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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=345223" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>A Pastoral Dialogue - II</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">Melibæus, Alcippe, Asteria, Licida, Alcimedon, and Amira. <br>Melibæus. Welcome fair Nymphs, most welcome to this shade,<br>Distemp'ring Heats do now the Plains invade:<br>But you may sit, from Sun securely here,<br>If you an old mans company not fear.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alcippe. Most Reverend Swaine, far from us ever be<br>The imputation of such Vanity.<br>From Hill to Holt w'ave thee unweary'd sought,<br>And bless the Chance that us hath hither brought.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Asteria. Fam'd Melibæus for thy Virtuous Lays,<br>If thou dost not disdain our Female Praise,<br>We come to sue thou would'st to us recite<br>One of thy Songs, which gives such high delight<br>To ev'ry Eare, wherein thou dost dispense<br>Sage Precepts cloath'd in flowing Eloquence.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Licida. Fresh Garlands we will make for thee each morne,<br>Thy reverend Head to shade, and to adorne;<br>To cooling Springs thy fainting Flock we'll guide,<br>All thou command'st, to do shall be our Pride.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Meli. Cease, gentle Nymphs, the Willing to entreat,<br>To have your Wish, each needs but take a Seat.<br>With joy I shall my ancient Art revive,<br>With which, when Young, I did for Glory strive.<br>Nor for my Verse will I accept a Hire,<br>Your bare Attentions all I shall require.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. Lo, from the Plain I see draw near a Pair<br>That I could wish in our Converse might share.<br>Amira 'tis and young Alcimedon.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Lici. Serious Discourse industriously they shun.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. <br>It being yet their luck to come this way,<br>The Fond Ones to our Lecture we'll betray:<br>And though they only sought a private shade,<br>Perhaps they may depart more Vertuous made.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I will accost them. Gentle Nymph and Swaine,<br>Good Melibæus us doth entertain<br>With Lays Divine: if you'll his Hearers be,<br>Take streight your Seats without Apology.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. Paying short thanks, at fair Amiras feet,<br>I'le lay me down: let her choose where 'tis meet.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Al. Shepherd, behold, we all attentive sit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Meli. <br>What shall I sing? what shall my Muse reherse?<br>Love is a Theme well sutes a Past'ral Verse,<br>That gen'ral Error, Universal Ill,<br>That Darling of our Weakness and our Will;<br>By which though many fall, few hold it shame;<br>Smile at the Fault, which they would seem to blame.<br>What wonder then, if those with Mischief play,<br>It to destruction them doth oft betray?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But by experience it is daily found,<br>That Love the softer Sex does sorest wound;<br>In Mind, as well as Body, far more weak<br>Than Men: therefore to them my Song shall speak,<br>Advising well, however it succeed:<br>But unto All I say, Of Love take heed.<br>So hazardous, because so hard to know<br>On whom they are we do our Hearts bestow;<br>How they will use them, or with what regard<br>Our Faith and high Esteem they will reward:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">For few are found, that truly acted be<br>By Principles of Generosity.<br>That when they know a Virgins Heart they've gain'd,<br>(And though by many Vows and Arts obtain'd)<br>Will think themselves oblig'd their Faith to hold<br>Tempted by Friends, by Interest, or by Gold.<br>Expect it not most, Love their Pastime make,<br>Lightly they Like, and lightly they forsake;<br>Their Roving Humour wants but a pretence<br>With Oaths and what's most Sacred to dispence.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">When unto such a Maid has given her Heart,<br>And said, Alone my Happiness thou art,<br>In thee and in thy Truth I place my Rest. <br>Her sad Surprize how can it be exprest,<br>When all on which she built her Joy she finds,<br>Vanish, like Clouds, disperst before the Winds;<br>Her self, who th' adored Idol wont to be,<br>A poor despis'd Idolater to see?<br>Regardless Tears she may profusely spend,<br>Unpitty'd sighs her tender Breast may rend:<br>But the false Image she will ne're erace,<br>Though far unworthy still to hold its place:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So hard it is, even Wiser grown, to take<br>Th' Impression out, which Fancy once did make.<br>Believe me Nymphs, believe my hoary hairs,<br>Truth and Experience waits on many years.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Before the Eldest of you Light beheld,<br>A Nymph we had, in Beauty all excell'd,<br>Rodanthe call'd, in whom each Grace did shine,<br>Could make a Mortal Maid appear Divine.<br>And none could say, where most her Charms did lye,<br>In her inchanting Tongue, or conquering Eye.<br>Her Vertue yet her Beauties so out-shon,<br>As Beauty did the Garments she put on!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Among the Swains, which here their Flocks then fed,<br>Alcander with the highest held his head;<br>The most Accomplish't was esteem'd to be,<br>Of comely Forme, well-grac't Activity;<br>The Muses too, like him, did none inspire,<br>None so did stop the Pipe, or touch the Lyre;<br>Sweet was his Voice, and Eloquent his Tongue;<br>Alike admired when he Spoke, or Sung!<br>But these so much Excelling parts the Swain,<br>With Imperfections no less Great, did stain:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">For proud he was, of an Ungovern'd Will,<br>With Love Familiar, but a Stranger still<br>To Faith and Constancy; and did his Heart,<br>Retaining none, expose to ev'ry Dart.<br>Hapless Rodanthe, the Fond Rover, caught,<br>To whom, for Love, with usual Arts he sought;<br>Which she, ah too unwary, did bestow:<br>'Cause True her self, believ'd that he was so.<br>But he, alas, more wav'ring than the Wind,<br>Streight broke the Chain, she thought so fast did bind;<br>For he no sooner saw her Heart was gain'd,<br>But he as soon the Victory disdain'd;<br>Mad Love else-where, as if 'twere like Renown,<br>Hearts to subdue, as to take in a Town:<br>But in the One as Manhood does prevail,<br>Both Truth and Manhood in the other fail.<br>And now the Nymph (of late so gay and bright,<br>The Glory of the Plains and the Delight,<br>Who still in Wit and Mirth all Pastimes led)<br>Hung like a wither'd Flow'r her drooping Head.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I need not tell the Grief Rodanthe found,<br>How all that should asswage, enrag'd her Wound;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Her Form, her Fame, her Vertue, Riches, Wit,<br>Like Deaths sad Weights upon her Soul did sit:<br>Or else like Furies stood before her Face,<br>Still urging and Upbraiding her Disgrace,<br>In that the World could yield her no Content,<br>But what alone the False Alcander sent.<br>'Twas said, through just Disdain, at last she broke<br>The Disingenious and Unworthy Yoke:<br>But this I know, her Passion held long time,<br>Constancy, though Unhappy, is no Crime.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Remember when you Love, from that same hour<br>Your Peace you put into your Lovers Power:<br>From that same hour from him you Laws receive,<br>And as he shall ordain, you Joy, or Grieve,<br>Hope, Fear, Laugh, Weep; Reason aloof does stand,<br>Disabl'd both to Act, and to Command.<br>Oh Cruel Fetters! rather wish to feel,<br>On your soft Limbs, the Gauling Weight of Steel;<br>Rather to bloudy Wounds oppose your Breast<br>No Ill, by which the Body can be prest;<br>You will so sensible a Torment find,<br>As Shackles on your captivated Mind.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The Mind from Heaven its high Descent did draw,<br>And brooks uneasily any other Law,<br>Than what from Reason dictated shall be,<br>Reason, a kind of In-mate Deity.<br>Which only can adapt to ev'ry Soul<br>A Yoke so fit and light, that the Controle<br>All Liberty excels; so sweet a Sway,<br>The same 'tis to be Happy, and Obey;<br>Commands so Wise and with Rewards so drest<br>That the according Soul replys, I'm Blest.<br>This teaches rightly how to Love and Hate,<br>To fear and hope by Measure and just Weight;<br>What Tears in Grief ought from our Eyes to flow,<br>What Transport in Felicity to show;<br>In ev'ry Passion how to steer the Will,<br>Tho rude the Shock, to keep it steady still.<br>Oh happy Mind! what words, can speak thy Bliss,<br>When in a Harmony thou mov'st like this?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Your Hearts fair Virgins keep smooth as your Brow,<br>Not the least Am'rous Passion there allow;<br>Hold not a Parly with what may betray<br>Your inward Freedom to a Forraign Sway;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And while thus ore your selves you Queens remain,<br>Unenvy'd, ore the World, let others reign:<br>The highest Joy which from Dominion flows,<br>Is short of what a Mind well-govern'd knows.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Whither my Muse, would'st uncontrouled run?<br>Contend in Motion with the restless Sun?<br>Immortal thou, but I a mortal Sire<br>Exhaust my strength, and Hearers also tire.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Al. O Heaven-taught Bard! to Ages couldst prolong<br>Thy Soul-instructing, Health-infusing Song,<br>I with unweary'd Appetite could hear,<br>And wish my Senses were turn'd all to Ear.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alcim. Old Man, thy frosty Precepts well betray<br>Thy Blood is cold, and that thy Head is grey:<br>Who past the Pleasure Love and Youth can give,<br>To spoyl't in others, now dost only live.<br>Wouldst thou, indeed, if so thou couldst perswade,<br>The Fair, whose Charms have many Lovers made,<br>Should feel Compassion for no one they wound,<br>But be to all Inexorable found?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Me. Young man, if my advice thou well hadst weigh'd,<br>Thou would'st have found, for either Sex 'twas made;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And would from Womens Beauty thee no less<br>Preserve, than them secure from thy Address.<br>But let thy Youth thy rash Reproach excuse.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. Fairest Amira let him not abuse<br>Thy gentle Heart, by his imprinting there<br>His doting Maxims—But I will not fear:<br>For when 'gainst Love he fiercest did inveigh,<br>Methoughts I saw thee turn with Scorn away.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Ami. Alcimedon according to his Will<br>Does all my Words and Looks interpret still:<br>But I shall learn at length how to Disdain,<br>Or at the least more cunningly to feign.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. No wonder thou Alcimedon art rude,<br>When with no Gen'rous Quality endu'd:<br>But hop'st by railing Words Vice to defend,<br>Which Foulers made, by having such a Friend.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Amira, thou art warn'd, wisely beware,<br>Leap not with Open-Eyes into the Snare:<br>The Faith that's given to thee, was given before<br>To Nais, Amoret, and many more:<br>The Perjur'd did the Gods to Witness call,<br>That unto each he was the only Thrall.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Aste. Y'ave made his Cheeks with Conscious blushes glow.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. 'Tis the best Colour a False Heart can show;<br>And well it is with Guilt some shame remains.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Meli. Hast, Shepherd, hast to cleanse away thy stains,<br>Let not thy Youth, of Time the goodly spring,<br>Neglected pass, that nothing forth it bring<br>But noxious Weeds: which cultivated might<br>Produce such Crops, as now would thee delight,<br>And give thee after Fame For Vertues Fruit<br>Believe it, not alone with Age does sute,<br>Nought adorns Youth like to a Noble Mind,<br>In thee this Union let Amira find.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Lici. O fear her not! she'l serve him in his kind.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Meli. See how Discourse upon the Time does prey,<br>Those hours pass swiftest, that we talk away.<br>Declining Sol forsaken hath the Fields,<br>And Mountains highest Summits only gildes:<br>Which warns us home-wards with our Flocks to make.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Alci. Along with thee our Thanks and Praises take.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Aste. In which our Hearts do all in One unite,</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Lici. Our Wishes too, That on thy Head may light,<br>What e're the Gods as their Best Gifts bestow.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Meli. Kind Nymphs on you may Equal Blessings flow.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Anne+Killigrew">Anne Killigrew</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=345223" data-title="A Pastoral Dialogue - II de Anne Killigrew" data-description="Melibæus, Alcippe, Asteria, Licida, Alcimedon, and Amira. 
Melibæus. Welcome fair Nymphs, most welcome to this shade,
Distemp'ring Heats do now the Plains invade:
But you may sit, from Sun securely here,
If you an old mans company not fear.

Alc..."></div>
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