[ Tasso , : ] AMINTOR , being ask'd by THIRSIS Who is the Object of his Love ? speaks as follows . Amint . THIRSIS ! to Thee I mean that Name to show , Which , only yet our Groves , and Fountains know : That , when my Death shall through the Plains be told , Thou with the wretched Cause may'st that unfold To every-one , who shall my Story find Carv'd by thy Hand , in some fair Beeches rind ; Beneath whose Shade the bleeding Body lay : That , when by chance she shall be led that way , O'er my sad Grave the haughty Nymph may go . And the proud Triumph of her Beauty shew To all the Swains , to Strangers as they pass ; And yet at length she may ( but Oh ! alas ! I fear , too high my flatt'ring Hopes do soar ) Yet she at length may my sad Fate deplore ; May weep me Dead , may o'er my Tomb recline And sighing , wish were he alive and Mine ! But mark me to the End — Thir . Go on ; for well I do thy Speech attend , Perhaps to better Ends , than yet thou know'st . Amint . Being now a Child , or but a Youth at most , When scarce to reach the blushing Fruit I knew Which on the lowest bending Branches grew ; Still with the dearest , sweetest , kindest Maid Young as myself , at childish Sports I play'd . The Fairest , sure , of all that Lovely Kind , Who spread their golden Tresses to the Wind ; Cydippe's Daughter , and Montano's Heir , Whose Flocks and Herds so num'rous do appear ; The beauteous Sylvia ; She , 'tis She I love , Warmth of all Hearts , and Pride of ev'ry Grove . With Her I liv'd , no Turtles e'er so fond . Our Houses met , but more our Souls were join'd . Together Nets for Fish , and Fowl we laid ; Together through the spacious Forest stray'd ; Pursu'd with equal Speed the flying Deer , And of the Spoils there no Divisions were . But whilst I from the Beasts their Freedom won , Alas ! I know not how , my Own was gone . By unperceiv'd Degrees the Fire encreas'd , Which fill'd , at last , each corner of my Breast ; As from a Root , tho' scarce discern'd so small , A Plant may rise , that grows amazing tall . From Sylvia's Presence now I could not move , And from her Eyes took in full Draughts of Love , Which sweetly thro' my ravish'd Mind distill'd ; Yet in the end such Bitterness wou'd yield , That oft I sigh'd , ere yet I knew the cause , And was a Lover , ere I dream'd I was . But Oh ! at last , too well my State I knew ; And now , will shew thee how this Passion grew . Then listen , while the pleasing Tale I tell .