Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913.

Songs from the Plays

Song betwixt a Shepherd and a Shepherdess, from The Duke of Guise

Shepherdess.Tell me Thirsis, tell your Anguish,

Why you Sigh, and why you Languish;

When the Nymph whom you Adore,

Grants the Blessing of Possessing,

What can Love and I do more?

Shepherd.Think it’s Love beyond all Measure,

Makes me faint away with Pleasure;

Strength of Cordial may destroy,

And the Blessing of possessing

Kills me with Excess of Joy.

Shepherdess.Thirsis, how can I believe you?

But confess and I’le forgive you;

Men are false, and so are you;

Never Nature fram’d a Creature

To enjoy, and yet be true.

Shepherd.Mine’s a Flame beyond expiring,

Still possessing, still desiring,

Fit for Love’s imperial Crown;

Ever shining, and refining,

Still the more ’tis melted down.

Chorus together.Mine’s a Flame beyond expiring,

Still possessing, still desiring,

Fit for Love’s imperial Crown;

Ever shining, and refining,

Still the more ’tis melted down.