DALINEA

Madam, my mother does entreat your Ladyships come pany in your chamber, Mrs. Mixum has brought the conserves my father did appoint her. I shall Madam. Would you have ought with me sir? That title relishes flattery for ought you know: I may be vicio us. Speak quickly, if it concern me, otherwise I must Entreat a licence to depart. Nay, and you begin to run a complementout of breath, You' l drive me hence indeed: (believe me sir) had I not liked You well, my modesty would scarce have suffered the least Interchange of words (but since it has done) pray be brief, What tends your conference to? This to me, sounds as the empty whistling of the air Does in some hollow vault, unspotted truth Informs my ignorance, there's not a person In all the multitude of men loves chastely. Then I believe you sir, No man will be so worthless to dissemble With me, who cannot think but all the world Intends the same reality that I do: Yet 'tis and error, which persuasion scarce Shall free me from: that every woman ought To love a man with that indifferent heat She fancies other women, without sense Of difference betwixt the Sexes. Away, we may not; If true—chaste love had rested in discourse, I could have been its votary, but a thought Of any thing beyond it, is to me Dangerous as sickness: farewell sir. Was ever innocent virgin thus betrayed By cruelty of parents, who for wealth Have sold my youth to slavery, the cold Ashes of injured maids surround my heart, Or some divine Due, stead of blood replenish My swelling veins, circle my thought with Ice, Thou power of chastity, that Like the fresh Primrose uncropped, by any hand, I may Return my self as pure and white To earth, as when I came from't. Now begins my horror, the fatal Bell should it pro claim my death, were sphere-like music to his night-crows voice; yet I must hear it and retain my sense, continue subject to a Dam lie noise from the ill boding monster. Would you would sir, better consider with your self and ma changed where your own customs are observed, my fear my quam lity will never suit the liking of your Dutch manners. Yet sir have so much charity. Gentle sir, there ought to be in manhood a divine Pity, believe me as I tender truth, I cannot set the smallest of my thoughts On your ill welcome love, therefore I beseech you Not to proceed in my unfortunate match Which will be fatal to us both, for goodness Have so much mercy on me. Had you said wretchedest, Mistress you had given me My proper attribute. Had your brother been Of the same disposition and soft sweetness That I perceive in you (though this be our First interview) there could not have been moulded (Had I been born to entertain loves heat) A man that would so fitly sympathise With my condition, nor whom I should fancy With more entire perfection. This surprise, And your strong vows would batter a resolve, Down in a breast that could be flexible To easy love, but since I cannot frame My conscience to a warrantable zeal Towards any man, I'll rather fix my hate (For that must of necessity accrue To him that weds me) on a person worthy Contempt, then on your self, whose wor do's challenge A noble and reciprocal regard For your affection, blessings on you sir, think not amiss of me. You have me now; But I profess until we came to be Conjoined ith' Church, I took you for Mr. , but now rejoice I was deceived so, I shall study to love you The hand of death Shall give me first a bride to some dark grave, Where I will mix with worms before the Priest Knit so unjust and union, the kind grass Will sure be green still on my Sepulchre, and spotless Virgins annually dance a fairy ring about it. If that were all Requisite to love, I could; but there's obedience A Nuptial wreathe brings with it, which I fear My frailty would scarce keep, and to become Perfidious to a vow were such a sin As I should quake to think of. I remember once a nephew of Sir Martins did solicit That which he termed my love, but I conceived His meaning rather was to cause discourse, Then that his strict intention had resolved His promises performance.