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XXXVI.

The wounded youth and kind Philocrates

(So was her brother call'd) grew foon fo dear, So true and conftant in their amities,

And in that league so strictly joined were,

That death itself could not their friendship fever, 215 But as they liv'd in love they dy'd together.

XXXVII.

If one be melancholy, th' other's fad;
If one be fick, the other's furely ill;
And if Philetus any forrow had,
Philocrates was partner in it ftill;
Pylades' foul and mad Oreftes' was
In thefe, if we believe Pythagoras.

XXXVIII.

220

Oft' in the woods Philetus walks, and there
Exclaims against his fate, fate too unkind; ;
With speaking tears his griefs he doth declare, 225
And with fad fighs inftructs the angry wind
To figh, and did ev'n upon that prevail;
It groan'd to hear Philetus' mournful tale.

XXXIX.

The crystal brooks, which gently run between
The shadowing trees, and as they thro' them pafs
Water the earth, and keep the meadows green, 231
Giving a colour to the verdant grass,..

Hearing Philetus tell his woeful state,

In fhew of grief ran murm'ring at his fate.:

XL.

Philomel answers him again, and fhews,

In her beft language, her fad history,

And in a mournful sweetness tells her woes,

Denying to be pos'd in mifery:

Conftantia he, fhe Tereus, Tereus cries,

235

With him both grief, and grief's expreffion, vies.240

XLI.

Philocrates must needs his fadness know,

Willing in ills as well as joys to share,

Nor will on them the name of friends bestow,
Who in light fport, not forrow, partners are:
Who leaves to guide the ship when storms arise, 245
Is guilty both of fin and cowardice.

XLII.

But when his noble friend perceiv'd that he
Yielded to tyrant Paffion more and more,
Defirous to partake his malady,

He watches him in hope to cure his fore
By counfel, and recall the pois'nous dart,
When it, alas! was fixed in his heart.
XLIII.

When in the woods, places best fit for care,
He to himself did his past griefs recite,

250

Th obfequious friend straight follows him, and there Doth hide himself from fad Philetus' fight: 256 Who thus exclaims, for a fwoln heart would break, If it for vent of forrow might not speak.

XLIV.

"Oh! I am loft, not in this defert wood,

"But in Love's pathless labyrinth; there I

260 "My health, each joy and pleasure counted good, "Have loft, and, which is more, my liberty, "And now am forc'd to let him facrifice

"My heart, for rash believing of my eyes.

XLV.

265

"Long have I ftaid, but yet have no relief, "Long have I lov'd, yet have no favour shown, "Because she knows not of my killing grief, "And I have fear'd to make my forrows known. "For why? alas! if she should once but dart "Difdainful looks, 'twould break my captiv'd heart. XLVI.

"But how should the, ere I impart my love, 271 "Reward my ardent flame with like defire?

"But when I fpeak, if she should angry prove,

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Laugh at my flowing tears, and fcorn my fire;

Why, he who hath all forrows borne before, 275 "Needeth not fear to be oppress'd with more." XLVII.

Philocrates no longer can forbear,

Runs to his friend, and, sighing, “Oh!” said he,

"My dear Philetus! be thyself, and swear

"To rule that paffion which now masters thee, 280

"And all thy reason; but if it can't be,

"Give to thy love but eyes, that it may fee."

XLVIII.

Amazement ftrikes him dumb; what shall he do?
Should he reveal his love, he fears 'twould prove
A hind'rance; and should he deny to shew, 285
It might perhaps his dear friend's anger move:
These doubts, like Scylla and Charybdis, stand,
While Cupid, a blind pilot, doth command.
XLIX.

290

At laft refolv'd; "How fhall I feek," said he, "T' excufe myself, dearest Philocrates! "That I from thee have hid this fecrefy? "Yet cenfure not, give me first leave to ease "My cafe with words; mygrief you should have known "Ere this, if that my heart had been my own.

L.

"I am all love; my heart was burnt with fire

295

"From two bright funs, which do all light disclose;

"First kindling in my breast the flame, desire;

"But, like the rare Arabian bird, there rofe
"From my heart's ashes never-quenched love,
"Which now this torment in my foul doth move.3co
LI.

"Oh! let not then my paffion cause your hate,
"Nor let my choice offend you, or detain
"Your ancient friendship; 'tis, alas! too late
"To call my firm affection back again :
"No phyfic can recure my weaken'd state;
"The wound is grown too great, too desperate."

Volume I.

I

305

XII.

Philetus he was call'd, fprung from a race
Of noble ancestors; but greedy Time

And envious Fate had labour'd to deface
The glory which in his great stock did shine:
Small his estate, unfitting her degree;

But blinded Love could no fuch diff'rence fee.
XIII.

Yet he by chance had hit this heart aright,
And dipp'd his arrow in Conftantia's eyes,
Blowing a fire that would destroy him quite,
Unless fuch flames within her heart should rife:
But yet he fears, because he blinded is,
Tho' he have shot him right her heart he'll miss.
XIV.

Unto Love's altar therefore he repairs,
And offers up a pleasing facrifice,

Entreating Cupid, with inducing pray'rs,
To look upon and ease his miseries;

Where having pray'd, recovʼring breath again,
Thus to immortal Love he did complain:

XV.

"Oh! mighty Cupid! whose unbounded sway "Hath often rul'd th' Olympian Thunderer, "Whom all celestial deities obey,

70

75

80.

85

"Whom men and gods both reverence and fear! "Oh! force Conftantia's heart to yield to love; "Of all thy works the masterpiece 'twill prove. 90

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