Aphra Behn. "The Dream."

The Dream. A Song.
by Aphra Behn

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,
    Cupid aweeping lay,
Till both his little stars of light
    Had wept themselves away.

Methought I asked him why he cried,
    My pity led me on;
All sighing the sad boy replied,
    " Alas I am undone.

" As I beneath yon myrtles lay,
    Down by Diana's springs,
Amyntas stole my bow away,
    And pinioned both my wings."

" Alas! cried I, 'twas then thy darts
    Wherewith he wounded me :
Thou mighty Deity of Hearts,
    He stole his power from thee.

" Revenge thee, if a god thou be,
    Upon the amorous swain;
I'll set thy wings at liberty,
    And thou shalt fly again.

" And for this service on my part,
    All I implore of thee,
Is that thou'lt wound Amyntas' heart,
    And make him die for me."

His silken fetters I untied,
    And the gay wings displayed;
Which gently fanned, he mounts and cried,
    " Farewell, fond easy maid."

At this I blushed, and angry grew
    I should a god believe;
And waking found my dream too true,
    Alas! I was a slave.

Restoration Verse, 1660-1715. William Kerr, ed.
London: Macmillan, 1930. 158-159.