_Amyntas_ on a Holyday
As fine as any Lord of _May_,
Amongst the Nimphs, and jolly Swaines,
That feed their Flocks upon the Plaines:
Met in a Grove beneath whose shade,
A Match of Dancing they had made.
His Cassock was of Green, as trim
As Grass upon a River brim;
Untoucht or sullied with a spot,
Unprest by either Lamb or Goat:
And with the Air it loosely play’d,
With every motion that he made.
His Sleeves a-many Ribbons ties,
Where one might read Love-Mysteries:
As if that way he wou’d impart,
To all, the Sentiments of his Heart,
Whose Passions by those Colours known,
He with a Charming Pride wou’d own.
His Bonnet with the same was Ti’d,
A Silver Scrip hung by his Side:
His Buskins garnisht A-la-mode,
Were grac’d by every step he Trod;
Like _Pan_, a Majesty he took,
And like _Apollo_ when he spoke.
His Hook a Wreath of Flowers Braid,
The Present of some Love-sick Maid,
Who all the morning had bestow’d,
And to her Fancy now compos’d:
Which fresher seem’d when near that place,
To whom the Giver Captive was.
His Eyes their best Attracts put on,
Designing some should be undone;
For he could at his pleasure move,
The Nymphs he lik’d to fall in Love:
Yet so he order’d every Glance,
That still they seem’d but Wounds of Chance.
He well cou’d feign an Innocence,
And taught his Silence Eloquence;
Each Smile he us’d, had got the force,
To Conquer more than soft Discourse:
Which when it serv’d his Ends he’d use,
And subtilly thro’ a heart infuse.
His Wit was such it cou’d controul
The Resolutions of a Soul;
That a Religious Vow had made,
By Love it nere wou’d be betra’d:
For when he spoke he well cou’d prove
Their Errors who dispute with Love.
With all these Charms he did Address
Himself to every Shepherdess:
Until the Bag-pipes which did play,
Began the Bus’ness of the day;
And in the taking forth to Dance,
The Lovely Swain became my Chance.
To whom much Passion he did Vow,
And much his Eyes and Sighs did show;
And both imploy’d with so much Art,
I strove in vain to guard my Heart;
And ere the Night our Revels crost,
I was intirely won and lost.
Let me advise thee, _Amoret_,
Fly from the Baits that he has set
In every grace; which will betray
All Beauties that but look that way:
But thou hast Charms that will secure
A Captive in this Conquerour.
_Our Cabal._
Come, my fair _Cloris_, come away,
Hast thou forgot ‘tis Holyday?
And lovely _Silvia_ too make haste,
The Sun is up, the day does waste:
Do’st thou not hear the Musick loud,
Mix’d with the murmur of the Crowd?
How can thy active Feet be still,
And hear the Bag-pipes chearful Trill?
_Mr._ V. U.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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