ANTONIO.

How now, Marcellus, how fares it with you?

MARCELLUS.

Why well.

ANTONIO.

I am glad of it; where have you been, that we have not seen you of late?

MARCELLUS.

In my Study.

ANTONIO.

Pr'ythee where's that?

MARCELLUS.

The World.

ANTONIO.

Will you walk with me to the Duke's Cave?

MARCELLUS.

No, 'tis too soon to sleep yet.

ANTONIO.

Why, who the Plague wants you to sleep?

MARCELLUS.

What shou'd I do else in Company?

ANTONIO.

The Duke has been enquiring for you all the Morning.

MARCELLUS.

I'm glad he found me not.

ANTONIO.

Pr'ythee why do you avoid him? he wants to have some Discourse with you.

MARCELLUS.

I know it, and therefore I avoid him.

ANTONIO.

Why are you so sullen, Marcellus?

MARCELLUS.

Why are you so impertinent, Antonio?

ANTONIO.

Come, if you'll sit down, I'll give you a Song.

MARCELLUS.

With all my Heart, I am melancholy.

ANTONIO.

Nay then, I will not, it will feed your Melancholy.

MARCELLUS.

I like it the better; I can pick Melancholy out of a Song, as a Chicken does Meat out of a Barley-corn.

ANTONIO.

But you know my Voice don't please you; besides I'm hoarse.

MARCELLUS.

S'death, I don't want you to please me, I wou'd but have you sing.

ANTONIO.

Ahem! Ahem!

MARCELLUS.

Pox o' thy hem,—I wish you'd begin.

ANTONIO.

Well, are you for Love, or Mirth, or Satire, or—?

MARCELLUS.

Satire, dear Devil Satire,—oh how I love a little honest Satire,—it feeds my Humour,—come, but no Love I pr'ythee.

ANTONIO.

Well, mark then.

Antonio sings

I.
As Thyrsis one Ev'ning was on a Bank laid,
A soft mossy Pillow supported his Head,
His Quiver lay by him, his Bow was unstrung,
And thus in sad Numbers he mournfully sung.

II.
Alas! hapless Youth, must I still sigh in vain?
Shall I ne'er know an End to my Torment and Pain?
Ah! say, gentle Cupid, and ease my vex'd Mind,
Ah! when will my Silvia relent, and be kind?

III.
Young Cupid, who passing that Way chanc'd to hear
The Shepherd thus sadly complaining, drew near,
Accosted him kindly, sate down by his Side,
Then tun'd up his Voice, and thus to him reply'd:

IV.
When Courtiers speak Truth, and a Statesman's sincere;
When Knaves cease to flatter, and Atheists to fear;
When Lawyers are honest, Physicians have Skill,
And Conscience enough to cure more than they kill;

V.
When Pedants know well, what to others they teach;
When Priests learn to practice the Doctrine, they preach;
When Women are fair, and not vain of their Charms;
When a Tradesman is just, and a Soldier loves Arms;

VI.
When a Poet is modest, a Lover has Brains;
When a Scholar's polite, and Sincerity reigns;
When a brainsick Projector forgets to contrive,
And a true honest Man finds it easy to live;

VII.
When dull politick Fools are of use to the Nation;
When Virtue's esteem'd, and Religion in Fashion;
When Arts are encourag'd, and Merit gains Praise;
When we've Wealth in our Coffers, and Wit in our Plays;

VIII.
When the World is unmask'd, and a Villain's Face bare,
And all Men appear what they nat'rally are;
Then Silvia shall to her Thyrsis resign
All her Charms, and forever, forever be thine.

IX.
Must I all these impossible Changes attend?
Gods! cries Thyrsis, my Sorrows will ne'er have an End:
'Twere as easy as this to recal a past Day.
So he rose in Despair, and went sighing away.

Previous section

Next section