1 BENEATH a Myrtle shade Which Love for none but happy Lovers made, I slept, and straight my Love before me brought @3Phillis@1 the object of my waking thought; Undres'd she came my flames to meet, While Love strow'd flow'rs beneath her feet; Flow'rs, which so press'd by her, became more sweet. 2 From the bright Visions Head A careless vail of Lawn was loosely spread: From her white temples fell her shaded hair, Like cloudy sunshine not too brown nor fair: Her hands, her lips did love inspire; Her ev'ry grace my heart did fire: But most her eyes which languish'd with desire. 3 Ah, Charming fair, said I, How long can you my bliss and yours deny? By Nature and by love this lonely shade Was for revenge of suffring Lovers made: Silence and shades with love agree: Both shelter you and favour me; You cannot blush because I cannot see. 4 No, let me dye, she said, Rather than loose the spotless name of Maid: Faintly methought she spoke, for all the while She bid me not believe her, with a smile. Then dye, said I, she still deny'd: And is it thus, thus, thus she cry'd You use a harmless Maid, and so she dy'd! 5 I wak'd, and straight I knew I lov'd so well it made my dream prove true: Fancy, the kinder Mistress of the two, Fancy had done what @3Phillis@1 wou'd not do! Ah, Cruel Nymph, cease your disdain, While I can dream you scorn in vain; Asleep or waking you must ease my pain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EAGLE THAT IS FORGOTTEN by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY DREAM-LOVE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI FIRST ICE by KENNETH SLADE ALLING FATA MORGANA by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS FUNERAL by ETHEL SKIPTON BARRINGER TO MRS W. ON HER EXCELLENT VERSES WRITTEN IN A FIT OF SICKNESS by APHRA BEHN |