But pardon me, (thou Charmer of my Soul!) For I will charge you with no crime at all. Let me hear oft from you, where-e’er you are, For I methinks shou’d in your Fortune share, But above all, I beg you, by the Love Which once you swore shou’d ever constant prove; By all those Vows, which you so often made When on my panting Bosom you have laid, Let me no longer this sad Absence mourn, But bless me, bless me with your kind Return. Adieu--and yet so tender am I grown, I know not how to end these Lines so soon; Oh I that I could but in their Room convey Myself, thou lovely faithless Man, to Thee! Fool that I am, I quite distracted grow, } And talk of things impossible to do; } Adieu,--for I can say no more--Adieu.-- } Love me for ever, and I’ll bear my Fate, (Hard as it is) without the least Regret. LETTER II From a Nun to a Cavalier Alas! it is impossible to tell Th’ afflicting Pains that injur’d Lovers feel. And if my Flame, by what I write, you rate, Then have I made my self unfortunate. Blest should I be, cou’d your own Breast define The raging Passion that I feel in mine; But I must ne’er enjoy that happy Fate: } And if I ’m always doom’d to bear your Hate, } ’Tis base to use me at this barb’rous rate. } Oh! it distracts my Soul when I reflect Upon my slighted Charms, and your Neglect: And ’twill t’ your Honour as destructive be, As ’tis conducive to my Misery.---- It now is come to pass what then I fear’d, When you to leave me in such haste prepar’d. Fool as I was, to think your Flame was true, True as th’ Excessive Love I bear to you! T’ encrease my Torments all your Acts incline; To make me wretched is your whole Design. Nor wou’d your Passion any Ease allow, If only grounded on my Love for you: But I’m so far ev’n from that poor Pretence, Six Months are past since you departed hence; Six tedious Melancholy Months are gone, And I’ve not been so much as thought upon: Blind with the fondness of my own Desire, Else might have found my Joys wou’d soon expire. How cou’d I think that you’d contented be To leave your Friends and Native Place for me? Alas! Remembrance of my former Joys Adds to the Number of my Miseries. Will all my flatt’ring Hopes then prove in vain? Must I ne’er Live to see you here again? Why may not I once more behold your Charms, Once more enfold you in my longing Arms? Why may not I, as heretofore, receive Those sweet transporting Joys which none but you can give?----