Poems (1686) — A Pastoral Dialogue

A Pastoral Dialogue.

_Dorinda.

_ _Sabæan_ Perfumes fragrant Roses bring, With all the Flowers that Paint the gaudy Spring: Scatter them all in young _Alexis_'s way, With all that's sweet and (like himself) that's Gay.

_Alexis.

_ Immortal Laurels and as Lasting Praise, Crown the Divine _Dorinda_'s matchless Laies: May all Hearts stoop, where mine would gladly yield, Had not _Lycoris_ prepossest the Field.

_Dor.

_ Would my _Alexis_ meet my noble Flame, In all _Ausonia_ neither Youth nor Dame, Should so renown'd in Deathless Numbers shine, As thy exalted Name should do in mine.

_Alex.

_ He'll need no Trophie nor ambitious Hearse, Who shall be honour'd by _Dorinda_'s Verse;

But where it is inscrib'd, _That here doth lie Lycoris_'s _Love_.

That Fame can never die.

_Dor.

_ On _Tyber_'s Bank I _Thyrsis_ did espie, And by his side did bright _Lycoris_ lie;

She Crown'd his Head, and Kist his amorous Brow, Ah Poor _Alexis_!

Ah then where wer't thou?

_Alex.

_ When thou saw'st that, I ne'r had seen my Fair, And what pass'd then ought not to be my Care;

I liv'd not then, but first began to be, When I _Lycoris_ Lov'd, and she Lov'd me.

_Dor.

_ Ah choose a Faith, a Faith that's like thine own, A Virgin Love, a Love that's newly blown: 'Tis not enough a Maidens Heart is chast, It must be Single, and not once mis-plac't. _Alex.

_ Thus do our Priests of Heavenly Pastures tell, Eternal Groves, all Earthly, that excel: And think to wean us from our Loves below, By dazling Objects which we cannot know.