Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/529

COUNTESS OF WINCHILSEA 391 �Which ne'er was truly bless'd, 'till this glad Moment. �Now Amalintha, let my Joys o'erflow; �And ere I ask what brought thee to my sight, �Let it be filled with thy amazing Beauties, �And with this Hand my longing Lips be clos'd. �[Kisses her Hand. �Amal. Thus, after each short absence, may we meet, Thus pleas'd, thus wrapt in Love, thus dying fond. But Oh Aristor! since I last beheld you, So has this Life been threaten'd by the Fates, 330 �That to your Arms 'tis forc'd for Peace and Safety. �Aristor. Still may they prove a Haven for my Love, Too strong for all the Shocks of rig'rous Fortune. But what beneath thy Father's Koof cou'd fright thee? Or what bold Danger break thro' his Protection? �Amal. 'Twas from Himself, and all the Lords of Sparta. When Aristomenes they found escap'd, High was their Rage as Billows in a Tempest; And all the Arts of State were put in use To find who had assisted in his Flight : 340 �But still in vain, 'till subtle, vile Clarinthus �Aristor. That Villain will be first in Blood and Mischief. But cou'd he pry into thy generous Heart, And find it there, that you had nobly done it? And are not secret Thoughts secure against him? �Amal. I did believe them so, 'till he disprov'd it: For 'twas his Counsel, when all others fail'd, To know by speaking Gods the deep Contrivance ; And from the Oracle, in some few Moments, The full Discov'ry will have reach'd Phcerea. 350 �Which ere it does, I was advis'd to leave, By one that heard the horrid Voice accuse me, And with a Speed unmark'd outflew the rest. �Aristor. As swiftly may the bounteous Gods reward him. ��� �