Imperfect words and dubious terms express, That unforeseen mischance disturb'd his peace; That he must something to her ear commend, On which her conduct and his life depend. Soon as the fair one had the note receiv'd, The maiden first arriving, sent her eye On the low ground his fix'd regards are cast; HENRY. Sincere, O tell me, hast thou felt a pain, Hast thou now dreaded, and now blest his sway, Thy virgin softness hast thou e'er bewail'd; And wept the potent god's resistless dart, For me, alas! outcast of human race, rove. EMMA. What is our bliss, that changeth with the moon ; And day of life, that darkens ere 'tis noon? What is true passion, if unblest it dies? And where is Emma's joy, if Henry flies? If love, alas! be pain; the pain I bear No thought can figure, and no tongue declare. Ne'er faithful woman felt, nor false one feign'd, The flames which long have in my bosom reign'd: The god of love himself inhabits there, With all his rage, and dread, and grief, and care, His complement of stores, and total war. O! cease then coldly to suspect my love; And let my deed at least my faith approve. Alas! no youth shall my endearments share; Nor day nor night shall interrupt my care; No future story shall with truth upbraid The cold indifference of the Nut-brown Maid: Nor to hard banishment shall Henry run, While careless Emma sleeps on beds of down. View me resolv'd, where'er thou leadst, to go, Friend to thy pain, and partner of thy woe; That I, of all mankind, will love but thee alone. HENRY. Let prudence yet obstruct thy venturous way; And take good heed, what men will think and say: That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took ; Reflect, that lessen'd fame is ne'er regain'd; Nor tears, that wash out sin, can wash out shame. And leave a banish'd man through lonely woods to rove. EMMA. Let Emma's hapless case be falsely told By the rash young, or the ill-natur❜d old: Let every tongue its various censures choose; Absolve with coldness, or with spite accuse: Fair truth at last her radiant beams will raise; And malice vanquish'd heightens virtue's praise. Let then thy favour but indulge my flight; O! let my presence make thy travels light; And potent Venus shall exalt my name, Than that this truth should to the world be known, HENRY. But canst thou wield the sword, and bend the bow? With active force repel the sturdy foe? When the loud tumult speaks the battle nigh, And winged deaths in whistling arrows fly; Wilt thou, though wounded, yet undaunted stay, Perform thy part, and share the dangerous day? Then, as thy strength decays, thy heart will fail, Thy limbs all trembling, and thy cheeks all pale; With fruitless sorrow, thou, inglorious maid, Wilt weep thy safety by thy love betray'd: Then to thy friend, by foes o'ercharg'd, deny Thy little useless aid, and coward fly : [love Then wilt thou curse the chance that made thee A banish'd man, condemn'd in lonely woods to rove. EMMA. With fatal certainty Thalestris knew |