Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/461

COUNTESS OF WINCHILSEA 323 �[He puts the dagger within his cloathes and kneels down by the �Queen. �Rest here awhile, thou sure, thou active Cordial, �That I may pray, as sacraficers use, �Before I strike to earth, the ready victime. �O! lovely ruine, beautyfull destruction, [Takes her hand. �To touch this hand whilst life had lent it warmth, �Had been to mine, thats so, transporting pleasure 100 �Perhaps 'twill be the same, when both are cold. �Therefore I'll haste, th' experiment to try �'Tis death to live, and why not life to dye. �[Going to stab himself with his other hand. �Clar. Hold, hold my lord, she breaths again, she breaths, Oh! hold and rather help us to support her. �[He throws away his dagger, and helps. �Laur. More gladly, then I'd prop the sinking world, If fate, had left that task, to my sole arm. �[She comes a little to herself. �Queen. Where have I been, sure itt was Neptune's court, For Lauredan was newly there arriv'd, �And held a Try dent, for his staff of battel. 110 �I heard his voyce, but oh ! his looks were chang'd And still methought, he told the list'ning Nymphs That 'twas the Queen of Cyprus, sent him theither. �[She struggles. But I will follow him, I will, I will, �Love that could drive Leander o're the deep, �Shall dive with me, throo' all the silver waves, �Till I can find, and tell him I repent. �But Riccio shall not go, he shall not goe, �Least he should urge me still to scorn him there, �And force him to attempt some unknown ruine. 120 �Laur. Oh! harmony, beyond the Thracian Lyre No words e're fell so soft, or peirc'd so deep. ��� �