HELEN TO PARIS. THESEUS repented, so should PARIS do, With him that loves her? If your heart agree Or do not know the beauty of my face: Let others sin, and hours of pleasure waste, I must confess my mother made a rape, To your unjust request, nothing can shield HELEN TO PARIS. Me from reproach; I cannot plead concealing: T'omit high Jove, of whom I stand in awe, As the great grandsire to our father-in-law; Το pass the kin I claim from TANTALUS, Of people, whom you boast your streets to cumber: HELEN TO PARIS. Yet your's a barbarous nation is, I tell you, But you're a wag in troth, the notes and signs You make at table, in the meats and wines, I have observ'd, when I least seem'd to mind them, For at the first my curious eye did find them. Sometimes (you wanton) your: fix'd eye advances His brightness against mine, darting sweet glances, Out-gazing me with such a steadfast look, That my dazl'd eyes their splendor have forsook; And then you sigh, and by and by you stretch Your amorous arm outright, the bowl to reach HELEN TO PARIS. That next me stands, making excuse to sip And still I fear'd my husband would have 'spy'd you; At such known signs I could not chuse but blush; This man at nothing shames. Is this (I pray) (Good sooth) at first I could not scan the line, Nor understand your meaning. Now (oh! spite) These blandishments have power chaste thoughts to Or if I could be mov'd to step astray, These would provoke me to lascivious play: Besides, I must confess, you have a face So admirable rare, so full of grace, [change. That it hath power to woo, and to make seizure Of the most bright chaste beauties to your pleasure. Yet had I rather stainless keep my fame, Than to a stranger hazard my good name. HELEN TO PARIS. Make me your instance, and forbear the fair; Of that which most doth please you, make most spare. The greatest virtues, of which wise men boast, Is to obtain from that which pleaseth most. How many gallant youths (think you) desire That which you covet, scorch'd with the self-same fire? Are all the world fools? only PARIS wise? Or is there none, save you, have judging eyes? No, no, you view no more than others see, But you are plainer and more bold with me. You are more earnest to pursue your game; I yield you not more knowledge, but less shame. I would to God that you had sail'd from Troy, When my virginity and bed t' enjoy, A thousand gallant princely suitors came: Had I beheld young PARIS, I proclaim, Of all those thousand I had made you chief, And Spartan MENELAUS, to his grief, Should to my censure have subscrib'd and yielded. But now (alas!) your hopes are weakly builded: You covet goods possess'd, pleasures foretasted; Tardy you come, that should before have hasted; What you desire, another claims as due: As I could wish to have been espous❜d to you, So let me tell you, since it is my fate, I hold me happy in my present state. Then cease, fair prince, an idle suit to move, Seek not to harm her whom you seem to love. |