Roberto, (without.) Lorenzo, ho!

Lorenzo. Roberto, I am here.

Roberto, (without.) And where is here, my lord? My feet discover No here, but here, whence I am like to fall.

ROBERTO appears upon the point of a rock.

Lorenzo. Where art?

Roberto. Upon this bald rock's highest peak.
A rock so bald it cannot even yield

Space upon which a lock of hair might grow.
Lorenzo. What took thee thither?
Roberto. "Twas the devil, sir,

Who lately has been subject to the weakness
Of raising low-born men.

Lorenzo. Come quickly down.

Roberto. Must I then tumble? So should I come quickest.
Lorenzo. Come down; the mountain-path hitherward leads.
Roberto. But if I seek it here, will it not shift
Some otherward ?—It cannot now, I have it.

(Rolls down.

Lorenzo. Descend then ; wherefore dost thou now sit down ?
Roberto. Is't not a lesser ill to bruise the flesh,
Than risk those fragile quills the legs and feet?
Heav'n help me! Curses on the man who first
Invented climbing mountains, piercing forests,
In stupid chase of rabbits, where the first
Will not await you, where you miss the second,
And do not hit the third; the fourth escapes,
Wounded, because the muzzle was quite close ;
The fifth leaps on to peaks beyond your reach;
The sixth is killed, but lost amongst the bushes;
And finally, if one's secured, he costs,

In powder and in ammunition, more
Than if a man should naturally go,
And buy him in the market peaceably.

Lorenzo. Roberto, slander not the chase, since here 'Tis that alone provides our sustenance.

Roberto. If you thus silence me, explain, my lord, Whether that ribbon be your morning's game;

I see no other produce of your sport.

Lorenzo. This is indeed the only recompense Of my day's chase.

Roberto. Then quickly let us go

And make a savoury stew on't. Mountain ribbon
Must needs afford us a delicious meal.

Besides, although fresh kill'd, I nothing doubt

But 'twill be tender.

Lorenzo. Do not jest, Roberto.

Roberto. What ails your lordship? What new grief increases A sorrow unincreasable?

Lorenzo. A grief

So strange it passes credibility.

Roberto. What is't?

Lorenzo. What would'st thou say should I affirm

I had seen Lisida amongst these wilds?

Roberto. What vile fortune

Has thrown her after us in our retreat?

Lorenzo. I know not

Lorenzo. When first the sun through clouds of gold Brighten'd the forest, plain, and fold,

My course I tow'rds the mountains bent;

I went, but not alone I went,

Nor sad-for, in my company

I bore my cares, and for my sadness,
'Tis now become a part of me,
No more a passion or a madness.
I went to claim from earth and air,
That scanty necessary fare,

Which both were mortgaged to supply,
When heaven pronounced the mighty word
That, clothing beast and clothing bird
In furs and plumes of various dye,
Fill'd with new life, dead empty space,
And gave it to the human race.
Thence no injustice they endure,
Though we with net, with snare obscure,
With weapons breathing dreadful fires,
Arrest the bird's aerial flight,

Or close the stag's full eye in night,
As urgent appetite requires.
But he who, weary of his leisure,
Idly pursues the hunter's joys,

These harmless creatures who destroys,

Unurged by need, and seeking pleasure,

Robbing the earth and air of ev'ry beauty

He is a cruel man, untouch'd by love or duty.

Roberto. Proceed, it were unjust to waste our time

In moralizing, since you've proved already

That in these woods we live like beasts of prey,
Who cannot feed till they their dinner slay.
Lorenzo. Then, or by cruelty or pity led,

I left at morning's dawn our wretched farm,
Bearing, constrain'd, to earn our scanty bread,
Those toils by many deem'd life's greatest charm.
But not a single step could I advance,
That, or my negligence, or my mischance,
Perverted not. Thus pass'd hour after hour,
The day's unsated spite gaining fresh pow'r,
Till, wearied with my fruitless chase, I saw
The sunbeams gild alike the loftiest heads
Of rocks, and lowly huts, by nature's law,
Which, when proud man upon his shadow treads,
Equally pours o'er all the flood of light.
Then fainting with the heat, exhausted quite,
I heard a stream's inviting sound,

And on the banks of this swift rill,
That rushes from the neighb'ring hill,
Coolness and shade I sought and found.
There, in a palace form'd of flowers,
Canopied by o'er-arching bowers,
Temp'ring the sun's meridian beam,
I lay and listen'd to the stream,
And would have courted soft repose;
But busy thought recall'd my woes-
When, as by chance, my roving eye
Glanced on the waters murm'ring by,
I saw upon their bosom fair

This ribbon, which the crystal thief
Thought to the ocean, his great chief,
A trophy of his feats to bear.

Eager I mark'd the floating prey,
Then, by a broken branch's aid,
Snatch'd the devoted prize away,
And safely to the shore convey'd.
The treasure gain'd, my restless thought
The lawful, plunder'd owner sought,
And backward, tow'rds the riv'let's source,
I confidently bent my course,
Thus certain to succeed;

By sad experience taught to deem,
That still to toil against the stream
Fate had for me decreed.

When as my steps the margin press'd,
A little pool, deep, still, and bright,
Where the impatient brook found rest,
Ling'ring to breathe in calm delight,
Met sudden my enamour'd view-
Eager my object to pursue,

I should have pass'd, had not the sound
Of voices all my senses bound.
I paused, for now upon the air,
Rose indistinct the accents fair,
And now they died away.
Cautious the boughs aside I bend,
Nor reach the tangled thickets' end,
Ere my charmed steps I stay;

For there, 'twixt quiv'ring leaves, appear'd
A rustic palace quickly rear'd
By Nature's architect, the spring ;
Roses and pinks its carpetting,
Willows and laurels form'd its roof.
Cautiously now I stood aloof,
For as I gazed, with earnest look,
Within the most sequester'd nook
I saw of nymphs a bevy bright,
A human galaxy of light.

And there confess'd a Goddess stood,
Who, just emerging from the flood,
Was yet scarce half array'd.

Her throng'd that festive troop around,

Her bodice laced, her sandals bound,

And eager zeal display'd.

Now curses on my wayward fate,

That gave a single glimpse, and that too late!

But, no-when I reflect how coy

Is modesty, I own, with joy,

I came in time,-light thoughts farewell!
On her chaste loveliness I'll dwell.
Her hair, in waving threads of gold,
O'erspread her bosom's spotless snow.
Pardon, bright Sun, mine accents bold;
But thou thyself dost not unfold
More beauties, when thy morning glow
Gilds with a flood of dazzling light
The wintry robe of virgin white,
That clothes the mountain's highest rocks,
Flinging o'er crag and peak thy locks

Of tangled gold, which, with her rosy fingers,
Aurora darkly trims whilst twilight lingers.
With pearl and silver was embroider'd o'er
The silken petticoat, whose folds betray'd
An atom of the slender foot, no more;

Yet with reserve none might those folds upbraid,
For that one atom all the foot display'd.
But now a blindness o'er me came;

For sudden an officious dame,

Bearing an azure robe, press'd from the crowd,

My sun eclipsing with a brilliant cloud.
Out on the curious, bold desire,
That such unkind obscuring
Impatiently enduring,

Could restless change of place inspire!
I changed my fortune with my station;
The rustling boughs my presence told,
And I might that fair troop behold
Starting, look round in perturbation;
Then, as a monster had been near,
Fly from my presence, spurr'd by fear.
Still I pursued, till in this very place
My next encounter stay'd my eager chase:
For here that scared, disorder'd band
Had left, my progress to withstand,
And their retreat insure,

A beauty, who, with shoulder'd gun,
And courage to amaze the sun,
Stood threatening and secure.

From any other lips how vain

Had been such threats! But who could strain
Tyrannic cruelty so high,

Who so inhumanly oppose

My wish, but she, my worst of foes,
The cherish'd foe from whom I fly?
Fair Lisida, whom more I recognize
By her fierce action than by voice or eyes.
Alike unheeded from my mind
What either of us spoke is flown,
But grief alike in all I find;

The Goddess still remains unknown,
And whilst I dread lest at her side

The perjured Lisida abide,

I know not whether to desire or fear

To have my doubts resolved, the truth made clear.
Roberto. Of these perplexities, which to your lordship
Appear so intricate, I can resolve

1

Roberto. Which is it?

Lorenzo. Fool, does not her beauty tell?

Roberto. Doubtless it does, although I cannot hear it; They're women, and to me seem much alike.

(FLERIDA, LISIDA, and the other Ladies, appear in the Balcony of the Palace.)

Flerida. Whom didst thou say it was, my Lisida? Lisida. Merely a hunter, wandering, chance-led, Amidst the forest.

Flerida. Why did he pursue us?

Lisida (aside.) I must, perforce, conceal his name.—
(Aloud.) Perhaps

Expecting that you would redeem the pledge,
Which in his hand I saw, and we had miss'd,
When it was needed to attire your highness.

Flerida. I do believe thou'st judged aright; for see,
Conversing with another man, he stands,

And from these windows ne'er removes his eyes.
Lorenzo. Pass on, Roberto, as though inattentive.
Roberto. By Heaven, we sport a pretty livery

To go a-wooing in; perceive you not

That we must needs disgust the very scullions?
Fleridd. Since then we know the stranger such a man
As no suspicion can attach to, call him ;

Bid him approach, that we may purchase back
What has been mine.

Lisida. Ho! Mountaineer!

Flora. Ho! Huntsmen!

Lorenzo. Do they not call?
Roberto. They do.

Lorenzo. Go forward, then ;

And here, bear thou the ribbon; so if she

Chance to resent either its being taken,

Or hither brought, on thee her anger falls.

Roberto. So that which falls upon me be no cudgel,

I care not for her anger.-Did you call,

Fair goddesses? What would you?

Flerida. Do you wish

To sell that ribbon ?

Lorenzo. Idiot, is that an answer?

Roberto. Is't not the truth?

Flerida. How much do you demand?

Roberto. Have patience, whilst I calculate its value.
There's here of silk, (and silk how exquisite !)

A yard and half, the which at sev'n and ninepence,
(The price that ev'ry shop will ask you for't,)
Comes to eleven shillings, seven pence,
And yet another halfpenny; the tassels
Weigh, as I judge, two ounces, ay, full weight,
Which, at five shillings for the ounce, and adding
A poor half-crown, (the price each strolling pedlar
Puts on such ornaments,) makes twelve and sixpence
Now add eleven shillings sevenpence halfpenny,
And then for profit seven-

Lorenzo. Idiot!-Dolt!

Roberto. If that's exorbitant, say six-
Lorenzo. By Heaven-

Roberto. If you insist upon it, I'll take five;

Further than that I cannot bate a penny,

And, on my conscience, so I make no gain ;