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AMYNTAS.
No, we must grant with coyness, and reserve,Not seemingly to gratify ourselves; But as a stately empress would vouchsafe Some signal favour to a trusty vassal. Thus do we keep our gentle majesty. Hence all the necessary tricks of love; We fly, and wish our swain may overtake us: When we refuse, we wish the thing requested, By art, or force, may be extorted from us; And when we struggle with a mock resistance, We wish that our resistance may be baffled. Thyrsis, to you I show, without reserve, The whole œconomy of female love. But have a care; repeat not what I've told you; And above all let not your wanton satire Lash, in keen verse, the government of women: You know I can in verse return the charge; Man for my fatire is an ample field, And I am too a favourite of the Muses.
THYRSIS. How canst thou think that I would let a word
Escape
