Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A PASTORAL DIALOGUE: SHEPHERD, NYMPH, CHORUS, by THOMAS CAREW


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A PASTORAL DIALOGUE: SHEPHERD, NYMPH, CHORUS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: This mossy bank they pressed
Last Line: Grief interrupted speech with tears' supplies.
Subject(s): Country Life


Shepherd, Nymph, Chorus

Shepherd
This mossy bank they pressed.

Nymph
That aged oak
Did canopy the happy pair
All night from the damp air.

Chorus
Here let us sit, and sing the words they spoke,
Till the day, breaking, their embraces broke.

Shepherd
See, Love, the blushes of the morn appear,
And now she hangs her pearly store,
Robbed from the eastern shore
In the cowslip's bell and roses rare;
Sweet, I must stay no longer here!

Nymph
Those streaks of doubtful light usher not day,
But show my sun must set; no morn
Shall shine till thou return;
The yellow planets and the grey
Dawn shall attend thee on thy way.

Shepherd
If thine eyes gild my paths, they may forbear
Their useless shine.

Nymph
My tears will quite
Extinguish their faint light.

Shepherd
Those drops will make their beams more clear,
Love's flames will shine in every tear.

Chorus
They kissed and wept, and from their lips and eyes,
In a mixed dew, of briny sweet
Their joys and sorrows meet;
But she cries out.

Nymph
Shepherd, arise,
The sun betrays us else to spies.

Shepherd
The winged hours fly fast whilst we embrace,
But when we want their help to meet,
They move with leaden feet.

Nymph
Then let us pinion time, and chase
The day forever from this place.

Shepherd
Hark!

Nymph
Ay me! stay!

Shepherd
Forever:

Nymph
No! arise!
We must be gone!

Shepherd
My nest of spice!

Nymph
My soul!

Shepherd
My paradise!

Chorus
Neither could say farewell, but through their eyes
Grief interrupted speech with tears' supplies.






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