other a tender kid, the third a great goose; as for
cheese, milk and butter, were the gossips’ presents. Thither came of
strange shepherds only the melancholy Philisides; for the virtuous
Corydon had long since left off all joyful solemnities. And as for
Strephon and Claius, they had lost their mistress, which put them into
such extreme sorrows, as they could scarcely abide the light of the
day, much less the eyes of men. But of the Arcadian born shepherds,
thither came good old Geron, young Histor, though unwilling, and
upright Dicus, merry Pas, and jolly Nico. As for Dametas, they durst
not presume, his pride was such, to invite him, and Dorus they found
might not be spared. And thereunder a bower was made of boughs, for
Thyrsis’s house was not able to receive them, every one placed
according to his age. The women, for such was the manner of the
country, kept together to make good cheer among themselves, from which
otherwise a certain painful modesty restrains them, and there might
the sadder matrons give good counsel to Kala, who poor fool wept for
fear of that she desired. But among the shepherds was all honest
liberty, no fear of dangerous telltales, who hunt greater preys, nor
indeed minds in them to give telltales any occasion, but one
questioning with another of the manuring his ground, and governing his
flock, the highest point they reached to, was, to talk of the holiness
of marriage; to which purpose, as soon as their sober dinner was
ended, Dicus instead of thanks, sung this song, with a clear voice and
cheerful countenance.
Let mother earth now deck herself in flowers,
To see her offspring, seek a good increase,
Where justest love doth vanquish Cupid’s powers,
And war of thoughts is swallowed up in peace,
Which never may decrease,----
But like the turtles fair,
Live one in two, a well-united pair;
Which that no chance may stain,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
O Heav’n awake, show forth thy stately face,
Let not these slumbering clouds thy beauties hide,
But with thy cheerful presence help to grace
The honest bridegroom and the bashful bride,
Whose loves may ever bide,----
Like to the elm and vine,
With mutual embracements them to twine;
In which delightful pain,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
{506}
Ye Muses all which chaste affects allow,
And have to Thyrsis showed your secret skill,
To this chaste love your sacred favours bow,
And so to him and her your gifts distil,
That they all vice may kill.----
And like to lilies pure,----
May please all eyes, and spotless may endure,
Where that all bliss may reign,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
Ye nymphs which in the water’s empire have,
Since Thyrsis’ music oft doth yield your praise,
Grant to the thing which we for Thyrsis crave,
Let one time, but long first, close up their days.
One grave their bodies seize:----
And like two rivers sweet,
When they, thought divers, do together meet,
One stream both streams contain:
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
Pan, father Pan the God of silly sheep,
Whose care is cause that they in number grow,
Have much more care of them than them do keep,
Since from these good the other’s good doth flow,
And make their issue show----
In number like the herd
Of younglings, which thyself with love hast rear’d;
Or like the drops of rain.
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
Virtue, if not a God, yet God’s chief part,
Be thou their knot of this their open vow,
That still he be her head, she be his heart;
He lean to her, she unto him do bow:
Each other still allow:----
Like oak and mistletoe,
Her strength from him, his praise from her do grow;
In which most lovely train,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
But thou foul Cupid, sire to lawless lust,
Be thou far hence with thy impoison’d dart,
Which though of glitt’ring gold, shall here take rust.
Where simple love, which chasteness doth impart,
Avoids thy hurtful art,----
Not needing charming skill,
Such minds with sweet affections for to fill,
Which being pure and plain,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
{507}
All churlish words, shrewd answers, crabbed looks,
All privateness, self-seeking, inward spite,
All waywardness, which nothing kindly brooks,
All strife for toys, and claiming master’s right.
Be hence, aye put to flight:
All stirring husband’s hate
’Gainst neighbour’s good for womanish debate,
Be fled as things most vain,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
All peacock pride, and fruits of peacock’s pride,
Longing to be with loss of substance gay,
With wretchlessness what may thy house betide,
So that you may on higher slippers stay,
For ever hence away:----
Yet let not sluttery
The sink of filth, be counted housewifery;
But keeping wholesome mean,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
But above all, away vile jealousy,
The evil of evils, just cause to be unjust,
How can he love suspecting treachery?
How can she love where love cannot win trust?
Go snake, hide thee in dust,----
Nay dare once show thy face,
Where open hearts do hold so constant place,
That they thy sting restrain,----
O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain.
The earth is deck’d with flowers, the heav’ns display’d,
Muses grant gifts, nymphs long and joined life,
Pan store of babes, virtue their thoughts well staid,
Cupid’s lust gone, and gone is bitter strife,
Happy Man, happy Wife,----
No pride shall them oppress,
Nor yet shall yield to loathsome sluttishness,
And jealousy is slain:----
For Hymen will their coupled joys maintain.
“Truly Dicus,” said Nico, “although thou didst not grant me the prize
the last day, when undoubtedly I won it, yet must I needs say thou for
thy part hast sung well and thriftily.” Pas straight desired all the
company they would bear witness that Nico had once in his life spoken
wise: “For,” said he, “I will tell it his Father, who will be a glad
man when he hears such news.” “Very true,” said Nico, “but indeed so
would not thine in like case, for he would look thou should’st live
but one hour longer {508} than a discreet word wandered out of thy
mouth.” “And I pray thee,” said Pas, “gentle Nico, tell me, what
mischance it was that brought thee to taste so fine a meat?” “Marry
goodman blockhead,” said Nico, “because he speaks against jealousy,
the filthy traitor to true affection, and yet disguising itself in the
raiment of love.” “Sentences, sentences,” cried Pas. “Alas, how ripe
witted these young folks be nowadays but well counselled shall that
husband be, when this man comes to exhort him not to be jealous.” “And
so shall he,” answered Nico, “for I have seen a fresh example, though
it be not very fit to be known.” “Come, come,” said Pas, “be not so
squeamish, I know thou longest more to tell it than we to hear it.”
But for all his words, Nico, would not bestow his voice, till he was
generally entreated of all the rest. And then with a merry
marriage-look he sung this following discourse, for with a better
grace he could sing than tell.
A neighbour mine not long ago there was,
But nameless he, for blameless he shall be,
That married had a trick and bonny lass,
As in a summer day a man might see:
But he himself a foul unhandsome groom,
And far unfit to hold so good a room.
Now whether moved with self-unworthiness,
Or with her beauty fit to make a prey;
Fell jealousy did so his brain oppress,
That if he absent were but half a day,
He guessed the worst (you wot what is the worst)
And in himself new doubting causes nurst.
While thus he feared the silly innocent,
Who yet was good, because she knew none ill,
Unto his house a jolly shepherd went,
To whom our prince did bear a great good will;
Because in wrestling, and in a pastoral,
He far did pass the rest of shepherds all.
And therefore he a courtier was be-named,
And as a courtier was with cheer received
(For they have tongues to make a poor man blamed,
If he to them his duty misconceived)
And for this courtier should well like his table,
The good man bade his wife be serviceable.
{509}
And so she was, and all with good intent;
But few days past when she good manner used;
But that her husband thought her service bent
To such an end as he might be abased.
Yet like a coward fearing stranger’s pride,
He made the simple wench his wrath abide;
With chumpish looks, hard words, and secret nips,
Grumbling at her when she his kindness sought.
Asking her how she tasted courtier’s lips,
He forced her to think that which she never thought.
In fine, he made her guess, there was some sweet,
In that which he so fear’d that she should meet.
When once this entered was in woman’s heart,
And that it had inflamed a new desire,
There rested then to play a woman’s part;
Fuel to seek, and not to quench the fire,
But (for his jealous eye she well did find)
She studied cunning how the same to blind.
And thus she did. One day to him she came,
And, though against his will, on him she leaned:
And out gan cry, “Ah well away for shame,
If you help not, our wedlock will be stained.”
The good man starting, asked what her did move?
She sigh’d and said, “The bad guest sought her love.”
He little looking that she should complain
Of that, whereto he fear’d she was inclin’d:
Bussing her oft, and in his heart full fain,
He did demand what remedy to find,
How they might get that guest from them to wend,
And yet the prince that lov’d him not offend.
“Husband,” quoth she, “go to him by and by,
And tell him you do find I do him love:
And therefore pray him that of courtesy
He will absent himself, lest he should move
A young girl’s heart, to that were shame for both
Whereto you know his honest heart were loath.
“Thus shall you show that him you do not doubt,
And as for me, sweet husband, I must bear;”
Glad was the man when he heard her out,
And did the same, although with mickle fear.
For fear he did, lest he the young man might
In choler put, with whom he would not fight.
{510}
The courtly shepherd much aghast at this,
Not seeing erst such token in the wife,
Though full of scorn, would not his duty miss,
Knowing that ill become a household strife,
Did go his way, but sojourn’d near thereby,
That yet the ground thereof he might espy.
The wife thus having settled husband’s brain,
Who would have sworn his spouse Diana was,
Watched when she a further point might gain,
Which little time did fitly bring to pass.
For to the court her man was called by name;
Whither he needs must go for fear of blame.
Three days before that he must sure depart,
She written had, but in a hand disguised,
A letter such, which might from either part,
Seem to proceed, so well it was devised.
She seal’d it first, then she the sealing brake,
And to her jealous husband did it take.
With weeping eyes (her eyes she taught to weep)
She told him that the courtier had it sent:
“Alas,” quoth she, “thus woman’s shame doth creep.”
The good man read on both sides the content,