[_The Self-deceiver._] (On Stanley's translations see Introduction.) Juan Perez de Montalvan (1602-1638) belonged to the best age of Spanish literature, and was, in proportion, almost as prolific in plays and _autos_ as his master Lope. He was accused of 'Gongorism', and this piece is one somewhat of 'conviction'.] _The Cure._ _Nymph._ What busy cares too timely born (Young Swain!) disturb thy sleep? Thy early sighs awake the Morn, Thy tears teach her to weep. _Shepherd._ Sorrows, fair Nymph, are full alone; Nor counsel can endure. _Nymph._ Yet thine disclose, for until known Sickness admits no cure. _Shepherd._ My griefs are such as but to hear Would poison all thy joys, 10 The pity which thou seem'st to bear My health, thine own destroys. _Nymph._ How can diseaséd minds infect? Say what thy grief doth move! _Shepherd._ Call up thy virtue to protect Thy heart, and know 'twas love. _Nymph._ Fond Swain! _Shepherd._ By which I have been long Destin'd to meet with hate. _Nymph._ Fy, Shepherd, fy: thou dost love wrong, To call thy crime thy fate. 20 _Shepherd._ Alas what cunning could decline What force can love repel? _Nymph._ Yet, there 's a way to unconfine Thy heart. _Shepherd._ For pity tell. _Nymph._ Choose one whose love may be allur'd By thine: who ever knew Inveterate diseases cur'd But by receiving new? _Shepherd._ All will like her my soul perplex. _Nymph._ Yet try. _Shepherd._ Oh could there be, 30 But any softness in that sex, I'd wish it were in thee. _Nymph._ Thy prayer is heard: learn now t' esteem The kindness she hath shown, Who thy lost freedom to redeem Hath forfeited her own. [_The Cure_. As this appears only in _1651_ there are no variants. The 'common measure' has little of the magic common at the time, and is sometimes banal to eighteenth-century level. But we rise in the next.] _Celia Singing._