176
GONDIBERT,
60.
How, more than death, shall I my life despise,
When your fear'd frowns, make me your service fear;
When I scarce dare to say, that the disguise
You shrink to see, you must vouchsafe to wear.
How, more than death, shall I my life despise,
When your fear'd frowns, make me your service fear;
When I scarce dare to say, that the disguise
You shrink to see, you must vouchsafe to wear.
61.
So rude a Law your int'rest will impose;
And solid int'rest must not yield to shame:
Vain shame, which fears you should such honour lose,
As lasts but by intelligence with Fame.
So rude a Law your int'rest will impose;
And solid int'rest must not yield to shame:
Vain shame, which fears you should such honour lose,
As lasts but by intelligence with Fame.
62.
Number, which makes opinion Law, can turn
This shape to fashion, which you scorn to use,
Because not by your Sex as fashion worn;
And fashion is but that which Numbers chuse.
Number, which makes opinion Law, can turn
This shape to fashion, which you scorn to use,
Because not by your Sex as fashion worn;
And fashion is but that which Numbers chuse.
63.
If you approve what Numbers lawfull think,
Be bold, for Number cancels bashfulness;
Extreams, from which a King would blushing shrink,
Unblushing Senates act as no excess.
If you approve what Numbers lawfull think,
Be bold, for Number cancels bashfulness;
Extreams, from which a King would blushing shrink,
Unblushing Senates act as no excess.
64.
Thus he his thoughts (the picture of his mind)
By a dark Vayl to sudden sight deny'd;
That she might prise, what seem'd so hard to find;
For Curtains promise worth in what they hide.
Thus he his thoughts (the picture of his mind)
By a dark Vayl to sudden sight deny'd;
That she might prise, what seem'd so hard to find;
For Curtains promise worth in what they hide.
65.
He said her Manhood would not strange appear
In Court, where all the fashion is disguise;
Where Masquerades are serious all the year,
None known but strangers, nor secure but Spies.
He said her Manhood would not strange appear
In Court, where all the fashion is disguise;
Where Masquerades are serious all the year,
None known but strangers, nor secure but Spies.
66.
All rules he reads of living great in Courts,
Which some the Art of wise dissembling call;
For Pow'r (born to have Foes) much weight supports
By their false strength who thrust to make it fall.
All rules he reads of living great in Courts,
Which some the Art of wise dissembling call;
For Pow'r (born to have Foes) much weight supports
By their false strength who thrust to make it fall.
He
