“How unhappy a Lover am I,” from The Conquest of Granada, Part II

He.How unhappy a Lover am I

While I sigh for my Phillis in vain;

All my Hopes of Delight

Are another man’s Right,

Who is happy while I am in pain!

She.Since her Honour allows no Relief,

But to pity the pains which you bear,

’Tis the best of your Fate,

(In a hopeless Estate,)

To give o’re and betimes to despair.

He.I have try’d the false Med’cine in vain;

For I wish what I hope not to win:

From without, my desire

Has no Food to its Fire,

But is burns and consumes me within.

She.Yet at least ’tis a pleasure to know

That you are not unhappy alone:

For the Nymph you adore

Is as wretched and more,

And accounts all your suff’rings her own.

He.O ye Gods, let me suffer for both;

At the Feet of my Phillis I’le lye:

I’ll resign up my Breath,

And take Pleasure in Death,

To be pity’d by her when I dye.

She.What her Honour deny’d you in Life

In her Death she will give to your Love:

Such a Flame as is true

After Fate will renew,

For the Souls to meet closer above.