CHLORI S. Blown rofes hold their sweetnefs to the laft, And raifins keep their luscious native taste. DAPHNI S. The fun's too hot; thofe olive fhades are near; I fain would whisper fomething in your ear. CHLORI S. 'Tis honeft talking where we may be feen; God knows what fecret mifchief you may mean; I doubt you'll play the wag, and kiss again. DAPHNI S. At least beneath yon elm you need not fear; My pipe's in tune, if you're difpos'd to hear. CHLOR I S. Play by yourself, I dare not venture thither; Coy nymph, beware, left Venus you offend. I fhall have chafte Diana ftill to friend. DAPHNI S. You have a foul, and Cupid has a dart. Diana will defend, or heal my heart. Away with your diffembling female tricks : I fwear, I'll keep my maidenhead 'till death, And die as pure as queen Elizabeth, DAPHNI S. Nay, mum for that; but let me lay thee down; Better with me, than with fome naufeous clown. CHLO CHLORIS. I'd have you know, if I were so inclin❜d. But they are abfent all; and I am here. The matrimonial yoke is hard to bear; A fcarecrow, fet to frighten fools away; Sour fauce is often mix'd with our delight; You kick by day more than you kifs by night. DAPHNI S. A Sham ftories all; but fay the worst you can, very wife fears neither God nor man. CHLORI S. But child-birth is, they fay, a deadly pain; It cofts at least a month to knit again.. DAPHNI S. Diana cures the wounds Lucina made; Your Goddess is a midwife by her trade. CHLORI S. But I fhall spoil my beauty, if I bear. DAPHNI S. But Mam and Dad are pretty names to hear. CHLORI S. But there's a civil queftion us'd of late; Where lies my jointure, where your own eftate? DAPHNI S. } } My flocks, my fields, my woods, my paftures take, With fettlement as good as law can make. CHLORI S. Swear then you will not leave me on the common, But marry me, and make an honest woman. DAPHNI S. I fwear by Pan (tho' he wears horns you'll fay) I bargain for a wedding-bed at least, A house well furnish'd fhall be thine to keep; CHLORIS. What tale fhall I to my old father tell? 'Twill make him chuckle thou'rt beftow'd fo well. CHLORI 8. But, after all, in troth I am to blame Faith, mine's a very pretty name to fing; CHLORI S. Your kindred is not much amifs, 'tis true; Yet I am fomewhat better born than you. DAPHNI S. I know your father, and his family; And without boasting am as good as he, Menalcas; and no master gues before. CHLORI S. Hang both our pedigrees; not one word more; DAPHNI S. See first yon cypress grove, a fhade from noon. CHLO CHLORI S. Browze on my goats; for I'll be with DAPHNI S. you foon. Feed well my bulls, to whet your appetite, What do you mean, uncivil as you are, These pretty bubbies, firft, I make my own. CHLORI S. Pull out your hand, I swear, or I fhall fwoon. Why does thy ebbing blood forfake thy face? Throw me at least upon a cleaner place: My linen ruffled, and my waftecoat foiling; What do you think new clothes were made for fpoiling? DAPHNI S. I'll lay my lambkins underneath thy back. CHLORI S. My head-gear's off; what filthy work you make! DAPHNI S. To Venus, firft, I lay these off'rings by. CHLORI S. Nay, first look round, that nobody be nigh: Methinks I hear a whifp'ring in the grove. DAPHNI S. The cypress trees are telling tales of love. CHLORIS. You tear off all behind me, and before me; And I'm as naked as my mother bore me. DAPHNI S. I'll buy thee better clothes than these I tear, And lie fo clofe I'll cover thee from air. CHLORI S. You're liberal now, but when your turn is fped, You'll with me choak'd with ev'ry cruft of bread. DAPHNI S. I'll give thee more, much more than I have told; Would I could coin my very heart to gold. CHLORIS. Forgive thy handmaid, huntress of the wood! I fee there's no refifting flesh and blood! DAPHNI S. The noble deed is done; my herds I'll cull; A maid I came in an unlucky hour, DAPHNI S. A maid is but a barren name at beft; Thus did this happy pair their love dispense } TRANS |