Page:The Rehearsal - Villiers (1672).djvu/44

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Bayes. There's a great Verse!

Vols. If Incense thou wilt offer at the Shrine
Vols. Of mighty Love, burn it to none but mine.
Vols. Her Rosie-lips eternal sweets exhale;
Vols. And her bright flames make all flames else look pale.

Bayes. I gad, that is right.

Pret. Perhaps dull Incense may thy love suffice;
Pret. But mine must be ador'd with Sacrifice.
Pret. All hearts turn ashes which her eyes controul:
Pret. The Body they consume as well as Soul.

Vols. My love has yet a power more Divine;
Vols. Victims her Altars burn not, but refine:
Vols. Amid'st the flames they ne'er give up the Ghost,
Vols. But, with her looks, revive still as they roast.
Vols. In spite of pain and death, they're kept alive:
Vols. Her fiery eyes makes 'em in fire survive.

Bayes. That is as well as I can do.

Vols. Let my Parthenope at length prevail.

Bayes. Civil, I gad.

Pret. I'l sooner have a passion for a Whale:
Pret. In whose vast bulk, though store of Oyl doth lye,
Pret. We find more shape more beauty in a Fly.

Smi. That's uncivil, I gad.

Bayes. Yes; but as far a fetch'd fancie, though, I gad, as ever you saw.

Vols. Soft, Pretty-man, let not thy vain pretence
Vols. Of perfect love, defame loves excellence.
Vols. Parthenope is sure as far above
Vols. All other loves, as above all is Love.

Bayes. Ah! I gad, that strikes me.

Pret. To blame my Cloris, Gods would not pretend.

Bayes. Now mark.

Vols. Were all Gods joyn'd, they could not hope to mend
Vols. My better choice: for fair Parthenope,
Vols. Gods would, themselves, un-god themselves to see.

Bayes. Now the Rant's a coming.

Pret.