 | The Careles Shepherdess |  |
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Scen. 6.
The Song.We to thy Harp Apollo sing,
Whil'st others to thy Altars bring
Their humble prayers
For length of daies:
Or else for knowledge of their Fates,
Which by their prayers thou renovates,
And dost renue
Not as their due,
But as their worth, incites thy love
To shower thy blessings from above.
He kneels.
Laris.
I am all wonder.
Thou who dost all secrets know,
Uouchsafe for to descend so low,
As to resolve a doubt which springs
From dreams, and such sad nightly things.
Shall Castarina be my Love?
Speak Apollo, and if she prove
But kind unto my vowes, I swear
I'le offer Incense every year,
And oft my grateful thanks return,
And Spices on thy Altars burn.
Apollo.
Thou shalt finde crosses in thy love,
Yet time may make them blessings prove;
For when the Virgins o're her Hearse,
Have plac't the Garland and sad verse,
And bath'd the cold earth with their tears,
Thy hope shall overcome thy fears.
And till that she be dead, shall not
Enjoy her love: Unty the Knot.
Apollo's Scene closes up.
Lar.
Be clearer Oracle, and leave me not
In doubt: What! are your gates already shut
Open but once again, and speak, although
Your voice be death, let not my trembling soul
Be tortur'd through despair, or else be griev'd
By vain expecting of my joyes. Say great
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Art thou grown deaf unto our prayers; then here
Begins my misery; and where I did
Expect the clear unfolding of my doubts,
There I perceive a Riddle.—I shall be
Crost in my love, and yet from thence derive
New blessings. Can effects spring from a cause
'Has difference in th' extream? When she is dead
I shall enjoy her love. With what delight
Can my flame meet her cold and uselesse earth?
Or must I then form to my memory
Her living shape, and with desire imbrace
That shadow, which my fancy now commands,
And when I please gives me possession of.
The jugling God makes pastime of my passions:
But why do I prophane? great Power forgive me,
'Tis a just punishment; for being curious
To know the mystery of Fate, I must
Refer th' event to what is order'd by
The high disposer of my destiny.
Exit.
| The Careles Shepherdess | |