When Love shall two fair objects mix,
And in the Heart two passions fix:
'Tis a pleasure too severe,
Cruel Joy we cannot bear,
Too much Love for two I own,
But too little flame for one.
While I was thus perplext betwixt these two violent passions, when no reason cou'd resolve me which to choose, as I was one day meditating what to do in this extremity, a Woman presented herself to me, whose Beauty was infinitely transcending all I had ever beheld; she had a noble and Majestick meen, a most Divine Air, and her charms cast so great a Lustre that I was dazzl'd with Gazing on her; she struck me with so profound a respect at the first sight of her Glory's, that I cou'd not forbear throwing myself at her feet, imploring I might be eternally permitted to Adore her; and to become her slave. When raising me from the ground, and looking on me with Eyes more Majestick than kind, she said to me in a loud voyce:
Fly, Lysidus, this hated Place,
Too long thou'st bin a slave to Love.
Thy youth has yet a nobler Race
In more Illustrious paths to move.
Glory your fonder flame controuls,
Glory, the life of generous Souls.
Once you must Love to learn to live,
'Tis the first lesson you shou'd learn;
Useful instructions Love will give,
If you avoid too much concern:
Loves flame, thô in appearance bright,
Deceives with false and glittering light.
But, Lysidus, the time is come
You must to Beauty bid adieu;
Recal your wandering passions home.
And only be to Glory true;
She is a Mistress that will last
When all Loves fires are gone and past.
Those words, repeated to me with an Air haughty and imperious, toucht me to the very Soul, and made me blush a thousand times with shame to behold myself in that ridiculous state, almost reduc'd to the same tenderness for Bellinda and Bellimante I had before had for Silvia; but I soon found my error and in an instant became more in Love with Glory than I had ever been in my life. Insomuch that I resolv'd to leave Irresolution and follow her. I confess at first it gave my heart som little pain to withdraw and dis-ingage it from so long and so fond a custom, and I was more than once forc'd to parley thus with my intractable and stubborn heart.
Oh! fond remembrance! do not bring
False notions to my easy heart.
And make the foolish tender thing
Think, that with Love it cannot part;
Or dy when er'e the charming God
Forsak's his old and kind abode.
And thou, my heart, be calm and Pleas'd,
For better hours thou now shalt see,
Of all thy Anxious torments eas'd
From all thy toyles and slavery free,
From Beauties Pride and peevish scorns,
From Wits Intregueing false returns.
'Tis Honour now thou shalt persue,
Her dictates only shalt obey;
Yet Beauty en Passant may view
And be with all loves Pleasures Gay,
Quench when you please resistless fires,
But make no business of desires.
Thus, my dear Lysander, following Glory, I soon arriv'd at the extent of the Island of Love, and there I incounter'd a thousand Beauties, Attractions, Graces and Agreements; all which endeavor'd anew, but in vain, to engage me. I past by 'em all without any regard only sight, as I beheld 'em with the remembrance, how once the meanest of those Beauties wou'd have charm'd me. I lookt back on all those happy shades, who had been conscious of my softest pleasures, and a thousand times I sighing bid 'em farewell; the Rivers, Springs and Fountains had my wishes that they might still be true and favor Lovers, as they had a thousand times done me. These dear remembrance, you may believe, stay'd some time with me, yet I wou'd not for an Empire have return'd to 'em again, nor have liv'd that life over anew I had so long and with so much pleasure persu'd.