The Night

Chariessa.

What if Night
Should betray us, and reveal
To the light
All the pleasures that we steal?

Philocharis.

Fairest, we
Safely may this fear despise;
How can She
See our actions who wants eyes?

Chariessa.

Each dim star
And the clearer lights, we know,
Night's eyes are;
They were blind that thought her so!

Philocharis.

Those pale fires
Only burn to yield a light
T' our desires,
And though blind, to give us sight.

Chariessa.

By this shade
That surrounds us might our flame
Be betray'd,
And the day disclose its name.

Philocharis.

Dearest Fair,
These dark witnesses we find
Silent are;
Night is dumb as well as blind.

Chorus.

Then whilst these black shades conceal us,
We will scorn
Th' envious Morn,
And the Sun that would reveal us.
Our flames shall thus their mutual light betray,
And night, with these joys crown'd, outshine the day.