Aphra Behn(1640?–1689)
Song ("On Her Loving Two Equally")
On Her Loving TwoEqually5
S E T B Y CAPTAIN P A C K 6
I
("How strongly does my passion flow—Song
Divided equally 'twixt two
D a m o n h a d ne'er s u b d u ' d m y heart,
H a d not Alexis took his part;
N o r cou'd Alexis pow'rful prove,
W i t h o u t my D a m o n ' s aid, to gain my love.
II
W h e n my Alexis p r e s e n t is,
T h e n I for D a m o n sigh a n d m o u r n ;
B u t w h e n Alexis I do miss,
Damon gains nothing but my scorn.
B u t if it c h a n c e they both are by,
For both alike I languish, sigh, a n d die.
in
C u r e then, thou mighty w i n g e d god,7
T h i s restless fever in my blood;
O n e golden-pointed dart take back:
B u t which, O C u p i d , wilt thou take
If D a m o n ' s , all my h o p e s are crost;
Or that of my Alexis, I am lost.