A betrayed young woman stands on the banks of the River Severn, determined to drown herself and take revenge on the unfaithful shepherd who ruined her. She feels he has escaped while her reputation is dead, so she resolves to commit her love and hate to the waves. Right at the moment she is ready to leap, a rush of second thoughts stops her: fear of death’s untried terrors, contempt for the man, and a flare of pride. She steps back and asks why she should make such a struggle—after all, there are plenty of other shepherds and she has only one life. The mood shifts abruptly from high-strung despair to a wry, clear-eyed pragmatism. What begins as a suicidal passion ends with a shrug and a quiet, life-saving joke.
La Passion Vaincue — Summary
On the Banks of the Severn a desperate Maid (Whom some Shepherd, neglecting his Vows, had betray'd,) Stood resolving to banish all Sense of the Pain, And pursue, thro' her Death, a Revenge on the Swain. Since the Gods, and my Passion, at once he defies; Since his Vanity lives, whilst my Character dies; No more (did she say) will I trifle with Fate, But commit to the Waves both my Love and my Hate. And now to comply with that furious Desire, Just ready to plunge, and alone to expire, Some Reflection on Death, and its Terrors untry'd, Some Scorn for the Shepherd, some Flashings of Pride At length pull'd her back, and she cry'd, Why this Strife, Since the Swains are so Many, and I've but One Life?