The Loyal SWAIN:
OR,
The HAPPY PAIR.
Sung before Her MAJESTY.
To a New Play-House Tune.
Licensed according to Order.
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I.
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IAnthe the Lovely, the Joy of her Swain,
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By Iphis was lov'd, and lov'd Iphis again;
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She liv'd in the Youth, and the Youth in the Fair;
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Their Pleasure was equal, and equal their Care:
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No Time, no Enjoyment, their Dotage withdrew;
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But the longer they liv'd, but the longer they liv'd,
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still the fonder they grew.
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II.
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A Passion so happy alarm'd all the Plain,
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Some envy'd the Nymph, but more envy'd the Swain;
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Some swore 'twould be pity their Loves to invade,
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That the Lovers alone for each other was made:
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But all, all consented that none ever knew,
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A Nymph yet so kind, a Nymph yet so kind;
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or a Shepherd so true.
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III.
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Love saw 'em with Pleasure, and vow'd to take care
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Of the Faithful, the Tender, the Innocent Pair;
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What either did want, he bid either to move,
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But they wanted nothing, but ever to Love;
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Said, 'twas all that to bless 'em his Godhead cou'd doe,
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That they still might be kind, that they still might be kind,
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and they still might be true.
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IV.
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That both may be constant, and constant remain,
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First, he to his Nymph, then the Nymph to her Swain,
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That innocent Pleasure, and innocent Love,
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Might make them as free as the innocent Dove,
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In all the Delights and the Sweets of the Grove,
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That they still may have Joy, that they still may have Joy,
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still where-ever they rove.
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V.
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Who loves for an hour, and slights for a year,
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Gives hopes of that Blessing which ends with a Tear;
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They make the Heart heavy, and Beauty decay,
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A Tribute too great for kind Lovers to pay:
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Then let us implore the kind Powers above,
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That they still may unite, that they still may unite,
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and be crowned with Love.
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VI.
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When Cupid shall wound, and the Wound shall be made
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So deep that the Life of the Lover's betray'd,
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And falls a sad Victim to Scorn and Disdain;
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The Nymphs of the Valleys will mourn, tho' in vain:
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But it was not so here, for Ianthe was true,
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She was just to her Swain, she was just to her Swain,
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and he loved her too.
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VII.
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With their Hearts full of Joy, and their Joy full of Bliss,
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Still they feast upon Pleasures which never can miss
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Of making their Happiness others excell,
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Ianthe loves Iphis, he loves her as well;
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The Nymphs of the Valleys shall set forth their Fame,
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For to him she is just, for to him she is just,
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and to her he's the same,
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VIII.
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With Garlands of Roses he crowned his Dear,
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And fair Venus the Goddess of Love did appear
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With Cupids and Nymphs in a sweet rural Dress,
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Their Triumphs was great, and their Joy was no less,
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On Lutes they did play, and these Notes they did strike,
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She was true to her Love, she was true to her Love,
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and her Love was the like.
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