Page:The Amyntas of Tasso (1770) - Percival Stockdale.djvu/118

With barbarous hand thou pressest down the burden.

THYRSIS.
 If thou art ruled by me thou wilt be happy.

AMYNTAS.
 What is the counsel thou wouldst give me?

THYRSIS.
Go;
Be bold; avail thyself of this occasion.

AMYNTAS.
 Kind heaven forbid that I should e'er commit
Deliberate act that would offend my Sylvia!
I ne'er offended her but by my passion;
I could not blame myself for that; it was
Involuntary, irresistible:
Blame we the trembling, and obedient string,
That speaks, in musick, to the lyrist's finger?
Kind heaven forbid that I should e'er offend her,
By any action on myself depending.

THYRSIS.
 Amyntas, answer me ingenuously:

Su