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Oh! how this letter feem'd to raife his pride!
Prouder was he of this than Phaeton,

When he did Phœbus' flaming chariot guide,
Unknowing of the danger was to come:
Prouder than Jafon, when from Colchos he
Returned with the fleece's victory.

But ere the autumn, which fair Ceres crown'd,
Had paid the fweating plowman's greediest prayer,
And by the fall difrob'd the gaudy ground
Of all thofe ornaments it us'd to wear;

Them kind Philocrates t' each other brought, Where they this means t' enjoy their freedom wrought. "Sweet fair-one,” said Philetus, " fince the time «Favours our wish, and does afford us leave "T' enjoy our loves; oh, let us not refign "This long'd-for favour, nor ourselves bereave "Of what we wifh'd for, Opportunity,

"That may too soon the wings of love out-fly!
«For when your father, as his custom is,
"For pleasure doth pursue the timorous hare,
"If you 'll resort but thither, I'll not mifs
"To be in those woods ready for you, where
"We may depart in safety, and no more
"With dreams of pleasure only, heal our fore."
To this the happy lovers foon agree;

But, ere they part, Philetus begs to hear,
From her inchanting voice's melody,

One fong to fatisfy his longing ear:

She yields; and, finging added to defire,
The listening youth increas'd his amorous fire.

THE

THE SONG.

I.

TIME! fly with greater speed away,

Add feathers to thy wings,

Till thy hafte in flying brings

That wifht-for, and expected day.

II.

Comfort's fun we then fhall fee,

Though at firft it darken'd be

With dangers; yet, thofe clouds but gone,
Our day will put his luftre on.

III.

Then, though death's fad night appear,

And we in lonely filence reft;

Our ravifh'd fouls no more fhall fear,

But with lafting day be bleft.

IV.

And then no friends can part us more,
Nor no new death extend its power;
Thus there's nothing can diffever
Hearts which love hath join'd together.

FEAR of being feen, Philetus homeward drove,
But ere they part fhe willingly doth give
(As faithful pledges of her conftant love)
Many a foft kifs; then they each other leave,
Rapt up with fecret joy that they have found
A way to heal the torment of their wound.

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But, ere the fun through many days had run,
Conftantia's charming beauty had o'ercome
Guifardo's heart, and scorn'd affection won;
Her eyes foon conquer'd all they fhone upon,
Shot through his wounded heart such hot defire,
As nothing but her love could quench the fire.
In roofs which gold and Parian stone adorn
(Proud as the owner's mind) he did abound;
In fields fo fertile for their yearly corn,

As might contend with scorch'd Calabria's ground;
But in his foul, that should contain the store
Of fureft riches, he was bafe and poor.

Him was Conftantia urg'd continually,

By' her friends, to love: fometimes they did intreat
With gentle speeches and mild courtesy;
Which when they fee defpis'd by her, they threat.

But love too deep was feated in her heart,
To be worn-out by thought of any smart.
Soon did her father to the woods repair,
To feek for fport, and hunt the started game;
Guifardo and Philocrates were there,
With many friends too tedious here to name :
With them Conftantia went, but not to find
The bear or wolf, but Love all mild and kind.
Being enter'd in the pathlefs woods, while they
Purfue their game, Philetus, who was late
Hid in a thicket, carries ftraight away
His love, and haftens his own hafty fate;
That came too soon upon him; and his fun
Was quite eclips'd before it fully fhone.

Conftantia

Conftantia mifs'd, the hunters in amaze
Take each a feveral course, and by curst fate
Guifardo runs, with a love-carried pace,
Tow'rds them, who little knew their woeful state;
Philetus, like bold Icarus, foaring high
To honours, found the depth of mifery.
For when Guifardo fees his rival there,
Swelling with envious rage, he comes behind
Philetus, who fuch fortune did not fear,
And with his sword a way to 's heart does find.
But, ere his fpirits were poffeft of death,

In these few words he spent his latest breath: "O fee, Conftantia! my short race is run; "See how my blood the thirfty ground doth dye; "But live thou happier than thy love hath done, "And when I'm dead, think fometime upon me! "More my short time permits me not to tell, "For now death feizeth me; my dear, farewell!" As foon as he had spoke thefe words, life fled From his pierc'd body, whilft Conflantia, fhe Kisses his cheeks, that lose their lively red, And become pale and wan; and now each eye, Which was fo bright, is like, when life was done, A ftar that's fall'n, or an eclipfed fun.

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Thither Philocrates was driven by fate,
And faw his friend lie bleeding on the earth;
Near his pale corpfe his weeping fifter fate,
Her eyes fhed tears, her heart to fighs gave
Philocrates, when he faw this, did cry,
« Friend, I'll revenge, or bear thee company!

birth.

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"Juft Jove hath fent me to revenge his fate;

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Nay, ftay, Guifardo, think not Heaven in jeft: ""Tis vain to hope flight can fecure thy ftate." Then thruft his fword into the villain's breast.

"Here," faid Philocrates, "thy life I fend "A facrifice, t' appeafe my flaughter'd friend." But, as he fell," Take this reward," faid he, "For thy new victory." With that he flung His darted rapier at his enemy,

Which hit his head, and in his brain-pan hung. With that he falls, but, lifting up his eyes, "Farewell, Conftantia!" that word faid, he dies. What fhall fhe do? She to her brother runs, His cold and lifeless body does embrace; She calls to him that cannot hear her moans, And with her kiffes warms his clammy face. "My dear Philocrates!" fhe, weeping, cries, "Speak to thy fifter!" but no voice replies. Then running to her Love, with many a tear, Thus her mind's fervent paffion fhe exprest; "Oftay, bleft foul, stay but a little here, "And take me with you to a lasting reft.

"Then to Elysium's mansions both shall fly,
"Be married there, and never more to die."

But, feeing them both dead, fhe cry'd, « Ah me!
"Ah, my Philetus! for thy fake will I
"Make up a full and perfect tragedy:

Since 'twas for me, dear Love, that thou didst die,
I'll follow thee, and not thy lofs deplore;
"Thefe eyes, that faw thee kill'd, shall see no more.

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