Part 5 (1/2)

THE NIGHT: A DIALOGUE.

_Chariessa._[27:1] What if Night Should betray us, and reveal To the light All the pleasures that we steal?

_Philocharis._ Fairest! we 5 Safely may this fear despise: How can she See our actions, who wants eyes?

_Chariessa._ Each dim star, And the clearer lights, we know, 10 Night's eyes are: They were blind that thought her so!

_Philocharis._ Those pale fires Only burn to yield a light T' our desires; 15 And, though blind, to give us sight.

_Chariessa._ By this shade That surrounds us, might our flame Be betray'd!

And the day disclose its name. 20

_Philocharis._ Dearest Fair!

These dark witnesses, we find, Silent are: Night is dumb, as well as blind.

_Chorus._

Then whilst these black shades conceal us, 25 We will scorn Th' envious morn, And the sun that would reveal us.

Our flames shall thus their mutual light betray, And night, with these joys crown'd, outs.h.i.+ne the day. 30

UNALTER'D BY SICKNESS.

Pale envious Sickness, hence! no more } Possess her breast, too cold before. } In vain, alas, thou dost invade }[28:1]

A beauty that can never fade. } Could all thy malice but impair 5 One o' th' sweets which crown her fair;[28:2]

Or steal the spirits from her eye; Or kiss into a paler dye The blooming[28:3] roses of her cheek; Our suffering[28:4] hopes might justly seek 10 Redress from thee, and thou mightst save Thousands of lovers from the grave.

But such a.s.saults are vain, for she Is too divine to stoop to thee, Blest with a form as much too high 15 For any change, as[28:5] Destiny, Which no attempt can violate: For what's her beauty is our fate.

TO CELIA.

EXCUSE FOR WIs.h.i.+NG HER LESS FAIR.[29:1]

Why thy pa.s.sion should it move That I wished thy beauty less?

Fools desire what is above Power of nature to express; And to wish it had been more 5 Had been to outwish her store.

If the flames within thine eye Did not too great heat inspire, Men might languish, yet not die, }[29:2]

At thy less ungentle fire, } 10 And might on thy weaker light Gaze, and yet not lose their sight.

Nor wouldst thou less fair appear, For detraction adds to thee; If some parts less beauteous were, 15 Others would much fairer be; Nor can any part we know Best be styl'd, when all are so.

Thus this great excess of light, Which now dazzles our weak eyes, 20 Would, eclips'd, appear more bright; And the only way to rise, Or to be more fair, for[29:3] thee, Celia! is less fair to be.

CELIA, SLEEPING OR SINGING.[30:1]

Roses, in breathing forth their scent, Or stars their borrowed ornament; Nymphs in the watery sphere that move, Or angels in their orbs above; The winged chariot of the light, 5 Or the slow silent wheels of night; The shade which from the swifter sun Doth in a circular motion run, Or souls that their eternal rest do keep, Make far more[30:2] noise than Celia's breath in sleep. 10