Il fated love! O fay, ye fylvan maids,

Dione. Who range wide forests and fequefter'd shades,

-0, if ye pass Say where Evander bled, point out the ground Where purple murder dyes the wither'd grass, That yet is purple with the favage wound. With pious finger gently close his eyes, Yonder he lies; I hear the bird of prey ;

And let his grave with decent verdure rise. High o'er those cliffs the raven wings his way;

(Weefst Hark how he croaks! he scents the murder near.

Laura. O may no greedy beak his visage tear!

Behold the turtle who has lost her mate;
Shield him, ye Cupids; strip the Paphia, grove, Awhile with drooping wing she mourns his fate ;
And Arow unfading myrtle o'er my love : Sullen, awhile she seeks the darkest grove,
Down, heaving heart.

And cooing meditates the murder'd dove;
Laura.

But time the rueful image wears away,
- The mournful tale disclose. Again she's cheer'd, again Me seeks the day.
Dione.

Spare then thy beauty, and no longer pinc.
Let not my tears intrude on thy repose.

Dione. Yet if thy friendship still the cause request; Yet sute some turtle's love has equal'd mine, I'll spezk, though sorrow rend my labouring breast. Who, when the hawk has snatch'd her mate away) Know then, fair shepherdess, no honest Iwain Hath never known the glad return of day. Taught me the duties of the peaceful plain; When my fond father saw my faded eye, Unus'd to sweet content, no flocks I keep,

And on my livid check the roses die ; Nor browzing goats that overhang the steep. When catching sighs my wasted bosom mov'd, Born where Orchomenos' proud currets shinc,

My looks, my fighs, confirm'd him that I lov'd. I trace my birth from long illustrious line, He knew not that Evander was my flame, Why was I train'd amidst Arcadia's court?

Evander dead! my passion fill the same! Love ever revels in that gay resort.

He came, he threaten'd; with paternal sway, Whene'er Evander past, my smitten heart Cleanthes nam'd, and fix'd the nuptial day : Heav'd frequent fighs, and felt unusual smart.

O cruel kindness! too severely prest!
Ah: hadīt thou seen with what sweet grace he I scorn his honours, and his wealth deteft.
mov'd!

Laura.
Yet why that with? for Laura then had lov’d. How vain is force! Love ne'er can be

compellid. Laura.

Dione. Difruft me not; thy secret wrongs impart, Though bound my duty, yet my heart rebell'd. Dione.

One night, when sleep had hush'd all busy spies, Forgive the fallies of a breaking heart.

And the pale moon had journey'd half the kies, Evander's lighs his mutual flame confeft,

Softly I rose and dress’d; with filent cread, The growing pallion labour'd in his breast;

Unbarr'd the gates, and to these mountains filed. To me he came ; my heart with rapture sprung.

Here let me soothe the melancholy hours !
To see the blushes, when his faultering tongue Close me, ye woods, within your twilight bowers!
First said, I love. My eyes consent reveal, Where my calm foul may settled sorrow know,
And plighted vows our faithful pallion feal:

And no Cleanthes interrupt my woc
Where's now the lovely youth ; he's lost, he's flain, with importuning love-
And the pale corse lies breathless on the plain!

[Melancbely Music is beard at a diftance, Laura.

On yonder plain
Are thus the hopes of constant Invers paid ? Advances flow a melancholy train;
If thus--ye powers, from love defend the maid.

Black cypress boughs their drooping heads adora.
Dione.

Laura. Now have twelve mornings warm'd the purple east, Alas! Menalcas to his grave is borne. Since my dear hunter rous'd the tulky beast; Behold the victim of Parthenia's pride! Swift flew the foanıing monster through the wood, He saw, he figh’d, he lov’d, was scorn'd, and dy'd. Swift as the wind, his eager steps pursued :

Dione. 'Twas then the savage turn'd ; then fell the youth, Where dwells this beauteous tyrant of the plains ? And his dear blood dittain'd the barbarous tooth.

Where may I see her?
Laura.

Laura.
Was there none near! no ready succour found ?
Nor healing herb to taunch the spouting wound? They best can speak the conquests of her eyes;

Ak the sighing swains. Dione.

Whoever sees her, loves; who loves her, dies. In vain through pathless woods the hunters crost,

Dione. And fought with anxious eye their master loft; In vain their frequent hollows echo'd thrill, Perhaps untimely fate her flame hath cross'd, And his lov'd name was sent from hill to hill;

And she, like me, hath her Evander loft. Evander hears you not. He's loft, he's Main,

How my soul pities her!
And the pale corse lies breathless on the plain.

I aura.
Laura.

If pity move
Has

yet no clown (who, wandering from the way, Your generous bosom, pity those who loves Beats every bush to raise the lamb astray)

There late arriv'd among our sylvan race blery'd the facal spot ?

5 A franger Shepherd, who with lonely pace

Visits those mountain-pines at dawn of day,

24 Sbepeerd. Where oft Parthenia takes her early way

As fade the flowers which on the grave I cal; To rouse the chafe ; mad with his amorous pain, So may Parthenia's transient beauty waste : He ftops and raves; then sullen walks again.

1 Shepberd, Parthenia's name is borne by paling gales, What woman ever counts the fleeting years, And talking hills repeat it to the dales.

Or fees the wrinkle which her forehead.wcars? Come, let us from this vale of sorrow go,

Thinking her features never shall decay, Nor let the mournful scene prolong thy woe.

This swain the scorns, from that the turns away.

[Exeunt. But know, as when the rose her bud unfolds, SCENE I*.

Awhile each breast the hott-liv'd fragrance holds ; Shepherds and Sbepberdefjes (crowned with garlands of the lovely ruin's ever thrown afide.

When the dry stalk lets drop her thriveli'd pride, cypress and yew) bearing the body of Menalcas.

So shall Parthenia be. sf Shepberd.

2d Sheplerd. Here gently ieft the corse-With faultering breath

Sce, the appears, Thus (pake Menalcas on the verge of death. * Belov'd Palemon, hear a dying friend ;

To boaft her spoils, and triumph in our tears. * See, where yon hills with craggy brows afcend,

SCENE III. • Low in the valley where the mountain grows,

Parlbenia appears from the mountain * There firft I saw her, there began my woes. “When I am cold, may there this clay be laid !

PARTHENIA. SHEPHERDS. # There often strays the dear, the cruel maid;

14 Sbepberd. « There as she walks, perhaps you'll hear her say, Why this way doft thou curn thy banesul eyes, "(While a kind gushing tear fhall force its way) Pernicious baGlisk? Lo! there he lies. " How could my stubborn heart relentless prove? There lies the youth thy cursed beauty New; " Ah, poor Menalcas-all thy fault was love!"

See, at thy presence, how he bleeds ancw ! 2. Sbepberd.

Look down, enjoy thy murder. When pitying lion's o'er a carcafe groan,

Partbenia.
And hungry tigers bleeding kids bemoan;

-Spare my fante;
When the lean wolf laments the mangled sheep; I come to clear a virgin's injur'd name.
Then shall Parthenia o'er Menalcas weep. If I'm a basilisk, the danger fly,
1 Sbepberd,

Shun the swift glances of my venom'd eye:
When familh'd panthers seek their morning food, If I'm a murderer, why approach ye near,
And monsters roar along the desert wood; And to the dagger lay your bosom bare ?
When hissing vipers rustle through the brake,

If Shepberd.
Or in the pach-way rears the speckled soake; What heart is proof against that face divine ?
The wary fwain th' approaching peril spies, Love is not in our power,
And through some distant road securely flies.

Partbenia.
Fly then, ye fwaios, from beauty's surer wound.

-Is love in mine? Such was the face our poor Menalcas found. If e'er I trifled with a shepherd's pain, 2d Shepberd.

Or with false hope his pallion Atrove to gain; What shepherd does not mourn Menalcas llain! Then might you juftly curse my savage mind, Killid by a barbarous woman's proud disdain : Then might you rank me with the serpent kind : Whoe'er attempts to bend her scornful mind, But I ne'er trifled with a shepherd's pain, Cries to the deserts, and pursues the wind. Nor with false hope his passion Atrove to gain : If Shepberd.

'sis to his rash pursuit he owes his fate ;
With every grace Menalcas was endow'd, I was not cruel, he was obstinate.
His merits dazzled all the sylvan crowd.

If Shepberd,
If you would know his pipe's melodious sound, Hear this, ye fighing shepherds, and despair.
As all the echoes of these hills around,

Unhappy Lycidas, thy hour is near ! (doom,
For they have learnt his strains; who shall rehearse. Since the same barbarous hand hath lign'd thy
The strength, the cadence of his tuneful verse? We'll lay thee in our lov'd Mena!cas' tomb,
Go, read those lofty poplars; there you'll find

Partbınia. Some tender sonnet grow on every rind.

Why will intruding man my peace defroy! 2d Sbeplerd.

Let me content and folicude enjoy ; Yet what avails his kill! Parthenia flics.

Free was I born; my freedom to maintain,
Can merit hope fuccess in woman's eyes ?

Early I fought the unambitious plain.
If Shepherd.

Mott women's weak rcfolves, like reeds, will ply, Why was Parthenia form'd of softelt mould? Shake with each breath, and bend with every figh; Why does her heart fuch savage nature hold? Mine, like an oak, whose firm roots deep defccnd, Oye kind gods ! or all her charms efface, Nor breath of love can shake, nor figh can bend. Or tame her heart--fo spare the shepherd race. If ye unhappy Lycidas would save;

Go seek him, lead him to Menalcas' grave; Tinis and the following scene are formed upon the Forbid his cyes with flowing grief to rain, novel of Marcella in Don Quixote,

Like him Menalcas wept, but wept in vaia :

WOC.

Bid him his heart-consuming groans give o'er : Didt thou not fee him hend his suppliant knee?
Tell him, I heard such piercing groans before, Thus in my happy days he knelt to me,
And heard urmov'd. O Lycidas, be wise, And pour'd forth all his soul! See how he strains,
Preveat thy fate.-Lo! there Menalcas lies. And leffins to the fight o'er yonder plains,
I Skepberd.

To keep the fair in view! Run, virgin run,
Now all the melancholy rites are paid,

Hear not his vows; I heard, and was undone! And o'er his grave the weeping marble laid;

Laura.
Let's scek our charge; the flocks, dispersing wide, Let not imaginary terror fright;
Whiten with moving fleece the niountain's fide. Some dark delufion swims before thy light.
Truft uot, ye fwains, the lightning of her eye, I saw Parthenia from the mountain's brow,
Left ye, like him, should love, despair, and die. And Lycidas with proftrate duty bow:
Eleunt Shepherds, &c Parthenia remains in a me Swift, as the falcon's wing, I saw her fly,
lancholy poliure, booking on the grave of Menalcas. And heard the cavern to his groans reply.

Why Itream thy tears for forrows not thy own?
SCENE IV.

Dione.
LYCIDAS, PARTHENIA.

Oh! where are honour, faith, and justice flown?

Perjur'd Evandct !
Lycidas.

Laura.
When shall my steps have rest? through all the

-Death has laid him low, wood,

Touch not the mournful string that wakes thy And by the winding banks of Ladon's flood, I sought my love. O say, ye skipping fawns

Dione. (Who range entangled nades and daily'd lawns)

That amorous (wain, whoin Lycidas you name, if ye have seen her! say, ye warbling race

(Whose faithless bofum fecis another flame) (Who measure on swift wing th' aerial space,

Is my once kind Evander-yes-'twas he. And view below hills, dales, and distant fhores)

He lives--but lives, alas! no more for me. Where shall I find hier whom my soul adores:

1.aura. SCENE V.

Let not thy frantic words confess despair.

Dione. LYCIDAS, PARTHENIA, DIONE, LAURA.

What, know I not his voice, his mien, his air? [Dione and Laura at a difiunce. Yes, I that treacherous voice with joy believ'd, Lycidas,

That voice, that mien, that air, my soul de. What do I see ? no. Fancy mocks my eyes,

ceiv'd. And bids the dear deluding vision rise.

If my dear shepherd love the lawns, and glades, 'Tis the. My springing heart her presence feels.

With him I'll range the lawns, and seek the shades, See, prostrate Lycidas before thee incels.

With him through solitary descris rove.

(Kneeling to Partbenia. But could he leave me for another love? Why will Parthenia turn her face away?

O bale ingratitude:
Partbenia.

Laura.
Who calls Parthenia ? hah!

Suspend thy gricf, (Sbe farts from ber melancholy: and, seeing Lycidas, And let my friendly counsel bring relief flies into the wood.

To thy defponding soul. Parthenia's car
Lycidas.

Is bari'd for ever to the lover's prayer ;
-- Stay, virgin, stay.

Evander courts disdain, he follows scorn, Owing my feet, kind love. See, see, she bounds,

And in the pafling winds his vows are borne. Flect as the mountain roe, when prest by hounds.

Soon will he find that all in vain he trove (He pursues ber, Dione faints in the arms of Laura.

To tame her bofom; then his former love
Laura.

Shall wake bis soul; then will he fighing blame What means this trembling? All her colour flies, His heart inconstant, and his perjur d Aame : And life is quite unftrung. Ah! lift thy eyes,

Then thall he at Dione's fect implore, And answer me ; speak, speak, 'tis Laura calls.

Lament his broken faith, and change no more. Speech has forfook her lips. She taints, she falls.

Dione.
Fan her, ye zephyrs, with your balmy breath, Perhaps this cruel nymph well knows to feign
And bring her quickly from the shades of death : Forbidding speech, coy looks, and cold disdain,
Blow, yo cool gales. See, see, the forest fhakes To raise his paflion. Such are female arts,
With coming winds: the breaches, the moves, the To hold in lafer snares inconstant hearts
wakes.

Laura.
Dione.

Parthenia's breast is ftcel'd with real scoro.
Ah, false Evander!

Dione.
Laura.

And dort thou think Evander will return?
Calm thy fobbing brcat.

aura.
Say, what new sorrow has thy heart opprett? Forego thy sex, lay all thy robes aside,
Dione.

Strip off thete ornaments of fimale price: DiJA thou not fear his figlis and suppliant tone? The thepherd's vclt must hide thy graceful air, Did thou not hear the pitying mountain groan? With the bold manly Itep a Twain appear; Vol. V!!!.

въ

Then with Evander may't thou rove unknown, As from the bearing falcon fies the dove
Then let thy tender elegance be hown;

So, wing'd with fear, Parthenia flies from love. Then the new fury of his heart controul,

Dione.
And with Dione's fufferings touch his soul. If in these vales the fatal beauty stray,
Dione,

From the cold marble rise ; let's halte away. Sweet as refreshing dews, or summer howers, Why lie you panting, like the smitten decr? To the long parching thirst of drooping flowers; Trult not the dangers which you bid me fear. Grateful as fanning gales to fainting fwains.

Lycidas. And foft ás trickling balm to bleeding pains ; Bid the lur'd lark, whom tangling nets furprise, Such are thy words. The fex hall be resign'd, On foaring pinion rove the spacious fies; No more shall braided gold thefe treffes bind; Bid the cag'd linnet range the leafy grove; The shepherd's garb the woman fall disguise. Then bid my captive heart get loose from love. If he has lost all

love, may friendship's ties The snares of death are o'er me. Hence ! beware; Unite me to his heart!

Left you should see her, and like me despair. Laura.

Dione.
Go, prosperous maid, No. Let her come; and seek this vale's recess,
May smiling love thy faithful wishes aid: In all the beauteous negligence of dress;
Be now Alexis call'd. With thee I'll rove, Though Cupid send a shaft in every glance,
And watch thy wanderer through the mazy grove: Though all the Graces in her step advance,
Let me be honour'd with a fifter's name; My heart can stand it all. Be firm, my break;
For thee, I feel a more than Gfter's flame.

Th' enfnaring oath, the broken vow deteft :
Dions.

That flame, which other charms have power te Perhaps my shepherd has outstript her halte.

move,
Think'it thou, when out of sight, he flew so falt? o give it not the sacred name of love!
One sudden glance might turn her savage mind; 'Tis perjury, fraud, and meditated lies.
May she like Daphne Ay, nor look behind,

Love's seated in the soul, and never dies. Maintain her scorn, his eager flame despise, Whác then avail her charms ? My constant heart Nor view Evander with Dione's eyes!

Shall gaze fecure, and mock a second dart.

Lycidas.

But you perhaps a happier fate have found,
ACT JI. SCENE I.

And the same hand that gave, now heals the wound,

Or art thou left abandon'd and forlorn, Lycidas lying on the grave of MENALCAS.

A wretch, like me, the sport of pride and scorn? Lycidas.

Dione. When shall these fcalding fountains ceasc to flow? O tell me, thepherd, hath thy faithless maid, How long will life sustain this load of woe?

False to her vow, thy Aatter'd hope betray'd ? Why glows the morn? Roll back, thou source of Did her smooth speech engage thee to believe? light,

Did the protest and swear, and then deceive? And feed my sorrows with eternal night. Such are the pangs I feel! Come, fable Death!give, give the welcome froke;

Lgcidas. The raven calls thee from yon blasted oak,

- The haughty fair What pious care my ghaftful lid shall close? Contemns my fufferings, and disdains to hear. What decent hand my frozen limbs compose?

Let meaner beauties, learn'd in female snares, O happy shepherd, free from anxious pains,

Entice the Swain with half.consenting airs; Who now art wandering in the fighing plains

Such vulgar arts ne'er aid her conquering eyes, Of bleft Elysium; where in myrtle groves

And yet, where'er the curos, a lover fighs. Enamour's ghosts bemoan their former loves.

Vain is the steady constancy you boalt; Open, thou filent grave; for lo! I come

All other love at fight of her is loft. To meet Meralcas in the fragrant gloom ;

Dione. There shall my bosom burn with friendship's Aame, True constancy no time, no power, can move. The same our passion, and our fate the same;

He that hath known to change, ne'er knew to love. There, like two nightingales on neighbouring Though the dear author of my hapless flame boughs,

Pursue anocher ; ftill my heart's the fame. Alternate strains shall mourn our frustrate vows.

Am I for ever left? (excuse these tears) But if cold death should clofe Parthenia's eye,

May your kind friendship foften all my cares! And should her beauteous form come gliding by; What comfort can a wretch, like me, below?

Lycidas.
Friendship would soon in jealous fear be lost,
And kindling hate pursue thy rival ghoft.

Dionis.

He best can pity who hath felt the woc.
SCENE II.

Lycidas.

Since different obje&s have our fouls poffeft,
LYCIDAs, Dione in a Sbepberd's babit.

No rival fears our friendship thall moleft.
Lycidas.

Dione.
Hah! who comes here?

turn hence, be timely wise; Come, let us leave the shade of these brown hills, Trust not thy fafety to Parthenia's eyes. And drive our flocks beside the streaming rills.

nurai

Should the fair týrant to these vales return, How happy lives the nymphi whose comély face
How would thy breast with double fury bura ! And plealing glances boast sufficient grace
Go hence, and seek thy peace.

To wound the swain the loves! No jealous fears

Shall vex her nuptial state with nightly tears; SCENE III.

Nor amorous youths, to push their foul pretence, LYCIDAS, Dione, LAURA.

Infest her days with dull impertinence.

But why talk 1 of love! My guarded heart
Laura.

Difowns his power, and turns aside the dart.
-Fly, fly this place;

Hark! from his hollow tomb Menalcas cries,
Beware of love ; the proudelt of her race “ Gaze nut, ye shepherds, on Parthenia's eyes."
This way approaches : from among the pines, Come, Lycidas, the mournful lay peruse,
Where from the steep the winding path declines, Left thou, like him, Parthenia's eyes accuse.
I saw the nymph defcend.

(Sbe flands in a melancholy poftura, looking on the tomb, Lycidasa

Lycidas. -She comes, she comes; Callid the not Lycidas! -- come, my fair ; From her the passing zephyrs steal perfumes, See generous pity melts into a tear, As from the violet's bank with odours sweet And her heart softens. Now's the tender hour ; Breathes every gale; spring blooms beneath her Afilt me, Love! exert thy sovereign power fect.

To tame the scornful maid.
Yes, 'tis my fairelt ; here he's woni to rove.

Dione.
Laura,

-Rash swain, be wise;
Sas, by what ligns I might have known thy love? | 'Tis not from thee or him; from Love the flies.
Lycidas.

Leave her, forget her. [They bold Lycidas. My love is fairer than the snowy breast

Laura. of the call swan, whose proudly swelling chest

Why this furious haste? Divides the wave; her treffes, loole behind,

Lycidas.
Play on her neck, and wanton in the wind; Unhand me; loose me.
The rising blushes, which her cheek o'erspread,

Dione.
Are opening roles in the lily's bed.

--Sifter, hold him faft. Anow't thou Parthenia ?

To follow her, is, to prolong despair.
Laura,

Shepherd, you must not go.
-Wretched is the flave

Lycidas.
Who serves such pride! Behold Menalcas' grave !

-Bold youth, forbear. Yet if Alexis and this fighing swain

Heat me, Parthenia. Wifh to behold the tyrant of the plain,

Partbenia. Let us behind these myrtles twining arms

From behind the shade Retire unseen; from thence survey her charms. Methought a voice some listening spy betray'd. Wild as the chaunting thrush upon the spray, Yes, I'm observ'd.

(Sbe runs out. At man's approach, the swiftly flies away.

Lycidas. Like the young hare, l've seen the panting maid

Stay, nymph ; thy flight suspend. stop, liften, run; of every wind afraid.

She bears me not when will my sorrows end! Lycidas.

As over-spent with toil, my heaving breast And wilt thou never from thy vows depart? Beats quick. 'Tis death alone can give me rest. Shepherd, beware-now fortify thy heart.

(He remains in a fixt melancholy, (To Dione.

SCENE V. [Lycidas, Dione, and Laura, retires bebind the bougbs.

LYCIDAS, Dione, LAURA.
SCENE IV.

Laura.

Recall thy scatter'd senfe, bid reason wake,
PARTULNIA, LYCIDAS, DIONE, LAURA.

Subdue thy passion.
Parthenia.

Lycidas,
This melancholy scene demands a groan.

-Shall I never speak? Hah! what inscription marks the weeping stone ? She's gone, she's gone-Kind shepherd, let me rest

power of beauty! here Menalcas lies, My troubled head upon thy friendly breast. "Gaze not, ye shepherds, on Parthenia's eyes.” The forest seems to move cursed state! Why did Heaven form me with such polith'd care? I doom'd to love, and she condemn'd eu hate! Why call my features in a mould fo fair ?

Tell me, Alexis, art thou still the fame?
If blooming beauty was a blesling meant, Did not her brighter eyes put out the flame
Why are my fighing hours deny'd content? of thy first love? did not thy futtering heart,
The downy peach, that glows with sunny dyes, Whene'er the rais'd her look, confess the dart?
Feeds the black snails, and lures voracious fies;

Dione.
The juicy pear invites the feather'd kind, I own, the nymph is fairest of her race,
And pecking finches scoop the golden rind; Yet I unmov'd can on this beauty gaze,
But beauty luffers more pernicious wrongs,

Mir.dful of former promise ; all that's dear,
Kuilled by envy, and ceniorious tongues.

My though:s, my dreams, my every wish is there.