The Works of Alexander Pope Esq Author:Alexander Pope Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: From thy dear fide I have no pow'r to part, Such fecret tranfports warm my melting heart. For who that once poflefs'd thofe heav'nly charms, Could live one momen... more »t abfent from thy arms ? 574 He ceas'd, and May with modeft grace reply'd ; (Weak was her voice, as while fhe fpoke fhe cry'd ;) Heav'n knows (with that a tender figh flie drew) I have a foul to fave as well as you ; And, what no lefs you to my charge commend, My deareft honour, will to death defend. 580 To you in holy Church I gave my hand, And join'd my heart in wedlock's facred band: Yet, after this, if you diftruft my care, Then hear, my Lord, and witnefs what I fwear : Firft may the yawning earth her bofom rend, And let me hence to hell alive defcend; 586 Or die the death I dread no lefs than hell, Sew'd in a fack, and plung'd into a well: Ere I my fame by one lewd aft difgrace, Or once renounce the honour of my race. 590 For know, Sir Knight, of gentle bloqd I came, I loath a whore, and ftarfle at the name. But jealous men on their own crimes refledt, And learn from thence their ladies to fufpeft: Elfe why thefe needlefs cautions, Sir, to me ? 595 Thefe doubts and fears of female conftancy ! This chime ftill rings in ev'ry lady's ear, The only ftrain a wife muft hope to hear, Thus while fhe fpoke a fidelong glance me caft, Where Damian kneeling, worfhip'd as ftie paft: 600 She faw him watch the motions of her eye, And fingled out a pear-tree planted nigh: 'Twas charg'd with fruit that made a goodly mow, And hung with dangling pears was ev'ry bough. Thither th' obfequious Squire addrefs'd his pace, And climbing, in the fummit took his place ; 606 The Knight and Lady walk'd beneath in view, Where let us leave them, and our tale purfue. 'Twas now the feafon when the glorious fun His heav'nly prog...« less