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-Or elfe the groves disdain, Nor with the fylvan walk indulge thy pain, Hafte to the town; there (I have oft been told) The courtly nymph her treffes binds with gold, To captivate the youths; the youths appear In fine array; in ringlets waves their hair Rich with ambrofial scents, the fair to move, And all the business of the day is love. There from the gaudy train select a dame, Her willing glance shall catch an equal flame. Lycidas.

Name not the court. The thought my soul confounds,

And with Dione's wrongs my bofom wounds.
Heaven juftly vindicates the faithful maid;
And now are all my broken vows repaid.
Perhaps the now laments my fancy'd death
With tears unfeign'd; and thinks my gafping
breath

Sigh'd forth her name. O guilt, no more upbraid!
Yes. I fond inuocence and truth betray'd. [Afide.

DIONE and LAURA apart.

Dione.

Hark! how reflection wakes his confcious heart.
From my pale lids the trickling forrows ftart.
How fhall my breast the swelling sighs confine!
Laura.

O fmooth thy brow, conceal our just design:
Be yet awhile unknown. If grief arise,

Quickly retire, thy forrows to compofe;
Or with a look ferene disguise thy woes.

[Dione is going out. Laura walks at a distance.
Lycidas.

Canft thou, Alexis, leave me thus diftreft ?
Where's now the boafted friendship of thy breast!
Haft thou not oft furvey'd the dappled deer
In focial herds o'erfpread the pastures fair?
When opening hounds the warmer scent pursue,
And force the deftin'd victim from the crew,
Oft he returns, and fain would join the band,
While all their horns the panting wretch withstand.
Such is thy friendship; thus might I confide.
Dione.

Why wilt thou cenfure what thou ne'er haft try'd?
Sooner shall swallows leave their callow brood,
Who with their plaintive chirpings cry for food;
Sooner fhall hens expose their infant care,
When the spread kite fails wheeling in the air;
Than I forfake thee when by danger preft.
Wrong not by jealous fears a faithful breast.
Lycidas.

If thy fair-fpoken tongue thy bofom shows,
There let the fecrets of my foul repofe.
Dione.

Far be fufpicion; in my truth confide.
O let my heart thy load of cares divide!
Lycidas.

Know then, Alexis, that in vain I ftrove
To break her chain, and free my foul from love:
On the lim'd twig thus finches beat their wings,
Still more entangled in their clammy strings,
The flow-pae'd days have witness'd my despair,
Upon my weary couch fits wakeful care;
Down my flush'd cheek the flowing forrows run,
As dews defcend to weep the abfent sun.
O loft Parthenia!

Dions.

These wild thoughts fufpend;
And in thy kind commands instruct thy friend.
Lycidas.
Whene'er my faultering tongue would urge my
Deaf is her ear, and fullen she withdraws. [cause,
Go then, Alexis; seek the scornful maid,
In tender eloquence my fufferings plead ;
Of flighted paffion you the pangs have known;
O judge my fecret anguish by your own!
Dione.

Had I the fkill inconftant hearts to move,
My longing foul had never lost my love.
My feeble tongue, in these soft arts untry'd,
Can ill fupport the thunder of her pride;
When he shall bid me to thy bower repair,
How fhall my trembling lips her threats declare!
How fhall I tell thee that the could behold,
With brow ferene, thy corse all pale and cold
Beat on the dashing billow? Should'st thou go
Where the tall hill o'erhangs the rocks below,
Near thee the tyrant could unpitying stand,
Nor call thee back, nor stretch a faving hand.
Wilt thou then still perfift to tempt thy fate,
To feed her pride, and gratify her hate?
Lycidas.
Know, unexperienc'd youth, that woman's mind

2

Sudden the rages, like the troubled main,
Now finks the ftorm, and all is calm again.
Watch the kind moment, then my wrongs impart,
And the foft tale fball glide into her heart.
Dione.

Mo. Let her wander in the lonely grove,
And never hear the tender voice of love.
Let her awhile, neglected by the swain,
Pass by, nor fighs moleft the cheerful plain
Thus fhall the fury of her pride be laid;
Thus humble into love the haughty maid.
Lycidas.

Vain are attempts my paffion to controul,
Is this the balm to cure my fainting foul?

Dione.

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Shall ftay her flight, and conquer her disdain.
Yet if the hear, fhould love the meffage speed,
Then dies all hope-then muft Dione bleed. [Afide.
Lycidas.

Hafte then, dear faithfulfwain. Beneath thofe yews,
Whofe fable arms the brownest shade diffuse,
Where all around, to ftate the fervent sky,
The panting flocks in ferny thickets lie;
There with impatience shall I wait my friend,
O'er the wide profpect frequent glances fend
To fpy thy wifh'd return. As thou shalt find
A tender welcome, may thy love be kind!
[Exit Lycidas.

SCENE VI

DIONE, LAURA

Dione.

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Methinks I'm now furrounded by despair,
And all my withering hopes are loft in air.
Thus the young linnet on the rocking bough
Hears through long woods autumnal tempeft blow,
With hallow blasts the clafhing branches 'bend;
And yellow showers of rustling leaves descend;
She fees the friendly fhelter from her fly;
Nor dare her little pinions trust the sky;
But on the naked fpray in wintery air,
All shivering, hopeless, mourns the dying year.
What have I promis'd? rash, unthinking maid!
By thy own tongue thy wishes are betray'd!
[Laura advances.
Laura,
Why walk'ft thou thus disturb'd with frantic air?
Why roll thy eyes with madness and despair?
Dione.
Mufing.
How wilt thou bear to see her pride give way?
When thus the yielding nymph fhall bid thee fay,
"Let not the fhepherd feek the filent grave,
“Say, that I bid him live-if hope can save!"

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'Tis Laura fpeaks. O calm your troubled mind.
Dione.
Where fhall my fearch this envy'd beauty find?
I'll go, my faithless shepherd's cause to plead,
And with my tears accufe the rival maid.
Yet fhould her foften'd heart to love incline!
Laura.

If those are all thy fears, Evander's thine.
Dione.
Why should we both in forrow waste our days?
If love unfeign'd my constant bofom sways,
His happiness alone is all I prize,

And that is center'd in Parthenia's eyes.
Hafte then, with earnest zeal her love implore,
To blefs his hours-when thou shalt breathe no

more.

ACT III. SCENE I.

DIONE lying on the ground by the fide of a Fountain.

Dione.

HERE let me reft; and in the liquid glass
View with impartial look my fading face.
Why are Parthenia's ftriking beauties priz'd?
And why Dione's weaker glance defpis'd?
Nature in various moulds has beauty cast,
And form'd the feature for each different tafte
This fighs for golden locks and azure eyes;
That, for the glofs of fable treffes, dies.
Let all mankind thefe locks, thefe eyes deteft,
So I were lovely in Evander's breast!
When o'er the garden's knot we cast our view,
While fummer paints the ground with various hue;
Some praise the gaudy tulip's freaky red,
And fome the filver lily's bending head;
Some the jonquil in fhining yellow drest,
And fome the fring'd carnation's varied vest;
Some love the fober violet's purple dyes,
Thus beauty fares in different lovers' eyes.
But bright Parthenia like the rofe appears,
She in all eyes fuperior luftre bears,

SCENE H. DIONE, LAURA,

Laura.

Why thus beneath the filver willow laid,
Weeps fair Dione in the pensive shade?
Haft thou yet found the over-arching bower,
Which guards Parthenia from the sultry hour?
Dione.

With weary ftep in paths unknown I stray'd,
And fought in vain the folitary maid.

Laura. Seeft thou the waving tops of yonder woods, Whofe aged arms imbrown the cooling floods? The cooling floods o'er breaking pebbles flow, And wash the foil from the big roots below;

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Cleanthes.

The skilful hunter with experienc'd care
Traces the doubles of the circling hare;
The fubtle fox (who breathes the weary hound
O'er hills and plains) in distant brakes is found;
With eafe we track fwift hinds and skipping roes.
But who th' inconftant ways of woman knows?
They fay, the wanders with the fylvan train,
And courts the native freedoms of the plain;
Shepherds explain their wifh without offence,
Nor blush the nymphs-for love is innocence.
O lead me where the rural youth retreat,
Where the flope hills the warbling voice repeat.
Perhaps on daify'd turf reclines the maid,
And near her fide fome rival clown is laid.
Yet, yet I love her.-O loft nymph return,
Let not thy fire with tears inceffant mourn;
Return, loft nymph; bid forrow ceafe to flow,
And let Dione glad the house of woe.

Laura.

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In rural arts unskill'd, no charge fhe tends;
Nor when the morn and evening dew defcends
Milks the big-udder'd ewe. Her mien and dress
The polith'd manners of the court confefs.
Laura.

Each day arrive the neighbouring nymphs and fwains,

To fhare the paftime of our jovial plains;
How can I there thy roving beauty trace,
Where not one nymph is bred of vulgar race!
Cleantbes.

If yet the breathes, what tortures must she find!
The curfe of disobedience tears her mind.
If e'er your breast with filial duty burn'd,
If e'er you forrow'd when a parent mourn'd;
Tell her, I charge you, with inceffant groana
Her drooping fire his absent child bemoans.
Laura.

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Seeft thou yon mountain rear his shaggy brow?
In the green valley graze the flocks below:
There every gale with warbling music floats,
Shade anfwers shade, and breathes alternate notes.
[Exit Cleanthes,
He's gone; and to the diftant vale is fent,
Nor fhall his force Dione's love prevent.
But fee, the comes again with hafty pace,
And confcious pleasure dimples on her face.

SCENE IV.

LAURA, DIONE.

Diene.

I found her laid befide the crystal brook,
Nor rais'd fhe from the stream her fettled look,
Till near her fide I food; her head the rears,
Starts fudden, and her fhrieks confefs her fears.
Laura.
Did not thy words her thoughtful soul surprise,
And kindle sparkling anger in her eyes?
Dione.

Thus the reply'd, with rage and scorn poffeft:
"Will importuning love ne'er give me rest?
"Why am I thus in deferts wild purfu'd,
"Like guilty confciences when ftain'd with blood?
"Sure boding ravens, from the blasted oak,
"Shall learn the name of Lycidas to croak,
"To found it in my ears! As fwains pafs by,
"With look afkance, they shake their heads and
es cry,

"Lo! this is the for whom the fhepherd dy'd!
"Soon Lycidas, a victim to her pride, [glade,
"Shall feek the grave; and in the glimmering
"With look all pale, fhall glide the restless shade
"Of the poor fwain; while we with haggard eye
"And bristled hair the fleeting phantom fly."
Still let their curfes innocence upbraid :
Heaven never will forfake the virtuous maid.
Laura.

Didft thou perfift to touch her haughty breast?
Dione.

She still the more difdain'd, the more I preft.

Laura.

When you were gone, these walks a stranger croft,
He turn'd through every path, and wander'd loft;
To me he came; with courteous speech demands
Beneath what bowers repos'd the shepherd bands;
Then further asks me, if among that race
A shepherdess was found of courtly grace;
With proffer'd bribes my faithful tongue effays;
But for no bribe the faithful tongue betrays.
In me Dione's fafe. Far hence he speeds,
Where other hills refound with other reeds.
Dione.

Should he come back; fufpicion's jealous eyes
Might trace my feature through the fwain's difguife.
Now every noise and whistling wind I dread,
And in each found approaches human tread.
Laura.

He said, he left your house involv'd in cares, Sighs fwell'd each breast, each eye o'erflow'd with tears;

For his loft child thy pensive father mourns,
And, funk in forrow, to the duft returns.
Go back, obedient daughter; hence depart,
And still the fighs that tear his anxious heart.
Soon fhall Evander, wearied with disdain,
Forego these fields, and seek the town again.
Dione.

Think, Laura, what thy hafty thoughts perfuade.
If I return, to love a victim made,

My wrathful fire will force his harsh command, And with Cleanthes join my trembling hand,

Laura.

Trust a fond father; raise him from despair.

Dione.

I fly not him; I fly a life of care.

On the high nuptials of the court look round;
Where fhall, alas, one happy pair be found!
There marriage is for fervile intereft fought :
Is love for wealth, or power, or title bought?
'Tis hence domeftic jars their peace destroy,
And loofe adultery fteals the fhameful joy.
But fearch we wide o'er all the blifsful plains
Where love alone, devoid of interest, reigns.
What concord in each happy pair appears!
How fondness ftrengthens with the rolling years!
Superior power ne'er thwarts their foft delights,
Nor jealous accufations wake their nights.

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Lycidas.

Pronounce her utmoft fcorn; I come prepar'd
To meet my doom. Say, is my death declar'd?
Dione.
Why should thy fate depend on woman's will!
Forget this tyrant, and be happy still.
Lycidas,

Didft thou befeech her not to speed her flight,
Nor fhun with wrathful glance my hated fight?
Will she confent my fighing plaint to hear,
Nor let my piercing cries be lost in air ?
Dione.

Can mariners appeafe the toffing storm,
When foaming waves the yawning deep deform?
When o'er the fable cloud the thunder flies,
Say, who fhall calm the terror of the skies?

Who fhall the lion's famifh'd roar affuage?
And can we still proud woman's stronger rage?
Soon as my faithful tongue pronounc'd thy name,
Sudden her glances shot refentful flame:

Be dumb, the cries, this whining love give o'er,
And vex me with the teazing theme no more.
Lycidas.

'Tis pride alone that keeps alive her scorn.
Can the mean fwain, in humble cottage born,
Can poverty that haughty heart obtain,
Where avarice and ftrong ambition reign ?
If poverty pafs by in tatter'd coat,

Curs vex his heels, and stretch their barking throat;
If chance he mingle in the female crowd,
Pride toffe high her head, fcorn laughs aloud;
Each nymph turns from him to her gay gallant,
And wonders at the impudence of want.
'Tis vanity that rules all womankind,
Love is the weakeft paffion of their mind.
Dione.
Though one is by thofe fervile views poffeft,
O Lycidas, condemn not all the rest.

Lycidas.

Though I were bent beneath a load of years,
And feventy winters thin'd my hoary hairs;
Yet, if my olive branches dropt with oil,
And crooked shares were brighten'd in my foil,
If lowing herds my fattening meads poffeft,
And my white fleece the tawny mountain dreft;
Then would fhe lure me with love-darting glance,
Then with fond mercenary fmiles advance.
Though hell with every vice my foul had ftain'd,
And froward arger in my bofom reign'd,
Though avarice my coffers cloth'd in ruft,
And my joints trembled with enfeebled luft;
Yet, were my ancient name with titles great,
How would the languish for the gaudy bait!
If to her love all-tempting wealth pretend,
What virtuous woman can her heart defend?

Dione.

The driving fury of the flame reprove?
Who then shall reafon with a heart in love?
Lione.

Yet let me speak; O may my words perfuade
The noble youth to quit this sylvan maid!
Refign thy crook, no more to plains refort,
Look round on all the beauties of the court;
There fhall thy merit find a worthy flame,
Some nymph of equal wealth and equal name.
Think, if thefe offers fhould thy wish obtain,
And fhould the ruftic beauty ftoop to gain;
Thy heart could ne'er prolong th' unequal fire,
The fudden blaze would in one year expire;
Then thy rash folly thou too late fhalt chide,
To poverty and bafe-born blood ally'd;
Her vulgar tongue fhall animate the strife,
And hourly difcord vex thy future life.
Lycidas.

Such is the force thy faithful words impart,
That like the galling goad they pierce my heart,
You think fair virtue in my breaft refides,
That honest truth my lips and actions guides.
Deluded shepherd, could you view my foul,
You'd fee it with deceit and treachery foul;
I'm bafe, perfidious. Ere from court I came,
Love fingled from the train a beauteous dame;
The tender maid my fervent vows believ'd,
My fervent vows the tender maid deceiv'd.
Why dost thou tremble? why thus heave thy
fighs?

Why fteal thy filent forrows from thy eyes?

Dions. Sure the foft, lamb hides rage within his breast, And cooing turtles are with hate possest ; When from fo fweet a tongue flow fraud and lies, And those meek looks a perjur'd heart disguise. Ah! who fhall now on faithlefs man depend? The treacherous lover proves as false a friend. Lycidas,

When with Dione's love my bofom glow'd,

Conquefts, thus meanly bought, men foon defpife, Firni conftancy and truth fincere I vow'd;. And justly flight the mercenary prize.

Lycidas.

I know these frailties in her breaft refide,
Dire her glance, and every action guide.
Still let Alexis' faithful friendship aid,
Once more attempt to bend the stubborn maid.
Tell her, no bafe-born fwain provokes her fcorn,
No clown, beneath the fedgy cottage born;
Tell her, for her this fylvan dress I took,
For her my name and pomp of courts forfook;
My lofty roofs with golden fculpture shine,
And my high birth defcends from ancient line.

Dione.

Love is a facred voluntary fire,
Gold never bought that pure, that chafte defire.
Who thinks true love for lucre to poffefs,
Shall grafp falfe Battery and the feign'd carefs;
Can we believe that mean, that fervile wife,
Who vilely fells her dear-bought love for life,
Would not her virtue for an hour refign,
If in her fight the proffer'd treasure shine.
Lycidas.

Can reafon (when by winds fwift fires are borne

But fince Parthenia's brighter charms were known,
My love, my conftancy and truth are flown.
Dione.

Are not thy hours with confcious anguish stung?
Swift vengeance muft o'ertake the perjur'd tongue,
The gods the cause of injur'd love assert,
And arm with stubborn pride Parthenia's heart.
Lycidas.

Go, try her; tempt her with my birth and state,
Stronger ambition will fubdue her hate.
Dione.

O rather turn thy thoughts on that loft maid,
Whofe hourly fighs thy faithless oath upbraid!
Think you behold her at the dead of night,
Plac'd by the glimmering taper's paly light,
With all your letters spread before her view,
While trickling tears the tender lines bedew;
Sobbing the reads the perjuries o'er and o'er,
And her long nights know peaceful fleep no more.
Lycidas
Let me forget her.

Dione.

O falfe youth, relent;

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