Address receives These Strangers and to both new Courage gives She animates the haughty to go on Say A Town long besieg'd must needs be won Time and Respect remove all obstacles And obstinate Love arrives at Miracles Were she the Heir to an illustrious Crown Those Charms that haughty meen that fam'd renown That wond'rous skill you do in Verse profess That great disdain of common Mistresses Can when you please with aid of Billet Deux The Royal Virgin to your Arms subdue One skill'd in all the Arts to please the fair Shou'd be above the Sense of dull despair Go on young noble Warrier then go on Though all the fair are by that Love undone Then turning to the other Sir said she Were the bright Beauty you Adore like me Your silent awful Passion more wou'd move Than all the bold and forward Arts of Love A Heart the softest composition forms And sooner yields by treaty then by storms A Look a Sigh a Tear is understood And makes more warm dis-orders in the Blood Has more ingaging tender Eloquence Then all the industry of Artful Sense So falling drops with their soft force alone Insinuate kind impressions in obdurate stone But that which most my pity did imploy Was a young Hero full of Smiles and Joy A noble Youth to whom indulgent Heaven Had more of Glory then of Virtue given Conducted thither by a Politick throng The Rabble Shouting as he past along Whilst he vain with the beastly Din they make Which were the same if Bears were going to stake Addresses to this faithless Flatterer Who in return calls him young God of War The Cities Champion and his Countries Hope The Peoples Darling and Religious Prop. Scepters and Crowns does to his view expose And all the Fancied pow'r of Empire shows In vain the Vision he wou'd dis-believe In spight of Sense she does his Soul deceive He Credits all nor ask's which way or how The dazling Circle shall surround his Brow Implicitly attends the flattering Song Gives her his easy Faith and is undone For with one turn of State the Frenzy 's heal'd The Blind recover and the Cheats reveal'd Whilst all his Charms of Youth and Beauty lies The kind reproach of pitying Enemies To me she said and smiling as she spoke Lisander you with Love have Reason took Continue so and from Aminta 's Heart Expect what Love and Beauty can impart I knew she flatter'd yet I cou'd not choose But please my Self and credit the Abuse Her charming Words that Night repos'd me more Then all the grateful Dreams I 'd had before Next day I rose and early with the Sun Love guided me to Declaration A pleasant City built with Artful Care To which the Lovers of the Isle repair In our pursuit Respect dissatisfy'd Did the unreasonable Adventure chide Return unheedy Youth cry'd he return Let my advice th' approaching danger warn Renounce thy Purpose and thy haste decline Or thou wilt ruine all Loves great design Amaz'd I stood and unresolv'd t' obey Cou'd not return durst not pursue my way Whilst LOVE who thought himself concern'd as Guide I' th' Criminal Adventure Thus reply'd LOVE's Resentment MUst we eternal Martyrdom pursue Must we still Love and always suffer too Must we continue still to dye And ne'r declare the cruel Cause Whilst the fair Murdress asks not why But triumphs in her rigorous Laws And grows more mighty in disdain More Peevish Humorous Proud and Vain The more we languish by our Pain And when we Vow Implore and Pray Shall the Inhumane cruel fair Only with nice disdain the sufferer pay Consult her Pride alone in the affair And coldly cry In time perhaps I may Consider and redress the Youth's despair And when she wou'd a Period put to 's Fate Alas her cruel Mercy comes too late But wise Respect obligingly reply'd Amintas Cruelty you need not dread Your Passion by your Eyes will soon be known Without this hast to Declaration 'T is I will guide you where you still shall find Aminta in best Humour and most kind Strong were his Arguments his Reasonings prove Too pow'rful for the angry God of Love Who by degrees t' his native softness came Yields to Respect and owns his haste a blame Both vow obedience to his judging Wit And to his graver Conduct both submit Who now invites us to a Reverend place An ancient Town whose Governor he was Impregnable with Bastions fortify'd Guarded with fair built Walls on every side The top of which the Eye cou'd scarce discern So strong as well secur'd the Rich concern Silence with Modesty and Secresy Have all committed to their Custody Silence to every questions ask'd reply With apt Grimasses of the Face and Eyes Her Finger on her Mouth and as you 've seen Her Picture Handsom with fantastick mean Her every Motion her Commands express But seldom any the hid Soul confess The Virgin Modesty is wond'rous fair A bashful Motion and a blushing Air With un-assur'd regard her Eyes do move Untaught by affectation or Self-love Her Robes not gaudy were nor loosely ty'd But even concealing more then need be hid For Secresie one rarely sees her Face Whose lone Apartment is some Dark recess From whence unless some great affairs oblige She finds it difficult to dis-ingage Her voice is low but subtilly quick her Ears And answers still by signs to what she hears Led by Respect we did an entrance get Not saying any thing who ere we met The City of DISCRETION THE Houses there retir'd in Gardens are And all is done with little noise One seldom sees Assemblies there Or publick shows for Grief or Joys One rarely walks but in the Night And most endeavour to avoid the Light There the whole World their bus'ness carry Without or confident or Secretary One still is under great constraint Must always suffer but ne'r make complaint 'T is there the dumb and silent languishes Are predic'd which so well explain the Heart Which without speaking can so much express And secrets to the Soul the nearest way impart Language which prettily perswades belief Who 's silent Eloquence obliges Joy or Grief This City 's called Discretion being the name Of her that is Lieutenant of the same And Sister to Respect a Lady who Seldom obtains a Conquest at first view But in repeated Visits one shall find Sufficient Charms of Beauty and of Mind Her vigorous piercing Eyes can when they please Make themselves lov'd and understood with Ease Not too severe but yet reserv'd and wise And her Address is full of subtilties Which upon all occasions serves her turn T' express her Kindness and to hide her scorn Dissimulations Arts she useful holds And in good manners sets 'em down for rules T was here Aminta liv'd and here I paid My constant visits to the lovely Maid With mighty force upon my Soul I strove To hide the Sent'ments of my raging Love All that I spoke did but indifferent seem Or went no higher than a great
's Fetter'd is an Owl I found it very convenient and happy to disingage from Love and I have wondred a thousand times at the Follies that God has made me commit And though I somtimes thought on Silvia I thought her less charming and fair than she was before her fall and the Humour I now was in represented her no more meriting that Passion I once had for her and I fancied she had lost all those Graces for which once I lov'd her In fine I was so wholly recovered of my disease of Love for Silvia that I began to be uneasie for want of imploying my Addresses and a change from so violent a Passion to such a degree of coldness became insupportable to one of my Youth and natural Gayety insomuch that I was seized with a Dulness or Languishment and so great a fit of Melancholy as I had never felt the like and my Heart that was so accustomed to Love was so out of Humour that it had no Object or Business for thought that it lost all its Harmony and Wit it having nothing to excite it to Life and Motion passing from so vast a degree of tenderness to an unconcern equally extream I thought it rude ill-bred and idle to live so indifferent and insignificant a Life And walking perpetually by myself or with those of my own Sex that could not make my diversion I sung all day this following Song to a Hum-drum Tune to myself Not to sigh and to be tender Not to talk and prattle Love Is a Life no good can render And insipidly does move Unconcern do's Life destroy Which without Love can know no Joy Life without adoring Beauty Will be useless all the day Love's a part of Human Duty And 't is Pleasure to obey In vain the Gods did Life bestow Where kinder Love has nought to do What is Life but soft desires And that Soul that is not made To entertain what Love inspires Oh thou dull immortal Shade thou 'dst better part with Flesh and Blood Than be where Life 's not understood These were my notions of Life and I found myself altogether useless in the World without Love methought I had nothing to animate me to Gallant things without Love or Women I had no use of Wit or Youth without the fair and yet I did not wish wholly to ingage myself neither a second time having been so ill-treated before by Love But I found there were ways to entertain one's self agreeably enough without dying or venturing the breaking of a heart for the matter That there were Beauties to be obtained without the hazard of hanging or drowning one's self I never had tryed but I found it natural enough to my Humour and Constitution to flatter and dissemble swear and lye I viewed my self in my Glass and found myself very well recovered from the Ruins my first Amour had made and believed myself as fit for Conquest as any Sir Fopling or Sir Courtly Nice of 'em all To this fine Person and good Meen and Shape as I thought I added handsom Dressing the thing that takes the Heart infinitely above all your other Parts and thus set out a snare for vain Beauty I every day went out of the City of Indifference to see what new Adventures I could meet withal One day I incountred a Woman who at first sight appeared very agreeable she had an Air easie free and Galliard such as fails not to take at first view This was Coquettre who the very first time she saw me Addrest herself to me with very great Complisance and good Humour and invited me to her Apartment where she assured me I should not fail to be entertained very agreeably and at the same time pulling out of her Pocket a Paper she shewed me these Words written Let Love no more your Heart inspire Thô Beauty every hour you see Pass no farther than desire If you 'll truly happy be Every day fresh Objects view And for all have Complisance Search all places still for new And to all make some Advance For where Wit and Youth agree There 's no Life like Gallantry Laura's Heart you may receive And tomorrow Julia's prise Take what young Diana gives Pity Lucia when she dies Portia's Face you must admire And to Clorin's Shape submit Phillis Dancing gives you Fire Celia's Softness Clara's Wit Thus all at once you may persue 'T is too little to Love two The powerful smiling God of Hearts So much tenderness imparts You must upon his Altars lay A thousand Offerings every day And so soft is kind desire Oh! so Charming is the Fire That if nice Adraste scorns Gentler Ariadne burns Still Another keep in play If One refuse to give you Joy Cease therefore to disturb your Hours For having two desires A Heart can manage two Amours And burn with several Fires The day has hours enough in store To visit two or half a score I gave her thanks for her good Counsel and found I needed not much persuasion to follow Coquettre to a City that bears her Name and I saw over the Gate of the City at my Entrance these Verses writ in Gold Letters The God of Love beholding every day Slaves from his Empire to depart away For Hearts that have been once with Love fatigu'd A second time are ne'r again intrigu'd No second Beauty e'r can move The Soul to that degree of Love This City built that we might still obey Thô we refus'd his Arbitrary Sway 'T is here we find a grateful Recompence For all Loves former Violence Tir'd with his Laws we hither come To meet a kinder softer doom 'T is here the God without the Tyrant Reigns And Laws agreeable ordains Here 't is with Reason and with Wit he Rules And whining Passion Ridicules No check or bound to Nature gives But kind desire rewarded thrives Peevish uneasy Pride the God Has banish'd from the blest abode All Jealousies all Quarrels cease And here Love lives in perfect Peace This agreeable description gave me new desire to enter into the City where I incountred a thousand fine Persons all gloriously drest as if they were purposely set out for Conquest There was nothing omitted of Cost and Gallantry that might render 'em intirely Charming and they employ'd all their Arts of Looks and Dress to gain Hearts It is in a word from these fair Creatures you are to draw your Satisfaction and 't is indeed at a dear rate you buy it yet notwithstanding the Expence a world of People persue ' em When I came into the City I was soon perceived to be a Stranger there and while I was considering whither I should go or how to address myself to these fair Creatures a little Coquett Cupid presented himself to me for a kind Instructer and to explain him this in a word is his Character He is of the same Race with the other Cupids has the same Mother too Venus He wears a Bow and Arrows like the rest of the young Loves
Dam. Oh my friend she 's gone too far Thou can'st not reach the charming fair She 's fled into the wisht for place Where Love is acted o're in every grace Thirs What 's her name I can't contain My blood runs swift in every veine I 'le ravage all the Woods and Groves Th' intreguing Court for billing Lov 's No pains nor toyle for thee I 'le spare Come let me know the cruel fair Dam. Phillis the Glory of our Isle Who charm'd my Soul with every smile Ah shee the lovely torturing maid H 'as now my heart my all betray'd And my adoring Love with scorn repaid Unhappy swain dejected and forlorn Ah me how sadly am I left alone To envy those Transporting charms She yeilds up to my happy Rivals Armes Thirs I le go Dam. Stay Shepherd t is in vain to try To disappoint the Nuptial tye No no she s gone to make my Rival blest And left her Image only in my brest Hence forth in Lovers tales let it be said That thy poor friend thy Damon dy'd a maid While no one part of me remains with her But constant wishes and this humble Pray'r Fairest of Nymphs May all your Glorys like the youthful Sun Beame forth and in their purest lustre Burn. May all your days be as a day of bliss And all your sorrows close still with a kiss Happy the God that succor'd your desire And set the Hymenean Lamp on fire May he in whole blest Armes you slumbringly Be sensible of the vast envyed joy While I who lost you lay me down and dy A PINDARICK To Mrs. Behn on her Poem on the Coronation Written by a Lady HAil thou sole Empress of the Land of wit To whom all conquer'd Authors must submit And at thy feet their fading Laurels lay The utmost tribute that a Muse can pay To thy unlabour'd Song o' th' Coronation day The subject was Divine we all confess Nor was that flame thy mighty fancy less That cloth'd thy thought in such a pleasing dress As did at once a Masculine wit express And all the softness of a Femal tenderness No more shall men their fancy'd Empire hold Since thou Astrea form'd of finer mould By nature temper'd more with humid cold Doth man excel Not in soft strokes alone but even in the bold And as thy purer Blood Thrô more transparent vessels is convey'd Thy spirits more fine and subtil do thy brain invade And nimbler come uncall'd unto thy aide So the gay thought Which thy still flowing fancy does inspire New uncontroul'd and warm as young desire Have more of kindling heat and fiercer fire Not to be reach't or prays'd unless by such As the same happy temperament possess Since none with equal numbers can reward thy Lays May the just Monarch which you praise Daine to acknowledg this Not with a short applause of crackling Bays But a return that may revive thy days And thy well-meaning grateful loyal Muse Cherisht by that blest theam its zeale did chuse Maist thou be blest with such a sweet retreat That with contempt thou maist behold the great Such as the mighty Cowlys well-known seat Whose lofty Elms I wou'd have all thy own And in the mid'st a spacious shady Throne Rais'd on a Mount that shou'd Parnassus be And every Muse included all in thee On whose coole top alone thou shoud'st dispense The Laws of Wit Love Loyalty and Sense The new Arcadia shou'd the Grove be nam'd And for the guift our grateful Monarch fam'd Amidst the shade I 'd wish a well built House Like Sidneys Noble Kalendar shou'd stand Raising its head and all the rest command It s out-side gay its inside clean and neat With all of lifes conveniencies replete Where all the Elements at once conspire To give what mans necessities require Rich soyle pure Aire streams coole and useful fire The fertil spot with pleasure shou'd abound And with Elizium-Spring be ever crown'd When thou thy mind unbend'st from thoughtful hours Then shou'dst thou be refresht with Fruits and Flowrs The Gods and Nymphs of Woods and Springs Shall Dance in Antique Rural Rings While scaly Trytons and grim Satyrs play Such Tunes as Birds compose to welcome day Till the glad noyse to distant shores resound And flying Birds joyn in th' Harmonious sound Which listning Echo's catch at the rebound Here without toyle or pining want perplext Thy Body easy and thy mind at rest With all Life 's valu'd pleasures blest Thy largest wishes still thou shoud'st enjoy Inviron'd with delights that ne're can cloy Accept thou much lov'd Sappho of our Isle This hearty wish and grace it with a smile When thou shalt know that thy Harmonious Lire Did me the meanest of thy sex inspire And that thy own unimitable lays Are cause alone that I attempt thy praise Which in unequal measure I rehearse Because unskill'd in numbers Grace or Verse Great Pindars flights are fit alone for thee The witty Horace's Iambicks be Like Virgils lofty strains alas too hard for me And if enough this do not plead excuse Pity the failings of a Virgin Muse. That never in this kind before essai'd Her Muse till now was like her self a Maid Whose Blooming labours thus she dedicates to you A Tribute justly to your merits due At least her part of gratitude to pay For that best Song o' th' Coronation day How bad wou'd the Ill-natur'd World requite Thy noble labours if they do not write Who have perhaps been happy in this kind To own thou 'st now out-done all that they e're design'd Sure none with malice e're was so accurst This to deny but will with envy burst Since even thy own more envious sex agree The glorious theam had right alone from thee The femal Writers thou hast all excell'd Since the first mother of mankind rebell'd To Mr. Wolseley on his Preface to Valentinian By a Lady of Quality TO you the generous task belongs alone To clear the injur'd and instruct the Town Where but in you is found a mind so brave To stretch the bounds of Love beyond the grave Anger may last but friendships quickly dy For anxious thoughts are longer-liv'd than joy Yet those whom active fancies have misled So far as to assault the mighty dead Now taught by your reproofes a noble shame Will strive by surer ways to raise their fame But from our sex what praise do you deserve We by your help may all our rights preserve While others rob the Deities they serve For never sacriledge cou'd greater be Than to steal Honour from a Deitie Such are the paths to fame in which you tread You bafle envy while you nobly aide The helpless living and more helpless dead Mr. Wolsely's Answer to the forgoing Copy WHile soaring high above Orinda's flights Equal to Sappho fam'd Urania writes And feareless of an Host of byast men In my defence draws her all-conquering pen. While forcing every caviller to submit Her approbation stamps my question'd wit And a new way by