Evadne. A Vestal vow'd, with Pity I'll look down
On the King's Love, and fierce Melantius's frown.
But here's the Sacred place, where we may have
Before we dye, an honourable Grave.
The Dead, and they that live retired here,
Obtain like Pardon from the most severe.
Knocks at a Door.
Enter Governess.
Gov. The Great Evadne visiting our Cell!
Ev. 'Tis not to visit you; but here to dwell.
Can you find room for one so bad as I,
That humbly begs she may among you dye?
Gov. You that so early can correct your Thoughts,
May hope for Pardon for your greatest faults.
Happy is she that from the World retires,
And carrys with her what the World admires.
Thrice happy she, whose young thought fixt above,
While she is Lovely does to Heaven make Love.
I need not urge your Promise, e're you find
An Entrance here, to leave the World behind.
Ev. My guilty Love Devotion shall succeed;
Love such as mine was, tho' a dangerous Weed,
Shews the rich Soile, on which it grew so high,
May yield as fair a Crop of Piety.
But of all Passions, I Ambition find
Hardest to banish from a Glorious Mind.
Yet Heav'n our Object made, Ambition may,
As well as Love, be turn'd a Nobler way:
Still I ascend; it is a step above
A Princes favour, to belong to Jove.
They go in and the Door shuts.
Enter Melantius with a Letter.
Among the Vestals! she'll corrupt them all,
And teach them from their Sacred Vow to fall.