If You Please We'll Hear Another

If you please we'll hear another
Timid maid, without the mother.
Unless you are tired, for these
We must travel into Greece.
I know every bay and creek;
Fear no pirate in the Greek.
Here we are, and there is she;
Stand and hide behind the tree.
She will (for I'm grave and gray)
Tell me all she has to say.
Guest. Violet-eyed little maid!
Of what are you afraid?

Maid . O! it is Dian's spear,
Sharp-pointed, I most fear.
Guest. So then you would prefer
Venus, I think, to her?
Maid. Yes; Venus is so good!
I only wish she would
Keep her sad boy away
Who mocks at all I say.
Guest. What could he then have heard?
Maid. Don't ask me . . Every word!
Guest. She has heard me ere now.
If you repeat the vow,
I will repeat it too,
And that perhaps may do:
Where there is only one
But little can be done.
Maid. Perhaps tho' you may blame . .
Ah me! I am all flame.
Guest. W ith love?
Maid. No, no; with shame.
Guest. Each word that you repeat
Will much abate the heat.
Maid. Well then . . I pray . . Don't ask . .
I can not bear the task.
Guest. Of all the queens above
Fear most the queen of love.
For those alone she cares
Who well repeat their prayers.
Maid. O then I must, I find,
(But do not look) be blind.
W ell, well, now! you shall hear;
But don't come quite so near.
PRAYER.
' Venus! I fear thy dove
Is somewhere in my breast:
Yes, yes, I feel him move,
He will not let me rest.
If he should ever go,
I fancy I should sink;
He fans and wafts me so,
I think . . what do I think?
O Venus! thou canst tell . .
'Tis wicked to rebel! '
'Twas Love: I heard him speak,
But dared not turn my neck;

I felt his torch so near
And trembled so with fear
I thought I should have died.
Guest. And was there none beside?
Maid. The goddess in white stone
And one young man alone,
His eyes upon the ground,
And lost in thought profound.
Methinks I see him yet,
And never can forget:
For I was almost glad
To see him look so sad,
And gravely disapprove
The mockery of Love.
Guest. Should Love then reappear,
May that young man be near,
And pray the queen of beauty
To make him do his duty.