_Arcadia_, keep your peace, but give me leave, Who knew the _Heroes Loyalty_, to grieve; Once, _Thirsis_, by th’ _Arcadian_ Kings Commands, I left these Shades, to visit foreign Lands; Imploy’d in public toils of State Affairs, Unusual with my Sex, or to my Years; There ‘twas my chance, so Fortune did ordain, To see this great, this good, this God-like Man: Brave, Pious, Loyal, Just, without constraint, The Soul all _Angell_, and the Man a _Saint_; His temper’d mind no Passion e’er inflam’d, But when his _King_ and _Countrey_ were profan’d; Then oft I’ve seen his generous blood o’er spread His awful face, with a resenting Red, In Anger quit the Room, and would disdain To herd with the Rebellious _Publican_. But, _Thirsis_, ‘twould a worship’d Volume fill, If I the _Heroes_ wondrous Life should tell; His Vertues were his Crime, like _God_ he bow’d A necessary Victim to the frantick Croud; So a tall sheltring _Oak_ that long had stood, The mid-days shade, and glory of the _Wood_; Whose aged boughs a reverence did command, Fell lop’d at last by an Ignoble hand: And all his branches are in pieces torn, That _Victors_ grac’d, and did the Wood adorn. --With him young _Silvio_, who compos’d his Joys, The darling of his Soul and of his Eyes, Inheriting the Vertues of his _Sire_, But all his own is his Poetic fire; When young, the _Gods_ of _Love_, and _Wit_ did grace The pointed, promis’d Beautys of his face, Which ripening years did to perfection bring, And taught him how to _Love_, and how to _Sing_. _Thirsis._ But what, dear _Amarillis_, was the Theam The Noble _Silvio_ Sung by yonder Stream? _Amarillis._ Not of the _Shepherds_, nor their Rural _Loves_. The Song was Glorious tho ‘twas sung in Groves! _Camilla’s_ Death the skilful _Youth_ inspir’d, As if th’ Heroic _Maid_ his Soul had fir’d; Such life was in his Song, such heat, such flight, As he had seen the Royal _Virgin_ fight. He made her deal her wounds with Graceful Art, } With vigorous Air fling the unfailing Dart, } And form’d her Courage to his own great heart. } Never was fighting in our _Sex_ a Charm, Till _Silvio_ did the bright _Camilla_ Arm; With Noble Modesty he shews us how To be at once _Hero_ and _Woman_ too. Oh Conquering _Maid_! how much thy Fame has won, } In the _Arcadian_ Language to be sung, } And by a Swain so soft, so sweet, so young. } _Thirsis._