The works of John Dryden Illustrated with notes, historical, critical, and explanatory, and a life of the author, by Sir Walter Scott |
| 11 |  | IX. |
| 1 | | X. |
| 6 | | XI. |
| 1 | | XII. |
| 26 | | XIII. |
| 60 |  | XIV, XV. |
| 14 | |
| 42 | |
| 4 | |
 | The works of John Dryden |  |
165
FAREWELL, FAIR ARMIDA.
A SONG.
166
I
Farewell, fair Armida, my joy and my grief!In vain I have loved you, and hope no relief;
Undone by your virtue, too strict and severe,
Your eyes gave me love, and you gave me despair:
Now called by my honour, I seek with content
The fate which in pity you would not prevent:
To languish in love were to find, by delay,
A death that's more welcome the speediest way.
II
On seas and in battles, in bullets and fire,The danger is less than in hopeless desire;
My death's wound you give me, though far off I bear
My fall from your sight—not to cost you a tear:
But if the kind flood on a wave should convey,
And under your window my body should lay,
The wound on my breast when you happen to see,
You'll say with a sigh—it was given by me.
| The works of John Dryden | |