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Show i6 The FAIR PENITENT. M y trembling Heart forbodes, let m e intreat you* ISJever to fee this faithlefs M a n again: Let m e forbid his Coming! Cat. O n thy Life - * I «hargf thee no; m y Genius driyes m e on 5 I muft, 1 will behold h;m once again; Perhaps it is the Crifis of m y Fate, And this one Interview fhall end m y C-res. M y lab'ring Heart, that fweils with Indignation, Heaves to dilcharge the Burden; that once done, T h e bufy thing fhall reft within its Cell, And never beat again. Luc. Truft not to that. Rage is the fhorteft P fli n of our Souls, Like narrow Brooks that r;fe with fudden Show'ra, It fweils in hafte, and falls again as foon } Still as itefjbs, the'fofter Thoughts flow in, And the Deceiver Love fupplies its place. Cal. I have been wrong'd enough to arm m y Temper Againft the fmooth Delufion -, but alas! (Chide not m y Weaknefs, gentle Maid, but pity me) A Woman's Softnefs hangs about meftid: T h e n let m e biufh, and tell thee all m y Folly. I fwear I could not fee the dear Betrayer Kneel at m y Feet, and figh f be forgiven, But m y relenting Heart would pardon all, And quite forget 'twas he that had undone me. Luc. Yefacred Pow'rs, whofe gracious Providence Is watchful for our Good, guard m e from Men, From their deceitful Tongues, their Vows and Flat- Still let m e pafs negle&ed by their Eyes, (tenesj Let m y Bloom wither, and m y Form decay, That none may think it worth his while to ruin me, And fatal Love may never be m y Bane. Cal. H a ! Altamont! Califta, now be waty, And guard thy Soul's Acceffes with DifTemblingsj Nor let this hoftile Husband's Eyes txplore T h e warring Paftions, and tumultuous Thoughts, That rage wiihin thee, dfform thy Reafon. Enter Zir FAIR PENITENT. 17 Enter Altamont. Jit Begone m y Cares, I give you to the U ,„df, /to be borne, far from :he happy Altamont; £ from th s facred J£ra of m y Love, better Order ot fuccceding Days |jme finding forward, white and lucky all. ^istheMiftrefsoftheYear. he crowns rhe Seafons with afp cious Beauty, nd bids ev'n all m y Hours be good and joyiul. Cal. h i was ever Miftrefs of luch Happincfs, h! wherefore did I play th' unthrifty Fool, nd, w.fting a 1 on others, leave myfelf « ithout one Thought of Joy to give m e Comfort f Jit. O h mighty Love! fhall that fair Face profane 'his thy great Feftival with Frowns and Sadnefs! fwear it fha'not be, for 1 will woo thee Pith Sighs fo moving, with (a warm a Tranfport, That thou {hilt catch the gentle Flame from me, jlnd kindle info Joy. Cal. I tell thee, Altamont, uch Hearts as ours were never pair'd abov?, 1 fu ted to each other $ join'd, not rnatch'd; ome fullen Influence, a Foe to both, as wrought this fatal Marriage to undo us. ark but the Frame and Temper of our Minds, [ow very much we d.fFer. Ev'n this Day, hat fills thee with fuch Exftafy and Tranfport, o me brings nothing that fhould make m e blefs itf r think it better thm the Day before, rany other in the Courfe of Time, hat dully took its turn, and was forgotten. ^ Alt. If to behold thee as m y Pledge of Happinefs, To know.none fair, none excellent, befide thee3 I ftill to love thee with unweary'd Conftancy, Through ev'ry Seafon, ev'ry Change of Life, Through wrinkled Age, through Sicknefs and Misfor- Ke wonh the leaft Return of grateful Love, Oune, U then let my Calfia blefs this Day, And fet it down for happy. Cal |
