Poems upon several occasions with a voyage to the island of love : also The lover in fashion, being an account from Lydicus to Lysander of his voyage from the island of love / by Mrs. A. Behn ; to which is added a miscellany of new poems and songs, by several hands.
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Title
Poems upon several occasions with a voyage to the island of love : also The lover in fashion, being an account from Lydicus to Lysander of his voyage from the island of love / by Mrs. A. Behn ; to which is added a miscellany of new poems and songs, by several hands.
Author
Behn, Aphra, 1640-1689.
Publication
London :: Printed for Francis Saunders ...,
1697.
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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A27316.0001.001
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"Poems upon several occasions with a voyage to the island of love : also The lover in fashion, being an account from Lydicus to Lysander of his voyage from the island of love / by Mrs. A. Behn ; to which is added a miscellany of new poems and songs, by several hands." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A27316.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 13, 2024.
Pages
descriptionPage 134
A PASTORAL Pindarick. On the Marriage of the Right Honourable the Earle of Dorset and Midlesex, to the Lady Mary Compton. A DIALOGUE.
Between Damon and Aminta.
By Mrs. Behn.
Aminta.
WHither, young Damon, whither in such hast,Swift as the Winds you sweep the Grove,The Amorous God of Day scarce hy'd so fastAfter his flying Love?
Damon.
Aminta, view my Face, and thence surveyMy very Soul and all its mighty joy!
descriptionPage 135
A joy too great to be conceal'd,And without speaking is reveal'd;For this eternal Holyday.A Day to place i'th' Shepherds Kalendar,To stand the glory of the circling year.Let it's blest date on every Bark be set,And every Echo its dear name repeat.Let 'em tell all the neighbouring Woods and Plains,That Lysidus, the Beauty of the Swains,Our darling youth, our wonder and our Pride,Is blest with fair Clemena for a Bride.Oh happy Pair! Let all the Groves rejoyce,And gladness fill each heart and every voyce!
Aminta.
Clemena! that bright maid for whom our Shep∣herds pine,For whom so many weeping Eyes decline!For whom the Echos all complain,For whom with sigh and falling tearsThe Lover in his soft despairs
descriptionPage 136
Disturbs the Peaceful Rivers gliding stream?The bright Clemena who has been so longThe destinie of hearts and yet so young,She that has robb'd so many of contentYet is herself so Sweet, so Innocent.She, that as many hearts invades,As charming Lysidus has conquer'd maids,Oh tell me, Damon, is the lovely fairBecome the dear reward of all the Shepherds care.Has Lysidus that prize of Glory wonFor whom so many sighing Swains must be undon?
Damon.
Yes, it was destin'd from Eternity,They only shou'd each other's be,Hail, lovely pair, whom every God design'dIn your first great Creation shou'd be joyn'd.
Aminta.
Oh, Damon, this is vain Philosophie,'Tis chance and not Divinity,
descriptionPage 137
That guides Loves Partial Darts;And we in vain the Boy imploreTo make them Love whom we Adore.And all the other powers take little care of hearts,The very Soule's by intr'est sway'd,And nobler passion now by fortune is betray'd;By sad experience this I know,And sigh, Alas! in vain because tis true.
Damon.
Too often and too fatally we findPortion and Joynture charm the mind,Large Flocks and Herds, and spacious PlainsBecoms the merit of the Swains.But here, thô both did equally abound,'Twas youth, 'twas wit, was Beauty gave the equal wound;Their Soules were one before they mortal being found,Jove when he layd his awful Thunder byAnd all his softest Attributes put on,
descriptionPage 138
When Heav'n was Gay, and the vast Glittering SkyWith Deities all wondering and attentive shone,The God his Luckyest heat to tryForm'd their great Soules of one Immortal Ray,He thought, and form'd, as first he did the World,But with this difference, That from Chaos came,These from a beam, which, from his God-head hurl'dKindl'd into an everlasting flame.He smiling saw the mighty work was good,While all the lesser Gods around him gazing stood.He saw the shining Model bright and GreatBut oh! they were not yet compleat,For not one God but did the flames inspire,With sparks of their Divinest fire.Diana took the lovely Female Soul,And did its fiercer Atoms cool;Softn'd the flame and plac'd a Chrystal IceAbout the sacred Paradise,Bath'd it all or'e in Virgin Tears,
descriptionPage 139
Mixt with the fragrant Dew the Rose receives,Into the bosom of her untoucht leaves,And dry'd it with the breath of Vestal Prayers,Juno did great Majestick thought inspireAnd Pallas toucht it with Heroick fire.While Mars, Apollo, Love and Venus sate,About the Hero's Soul in high debate,Each claims it all, but all in vain contend,In vain appeal to mighty Jove,Who equal Portions did to all extend.This to the God of wit, and that to Love,Another to the Queen of soft desire,And the fierce God of War compleats the rest,Guilds it all or'e with Martial fire;While Love, and Wit, Beauty and War exprestTheir finest Arts, and the bright Beings all in Glory drest.While each in their Divine imployments stroveBy every charm these new-form'd l'ghts t'improve,They left a space untoucht for mightyer Love.
descriptionPage 140
The finishing last strokes the Boy perform'd;Who from his Quiver took a Golden DartThat cou'd a sympathizing wound impart,And toucht 'em both, and with one flame they burn'd.The next great work was to create two framesOf the Divinest form,Fit to contain these heavenly flames.The Gods decreed, and charming Lysidus was born,Born, and grew up the wonder of the Plains,Joy of the Nymphs and Glory of the Swains.And warm'd all hearts with his inchanting strains;Soft were the Songs, which from his lips did flow,Soft as the Soul which the fine thought conceiv'd.Soft as the sighs the charming Virgin breath'dThe first dear night of the chast nuptial vow.The noble youth even Daphnis do's excelOh never Shepherd pip'd and sung so well.
descriptionPage 141
Aminta.
Now, Damon, you are in your proper sphear,While of his wit you give a character.But who inspir'd you a Philosopher?
Damon.
Old Colin, when we oft have led our FlocksBeneath the shelter of the shad's and Rocks,While other youths more vainly spent their time,I listen'd to the wonderous Bard;And while he sung of things sublimeWith reverend pleasure heard.He soar'd to the Divine abodesAnd told the secrets of the Gods.And oft discours'd of Love and Sympathy;For he as well as thou and IHad sigh't for some dear object of desire;But oh! till now I ne're cou'd proveThat secret mystery of Love;Ne're saw two hearts thus burn with equal fire.
descriptionPage 142
Aminta.
But, oh! what Nymph e're saw the noble youthThat was not to eternal Love betray'd?
Damon.
And, oh! what swain e're saw the Lovely maid,That wou'd not plight her his eternal faith!Not unblown Roses, or the new-born dayOr pointed Sun-beams, when they gild the skys,Are half so sweet, are half so bright and gay,As young Clemena's charming Face and Eyes!
Aminta.
Not full-blown flowrs, when all their luster's onWhom every bosom longs to wear,Nor the spread Glories of the mid-days sunCan with the charming Lysidus compare.
Damon.
Not the soft gales of gentle breezThat whisper to the yeilding Trees,Nor songs of Birds that thrô the Groves rejoyce,Are half so sweet, so soft, as young Clemena's voyce.
descriptionPage 143
Aminta.
Not murmurs of the Rivulets and Springs,When thrô the glades they purling glide alongAnd listen when the wondrous shepherd sings,Are half so sweet as is the Shepherds song.
Damon.
Not young Diana in her eager chaseWhen by her careless flying Robe betray'd,Discovering every charm and every Grace,Has more surprising Beauty than the brighter maid.
Aminta.
The gay young Monarch of the cheerful MayAdorn'd with all the Trophies he has won,Vain with the Homage of the joyful dayCompar'd to Lysidus wou'd be undone.
Damon.
Aminta, cease; and let me hast away,For while upon this Theam you dwell,You speak the noble youth so just, so well,I cou'd for ever listning stay.
descriptionPage 144
Aminta.
And while Clemena's praise becoms thy choyce,My Ravisht soul is fixt upon thy voyce.
Damon.
But see the Nymphs and dancing swainsAscend the Hill from yonder Plains,With Wreathes and Garlands finely made,To crown the lovely Bride and Bridegrooms head,And I amongst the humbler throngMy Sacrifice must bringA rural Hymeneal song,Alexis he shall pipe while I will sing.Had I been blest with Flocks or HerdA nobler Tribute I'd prepar'd,With darling Lambs the Altars I wou'd throng:But I, alas! can only offer song.Song too obscure, too humble verseFor this days glory to reherse,But Lysidus, like Heav'n, is kind,And for the Sacrifice accepts the Humble mind.
descriptionPage 145
If he vouchsafe to listen to my OdeHe makes me happyer than a fancy'd God.
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