Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ALMANZOR & ALMAHIDE, OR THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA: SONG OF ZAMBRA DANCE, by JOHN DRYDEN



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ALMANZOR & ALMAHIDE, OR THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA: SONG OF ZAMBRA DANCE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Beneath a myrtle shade
Last Line: Asleep or waking you must ease my pain.
Variant Title(s): Prologues, Epilogues And Songs From The Conquest Of Granada: 3
Subject(s): Flowers; Love; Nymphs; Singing & Singers; Sleep; Songs


1

BENEATH a Myrtle shade
Which Love for none but happy Lovers made,
I slept, and straight my Love before me brought
Phillis the object of my waking thought;
Undres'd she came my flames to meet,
While Love strow'd flow'rs beneath her feet;
Flow'rs, which so press'd by her, became more sweet.

2

From the bright Visions Head
A careless vail of Lawn was loosely spread:
From her white temples fell her shaded hair,
Like cloudy sunshine not too brown nor fair:
Her hands, her lips did love inspire;
Her ev'ry grace my heart did fire:
But most her eyes which languish'd with desire.

3

Ah, Charming fair, said I,
How long can you my bliss and yours deny?
By Nature and by love this lonely shade
Was for revenge of suffring Lovers made:
Silence and shades with love agree:
Both shelter you and favour me;
You cannot blush because I cannot see.

4

No, let me dye, she said,
Rather than loose the spotless name of Maid:
Faintly methought she spoke, for all the while
She bid me not believe her, with a smile.
Then dye, said I, she still deny'd:
And is it thus, thus, thus she cry'd
You use a harmless Maid, and so she dy'd!

5

I wak'd, and straight I knew
I lov'd so well it made my dream prove true:
Fancy, the kinder Mistress of the two,
Fancy had done what Phillis wou'd not do!
Ah, Cruel Nymph, cease your disdain,
While I can dream you scorn in vain;
Asleep or waking you must ease my pain.





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