Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Galathea (Modern)
  • Editor: David Bevington

  • Copyright David Bevington. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: John Lyly
    Editor: David Bevington
    Peer Reviewed

    Galathea (Modern)

    [Enter] Melibeus [and] Phillida.
    Melibeus
    Come, Phillida, fair Phillida, and I fear me too fair, being my Phillida: thou knowest the custom of this country, and I the greatness of thy beauty; we both the 110fierceness of the monster Agar. Everyone thinketh his own child fair, but I know that which I most desire and would least have, that thou art fairest. Thou shalt therefore disguise thyself in attire, lest I should disguise myself in affection, in suffering thee to perish by a fond desire whom I may preserve by a sure deceit.
    Phillida
    Dear father, nature could not make me so fair as she hath made 115you kind, nor you more kind than me dutiful. Whatsoever you command I will not refuse, because you command nothing but my safety and your happiness. But how shall I be disguised?
    Melibeus
    In man's apparel.
    Phillida
    It will neither become my body nor my mind.
    Melibeus
    Why, Phillida?
    120Phillida
    For then I must keep company with boys, and commit follies unseemly for my sex; or keep company with girls, and be thought more wanton than becometh. Besides, I shall be ashamed of my long hose and short coat, and so unwarily blab out something by blushing at everything.
    Melibeus
    Fear not, Phillida. Use will make it easy; fear must make it necessary.
    Phillida
    I agree, since my father will have it so, and fortune must.
    Melibeus
    Come let us in, and, when thou art disguised, roam about these woods till the time be past and Neptune pleased.
    Exeunt.