HELEN TO PARIS. In my contented state let me be guided, But see how soon poor women are deluded, Three goddesses, stripp'd naked to your eye; I scarce believe, those high immortal creatures Or fortitude; nor can your words persuade me, But from the gods I merit no such grace: Nor doth the praise, you charge me with, offend me; If VENUS do not enviously commend me. HELEN TO PARIS. But lo! I grant you,, and imagine true, That we have mov'd these doubts, be not you griev'd, The greatest wonders are the least believ'd: Know then, I first am pleas'd that VENUS. ought me Such undeserved grace; next that you thought me The greatest meed. Nor scepter, nor war's fame, Did you prefer before poor HELEN's name. (Hard heart! 'tis time thou shouldst at last come down) Therefore I am your valour, I your crown. Your kindness conquers me, do what I can; I were hard hearted not to love this man. Obdurate I was never, and yet coy To favour him whom I can ne'er enjoy. What profits it the barren sands to plough, And in the furrows our affections sow? In the sweet theft of VENUS I am rude, And know not how my husband to delude. Now I these love-lines write, my pen, I Is a new office taught, not known till now, Happy are they that in this trade have skill; Alas! I am a fool, and shall be still; And having till this hour not stepp'd astray. Fear in these sports lest I should miss my way. VOW, HELEN TO PARIS. The fear (no doubt) is greater than the blame, Being over-ey'd, we cannot as we list Fashion our sports, our love's pure harvest gather; HELEN TO PARIS. But as the thing that I affection best, Sweet wife, look well unto my Trojan guest. It was no sooner out, but with much pain My itching spleen from laughter I restrain; Which striving to keep in, and bridle still, At length I rung forth these few words I will. He's on his journey to the isle of Crete, But think not we may therefore safely meet: He is so absent, that as present I Am still within his reach, his ear, his eye; And tho' abroad, his power at home commands, For know you not kings have long-reaching hands? The fame for beauty you besides have given me Into a great exigent hath driven me. The more your commendation fill'd his ear, The more just cause my husband hath to fear; Nor marvel you the king hath left me so, Into remote and foreign climes to go: Much confidence he dares repose in me, My carriage, 'haviour, and my modesty; My beauty he mistrusts, my heart relies in; My face he fears, my chaste life he affies in. To take time now when time is, you persuade me, And with his apt fit absence you invade me: I would but fear, nor is my mind well set; My will would further what my fear doth let. 1 HELEN TO PARIS. I have no husband here, and you no wife; Injury's force is oft-times wond'rous pleasing, But whilst our love is young and in the bud, Suffer his infant vigour be withstood: A flame new kindled is as easily quench'd, And sudden sparks in little drops are drench'd. A traveller's love is, like himself, unstay'd And wanders where he walks; it is not laid, On any firmer ground; for when we alone Think him to us, the wind blows fair, he's gone. |