One Evening the loveliest Pair
That ever frequented the Plain,
Bright Lydia, th’ all conquering Fair,
And Damon, the beautiful Swain,
Sat down in a Jessamine Grove,
Where a murmuring Rivolet stray’d,
When Damon, to kindle old Love,
Thus softly reproached the Maid.
DAMON.
O Lydia, Whilst I was that He
That only was blest with your Charms,
And you ne’er a Shepherd but me
Clasp’d in that soft Circle, your Arms;
Then thy Damon all cheerful did sing,
And his Happiness yielding to none,
Despis’d all the Pomp of a King,
And slighted a glitt’ring Throne.
LYDIA.
False Damon, the Virgin reply’d,
Whilst you true and constant did prove,
Consuming whole Days by my Side
In sighing and talking of Love.
Whilst Phillis’s Beauty did yield
To mine in your delicate Eye;
Then I was the Pride of the Field;
No Queen was so happy as I.
DAMON.
Ah! name not that beautiful Dame,
She hath perfectly ravish’d my Heart,
Her Charms set me all in a Flame,
Which she fans with her Musical Art.
For one Touch of that pow’rful Breath,
Wounds a Heart, as it pierces an Ear;
For her I wou’d freely meet Death,
Wou’d the Pow’rs my Goddess but spare.
LYDIA.
Alexis the bloomingest Youth,
That treads on the flowery Plains,
With innocent Arts and pure Faith
My Heart not unwilling detains.
Still burning with mutual Desire,
Unbroken Delights we enjoy,
Far oftner than once I’d expire
To save the adorable Boy.
DAMON.
But now if my Heart shou’d return
To the Duty it owes thee again,
Leave Phillis to sorrow and mourn,
A Conquest she could not maintain:
If humbly thy Pardon he’ll crave,
And sigh when he thinks on the Time
He slighted thy Love, wilt thou Leave
Thy Damon to die for his Crime?
LYDIA.
Ah no! tho’ Alexis the Fiar,
His Charms, like a Planet displays,
And thou art inconstant as Air
And wrathful as bellowing Seas;
Yet with thee a long Series of Years,
Like a Minute of Joy I’d consume,
And, at Death not lament thee with Tears,
But lay my self down in thy Tomb.
This said, she lay down in his Arms,
And all in an Extacy lay;
Then surrender’d a Treasure of Charms,
While she blush’d like the Goddess of May.
The Birds from the Branches above
Beheld, and pursu’d the like Bliss,
With Melody fill’d the whole Grove,
And chatt’red at ev’ry Kiss.
(James Arbuckle)
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