Read these lines, from The Nypmph's Reply to the Shepherd.

"But could youth last and love still breed,/Had joys no date, nor age no need,/Then these delights my mind might move/To live with thee and be thy love."

According to her words here, under what conditions would the nymph accept the shepherd's love?

A. if love lasted forever.

B. if she truly loved him in return

C. if a shepherd's life were not so simple

D. if a nymph's life were not so filled with sorrow.

The correct answer is A. The nymph would accept the shepherd's love IF love lasted forever.

The nymph says "but could youth last," implying that growing old can diminish love. She also says that she would accept his love if joy had "no date." This implies that joy has an expiration date - - basically, the nymph is saying that nothing - - not happiness, not love - - lasts forever.

For this reason, she will not accept the shepherd's offer. If love lasted forever, she would; however, she does not believe love lasts forever.