NEMOROSO.
Salicio, friend, farewell!
ECLOGUE III.
TO THE LADY MARIA DE LA CUEVA, COUNTESS OF UREÑA.
TYRRENO. ALCINO.
The pure ambition and sincere desire,
Most beautiful Señora, that whilere
Was wont my soul in secret to inspire,
To sing thy beauty, wit, and virtue rare,
Spite of strong Fortune, that unstrings my lyre,
And turns to other paths my steps of care,
Glows, and shall glow within me, whilst the flame
Of soul lights up this perishable frame.
I fancy even, that after life this flow
Of song shall live; that when my heart grows chill,
And my lips cease to call, in joy or woe,
Eolian murmurs to my pastoral quill,
Freed from its narrow cell my ghost shall go
O'er the dark river, celebrating still
Thy glorious name, and curbing with the sound
Oblivion's waters, slowly stealing round.
But Fate, not satisfied with crossing, rives me
From every good; grief but to grief gives place;
Now from my country, from my love she drives me,
Now proves my patience in a thousand ways;
But what I feel more, is that she deprives me
Of these fond papers where my pen thy praise
Inscribes, and in their room nought, nought supp'ies
But fruitless cares and mournful memories.