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Earl of Rochester

Adriaen van der Werff. Shepherd and Shepherdess, 1689.
Adriaen van der Werff. Shepherd and Shepherdess, 1689.


A Dialogue Between Strephon and Daphne.

Stre: Prethy now fond foole give o're;
Since my heart is gon before
To what purpose should I stay?
Love Commands another Way.

Daph: Perjur'd swaine I knew the time      5
When dissembling was your Crime:
In pitty now Imploy that art
Which first betrai'd to ease my heart.

Stre: Women can with pleasure faine;
Men disemble still with paine.                 10
What Advantage will it prove
If I Lye who cannot Love?

Daph: Tell me then the reason why;
Love from hearts in Love does fly;
Why the Bird will build a Nest                15
Where he ne're intends to rest.

Stre: Love Like other Little boyes
Cryes for hearts as they for toyes
Which when gained in Childish play
Wantonly are throwne away.                  20

Daph: Still on Wing or on his knee's
Love does nothing by degrees;
Basely flying when most priz'd,
Meanly fawning when despis'd,

Flatt'ring or Insulting Ever,                      25
Generous and gratefull never;
All his Joyes are Fleeting dreames,
All his Woes severe Extreames.

Stre: Nymph unjustly you enveigh:
Love Like us must fate obey.                  30
Since tis Natures Law to Change,
Constancy alone is strange.

See the Heav'ns in Lightnings breake,
Next in stormes of Thunder speake
Till a kinde Raine from above                 35
Makes a Calme, soe tis in Love.

Flames begin our first addresse:
Like meeting Thunder wee embrace.
Then you know the showers that fall
Quench the fire and quiet all.                  40

Daph: How should I these showers forget?
T'was soe pleasant to be Wett.
They kil'd Love I know it well:
I dy'd all the while they fell.

Say at Leastt what Nimph it is                45
Rob's my brest of soe much bliss.
If she is faire I shall be eas'd:
Through my Ruine, you'l be pleas'd.

Stre: Daphne never was soe faire,
Strephon scarcely soe Sincere,               50
Gentle, Innocent and free,
Ever pleas'd with only mee.

Many Charmes my heart enthrall
But there's one above 'em all:
With aversion she does fly                      55
Tedious Trading constancy.

Daph: Cruell Sheppard I submit:
Doe what Love and you thinke fitt.
Change is Fate and not designe—
Say you would have still bin mine.          60

Stre: Nymph I can not: tis too true
Change has greater Charmes than you.
Be by my Example Wise:
Faith to pleasure sacrifice.

Daph: Silly swaine I'le have you know    65
T'was my practice Long agoe:
Whilst you Vainely thought me true
I was falce in scorn of you.

By my teares my hearts disguise
I thy Love and thee despise.                  70
Woman kinde more Joy discover's
Making Fooles then keeping Lovers.






The Works of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. Harold Love, ed.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 6-8.




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Restoration & 18th-century:

Introduction
Samuel Butler
John Dryden
Samuel Pepys
John Bunyan
Aphra Behn
John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
Mary Astell
William Congreve
Matthew Prior
Daniel Defoe
John Gay
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Jonathan Swift
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Sir Richard Steele
James Thomson
Alexander Pope
Dr. Samuel Johnson
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William Collins
Christopher Smart
Oliver Goldsmith
George Crabbe
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