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k of the ayre Do richly feast； and for their fare； Each evening in a silent shade； Bestow a gratefull serenade。 Thus ev'n tyerd with delight； Sated in soul and appetite； Full of the purple Plumme and Peare； The golden Apple； with the faire Grape that mirth fain would have taught her； And nuts； which squirrells cracking brought her； She softly layes her weary limbs； Whilst gentle slumber now beginnes To draw the curtaines of her eye； When straight awakend with a crie And bitter groan； again reposes； Again a deep sigh interposes。 And now she heares a trembling voyce： Ah！ can there ought on earth rejoyce！ Why weares she this gay livery； Not black as her dark entrails be？ Can trees be green； and to the ay'r Thus prostitute their flowing hayr？ Why do they sprout； not witherd dy？ Must each thing live； save wretched I？ Can dayes triumph in blew and red； When both their light and life is fled？ Fly Joy on wings of Popinjayes To courts of fools； where as your playes Dye laught at and forgot； whilst all That's good mourns at this funerall。 Weep； all ye Graces； and you sweet Quire； that at the hill inspir'd meet： Love； put thy tapers out； that we And th' world may seem as blind as thee； And be； since she is lost （ah wound！） Not Heav'n it self by any found。 Now as a prisoner new cast； Who sleepes in chaines that night； his last； Next morn is wak't with a repreeve； And from his trance； not dream bid live； Wonders （his sence not having scope） Who speaks； his friend or his false hope。 So Amarantha heard； but feare Dares not yet trust her tempting care； And as againe her arms oth' ground Spread pillows for her head； a sound More dismall makes a swift divorce； And starts her thus：Rage； rapine； force！ Ye blew…flam'd daughters oth' abysse； Bring all your snakes； here let them hisse； Let not a leaf its freshnesse keep； Blast all their roots； and as you creepe； And leave behind your deadly slime； Poyson the budding branch in's prime： Wast the proud bowers of this grove； That fiends may dwell in it； and move As in their proper hell； whilst she Above laments this tragedy： Yet pities not our fate； oh faire Vow…breaker； now betroth'd to th' ay'r！ Why by those lawes did we not die； As live but one； Lucasta！ why As he Lucasta nam'd； a groan Strangles the fainting passing tone； But as she heard； Lucasta smiles； Posses her round； she's slipt mean whiles Behind the blind of a thick bush； When； each word temp'ring with a blush； She gently thus bespake； Sad swaine； If mates in woe do ease our pain； Here's one full of that antick grief； Which stifled would for ever live； But told； expires； pray then； reveale （To show our wound is half to heale）； What mortall nymph or deity Bewail you thus？ Who ere you be； The shepheard sigh't； my woes I crave Smotherd in me； me in my grave； Yet be in show or truth a saint； Or fiend； breath anthemes； heare my plaint； For her and thy breath's symphony； Which now makes full the harmony Above； and to whose voice the spheres Listen； and call her musick theirs； This was I blest on earth with； so As Druids amorous did grow； Jealous of both： for as one day This star； as yet but set in clay； By an imbracing river lay； They steept her in the hollowed brooke； Which from her humane nature tooke； And straight to heaven with winged feare； Thus； ravisht with her； ravish her。 The nymph reply'd： This holy rape Became the gods； whose obscure shape They cloth'd with light； whilst ill you grieve Your better life should ever live； And weep that she； to whom you wish What heav'n could give； has all its blisse。 Calling her angell here； yet be Sad at this true divinity： She's for the altar； not the skies； Whom first you crowne； then sacrifice。 Fond man thus to a precipice Aspires； till at the top his eyes Have lost the safety of the plain； Then begs of Fate the vales againe。 The now confounded shepheard cries： Ye all…confounding destines！ How did you make that voice so sweet Without that glorious form to it？ Thou sacred spirit of my deare； Where e're thou hoverst o're us； hear！ Imbark thee in the lawrell tree； And a new Phebus follows thee； Who； 'stead of all his burning rayes； Will strive to catch thee with his layes； Or； if within the Orient Vine； Thou art both deity and wine； But if thou takest the mirtle grove； That Paphos is； thou； Queene of Love； And I； thy swain who （else） must die； By no beasts； but thy cruelty： But you are rougher than the winde。 Are souls on earth then heav'n more kind？ Imprisoned in mortality Lucasta would have answered me。 Lucasta； Amarantha said； Is she that virgin…star？ a maid； Except her prouder livery； In beauty poore； and cheap as I； Whose glory like a meteor shone； Or aery apparition； Admir'd a while； but slighted known。 Fierce； as the chafed lyon hies； He rowses him； and to her flies； Thinking to answer with his speare Now； as in warre intestine where； Ith' mist of a black battell； each Layes at his next； then makes a breach Through th' entrayles of another； whom He sees nor knows whence he did come； Guided alone by rage and th' drumme； But stripping and impatient wild； He finds too soon his onely child。 So our expiring desp'rate lover Far'd when； amaz'd； he did discover Lucasta in this nymph； his sinne Darts the accursed javelin 'Gainst his own breast； which she puts by With a soft lip and gentle eye； Then closes with him on the ground And now her smiles have heal'd his wound。 Alexis too again is found； But not untill those heavy crimes She hath kis'd off a thousand times； Who not contented with this pain； Doth threaten to offend again。 And now they gaze； and sigh； and weep； Whilst each cheek doth the other's steep； Whilst tongues； as exorcis'd； are calm； Onely the rhet'rick of the palm Prevailing pleads； untill at last They＇re＇ chain'd in one another fast。 Lucasta to him doth relate Her various chance and diffring fate： How chac'd by Hydraphil； and tract The num'rous foe to Philanact； Who whilst they for the same things fight； As Bards decrees and Druids rite； For safeguard of their proper joyes And shepheards freedome； each destroyes The glory of this Sicilie； Since seeking thus the remedie； They fancy （building on false ground） The means must them and it confound； Yet are resolved to stand or fall； And win a little； or lose all。 From this sad storm of fire and blood She fled to this yet living wood； Where she 'mongst savage beasts doth find Her self more safe then humane kind。 Then she relates； how Caelia The ladyhere strippes her array； And girdles her in home…spunne bayes Then makes her conversant in layes Of birds； and swaines more innocent； That kenne not guile ＇n＇or courtship ment。 Now walks she to her bow'r to dine Under a shade of Eglantine； Upon a dish of Natures cheere Which both grew； drest and serv'd up there： That done； she feasts her smell with po'ses Pluckt from the damask cloath of Roses。 Which there continually doth stay； And onely frost can take away； Then wagers which hath most content Her eye； eare； hand； her gust or sent。 Intranc't Alexis sees and heares； As walking above all the spheres： Knows and adores this； and is wilde； Untill with her he live thus milde。 So that； which to his thoughts he meant For losse of her a punishment； His armes hung up and his sword broke； His ensignes folded； he betook Himself unto the humble crook。 And for a full reward of all； She now doth him her shepheard call； And in a see of flow'rs install： Then gives her faith immediately； Which he returns religiously； Both vowing in her peacefull cave To make their bridall…bed and grave。 But the true joy this pair conceiv'd； Each from the other first bereav'd； And then found； after such alarmes； Fast…pinion'd in each other's armes； Ye panting virgins； that do meet Your loves within their winding sheet； Breathing and constant still ev'n there； Or souls their bodies in yon' sphere； Or angels； men return'd from hell And separated mindescan tell。
The punctuation of this piece is in the original edition singularly corrupt。 I have found it necessary to amend it throughout。
The marigold。
A flower so called。
More commonly known as THE GILLIFLOWER。
i。e。 the lady gathers the flowers； and binds them in her hair with a silken fillet； making of them a kind of chaplet or crown。
i。e。 silvery or white milk。
An uncommon word； signifying WRINKLED。 Bishop Hall seems to be； with the exception of Lovelace； almost the only writer who used it。 Compare； however； the following passage：
〃Like to a WRITHEL'D Carion I have seen （Instead of fifty； write her down fifteen） Wearing her bought complexion in a box； And ev'ry morn her closet…face unlocks。〃 PLANTAGENET'S TRAGICALL STORY； by T。 W。 1649； p。 105。
Original has PRIZE THEIR。
The fish with their silvery scales。
Fins。
Original reads BUT LOOK。
Original has THERE。
i。e。 condemned。
This word does not appear to have any very exact meaning。 See Halliwell's DICTIONARY OF ARCHAIC WORDS； art。 POSSE； and Worcester's Dict。 IBID； &c。 The context here requires TO TURN SHARPLY OR QUICKLY。
Original has SIGHT。
Original