Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/502

 364 THE POEMS OF ANNE �You lead those happy Sheep, to 'scape his Fury ; �That I, exposing mine to the wide Plains, �May seek you out, and sigh till Night before you. �Herm. Alas! I have no Flocks, or Skill to guide them; No leafy Hamlet, strew'd with painted Flowers ; 40 �Or mossy Pillow, to repose my Head: But wander from a distant, fatal Place, Where I have lost my Parents, and my Succour, And now, in such a Habit as becomes it, Seek the low Plains, to learn the Art you practice. �dim. She may be Noble then; and for her Form, 'Tis sure the fairest that my Eyes e'er fix'd on. [Aside. �Who were your Parents, gentle Maid, declare? �Herm. They were not mean, and yet I must conceal them : My Mother early Dy'd; but Fame has told me, 50 �She'd all Perfections, which make others Proud, Yet wore them, as she knew not they adorn'd her. And be, in this, my Father's Praise exprest: That by an Oracle He was confest Of all the Grecian Race to be the Best. �dim. The Best of Men! and you the Fairest Woman! And in a Moment I the greatest Lover! �[He speaks this transportedly and seizes her Hand, which he kisses. �Whilst to complete my Bliss, by Heav'ns decree �These Beauties all are mine, and thus I claim them. 59 �Herm. Protect me all ye Powers, that wait on Virtue, From the dark Ends of such unruly Transports ! �[She takes her Hand away hastily and rises. Nor dare, presumptuous Swain, once to renew them, Or tempt more Dangers than a Crook can answer ! �dim. A Man there lives not, shou'd have urg'd that to �me, Built round with Steel, or plung'd all o'er in Styx. ��� �