"It fhall not fure be said that thou didst die,
"And thy Conftantia live when thou wast slain :
"No, no, dear foul ! I will not stay from thee;
"That will reflect upon my valued fame.”

Then piercing her fad breaft, " I come!" the cries, And death for ever clos'd her weeping eyes.

Her foul being fled to its eternal rest,

Her father comes, and, feeing this, he falls
To th' earth, with grief too great to be expreft:
Whose doleful words my tir'd Muse me calls
'T' o'erpass; which I most gladly do, for fear
That I fhould toil too much the reader's ear.

THE TRAGICAL HISTORY

PYRAMUS AND THIS BE..

MR.

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL,

MY VERY LOVING MASTER.

LAMBERT OS BOLSTON,,

Chief School-master of Weftminfter School.

SIR,

M

Y childish Mufe is in her fpring, and yet
Can only fhew fome budding of her wit.
One frown upon her work, learn'd Sir, from you,
Like fome unkinder ftorm fhot from your brow,
Would turn her spring to withering autumn's time,
And make her bloffoms perish ere their prime.
But if you fmile, if in your gracious eye
She an aufpicious alpha can defcry,

How foon will they grow fruit! how fresh appear
That had fuch beams their infancy to chear!
Which being sprung to ripeness, expect then
The earlieft offering of her grateful pen.

Your moft dutiful Scholar,

ABR. COWLEY,

PYRAMUS

PYRAMUS AND THISBE.

WH

HEN Babylon's high walls erected were
By mighty Ninus' wife, two houses join'd.
One Thisbe liv'd in, Pyramus the fair

:

In th' other earth ne'er boafted fuch a pair!
The
very fenfelefs walls themfelves combin'd,
And grew in one, just like their masters' mind.
Thisbe all other women did excel,

The Queen of Love lefs lovely was than fhe :
And Pyramus more fweet than tongue can tell;
Nature grew proud in framing them so well.
But Venus, envying they fo fair fhould be,
Bids her fon Cupid fhew his cruelty.

The all-fubduing God his bow doth bend,
Whets and prepares his moft remorfeless dart,
Which he unfeen unto their hearts did fend,
And fo was Love the caufe of Beauty's end.
But could he fee, he had not wrought their fmart.;
For pity fure would have o'ercome his heart.

Like as a bird, which in a net is ta'en,
By ftruggling more entangles in the gin;
So they, who in Love's labyrinth remain,
With striving never can a freedom gain.
The way to enter 's broad; but, being in,
No art, no labour, can an exit win,

Thefe lovers, though their parents did reprove Their fires, and watch'd their deeds with jealoufy; Though in these storms no comfort could remove The various doubts and fears that cool hot love'; Though he nor her's, nor fhe his face could fee, Yet this could not abolish Love's decree :

For age had crack'd the wall which did them part;
This the unanimate couple foon did spy,

And here their inward forrows did impart,
Unlading the fad burthen of their heart.

Though Love be blind, this fhews he can descry
A way to leffen his own mifery.

Oft to the friendly cranny they resort,

And feed themselves with the celeftial air
Of odoriferous breath; no other sport

They could enjoy; yet think the time but short,
And wish that it again renewed were,

To fuck each other's breath for ever there.

Sometimes they did exclaim against their fate,
And fometimes they accus'd imperial Jove;
Sometimes repent their flames: but all too late.;
The arrow could not be recall'd: their state
Was firft ordain'd by Jupiter above,

And Cupid had appointed they should love.

They curft the wall that did their kiffes part,
And to the stones their mournful words they fent,
As if they faw the forrow of their heart,
And by their tears could understand their smart:
But it was hard, and knew not what they meant,
Nor with their fighs, alas! would it relent.

This in effect they faid; " Curs'd wall! O why
"Wilt thou our bodies fever, whofe true love
"Breaks thorough all thy flinty cruelty!
"For both our fouls fo closely joined lie,

"That nought but angry death can them remove; "And though he part them, yet they'll meet above." Abortive tears from their fair eyes out-flow'd, And damm'd the lovely fplendor of their fight, Which feem'd like Titan, whilft fome watery cloud O'erfpreads his face, and his bright beams doth shroud; Till Vefper chas'd away the conquer'd light, And forceth them (though loth) to bid good-night.

But ere Aurora, ufher to the day,

Began with welcome luftre to appear, The lovers rife, and at that cranny, they Thus to each other their thoughts open lay, With many a figh and many a speaking tear; Whofe grief the pitying morning blusht to hear. "Dear Love!" faid Pyramus," how long fhall we, "Like fairest flowers not gather'd in their prime, "Waste precious youth, and let advantage flee, "Till we bewail (at laft) our cruelty

"Upon ourselves? for beauty, though it shine "Like day, will quickly find an evening-time. "Therefore, fweet Thisbe, let us meet this night "At Ninus' tomb, without the city wall, "Under the mulberry-tree, with berries white Abounding, there t' enjoy our wish'd delight. "For mounting love, stopt in its course, doth fall, And long'd-for, yet untafted, joy kills all.

"What