Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DIALOGUE; ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE, by THOMAS FLATMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DIALOGUE; ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Eurydice, my fair, my fair eurydice!
Last Line: Helpless, undone eurydice from hell.
Subject(s): Eurydice (nymph); Mythology - Classical; Orpheus


Orpheus.

EURYDICE, my fair, my fair Eurydice!
My love, my joy, my life, if so thou be
In Pluto's kingdom answer me; appear
And come to thy poor Orpheus.-----
Eur. Oh, I hear,
I hear, dear Orpheus, but I cannot come
Beyond the bounds of dull Elysium.
I cannot-----
Orph. And why wilt thou not draw near?
Is there within these courts a shade so dear
As he that calls thee?
Eur. No, there cannot be
A thing so lovely in mine eyes as thee.
Orph. Why comes not then Eurydice?
Eur. The Fates,
The Fates forbid, and these eternal gates,
Never unbarr'd to let a pris'ner go,
Deny me passage; nay, grim Cerberus too
Stands at the door-----
Orph. But cannot then
They that o'er Lethe go, return again?
Eur. Never, oh never! -----
Orph. Sure they may, let's try
If Art can null the Laws of Destiny.
My lays compacted Thebes, made every tree
Loosen its roots to caper; come let's see
What thou and I can do.
Chor. Perchance the throng
Of Ghosts may be enchanted with a song,
And mov'd to pity. -----
Eur. Hark! the hinges move,
The gate's unbarr'd. I come, I come, my Love!

Chorus amborum.

'Twas Music, only Music, could unspell
Helpless, undone Eurydice from Hell.





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