APHRA BEHN
“The Dream. A Song”
I.
The Grove was gloomy all around,
Murm’ring the Streams did pass,
Where fond Astrea laid her down
Upon a Bed of Grass.
I slept and saw a piteous sight, 5
Cupid a weeping lay,
Till both his little Stars of Light
Had wept themselves away.
II.
Methought I ask’d him why he cry’d,
My Pity led me on: 10
All sighing the sad Boy reply’d,
Alas I am undone!
As I beneath yon Myrtles lay,
Down by Diana’s Springs,
Amyntas stole my Bow away, 15
And Pinion’d both my Wings.
III.
Alas ! cry’d I, ‘twas then thy Darts
Wherewith he wounded me:
Thou Mighty Deity of Hearts,
He stole his Pow’r from thee. 20
Revenge thee, if a God thou be,
Upon the Amorous Swain;
I’ll set thy Wings at Liberty,
And thou shalt fly again.
IV.
And for this Service on my Part, 25
All I implore of thee,
Is, That thou’t wound Amyntas Heart,
And make him die for me.
His Silken Fetters I Unty’d,
And the gay Wings display’d; 30
Which gently fann’d, he mounts and cry’d,
Farewel fond easie Maid.
V.
At this I blush’d, and angry grew
I should a God believe;
And waking found my Dream too true; 35
Alas I was a Slave.
NOTES:
3 Astrea “Goddess of justice and virtue” (Dictionary of Classical Mythology). Also Behn’s poetic name for herself.
6 Cupid “God of love” (OED).
13 Myrtles “Various evergreen shrubs or small trees” (OED).
14 Diana “Goddess of wild animals and the hunt” (Britannica).
15 Amyntas Here a pastoral name for a swain.
16 Pinion’d “Clipped wings” (OED).
22 Swain “Country lover” (OED).
29 Fetters Restraints (OED).
SOURCE: Poems upon Several Occasions: With A Voyage to the Island of Love (London 1684), pp. 78-80. [Google Books]
Edited by Madina Tutakhil
