But when she read a gentle damsel’s part,
Her woe, her wish! she had them all by heart.
At length the hero of the boards drew nigh,
Who spake of love till sigh re-echo’d sigh;
He told in honey’d words his deathless flame,
And she his own by tender vows became;
Nor ring nor licence needed souls so fond,
Alfonso’s passion was his Cynthia’s bond:
And thus the simple girl, to shame betray’d,
Sinks to the grave forsaken and dismay’d.