[Nereides:] Eclogue XI. Eune. William Diaper Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T126092 Diaper, William, d. 1717. Nereides: or Sea-Eclogues. London Printed by J. H. for E. Sanger, at the Post-House, at the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleetstreet 1712 pp. 48-51. x, 69 p.

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[ Nereides : ] Eclogue XI . Eune . Eune a wanton Nymph , and Triton Swain Agreed a while to leave the boundless Main ; And near the Shore unseen they chose to kiss , Where no Sea-Rival might disturb the Bliss . There , all that Love could yield , the Youth enjoy'd ; 'Till with fierce Joys , and eager Transports cloy'd She look'd , and sigh'd ; his Lips she gently prest ; Then murmuring fell , and slept upon his Breast ; While pleasing Dreams past Scenes of Love repeat , And cooling Breezes fan the Summer's Heat . Thus as she lay entranc'd , the wanton Air Play'd on her Mouth , and sported with her Hair ; The Boy less kind , thus as she sleeping lay , Rose unperceiv'd , and stole unheard away . ( For Men once satiate , when the Rage is o'er , Will curse that Beauty , which they now adore . ) The ebbing Tide had left the sandy Plain , When Eune wak'd , and look'd , but look'd in vain . Sad Thoughts , and black Despair pierc'd thro' her Soul , With Tears she saw the distant Billows rowl . She found her self forsaken , and alone , The Triton absent , and the Water gone . Grievous she moan'd her Fate , and weeping said , Is thus my Love , my easy Love betray'd ? Such Scorn we may expect , nay we deserve , When wanton Souls from steddy Vertue swerve . But ah ! inconstant Melvin , and ingrate , When Love was ceas'd , you might have shown your Hate ; You might have kill'd me with those faithless Hands , Rather than leave me thus on parching Sands . Well may you follow the inconstant Sea , The Waves are false , and you are false as they . By both betray'd , with gnawing Hunger pin'd , I must unpity'd die , and — die for being kind . Farewell , ye Sister-Nymphs , believe no more , Nor trust the Youth , nor trust the hated Shore . Farewell ye distant Waves ; you I forgive , Well might you fickle prove , and Eune leave , When he , who lov'd so much , yet cou'd deceive . Farewell ye sportive Fish , and beauteous Shells , And shining Pearls , that grow in rocky Cells , Whose polish'd Orbs on Twigs of Coral strung Around my Neck the perjur'd Melvin hung . Farewell , ye Songs , that once were thought to please , My Voice shall calm no more the list'ning Seas . Unhappy Fate of the soft yeilding Maid ! Whoever loves , is sure to be betray'd . Thus the despairing Nymph complain'd alone , 'Till faint with Grief , and tir'd with piteous Moan , When kinder Sleep again with calm Surprize Sooth'd all her Pain , and clos'd her willing Eyes , And now returning Waves by slow degrees Move on the Beach , and stretch the widen'd Seas . Melvin approaches with the rising Tide , And in his Arms enfolds his sleeping Bride . Eune a wake , with Wonder view'd around ; The Sea was near , and the lost Lover found . Ah ! do I now , or did I dream before , Cries the fond Nymph , when on the barren Shore Left by the Sea , and you so long I mourn'd ; How were you gone , or whence are you return'd ? Vain Dreams ( reply'd the wily Youth ) deceive Your wand'ring Thoughts , and false Impressions leave . He said , and kist the Nymph ; she kist again : He prest her close , and she forgot her Pain .