Page:Elfrida, a Dramatic Poem - Mason (1752).djvu/29

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CHORUS, ORGAR.CHORUS.Silence, my sisters. Whence this rudeness, stranger,That boldly prompted thine unbidden earTo listen these our strains?
ORGAR.I meant not rudeness, thoYour pardon, Virgins:I meant not rudeness, tho' I dar'd to listen;For ah! what ear so fortified and barr'dAgainst the tuneful force of vocal charms,But would with transport to such sweet assailantsSurrender its attention? Never yetHave I past by the night-bird's 'custom'd spray,What time the pours her wild, and artless song,Without attentive pause, and silent rapture;How could I then, with savage disregard,Hear voices tun'd by nature sweet as hers,Grac'd with all art's addition?
CHORUS.And this thy courtly phrase Thy mean garb,And this thy courtly phrase but ill accord.Whence, and what art thou, stranger?
ORGAR.These limbs have oft been rob'd in faVirgins, know.These limbs have oft been rob'd in fairer vest:
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