Filli Di Sciro. Or Phillis of Scyros :: :: University of Virginia Library

Elder Sister of this Blushing Maid,
Long kept in darkness, and severely staid
From looking forth, by him who thought the dress
He cloth'd her in, too homly to express
That native Beauty, which by birth she drew,
From her first Parent, who exactly knew
How to attire her in so rich a Trim,
As might win honour both to her, and him:
Greeving perhaps to be so coursely us'd,
So long pent up, and as she thought abus'd:
Resolv'd to try if yet her ancient Fame,
Could raise her up to a more glorious Name:
And guided by the Star which rul'd her Fate,
At last she met with one more fortunate,
Then her old Foster Father was: And he
(Fraught with the store of rich ability.)
Bravely adorn'd her, taught her how to speak

Translated by Mr. Rich. Fanshaw, and dedicated to the Prince that then was.

A Courtly Language, and thereby to break
Through all the Mists of dark obscurity,
As one now fitted for a Princes Eye.
This rare adventure, wrought a strange conceit
In this'more lowly Minion, that my streit,
And rigid resolution held so long,
To Coop them up, had done them both some wrong
For whilest I gave her Sister leave to walk,
From hand to hand by stealth, she heard men talk
Of gracious Favours, and Aspects, cast on her
By Noble persons, and by men of Honour;
And thence concludes, 'twas onely want of scope
To fly abroad which thus destroid her hope.
And that her self (though meanly pris'd by me)

Might have attaind the same felicitie:
These fond ambitious Thoughts; and sad Laments
Grounded upon her groundless discontents,
Have forc't me yeild unto her mournful plaint
And loose the Fetters of her hard restraint.
Granting her leave to roam abroad at large,
Yet not without this strict, and serious charge
That she should not presume to think her Name
Could purchase her, or me, a lasting Fame;
Nor yet expect, that her best industrie
Could raise her up unto the least degree
Of Grace and Favour, with judicious men,
Who know the failings of my erring Pen;
But rather that she should conform her mind
To my mean fortune, as unlike to find
A way to better hopes, as I am free.
From those aspiring thoughts, which use to be
In men of greater Parts, whose merits may,
Challenge a due respect, where worth bears sway:
And since she could not be content to dwell
In my poor quiet, though but homely Cell,
Where she might have been free from all the wrongs
Of envious hearts, and of malicious tongues,
That yet she would put on an humble guise
A modest garb, without desire to rise
Unto an higher pitch then well may sute
With the bare purchase of a fair Repute.