Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/418

280 THE POEMS OF ANNE �Ne'ere had I listen' d to those fair pretences. �Which drew me thence, to misery, and Rhodes. �To see my Lord, doat on another face, �Whilst not one feature here, he doth suspect �To be the same he lov'd in poor Marina. �Oh why Rivalto, why, would you deceive me, 170 �Why wou'd you work all this, why wou'd you love ? �Riv. Why, wou'd you lett me know that you cou'd love And talk, above the rate of other women? Why wou'd you rob me of a safe belief (The only guard against enticing beauty,) That all your sex, were foolish, vain, inconstant, Form'd of a rib, beneath the heart of man. The seat of noble, and exalted passions, And only made pertakers of his spleen, By which they laugh, and weep, and love, and hate, 180 And steer the course of their uncertain souls, Why did you let me see, to my undoing, You was not thus, and charm me from my refuge ? �Car. Think on your order and your vow Rivalto, Oh! think of that, and leave to urge me more, For what, you shou'd not take, if itt were granted �Riv. When itt was made, war was my soverain passion, And Faith, I swore, to that my native cheif, But love prevailing ore my alter' d heart, Tells me to love, I only owe obedience ; 190 �Therfore to you, the Pow'r that sways my soul, Upon my knees, again I will repeat them, And on this altar, white as Parian marble, Seal and confirm, th' irrevocable oath. �[Offers to take her hand. �Car. Oh! hear me first, what I intend to swear, �[Shee kneels. Tis now my turn, you've done itt once already. �By all the hearts, that bleed without return, ��� �