Eug. And this shall stop thy mouth for ever, count.
[Exeunt.
Leucothoë [in male attire] sola.
Leu. There is no creature here; I am the first.
Methinks this sad and solitary place
Should strike a terror to such hearts as mine;
But love has made me bold. The time has been,[432]
In such a place as this I should have fear'd
Each rolling leaf, and trembled at a reed
Stirr'd in the moonshine: my fearful fancy
Would frame a thousand apparitions,
And work some fear out of my very shadow.
I wonder Philocles is tardy thus;
When last we parted, every hour (he said)
Would seem a year till we were met again;
It should not seem so by the haste he makes.
I'll sit and rest me; come, I know, he will.
Enter Philocles and Clerimont.
Phil. This, Clerimont, this is the happy place,
Where I shall meet the sum of all my joys,
And be possess'd of such a treasury
As would enrich a monarch.
Leu. This is his voice! My Philocles!
Phil. My life! my soul! what, here before me?
O, thou dost still outgo me, and dost make
All my endeavours poor in the requital
Of thy large favours. But I forget myself;
Sweet, bid my friend here welcome; this is he,
That I dare trust next mine own heart with secrets.
But why art thou disguised thus?
Leu. I durst not venture else to make escape.
Phil. Even now, methinks, I stand as I would wish,
With all my wealth about me. Such a love
And such a friend, what can be added more
To make a man live happy? Thou dark grove,
That hast been call'd the seat of melancholy,
And shelter for the discontented spirits,
Sure, thou art wrong'd; thou seem'st to me a place
Of solace and content; a paradise,
That giv'st me more than ever court could do,
Or richest palace. Bless'd be thy fair shades;
Let birds of music ever chant it here,
No croaking raven or ill-boding owl
Make here their baleful habitation,
Frighting thy walks; but may'st thou be a grove
Where love's fair queen may take delight to sport:
For under thee two faithful lovers meet.
Why is my fair Leucothoë so sad?
Leu. I know no cause; but I would fain be gone.