PALURUS MY Antinetta, though thou be More white than foam wherewith a wave, Broke in his wrath, besmears the sea, Yet art thou harder than this cave. ANTINETTA Though thou be fairer than the light, Which doubting pilots only mind, That they may steer their course aright, Yet art thou lighter than the wind. PALURUS And shall I not be chang'd? When thou Hast fraught Medorus with thy heart; And as along the sands we go To gather shells, dost take his part? ANTINETTA What! shall not I congeal to see Doris, the ballast of thine arms, (Which have so oft encompass'd me) Now pinion'd by her faithless charms? PALURUS What if I henceforth shall disdain The golden-tressed Doris' love, And Antinetta serve again, And in that service constant prove? ANTINETTA Though mighty Neptune cannot stand Before Medorus, and thou be Restless as whirlpools, false as sand, Yet will I live and die with thee. PALURUS Nay, live, and lest one single death Should rack thee, take this life of mine. ANTINETTA Thou but exchanged with that breath Thy Antinetta's soul for thine. CHORUS How powerful's love! which, like a flame That sever'd, reunites more close; 30 Or like a broken limb in frame, That ever after firmer grows. |