The Grecian Story Being an Historical Poem, in Five Books. To which is Annex'd The Grove: Consisting of Divers Shorter Poems upon several Subjects. By J. H. [i.e. John Harington] |
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 | The Grecian Story |  |
This Object view'd, O Horror strange (she cryes)
Sight sight enough to blast Heav'ns purer Eyes,
And damp their sparkling Flames! O Tenfold Death!
Ah, Wo, Wo, Wo! Why do I fondly Breath?
The World my self undone, Farewell, farewell
Choice, Noblest Worth, same Form, what things excell;
Joys flye for ever, lost my Dearest All,
And I'm no more. Tears Gem-like stream did fall;
Wrung Whitest Hands, as would the Fates o'erpow'r,
Charm back this harsh Event: obscur'd that Hour
Bright Beauty's World. Timondes, that could take
Deep, Sober Rest, much less prone to awake
Kept longer up, joyn'd Midnight's season then;
Doors thought secure, was loth to Rouse agen:
First noise not heard, near th' End like Dream conceiv'd
Clermanthe strait, almost of Voice bereav'd,
These Words conjoyn'd. I come (she said) I come,
To share withal sad, strange disastrous Doom,
My dearest Lord; to take last Frozen Kiss
Then dye upon thee there, my living Bliss
But lately thought, now opened prov'd his Eyes,
To th' Window reel'd; he star'd on th' Earth and Skies
Amazed Man, nought View'd unknown before:
Clermanthe hurl'd meanwhile to th' Iron Dore
Where found the Key; what nimblest strength could do
That way imploy'd, unlock'd, unbolted too.
Sight sight enough to blast Heav'ns purer Eyes,
And damp their sparkling Flames! O Tenfold Death!
Ah, Wo, Wo, Wo! Why do I fondly Breath?
The World my self undone, Farewell, farewell
Choice, Noblest Worth, same Form, what things excell;
Joys flye for ever, lost my Dearest All,
And I'm no more. Tears Gem-like stream did fall;
Wrung Whitest Hands, as would the Fates o'erpow'r,
Charm back this harsh Event: obscur'd that Hour
Bright Beauty's World. Timondes, that could take
Deep, Sober Rest, much less prone to awake
Kept longer up, joyn'd Midnight's season then;
Doors thought secure, was loth to Rouse agen:
First noise not heard, near th' End like Dream conceiv'd
Clermanthe strait, almost of Voice bereav'd,
These Words conjoyn'd. I come (she said) I come,
To share withal sad, strange disastrous Doom,
My dearest Lord; to take last Frozen Kiss
Then dye upon thee there, my living Bliss
But lately thought, now opened prov'd his Eyes,
To th' Window reel'd; he star'd on th' Earth and Skies
Amazed Man, nought View'd unknown before:
Clermanthe hurl'd meanwhile to th' Iron Dore
Where found the Key; what nimblest strength could do
That way imploy'd, unlock'd, unbolted too.
| The Grecian Story | |