 | Dione |  |
SCENE VI.
LYCIDAS. DIONE.Lycidas.
Why starts the swain? why turn his eyes away,
As if amidst his path the viper lay?
Did I not to thy charge my heart confide?
Did I not trust thee near Parthenia's side,
As here she slept?
Dione.
—She straight my call obey'd,
And downy slumber left the lovely maid!
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And all around her breathing colour throws;
So wak'd Parthenia.
Lycidas.
—Could thy guarded heart,
When her full beauty glow'd, put by the dart?
Yet on Alexis let my soul depend.
'Tis most ungen'rous to suspect a friend;
And thou, I hope, hast well that name profest.
Dione.
O could thy piercing eye discern my breast!
Could'st thou the secrets of my bosom see,
There ev'ry thought is fill'd with cares for thee!
Lycidas.
Is there, against hypocrisy, defence,
Who clothes her words and looks with innocence!
[Aside.
Say, shepherd, when you profer'd wealth and state,
Did not her scorn and suppled pride abate?
Dione.
As sparkling di'monds to the feather'd train,
Who scrape the winnow'd chaff in search of grain;
Such to the shepherdess the court appears:
Content she seeks, and spurns those glitt'ring cares.
Lycidas.
'Tis not in woman grandeur to despise,
'Tis not from courts, from me alone she flies.
Did not my passion suffer like disgrace,
While she believ'd me born of sylvan race?
Dost thou not think, this proudest of her kind
Has to some rival swain her heart resign'd?
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No rival shepherd her disdain can move;
Her frozen bosom is averse to love.
Lycidas.
Say, art thou sure, that this ungrateful fair
Scorns all alike, bids all alike despair?
Dione.
How can I know the secrets of her heart?
Lycidas.
Answer sincere, nor from the question start.
Say in her glance was never love confest,
And is no swain distinguish'd from the rest?
Dione.
O Lycidas, bid all thy troubles cease;
Let not a thought on her disturb thy peace.
May justice bid thy former passion wake;
Think how Dione suffers for thy sake:
Let not a broken oath thy honour stain,
Recall thy vows, and seek the town again.
Lycidas.
What means Alexis? where's thy friendship flown?
Why am I banish'd to the hateful town?
Hath some new shepherd warm'd Parthenia's breast?
And does my love his am'rous hours molest?
Is it for this thou bidst me quit the plain?
Yes, yes, thou fondly lov'st this rival swain.
When first my cheated soul thy friendship woo'd,
To my warm heart I took the vip'rous brood.
O false Alexis!
Dione.
—Why am I accus'd?
Thy jealous mind is by weak fears abus'd.
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Was not thy bosom fraught with false design?
Didst thou not plead his cause, and give up mine?
Let not thy tongue evasive answer seek;
The conscious crimson rises on thy cheek:
Thy coward conscience, by thy guilt dismay'd,
Shakes in each joint, and owns that I'm betray'd.
Dione.
How my poor heart is wrong'd! O spare thy friend!
Lycidas.
Seek not detected falshood to defend.
Dione.
Beware; lest blind suspicion rashly blame.
Lycidas.
Own thyself then the rival of my flame.
If this be she for whom Alexis pin'd,
She now no more is to thy vows unkind,
Behind the thicket's twisted verdure laid,
I witness'd every tender thing she said;
I saw bright pleasure kindle in her eyes,
Love warm'd each feature at thy soft replies.
Dione.
Yet hear me speak.
Lycidas.
—In vain is all defence.
Did not thy treach'rous hand conduct her hence?
Haste, from my sight, rage burns in ev'ry vein;
Never approach my just revenge again.
Dione.
O search my heart; there injur'd truth thou'lt find.
Lycidas.
Talk not of truth; long since she left mankind.
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Sure courts first taught the fawning friendship's art.
No. Thou art false by nature.
Dione.
—Let me clear
This heavy charge, and prove my trust sincere.
Lycidas.
Boast then her favours; say, what happy hour
Next calls to meet her in th'appointed bower;
Say when and where you meet.
Dione.
—Be rage supprest.
In stabbing mine, you wound Parthenia's breast,
She said, she still defy'd love's keenest dart;
Yet purer friendship might divide her heart,
Friendship's sincerer bands she wish'd to prove.
Lycidas.
A woman's friendship ever ends in love.
Think not these foolish tales my faith command;
Did not I see thee press her snowy hand?
O may her passion like thy friendship last!
May she betray thee ere the day be past!
Hence then. Away. Thou'rt hateful to my sight,
And thus I spurn the fawning hypocrite.
[Ex. Lycid.
| Dione | |