| John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913. | | | | Songs from the Plays | | Song betwixt a Shepherd and a Shepherdess, from The Duke of Guise |
| | | Shepherdess. Tell me Thirsis, tell your Anguish, | |
| Why you Sigh, and why you Languish; | |
| When the Nymph whom you Adore, | |
| Grants the Blessing of Possessing, | |
| What can Love and I do more? | 5 |
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| Shepherd. Think it’s Love beyond all Measure, | |
| Makes me faint away with Pleasure; | |
| Strength of Cordial may destroy, | |
| And the Blessing of possessing | |
| Kills me with Excess of Joy. | 10 |
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| Shepherdess. Thirsis, how can I believe you? | |
| But confess and I’le forgive you; | |
| Men are false, and so are you; | |
| Never Nature fram’d a Creature | |
| To enjoy, and yet be true. | 15 |
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| Shepherd. Mine’s a Flame beyond expiring, | |
| Still possessing, still desiring, | |
| Fit for Love’s imperial Crown; | |
| Ever shining, and refining, | |
| Still the more ’tis melted down. | 20 |
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| Chorus together. Mine’s a Flame beyond expiring, | |
| Still possessing, still desiring, | |
| Fit for Love’s imperial Crown; | |
| Ever shining, and refining, | |
| Still the more ’tis melted down. | 25 | | | |
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