ALMEDA AND FLAVIA. Janet Little (later Richmond) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T126549 Little, Janet, 1759-1813. The Poetical Works of Janet Little, the Scotch Milkmaid. Air Printed by John & Peter Wilson 1792 pp. [62]-71.

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ALMEDA AND FLAVIA . FLAVIA . WHILE dusky shades eclipse the solar ray , And fanning zephyrs 'mong the branches play , Where varied beauties deck the verdant groves , Let us recount the story of our loves . Say , dear Almeda , why this pensive mood , Which does thy wonted cheerfulness exclude ? ALMEDA . The cause of this to Flavia I'll reveal : It is a youth whose power I can't conceal . 'Tis Strephon , who long since obtain'd my heart , When artful Cupid gave the killing dart . When Strephon's near , no anxious cares molest , Nor access find to my enraptur'd breast ; But when he's gone , his absence still I mourn , And spend my hours in sighs till he return . FLAVIA . You kindle into rapture at his name ; Be wise in time , and guard against a flame , Which cherish'd , hopeless , will your charms efface , And rob your features of each blooming grace . The dear Castalia taught my heart to prove The soft'ning charms and pleasing art of love , Witness ye rural walks and verdant vales , How charm'd I've listen'd to his melting tales ; While he , unskill'd in flatt'ry , did impart , In flowing strains , the dictates of his heart . Blind was my passion , long it bore the sway , Suppress'd at last by the enliv'ning ray Of Reason wak'd , by some celestial pow'r , To my relief , in an auspicious hour , With open'd eyes I did the charmer view ; Deaf to his accents , from his presence flew . Observe , my precepts are with prudence fraught , What heart so stubborn would remain untaught ? ALMEDA . Command the briny waves no more to slow , Bid southern breezes ever cease to blow ; Say to the flowers , no more your fragrance yield , Nor Ceres crown with joy the fertile field ; Bid Phoebus cease to gild the op'ning morn , And Cynthia be of all her beauty shorn : Would these obedient as thy vassals prove ? No more can I , dear Flavia , cease to love . A youth possess'd of ev'ry moving art , Quick access gains to the securest heart . When he appears , to cheer the drooping plain , Each nymph enamour'd spends her sighs in vain : And when in softest strains he tunes his lay , Each shepherd , envious , throws his lute away . In him all radiant virtues are combin'd , True greatness centers in a humble mind ; Truth , candour , justice , in his gen'rous breast , Firm fortitude and soft compassion rest . Nor can the gods on mortals more bestow , A bright example of their works below . Young Strephon's charms , no tongue could e'er express ; I may be silent , but can't love him less . FLAVIA . Enough is said , Almeda dear , to prove No fault is seen in those we truly love . The son of Venus , by a magic art , Deceives the sight , soon as he wounds the heart . Blind as himself does all his vot'ries make , Extremely happy in their own mistake . In all his charms I have young Strephon seen , Yet never by the youth have wounded been , Yet were he , as you paint him , thus complete , And fond to lay his garlands at your feet , Sure young men's minds still subject are to change , Though from our plains he were not doom'd to range . A change of scenes may , with distorted brows , Pour swift contempt on all your former vows . But let indiff'rence lodge within your breast , Nor Strephon's absence e'er your mind molest ; The more his charms , the surer he'll succeed 'Mong pow'rful rivals , whom you now may dread . ALMEDA . I know his charms the gentlest dame might move , But he'll admit no rival in his love : My image still remains within his breast , True to that hour I first my love confest . This pleasing hope will soothe my anxious soul , Nor let stern care its peaceful sway countroul , Diffuse into my heart its soft relief , Dispel my fears and dissipate my grief . I'll say the youth , for me by heaven design'd , Is good , as lovely , constant , as he's kind ; So smoothly shall the seasons glide along , Till Strephon's presence animate my song , Then shall my pleasure as my love abound , 'Till Hymen's rites with purest joys be crown'd . FLAVIA . So may you sing , and sigh your years away , With flatt'ring hope , perch'd on the feeble spray Of Strephon's faith , the efforts rend'ring vain Of such as would essay your love to gain , Till his own choice , or some disaster show , Your promis'd pleasures vanish'd like the snow . Your charms are fled , no lover then in view , The paths of discontent you will pursue . That you despis'd Philander then you'll mourn , Nor gave Lothario's suit a just return ; Or for Alonzo sigh when 'tis too late , And with reluctance meet your destin'd fate . This will your slighted lovers laugh to see Almeda then a maiden old will be . ALMEDA . The paths you paint I will not tread alone , While Flavia lives I shall be sure of one . Then hand in hand we'll smooth the rugged way , And sigh for sigh shall bear our griefs away . FLAVIA . Why should we sigh ? In smiles we will contend , And laugh at what we have no power to mend . Should fate deprive me of my darling swain , Some braver youth perhaps may grace the plain , And make me happy by the nuptial band , When cheerfully he gives his heart and hand . Or if despis'd and unadmir'd I rest , I'll call my own sad destiny the best . I'll bliss the fate I oft have sought to shun , And scorn the fool who would to wedlock run . See Nature now in contrast with thy grief ; The warbling songsters seem to chant relief ; Their notes are cheerful , nor with sighs depress'd ; In concert join and soothe your cares to rest . ALMEDA . No warblers can give me delight , How mournful and pensive their strain ; Nought sweet can appear to my sight , Since Strephon's forsaken the plain . With joy I these banks did survey , With pleasure I've por'd on the stream : Young Strephon then with me did stray , And of nought but delight I could dream . While he by my side did recline , The flowers seem'd to brighten their bloom ; The sun with more lustre did shine , And fragrance the fields did perfume . Still pleas'd with his whispers of love , Still charm'd with his amorous tale ; Now beauty's forsaken the grove , And his absence I'll ever bewail . How gloomy and dismal the shade , Where Strephon was wont to appear , Where oft his addresses he made , And his accents delighted my ear . Those paths I revisit in pain ; Yet love them without knowing why . When fortune no favour will deign , I deem it a pleasure to sigh . In vain have my visitants strove My woes to divert by a smile ; Though I seem'd of their jest to approve , My heart was with Strephon the while . Society , spoil'd of each charm , Without him no pleasure can give ; In solitude cares will alarm , In his absence 'tis painful to live . When Sol , from the watery main , Ascends to illumine the sky , My thoughts to the loveliest swain , More swift than the lightning can fly . I muse on his charms all the day ; The theme seems enchantingly sweet , Nor ends with bright Phoebus's ray ; In dreams I my wishes repeat . Ye angels that succour the brave , Prove guardians to the sweet youth ; Still may he with honour behave , Integrity , wisdom and truth . While through distant climes he may rove , His image is fix'd in my view ; Let Strephon be constant in love , And Almeda will ever be true .