prize The more deserving Glories of your Eyes If you permit him on an Amorous score To be your Slave who was my Slave before He oft has Fetters worn and can with ease Admit 'em or dismiss 'em when he please A Virgin-Heart you merit that ne'er found It could receive till from your Eyes the Wound A Heart that nothing but your Force can fear And own a Soul as Great as you are Fair. Song to Ceres In the Wavering Nymph or Mad Amyntas I. CEres Great Goddess of the bounteous Year Who load'st the Teeming Earth with Gold and Grain Blessing the Labours of th' Industrious Swain And to their Plaints inclin'st thy gracious Ear Behold two fair Cicilian Lovers lie Prostrate before thy Deity Imploring thou wilt grant the Just Desires Of two Chaste Hearts that burn with equal Fires II. Amyntas he brave generous and young Whom yet no Vice his Youth has e'er betray'd And Chaste Urania is the Lovely Maid His Daughter who has serv'd thy Altars long As thy High Priest A Dowry he demands A the young Amorous Shepherds hands Say gentle Goddess what the Youth must give E'er the Bright Maid he can from thee receive Song in the same Play by the Wavering Nymph PAN grant that I may never prove So great a Slave to fall in love And to an Unknown Deity Resign my happy Liberty I love to see the Amorous Swains Unto my Scorn their Hearts resign With Pride I see the Meads and Plains Throng'd all with Slaves and they all mine Whilst I the whining Fools despise That pay their Homage to my Eyes The Disappointment I. ONe day the Amorous Lysander By an impatient Passion sway'd Surpriz'd fair Cloris that lov'd Maid Who could defend her self no longer All things did with his Love conspire The gilded Planet of the Day In his gay Chariot drawn by Fire Was now descending to the Sea And left no Light to guide the VVorld But what from Cloris Brighter Eyes was hurld II. In a lone Thicket made for Love Silent as yielding Maids Consent She with a Charming Languishment Permits his Force yet gently strove Her Hands his Bosom softly meet But not to put him back design'd Rather to draw 'em on inclin'd VVhilst he lay trembling at her Feet Resistance 't is in vain to show She wants the pow'r to say Ah! What d' ye do III. Her Bright Eyes sweet and yet severe VVhere Love and Shame confus'dly strive Fresh Vigor to Lysander give And breathing faintly in his Ear She cry'd Cease Cease your vain Desire Or I 'll call out What would you do My Dearer Honour ev'n to You I cannot must not give Retire Or take this Life whose chiefest part I gave you with the Conquest of my Heart IV. But he as much unus'd to Fear As he was capable of Love The blessed minutes to improve Kisses her Mouth her Neck her Hair Each Touch her new Desire Alarms His burning trembling Hand he prest Upon her swelling Snowy Brest VVhile she lay panting in his Arms. All her Unguarded Beauties lie The Spoils and Trophies of rhe Enemy V. And now without Respect or Fear He seeks the Object of his Vows His Love no Modesty allows By swift degrees advancing where His daring Hand that Altar seiz'd VVhere Gods of Love do sacirfice That Awful Throne that Paradice VVhere Rage is calm'd and Anger pleas'd That Fountain where Delight still flows And gives the Universal VVorld Repose VI. Her Balmy Lips incountring his Their Bodies as their Souls are joyn'd VVhere both in Transports Unconfin'd Extend themselves upon the Moss Cloris half dead and breathless lay Her soft Eyes cast a Humid Light Such as divides the Day and Night Or falling Stars whose Fires decay And now no signs of Life she shows But what in short-breath'd Sighs returns goes VII He saw how at her Length she lay He saw her rising Bosom bare Her loose thin Rohes through which appeat A Shape design'd for Love and Play Abandon'd by her Pride and Shame She does her softest Joys dispence Off'ring her Virgin-Innocence A Victim to Loves Sacred Flame While the o'er-Ravish'd Shepherd lies Unable to perform the Sacrifice VIII Ready to taste a thousand Joys The too transported hapless Swain Found the vast Pleasure turn'd to Pain Pleasure which too much Love destroys The willing Garments by he laid And Heaven all open'd to his view Mad to possess himself he threw On the Defenceless Lovely Maid But Oh what envying God conspires To snatch his Power yet leave him the Desire IX Nature's Support without whose Aid She can no Humane Being give It self now wants the Art to live Faintness its slack'ned Nerves invade In vain th' inraged Youth essay'd To call its fleeting Vigor back No motion 't will from Motion take Excess of Love his Love betray'd In vain he Toils in vain Commands The Insensible fell weeping in his Hand X. In this so Amorous Cruel Strife Where Love and Fate were too severe The poor Lysander in despair Renounc'd his Reason with his Life Now all the brisk and active Fire That should the Nobler Part inflame Serv'd to increase his Rage and Shame And left no Spark for New Desire Not all her Naked Charms cou'd move Or calm that Rage that had debauch'd his Love XI Cloris returning from the Trance Which Love and soft Desire had bred Her timerous Hand she gently laid Or guided by Design or Chance Upon that Fabulous Priapas That Potent God as Poets feign But never did young Shepherdess Gath'ring of Fern upon the Plain More nimbly draw her Fingers back Finding beneath the verdant Leaves a Snake XII Than Cloris her fair Hand withdrew Finding that God of her Desires Disarm'd of all his Awful Fires And Cold as Flow'rs bath'd in the Morning-Dew Who can the Nymph's Confusion guess The Blood forsook the hinder Place And strew'd with Blushes all her Face Which both Disdain and Shame exprest And from Lysander's Arms she fled Leaving him fainting on the Gloomy Bed XIII Like Lightning through the Grove she hies Or Daphne from the Delphick God No Print upon the grassey Road She leaves t' instruct Pursuing Eyes The Wind that wanton'd in her Hair And with her Ruffled Garments plaid Discover'd in the Flying Maid All that the Gods e'er made if Fair. So Venus when her Love was slain With Fear and Haste flew o'er the Fatal Plain XIV The Nymph's Resentments none but I Can well Imagine or Condole But none can guess Lysander's Soul But those who sway'd his Destiny His silent Griefs swell up to Storms And not one God his Fury spares He curs'd his Birth his Fate his Stars But more the Shepherdess's Charms Whose soft bewitching Influence Had Damn'd him to the Hell of Impotence On a Locket of Hair Wove in a True-Loves Knot given me by Sir R. O. WHat means this Knot in Mystick Order Ty'd And which no Humane Knowledge can divide Not the Great Conqu'rours Sword can this undo Whose very Beauty would divert the Blow
Lysidas that haughty Swain With many Beauties in a Train All sighing for the Swain whilst he Barely returns Civility Yet once to each much Love he Vowd And strange Fantastique Passion show'd Poor Doris and Lucinda too And many more whom thou dost know Who had not power his Charms to shun Too late do find themselves Undone His Eyes are Black and do transcend All Fancy e'er can comprehend And yet no Softness in 'em move They kill with Fierceness not with Love Yet he can dress 'em when he list With Sweetness none can e'er resist His Tongue no Amorous Parley makes But with his Looks alone he speaks And though he languish yet he 'l hide That grateful knowledge with his Pride And thinks his Liberty is lost Not in the Conquest but the Boast Nor will but Love enough impart To gain and to secure a heart Of which no sooner he is sure And that its Wounds are past all Cure But for New Victories he prepares And leaves the Old to its Despairs Success his Boldness does renew And Boldness helps him Conquer too He having gain'd more hearts then all Th' rest of the Pastoral Cabal Mr. Ed. Bed With him Philander who nere paid A Sigh or Tear to any Maid So innocent and young he is He cannot guess what Passion is But all the Love he ever knew On Lycidas he does bestow Who pays his Tenderness again Too Amorous for a Swain to a Swain A softer Youth was never seen His Beauty Maid but Man his Mein And much more gay than all the rest And but Alexis finest Dress'd His Eyes towards Lycidas still turn As sympathising Flowers to the Sun Whilst Lycidas whose Eyes dispense No less a grateful Influence Improves his Beauty which still fresher grows Who would not under two such Suns as those Cloris you sigh what Amorous grown Pan grant you keep your heart at home For I have often heard you Vow If any cou'd your heart subdue Though Lycidas you nere nad seen It must be him or one like him Alas I cannot yet forget How we have with Amyntas sat Beneath the Boughs for Summer made Our heated Flocks and Us to shade Where thou wou'dst wond'rous Stories tell Of this Agreeable Infidel By what Devices Charms and Arts He us'd to gain and keep his Hearts And whilst his Falsehood we wou'd Blame Thou woud'st commend and praise the same And did no greater pleasure take Then when of Lycidas we spake By this and many Sighs we know Thou' rt sensible of Loving too Come Cloris come along with us And try thy power with Lycidas See if that Vertue which you prize Be proof against those Conquering Eyes That Heart that can no Love admit Will hardly stand his shock of VVit Come deck thee then in all that 's fine Perhaps the Conquest may be thine They all attend let 's hast to do What Love and Musick calls us to SONG The Willing Mistriss AMyntas led me to a Grove Where all the Trees did shade us The Sun it self though it had Strove It could not have betray'd us The place secur'd from humane Eyes No other fear allows But when the Winds that gently rise Doe Kiss the yeilding Boughs Down there we satt upon the Moss And did begin to play A Thousand Amorous Tricks to pass The heat of all the day A many Kisses he did give And I return'd the same Which made me willing to receive That which I dare not name His Charming Eyes no Aid requir'd To tell their softning Tale On her that was already fir'd 'T was Easy to prevaile He did but Kiss and Clasp me round Whilst those his thoughts Exprest And lay'd me gently on the Ground Ah who can guess the rest SONG Love Arm'd LOve in Fantastique Triumph satt Whilst Bleeding Hearts a round him flow'd For whom Fresh paines he did Create And strange Tyranick power he show'd From thy Bright Eyes he took his fire Which round about in sport he hurl'd But 't was from mine he took desire Enough to undo the Amorous World From me he took his sighs and tears From thee his Pride and Crueltie From me his Languishments and Feares And every Killing Dart from thee Thus thou and I the God have arm'd And sett him up a Deity But my poor Heart alone is harm'd Whilst thine the Victor is and free SONG The Complaint AMyntas that true hearted Swaine Upon a Rivers Banck was lay'd Where to the Pittying streames he did Complaine On Silvia that false Charming Maid VVhile shee was still regardless of his paine Ah! Charming Silvia would he cry And what he said the Echoes wou'd reply Be kind or else I dy Ech I dy Be kind or else I dy Ech I dy Those smiles and Kisses which you give Remember Sylvia are my due And all the Joyes my Rivall does receive He ravishes from me not you Ah Silvia can I live and this believe Insensibles are toucht to see My Languishments and seem to pitty me Which I demand of thee Ech of thee Which I demand of thee Ech of thee Set by Mr. Banister SONG The Invitation DAmon I cannot blame your will 'T was Chance and not Design did kill For whilst you did prepare your Charmes On purpose Silvia to subdue I met the Arrows as they flew And sav'd her from their harms Alas she cannot make returnes Who for a Swaine already Burnes A Shepherd whom she does Caress With all the softest marks of Love And 't is in vaine thou seek'st to move The cruel Shepherdess Content thee with this Victory Think me as faire and young as she I 'le make thee Garlands all the day And in the Groves we 'l sit and sing I 'le Crown thee with the pride o' th' Spring When thou art Lord of May. SONG VVHen Jemmy first began to Love He was the Gayest Swaine That ever yet a Flock had drove Or danc't upon the Plaine T' was then that I weys me poor Heart My Freedom threw away And finding sweets in every smart I cou'd not say him nay And ever when he talkt of Love He wou'd his Eyes decline And every sigh a Heart would move Gued Faith and why not mine He 'd press my hand and Kiss it oft In silence spoke his Flame And whilst he treated me thus soft I wisht him more to Blame Sometimes to feed my Flocks with him My Jemmy wou'd Invite me Where he the Gayest Songs wou'd sing On purpose to delight me And Jemmy every Grace displayd Which were enough I trow To Conquer any Princely Maid So did he me I vow But now for Jemmy must I mourn VVho to the VVarrs must go His Sheephook to a Sword must turne Alack what shall I do His Bag-pipe into War-like Sounds Must now Exchanged bee Instead of Braceletts fearful Wounds Then what becomes of me To Mr. Creech under the Name of Daphnis on his Excellent Translation of Lucretius THou great Young Man Permit amongst the Crowd Of those that sing thy mighty Praises lowd
I was scarce Thought a Subject found Dull as the Light that gloom'd around When lo the Mighty Spirit appear'd All Gay all Charming to my sight My Drooping Soul it Rais'd and Cheer'd And cast about a Dazling Light In every part there did appear The Great the God-like Rochester His Softness all his Sweetness everywhere It did advance and with a Generous Look To me Addrest to worthless me it spoke With the same wonted Grace my Muse it prais'd VVith the same Goodness did my Faults Correct And Careful of the Fame himself first rais'd Obligingly it School'd my loose Neglect The soft the moving Accents soon I knew The gentle Voice made up of Harmony Through the Known Paths of my glad Soul it flew I knew it straight it could no others be 'T was not Alied but very very he So the All-Ravisht Swain that hears The wondrous Musick of the Sphears For ever does the grateful Sound retain Whilst all his Oaten Pipes and Reeds The Rural Musick of the Groves and Meads Strive to divert him from the Heavenly Song in vain He hates their harsh and Untun'd Lays Which now no more his Soul and Fancy raise But if one Note of the remembred Air He chance again to hear He starts and in a transport cries 'T is there He knows it all by that one little taste And by that grateful Hint remembers all the rest Great Good and Excellent by what new way Shall I my humble Tribute pay For this vast Glory you my Muse have done For this great Condescention shown So Gods of old sometimes laid by Their Awful Trains of Majesty And chang'd ev'n Heav'n a while for Groves and Plains And to their Fellow-Gods preferr'd the lowly Swains And Beds of Flow'rs would oft compare To those of Downey Clouds or yielding Air At Purling Streams would drink in homely Shells Put off the God to Revel it in Woods and Shepherds Cells Would listen to their Rustick Songs and show Such Divine Goodness in Commending too Whilst the transported Swain the Honour pays With humble Adoration humble Praise The Sence of a Letter sent me made into Verse To a New Tune I. IN vain I have labour'd the Victor to prove Of a Heart that can ne'er give Admittance to Love So hard to be won That nothing so young Could e'er have resisted a Passion so long II But nothing I left unattempted or said To soften the Heart of the Pityless Maid Yet still she was shy And would blushing deny Whilst her willinger Eyes gave her Language the Lye III. When before the Impregnable Fort I lay down I resolv'd or to die or to Purchase Renown But how vain was the Boast All the Glory I lost And now vanquish'd and sham'd I 've quitted my Post. The Return I. AMyntas whilst you Have an Art to subdue And can conquer a Heart with a Look or a Smile You Pityless grow And no Faith will allow 'T is the Glory you seek when you rifle the Spoil II. Your soft warring Eyes When prepar'd for the Prize Can laugh at the Aids of my feeble Disdain You can humble the Foe And soon make her to know Tho' she arms her with Pride her Efforts are but vain III. But Shepherd beware Though a Victor you are A Tyrant was never secure in his Throne Whilst proudly you aim New Conquests to gain Some hard-hearted Nymph may return you your own On a Copy of Verses made in a Dream and sent to me in a Morning before I was Awake AMyntas if your Wit in Dreams Can furnish you with Theams What must it do when your Soul looks abroad Quick'nd with Agitations of the Sence And dispossest of Sleeps dull heavy Load When ev'ry Syllable has Eloquence And if by Chance such Wounds you make And in your Sleep such welcome Mischiefs do What are your Pow'rs when you 're awake Directed by Design and Reason too I slept as duller Mortals use Without the Musick of a Thought VVhen by a gentle Breath soft as thy Muse Thy Name to my glad Ear was brought Amyntas cry'd the Page And at the Sound My list'ning Soul unusual Pleasure found So the Harmonius Spheres surprize VVhilst the All-Ravish'd Shepherd gazes round And wonders whence the Charms should rise That can at once both please and wound VVhilst trembling I unript the Seal Of what you 'd sent My Heart with an Impatient Zeal VVithout my Eyes would needs reveal Its Bus'ness and Intent But so beyond the Sence they were Of ev'ry scribling Lovers common Art That now I find an equal share Of Love and Admiration in my Heart And while I read in vain I strove To hide the Pleasure which I took Bellario saw in ev'ry Look My smiling Joy and blushing Love Soft ev'ry word easie each Line and true Brisk witty manly strong and gay The Thoughts are tender all and new And Fancy ev'ry where does gently play Amyntas if you thus go on Like an unwearied Conqueror day and night The World at last must be undone You do not only kill at sight But like a Parthian in your flight Whether you Rally or Retreat You still have Arrows for Defeat To my Lady Morland at Tunbrige AS when a Conqu'rour does in Triumph come And proudly leads the vanquish'd Captives home The Joyful People croud in ev'ry Street And with loud shouts of Praise the Victor greet While some whom Chance or Fortune kept away Desire at least the Story of the Day How brave the Prince how gay the Chariot was How beautiful he look'd with what a Grace Whether upon his Head he Plumes did wear Or if a Wreath of Bays adorn'd his Hair They hear 't is wondrous fine and long much To see the Hero then they did before So when the Marvels by Report I knew more Of how much Beauty Cloris dwelt in you How many Slaves your Conqu'ring Eyes had won And how the gazing Crowd admiring throng I wish'd to see and much a Lover grew Of so much Beauty though my Rivals too I came and saw and blest my Destiny I found it Just you should out-Rival me 'T was at the Altar where more Hearts were giv'n To you that day then were address'd to Heav'n The Rev'rend Man whose Age and Mystery Had rendred Youth and Beauty Vanity By fatal Chance casting his Eyes your way Mistook the duller Bus'ness of the Day Forgot the Gospel and began to Pray VVhilst the Enamour'd Crowd that near you prest Receiving Darts which none could e'er resist Neglected the Mistake o' th' Love-sick Priest Ev'n my Devotion Cloris you betray'd And I to Heaven no other Petition made But that you might all other Nymphs out-do In Cruelty as well as Beauty too I call'd Amyntas Faithless Swain before But now I find 't is Just he should Adore Not to love you a wonder sure would be Greater then all his Perjuries to me And whilst I Blame him I Excuse him too Who would not venture Heav'n to purchase you But Charming Cloris you too meanly
where he falls in love with the Nymph OEnone but at last being known and own'd he sails into Greece and carries Helen to Troy which OEnone understanding writes him this Epistle TO thee dear Paris Lord of my Desires Once tender Partner of my softest Fires To thee I write mine while a Shepherd's Swain But now a Prince that Title you disdain Oh fatal Pomp that cou'd so soon divide What Love and all our sacred Vows had ty'd What God our Love industrious to prevent Curst thee with power and ruin'd my Content Greatness which does at best but ill agree With Love such Distance sets 'twixt Thee and Me. Whilst thou a Prince and I a Shepherdess My raging Passion can have no redress Wou'd God when first I saw thee thou hadst been This Great this Cruel Celebrated thing That without hope I might have gaz'd and bow'd And mixt my Adorations with the Crowd Unwounded then I had escap'd those Eyes Those lovely Authors of my Miseries Not that less Charms their fatal pow'r had drest But Fear and Awe my Love had then supprest My unambitious Heart no Flame had known But what Devotion pays to Gods alone I might have wondr'd and have wisht that He Whom Heaven shou'd make me love might look like Thee More in a silly Nymph had been a sin This had the height of my Presumption been But thou a Flock didst feed on Ida's Plain And hadst no Title but The lovely Swain A Title which more Virgin Hearts has won Than that of being own'd King Priam's Son Whilst me a harmless Neighbouring Cotager You saw and did above the rest prefer You saw and at first sight you lov'd me too Nor cou'd I hide the wounds receiv'd from you Me all the Village Herdsmen strove to gain For me the Shepherds sigh'd and su'd in vain Thou hadst my heart and they my cold disdain Not all their Offerings Garlands and first born Of their lov'd Ewes cou'd bribe my Native scorn My Love like hidden Treasure long conceal'd Cou'd onely where 't was destin'd be reveal'd And yet how long my Maiden blushes strove Not to betray my easie new-born Love But at thy sight the kindling Fire wou'd rise And I unskill'd declare it at my Eyes But oh the Joy the mighty Ecstasie Possest thy Soul at this Discovery Speechless and panting at my feet you lay And short breath'd Sighs told what you cou'd not say A thousand times my hand with Kisses prest And look'd such Darts as none cou'd e'er resist Silent we gaz'd and as my Eyes met thine New Joy fill'd theirs new Love and shame fill'd mine You saw the Fears my kind disorder show'd And breaking Silence Faith anew you vow'd Heavens how you swore by every Pow'r Divine You wou'd be ever true be ever mine Each God a sacred witness you invoke And wish'd their Curse when e'er these Vows you broke Quick to my Heart each perjur'd Accent ran Which I took in believ'd and was undone Vows are Love's poyson'd Arrows and the heart So wounded rarely finds a Cure from Art At least this heart which Fate has destin'd yours This heart unpractis'd in Love's mystick pow'rs For I am soft and young as April Flowers Now uncontroll'd we meet uncheck'd improve Each happier Minute in new Joys of Love Soft were our hours and lavishly the Day We gave intirely up to Love and Play Oft to the cooling Groves our Flocks we led And seated on some shaded flowery Bed Watch'd the united Wantons as they fed And all the Day my list'ning Soul I hung Upon the charming Musick of thy Tongue And never thought the blessed hours too long No Swain no God like thee cou'd ever move Or had so soft an Art in whisp'ring Love No wonder for thou art Ally'd to Jove And when you pip'd or sung or danc'd or spoke The God appear'd in every Grace and Look Pride of the Swains and Glory of the Shades The Grief and Joy of all the Love-sick Maids Thus whilst all hearts you rul'd without Controul I reign'd the absolute Monarch of your Soul Each Beach my Name yet bears carv'd out by thee Paris and his OEnone fill each Tree And as they grow the Letters larger spread Grow still a witness of my Wrongs when dead Close by a silent silver Brook there grows A Poplar under whose dear gloomy Boughs A thousand times we have exchang'd our Vows Oh may'st thou grow t' an endless date of Years Who on thy Bark this fatal Record bears When Paris to OEnone proves untrue Back Xanthus Streams shall to their Fountains flow Turn turn your Tides back to your Fountains run The perjur'd Swain from all his Faith is gone Curst be that day may Fate appoint the hour As Ominous in his black Kalendar When Venus Pallas and the Wife of Jove Descended to thee in the Mirtle Grove In shining Chariots drawn by winged Clouds Naked they came no Veil their Beauty shrouds But every Charm and Grace expos'd to view Left Heav'n to be survey'd and judg'd by you To bribe thy voice Juno wou'd Crowns bestow Pallas more gratefully wou'd dress thy Brow With Wreaths of Wit Venus propos'd the choice Of all the fairest Greeks and had thy Voice Crowns and more glorious Wreaths thou didst despise And promis'd Beauty more than Empire prize This when you told Gods what a killing fear Did over all my shivering Limbs appear And I presag'd some ominous Change was near The Blushes left my Cheeks from every part The Bloud ran swift to guard my fainting heart You in my Eyes the glimmering Light perceiv'd Of parting Life and on my pale Lips breath'd Such Vows as all my Terrors undeceiv'd But soon the envying Gods disturb'd our Joy Declar'd thee Great and all my Bliss destroy And now the Fleet is Anchor'd in the Bay That must to Troy the glorious Youth convey Heavens how you look'd and what a Godlike Grace At their first Homage beautify'd your Face Yet this no Wonder or Amazement brought You still a Monarch were in Soul and thought Nor cou'd I tell which most the News augments Your Joys of Pow'r or parting Discontents You kist the Tears which down my Cheeks did glide And mingled yours with the soft falling Tide And 'twixt your Sighs a thousand times you said Cease my OEnone Cease my charming Maid If Paris lives his Native Troy to see My lovely Nymph thou shalt a Princess be But my Prophetick Fears no Faith allow'd My breaking Heart resisted all you vow'd Ah must me part I cry'd that killing word No farther Language cou'd to Grief afford Trembling I fell upon thy panting Breast Which was with equal Love and Grief opprest Whilst sighs and looks all dying spoke the rest About thy Neck my feeble Arms I cast Not Vines nor Ivy circle Elms so fast To stay what dear Excuses didst thou frame And fansiedst Tempests when the Seas were calm How oft the Winds contrary feign'd to be When they alas were onely so to me How oft new Vows of lasting
as other faithless Lovers are Is only dealing with the young and fair Approaching Age makes the false Hero fly He 's Honour with the Young but with the old necessity Thus said the God! and all the while he spoke Her Heart new Fire her Eyes new softness took Now crys I yield I yield the Victory Lead on young Charming Boy I follow thee Lead to Lysander quickly let 's be gone I am resolv'd to Love and be undone I must not cannot Love at cheaper rate Love is the word Lysander and my fate Thus to my Arms Love brought the trembling Maid Who on my Bosom sighing softly said Take charming Victor what you must subdue 'T is Love and not Aminta gives it you Love that o're all and every part does reign And I shou'd plead and struggle but in vain Take what a yielding Virgin can bestow I am dis-arm'd of all resistance now Then down her Cheeks a tender shower did glide The Trophies of my Victory Joy and Pride She yields ye Gods I cry'd and in my Arms Gives up the wonderous Treasure of her Charms Transported to the Bower of Bliss we high But once more met Respect upon the way But not as heretofore with Meen and Grace All formal but a gay and smiling Face A different sort of Air his looks now wears Galljard and Joyful every part appears And thus he said Go happy Lovers perfect the desires That fill two Hearts that burn with equal Fires Receive the mighty Recompence at last Of all the Anxious hours you 've past Enter the Bower where endless Pleasures flow Young Joys new Raptures all the year Respect has nothing now to do He always leaves the Lover here Young Loves attend and here supply all want In secret Pleasures I 'm no confident Respect here left me and He scarce was gone But I perceiv''d a Woman hasting on Naked she came all lovely and her Hair Was loosely flying in the wanton Air Love told me 't was Occasion and if I The swift pac'd Maid shou'd pass neglected by My Love my Hopes and Industry were vain For she but rarely e're return'd again I stopt her speed and did implore her Aid Which granted she Aminta did perswade Into the Palace of true Joys to hast And thither 't was we both arriv'd at last Oh Lysidas no Mortal Sense affords No Wit no Eloquence can furnish Words Fit for the soft Discription of the Bower Some Love-blest God in the Triumphing hour Can only guess can only say what 't is Yet even that God but faintly wou'd express Th' unbounded pleasures of the Bower of Bliss A slight a poor Idea may be given Like that we fancy when we paint a Heav'n As solid Christal Diamonds shining Gold May fancy Light that is not to be told To vulgar Senses Love like Heaven shou'd be To make it more Ador'd a Mystery Eternal Powers when ere I sing of Love And the unworthy Song immortal prove To please my wandering Ghost when I am Dead Let none but Lovers the soft stories read Praise from the Wits and Braves I 'le not implore Listen ye Lovers all I ask no more That where Words fail you may with thought supply If ever any lov'd like me or were so blest as I. The Prospect and Bower of Bliss I. T IS all eternal Spring around And all the Trees with fragrant flowers are Crown'd No Clouds no misty Showers obscure the Light But all is calm serene and gay The Heavens are drest with a perpetual bright And all the Earth with everlasting May. Each minute blows the Rose and Jesamine And twines with new-born Eglantine Each minute new Discoveries bring Of something sweet of something ravishing II. Fountains wandering Brooks soft rills That o're the wanton Pebbles play And all the Woods with tender murmuring fills Inspiring my Love inciting Joy The sole the solemn business of the day Through all the Groves the Glades and thickets run And nothing see but Love on all their Banks along A thousand Flowers of different kinds The neighbouring Meads adorn Whose sweetness snatcht by flying Winds O're all the Bow'r of Bliss is born Whether all things in nature strive to bring All that is soft all that is ravishing III. The verdant Banks no other Prints retain But where young Lovers and young Loves have lain For Love has nothing here to do But to be wanton soft and gay And give a lavish loose to joy His emptyed Quiver and his Bow In flowry Wreaths with rosy Garlands Crown'd In Myrtle shades are hung As Conquerors when the Victories won Dispose their glorious Trophies all around Soft Winds and Eccho's that do haunt each Grove Still whisper and repeat no other Songs than Love Which round about the sacred Bower they sing Where every thing arrives that's sweet and ravishing IV. A thousand gloomy VValks the Bower contains Sacred all to mighty Love A thousand winding turns where Pleasure reigns Obscur'd from day by twining Boughs above Where Love invents a thousand Plays Where Lovers act ten thousand Joys Nature has taught each little Bird A soft Example to afford They Bill and Look and Sing and Love And Charm the Air and Charm the Grove Whilst underneath the Ravisht Swain is lying Gazing Sighing Pressing Dying Still with new desire warm'd Still with new Joy new Rapture charm'd Amongst the green soft Rivulets do pass In winding Streams half hid in Flowers and Grass Who Purl and Murmur as they glide along And mix their Musick with the Shepherds Pipe and Song Which Eccho's through the sacred Bower repeat Where every thing arrives that 's ravishing and sweet V. The Virgin here shows no disdain Nor does the Shepherd Sigh in vain This knows no Cruelty nor that no Pain No Youth complains upon his rigorous fair No injur'd Maid upon her perjur'd dear 'T is only Love fond Love finds entrance here The Notes of Birds the Murmuring Boughs VVhen gentle VVinds glide through the Glades Soft Sighs of Love and oft breath'd Vows The tender VVhisperings of the yielding Maids Dashing Fountains Purling Springs The short breath'd crys from faint resistance sent Crys which no aid desires or brings The soft effects of Fear and Languishment The little struggling of the fair The trembling force of the young Conqueror The tender Arguments he brings The pretty Non-sence with which she assails VVhich as she speaks she hopes it nought prevails But yielding owns her Love above her Reasonings Is all is heard Silence and shade the rest VVhich best with Love which best with Joys consist All which young Eccho's through the Bower does sing VVhere every thing is heard that 's sweet and ravishing VI. Recesses Dark and Grotto's all conspire To favour Love and soft desire Shades Springs and Fountains flowry Beds To Joys invites to Pleasure leads To Pleasure which all Humane thought exceeds Heav'n Earth and Sea here all combine To propagate Love's great design And render the Appointments all Divine After long toyl 't is here the Lover reaps
of old in Eden's blissfull walks The Beauties of her new Creation view'd Full of content She sees that it is good Come then you inspir'd Swains and join your Verse Though all in vain to add a Fame to hers But then your Song will best Apollo please When it is fraight with this his Favorite's praise Declare how when her learned Harp she strung Our joyfull Island with the Musick rung Descending Graces left their Heavenly seat To take their place in every Line she writ Where sweetest Charms as in her Person smile Her Face's Beauty 's copy'd in her style Say how as she did her just skill improve In the best Art and in soft Tales of Love Some well sung Passion with success she crown'd The melting Virgins languish'd at the sound And envying Swains durst not the Pipe inspire They'd nothing then to doe but to admire Shepherds and Nymphs to Pan direct your Prayer If peradventure he your Vows will hear To make you sing and make you look like her But Nymphs and Swains your hopes are all in vain For such bright Eyes and such a tunefull Pen. How many of her Sex spend half their days To catch some Fool by managing a Face But she secure of charming has confin'd Her wiser care t' adorn and dress the Mind Beauty may fade but everlasting Verse Exempts the better portion from the Hearse The matchless Wit and Fancy of the Fair Which moves our envy and our Sons despair Long they shall live a monument of her Fame And to Eternity extend her Name While After-times deservedly approve The choicest object of this Ages Love For when they reade ghessing how far she charm'd With that bright Body with such Wit inform'd They will give heed and credit to our Verse When we the Wonders of her Face rehearse J. Cooper Buckden Nov. 25. 1683. To ASTRAEA on her Poems 'T IS not enough to reade and to admire Thy sacred Verse does nobler thoughts inspire Striking on every breast Poetick fire The God of Wit attends with chearfull Rays Warming the dullest Statue into praise Hail then delight of Heaven and pride of Earth Blest by each Muse at thy auspicious birth Soft Love and Majesty have fram'd thy Mind To shew the Beauties of both Sexes join'd Thy Lines may challenge like young David's face A Female Sweetness and a Manly Grace Thy tender notions in loose numbers flow With a strange power to charm where e'er they go And when in stronger sounds thy voice we hear At all the skilfull points you arm'd appear Which way so'er thou dost thy self express We find thy Beauty out in every dress Such work so gently wrought so strongly fine Cannot be wrought by hands all Masculine In vain proud Man weak Woman wou'd controul No Man can argue now against a Woman's Soul J. C. To the excellent Madam Behn on her Poems 'T Was vain for Man the Laurels to persue E'en from the God of Wit bright Daphne flew Man Whose course compound damps the Muses fire It does but touch our Earth and soon expire While in the softer kind th'Aetherial flame Spreads and rejoices as from Heaven it came This Greece in Sappho in Orinda knew Our Isle though they were but low types to you But the faint dawn to your illustrious day To make us patient of your brighter Ray. Oft may we see some wretched story told In ductile sense spread thin as leaves of Gold You have ingrost th'inestimable Mine Which in well polisht Numbers you refine While still the solid Mass shines thick in every Line Yet neither sex do you surpass alone Both in your Verse are in their glory shown Both Phoebus and Minerva are your own While in the softest dress you Wit dispense With all the Nerves of Reason and of Sense In mingled Beauties we at once may trace A Female Sweetness and a Manly Grace No wonder 't is the Delphian God of old Wou'd have his Oracles by Women told But oh who e'er so sweetly could repeat Soft lays of Love and youths delightfull heat If Love's Misfortunes be your mournfull Theme No dying Swan on fair Cayster's stream Expires so sweet though with his numerous Moan The fading Banks and suffering Mountains groan If you the gentle Passions wou'd inspire With what resistless Charms you breathe desire No Heart so savage so relentless none As can the sweet Captivity disown Ah needs must she th' unwary Soul surprise Whose Pen sheds Flames as dangerous as her Eyes J. ADAMS To the Authour on her Voyage to the Island of Love TO speak of thee no Muse will I invoke Thou onely canst inspire what shou'd be spoke For all their wealth the Nine have given to thee Thy rich and flowing stream has left them dry Cupid may throw away his useless Darts Thou 'st lent him one will massacre more Hearts Than all his store thy Pen disarms us so We yield our selves to the first beauteous Foe The easie softness of thy thoughts surprise And this new way Love steals into our Eyes Thy gliding Verse comes on us unawares No rumbling Metaphors alarm our Ears And puts us in a posture of defence We are undone and never know from whence So to th' Assyrian Camp the Angel flew And in the silent Night his Millions slew Thou leadst us by the Soul amongst thy Loves And bindst us all in thy inchanting Groves Each languishes for thy Aminta's Charms Sighs for thy fansied Raptures in her Armes Sees her in all that killing posture laid When Love and fond Respect guarded the sleeping Maid Persues her to the very Bower of Bliss Times all the wrecking joys and thinks 'em his In the same Trance with the young pair we lie And in their amorous Ecstasies we die You Nymphs who deaf to Love's soft lays have been Reade here and suck the sweet destruction in Smooth is the stream and clear is every thought And yet you cannot see with what you 're caught Or else so very pleasing is the Bait With careless heed you play and leap at it She poisons all the Floud with such an art That the dear Philter trickles to the Heart With such bewitching pleasure that each sup Has all the joys of life in every drop I see the Banks with Love-sick Virgins strow'd Their Bosoms heav'd with the young fluttering God Oh how they pant and struggle with their pain Yet cannot wish their former health again Within their Breasts thy warmth and spirit glows And in their Eyes thy streaming softness flows Thy Raptures are transfus'd through every vein And thy blest hour in all their heads does reign The Ice that chills the Soul thou dost remove And meltst it into tenderness and Love The flints about their Hearts dance to thy lays Till the quick motion sets 'em on a Blaze Orpheus and you the stones do both inspire But onely you out of those flints strike fire Not with a sudden Spark a short liv'd Blaze Like Womens Passions in our Gilting days But what you
Giver Captive was His Eyes their best Attracts put on Designing some should be undone For he could at his pleasure move The Nymphs he lik'd to fall in Love Yet so he order'd every Glance That still they seem'd but Wounds of Chance He well cou'd feign an Innocence And taught his Silence Eloquence Each Smile he us'd had got the force To Conquer more than soft Discourse Which when it serv'd his Ends he 'd use And subtilly thro' a heart infuse His Wit was such it cou'd controul The Resolutions of a Soul That a Religious Vow had made By Love it nere wou'd be betra'd For when he spoke he well cou'd prove Their Errors who dispute with Love With all these Charms he did Address Himself to every Shepherdess Until the Bag-pipes which did play Began the Bus'ness of the day And in the taking forth to Dance The Lovely Swain became my Chance To whom much Passion he did Vow And much his Eyes and Sighs did show And both imploy'd with so much Art I strove in vain to guard my Heart And ere the Night our Revels crost I was intirely won and lost Let me advise thee Amoret Fly from the Baits that he has set In every grace which will betray All Beauties that but look that way But thou hast Charms that will secure A Captive in this Conquerour Our Cabal COme my fair Cloris come away Hast thou forgot 't is Holyday And lovely Silvia too make haste The Sun is up the day does waste Do'st thou not hear the Musick loud Mix'd with the murmur of the Crowd How can thy active Feet be still And hear the Bagpipes chearful Trill Mr. V. U. Urania's drest as fine and gay As if she meant t' out-shine the day Or certain that no Victories Were to be gain'd but by her Eyes Her Garment's white her Garniture The springing Beauties of the Year Which are in such nice Order plac'd That Nature is by Art disgrac'd Her natural Curling Ebon Hair Does loosly wanton in the Air. Mr. G. V. With her the young Alexis came Whose Eyes dare only speak his Flame Charming he is as fair can be Charming without Effeminacy Only his Eyes are languishing Caus'd by the Pain he feels within Yet thou wilt say that Languishment Is a peculiar Ornament Deck'd up he is with Pride and Care All Rich and Gay to please his Fair The price of Flocks h' has made a Prey To th' Usual Vanity of this day My dear Brother J. C. After them Damon Piping came Who laughs at Cupid and his Flame Swears if the Boy should him approach He 'd burn his Wings with his own Torch But he 's too young for Love t' invade Though for him languish many a Maid His lovely Ayr his chearful Face Adorn'd with many a Youthful Grace Beget more Sighs then if with Arts He should design to conquer Hearts The Swains as well as Nymphs submit To 's Charms of Beauty and of VVit He 'll sing he 'll dance he 'll pipe and play And wanton out a Summers day And wheresoever Damon be He 's still the Soul o' th' Companie My dear Amoret Mris. B. Next Amoret the true Delight Of all that do approach her sight The Sun in all its Course ne'er met Ought Fair or Sweet like Amoret Alone she came her Eyes declin'd In which you 'l read her troubled Mind Yes Silvia for she 'l not deny She loves as well as thou and I. 'T is Philocles that Proud Ingrate That pays her Passion back with Hate VVhilst she does all but him despise And clouds the lustre of her Eyes But once to her he did address And dying Passion too express But soon the Amorous Heat was laid He soon forgot the Vows he 'd made VVhilst she in every Silent Grove Bewails her easie Faith and Love Numbers of Swains do her adore But she has vow'd to love no more Mr. J. B. Next Jolly Thirsis came along VVith many Beauties in a Throng Mr. Je. B. VVith whom the young Amyntas came The Author of my Sighs and Flame For I 'll confess that Truth to you VVhich every Look of mine can show Ah how unlike the rest he appears VVith Majesty above his years His Eyes so much of Sweetness dress Such Wit such Vigour too express That 't wou'd a wonder be to say I 've seen the Youth and brought my Heart away Ah Cloris Thou that never wert In danger yet to lose a Heart Guard it severely now for he Will startle all thy Constancy For if by chance thou do'st escape Unwounded by his Lovely Shape Tempt not thy Ruine lest his Eyes Joyn with his Tongue to win the Prize Such Softness in his Language dwells And Tales of Love so well he tells Should'st thou attend their Harmony thou 'dst be Undone as well as I For sure no Nymph was ever free That could Amyntas hear and see Mr. N. R. V. With him the lovely Philocless His-Beauty heightned by his Dress If any thing can add a Grace To such a Shape and such a Face Whose Natural Ornaments impart Enough without the help of Art His Shoulders cover'd with a Hair The Sun-Beams are not half so fair Of which the Virgins Bracelets make And wear for Philocless's sake His Beauty such that one would swear His Face did never take the Air. On 's Cheeks the blushing Roses show The rest like whitest Daisies grow His Lips no Berries of the Field Nor Cherries such a Red do yield His Eyes all Love Soft'ning Smile And when he speaks he sighs the while His Bashful Grace with Blushes too Gains more then Confidence can do With all these Charms he does invade The Heart which when he has betray'd He slights the Trophies he has won And weeps for those he has Undone As if he never did intend His Charms for so severe an End And all poor Amoret can Gain Is pitty from the Lovely Swain And if Inconstancy can seem Agreeable 't is so in him And when he meets Reproach for it He does excuse it with his Wit Mr. E. B. and Mrs. F M. Next hand in hand the smilling Pair Martillo and the Lovely Fair A Bright-Ey'd Phillis who they say Ne'er knew what Love was till to day Long has the Gen'rous Youth in vain Implor'd some Pity for his Pain Early abroad he would be seen To wait her coming on the Green To be the first that t' her should pay The Tribute of the New-born Day Presents her Bracelets with their Names And Hooks carv'd out with Hearts and Flames And when a stragling Lamb he saw And she not by to give it Law The pretty Fugitive he 'd deck With Wreaths of Flowers around its Neck And gave her ev'ry mark of Love Before he could her Pity move But now the Youth no more appears Clouded with Jealousies and Fears Nor yet dares Phillis softer Brow Wear Unconcern or Coldness now But makes him just and kind Returns And as He does so now She burns Mr. J. H. Next
Bright Relique Shrouded in a Shrine of Gold Less Myst'ry made a Deity of Old Fair Charmer Tell me by what pow'rful Spell You into this Confused Order fell If Magick could be wrought on things Divine Some Amorous Sybil did thy Form design In some soft hour which the Prophetick Maid In Nobler Mysteries of Love employ'd Wrought thee a Hieroglyphick to express The wanton God in all his Tenderness Thus shaded and thus all adorn'd with Charms Harmless Unfletch'd without Offensive Arms He us'd of Old in shady Groves to Play E'er Swains broke Vows or Nymphs were vain and coy Or Love himself had Wings to fly away Or was it his Almighty Pow'r to prove Design'd a Quiver for the God of Love And all these shining Hairs which th'inspir'd Maid Has with such strange Mysterious Fancy laid Are meant his Shafts the subt'lest surest Darts That ever Conqu'red or Secur'd his Hearts Darts that such tender Passions do convey Not the young Wounder is more soft than they 'T is so the Riddle I at last have learn'd But found it when I was too far concern'd The Dream A Song I. THe Grove was gloomy all around Murm'ring the Streams did pass Where fond Astrea laid her down Upon a Bed of Grass I slept and saw a piteous sight Cupid a weeping lay Till both his little Stars of Light Had wept themselves away II. Methought I ask'd him why he cry'd My Pity led me on All sighing the sad Boy reply'd Alas I am undone As I beneath you Myrtles lay Down by Diana's Springs Amyntas stole my Bow away And Pinion'd both my Wings III. Alas cry'd I 't was then thy Darts Wherewith he wounded me Thou Mighty Deity of Hearts He stole his Pow'r from thee Revenge thee if a God thou be Upon the Amorous Swain I 'll set thy Wings at Liberty And thou shalt fly again IV. And for this Service on my Part All I implore of thee Is That thou 't wound Amyntas Heart And make him die for me His Silken Fetters I Unty'd And the gay Wings display'd Which gently fann'd he mounts and cry'd Farewel fond easie Maid V. At this I blush'd and angry grew I should a God believe And waking found my Dream too true Alas I was a Slave A Letter to a Brother of the Pen in Tribulation POor Damon Art thou caught Is 't ev'n so Art thou become a Tabernacler too Where sure thou dost not mean to Preach or Pray Unless it be the clean contrary way This holy time I little thought thy sin Deserv'd a Tub to do its Pennance in O how you 'll for th' Aegyptian Flesh-pots wish When you 'r half-famish'd with your Lenten-dish Your Almonds Currans Biskets hard and dry Food that will Soul and Body mortifie Damn'd Penetential Drink that will infuse Dull Principles into thy Grateful Muse. Pox on 't that you must needs be fooling now Just when the Wits had greatest need of you Was Summer then so long a coming on That you must make an Artificial one Much good may 't do thee but 't is thought thy Brain E'er long will wish for cooler Days again For Honesty no more will I engage I durst have sworn thou'dst had thy Pusillage Thy Looks the whole Cabal have cheated too But thou wilt say most of the Wits do so Is this thy writing Plays who thought thy Wit An Interlude of Whoring would admit To Poetry no more thou'lt be inclin'd Unless in Verse to damn all VVoman-kind And 't is but Just thou shouldst in Rancor grow Against that Sex that has Confin'd thee so All things in Nature now are Brisk and Gay At the Approaches of the Blooming May The new-fletch'd Birds do in our Arbors sing A Thousand Airs to welcome in the Spring VVhilst ev'ry Swain is like a Bridegroom drest And ev'ry Nymph as going to a Feast The Meadows now their flowry Garments wear And ev'ry Grove does in its Pride appear VVhilst thou poor Damon in close Rooms art pent Where hardly thy own Breath can find a vent Yet that too is a Heaven compar'd to th' Task Of Codling every Morning in a Cask Now I could curse this Female but I know She needs it not that thus cou'd handle you Besides that Vengeance does to thee belong And 't were Injustice to disarm thy Tongue Curse then dear Swain that all the Youth may And from thy dire Mishap be taught to fear Curse till thou hast undone the Race and all hear That did contribute to thy Spring and Fall The Reflection A Song I. POOR Lost Serena to Bemoan The Rigor of her Fate High'd to a Rivers-side alone Upon whose Brinks she sat Her Eyes as if they would have spar'd The Language of her Tongue In Silent Tears a while declar'd The Sense of all her wrong II. But they alas too feeble were Her Grief was swoln too high To be Exprest in Sighs and Tears She must or speak or dye And thus at last she did complain Is this the Faith said she Which thou allowest me Cruel Swain For that I gave to thee III. Heaven knows with how much Innocence I did my Soul Incline To thy Soft Charmes of Eloquence And gave thee what was mine I had not one Reserve in Store But at thy Feet I lay'd Those Arms that Conquer'd heretofore Tho' now thy Trophies made IV. Thy Eyes in Silence told their Tale Of Love in such a way That 't was as easie to Prevail As after to Betray And when you spoke my Listning Soul Was on the Flattery Hung And I was lost without Controul Such Musick grac'd thy Tongue V. Alas how long in vain you strove My coldness to divert How long besieg'd it round with Love Before you won the Heart What Arts you us'd what Presents made What Songs what Letters writ And left no Charm that cou'd invade Or with your Eyes or Wit VI. Till by such Obligations Prest By such dear Perjuries won I heedlesly Resign'd the rest And quickly was undone For as my Kindling Flames increase Yours glimeringly decay The Rifled Joys no more can Please That once oblig'd your Stay VII Witness ye Springs ye Meads and Groves Who oft were conscious made To all our Hours and Vows of Love Witness how I 'm Betray'd Trees drop your Leaves be Gay no more Ye Rivers waste and drye Whilst on your Melancholy Shore I lay me down and dye SONG To Pesibles Tune I. 'T was when the Fields were gay The Groves and every Tree Just when the God of Day Grown weary of his Sway Descended to the Sea And Gloomy Light around did all the World survey 'T was then the Hapless Swain Amyntas to Complain Of Silvia's cold Disdain Retir'd to Silent Shades Where by a Rivers Side His Tears did swell the Tide As he upon the Brink was lay'd II. Ye Gods he often cry'd Why did your Powers design In Silvia so much Pride Such Falshood to beside With Beauty so Divine VVhy should so much of Hell with so much
Heaven joyn Be witness every Shade How oft the lovely Maid Her tender Vows has paid Yet with the self-same Breath With which so oft before And solemnly she swore Pronounces now Amyntas Death III. But Charming Nymph beware Whilst I your Victim die Some One my Perjur'd Fair Revenging my Despair Will prove as false to thee Which yet my wandring Ghost wou'd look more pale to see For I shall break my Tomb And nightly as I rome Shall to my Silvia come And show the Piteous Sight My bleeding Bosom too Which wounds were given by you Then vanish in the Shades of Night SONG On her Loving Two Equally Set by Captain Pack I. HOw strongly does my Passion flow Divided equally 'twixt two Damon had ne'er subdu'd my Heart Had not Alexis took his part Nor cou'd Alexis pow'rful prove Without my Damons Aid to gain my Love II. When my Alexis present is Then I for Damon sigh and mourn But when Alexis I do miss Damon gains nothing but my Scorn But if it chance they both are by For both alike I languish sigh and die III. Cure then thou mighty winged God This restless Feaver in my Blood One Golden-Pointed Dart take back But which O Cupid wilt thou take If Damons all my Hopes are crost Or that of my Alexis I am lost The Counsel A Song Set by Captain Pack I. APox upon this needless Scorn Sylvia for shame the Cheat give o'er The End to which the Fair are botn Is not to keep their Charms in store But lavishly dispose in haste Of Joys which none but Youth improve Joys which decay when Beauty's past And who when Beauty's past will love II. When Age those Glories shall deface Revenging all your cold Disdain And Sylvia shall neglected pass By every once-admiring Swain And we no more shall Homage pay When you in vain too late shall burn If Love increase and Youth decay Ah Sylvia who will make Return III. Then haste my Sylvia to the Grove Where all the Sweets of May conspire To teach us ev'ry Art of Love And raise our Joys of Pleasure higher Where while embracing we shall lie Loosly in Shades on Beds of Flow'rs The duller World while we defie Years will be Minutes Ages Hours SONG The Surprize Set by Mr. Farmer I. PHillis whose Heart was Unconfin'd And free as Flow'rs on Meads and Plains None boasted of her being Kind ' Mong'st all the languishing and amorous Swains No Sighs or Tears the Nymph cou'd move To pity or return their Love II. Till on a time the hapless Maid Retir'd to shun the Heat o' th' Day Into a Grove beneath whose shade Strephon the careless Shepherd sleeping lay But O such Charms the Youth adorn Love is reveng'd for all her Scorn III. Her Cheeks with Blushes cover'd were And tender Sighs her Bosom warm A Softness in her Eyes appear Unusual Pain she feels from ev'ry Charm To Woods and Ecchoes now she cries For Modesty to speak denies SONG I. AH what can mean that eager Joy Transports my Heart when you appear Ah Strephon you my Thoughts imploy In all that 's Charming all that 's Dear When you your pleasing Story tell A Softness does invade each Part And I with Blushes own I feel Something too tender at my Heart II. At your approach my Blushes rise And I at once both wish and fear My wounded Soul mounts to my Eyes As it would prattle Stories there Take take that Heart that needs must go But Shepherd see it kindly us'd For who such Presents will bestow If this alas should be abus'd The Invitation A Song To a New Scotch Tune I. COme my Phillis let us improve Both our Joyes of Equal Love VVhile we in yonder Shady Grove Count Minutes by our Kisses See the Flowers how sweetly they spread And each Resigns his Gawdy Head To make for us a Fragrant Bed To practice o'er New Blisses II. The Sun it self with Love does conspire And sends abroad his ardent Fire And kindly seems to bid us retire And shade us from his Glory Then come my Phillis do not fear All that your Swain desires there Is by those Eyes a new to swear How much he does adore ye III. Phillis in vain you shed those Tears VVhy do you blush Oh speak your Fears There 's none but your Amyntas hears VVhat means this pretty Passion Can you fear your Favours will cloy Those that the Blessing does enjoy Ah no! such needless Thoughts destroy This Nicety's out of Fashion IV. When thou hast done by Pan I swear Thou wilt unto my Eyes appear A thousand times more Charming and Fair Then thou wert to my first Desire That Smile was kind and now thou' rt wise To throw away this Coy Disguise And by the vigor of thy Eyes Declare thy Youth and Fire Silvio's Complaint A SONG To a Fine Scotch Tune I. IN the Blooming Time o' th' year In the Royal Month of May Au the Heaves were glad and clear Au the Earth was Fresh and Gay A Noble Youth but all Forlorn Lig'd Sighing by a Spring 'T were better I's was nere Born Ere wisht to be a King II. Then from his Starry Eyne Muckle Showers of Christal Fell To bedew the Roses Fine That on his Cheeks did dwell And ever 'twixt his Sighs he 'd cry How Bonny a Lad I 'd been Had I weys me nere Aim'd high Or wisht to be a King III. With Dying Clowdy Looks Au the Fields and Groves he kens Au the Gleeding Murmuring Brooks Noo his Unambitious Friends Tol which he eance with Mickle Cheer His Bleating Flocks woud bring And crys woud God I 'd dy'd here Ere wisht to be a King IV. How oft in Yonder Mead Cover'd ore with Painted Flowers Au the Dancing Youth I 've led Where we past our Blether Hours In Yonder Shade in Yonder Grove How Blest the Nymphs have been Ere I for Pow'r Debaucht Love Or wisht to be a King V. Not add the Arcadian Swains In their Pride and Glory Clad Not au the Spacious Plains Ere coud Boast a Bleether Lad. When ere I Pip'd or Danc'd or Ran Or leapt or whirl'd the Sling The Flowry Wreaths I still won And wisht to be a King VI. But Curst be yon Tall Oak And Old Thirsis be accurst There I first my peace forsook There I learnt Ambition first Such Glorious Songs of Hero's Crown'd The Restless Swain woud Sing My Soul unknown desires found And Languisht to be King VII Ye Garlands wither now Fickle Glories vanish all Ye Wreaths that deckt my Brow To the ground neglected fall No more my sweet Repose molest Nor to my Fancies bring The Golden Dreams of being Blest With Titles of a King VIII Ye Noble Youths beware Shun Ambitious powerful Tales Distructive False and Fair Like the Oceans Flattering Gales See how my Youth and Glories lye Like Blasted Flowers i' th' Spring My Fame Renown and all dye For wishing to be King In Imitation of Horace I. WHat mean those Amorous Curles of Jet
For what heart-Ravisht Maid Dost thou thy Hair in order set Thy Wanton Tresses Braid And thy vast Store of Beauties open lay That the deluded Fancy leads astray II. For pitty hide thy Starry eyes Whose Languishments destroy And look not on the Slave that dyes With an Excess of Joy Defend thy Coral Lips thy Amber Breath To taste these Sweets lets in a Certain Death III. Forbear fond Charming Youth forbear Thy words of Melting Love Thy Eyes thy Language well may spare One Dart enough can move And she that hears thy voice and sees thy Eyes With too much Pleasure too much Softness dies IV. Cease Cease with Sighs to warm my Soul Or press me with thy Hand VVho can the kindling fire controul The tender force withstand Thy Sighs and Touches like wing'd Lightning fly And are the Gods of Loves Artillery To Lysander who made some Verses on a Discourse of Loves Fire I. IN vain dear Youth you say you love And yet my Marks of Passion blame Since Jealousie alone can prove The surest Witness of my Flame And she who without that a Love can vow Believe me Shepherd does not merit you II. Then give me leave to doubt that Fire I kindle may another warm A Face that cannot move Desire May serve at least to end the Charm Love else were Witchcraft that on malice bent Denies ye Joys or makes ye Impotent III. 'T is true when Cities are on fire Men never wait for Christal Springs But to the Neighb'ring Pools retire Which nearest best Assistance brings And serves as well to quench the raging Flame As if from God-delighting Streams it came IV. A Fancy strong may do the Feat Yet this to Love a Riddle is And shows that Passion but a Cheat Which Men but with their Tongues Confess For 't is a Maxime in Loves learned School Who blows the Fire the flame can only Rule V. Though Honour does your Wish deny Honour the Foe to your Repose Yet 't is more Noble far to dye Then break Loves known and Sacred Laws What Lover wou'd pursue a single Game That cou'd amongst the Fair deal out his flame VI. Since then Lysander you desire Amynta only to adore Take in no Partners to your Fire For who well Loves that Loves one more And if such Rivals in your Heart I find T is in My Power to die but not be kind A Dialogue for an Entertainment at Court between Damon and Sylvia Damon AH Sylvia if I still pursue Whilst you in vain your Scorn improve What wonders might your Eies not do If they would dress themselves in Love Silvia Shepherd you urge my Love in vain For I can ne'er Reward your pain A Slave each Smile of mine can win And all my softning Darts When e'er I please can bring me in A Thousand Yeilding Hearts Damon Yet if those Slaves you treat with Cruelty 'T is an Inglorious Victory And those unhappy Swaines you so subdue May Learn at last to scorn as well as you Your Beauty though the Gods design'd Shou'd be Ador'd by all below Yet if you want a Godlike Pittying Mind Our Adoration soon will colder grow 'T is Pitty makes a Deity Ah Silvia daine to pitty me And I will worship none but thee Sylvia Perhaps I may your Councel take And Pitty tho' not Love for Damons sake Love is a Flame my Heart ne'er knew Nor knows how to begin to burn for you Damon Ah Sylvia who 's the happy Swain For whom that Glory you ordain Has Strephon Pithius Hilus more Of Youth of Love or Flocks a greater store My flame pursues you too with that Address Which they want Passion to Profess Ah then make some Returns my Charming Shepherdess Silvia Too Faithful Shepherd I will try my Heart And if I can will give you part Damon Oh that was like your self exprest Give me but part and I will steal the rest Silvia Take care Young Swain you treat it well If you wou'd have it in your Bosom dwell Now let us to the Shades Retreat Where all the Nymphs and Shepherds meet Damon And give me there your leave my Pride to show For having but the hopes of Conquering you Where all the Swaines shall Passion learn of me And all the Nymphs to bless like thee Silvia Where every Grace I will bestow And every Look and Smile shall show How much above the rest I vallue you Damon And I those Blessings will improve By constant Faith and tender Love A Chorus of Satyrs and Nymphs made by another hand On Mr. J. H. In a Fit of Sickness I. IF when the God of Day retires The Pride of all the Spring decays and dies Wanting those Life-begetting Fires From whence they draw their Excellencies Each little Flower hangs down its Gawdy Head Losing the Luster which it did Retain No longer will its fragrant face be spread But Languishes into a Bud again So with the Sighing Crowd it fares Since you Amyntas have your Eies withdrawn ' Ours Lose themselves in Silent Tears Our days are Melancholy Dawn The Groves are Unfrequented now The Shady Walks are all Forlorn Who still were throng to gaze on you With Nymphs whom your Retirement has undone II. Our Bag-pipes now away are flung Our Flocks a Wandering go Garlands neglected on the Boughs are hung That us'd to adorn each Chearful Brow Forsaken looks the enameld May And all its wealth Uncourted dies Each little Bird forgets its wonted Lay That Sung Good Morrow to the welcome Day Or rather to thy Lovely Eies The Cooling Streams do backward glide Since on their Banks they saw not thee Losing the Order of their Tide And Murmuring chide thy Cruelty Then hast to lose themselves i' th' Angry Sea III. Thus every thing in its Degree Thy said Retreat Deplore Hast then Amyntas and Restore The whole Worlds Loss in thee For like an Eastern Monarch when you go If such a Fate the World must know A Beautious and a Numerous Host Of Love-sick Maids will wait upon thy Ghost And Death that Secret will Reveal Which Pride and Shame did here Conceal Live then thou Lovelyest of the Plaines Thou Beauty of the Envying Swaines Whose Charms even Death it self wou'd court And of his Solemn Business make a Sport IV. In Pitty to each Sighing Maid Revive come forth be Gay and Glad Let the Young God of Love implore In Pity lend him Darts For when thy Charming Eies shall shoot no more He 'll lose his Title of the God of Hearts In Pity to Astrea live Astrea whom from all the Sighing Throng You did your oft-won Garlands give For which she paid you back in Grateful Song Astrea who did still the Glory boast To be ador'd by thee and to adore thee most V. With Pride she saw her Rivals Sigh and Pine And vainly cry'd The lovely Youth is mine By all thy Charms I do Conjure thee live By all the Joys thou canst receive and give By each Recess and Shade where thou and I Loves
might Admiration move But not without the Musick charm'd with Love At least so quick the Conquest had not been You storm'd without and Harmony within Nor cou'd I listen to the sound alone But I alas must look and was undone I saw the Softness that compos'd your Face While your Attention heightend every Grace Your Mouth all full of Sweetness and Content And your fine killing Eyes of Languishment Your Bosom now and than a sigh wou'd move For Musick has the same effects with Love Your Body easey and all tempting lay Inspiring wishes which the Eyes betray In all that have the fate to glance that way A carless and a lovely Negligence Did a new Charm to every Limb dispence So look young Angels Listening to the sound When the Tun'd Spheres Glad all the Heav'ns a-round So Raptur'd lie amidst the wondering Crowd So Charmingly Extended on a Cloud When from so many ways Loves Arrows storm Who can the heedless Heart defend from harm Beauty and Musick must the Soul disarme Since Harmony like Fire to VVax does fit The softned Heart Impressions to admit As the brisk sounds of Warr the Courage move Musick prepares and warms the Soul to Love But when the kindling Sparks such Fuel meet No wonder if the Flame inspir'd be great An Ode to Love I DUll Love no more thy Senceless Arrows prize Damn thy Gay Quiver break thy Bow 'T is only young Lysanders Eyes That all the Arts of Wounding know II. A Pox of Foolish Politicks in Love A wise delay in Warr the Foe may harme By Lazy Siege while you to Conquest move His fiercer Beautys vanquish by a Storme III. Some wounded God to be reveng'd on thee The Charming Youth form'd in a lucky houre Drest him in all that fond Divinity That has out-Rivall'd thee a God in Pow'r IV. Or else while thou supinely laid Basking beneath som Mirtle shade In careless sleepe or tir'd with play When all thy Shafts did scatterd ly Th'unguarded Spoyles he bore away And Arm'd himself with the Artillery V. The Sweetness from thy Eyes he took The Charming Dimples ftom thy Mouth That wonderous Softness when you spoke And all thy Everlasting Youth VI. Thy bow thy Quiver and thy Darts Even of thy Painted Wings has rifled thee To bear him from his Conquer'd broken Hearts To the next Fair and Yeilding She. Love Reveng'd A Song I. CElinda who did Love Disdain For whom had languisht many a Swain Leading her Bleating Flock to drink She spy'd upon the Rivers Brink A Youth whose Eyes did well declare How much he lov'd but lov'd not her II. At first she Laught but gaz'd the while And soon she lessen'd to a Smile Thence to Surprize and Wonder came Her Breast to heave her Heart to flame Then cry'd she out Now now I prove Thou art a God Almighty Love III. She would have spoke but shame deny'd And bid her first consult her Pride But soon she found that Aid was gone For Love alas had left her none Oh how she burns but 't is too late For in her Eyes she reads her Fate SONG To a New Scotch Tune I. YOung Jemmy was a Lad Of Royal Birth and Breeding With ev'ry Beauty Clad And ev'ry Grace Exceeding A face and shape so wondrous fine So Charming ev'ry part That every Lass upon the Green For Jemmy had a Heart II. In Jemmy's Powerful Eyes Young Gods of Love are playing And on his Face there lies A Thousand Smiles betraying But Oh he dances with a Grace None like him e'er was seen No God that ever fancy'd was Has so Divine a Miene III. To Jemmy ev'ry Swaine Did lowly doff his Bonnet And every Nymph would strain To praise him in her Sonnet The Pride of all the Youths he was The Glory of the Groves The Joy of ev'ry tender Lass The Theam of all our Loves IV. But Oh Unlucky Fate A Curse upon Ambition The Busie Fopps of State Have ruin'd his Condition For Glittering Hopes he'as left the Shade His Peaceful Hours are gone By flattering Knaves and Fools betray'd Poor Jemmy is undone The Cabal at Nickey Nackeys I. A Pox of the Statesman that 's witty Who watches and Plots all the Sleepless Night For Seditious Harangues to the Whiggs of the City And Maliciously turns a Traytor in Spight Let him Wear and Torment his lean Carrion To bring his Sham-Plots about Till at last King Bishop and Barron For the Publick Good he have quite rooted out II. But we that are no Polliticians But Rogues that are Impudent Barefac'd and Great Boldly head the Rude Rable in times of Sedition And bear all down before us in Church in State Your Impudence is the best State-Trick And he that by Law meanes to rule Let his History with ours be related And tho' we are the Knaves we know who 's the Fool. A Paraphrase on the Eleventh Ode Out of the first Book of Horace DEar Silvia let 's no farther strive To know how long we have to Live Let Busy Gown-men search to know Their Fates above while we Contemplate Beauties greater Power below Whose only Smiles give Immortality But who seeks Fortune in a Star Aims at a Distance much too far She 's more inconstant than they are What though this year must be our last Faster than Time our Joys let 's hast Nor think of Ills to come or past Give me but Love and Wine I 'll ne'er Complain my Destiny 's severe Since Life bears so uncertain Date With Pleasure we 'll attend our Fate And Chearfully go meet it at the Gate The Brave and Witty know no Fear or Sorrow Let us enjoy to day we 'll dye to Morrow A Translation I. LYDIA Lovely Maid more fair Than Milk or whitest Lilies are Than Polisht Indian Iv'ry shows Or the fair unblushing Rose II. Open Maid thy Locks that hold Wealth more bright than shining Gold Over thy white shoulders laid Spread thy Locks my Charming Maid III. Lydia ope ' thy starry Eyes Shew the Beds where Cupid lies Open Maid thy Rosie-Cheeks Red as Sun-declining streaks IV. Shew thy Coral Lips my Love Kiss me softer than the Dove Till my Ravisht Soul does lie Panting in an Ecstasie V. Oh hold and do not pierce my Heart Which beats as life wou'd thence depart Hide thy Breasts that swell and rise Hide 'em from my wishing Eyes VI. Shut thy Bosome white as Snow Whence Arabian perfumes flow Hide it from my Raptur'd Touch I have gaz'd and kist too much VII Cruel Maid on Malice bent Seest thou not my Languishment Lydia Oh I faint I die With thy Beauties Luxury A PARAPHRASE On Ovid's Epistle of OENONE to PARIS THE ARGUMENT Hecuba being with Child of Paris dream'd she was delivered of a Firebrand Priam consulting the Prophets was answer'd the Child shou'd be the Destruction of Troy wherefore Priam commanded it should be deliver'd to wild Beasts as soon as born but Hecuba conveys it secretly to Mount Ida there to be foster'd by the Shepherds
Accents take And when they wou'd a perfect Conquest make Teach their young favourite Lover so to speak 2. Her Neck on which all careless fell her Hair Her half discover'd rising Bosome bare Were beyond Nature form'd all Heavenly fair Tempting her dress loose with the Wind it flew Discovering Charms that wou'd alone subdue Her soft white slender Hands whose touches wou'd Beget desire even in an awful God Long Winter'd Age to tenderness wou'd move And in his Frozen Blood bloom a new spring of Love All these at once my Ravisht Senses charm'd And with unusual Fires my Bosome warm'd Thus my fixt Eyes pursu'd the lovely Maid Till they had lost her in the envied Glade Yet still I gaz'd as if I still had view'd The Object which my new desires pursu'd Lost while I stood against my Will my sight Conducted me unto a new delight Twelve little Boats were from the Banks unty'd And towards our Vessel sail'd with wondrousPride With wreathes of Flowers and Garlands they were drest Their Cordage all of Silk and Gold consist Their Sails of silver'd Lawn and Tinsel were Which wantonly were ruffled in the Air. As many little Cupids gayly clad Did Row each Boat nor other guides they had A thousand Zephires Fann'd the moving Fleet Which mixing with the Flow'rs became more sweet And by repeated Kiss did assume From them a scent that did the Air perfume So near us this delightful Fleet was come We cou'd distinguish what the Cupid's sung Which oft with charming Notes they did repeat With Voices such as I shall ne're forget You that do seek with Amorous desires To tast the Pleasures of the Life below Land on this Island and renew your Fires For without Love there is no joy you know Then all the Cupids waiting no Commands With soft inviting Smiles present their Hands And in that silent Motion seem'd to say You ought to follow when Love leads the way Made with delight and all transported too I quitted Reason and resolv'd to go For that bright charming Beauty I had seen And burnt with strange desire to see agen Fill'd with new hope I laught at Reasons force And towards the Island bent my eager Course The Zephires at that instant lent their Aid And I into Loves Fleet was soon convey'd And by a thousand Friendships did receive Welcomes which none butGod's of Love coud give Many possest with my Curiosity Tho' not inspir'd like me yet follow'd me And many staid behind and laught at us And in a scoffing tone reproacht us thus Farewel Adventurers go search the Joy Which mighty Love inspires and you shall find The treatment of the wond'rous Monarch Boy In 's Airy Castle always soft and kind We on the fragrant Beds of Roses laid And lull'd with Musick which the Zephires made When with the Amorous silken Sails they plaid Rather did them as wanting Wit account Then we in this affair did Judgment want With Smiles of pity only answer'd them Whilst they return'd us pitying ones again Now to the wisht for Shoar with speed we high Vain with our Fate and eager of our Joy And as upon the Beech we landed were An awful Woman did to us repair Goddess of Prudence who with grave advice Counsels the heedless Stranger to be Wise She guards this Shoar and Passage does forbid But now blind Sense her Face from us had hid We pass'd and dis-obey'd the heavenly Voice Which few e'er do but in this fatal place Now with impatient hast but long in vain I seek the Charming Author of my Pain And haunt the Woods the Groves and ev'ry Plain I ask each Chrystal Spring each murmuring Brook Who saw my fair or knows which way she took I ask the Eccho's when they heard her Name But they cou'd nothing but my Moans proclaim My Sighs the fleeting Winds far off do bear My Charmer coud no soft complaining hear At last where all was shade where all was Gay On a Brooks Brink which purling past away Asleep the lovely Maid extended lay Of different Flowers the Cupids made her Bed And Rosey Pillows did support her Head With what transported Joy my Soul was fill'd When I the Object of my wish beheld My greedy View each lovely part survey'd On her white Hand her Blushing Cheek was laid Half hid in Roses yet did so appear As if with those the Lillys mingled were Her thin loose Robe did all her shape betray Her wondrous shape that negligently lay And every Tempting Beauty did reveal But what young bashful Maids wou'd still conceal Impatient I more apt to hope than fear Approacht the Heav'nly sleeping Maid more near The place my flame and all her Charms invite To tast the sacred Joys of stoln delight The Grove was silent and no Creature by But the young smiling God of Love and I But as before the awful shrine I kneel'd Where Loves great Mystery was to be reveal'd A Man from out the Groves recess appears Who all my boasted Vigor turn'd to fears He slackt my Courage by a kind surprize And aw'd me with th' Majesty of his Eyes I bow'd and blusht and trembling did retire And wonder'd at the Pow'r that checkt my fire So excellent a Mean so good a Grace So grave a Look such a commanding Face In modest Speech as might well subdue Youth 's native wildness yet 't was gracious too A little Cupid waiting by my side Who was presented to me for a guide Beholding me decline the Sleeping Maid To gaze on this Intruder Thus he said RESPECT I. HIM whom you see so awful and severe Is call'd Respect the Eldest Son of Love Esteem his Mother is who every where Is the best Advocate to all the fair And knows the most obliging Arts to move Him you must still carress and by his Grace You 'l conquer all the Beauties of the Place To gain him 't is not Words will do His Rhetorick is the Blush and Bow II. He even requires that you shou'd silent be And understand no Language but from Eyes Or Sighs the soft Complaints on Cruelty Which soonest move the Heart they wou'd surprize They like the Fire in Limbecks gently move What words too hot and fierce destroy These by degrees infuse a lasting Love Whilst those do soon burn out the short blaz'd Joy These the all gaining Youth requires And bears to Ladies Hearts the Lambent Fires And He that wou'd against despair be proof Can never keep him Company enough Instructed thus I did my steps direct Towards the necessary Grave Respect Whom I soon won to favour my design To which young LOVE his promis'd aid did joyn This wak't Aminta who with trembling fear Wonder'd to see a stranger enter'd there With timorous Eyes the Grove she does survey Where are my LOVES she crys all fled away And left me in this gloomy shade alone And with a Man Alas I am undone Then strove to fly but I all prostrate lay And grasping fast her Robe oblig'd her stay Cease lovely
ALL Trembling in my Arms Aminta lay Defending of the Bliss I strove to take Raising my Rapture by her kind delay Her force so charming was and weak The soft resistance did betray the Grant While I prest on the Heaven of my desires Her rising Breasts with nimbler Motions Pant Her dying Eyes assume new Fires Now to the height of languishment she grows And still her looks new Charms put on Now the last Mystery of Love she knows We Sigh and Kiss I wak'd and all was done 'T was but a Dream yet by my Heart I knew Which still was Panting part of it was true Oh how I strove the rest to have believ'd Asham'd and Angry to be undeceiv'd But now LOVE calls me forth and scarce allows A Moment to the Gods to pay my Vows He all Devotion has in dis-esteem But that which we too fondly render him LOVE drest me for the day and both repair With an impatient hast to Little Care Where many days m' advantage I pursu'd But Night returns me to Inquietude There suffer'd all that absent Lovers griev'd And only knew by what I felt I liv'd A thousand little Fears afflict my Heart And all its former order quite subvert The Beauty 's which all day my hope imploy'd Seem now too excellent to be enjoy'd I number all my RIVALS over now Then Raving Mad with Jealousie I grow Which does my Flame to that vast height increase That here I found I lov'd to an Excess These wild Distractions every Night increase But day still reconciles me into Peace And I forget amidst their soft Delights The un-imagin'd torment of the Nights 'T was thus a while I liv'd at little Care Without advance of Favour or of fear When fair Aminta from that Court departs And all her Lovers leave with broken Hearts On me alone she does the Grace confer In a Permission I shou'd wait on her Oh with what eager Joy I did obey Joy which for fear it shou'd my Flame betray I Veil'd with Complisance which Lovers Eyes Might find transported through the feign'd disguise But hers were unconcern'd or wou'd not see The Trophies of their new gain'd Victory Aminta now to Good Reception goes A place which more of Entertainment shows Then State or Greatness where th' Inhabitants Are Civil to the height of Complisance They Treat all Persons with a chearful Grace And show 'em all the pleasures of the Place By whose Example bright Aminta too Confirm'd her self and more obliging grew Her Smiles and Air more Gracious now appear And her Victorious Eyes more sweetness wear The wonderous Majesty that drest her Brow Becomes less Awful but more Charming now Her Pride abating does my Courage warm And promises success from every Charm She now permits my Eyes with timorous Fears To tell her of the Wounds she 'as made by hers Against her Will my Sighs she does approve And seems well pleas'd to think they come from Love Nothing oppos'd it self to my delight But absence from Aminta every Night But LOVE who recompences when he please And has for every Cruelty an ease Who like to bounteous Heaven assigns a share Of future Bliss to those that suffer here Led me to HOPE A City fair and large Built with much Beauty and Adorn'd with Charge HOPE 'T IS wonderous Populous from the excess Of Persons from all parts that thither press One side of this magnifick City stands On a foundation of unfaithful Sands Which oftentimes the glorious Load destroys Which long designing was with Pomp and Noise The other Parts well founded neat and strong Less Beautiful less Business and less Throng 'T is built upon a Rivers Bank who 's clear And Murmuring Glide delights the Eye and Ear. The River of PRETENSION THis River 's call'd Pretension and its source T' a bordering Mountain owes from whence with force It spreads into the Arms of that calm space Where the proud City dayly sees her face 'T is treacherously smooth and falsly fair Inviting but undoing to come near 'Gainst which the Houses there find no defence But suffer undermining Violence Who while they stand no Palaces do seem In all their Glorious Pomp to equal them This River's Famous for the fatal Wrecks Of Persons most Illustrious of both Sex Who to her Bosom with soft Whispers drew Then basely smil'd to see their Ruin too 'T is there so many Monarchs perisht have And seeking Fame alone have found a Grave 'T was thither I was tempted too and LOVE Maliciously wou'd needs my Conduct prove Which Passion now to such a pass had brought It gave admittance to the weakest thought And with a full carreer to this false Bay I ran But met Precaution in my way With whom Respect was who thus gravely said Pretension is a River you must Dread Fond Youth decline thy fatal Resolution Here unavoidably thou meets Confusion Thou fly'st with too much hast to certain Fate Follow my Counsel and be Fortunate Asham'd all Blushing I decline my Eyes Yet Bow'd and Thank'd Respect for his advice From the bewitching River straight I hy'd And hurried to the Cities farthest side Where lives the Mighty Princess Hope to whom The whole Isle as their ORACLE do come Tho' little Truth remains in what she says Yet all adore her Voice and her Wise Conduct praise The Princess HOPE I. SHe blows the Youthful Lovers flame And promises a sure repose Whilst with a Treason void of shame His fancy'd Happiness o're-throws Her Language is all soft and fair But her hid Sense is naught but Air And can no solid reason bear As often as she speaks Her faithless Word she breaks Great in Pretension in Performance small And when she Swears 't is Perjury all Her Promises like those of Princes are Made in Necessity and War Cancell'd without remorse at ease In the voluptuous time of Peace II. These are her qualities but yet She has a Person full of Charms Her Smiles are able to beget Forgiveness for her other harms She 's most divinely shap'd her Eyes are sweet And every Glance to please she does employ With such address she does all persons treat As none are weary of her flattery She still consoles the most afflicted Hearts And makes the Proud vain of his fancy'd Arts. Amongst the rest of those who dayly came T' admire this Princess and oblige their flame Conducted thither by a false report That Happiness resided in her Court Two young successless Lovers did resort One so above his Aim had made pretence That even to Hope for him was Impudence Yet he 'gainst Reasons Arguments makes War And vainly Swore his Love did merit her Boldly Attempted daringly Addrest And with unblushing Confidence his flame confest The other was a Bashful Youth who made His Passion his Devotion not his Trade No fond opiniater who a price Sets on his Titles Equipage or Eyes But one that had a thousand Charms in store Yet did not understand his Conquering Pow'r This Princess with a kind
whole days in an hundred places she would find such probable Excuse and lye with such a Grace no mortal cou'd have accused her so that all the whole Island took notice that I was a baffled Cuckold before I could believe she would deceive me so heartily she damn'd herself Through all the Groves I was the pointed Coxcomb laught at aloud and knew not where the jest lay but thought myself as secure in the Innocence of my deceiving fair One as the first hour I Charmed her and like a keeping Cully lavish'd out my Fortune my plenteous Fortune to make her fine to Cuckold me ' Sdeath how I scorn the Follies of my Dotage and am resolv'd to persue Love for the future in such a manner as it shall never cost me a Sigh This shall be my method A Constancy in Love I 'll prise And be to Beauty true And doat on all the lovely Eyes That are but fair and new On Cloris Charms to day I 'll feed To morrow Daphne move For bright Lucinda next I 'll bleed And still be true to Love But Glory only and Renown My serious hours shall charm My Nobler Minutes those shall Crown My looser hours my Flame All the Fatigues of Love I 'll hate And Phillis's new Charms That hopeless Fire shall dissipate My Heart for Cloe warms The easie Nymph I once enjoy'd Neglected now shall pass Possession that has Love destroy'd Shall make me pitiless In vain she now attracts and mourns Her moving Power is gone Too late when once enjoy'd she burns And yeilding is undone My Friend the little charming Boy Conforms to my desires And 't is but to augment my Joy He pains me with his Fires All that 's in happy Love I 'll tast And rifle all his store And for one Joy that will not last He brings a thousand more Perhaps my Friend at this Account of my Humor you may smile but with a reasonable consideration you will commend it at least though you are not so wise as to persue my Dictates Yet I know you will be diverted with my Adventures though there be no love in 'em that can resemble 'em to yours Take then the History of my Heart which I assure you boasts itself of the Conquests it has made A thousand Martyrs I have made All sacrific'd to my desire A thousand Beauties have betray'd That languish in resistless Fire The untam'd Heart to hand I brought And fixt the wild and wandring Thought I never vow'd nor sigh'd in vain But both thô false were well receiv'd The Fair are pleas'd to give us pain And what they wish is soon believ'd And thô I talk'd of Wounds and Smart Loves Pleasures only toucht my Heart Alone the Glory and the Spoil I always Laughing bore away The Triumphs without Pain or Toil Without the Hell the Heav'n of Joy And while I thus at random rove Despise the Fools that whine for Love I was a great while like you before I forgot the remembrance of my first Languishments and I almost thought by an excess of Melancholy that the end of my Misfortunes were with my Life at hand Yet still like a fond Slave willing to drag my Fetterson I hop'd she would find Arguments to convince me she was not false and in that Humor fear'd only I should not be handsomly and neatly jilted Could she but have dissembled well I had been still her Cully Could she have play'd her Game with discretion but vain of her Conquest she boasted it to all the World and I alone was the kind keeping Blockhead to whom 't was unperceived so well she swore me into belief of her Truth to me Till one day lying under a solitary Shade with my sad Thoughts fixt on my declining Happiness and almost drown'd in Tears I saw a Woman drest in glorious Garments all loose and flowing with the wind scouring the Fields and Groves with such a pace as Venus when she heard her lov'd Youth was slain hasted to behold her ruin She past me as I lay with an unexpressable swiftness and spoke as she run with a loud Voice At her first approach I felt a strange trembling at my Heart without knowing the reason and found at last this Woman was Fame Yet I was not able to tell from whence proceeded my Inquietude When her Words made me but too well understand the Cause The fatal Subject of what she cry'd in passing by me were these Poor Lycidus for shame arise And wipe Loves Errors from thy Eyes Shake off the God that holds thy Heart Since Silvia for another burns And all thy past Indurement scorns While thou the Cully art I believed as she spoke that I had ill understood her but she repeated it so often that I no longer doubted my wretchedness I leave you who so well can guess to imagin what Complaints I made filling the Grove where I was laid with my pitious Cries somtimes I rose and raved and rail'd on Love and reproached the fair Fugitive But the tender God was still pleading in my Heart and made me ever end my noisy Griefs in Sighs and silent Tears A thousand Thoughts of revenge I entertained against this happy Rival and the charming ingrate But those Thoughts like my Rage would also end in soft reproaching murmurs and regret only And I would somtimes argue with Love in this manner Ah cruel Love when will thy Torments cease And when shall I have leave to dye in Peace And why too charming and too cruel Maid Cou'd'st thou not yet thy fleeting Heart have stay'd And by degrees thy fickle Humor shewn By turns the Enemy and Friend put on Have us'd my Heart a little to thy scorn The loss at least might have been easier born With feigned Vows that poor Expence of Breath Alas thou might'st have sooth'd me to my death Thy Coldness and thy visible decays In time had put a period to my days And lay'd me quietly into my Tomb Before thy proof of Perjuries had come You might have waited yet a little space And sav'd mine and thy Honour this disgrace Alas I languish'd and declin'd apace I lov'd my Life too eagerly away To have disturb'd thee with too long a stay Ah! cou'd you not my dying Heart have fed With some small Cordial Food till I was dead Then uncontroul'd and unreproach'd your Charms Might have been render'd to my Rival's Arms. Then all my right to him you might impart And Triumph'd o're a true and broken Heart Though I complained thus for a good while was not without some secret hope that what I had heard was not true nor would I be persuaded to undeceive myself of that hope which was so dear and precious to me I was not willing to be convinced I was intirely miserable out of too great a fear to find it true and there were some Moments in which I believed Fame might falsly accuse Silvia and it did not seem reasonable to me that after all the Vows and Oaths she had
'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
but he has no Bando nothing to cover his Eyes but he sees perfectly nor has he any Flambeau And all the Laws of Coquettre he understands and observes exactly I had no sooner received the little Charming God but he instructed me in all the most powerful Arts to please in all his little wiles and agreeable deceits all which he admits of as the most necessary Recourses to that great end of Man his true diversion With all which I was so extreamly pleased that resolving to be his Votary I followed him to the most delightful place in the World the City of Gallantry Gallantry is a City very magnificent at the Entrance of the Gate you incounter Liberality a Woman of great Wit delicate Coversation and Complisance This Lady gives her Pasport to all that enter and without which you cannot pass or at least with great difficulty and then too you pass your time but very ill and the more Pasports you have the better you are received from the fair Inhabitants and pass your time more agreeable with the fine Conversation you meet with in this City Love told me this and it was therefore that I took a great many Pasports from this acceptable Person Liberality But what renders you yet more Favoured by the Fair and the Young who reside at Gallantry is to have a delicate soft Wit an assiduous Address and a tender way of Conversing but that which best cullies and pleases the Generality of People there is Liberality and Complisance This place of so great Divertisement is refrequented with all the Parties of the best and most amiaable Company where they invent a thousand new Pleasures every day Feasting Balls Comedies and Sports Singing and Serinads are what employs the whole Four and twenty hours By the Virtue of my Pasports from Liberality I was introduced to all the fine Conversations and Places that afford Pleasure and Delight I had the good Fortune to make Parties insomuch that I was soon known to all the Company in the City and past the day in Feasting going with the Young and Fair to delightful Villa's Gardens or Rivers in Chaces and a thousand things that pleas'd and the Nights I passed in Serinading so that I did not give myself time for Melancholy and yet for all this I was wearied and fatigued for when once one has tasted of the Pleasure of Loving and being Beloved all that comes after that is but flat and dull and if one's Heart be not a little inflamed all things else are insignificant and make but very slight touches I began therefore for all this to be extreamly Shagreen and out of Humour amid'st all these Pleasures till one lucky day I met with an Adventure that warmed my Heart with a tender flame which it had not felt since my happy beginning one for Silvia One day as I said I was conducted by my officious Cupid into a Garden very beautiful where there are a thousand Labyrinths and Arbours Walks Grotto's Groves and Thickets and where all the Fair and the Gay resorted 't was here I incountred a young Beauty called Bellinda she was well made and had an admirable meen an Air of Gayety and Sweetness but that which charmed me most of all was her Wit which was too ingaging for me to defend my Heart against I found mine immediately submitting to her Conversation and you may imagine I did not part with her so long as Decency and good Manners permitted me to stay with her which was as long as any Company was in the place nor then till by my importunity I had gained so much upon her to suffer my Visits which she did with a Condescention that gave me abundance of hope I was no sooner gone but my Cupid who took care of me and entertained me to the best Advantage carryed me that Evening to a Ball where there were a world of Beauties among the rest one fair as imagination can conceive she had all the Charmes of Youth and Beauty though not so much Wit and Air as Bellinda To this young adorable I made my Court all the time I remained there and fancied I never found myself so Charmed I fancied all the Graces had taken up their dwelling in her Divine Face and that to subdue one so fair and so innocent must needs be an extream Pleasure Yet did I not so wholly fix my desires on this lovely Person but that the Wit of Bellinda shared my Heart with the Beauty and Youth of Bellimante so was this young Charmer called I was extreamly well pleas'd to find I could a-new take fire and infinitely more when I found I should not be subdued by one alone nor confined to dull Dotage on a single Beauty but that I was able to attain to the greatest Pleasure that of Loving two amiable Persons at once If with two I hoped I might with Two score if I pleas'd and had occasion and though at first it seemed to be very strange and improbable to feel a Passion for two yet I found it true and could not determin which I had the greatest tenderness for or inclination to But 't is most certain that this Night I found or thought I found more for Bellimante who fired me with every Smile I confess she wanted that Gayety of Spirit Bellinda had to maintain that fire she raised And ever when I was thoughtful a moment Coquettre who is ever in all the Conversation and where she appears very magnificent and with a great Train would smiling sing softly in my Ear this Song for she is very Galliard Cease to defend your Amorous Heart Against a double flame Where two may claim an equal Part Without reproach or shame 'T is Love that makes Life's happiness And he that best wou'd live By Love alone must Life caress And all his Darts receive Coquettre is a Person that endeavours to please and humour every Body but of all those who every day fill her Train she caresses none with that Address and Assiduity as she did me for I was a new Face to whom she is ever most obliging and entertaining However notwithstanding the Advice of Coquettre I fancied this young Charmer had ingaged all my Soul and while I gazed on her Beauty I thought on Bellinda no more but believed I should wholly devote myself to Bellimante whose Eyes alone seemed capable to inflame me I took my leave with Sighs and went home extream well pleas'd with this days Adventure All this Night I slept as well as if no tenderness had toucht my Heart and though I Lov'd infinitely it gave me no disturbance the next morning a thousand pleasant things Bellinda had said to me came into my mind and gave me a new inclination to entertain myself with that witty Beauty and dressing myself in haste with the desire I had to be with her I went again the morning being very inviting to the Garden where before I had seen her and was so lucky to encounter her I found
understood and comprehends all in a moment that you wou'd or can say to her In this place to divert we make a thousand pretty sorts of Entertainments and we have abundance of Artifices which signify nothing and yet they serve to make life Agreeable and Pleasant 'T was thus I liv'd at Intelligence when I understood that Bellimante was retir'd to Cruelty This news afflicted me extreamly but I was not now of a humour to swell the Floods with my tears or increase the rude winds with my ruder sighs to tear my hair and beat my Innocent breast as I us'd in my first Amour to do However I was so far concern'd that I made it my business not to lose this insensible fair one but making her a visit in spight of her retreat I reproacht her with cruelty Why fair Maid are you uneasy When a slave designs to please you When he at your feet is lying Sighing languishing and dying Why do you preserve your charms Only for offensive Armes What the Lover wou'd possess You maintain but to oppress Cease fair Maid your cruel sway And let your Lover dy a nobler way Who the Devil wou'd not believe me as much in love now as I ever was with Silvia My heart had learn't then all the soft Language of Love which now it cou'd prattle as naturally as its Mother Tongue and sighing and dying was as ready for my mouth as when it came from my very heart and cost me nothing to speak Love being as cheaply made now by me as a barter for a Horse or a Coach and with as little concern almost It pleas'd me while I was speaking and while I believ'd I was gaining the vanity and pleasure of a conquest over an unvanquisht heart However I cou'd yet perceive no Grist come to my Mill no heart to my Lure young as it was it had a cunning that was harder to deceive than all Bellinda's Wit And seeing her persist still in her Resolution I left her with a heart whose pride more than Passion resented the obduratness of this Maid I went as well compos'd however as I cou'd to Intelligence and found even some pleasure in the cruelty and charming resistance of Bellimante since I propos'd to myself an infinite happyness in softning a heart so averse to Love and which I knew I shou'd compel to yeild some time or other with very little pains and force Oh! what Pleasure 't is to find A coy heart melt by slow degrees When to yeilding t is inclin'd Yet her fear a ruin sees When her tears do kindly flow And her sighs do come and goe Oh! how charming tis to meet Soft resistance from the fair When her pride and wishes meet And by turns increase her care Oh! how charming 'tis to know She wou'd yeild but can't tell how Oh! how pretty is her scorn When confus'd 'twixt Love and Shame Still refusing though she burn The soft pressures of my Flame Her Pride in her denyal lies And mine is in my Victories I feigned nevertheless abundance of Grief to find her still persist in her rigorous Cruelty and I made her believe that all my absent hours I abandoned myself to sorrows and despairs though Love knows I parted with all those things in Silvia's Arms. But whatever I pretend to appear at Cruelty and before Bellimante at Intelligence I was all Galliard and never in better Humour in my Life than when I went to visit Bellinda I put on the Gravity of a Lover and beheld her with a Solemn Languishing Look In fine I accustomed myself to counterfeit my Humour whenever I found it convenient for my Advantage Tears Vows and Sighs cost me nothing and I knew all the Arts to jilt for Love and could act the dying Lover whenever it made for my Satisfaction He that wou'd precious time improve And husband well his hours Let him complain and dye for Love And spare no Sighs or Showers To second which let Vows and Oaths Be ready at your will And fittest times and seasons chuse To shew your cozening skill In fine after I had sufficiently acted the Languishing Lover for the accomplishment of all my Wishes I thought it time to change the Scene and without having recourse to Pity I followed all the Counsels of my Cupid who told me that in stead of dying and whining at her Feet and damning myself to obtain her Grace I should affect a Coldness and an Unconcern for Lycidus assure yourself said he there is nothing a Woman will not do rather than lose her Lover either from Vanity or Inclination I thanked Love for his kind Advice and to persue it the next day I drest myself in all the Gayety imaginable My Eyes my Air my Language were all changed and thus fortified with all the put-on indifference in the World I made Bellimante a Visit and after a thousand things all cold and unconcerned far from Love or my former Softness I cried laughing to her Cease cease that vain and useless scorn Or save it for the Slaves that dye I in your Flames no longer burn No more the whining Fool you fly But all your Cruelty defie My Heart your Empire now disdains And Frown or Smile all 's one to me The Slave has broke his Servial Chains And spight of all your Pride is free From the Tyrannick Slavery Be kind or cruel every day Your Eyes may wear what dress they please 'T will not affect me either way How my fond Heart has found its Peace And all my Tears and Sighings cease I must confess you 're wondrous fair And know to conquer such a Heart Is worth an Age of sad despair If Lovers Merits were Desert But you 're unjust as well as fair And Love subsists not with despair No more than Lovers by the Air. I 've spar'd no Sighs nor Floods of Tears Nor any thing to move your Mind With sacred Vows I fed your Cares But found your rebel Heart unkind And Vanity had made you blind No more my Knees shall bow before Those unconcern'd and haughty Eyes Nor be so sensless to adore That Saint that all my Prayers despise No I contemn your Cruelty Since in a Humor not to dye Having said all this with an Air of Disdain I smiling took my leave with much less Civility and Respect than I used to do and hasting to Intelligence I past my time very well with Bellinda to whom I paid all my Visits and omitted nothing that might make Bellimante know I had forgot her But at the end of some days by a very happy change she finding more inclination to Love than to Cruelty banishing all Obstacles in Favour of a Lover she came to Intelligence where at first sight she made me some little Reproaches and that in so soft a manner that I did not doubt but I had toucht her Heart I swore a thousand times that all I had done was only put on to see if it were possible she could resent it and
Pleasure and the harmony The Inhabitants of this Castle never shew themselves but to those that are very importune and then not every day the Ladies that command there are many Sisters all of the name of the Castle and all very fair and still one more fair than the other and when you visit 'em you see 'em not all at once but by degrees and the last you behold is the fairest and by the pleasure you have in seeing one you desire to see 'em all For there are no limits to be given to desire and as they are never seen by any body altogether it happens very often that you see but one and you must have address and great assiduity abstinence and good fortune to obtain one of these Favors but the last will cost you much more trouble than all the rest put together so very fair so very nice and coy she is But when once obtain'd she brings you to the Palace of intire Pleasure which is neighbouring to the Castle of Favors but I who wou'd very fain at once have brought to this delicate place both Bellinda and Bellimante found myself extream uneasy because as I said only two can be well entertain'd at a time I found it against my humour and against the advice of Love to abandon all and retire with one only for in decency and good manners those who go to this Castle of Favors are oblig'd to continue there some time and I found I shou'd be extreamly shagrin after a little while with one alone but both were obstinate and wou'd not suffer a third and having been so very importune with both I was asham'd to repent and recant all those things I had said to persuade them to go thô in my heart I was very ill satisfi'd I had not persu'd the counsel Love had given me not to go to Favors at all he foreseeing an inconveniencie in such a retreat which I with all my young desires about me and fond of novelty cou'd not so well as he discern however I had propos'd it with some ardency and wou'd not go back but resolv'd to make the best advantage of my voyage and wou'd not declare my regreet till I cou'd no longer hinder it So that Bellimante yeilding to my Implorings consented next day to go with me to this retreat of Favors Accordingly the next morning we set out for this amiable place where we arrived and finding myself all alone without interruption or fear with this very fair Creature I advanced to a thousand Freedoms which she with some resistance permitted me to take I was all Joy and Transport at every advance and still the nearer I approached to the last Favour the more blest I imagined myself I grew more resolved and she more feeble and at last I was the Victor and Bellimante the Victim I remained some days with her and one would have imagined I should have been intirely happy in this place with one so young and fair But behold the fickleness of Youth and Man's nature Thô my Heart were full of Passion And I found the yeilding Maid Give a loose to inclination While her Love her Flame betray'd Yet thô all she did impart Pain and Anguish prest my Heart Thô I found her all o'r Charming Fond and sighing in my Arms Yet my Heart a-new was warming For Bellinda's unknown Charms Thought if Beauty pleas'd me so What must Wit and Beauty too And though next day I found myself an hundred times more in Love with Bellimante than before yet unless I could possess Bellinda too I thought myself miserable Yet every time she charmed me a-new I was upon the point of renouncing eternally Bellinda and sacrificing her to my Passion for Bellimante But I did not remain long in that Humour but every day grew more and more unresolved in that point and as Bellimante grew more fond I grew more cold not but I had learnt to say so many kind and soft things in the time of my real Passion with Silvia that I found it easie to speak every day such endearing Words as gave her no doubt of my Heart nor was willing she should see to the bottom of it where she would most certainly have found Bellinda yet with such a mixture of Passion for herself that it would have been hard to have distinguished which had had the ascendant there only my desire at present was the most considerable for the fair Object I had not yet possest and whom I long'd to vanquish perhaps as much for the Glory as the Pleasure though my Heart did not at this moment think so After some time that I had lived here with Bellimante I made some pretext to leave her for a little while she who was extreamly charmed with that Solitude resolved to wait there my return so that I had some pain in contriving how I should bring Bellinda to the same Castle as I wished to do but it had in it many Mansions and Apartments and as I said so retired from one another that it was difficult to come at any time together or to meet This consideration made me resolved and very pressing with Bellinda to go to this place assuring her of such Diversion as she never met with in any other part of the World She loved and was not long in persuading and I had the Glory to conduct her in spight of all her Wit and Gayety to this retreat of Solitude with me where unperceived I obliged her to render me all that Love could allow and more than Honour would permit And I was for some days extreamly happy and possibly had continued so going from one Apartment to another and like the Great Sultan visiting by turns my Beauties had not a malicious fate prevented my Grandeur and Pleasure It hapned one day that I had sued a repetition of Favours from Bellinda she seeming resolved to grant me no more repenting of those I had taken and with a charming Sorrow reproaching me making me a thousand times more pressing than before At last her force growing weaker her denials fainter and my importunities more raging I found her yeilding the Lilly in her Face gave place to the Roses and Love and Trembling made her Eyes more fair and just ready to render me all We saw approaching us Bellimante who having heard how I sometimes past my hours resolved to surprise me in my perfidie and accordingly found us in a gloomy Arbour with all the Transports of Love in both our Faces which it was too late to resettle and hide from this too sensible and jealous fair One In vain I strove with all the Arguments of Love and Tenderness to appease her or if by any thing I said I found her inclined to pardon me on the other side it but served to incense and inrage Bellinda to whom I had made equal Vows at her coming to that place of eternal Fidelity I am not able to express to you my dear Lysander what confusion I found myself
Statesmen chose By our discerning Monarch wise and just He 's judg'd most fit thy troubles to compose And to make good thy Princes mighty trust Our Churches firm support and friend he 'l prove The Laws Instructor Learnings Patron too The good will cherish and the Loyal love All this and more than this he 'l be and do Arise then Gracious Clarendon and sway That People who have long'd for your Arrive Who love your Person and with joy obey Even while the God-like Ormond is alive The Sun and you do now together get And give new life new influence to men May you unlike to him or never set Or like him ever rise to us agen A Poem against fruition written on the reading in Mountains Essay By Alexis AH wretched Man whom neither fate can please Nor Heavens indulgent to his wish can bless Desire torments him or fruition cloys Fruition which shou'd make his bliss destroys Far from our Eyes th' inchanting objects set Advantage by the friendly distance get Fruition shews the cheat and views 'em near Then all their borrow'd splendours plain appear And we what with much care we gain and skill An empty nothing find or real ill Thus disappointed our mistaken thought Not finding satisfaction which it sought Renews its search and with much toyl and pain Most wisely strives to be deceiv'd again Hurried by our fantastick wild desire We loath the present absent things admire Those we adore and fair Idea's frame And those enjoy'd we think wou'd quench the flame In vain the Ambitious feaver still returns And with redoubled fire more fiercely burns Our boundless vast desires can know no rest But travel forward still and labour to be blest Philosophers and Poets strove in vain The restless anxious Progress to restrain And to their loss soon found their Good supream An Airy notion and a pleasing Dream For happiness is no where to be found But flys the searcher like enchanted ground Are we then masters or the slaves of things Poor wretched vassalls or terrestial Kings Left to our reason and by that betray'd We lose a present bliss to catch a shade Unsatisfy'd with Beauteous natures store The universal Monarch Man is only poor To Alexis in Answer to his Poem against Fruition ODE by Mrs. B. AH hapless sex who bear no charms But what like lightning flash and are no more False fires sent down for baneful harms Fires which the fleeting Lover feebly warms And given like past Beboches o're Like Songs that please thô bad when new But learn'd by heart neglected grew In vain did Heav'n adorn the shape and face With Beautyes which by Angels forms it drew In vain the mind with brighter Glories Grace While all our joys are stinted to the space Of one betraying enterview With one surrender to the eager will We 're short-liv'd nothing or a real ill Since Man with that inconstancy was born To love the absent and the present scorn Why do we deck why do we dress For such a short-liv'd happiness Why do we put Attraction on Since either way t is we must be undon They fly if Honour take our part Our Virtue drives 'em o're the field We lose 'em by too much desert And Oh! they fly us if we yeild Ye Gods is there no charm in all the fair To fix this wild this faithless wanderer Man our great business and our aim For whom we spread our fruitless snares No sooner kindles the designing flame But to the next bright object bears The Trophies of his conquest and our shame Inconstancy's the good supream The rest is airy Notion empty Dream Then heedless Nymph be rul'd by me If e're your Swain the bliss desire Think like Alexis he may be Whose wisht Possession damps his fire The roving youth in every shade Has left some sighing and abandon'd Maid For t is a fatal lesson he has learn'd After fruition ne're to be concern'd To Alexis On his saying I lov'd a Man that talk'd much by Mrs. B. ALexis since you 'l have it so I grant I am impertinent And till this moment did not know Thrô all my life what 't was I ment Your kind opinion was th' unflattering glass In which my mind found how deform'd it was In your clear sense which knows no art I saw the error of my Soul And all the feebless of my heart With one reflection you controul Kind as a God and gently you chastise By what you hate you teach me to be wise Impertinence my sexes shame Which has so long my life persu'd You with such modesty reclaim As all the Woman has subdu'd To so divine a power what must I owe That renders me so like the perfect you That conversable thing I hate Already with a just disdain Who Prid 's himself upon his prate And is of word that Nonsense vain When in your few appears such excellence They have reproacht and charm'd me into sense For ever may I listning sit Thô but each hour a word be born I wou'd attend the coming wit And bless what can so well inform Let the dull World henceforth to words be damn'd I 'm into nobler sense than talking sham'd A PASTORAL Pindarick On the Marriage of the Right Honourable the Earle of Dorset and Midlesex to the Lady Mary Compton A DIALOGUE Between Damon and Aminta By Mrs. Behn Aminta WHither young Damon whither in such hast Swift as the Winds you sweep the Grove The Amorous God of Day scarce hy'd so fast After his flying Love Damon Aminta view my Face and thence survey My very Soul and all its mighty joy A joy too great to be conceal'd And without speaking is reveal'd For this eternal Holyday A Day to place i' th' Shepherds Kalendar To stand the glory of the circling year Let it's blest date on every Bark be set And every Echo its dear name repeat Let 'em tell all the neighbouring Woods and Plains That Lysidus the Beauty of the Swains Our darling youth our wonder and our Pride Is blest with fair Clemena for a Bride Oh happy Pair Let all the Groves rejoyce And gladness fill each heart and every voyce Aminta Clemena that bright maid for whom our Shepherds pine For whom so many weeping Eyes decline For whom the Echos all complain For whom with sigh and falling tears The Lover in his soft despairs Disturbs the Peaceful Rivers gliding stream The bright Clemena who has been so long The destinie of hearts and yet so young She that has robb'd so many of content Yet is herself so Sweet so Innocent She that as many hearts invades As charming Lysidus has conquer'd maids Oh tell me Damon is the lovely fair Become the dear reward of all the Shepherds care Has Lysidus that prize of Glory won For whom so many sighing Swains must be undon Damon Yes it was destin'd from Eternity They only shou'd each other's be Hail lovely pair whom every God design'd In your first great Creation shou'd be joyn'd Aminta
must you be happy made And be together with Aminta laid You from her Hands and Lips may KISSES take And never meet Reproaches from her Pride A thousand Ravishing stealths may make And even into her softer Bosome glide And there expire Oh happy Rival flowers How vainly do I wish my Fate like that of Yours II. Tell me ye silent Groves whose Gloom invites The lovely Charmer to your Solitudes Tell me for whom she languishes and sighs For whom she feels her soft Inquietudes Name me the Youth for whom she makes her Vows For she has breath'd it oft amongst your listening Boughs Oh happy confidents of her Amours How vainly do I wish my Fortune blest as Yours III. Oh happy Brooks oh happy Rivulets And Springs that in a thousand Windings move Upon your Banks how oft Aminta sits And prattles to you all her Tale of Love Whilst your smooth surface little Circles bears From the Impressions of her falling Tears And as you want only reflecting pass Glide o're the lovely Image of her Face And sanctifies your stream which as you run You Boast in Murmurs to the Banks along Dear streams to whom she gives her softest hours How vainly do I wish my happiness like yours Sometimes I rail'd again and wou'd upbraid Reproachfully the charming fickle Maid Sometimes I vow'd to do 't no more But one vain short-liv'd hour Wou'd Perjure all I 'd Sworn before And Damn my fancy'd Pow'r Sometimes the sullen fit wou'd last A teadious live-long day But when the wrecking hours were past With what Impatience wou'd I hast And let her Feet weep my neglect away Quarrels are the Reserves Love keeps in store To aid his Flames and make 'em burn the more The PENITENT I. WIth Rigor Arm your self I cry'd It is but just and fit I merit all this Treatment from your Pride All the reproaches of your VVit Put on the cruel Tyrant as you will But know my tender Heart adores you still II. And yet that Heart has Murmur'd too And been so insolent to let you know It did complain and rave and rail'd at you Yet all the while by every God I swear By every pitying Pow'r the wretched here By all those Charms that dis-ingage My Soul from the extreams of Rage By all the Arts you have to save and kill My faithful tender Heart adores you still III. But oh you shou'd excuse my soft complaint Even my wild Ravings too prefer I sigh I burn I weep I faint And vent my Passions to the Air Whilst all my Torment all my Care Serves but to make you put new Graces on You Laugh and Rally my despair VVhich to my Rivals renders you more fair And but the more confirms my being undone Sport with my Pain as gayly as you will My fond my tender Heart adores you still My differing Passions thus did never cease Till they had touch'd her Soul with tenderness My Rivals now are banish'd by degrees And with 'em all my Fears and Jealousies And all advanc'd as if design'd to please The City of LOVE IN this vast Isle a famous City stands Who for its Beauty all the rest Commands Built to delight the wondering Gazers Eyes Of all the World the great Metropolis Call'd by LOVE's name and here the Charming God When he retires to Pleasure makes abode 'T is here both Art and Nature strive to show What Pride Expence and Luxury can do To make it Ravishing and Awful too All Nations hourly thither do resort To add a splendour to this glorious Court The Young the Old the Witty and the Wise The Fair the Ugly Lavish and Precise Cowards and Braves the Modest and the Lowd Promiscuously are blended in the Crowd From distant Shoars young Kings their Courts remove To pay their Homage to the God of Love Where all their sacred awful Majesty Their boasted and their fond Divinity Loose their vast force as lesser Lights are hid When the fierce God of Day his Beauties spread The wondering World for Gods did Kings adore Till LOVE confirm'd 'em Mortal by his Pow'r And in Loves Court do with their Vassals live Without or Homage or Prerogative Which the young God not only Blind must show But as Defective in his Judgment too LOVE's Temple MIdst this Gay Court a famous Temple stands Old as the Universe which it commands For mighty Love a sacred being had Whilst yet 't was Chaos e're the World was made And nothing was compos'd without his Aid Agreeing Attoms by his pow'r were hurl'd And Love and Harmony compos'd the World 'T is rich 't is solemn all Divine yet Gay From the Jemm'd Roof the dazling Lights display And all below inform without the Aids of day All Nations hither bring rich offerings And 't is endow'd with Gifts of Love-sick Kings Upon an Altar whose un-bounded store Has made the Rifled Universe so poor Adorn'd with all the Treasure of the Seas More than the Sun in his vast course surveys Was plac'd the God! with every Beauty formd Of Smiling Youth but Naked un-adorn'd His painted Wings displaid His Bow laid by For here Love needs not his Artillery One of his little Hands aloft he bore And grasp'd a wounded Heart that burnt all o're Towards which he lookt with lovely Laughing Eyes As pleas'd and vain with the fond Sacrifice The other pointing downward seem'd to say Here at my Feet your grateful Victims lay Whilst in a Golden Tablet o're his Head 〈◊〉 Diamond Characters this Motto stood â—hold the Pow'r that Conquers every GOD. The Temple Gates are open Night and Day Love's Votaries at all hours Devotions pay A Priest of Hymen gives attendance near But very rarely shows his Function here For Priest cou'd ne'r the Marriage-cheat improve Were there no other Laws but those of Love A Slavery generous Heav'n did ne'r design Nor did its first lov'd Race of men confine A Trick that Priest whom Avarice cunning made Did first contrive then sacred did perswade That on their numerous and unlucky Race They might their base got Wealth securely place Curse cou'd they not their own loose Race inthral ' But they must spread the infection over all That Race whose Brutal heat was grown so wild That even the Sacred Porches they defil'd And Ravisht all that for Devotion came Their Function nor the Place restrains their flame But Love's soft Votaries no such injuries fear No pamper'd Levits are in Pension here Here are no fatted Lambs to Sacrifice No Oyl fine Flower or Wines of mighty price The subtle Holy Cheats to Gormandize Love's soft Religion knows no Tricks nor Arts All the Attoning Offerings here are Hearts The Mystery's silent without noyse or show In which the Holy Man has nought to do The Lover is both Priest and Victim too Hither with little force I did perswade My lovely timorously yielding Maid Implor'd we might together Sacrifice And she agrees with Blushing down-cast Eyes 'T was then we both our Hearts an Offering made Which at the Feet of
the young God we laid With equal Flames they Burnt with equal Joy But with a Fire that neither did destroy Soft was its Force and Sympathy with them Dispers'd it self through every trembling Limb We cou'd not hide our tender new surprize We languisht and confest it with our Eyes Thus gaz'd we when the Sacrifice perform'd We found our Hearts entire but still they burn But by a Blessed change in taking back The lovely Virgin did her Heart mistake Her Bashful Eyes favour'd Love's great design I took her Burning Victim and she mine Thus Lysidas without constraint or Art I reign'd the Monarch of Aminta's Heart My great my happy Title she allows And makes me Lord of all her tender Vows All my past Griefs in coming Joys were drown'd And with eternal Pleasure I was Crown'd My Blessed hours in the extream of Joy With my soft Languisher I still imploy When I am Gay Love Revels in her Eyes When sad there the young God all panting lies A thousand freedoms now she does impart Shows all her tenderness dis-rob'd of Art But oh this cou'd not satisfy my Heart A thousand Anguishes that still contains It sighs and heaves and pants with pleasing pains We look and Kiss and Press with new desire Whilst every touch Blows the unusual Fire For Love's last Mystery was yet conceal'd Which both still languisht for both wisht reveal'd Which I prest on and faintly she deny'd With all the weak efforts of dying Pride Which struggled long for Empire in her Soul Where it was wont to rule without controul But Conquering Love had got possession now And open'd every Sally to the Foe And to secure my doubting happiness Permits me to conduct her to the Bow'r of Bliss That Bow'r that does eternal Pleasures yield Where Psyche first the God of Love beheld But oh in entering this so blest abode All Gay and Pleas'd as a Triumphing God I new unlook'd for difficulties meet Encountring Honour at the sacred Gate HONOUR I. HOnour 's a mighty Phantom which around The sacred Bower does still appear All Day it haunts the hollow'd ground And hinders Lovers entering there It rarely ever takes its flight But in the secret shades of night Silence and gloom the charm can soonest end And are the luckyest hours to lay the Fiend Then 't is the Vision only will remove With Incantations of soft Vows of Love II. But as a God he 's Worshipt here By all the lovely young and fair Who all their kind desires controul And plays the Tyrant o're the Soul His chiefest Attributes are Pride and Spight His pow'r is robbing Lovers of delight An Enemy to Humane kind But most to Youth severe As Age ill-natur'd and as ignorance Blind Boasting and Baffled too as Cowards are Fond in opinion obstinately Wise Fills the whole World with bus'ness and with noise III. Where wert thou born from what didst thou begin And what strange Witchcraft brought thy Maxims in What hardy Fool first taught thee to the Crowd Or who the Duller Slaves that first believ'd Some Woman sure ill-natur'd old and proud Too ugly ever to have been deceiv'd Unskill'd in Love in Virtue or in Truth Preach'd thy false Notions first and so debaucht our Youth IV. And as in other Sectuaries you find His Votaries most consist of Womankind Who Throng t' adore the necessary Evil But most for fear as Indians do the Devil Peevish un-easy all for in Revenge Love shoots 'em with a thousand Darts They feel but not confess the change Their false Devotion cannot save their Hearts Thus while the Idol Honour they obey Swift time comes on and blooming Charms decay And Ruin'd Beauty does too late the Cheat betray This Goblin here the lovely Maid Alarms And snatch'd her even from my Trembling Arms With all the Pow'r of Non-sence he commands Which she for mighty Reason understands Aminta fly he crys fly heedless Maid For if thou enter'st this Bewitching shade Thy Flame Content and Lover all are lost And thou no more of Him or Fame shall boast The charming Pleasure soon the Youth will cloy And what thou wouldst preserve that will destroy Oh hardy Maid by too much Love undone Where are thy Modesty and Blushes gone Where 's all that Virtue made thee so Ador'd For Beauty stript of Virtue grows abhorr'd Dyes like a flower whose scent quick Poyson gives Though every gawdy Glory paints its leaves Oh fly fond Maid fly that false happiness That will attend Thee in the Bower of Bliss Thus spoke the Phantom while the listening Maid Took in the fatal Councel and obey'd Frighted she flys even from the Temple door And left me fainting on the sacred floor LOVE saw my Griefs and to my rescue came Where on his Bosom thus I did complain The LOSS WEep weep Lysander for the lovely Maid To whom thy sacred Vows were paid Regardless of thy Love thy Youth thy Vows The Dull Advice of Honour now pursues Oh say my lovely Charmer where Is all that softness gone Your tender Voice and Eyes did were VVhen first I was undone Oh whether are your Sighs and Kisses fled VVhere are those clasping Arms That left me oft with Pleasures dead VVith their Excess of Charms VVhere is the Killing Language of thy Tongue That did the Ravisht Soul surprize VVhere is that tender Rhetorick gone That flow'd so softly in thy Eyes That did thy heavenly face so sweetly dress That did thy wonderous Soul so well express All fled with Honour on a Phantom lost Where Youth 's vast store must perish unpossest Ah my dear Boy thy loss with me bemoan The lovely Fugitive is with Honour gone Love laughing spread his Wings and mounting flies As swift as Lightning through the yielding Skies Where Honour bore away the Trembling Prize There at her Feet the Little Charmer falls And to his Aid his powerful softness calls Assails her with his Tears his Sighs and Crys Th' unfailing Language of his Tongue and Eyes Return said he return oh fickle Maid Who solid Joys abandon'st for a shade Turn and behold the Slaughter of thy Eyes See the Heart-broken Youth all dying lyes Why dost thou follow this Phantastick spright This faithless Ignis Fatuus of the Light This Foe to Youth and Beauties worst Disease Tyrant of Wit of Pleasure and of Ease Of all substantial Harms he Author is But never pays us back one solid Bliss You 'l urge your Fame is worth a thousand Joys Deluded Maid trust not to empty noise A sound that for a poor Esteem to gain Damns thy whole Life t' uneasyness and pain Mistaken Virgin that which pleases me I cannot by another tast and see And what 's the complementing of the World to thee No no return with me and there receive What poor what scanted Honour cannot give Starve not those Charms that were for pleasure made Nor unpossest let the rich Treasure fade When time comes on Honour that empty word Will leave thee then fore-slighted Age to guard Honour