TO THE READER. I call'd the buskin'd mufe Melpomene, And told her what fad story I would write : She wept at hearing fuch a tragedy, Though wont in mournful ditties to delight. If thou dislike these forrowful lines, then know My Mufe with tears, not with conceits, did flow: And as the my unabler quill did guide, l; But think her tears defac'd it, and blame then. ABRAHAM COWLEY. CON CONSTANTIA AND PHILETUS. I SING two conftant lovers' various fate, The hopes and fears that equally attend Their loves; their rivals' envy, parents' hate: I fing their woeful life and tragic end. Aid me, ye gods, this story to rehearse, This mournful tale, and favour every verfe! Her, lavish Nature did at first adorn, With Pallas' foul in Cytherea's form-: And, framing her attractive eyes fo bright, Her hair was brighter than the beams which are Or fmelling flowers, wherewith the spring doth greet Her Her wit, excelling praise, even all admire ; Wax'd pale with envy, and from thence grew white. She was in birth and parentage as high The glorious beams of her fair eyes did move, With that bleft object, or her rareness fee; Oft times, that he might fee his dearest fair, But his poor mafter, though to fee her move Soon Soon as the morning left her rofy bed, And all heaven's fmaller lights were driven away, To behold cheeks more beauteous than her own, Th' obfequious lover follows still her train, Nor is it ftrange he should be loth to part Philetus he was call'd, fprung from a race : But blinded Love could no fuch difference fee. Yet he by chance had hit his heart aright, Though he have fhot him right, her heart he 'll mifs. Unto Love's altar therefore he repairs, And offers up a pleafing facrifice ; To look upon and ease his miferies : Where having wept, recovering breath again, VOL. I. D "Oh, "Oh mighty Cupid! whose unbounded sway, "Hath often rul'd th' Olympian thunderer; "Whom all cœleftial deities obey; "Whom men and gods both reverence and fear! "Oh force Conftantia's heart to yield to love! "Of all thy works the mafter-piece 'twill prove. "And let me not affection vainly spend, "But kindle flames in her like thofe in me; "Yet if that gift my fortune doth transcend, "Grant that her charming beauty I may see ! "For ever view thofe eyes, whofe charming light, "More than theworld befides, does please my fight. "Those who contemn thy facred deity, "Laugh at thy power, make them thine anger "I faultlefs am; what honour can it be, 6.6 know Only to wound your slave, and spare your foe ?” Thinking her love he never shall obtain, One morn he haunts the woods, and doth complain Of his unhappy fate, but all in vain; And thus fond Echo anfwers him again : It mov'd Aurora, and the wept to hear, : |