Gal. You must my Wounds and my Misfortunes bear
Before you can become my Counsellor.
You cannot guess the Torments I endure:
Not knowing the Disease you’ll miss the Cure.
Am. Physicians, Madam, can the Patient heal
Although the Malady they ne’er did feel;
But your Disease is epidemical,
Nor can I that evade that conquers all.
I lov’d, and never did like pleasure know,
Which Passion did with time less vigorous grow.
Gal. Why, hast thou lost it?
Am. It, and half a score.
Gal. Losing the first, sure thou couldst love no more.
Am. With more facility, than when the Dart Arm’d with resistless fire first seiz’d my Heart; ’.was long then e’er the Boy could entrance get, And make his little Victory compleat; And now he’as got the knack on’t, ‘tis with ease He domineers, and enters when he please.
Gal. My Heart, Aminta, is not like to thine.
Am. Faith, Madam, try, you’ll find it just like mine.
The first I lov’d was Philocles, and then
Made Protestations ne’er to love again,
Yet after left him for a faithless crime;
But then I languisht even to death for him;
—But Love who suffer’d me to take no rest,
New fire-balls threw, the old scarce dispossest;
And by the greater flame the lesser light,
Like Candles in the Sun extinguished quite,
And left no power Alcander to resist,
Who took, and keeps possession of my breast.
Gal. Art thou a Lover then, and look’st so gay, But thou hast ne’er a Father to obey. [Sighing.
Am. Why, if I had I would obey him too.