XCVI.

But feeing 'em both dead, she cry'd, “ Ah me!

Ah, my Philetus! for thy fake will I

"Make up a full and perfect tragedy.

615

"Since 'twas for me, dear Love! that thou didst die, "I'll follow thee, and not thy lofs deplore: “These eyes that saw thee kill'd shall see no more. XCVII.

"It shall not, fure, be faid that thou didst die,

"And thy Conftantia live when thou waft flain: 620

No, no, dear Soul! I will not stay from thee, "That will reflect upon my valu'd fame.” Then piercing her fad breast, "I come," the cries; And death for ever clos'd her weeping eyes.

XCVII.

Her foul being fled to its eternal rest,

Her father comes, and seeing this, he falls

625

To the earth, with grief too great to be express'd :
Whose doleful words my tired Mufe me calls
T'o'erpafs, which I most gladly do, for fear
That I should toil too much the reader's car.

630

Kij

To the Right Worshipful, my very loving Mafter,

MR. LAMBERT OSBOLSTON,

CHIEF MASTER OF WESTMINSTER-SCHOOL.

SIR,

Mr childish Mufe is in her spring, and yet
Can only fhew fome budding of her wit :

One frown upon her work, learn'd Sir! from you,
Like fome unkinder ftorm Shot from your brow,
Would turn her fpring to with'ring autumn's time,
And make her blossoms perish ere their primé :
But if you fmile, if in your gracious eye

She an aufpicious alpha can defcry,

How foon will they grow fruit! how fresh appear,
That had fuch beams their infancy to cheer!

Which being Sprung to ripeness, expect then

The carlieft off ring of her grateful pen.

Your most dutiful fcholar,

5

ΙΟ

12

ABR. COWLEY.

PYRAMUS AND THISBE.

Tandem fit furculus arbor.

I.

WHEN Babylon's high walls erected were
By mighty Ninus' wife, two houses join'd :
One Thisbe liv'd in, Pyramus the fair
In th' other earth ne'er boasted fuch a pair.
The very walls themselves combin'd,
And grew in one, just like their masters' mind.

5

II.

Thisbe all other women did excel,

The Queen of Love less lovely was than she;
And Pyramus more sweet than tongue can tell,
Nature grew proud in framing them fo well:
But Venus envying they so fair should be,
Bids her fon Cupid fhew his cruelty.

.III.

The all-fubduing god his bow doth bend,
Whets and prepares his most remorfeless dart,
Which he unfeen into their hearts did fend,
And fo was Love the cause of Beauty's end:

But could be fee, he had not wrought their fmart; For pity, fure, would have o'ercome his heart.

IV.

Like as a bird which in the net is ta'en,
By struggling more entangles in the gin,
So they who in love's labyrinth remain,
With striving never can a freedom gain :
The way to enter 's broad; but being in,
No art, no labour, can an' exit win.
V.

These lovers, tho' their parents did reprove

Their fires, and watch'd their deed with jealousy,
Tho' in these storms no comfort can remove
The various doubts and fears that cool hot love;
Tho' he not her's, nor the his face could see,
Yet this cannot abolish Love's decree.

ΤΟ

15

VI.

For age had crack'd the wall which them did part;
This th' unanimous couple foon did spy,

And here their inward forrows did impart,
Unlading the fad burthen of their heart.
Tho' Love be blind, this fhews he can defcry
A way to leffen his own mifery.

VII.

Oft' to the friendly cranny they refort,
And feed themselves with the celestial air

Of odoriferous breath; no other sport

35

They could enjoy, yet think the time but short, 40 And with that it again renewed were,

To fuck each other's breath for ever there.

VIII.

Sometimes they did exclaim against their fate,
And fometimes they accus'd imperial Jove;
Sometimes repent their flames; but all too late; 45
The arrow could not be recall'd; their state
Was firft ordain'd by Jupiter above,

And Cupid had appointed they should love.

IX.

They curs'd the wall that did their kiffes part,
And to the ftones their mournful words they sent, 50
As if they faw the forrow of their heart,

And by their tears could understand their smart ;
But it was haid, and knew not what they meant,
Nor with their fighs, alas! would it relent.

X.

This in effect they faid;

"Curs'd Wall! O why 55

"Wilt thou our bodies fever, whofe true love "Breaks thorough all thy flinty cruelty;

"For both our fouls fo clofely joined lie,

"That nought but angry Death can them remove, "And tho' he part them, yet they'll meet above." 60 XI.

Abortive tears from their fair eyes outflow'd,
And damm'd the lovely splendour of their fight,
Which feem'd like Titan, whilst some watry cloud
O'erfpreads his face,and his bright beams doth fhroud;
Till Vefper chafe away the conquer'd light,
And forceth them, tho' loath, to bid good night.
XII.

But ere Aurora, usher to the day,
Began with welcome luftre to appear,

65

The lovers rife, and at the cranny they

Thus to each other their thoughts open lay,
With many a figh and many a speaking tear,
Whose grief the pitying Morning blush'd to hear.
XIII.

70

"Dear love!" faid Pyramus, "how long shall we, "Like fairest flowers, not gather'd in their prime, "Waste precious youth, and let advantage flee, 75 "Till we bewail, at last, our cruelty

"Upon ourselves? for beauty, tho' it shine
“Like day, will quickly find an evening-time.