Mon. How then?
You have courted all; who is it that Mirtillus
Has not profess'd to love?
Mir. I do confess it,
And that is all I could do; for before
I could get earnest of any one's love,
To whom I made address, even she would say:
You have another mistress, go to her,
I will not be her stale: and so by this means,
Nor this nor that would do me any reason.
Mon. You had ill luck, it seems; 'twas not your fault.
Mir. No, for if they would believe me, I did swear
I had no other. Pray, Montanus, tell me——
For you have known the several ways of wooing,
Which is the best and safest?
Mon. O Mirtillus,
Grey hairs have put the wilder thoughts of love
Out of my head; cold blood and frozen limbs
Fright all those heats away, in place of which
Discretion and sobriety should come.
Mir. But, I have heard, old men do sometimes
love.
Mon. They doat, Mirtillus—give it the right name;
In old men's bloods Cupid does quench his flames.
But as we go, I'll tell thee: not to love
At all is best; but if you needs must love,
Love one, and seek no further. Thou wilt find
Enough of her, if once she prove unkind.
SCENA III.
Daphnis, Alcon. To Daphnis, Dorinda.
There is no way t' avoid the shame of this.
Each shepherd's boy, that sings unto his flock,
Will make me the scorn'd subject of his song.