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The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley

Collected and Edited from the Old Editions: With a preface on the text, explanatory and textual notes, an appendix containing works of doubtful authenticity, and a bibliography: By V. de Sola Pinto
Sedley, Charles (1639?-1701)

collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I
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POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS
 I. 
I A PASTORAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THIRSIS AND STREPHON
 II. 
II SONG
 III. 
III SONG
 IV. 
IV
 V. 
V TO CLORIS
 VI. 
VI INDIFFERENCE EXCUSED
 VII. 
VII ORINDA TO CLORIS
 VIII. 
VIII THE COMPLAINT
 IX. 
IX CONSTANCY
 X. 
X THE PLATONICK
 XI. 
XI TO CELIA
 XII. 
XII HER ANSWER
 XIII. 
XIII TO AMARANTA
 XIV. 
XIV THE SUBMISSION
 XV. 
XV TO A DEVOUT YOUNG GENTLEWOMAN
 XVI. 
XVI TO CELIA
 XVII. 
XVII SONG
 XVIII. 
XVIII A DIALOGUE BETWEEN AMINTAS AND CELIA
 XIX. 
XIX SONG
 XX. 
XX SONG
 XXI. 
XXI SONG
 XXII. 
XXII
 XXIII. 
XXIII
 XXIV. 
XXIV TO CELIA
 XXV. 
XXV SONG
 XXVI. 
XXVI SONG
 XXVII. 
XXVII SONG
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII THE FEIGNED LOVE
 XXIX. 
XXIX ON THE BIRTH-DAY OF THE LATE QUEEN
 XXX. 
XXX TO CLORIS
 XXXI. 
XXXI THE SOLDIERS CATCH
 XXXII. 
XXXII THE INDIFFERENCE
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII SONG
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV THE EIGHTH ODE OF THE SECOND BOOK OF HORACE
 XXXV. 
XXXV A BALLAD
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI SONG
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII ADVICE TO THE OLD BEAUX
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII SONG
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX SONG
 XL. 
XL SONG
 XLI. 
XLI TO THE KING ON HIS BIRTH-DAY
 XLII. 
XLII A DIALOGUE
 XLIII. 
XLIII OUT OF LYCOPHRON
 XLIV. 
XLIV TO LIBER
 XLV. 
XLV SONG
 XLVI. 
XLVI TO COSCUS
 XLVII. 
XLVII SONG
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII ON DON ALONZO
 XLIX. 
XLIX SONG
 L. 
L ON A COCK AT ROCHESTER
 LI. 
LI SONG A-LA-MODE
 LII. 
LII OUT OF FRENCH
 LIII. 
LIII THE DOCTOR AND HIS PATIENTS
 LIV. 
LIV UPON THE AUTHOR OF THE SATYR AGAINST WIT
 LV. 
LV PROLOGUE
 LVI. 
LVI PROLOGUE [TO EPSOM WELLS]
 LVII. 
LVII PROLOGUE [TO THE STROULERS]
 LVIII. 
LVIII PROLOGUE TO THE WARY WIDDOW OR SIR NOISY PARRAT
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EPIGRAMS: OR, COURT CHARACTERS
 LIX. 
LIX TO MAXIMINA
 LX. 
LX TO SEXTUS
 LXI. 
LXI TO NYSUS
 LXII. 
LXII TO CLASSICUS
 LXIII. 
LXIII TO SEXTUS
 LXIV. 
LXIV TO POSTHUMUS
 LXV. 
LXV TO SCÆVA
 LXVI. 
LXVI TO SERTORIUS
 LXVII. 
LXVII TO CLOE
 LXVIII. 
LXVIII TO CANIDIUS
 LXIX. 
LXIX TO SEPTIMUS
 LXX. 
LXX TO FLAVIUS
 LXXI. 
LXXI TO CANDIDUS
 LXXII. 
LXXII TO GAURUS
 LXXIII. 
LXXIII TO THRASO
 LXXIV. 
LXXIV ON COSCUS
 LXXV. 
LXXV TO BITHINICUS
 LXXVI. 
LXXVI TO MAXIMUS
 LXXVII. 
LXXVII TO JULIUS
 LXXVIII. 
LXXVIII TO FLAVIA
 LXXIX. 
LXXIX TO SERGIUS
 LXXX. 
LXXX THE MAIDENHEAD
 LXXXI. 
LXXXI TO QUINTUS
 LXXXII. 
LXXXII ON ARRIA AND PŒTUS
 LXXXIII. 
LXXXIII TO MILO
 LXXXIV. 
LXXXIV TO SABINUS
 LXXXV. 
LXXXV ON PHRINE
 LXXXVI. 
LXXXVI TO BASSA
 LXXXVII. 
LXXXVII TO SCILLA
 LXXXVIII. 
LXXXVIII ON SEXTUS
 LXXXIX. 
LXXXIX THE HAPPY PAIR: OR, A POEM ON MATRIMONY.
 XC. 
XC THE FOURTH BOOK OF VIRGIL
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TRANSLATIONS FROM OVID'S AMORES PRINTED IN “DRYDEN'S MISCELLANY,” 1684
 XCI. 
XCI BOOK I
 XCII. 
XCII BOOK II
 XCIII. 
XCIII BOOK III
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VOL. II
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POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS ASCRIBED TO SEDLEY ON DOUBTFUL AUTHORITY
 XCIV. 
XCIV DISTICH
 XCV. 
XCV
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From Stephens's Miscellany Poems, 1685
 XCVI. 
XCVI UPON THE SLIGHTING OF HIS FRIENDS LOVE
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From Poetical Recreations, 1688
 XCVII. 
XCVII UPON A GENTLEWOMANS REFUSAL OF A LETTER FROM ONE SHE WAS INGAGED TO
 XCVIII. 
XCVIII SONG
 XCIX. 
XCIX SONG
 C. 
C SONG
 CI. 
CI SONG
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From Buckingham's Miscellaneous Works, 1704
 CII. 
CII THE ROYAL KNOTTER
 CIII. 
CIII ADVICE TO LOVERS
 CIV. 
CIV AGAINST HIS MISTRESS'S CRUELTY
 CV. 
CV THE PETITION
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From the Diverting Post, 1704
 CVI. 
CVI By Sir Charles Sidley. Written Extempore
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From Poems on State Affairs, 1705
 CVII. 
CVII A FABLE
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From Briscoe's Edition of 1707
 CVIII. 
CVIII ON THE HAPPY CORYDON AND PHILLIS
 CIX. 
CIX ON A LADY THAT DID NOT LOVE APPLES
 CX. 
CX ON FRUITION
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From Briscoe's Edition of 1722
 CXI. 
CXI TO CELINDA
 CXII. 
CXII A SONG
 CXIII. 
CXIII CUPID'S RETURN
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THE PASTORALS OF VIRGIL
 CXIV. 
CXIV THE FIRST PASTORAL [OF VIRGIL]
 CXV. 
CXV THE SECOND PASTORAL [OF VIRGIL]
 CXVI. 
CXVI THE THIRD PASTORAL
 CXVII. 
CXVII THE FOURTH PASTORAL
 CXVIII. 
CXVIII THE FIFTH PASTORAL
 CXIX. 
CXIX THE SIXTH PASTORAL
 CXX. 
CXX THE SEVENTH PASTORAL
 CXXI. 
CXXI THE EIGHTH PASTORAL
 CXXII. 
CXXII THE NINTH PASTORAL
 CXXIII. 
CXXIII THE TENTH PASTORAL
 CXXIV. 
CXXIV A PINDARIQUE ODE
 CXXV. 
CXXV THE FALL
 CXXVI. 
CXXVI TO PHILLIS: WHO SLIGHTED HIM
 CXXVII. 
CXXVII SOPHRONIA'S ANSWER TO A COXCOMB
 CXXVIII. 
CXXVIII TO CLARISSA
 CXXIX. 
CXXIX A Lady, asking the Author's Opinion of two Gentlemen, her Lovers, occasioned the following Lines
 CXXX. 
CXXX SONG
 CXXXI. 
CXXXI SONG
 CXXXII. 
CXXXII SONG
 CXXXIII. 
CXXXIII SONG
 CXXXIV. 
CXXXIV THE MINOUET
 CXXXV. 
CXXXV THE TOPER
 CXXXVI. 
CXXXVI VENUS AND ADONIS: OR THE AMOUR OF VENUS

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XCVII
UPON A GENTLEWOMANS REFUSAL OF A LETTER FROM ONE SHE WAS INGAGED TO

[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Not hear my Message, but the Bearer shun!
What hellish Fiend inrag'd could more have done?
Surely the Gods design to make my Fate
Of all most wretched, and unfortunate.
'Twas but a Letter, and the Words were few,
Fill'd with kind wishes, but my Fate's too true.
I'm lost for ever banish'd from her sight,
Although by Oaths and Vows she's mine by right.
Ye Gods! look down and hear my Sorrows moan,
Like the faint Echoes of a dying groan.
But now is't possible so fair a Face
Shou'd have a Soul so treacherous and base,
To promise constancy, and then to prove
False and unkind to him she vow'd to love?
Oh, Barb'rous Sex! whose Nature is to rook
And cheat Mankind with a betraying look.
Hence I'll keep guard within from all your Charms,
And ever more resist all fresh Alarms;
I'll trace your windings through the darkest Cell,
And find your Stratagems, though lodg'd in Hell.
Your gilded Paintings, and each treacherous Wile,
By which so eas'ly you Mankind beguile;
Winds are more Constant than a Womans Mind,
Who holds to none but to the present kind:
For when by absence th' object is remov'd,
The time is gone and spent wherein she lov'd.
And is it not the very same with me,
To slight my Love, when I must absent be?
Perhaps sh' has seen a more atracting Face,
And a new Paramour has taken place,
And shall my injur'd Soul stand Mute, and live,
Whilst that another reaps what she can give?
Glutted with pleasures, and again renew
Their past delights, although my claim and due.
Oh, no, my Soul's inrag'd, revenge calls on,
I'll tear her piece-meal e'er my fury's gone;
Stretch out my Arm all o'er th' inconstant stain,
And then cleave down her treach'rous limbs in twain:
The greatest plagues Invention e'er cou'd find,
Is not sufficient for th' inconstant Mind.
I think I have o'ercome my Passion quite,
145

And cou'd not love, although 'twere in despight.
As for the Man who must enjoy my room,
He'll soon be partner in my wretched doom;
He by her Faith, alas, no more will find,
Than when she swore to me to prove most kind.
Therefore I'll leave her and esteem her less;
And in my self both joy and acquiesce.
But oh, my Heart, there's something moves there still,
Sure 'tis the vigour of unbounded Will.
Too much, I fear, my Fetters are not gone,
Or I at least again must put them on.
Methinks I feel my Heart is not got free,
Nor all my Passions set at liberty,
From the bright glances of her am'rous Eye.
Down Rebel-love, and hide thy boyish Head,
I'm too much Man to hear thy follies plead:
Go seek some other Breast of lower note;
Go make some Old decrepit Cuckold dote:
Begone I say, or strait thy Quiver, Bow,
And thou thy self fall to destruction too.
And oh, I'm gone, my Foes have all got ground,
My Brains grow giddy, and my Head turns round.
My Heart's intangled with the Nets of Love;
My Passions rave, and now ye Gods above
Help on my doom, and heave me to your Skies;
Look, look, Mervinda's just before my Eyes:
Help me to catch her e'er her Shadow fly,
And I fall downward from this rowling Sky.
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