to black Despair Start from the ground and throw your Mourning by Loves great Sultana says you shall not die The dismal dark half year is over past The Sea is op'd the Sun shines out at last And Trading's free the storms are husht as death Or happy Lovers ravisht out of breath And listen to Astraea's Harmony Such power has elevated Poetry T. C. To the Lovely Witty Astraea on her Excellent Poems OH wonder of thy Sex Where can we see Beauty and Knowledge join'd except in thee Such pains took Nature with your Heav'nly Face Form'd it for Love and moulded every Grace I doubted first and fear'd that you had been Unfinish'd left like other She 's within I see the folly of that fear and find Your Face is not more beauteous than your Mind Whoe'er beheld you with a Heart unmov'd That sent not sighs and said within he lov'd I gaz'd and found a then unknown delight Life in your looks and Death to leave the sight What joys new Worlds of joys has he possest That gain'd the sought-for welcome of your Breast Your Wit wou'd recommend the homeliest Face Your Beauty make the dullest Humour please But where they both thus gloriously are join'd All Men submit you reign in every Mind What Passions does your Poetry impart It shews th'unfathom'd thing a Woman's Heart Tells what Love is his Nature and his Art Displays the several Scenes of Hopes and Fears Love's Smiles his Sighs his Laughings and his Tears Each Lover here may reade his different Fate His Mistress kindness or her scornfull hate Come all whom the blind God has led astray Here the bewildred Youth is shew'd his way Guided by this he may yet love and find Ease in his Heart and reason in his Mind Thus sweetly once the charming W lr strove In Heavenly sounds to gain his hopeless Love All the World listned but his scornfull Fair Pride stopt her ears to whom he bent his prayer Much happier you that can't desire in vain But what you wish as soon as wish'd obtain Vpon these and other Excellent Works of the Incomparable Astraea YE bold Magicians in Philosophy That vainly think next the Almighty three The brightest Cherubin in all the Hierarchy Will leave that Glorious Sphere And to your wild inchantments will appear To the fond summons of fantastick Charms As Barbarous and inexplicable Terms As those the trembling Scorcerer dreads When he the Magick Circle treads And as he walks the Mystick rounds And mutters the detested sounds The Stygian fiends exalt their wrathfull heads And all ye bearded Drudges of the Schools That sweat in vain to mend predestin'd fools With senseless Jargon and perplexing Rules Behold and with amazement stand Behold a blush with shame and wonder too What Divine Nature can in Woman doe Behold if you can see in all this fertile Land Such an Anointed head such an inspired hand II. Rest on in peace ye blessed Spirits rest With Imperial bliss for ever blest Upon your sacred Urn she scorns to tread Or rob the Learned Monuments of the dead Nor need her Muse a foreign aid implore In her own tunefull breast there 's wonderous store Had she but flourisht in these times of old When Mortals were amongst the Gods inrolld She had not now as Woman been Ador'd But with Diviner sacrifice Implor'd Temples and Altars had preserv'd her name And she her self been thought Immortal as her fame III. Curst be the balefull Tongue that dares abuse The rightfull off-spring of her Godlike Muse And doubly Curst be he that thinks her Pen Can be instructed by the best of men The times to come as surely she will live As many Ages as are past As long as Learning Sense or wit survive As long as the first principles of Bodies last The future Ages may perhaps believe One soft and tender Arm cou'd ne'er atchieve The wonderous deeds that she has done So hard a prize her Conqu'ring Muse has won But we that live in the great Prophetesses days Can we enough proclaim her praise We that experience every hour The blest effects of her Miraculous power To the sweet Mcsick of her charming tongue In numerous Crowds the ravisht hearers throng And even a Herd of Beasts as wild as they That did the Thracian Lyre obey Forget their Madness and attend her song The tunefull Shepherds on the dangerous rocks Forsake their Kinds and leave their bleating Flocks And throw their tender Reeds away As soon as e'er her softer Pipe begins to play No barren subject no unfertile soil Can prove ungratefull to her Muses Toil Warm'd with the Heavenly influence of her Brain Upon the dry and sandy plain On craggy Mountains cover'd o'er with Snow The blooming Rose and fragrant Jes'min grow When in her powerfull Poetick hand She waves the mystick wand Streight from the hardest Rocks the sweetest numbers slow IV. Hail bright Vrania Erato hail Melpomene Polymnia Euterpe hail And all ye blessed powers that inspire The Heaven-born Soul with intellectual fire Pardon my humble and unhallow'd Muse If she too great a veneration use And prostrate at your best lov'd Darling's feet Your holy Fane with sacred honour greet Her more than Pythian Oracles are so divine You sure not onely virtually are Within the glorious Shrine But you your very selves must needs be there The Delian Prophet did at first ordain That even the mighty Nine should reign In distant Empires of different Clime And if in her triumphant Throne She rules those learned Regions alone The fam'd Pyerides are out-done by her omnipotent Rhime In proper Cells her large capacious Brain The images of all things does contain As bright almost as were th'Ideas laid In the last model e'er the World was made And though her vast conceptions are so strong The powerfull eloquence of her charming tongue Does clear as the resistless beams of day To our enlightned Souls the noble thoughts convey Well chosen well appointed every word Does its full force and natural grace afford And though in her rich treasury Confus'd like Elements great Numbers lie When they their mixture and proportion take What beauteous forms of every kind they make Such was the Language God himself infus'd And such the style our great Forefather us'd From one large stock the various sounds he fram'd And every Species of the vast Creation nam'd While most of our dull Sex have trod In beaten paths of one continued Road Her skilfull and well manag'd Muse Does all the art and strength of different paces use For though sometimes with slackned force She wisely stops her fleetest course That slow but strong Majestick pace Shews her the swiftest steed of all the chosen Race V. Well has she sung the learned Daphnis praise And crown'd his Temples with immortal Bays And all that reade him must indeed confess Th' effects of such a cause could not be less For ne'er was at the first bold heâ—t begun So hard and swift a Race of glory run But
oft has Fetters worn and can with ease Admit 'em or dismiss 'em when he please A Virgin-Heart you merit that ne'er sound 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 Teaming 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 Vrania is the Lovely Maid His Daughter who has serv'd thy Altars long As thy High Priest A Dowry he demands At 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 Bright Relique I Shrouded in a Shrine of Gold Less Myst'ry made a Deity of Old Fair Charmer Tell me by what pow'rful Spell You
Prevail Not Prayers or Sighs or Tears avail But Heaven has Destin'd we Depriv'd must be Of so much Youth Wit Beauty and of Thee I will the Deaf and Angry Powers defie Curse thy Decease Bless thee and with thee die To Lysander on some Verses he writ and asking more for his Heart then 't was worth I. TAke back that Heart you with such Caution give Take the fond valu'd Trifle back I hate Love-Merchants that a Trade wou'd drive And meanly cunning Bargains make II. I care not how the busy Market goes And scorn to Chaffer for a price Love does one Staple Rate on all impose Nor leaves it to the Traders Choice III. A Heart requires a Heart Unfeign'd and True Though Subt'ly you advance the Price And ask a Rate that Simple Love ne'er knew And the free Trade Monopolize IV. An Humble Slave the Buyer must become She must not bate a Look or Glance You will have all or you 'll have none See how Loves Market you inhaunce V. Is 't not enough I gave you Heart for Heart But I must add my Lips and Eies I must no friendly Smile or Kiss impart But you must Dun me with Advice VI. And every Hour still more unjust you grow Those Freedoms you my life deny You to Adraste are oblig'd to show And give her all my Rifled Joy VII Without Controul she gazes on that Face And all the happy Envyed Night In the pleas'd Circle of your fond imbrace She takes away the Lovers Right VIII From me she Ravishes those silent hours That are by Sacred Love my due VVhilst I in vain accuse the angry Powers That make me hopeless Love pursue IX Adrastes Ears with that dear Voice are blest That Charms my Soul at every Sound And with those Love-Inchanting Touches prest VVhich I ne'er felt without a Wound X. She has thee all whilst I with silent Greif The Fragments of thy Softness feel Yet dare not blame the happy licenc'd Thief That does my Dear-bought Pleasures steal XI Whilst like a Glimering Taper still I burn And waste my self in my own flame Adraste takes the welcome rich Return And leaves me all the hopeless Pain XII Be just my lovely Swain and do not take Freedoms you 'll not to me allow Or give Amynta so much Freedom back That she may Rove as well as you XIII Let us then love upon the honest Square Since Interest neither have design'd For the sly Gamester who ne'er plays me fair Must Trick for Trick expect to find To the Honourable Edward Howard on his Comedy called The New Utopia I. BEyond the Merit of the Age You have adorn'd the Stage So from rude Farce to Comick Order brought Each Action and each Thought To so Sublime a Method as yet none But Mighty Ben alone Cou'd e'er arive and he at distance too Were he alive he must resign to you You have out-done what e'er he writ In this last great Example of your Wit Your Solymour does his Morose destroy And your Black Page undoes his Barbers Boy All his Collegiate Ladies must retire While we thy braver Heroins do admire This new Vtopia rais'd by thee Shall stand a Structure to be wondered at And men shall cry this this is he Who that Poetick City did create Of which Moor only did the Model draw You did Compleat that little World and gave it Law II. If you too great a Prospect doe allow To those whom Ignorance does at distance Seat 'T is not to say the Object is less great But they want sight to apprehend it so The ancient Poets in their times When thro' the Peopl'd Streets they sung their Rhimes Found small applause they sung but still were poor Repeated Wit enough at every door T' have made 'em demy Gods but 't wou'd not do Till Ages more refin'd esteem'd 'em so The Modern Poets have with like Success Quitted the Stage and Sallyed from the Press Great Iohnson scarce a Play brought forth But Monster-like it frighted at its Birth Yet he continued still to write And still his Satyr did more sharply bite He writ tho certain of his Doom Knowing his Pow'r in Comedy To please a wiser Age to come And though he Weapons wore to Justify The reasons of his Pen he cou'd not bring Dull Souls to Sense by Satyr nor by Cudgelling III. In vain the Errors of the Times You strive by wholesom Precepts to Confute Not all your Pow'r in Prose or Rhimes Can finish the Dispute 'Twixt those that damn and those that do admire The heat of your Poetick fire Your Soul of Thought you may imploy A Nobler way Then in revenge upon a Multitude Whose Ignorance only makes 'em rude Shou'd you that Justice do You must for ever bid adieu To Poetry divine And ev'ry Muse o' th' Nine For Malice then with Ignorance would join And so undo the World and You So ravish from us that delight Of seeing the VVonders which you Write And all your Glories unadmir'd must lye As Vestal Beauties are Intomb'd before they dye IV. Consider and Consult your VVit Despise those Ills you must indure And raise your Scorne as great as it Be Confident and then Secure And let your rich-fraught Pen Adventure out agen Maugre the Stormes that do opose its course Stormes that destroy without remorse It may new Worlds descry VVhich Peopl'd from thy Brain may know More than the Universe besides can show More Arts of Love and more of Gallantry Write on and let not after Ages say The Whistle or rude Hiss cou'd lay Thy mighty Spright of Poetry Which but the Fools and Guilty fly Who dare not in thy Mirror see Their own Deformity Where thou in two the World dost Character Since most of Men Sir Graves or Peacocks are V. And shall that Muse that did ere while Chant forth the Glories of the British Isle Shall shee who lowder was than Fame Now useless lie and tame Shee who late made the Amazons so Great And shee who Conquered Scynthia too Which Alexander ne're coud do Will you permitt her to retreat Silence will like Submision show And give Advantage to the Foe Undaunted let her once gain appear And let her lowdly Sing in every Ear Then like thy Mistris Eyes who have the skill Both to preserve a kill To thou at once maist be revengd on those That are thy Foes And on thy Friends such Obligations lay As nothing but the Deed the Doer can repay To Lysander at the Musick-Meeting IT was too much ye Gods to see and hear Receiving wounds both from the Eye and Ear One Charme might have secur'd a Victory Both rais'd the Pleasure even to Extasie So Ravisht Lovers in each others Armes Faint with excess of Joy excess of Charmes Had I but gaz'd and fed my greedy Eyes Perhaps you 'd pleas'd no farther than surprize That Heav'nly Form 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 around 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 from 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 Iemmy 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 Iemmy had a Heart II. In Iemmy'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 Iemmy 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 Iemmy 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 slow 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 where he falls in love with the Nymph OEnone but at last being known and own'd he sails into Greece and carries Helen
fatal Gate None e're escapt the welcom'd blow Which ner'e is sent in vain They Kiss the Shaft and Bless the Foe That gives the pleasing Pain Thus whilst we did this grateful story learn We came so near the Shoar as to discern The Place and Objects which did still appear More Ravishing approaching 'em more near There the vast Sea with a smooth calmness flows As are the Smiles on happy Lovers Brows As peaceably as Rivulets it glides Imbracing still the shaded Islands sides And with soft Murmurs on the Margent flows As if to Nature it design'd Repose Whose Musick still is answer'd by the Breeze That gently plays with the soft ruff'd Trees Fragrant and Flowry all the Banks appear Whos 's mixt dis-orders more delightful were Then if they had been plac'd with Artful care The Cowslip Lilly Rose and Jesamine The Daffodil the Pink and Eglintine Whose gawdy store continues all the year Makes but the meanest of the Wonders here Here the young Charmers walk the Banks a-long Here all the Graces and the Beauties throng But what did most my Admiration draw Was that the Old and Ugly there I saw Who with their Apisn Postures void of shame Still practice Youth and talk of Darts and Flame I laught to see a Lady out of date A worn out Beauty once of the first rate With youthful Dress and more fantastick Prate Setting her wither'd Face in thousand forms And thinks the while she Dresses it in charms Disturbing with her Court the busier throng Ever Addressing to the Gay and Young There an old Batter'd Fop you might behold Lavish his Love Discretion and his Gold On a fair she that has a Trick in Art To cheat him of his Politicks and Heart Whilst he that Jilts the Nation ore and ore Wants sense to find it in the subtiller W re The Man that on this Isle before had been Finding me so admire at what I 'd seen Thus said to me LOVE's Power LOVE when he Shoots abroad his Darts Regards not where they light The Aged to the Youthful Hearts At random they unite The soft un-bearded Youth who never found The Charms in any Blooming Face From one of Fifty takes the Wound And eagerly persues the cunning Chase While she an Arted Youth puts on Softens her Voice and languishes her Eyes Affects the Dress the Mean the Tone Assumes the noysy Wit and ceases to be Wise The tender Maid to the Rough Warrier yields Vnfrighted at his Wounds and Scars Pursues him through the Camps and Fields And Courts the story of his dangerous Wars With Pleasure hears his Scapes and does not fail To pay him with a Ioy for every Tale. The fair young Bigot full of Love and Prayer Doats on the lewd and careless Libertine The thinking States-man fumbles with the Player And dearly buys the barely wishing Sin The Peer with some mean Damsel of the trade Expensive common ugly and decay'd The gay young Squire on the blouz'd Landry Maid All things in Heaven in Earth and Sea Love give his Laws unto Tho' under different Objects they Alike obey and bow Sometimes to be reveng'd on those Whose Beauty makes 'em proudly nice He does a Flame on them impose To some unworthy choice Thus rarely equal Hearts in Love you 'l find Which makes 'em still present the God as Blind Whilst thus he spake my wondering Eyes were staid With a profound attention on a Maid Upon whose Smiles the Graces did a-wait And all the Beauties round about her sate Officious Cupid's do her Eyes obey Sharpning their Darts from every Conquering Ray Some from her Smiles they point with soft desires Whilst others from her Motion take their Fires Some the Imbroider'd Vail and Train do bear And some around her fan the gentle Air Whilst others flying scatter fragrant Show'rs And strow the paths she tread with painted flow'rs The rest are all imploy'd to dress her Bow'rs While she does all the smiling Gods carress And they new Attributes receive from each Address The CHARACTER SVch Charms of Youth such Ravishment Through all her Form appear'd As if in her Creation Nature meant She shou'd a-lone be ador'd and fear'd Her Eyes all sweet and languishingly move Yet so as if with pity Beauty strove This to decline and that to charm with Love A chearful Modesty adorn'd her Face And bashful Blushes spread her smiling Cheeks Witty her Air soft every Grace And 't is eternal Musick when she speaks From which young listening Gods the 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 sixt 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 wondrous Pride 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 rufâ—led 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 but God'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 Ioy 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 A sleep the lovely Maid extended lay Of different Flowers the Cupids made her Bed And Rosâ—y Pillows did support her Head With what transported Joy my Soul waâ— 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 tâ—st 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 I 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 hy degrees infuse a lasting Love Whilst those do soon burn out the short blaz'd Ioy. 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 timrous 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 Charming Maid Oh cease to fear I faintly cry'd There is no Satyr near I am of humane Race whom Beauty Aws And born an humble Slave to all her Laws Besides we 're not alone within the Grove Behold Respect and the young God of LOVE How can you fear the Man who with these two In any Shade or hour approaches you Thus by degrees her Courage took its place And usual Blushes drest again her Face Then with a Charming Air her Hand she gave She bade me rise and said she did believe And now my Conversation does permit But oh the entertainment of her Wit Beyond her Beauty did my Soul surprize Her Tongue had Charms more pow'rful than her Eyes Ah Lysidas hadst thou a list'ner been To what she said tho' her thou ne're had'st seen Without that Sense thou hadst a Captive been Guess at my Fate but after having spoke Many indifferent things Her leave she took The Night approach't and now with Thoughts opprest I minded neither where nor when to Rest When my Conducter LOVE whom I pursu'd Led to a Palace call'd Inquietude INQUIETUDE A Neighbouring Villa which derives its name From the rude sullen Mistress of the same A Woman of a strange deform'd Aspect Peevishly pensive fond of her neglect She never in one posture does remain Now leans lyes down then on her Feet again Sometimes with Snails she keeps a Lazy pace And sometimes runs like Furies in a Chase She seldom shuts her Watchful Eyes to sleep Which pale and languid does her Visage keep Her loose neglected Hair disorder'd grows Which undesign'd her Fingers discompose Still out of Humour and deprav'd in Sense And Contradictive as Impertinence Distrustful as false States-men and as nice In Plots Intrigues Intelligence and Spies To her we did our Duty pay but she Made no returns to our Civility Thence to my Bed where rest in vain I sought For pratling LOVE still entertain'd my thought And to my Mind a thousand Fancies brought Aminta's Charms and Pow'rful Attractions From whence I grew to make these soft Reflections The REFLECTION I. WHat differing Passions from what once I felt My yielding Heart do melt And all my Blood as in a Feaver burns Yet shivering Cold by turns What new variety of hopes and fears What suddain fits of Smiles and Tears Hope Why dost thou sometimes my Soul imploy With Prospects of approaching Ioy Why dost thou make me pleas'd and vain And quite forget last minutes pain What Sleep wou'd calm
make me wish to Live From Duty now the lovely Maid is freed And calls me from my lonely solitude Whose cruel Memory in a Moments space The thoughts of coming Pleasures quite deface With an impatient Lovers hast I flew To the vast Blessing Love had set in view But oh I found Aminta in a place Where never any Lover happy was RIVALS RIvals 't is call'd a Village where The Inhabitants in Fury still appear Malicious paleness or a generous red O'r every angry face is spread Their Eyes are either smiling with disdain Or fiercely glow with raging Fire Gloomy and sullen with dissembl'd pain Love in the Heart Revenge in the desire Combates Duels Challenges Is the discourse and all the busness there Respect of Blood nor sacred friendship tyes Can reconcile the Civil War Rage Horror Death and wild despair Are still Rencounter'd and still practis'd there 'T was here the lovely cruel Maid I found Incompass'd with a thousand Lovers round At my approach I saw their Blushes rise And they regarded me with angry Eyes Aminta too or else my Fancy 't was Receiv'd me with a shy and cold Address I cou'd not speak but Sigh'd retir'd and Bow'd With pain I heard her Talk and Laugh aloud And deal her Freedoms to the greedy Crowd I Curst her Smiles and envy'd every look And Swore it was too kind what e're she spoke Condemn'd her Air rail'd on her soft Address And vow'd her Eyes did her false Heart confess And vainly wisht their Charming Beauties less A Secret hatred in my Soul I bear Against these objects of my new despair I waited all the day and all in vain Not one lone minute snatcht to ease my pain Her Lovers went and came in such a sort It rather seem'd Loves-Office than his Court Made for eternal Bus'ness not his Sport Love saw my pain and found my rage grew high And led me off to lodge at Iealousie JEALOUSIE I. A Palace that is more un-easy far Then those of cruelty and absence are There constant show'rs of Hail and Rains do flow Continual Murmuring VVinds a-round do blow Eternal Thunder rowling in the Air And thick dark hanging Clouds the day obscure Whose sullen dawn all Objects multiplies And render things that are not to the Eyes Fantoms appear by the dull gloomy light That with such subtil Art delude the sight That one can see no Object true or right I here transported and impatient grow And all things out of order do Hasty and peevish every thing I say Suspicion and distrust's my Passions sway And bend all Nature that un-easy way II. A thousand Serpents gnaw the Heart A thousand Visions fill the Eyes Aud Deaf to all that can relief impart We hate the Counsel of the Wise And Sense like Tales of Lunaticks despise Faithless as Couzen'd Maids by Men undone And obstinate as new Religion As full of Error and false Notion too As Dangerous and as Politick As Humerous as a Beauty without Wit As Vain and Fancyful in all we do Thus Wreck the Soul as if it did conceal Love Secrets which by torturing ' t wo'd reveal Restless and wild ranging each Field and Grove I meet the Author of my painful Love But still surrounded with a numerous Train Of Lovers whom Love taught to Sigh and Fawn At my approach my Soul all Trembling flies And tells its soft Resentment at my Eyes My Face all pale my steps unsteady fall And faint Confusion spreads it self o're all I listen to each low breath'd Word she says And the returns the happy Answerer pays When catching half the Sense the rest Invent And turn it still to what will most Torment If any thing by Whispers she impart 'T is Mortal 't is a Dagger at my Heart And every Smile each Motion Gesture Sign In favour of some Lover I explain When I am absent in some Rivals Arms I Fancy she distributes all her Charms And if alone I find her sighing cry Some happier Lover she expects than I. So that I did not only Jealous grow Of all I saw but all I fancy'd too The COMPLAINT I. OFT in my Iealous Transports I wou'd cry Ye happy shades ye happy Bow'rs Why speaks she tenderer things to you than me Why does she Smile carress and praise your Flowers Why Sighs she opening Buds her Secrets all Into your fragrant Leaves Why does she to her Aid your sweetness call Yet take less from you than she gives Why on your Beds must you be happy made And be together with Aminta laid You from her Hands and Lips my 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 Vpon 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 wantonly 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
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 I. 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 slow 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 I. 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 slew 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 I. 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 slowing 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 slew 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 fire burns with a constant flame Like what you write and always is the same Rise all ye weeping Youth rise and appear Whom gloomy Fate has damn'd
fierce and she less Coy Saw how they mingled melting Rays Exchanging Love a thousand ways Kind was the force on every side Her new desire she could not hide Nor wou'd the Shepherd be deny'd Impatient he waits no consent But what she gave by Languishment The blessed Minute he pursu'd While Love and Shame her Soul Subdu'd And now transported in his Arms Yeilds to the Conqueror all her Charmes His panting Breast to hers now join'd They feast on Raptures unconfin'd Vast and Luxuriant such as prove The Immortality of Love For who but a Divinitie Could mingle Souls to that Degree Now like the Phenix both Expire While from the Ashes of their fire Sprung up a new and soft desire Like Charmers thrice they did invoke The God! and thrice new vigor took Nor had the Mysterie ended there But Cloris reassum'd her fear And chid the Swain for having prest What she alas cou'd not resist Whilst he in whom Loves sacred flame Before and after was the same Fondly implor'd she wou'd forget A fault which he wou'd yet repeat From Active Joyes with some they hast To a Reflexion on the past A thousand times my Covert bless That did secure their Happiness Their Gratitude to every Tree They pay but most to happy me The Shepherdess my Bark carest Whilst he my Root Love's Pillow kist And did with sighs their Fate deplore Since I must shelter them no more And if before my Joyes were such In having heard and seen too much My Grief must be as great and high When all abandon'd I shall be Doom'd to a silent Destinie No more the Charming strife to hear The Shepherds Vows the Virgins fear No more a joyful looker on Whilst Loves soft Battel 's lost and won With grief I bow'd my murmering Head And all my Christal Dew I shed Which did in Cloris Pity move Cloris whose Soul is made of Love She cut me down and did translate My being to a happier state No Martyr for Religion di'd With half the Unconsidering Pride My top was on that Altar laid Where Love his softest Offerings paid And was as fragrant Incense burn'd My body into Busks was turn'd Where I still guard the Sacred Store And of Loves Temple keep the Door On the Death of Mr. Grinhil the Famous Painter I. WHat doleful crys are these that fright my sence Sad as the Groans of dying Innocence The killing Accents now more near Aproach And the Infectious Sound Spreads and Inlarges all around And does all Hearts with Grief and Wonder touch The famous Grinhil dead even he That cou'd to us give Immortalitie Is to the Eternal silent Groves withdrawn Those sullen Groves of Everlasting Dawn Youthful as Flowers scarce blown whose opening Leaves A wond'rous and a fragrant Prospect gives Of what it's Elder Beauties wou'd display When they should flourish up to ripning May. Witty as Poets warm'd with Love and Wine Yet still spar'd Heaven and his Friend For both to him were Sacred and Divine Nor could he this no more then that offend Fixt as a Martyr where he friendship paid And Generous as a God Distributing his Bounties all abroad And soft and gentle as a Love-sick Maid II. Great Master of the Noblest Mysterie That ever happy Knowledge did inspire Sacred as that of Poetry And which the wond'ring World does equally admire Great Natures work we do contemn When on his Glorious Births we meditate The Face and Eies more Darts receiv'd from him Then all the Charms she can create The Difference is his Beauties do beget In the inamour'd Soul a Vertuous Heat While Natures Grosser Pieces move In the course road of Common Love So bold yet soft his touches were So round each part 's so sweet and fair That as his Pencil mov'd men thought it prest The Lively imitating rising Breast Which yield like Clouds where little Angels rest The Limbs all easy as his Temper was Strong as his Mind and manly too Large as his Soul his fancy was and new And from himself he copyed every Grace For he had all that cou'd adorn a Face All that cou'd either Sex subdue III. Each Excellence he had that Youth has in its Pride And all Experienc'd Age cou'd teach At once the vigorous fire of this And every vertue which that cou'd Express In all the heights that both could reach And yet alas in this Perfection di'd Dropt like a Blossom with a Northern blast When all the scatter'd Leaves abroad are cast As quick as if his fate had been in hast So have I seen an unfit Star Out-shine the rest of all the Numerous Train As bright as that which Guides the Marriner Dart swiftly from its darken'd Sphere And nere shall light the World again IV. Ah why shou'd so much knowledge die Or with his last kind breath Why cou'd he not to some one friend bequeath The Mighty Legacie But 't was a knowledge given to him alone That his eternis'd Name might be Admir'd to all Posteritie By all to whom his grateful Name was known Come all ye softer Beauties come Bring Wreaths of Flowers to deck his tomb Mixt with the dismal Cypress and the Yew For he still gave your Charmes their due And from the injuries of Age and Time Preserv'd the sweetness of your Prime And best knew how t' adore that Sweetness too Bring all your Mournful Tributes here And let your Eyes a silent sorrow wear Till every Virgin for a while become Sad as his Fate and like his Picture 's Dumb. A Ballad on Mr. J. H. to Amoret asking why I was so sad MY Amoret since you must know The Grief you say my Eyes do show Survey my Heart where you shall find More Love then for your self confin'd And though you chide you 'l Pity too A Passion which even Rivals you Amyntas on a Holy-day As fine as any Lord of May Amongst the Nimphs and jolly Swaines That feed their Flocks upon the Plaines Met in a Grove beneath whose shade A Match of Dancing they had made His Cassock was of Green as trim As Grass upon a River brim Untoucht or sullied with a spot Unprest by either Lamb or Goat And with the Air it loosely play'd With every motion that he made His Sleeves a-many Ribbons ties Where one might read Love-Mysteries As if that way he wou'd impart To all the Sentiments of his Heart Whose Passions by those Colours known He with a Charming Pride wou'd own His Bonnet with the same was Ti'd A Silver Scrip hung by his Side His Buskins garnisht A-la-mode Were grac'd by every step he Trod Like Pan a Majesty he took And like Apollo when he spoke His Hook a Wreath of Flowers did Braid The Present of some Love-sick Maid Who all the morning had bestow'd And to her Fancy now compos'd Which fresher seem'd when near that place To whom the 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. Vrania'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 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
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 sound 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 more To see the Hero then they did before So when the Marvels by Report I knew 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 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
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. A Pox 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 â—enies 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 Love 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 Sicknesse 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 they 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 Secrets did Unfold And did the dull Unloving World defy VVhilst each the Hearts fond Story told If all these Conjurations nought
hope do busily advise Whisper Renown and Glory in thy Ear Language which Lovers fright and Swains ne'er hear For Troy they cry these Shepherds Weeds lay down Change Crooks for Scepters Garlands for a Crown But sure that Crown does far less easie sit Than Wreaths of Flow'rs less innocent and sweet Nor can thy Beds of State so gratefull be As those of Moss and new faln Leaves with me Now tow'rds the Beach we go and all the way The Groves the Fern dark Woods and springs survey That were so often conscious to the Rites Of sacred Love in our dear stoln Delights With Eyes all languishing each place you view And sighing cry Adieu dear Shades Adieu Then 't was thy Soul e'en doubted which to doe Refuse a Crown or those dear Shades forego Glory and Love the great dispute pursu'd But the false Idol soon the God subdu'd And now on Board you go and all the Sails Are loosned to receive the flying Gales Whilst I half dead on the forsaken Strand Beheld thee sighing on the Deck to stand Wasting a thousand Kisses from thy Hand And whilst I cou'd the lessening Vessel see I gaz'd and sent a thousand Sighs to thee And all the Sea-born Nereids implore Quick to return thee to our Rustick shore Now like a Ghost I glide through ev'ry Grove Silent and sad as Death about I rove And visit all our Treasuries of Love This Shade th' account of thousand Joys does hide As many more this murmuring Rivers side Where the dear Grass still sacred does retain The print where thee and I so oft have lain Upon this Oak thy Pipe and Garland's plac'd That Sicamore is with thy Sheep-hook grac'd Here feed thy Flock once lov'd though now thy scorn Like me forsaken and like me forlorn A Rock there is from whence I cou'd survey From far the blewish Shore and distant Sea Whose hanging top with toyl I climb'd each day With greedy View the prospect I ran o'er To see what wish'd for ships approach'd our shore One day all hopeless on its point I stood And saw a Vessel bounding o'er the Flood And as it nearer drew I cou'd discern Rich Purple Sails Silk Cords and Golden Stern Upon the Deck a Canopy was spread Of Antique work in Gold and Silver made Which mix'd with Sun beams dazling Light display'd But oh beneath this glorious Scene of State Curst be the sight a fatal Beauty sate And fondly you were on her Bosome lay'd Whilst with your perjur'd Lips her Fingers play'd Wantonly curl'd and dally'd with that hair Of which as sacred Charms I Bracelets wear Oh! hadst thou seen me then in that mad state So ruin'd so design'd for Death and Fate Fix'd on a Rock whose horrid Precipice In hollow Murmurs wars with Angry Seas Whilst the bleak Winds aloft my Garments bear Ruffling my careless and dishevel'd hair I look'd like the sad Statue of Despair With out-strech'd voice I cry'd and all around The Rocks and Hills my dire complaints resound I rent my Garments tore my flattering Face Whose false deluding Charms my Ruine was Mad as the Seas in Storms I breathe Despair Or Winds let loose in unresisting Air. Raging and Frantick through the Woods I fly And Paris lovely faithless Paris cry But when the Echos sound thy Name again I change to new variety of Pain For that dear name such tenderness inspires And turns all Passion to Loves softer Fires With tears I fall to kind Complaints again So Tempests are allay'd by Show'rs of Rain Say lovely Youth why wou'dst thou thus betray My easie Faith and lead my heart astray I might some humble Shepherd's Choice have been Had I that Tongue ne'er heard those Eyes ne'er seen And in some homely Cott in low Repose Liv'd undisturb'd with broken Vows and Oaths All day by shaded Springs my Flocks have kept And in some honest Arms at night have slept Then unupbraided with my wrongs thou 'dst been Safe in the Joys of the fair Grecian Queen What Stars do rule the Great no sooner you Became a Prince but you were Perjur'd too Are Crowns and Falshoods then consistent things And must they all be faithless who are Kings The Gods be prais'd that I was humbly born Even thô it renders me my Paris scorn For I had rather this way wretched prove Than be a Queen and faithless in my Love Not my fair Rival wou'd I wish to be To come prophan'd by others Joys to thee A spotless Maid into thy Arms I brought Untouch'd in Fame ev'n Innocent in thought Whilst she with Love has treated many a Guest And brings thee but the leavings of a Feast With Theseus from her Country made Escape Whilst she miscall'd the willing Flight a Rape So now from Atreus Son with thee is fled And still the Rape hides the Adult'rous Deed. And is it thus Great Ladies keep intire That Vertue they so boast and you admire Is this a Trick of Courts can Ravishment Serve for a poor Evasion of Consent Hard shift to save that Honour priz'd so high Whilst the mean Fraud's the greater Infamy How much more happy are we Rural Maids Who know no other Palaces than Shades Who wish no Title to inslave the Crowd Lest they shou'd babble all our Crimes aloud No Arts our Good to shew our Ill to hide Nor know to cover faults of Love with Pride I lov'd and all Love 's Dictates did pursue And never thought it cou'd be Sin with you To Gods and Men I did my Love proclaim For one soft hour with thee my charming Swain Wou'd Recompence an Age to come of Shame Cou'd it as well but satisfie my Fame But oh those tender hours are sled and lost And I no more of Fame or Thee can boast 'T was thou wert Honour Glory all to me Till Swains had learn'd the Vice of Perjury No yielding Maids were charg'd with Infamy 'T is false and broken Vows make Love a Sin Hads thou been true We innocent had been But thou less faith than Autumn leaves do'st show Which ev'ry Blast bears from their native Bough Less Weight less Constancy in thee is born Than in the slender mildew'd Ears of Corn. Oft when you Garlands wove to deck my hair Where mystick Pinks and Dazies mingled were You swore 't was fitter Diadems to bear And when with eager Kisses prest my hand Have said How well a Scepter 't wou'd command And when I danc'd upon the Flow'ry Green With charming wishing Eyes survey my Mien And cry the God 's design'd thee for a Queen Why then for Helen dost thou me forsake Can a poor empty Name such difference make Besides if Love can be a Sin thine 's one To Menelaus Helen does belong Be Just restore her back She 's none of thine And charming Paris thou art onely mine 'T is no Ambitious Flame that makes me sue To be again belov'd and blest by you No vain desire of being ally'd t' a King Love is the onely Dowry I can bring And
Aminta keeps awake And I all Night soft Vows and Wishes make VVhen to the Gods I would my Prayers address And sue to be forgiven Aminta's name I still express And Love is all that I confess Love and Aminta Ever out Rival Heaven II. Books give me no content at all Vnless soft Cowly entertain my Mind Then every pair in Love I find Lysander him Aminta her I call Till the bewitching Fewel raise the fire VVhich was design'd but to divert Then to cool Shades I ragingly retire To ease my hopeless panting Heart Yet thereto every thing begets desire Each flowry Bed and every loanly Grove Inspires new VVishes new impatient Love Thus all the Night in vain I sought repose And early with the Sun next day I rose Still more impatient grew my new desires To see again the Author of my Fires Love leads me forth to little CARES we pass Where Love instructed me Aminta was Far from Inquietude this Village stands And for its Beauty all the rest commands In all the Isle of Love not one appears So ravishingly Gay as Little Cares Little CARES or Little Arts to please I. THither all the Amorous Youth repair To see the Objects of their Vows No Iealousies approach 'em there They Banish Dulness and Despair And only Gayety and Mirth allow The Houses cover'd o're with flow'rs appear Like fragrant Arbours all the year VVhere all the dear the live-long day In Musick Songs and Balls is past away All things are form'd for pleasure and delight VVhich finish not but with the Light But when the Sun returns again They hold with that bright God an equal Reign II. There no Reproaches dwell that Vice Is banisht with the Coy and Nice The Froward there learn Complysance There the Dull VVise his Gravity forsakes The Old dispose themselves to Dance And Melancholy wakens from his Trance And against Nature sprightly Humour takes The formal States-man does his Int'rest quit And learns to talk of Love and VVit There the Philosopher speaks Sense Such as his Mistress Eyes inspire Forgets his learned Eloquence Nor now compares his Flame to his own Chimick fire III. The Miser there opens his Golden heaps And at Love's Altar offers the rich Prize His needless fears of want does now despise And as a lavish Heir he Treats and Reaps The Blessings that attend his grateful Sacrifice Even the Fluttering Coxcomb there Does less ridiculous appear For in the Crowd some one unlucky Face With some particular Grimmas Has the ill fate his Heart to gain Which giues him just the Sense to know his pain Whence he becomes less talkative and vain There 't is the Muses dwell that sacred Nine Who teach the inlarged Soul to prove No Arts or Sciences Divine But those inspir'd by Them and Love Gay Conversation Feast and Masquerades Agreeable Cabals and Serinades Eternal Musick Gladness Smiles and Sport Make all the bus'ness of this Little Court. At my approach new Fires my Bosom warm New vigor I receive from every Charm I found invention with my Love increase And both instruct me with new Arts to please New Gallantrys I sought to entertain And had the Joy to find 'em not in vain All the Extravagance of Youth I show And pay'd to Age the Dotage I shall owe All a beginning Passion can conceive What beauty Merits or fond Love can give With diligence I wait Aminta's look And her decrees from Frowns or Smiles I took To my new sixt resolves no stop I found My Flame was uncontroul'd and knew no bound Unlimited Expences every day On what I thought she lik'd I threw away My Coaches and my Liverys rich and new In all this Court none made a better show Aminta here was unconfin'd and free And all a well-born Maid cou'd render me She gave My early Visits does allow And more ingagingly receives me now Her still increasing Charms Her soft Address A Partial Lover cannot well Express Her Beautys with my slame each hour increase 'T was here my Soul more true content receiv'd Then all the Duller hours of Life I 'd liv'd But with the envying Night I still repair To Inquietude none lodge at little Care The hasty Minutes summon me away While parting pains surmount past hours of Joy And Nights large Reckoning over-pays the day The GOD of Sleep his wonted Aid denys Lends no repose or to my Heart or Eyes Only one hour of Rest the breaking Morning brought In which this happy Dream Assail'd my Thought The DREAM 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 tâ—â—â—sand little Fears afflict my Heart A 〈…〉 ormer order quite subvert T 〈…〉 which all day my hope imploy'd S 〈…〉 w too excellent to be enjoy'd I number all my RIVALS over now Thâ—n 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 Aminâ—a 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 Monarch perisht have And seeking Fame alone have sound 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 flyst 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 Address receives These Strangers and to both new Courage gives She animates the haughty to go on Say A Town long besieg'd must needs be won Time and Respect remove all obstacles And obstinate Love arrives at Miracles Were she the Heir to an illustrious Crown Those Charms that haughty meen that fam'd renown That wond'rous skill you do in Verse profess That great disdain of common Mistresses Can when you please with aid of Billet Deux The Royal Virgin to your Arms subdue One skill d in all the Arts to please the fair Shou'd be above the Sense of dull despair Go on young noble Warrier then go on Though all the fair are by that Love undone Then turning to the other Sir said she Were the bright Beauty you Adore like me Your silent awful Passion more wou'd move Than all the bold and forward Arts of Love A Heart the softest composition forms And sooner yielde by treaty then by storms A Look a Sigh a Tear is understood And makes more warm dis-orders in the Blood Has more ingaging tender Eloquence Then all the industry of Artful Sense So falling drops with their soft force alone Insinuate kind impressions in obdurate stone But that which most my pity did imploy Was a young Hero full of Smiles and Joy A noble Youth to whom indulgent Heaven Had more of Glory then of Virtue given Conducted thither by a Politick throng The Rabble Shouting as he past along Whilst he vain with the beastly Din they make Which were the same if Bears were going to stake Addresses to this faithless Flatterer Who in return calls him young God of War The Cities Champion and his Countries Hope The Peoples Darling and Religious Prop. Scepters and Crowns does to his view expose And all the Fancied pow'r of Empire shows In vain the Vision he wou'd dis-believe In spight of Sense she does his Soul deceive He Credits all nor ask's which way or how The dazling Circle shall surround his Brow Implicitly attends the slattering Song Gives her his easy Faith and is undone For with one turn of State the Frenzy 's heal'd The Blind recover and the Cheats reveal'd Whilst all his Charms of Youth and Beauty lies The kind reproach of pitying Enemies To me she said and smiling as she spoke Lisander you with Love have Reason took Continue so and from Aminta's Heart Expect what Love and Beauty can impart I knew she flatter'd yet I cou'd not choose But please my Self and credit the Abuse Her charming
Words that Night repos'd me more Then all the grateful Dreams I 'd had before Next day I rose and early with the Sun Love guided me to Declaration A pleasant City built with Artful Care To which the Lovers of the Isle repair In our pursuit Respect dissatisfy'd Did the unreasonable Adventure chide Return unheedy Youth cry'd he return Let my advice th' approaching danger warn Renounce thy Purpose and thy haste decline Or thou wilt ruine all Loves great design Amaz'd I stood and unresolv'd t' obey Cou'd not return durst not pursue my way Whilst LOVE who thought himself concern'd as Guide I' th' Criminal Adventure Thus reply'd LOVE's Resentment MVst we eternal Martyrdom pursue Must we still Love and always suffer too Must we continue still to dye And ne'r declare the cruel Cause Whilst the fair Murdress asks not why But triumphs in her rigorous Laws And grows more mighty in disdain More Peevish Humorous Proud and Vain The more we languish by our Pain And when we Vow Implore and Pray Shall the Inhumane cruel fair Only with nice disdain the sufferer pay Consult her Pride alone in the affair And coldly cry In time perhaps I may Consider and redress the Youth's despair And when she wou'd a Period put to 's Fate Alas her cruel Mercy comes too late But wise Respect obligingly reply'd Amintas Cruelty you need not dread Your Passion by your Eyes will soon be known Without this hast to Declaration 'T is I will guide you where you still shall find Aminta in bâ—st Humour and most kind Strong were his Arguments his Reasonings prove Too pow'rful for the angry God of Love Who by degrees t' his native softness came Yields to Respect and owns his haste a blame Both vow obedience to his judging Wit And to his graver Conduct both submit Who now invites us to a Reverend place An ancient Town whose Governor he was Impregnable with Bastions fortify'd Guarded with fair built Walls on every side The top of which the Eye cou'd scarce discern So strong as well secur'd the Rich concern Silence with Modesty and Secresy Have all committed to their Custody Silence to every questions ask'd reply With apt Grimasses of the Face and Eyes Her Finger on her Mouth and as you 've seen Her Picture Handsom with fantastick mean Her every Motion her Commands express But seldom any the hid Soul confess The Virgin Modesty is wond'rous fair A bashful Motion and a blushing Air With un-assur'd regard her Eyes do move Untaught by affectation or self-Self-love Her Robes not gaudy were nor loosely ty'd But even concealing more then need be hid For Secresie one rarely sees her Face Whose lone Apartment is some Dark recess From whence unless some great affairs oblige She finds it difficult to dis-ingage Her voice is low but subtilly quick her Ears And answers still by signs to what she hears Led by Respect we did an entrance get Not saying any thing who ere we met The City of DISCRETION THE Houses there retir'd in Gardens are And all is done with little noise One seldom sees Assemblies there Or publick shows for Grief or Ioys One rarely walks but in the Night And most endeavour to avoid the Light There the whole World their bus'ness carry Without or confident or Secretary One still is under great constraint Must always suffer but ne'r make complaint 'T is there the dumb and silent languishes Are predic'd which so well explain the Heart Which without speaking can so much express And secrets to the Soul the nearest way impart Language which prettily perswades belief Who 's silent Eloquence obliges Ioy or Grief This City 's called Discretion being the name Of her that is Lieutenant of the same And Sister to Respect a Lady who Seldom obtains a Conquest at first view But in repeated Visits one shall find Sufficient Charms of Beauty and of Mind Her vigorous piercing Eyes can when they please Make themselves lov'd and understood with Ease Not too severe but yet reserv'd and wise And her Address is full of subtilties Which upon all occasions serves her turn T' express her Kindness and to hide her scorn Dissimulations Arts she useful holds And in good manners sets 'em down for rules T was here Aminta liv'd and here I paid My constant visits to the lovely Maid With mighty force upon my Soul I strove To hide the Sent'ments of my raging Love All thaâ— I spoke did but indifferent seem Or went no higher than a great esteem But 't was not long my Passion I conceal'd My flame in spight of me it self reveal'd The silent Confession AND tho' I do not speak alas My Eyes and Sighs too much do say And pale and languishing my Face The torments of my Soul betray They the sad story do unfold Love cannot his own secrets hold And though Fear ty's my Tongue Respect my Eyes Yet something will disclose the pain Which breaking out throw's all disguise Reproaches her with Cruelties Which she augments by new disdain Where e're she be I still am there What-ere she do I that prefer In spight of all my strength at her approach I tremble with a sight or touch Paleness or Blushes does my Face surprize If mine by chance meet her encountering Eyes T was thus she learn'd my VVeakness and her Pow'r And knew too well she was my Conqueror And now Her Eyes no more their wonted Smiles afford But grew more sierce the more they were ador'd The marks of her esteem which heretofore Rais'd my aspiring flame oblige no more She calls up all her Pride to her defence And as a Crime condemns my just pretence Me from her presence does in Fury chase No supplications can my doom reverse And vainly certain of her Victory Retir'd into the Den of Cruelty The Den of Cruelty A Den where Tygers make the passage good And all attempting Lovers make their Food I' th' hollow of a mighty Rock 't is plac'd VVhich by the angry Sea is still imbrac'd VVhose frightful surface constant Tempest wears VVhich strikes the bold Adventurers with Fears The Elements their rudest VVinds send out VVhich blow continual coldness round about Vpon the Rock eternal VVinters dwells VVhich weeps away in dropping Isicles The barren hardness meets no fruitful Ray Nor bears it Issue to the God of day All bleek and cale th' unshady prospect lieâ— And nothing grateful meets the melancâ—olâ— Eyes To this dire place Aminta goes whilstâ—â— Begg'd her with Prayers and Tears to pass it by All dying on the Ground my self I cast And with my Arms her flying Feet imbrac'd But she from the kind force with Fury flung And on an old deformed Woman hung A Woman frightful with a horrid Frown And o're her angry Eyes her Brows hung down One single Look of hers fails not t' impart A terror and despair to every Heart She fills the Universe with discontents And Torments for poor Lovers still invents This is the mighty Tyrant Cruelty Who with the God
of Love is still at enmity She keeps a glorious Train and glorious Court And thither Youth and Beauty still resort But oh my Soul form'd for Loves softer Sport Cou'd not endure the Rigor of her Court Which her first rude Address did so affright That I all Trembling hasted from her Sight Leaving the unconcern'd and cruel Maid And on a Rivers Bank my self all fainting laid Which River from the obdurate Rock proceeds And cast's it self i' th' Melancholy Meads The River of Despair IT s Torrent has no other source But Tears from dying Lovers Eyes Which mixt with Sighs precipitates its course Softning the sensless Rocks in gliding by Whose doleful Murmurs have such Eloquence That even the neighbouring Trees and flow'rs have pitying sense And Cruelty alone knows in what sort Against the moving sound to make defence Who laughs at all despair and Death as sport A dismal Wood the Rivers Banks do bear Securing even the day from entering there The Suns bright Rays a passage cannot find Whose Boughs make constant War against the Wind Yet though their Leaves glimmers a sullen Light Which renders all below more terrible than Night And snows upon the Bark of every Tree Sad stories carv'd of Love and Cruelty The Grove is fill'd with Sighs with Crys and Groans Reproaches and Complaints in dying Moans The Neighbouring Eccho's nothing do repeat But what the Soul sends forth with sad regret And all things there no other Murmurs make But what from Language full of death they take 'T was in this place dispairing ere to free Aminta from the Arms of Cruelty That I design'd to render up my Breath And charge the cruel Charmer with my Death The RESOLVE NOw my fair Tyrant I despise your Pow'r 'T is Death not you becomes my Conqueror This easy Trophy which your scorn Led bleeding by your Chariot-side Your haughty Victory to adorn Has broke the Fetters of your Pride Death takes his quarrel now in hand And laughs at all your Eyes can do His pow'r thy Beauty can withstand Not all your Smiles can the grim victor bow He 'll hold no Parley with your Wit Nor understands your wanton play Not all your Arts can force him to submit Not all your Charms can teach him to obey Your youth nor Beauty can inspire His frozen Heart with Love's perswasive fire Alas you cannot warm him to one soft desire Oh mighty Death that art above The pow'r of Beauty or of Love Thus sullen with my Fate sometimes I grew And then a fit of softness wou'd ensue Then weep and on my Knees implore my Fair And speak as if Aminta present were The QUESTION SAY my fair Charmer must I fall A Victim to your Cruelty And must I suffer as a Criminal Is it to Love offence enough to dye Is this the recompence at last Of all the restless hours I 've past How oft my Awe and my Respect Have fed your Pride and Scorn How h 〈…〉 your neglect Too mighty to be born How have I strove to hide that flame You seem'd to dis-approve How careful to avoid the name Of Tenderness or Love Least at that Word some guilty Blush shou'd own What your bright Eyes forbad me to make known Thus fill'd the neighbouring Eccho's with my Cry Did nothing but reproach complain and dye One day All hopeless on the Rivers Brink I stood Resolv'd to plunge into the Rapid Floud That Floud that eases Lovers in despair And puts an end to all their raging care 'T is hither those betray'd by Beauty come And from this kinder stream receive their doom Here Birds of Ominous presages Nest Securing the forlorn Inhabitants from rest Here Mid-night-Owls night-Crows and Ravens dwell Filling the Air with Melancholy Yell Here swims a thousand Swans whose doleful moan Sing dying Lovers Requiems with their own I gaz'd around and many Lovers view'd Gastly and pale who my design pursu'd But most inspir'd by some new hope or won To finish something they had left undone Some grand Important bus'ness of their Love Did from the fatal precipice remove For me no Reason my designs disswade Till Love all Breathless hasted to my Aid With force m' unfixing Feet he kindly graspt And tenderly reproacht my desperate hast Reproach'd my Courage and condemn'd my Wit That meanly cou'd t' a Womans scorn submit That cou'd to feed her Pride and make her vain Destroy an Age of Life for a short date of pain He wou'd have left me here but that I made So many friendships as did soon perswade The yielding Boy who Smil'd resolv'd and staid He rais'd my Head and did again renew His Flatteries and all the Arts he knew To call my Courage to its wonted place What cry'd he sweetly Angry shall a Face Arm'd with the weak resistance of a Frown Force us to lay our Claims and Titles down Shall Cruelty a peevish Woman prove Too strong to be overcome by Youth and Love No! rally all thy Vigor all thy Charms And force her from the cruel Tyrants Arms Come once more try th' incens'd Maid to appease Death 's in our pow'r to grasp when ere we please He said And I the heavenly voice attend Whilst towards the Rock our hasty steps we bend Before the Gates with all our forces lye Resolv'd to Conquer or resolv'd to dye In vain Love all his feeble Engines rears His soft Artillery of Sighs and Tears Were all in vain against the Winds were sent For she was proof 'gainst them and languishment Repeated Vows and Prayers mov'd no Remorse And 't was to Death alone I had Recourse Love in my Anguish bore a mighty part He pityed but he cou'd not ease my Heart A thousand several ways he had assay'd To touch the Heart of this obdurate Maid Rebated all his Arrow 's still return For she was fortify'd with Pride and Scorn The useless Weapons now away he flung Neglected lay his Ivory Bow unstrung His gentle Azure Wings were all unprun'd And the gay Plumes a fading Tinct assum'd Which down his snowy sides extended lay And now no more in wanton Motions play He blusht to think he had not left one dart Of force enough to wound Aminta's Heart He blusht to think she shou'd her freedom boast Whilst mine from the first Dart he sent was lost Thus tir'd with our Complaints whilst no relief Rescu'd the fleeting Soul from killing Grief We saw a Maid approach who 's lovely Face Disdain'd the Beauties of the common race Soft were her Eyes where unfeign'd Sorrow dwelt And on her Cheeks in pitying Show'rs they melt Soft was her Voice and tenderly it strook The eager listening Soul when e're she spoke And what did yet my Courage more augment She wore this sadness for my languishment And sighing said ah Gods have you Beheld this dying Youth and never found A pity for a Heart so true Which dyes adoring her that gave the Wound His Youth his Passion and his Constancy Merits ye God's a kinder Destiny With
Mrs. Behn POEMS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH A VOYAGE TO THE Island of Love By Mrs. A. BEHN LONDON Printed for R. Tonson and I. Tonson at Gray's-Inn-Gate next Gray's-Inn Lane and at the Judges-Head at Chancery Lane end near Fleetstreet 1684. TO The Right Honourable JAMES EARL of SALISBVRY VISCOUNT CRAMBORN AND BARON of ISLINGTON MY LORD WHO should one celibrate with Verse and Song but the Great the Noble and the Brave where dedicate an Isle of Love but to the Gay the Soft and Young and who amongst Men can lay a better claim to these than Your Lordship who like the Sun new risen with the early Day looks round the World and sees nothing it cannot claim an interest in for what cannot Wit Beauty Wealth and Honour claim The violent storms of Sedition and Rebellion are hush'd and calm'd black Treason is retir'd to its old abode the dark Abyss of Hell the mysterious Riddles of Politick Knaves and Fools which so long amused and troubled the World's repose are luckily unfolded and Your Lordship is saluted at Your first coming forth Your first setting out for the glorious and happy Race of Life by a Nation all glad gay and smiling and you have nothing before you but a ravishing prospect of eternal Ioys and everlasting inviting Pleasures and all that Love and Fortune can bestow on their darling Youth attend You in the noble persuit and nothing can prevent Your being the most happy of her Favourites but a too eager slight a two swift speed o'er the charming slowry Meads and Plains that lie in view between Your setting out and the end of Your glorious Chase. A long and illustrious race of Nobility has attended Your great Name but none I believe ever came into the World with Your Lordship's advantages amongst which my Lord 't is not the least that You have the glory to be truly Loyal and to be adorn'd with those excellent Principles which render Nobility so absolutely worth the Veneration which is paid 'em 't is those my Lord and not the Title that make it truly great Grandeur in any other serves but to point 'em out more particularly to the World and shew their Faults with the greater magnitude and render 'em more liable to contempt and that Reward which justly persues Ingratitude nor is it my Lord the many unhappy Examples this Age has produc'd that has deter'd you from herding with the busie Vnfortunates and bringing Your powerfull aid to their detestable cause but a noble Honesty in Your Nature a Genorosity in Your Soul That even part of Your Education had the good fortune not to be able to corrupt no Opinion cou'd byass You no Precedent debauch You though all the fansied Glories of Power were promis'd You though all the Contempt thrown on good and brave Men all the subtile Arguments of the old Serpent were us'd against the best of Kings and his illustrious Successour still You were unmov'd Your young stout Heart with a Gallantry and Force unusual resisted and defied the gilded Bait laugh'd at the industrious Politicks of the busie Wise and stubbornly Loyal contemn'd the Counsels of the Grave Go on my Lord advance in Noble resolution grow up in strength of Loyalty settle it about Your Soul root it there like the first Principles of Religion which nothing ever throughly defaces and which in spight of even Reason the Soul retains whatever little Debaucheries the Tongue may commit You that are great are born the Bulwarks of sacred Majesty its defence against all the storms of Fate the Safety of the People in the Supporters of the Throne and sure none that ever obey'd the Laws of God and the Dictates of Honour ever paid those Duties to a Sovereign that more truly merited the Defence and Adorations of his People than this of ours and t is a blessing since we are oblig'd to render it to the worst of Tyrant Kings that we have one who so well justifies that intire Love and Submission we ought to pay him You my Lord are one whom Thousands of good Men look up to with wondrous Veneration and Ioy when 't is said Your Lordship amongst Your other Vertues is Loyal too a true Tory a word of Honour now the Royal Cause has sanctified it and though Your Lordship needs no encouragement to a good that rewards it self yet I am confident You are not onely rank'd in the esteem of the best of Monarchs but we shall behold you as one of our Preservers and all England as one of its great Patrons when Ages that shall come shall find Your noble Name inroll'd amongst the Friends to Monarchy in an Age of so villainous Corruption Yes my Lord they will find it there and bless You. 'T is this my Lord with every other Grace and Noble Vertue that adorns You and gives the World such promises of Wonders in You that makes me ambitious to be the first in the Croud of Your Admirers that shall have the honour to celibrate Your great Name Be pleased then my Lord to accept this Little Piece which lazy Minutes begot and hard Fate has oblig'd me to bring forth into the censuring World to which if any thing can reconcile it 't will be the glory it has to bear Your Noble Name in the front and to be Patronized by so great and good a Man Permit but my Zeal for Your Lordship to attone for the rest of my Faults and Your Lordship will extremely oblige My Lord Your Lordship 's most Humble and most Obedient Servant A. Behn TO Mrs. BEHN ON THE PUBLISHING HER POEMS Madam LOng has Wit 's injur'd Empire been opprest By Rhiming Fools this Nations common Jest And sunk beneath the weight of heavy stafes In Tory Ballads and Whig Epitaphs The Ogs and Doegs reign'd nay Baxter's zeal Has not been wanting too in writing Ill Yet still in spight of what the dull can doe 'T is here asserted and adorn'd by you This Book come forth their credit must decay Ill Spirits vanish at th'approach of day And justly we before your envy'd feet There where our Hearts are due our Pens submit Ne'er to resume the baffled things again Unless in Songs of Triumph to thy Name Which are outdone by every Verse of thine Where thy own Fame does with more lustre shine Than all that we can give who in thy Praises join Fair as the face of Heaven when no thick Cloud Or darkning Storm the glorious prospect shroud In all its beauteous parts shines thy bright style And beyond Humane Wit commedns thy skill With all the thought and vigour of our Sex The moving softness of your own you mix The Queen of Beauty and the God of Wars Imbracing lie in thy due temper'd Verse Venus her sweetness and the force of Mars Thus thy luxuriant Muse her pleasure takes As God 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
instructress and thy musicks song She that could make Thy inarticulated strings to speak In language soft as young desires In language chaste as Vestal fires But she hath ta'n her Everlasting flight Ah! cruel Death How short's the date of Learned breath No sooner do's the blooming Rose Drest fresh and gay In the embroy'dries of her Native May Her odorous sweets expose But with thy fatal knife The fragrant flow'r is crop't from off the stalk of life III. Come ye Stoicks come away You that boast an Apathy And view our Golgotha See how the mourning Virgins all around With Tributary Tears bedew the sacred ground And tell me tell me where 's the Eye That can be dry Unless in hopes nor are such hopes in vain Their universal cry Should mount the vaulted sky And of the Gods obtain A young succeeding Phoenix might arise From Orinda's spicy obsequies In Heaven the voice was heard Heaven does the Virgins pray'rs regard And none that dwells on high If once the beauteous Ask the beauteous can deny IV. 'T is done 't is done th' imperial grant is past We have our wish at last And now no more with sorrow be it said Orinda's dead Since in her seat Astraea does Appear The God of Wit hath chosen her To bear Orinda's and his Character The Laurel Chaplet seems to grow On her more gracefull Brow And in her hand Look how she waves his sacred Wand Loves Quiver's tyde In an Azure Mantle by her side And with more gentle Arts Than he who owns the Aureal darts At once she wounds and heals our hearts V. Hark how the gladded Nymphs rejoyce And with a gracefull voice Commend Apollo's Choice The gladded Nymphs their Guardian Angel greet And chearfully her name repeat And chearfully admire and praise The Loyal musick of her layes Whilst they securely sit Beneath the banners of her wit And scorn th'ill-manner'd Ignorance of those Whose Stock 's so poor they cannot raise To their dull Muse one subsidy of praise Unless they 're dubb'd the Sexes foes These squibbs of sense themselves expose Or if with stolen light They shine one night The next their earth-born Lineage shows They perish in their slime And but to name them wou'd defile Astraea's Rhime VI. But you that would be truely wise And vertues fair Idea prize You that would improve In harmeless Arts of not indecent Love Arts that Romes fam'd Master never taught Or in the Shops of fortune's bought Would you know what Wit doth mean Pleasant wit yet not obscene The several garbs that Humours wear The dull the brisk the jealous the severe Wou'd you the pattern see Of spotless and untainted Loyalty Deck't in every gracefull word That language can afford Tropes and Figures Raptures and Conceits that ly Disperst in all the pleasant Fields of poesie Reade you then Astraea's lines 'T is in those new discover'd Mines Those golden Quarries that this Ore is found With which in Worlds as yet unknown Astraea shall be crown'd VII And you th' Advent'rous sons of fame You that would sleep in honours bed With glorious Trophies garnished You that with living labours strive Your dying Ashes to survive Pay your Tributes to Astraea's name Her Works can spare you immortality For sure her Works shall never dye Pyramids must fall and Mausolean Monuments decay Marble Tombs shall crumble into dust Noisie Wonders of a short liv'd day That must in time yield up their Trust And had e'er this been perisht quite i th' ruines of Eternal night Had no kind Pen like her's In powerfull numbers powerfull verse Too potent for the gripes of Avaritious fate To these our ages lost declar'd their pristine State VIII But time it self bright Nymph shall never Conquer thee For when the Globe of vast Eternity Turns up the wrong-side of the World And all things are to their first Chaos hurl'd Thy lasting praise in thy own lines inroll'd With Roman and with the British Names shall Equal honour hold And surely none ' midst the Poetick Quire But justly will admire The Trophies of thy wit Sublime and gay as e'er were yet In Charming Numbers writ Or Virgil's Shade or Ovid's Ghost Of Ages past the pride and boast Or Cowley first of ours refuse That thou shouldst be Companion of their Muse. And if 't were lawfull to suppose As where 's the Crime or Incongruity Those awfull Souls concern'd can be At any sublunary thing Alas I fear they 'll grieve to see That whilst I sing And strive to praise I but disparage thee By F. N. W. To Madam Behn on her Poems WHEN th' Almighty Powers th' Universe had fram'd And Man as King the lesser World was nam'd The Glorious Consult soon his joys did bless And sent him Woman his chief happiness She by an after-birth Heaven did refine And gave her Beauty with a Soul divine She with delight was Natures chiefest pride Dearer to Man than all the World beside Her soft embraces charm'd his Manly Soul And softer Words his Roughness did controul So thou great Sappho with thy charming Verse Dost here the Soul of Poetry rehearse From your sweet Lips such pleasant Raptures fell As if the Graces strove which shou'd excell Th' admiring World when first your Lute you strung Became all ravisht with th' immortal Song So soft and gracefull Love in you is seen As if the Muses had design'd you Queen For thee thou great Britannia of our Land How does thy Praise our tunefull Feet command With what great influence do thy Verses move How hast thou shewn the various sense of Love Admir'd by us and blest by all above To you all tribute's due and I can raise No glory but by speaking in your praise Go on and bless us dayly with your Pen And we shall oft return thee thanks again H. Watson POEMS UPON Several OCCASIONS The Golden Age. A Paraphrase on a Translation out of French I. BLest Age when ev'ry Purling Stream Ran undisturb'd and clear When no scorn'd Shepherds on your Banks were seen Tortur'd by Love by Jealousie or Fear When an Eternal Spring drest ev'ry Bough And Blossoms fell by new ones dispossest These their kind Shade affording all below And those a Bed where all below might rest The Groves appear'd all drest with Wreaths of Flowers And from their Leaves dropt Aromatick Showers Whose fragrant Heads in Mystick Twines above Exchang'd their Sweets and mix'd with thousand Kisses As if the willing Branches strove To beautifie and shade the Grove Where the young wanton Gods of Love Offer their Noblest Sacrifice of Blisses II. Calm was the Air no Winds blew fierce and loud The Skie was dark'ned with no sullen Cloud But all the Heav'ns laugh'd with continued Light And scatter'd round their Rays serenely bright No other Murmurs fill'd the Ear But what the Streams and Rivers purl'd When Silver Waves o'er Shining Pebbles curl'd Or when young Zephirs fan'd the Gentle Breez Gath'ring fresh Sweets from Balmy Flow'rs and Trees Then bore 'em on
and see what numerous Store Of Lovers will your Ruin'd Shrine Adore Then let us Sylvia yet be wise And the Gay hasty minutes prize The Sun and Spring receive but our short Light Once sett a sleep brings an Eternal Night A Farewel to Celladon On his Going into Ireland Pindarique FArewell the Great the Brave and Good By all admir'd and understood For all thy vertues so extensive are VVrit in so noble and so plain a Character That they instruct humanity what to do How to reward and imitate 'em too The mighty Cesar found and knew The Value of a Swain so true And early call'd the Industrious Youth from Grooves VVhere unambitiously he lay And knew no greater Joyces nor Power then Loves VVhich all the day The careless and delighted Celladon Improves So the first man in Paradice was laid So blest beneath his own dear fragrant shade Till false Ambition made him range So the Almighty call'd him forth And though for Empire he did Eden change Less Charming 't was and far less worth II. Yet he obeyes and leaves the peaceful Plains The weeping Nymphs and sighing Swains Obeys the mighty voice of Iove The Dictates of his Loyalty pursues Bus'ness Debauches all his hours of Love Bus'ness whose hurry noise and news Even Natures self subdues Changes her best and first simplicity Her soft her easie quietude Into mean Arts of cunning Policy The Grave and Drudging Coxcomb to Delude Say mighty Celladon oh tell me why Thou dost thy nobler thoughts imploy In bus'ness which alone was made To teach the restless Statesman how to Trade In dark Cabals for Mischief and Design But n'ere was meant a Curse to Souls like thine Business the Check to Mirth and VVit Business the Rival of the Fair The Bane to Friendship and the Lucky Hit Onely to those that languish in Dispair Leave then that wretched troublesome Estate To him to whom forgetful Heaven Has no one other vertue given But dropt down the unfortunate To Toyl be Dull and to be Great III. But thou whose nobler Soul was fram'd For Glorious and Luxurious Ease By Wit adorn'd by Love inflam'd For every Grace and Beauty Fam'd Form'd for delight design'd to please Give Give a look to every Joy That youth and lavish Fortune can invent Nor let Ambition that false God destroy Both Heaven and Natures first intent But oh in vain is all I say And you alas must go The Mighty Caesar to obey And none so fit as you From all the Envying Croud he calls you forth He knows your Loyalty and knows your worth He 's try'd it oft and put it to the Test It grew in Zeal even whilst it was opprest The great the Godlike Celladon Unlike the base Examples of the times Cou'd never be Corrupted never won To stain his honest blood with Rebel Crimes Fearless unmov'd he stood amidst the tainted Crowd And justify'd and own'd his Loyalty aloud IV. Hybernia hail Hail happy Isle Be glad and let all Nature smile Ye Meads and Plains send forth your Gayest Flowers Ye Groves and every Purling Spring VVhere Lovers sigh and Birds do sing Be glad and gay for Celladon is yours He comes he comes to grace your Plains To Charm the Nymphs and bless the Swains Ecchoes repeat his Glorious Name To all the Neighbouring Woods and Hills Ye Feather'd Quire chant forth his Fame Ye Fountains Brooks and Wan'dring Rills That through the Meadows in Meanders run Tell all your Flowry Brinks the generous Swain is come VI. Divert him all ye pretty Solitudes And give his Life some softning Interludes That when his weari'd mind would be From Noise and Rigid Bus'ness free He may upon your Mossey Beds lye down Where all is Gloomy all is Shade With some dear Shee whom Nature made To be possest by him alone Where the soft tale of Love She breathes Mixt with the rushing of the wind-blown leaves The different Notes of Cheerful Birds And distant Bleating of the Herds Is Musick far more ravishing and sweet Then all the Artful Sounds that please the noisey Great VII Mix thus your Toiles of Life with Joyes And for the publick good prolong your days Instruct the VVorld the great Example prove Of Honour Friendship Loyalty and Love And when your busier hours are done And you with Damon sit alone Damon the honest brave and young VVhom we must Celebrate where you are sung For you by Sacred Friendship ty'd Nor Love nor Fate can nere divide VVhen your agreeing thoughts shall backward run Surveying all the Conquests you have won The Swaines you 'ave left the sighing Maids undone Try if you can a fatal prospect take Think if you can a soft Idea make Of what we are now you are gone Of what we feel for Celladon VIII 'T is Celladon the witty and the gay That blest the Night and cheer'd the world all Day 'T is Celladon to whom our Vows belong And Celladon the Subject of our Song For whom the Nymphs would dress the Swains rejoice The praise of these of those the choice And if our Joyes were rais'd to this Excess Our Pleasures by thy presence made so great Some pittying God help thee to guess What Fancy cannot well Express Our Languishments by thy Retreat Pitty our Swaines pitty our Virgins more And let that pitty haste thee to our shore And whilst on happy distant Coasts you are Afford us all your sighs and Cesar all your care On a Juniper-Tree cut down to make Busks WHilst happy I Triumphant stood The Pride and Glory of the Wood My Aromatick Boughs and Fruit Did with all other Trees dispute Had right by Nature to excel In pleasing both the tast and smell But to the touch I must confess Bore an Ungrateful Sullenness My Wealth like bashful Virgins I Yielded with some Reluctancy For which my vallue should be more Not giving easily my store My verdant Branches all the year Did an Eternal Beauty wear Did ever young and gay appear Nor needed any tribute pay For bounties from the God of Day Nor do I hold Supremacy In all the Wood o'er every Tree But even those too of my own Race That grow not in this happy place But that in which I glory most And do my self with Reason boast Beneath my shade the other day Young Philocles and Cloris lay Upon my Root she lean'd her head And where I grew he made their Bed Whilst I the Canopy more largely spread Their trembling Limbs did gently press The kind supporting yielding Grass Ne'er half so blest as now to bear A Swain so Young a Nimph so fair My Grateful Shade I kindly lent And every aiding Bough I bent So low as sometimes had the blisse To rob the Shepherd of a kiss Whilst he in Pleasures far above The Sence of that degree of Love Permitted every stealth I made Unjealous of his Rival Shade I saw 'em kindle to desire VVhilst with soft sighs they blew the fire Saw the approaches of their joy He growing more
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 had 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 WHen Iemmy 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 Iemmy wou'd Invite me Where he the Gayest Songs wou'd sing On purpose to delight me And Iemmy every Grace displayd Which were enough I trow To Conquer any Princely Maid So did he me I vow But now for Iemmy 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 My humble Muse to bring its Tribute too Inspir'd by thy vast flight of Verse Methinks I should some wondrous thing rehearse Worthy Divine
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 Iove 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 slow 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 Iove 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 Iuno 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 Faith you swore And 'twixt your Kisses all the old run o'er But now the wisely Grave who Love despise Themselves past
tender Love is all I ask again Whilst on her dang'rous Smiles fierce War must wait With Fire and Vengeance at your Palace gate Rouze your soft Slumbers with their rough Alarms And rudely snatch you from her faithless Arms Turn then fair Fugitive e'er 't is too late E'er thy mistaken Love procures thy Fate E'er a wrong'd Husband does thy Death design And pierce that dear that faithless Heart of thine A VOYAGE TO THE Isle of LOVE An Account from Lisander to Lysidas his Friend AT last dear Lysidas I 'l set thee Free From the disorders of Uncertainty Doubt's the worst Torment of a generous Mind Who ever searching what it cannot find Is roving still from wearied thought to thought And to no settled Calmness can be brought The Cowards Ill who dares not meet his Fate And ever doubting to be Fortunate Falls to that Wretchedness his fears Create I should have dy'd silent as Flowers decay Had not thy Friendship stopt me on my way That friendship which our Infant hearts inspir'd E're them Ambition or false Love had fir'd Friendship which still enlarg'd with years and sense Till it arriv'd to perfect Excellence Friendship Mans noblest bus'ness without whom The out-cast Life finds nothing it can own But Dully dyes unknowing and unknown Our searching thought serves only to impart It 's new gain'd knowledge to anothers Heart The truly wise and great by friendship grow That best instruct 'em how they should be so That only sees the Error of the Mind Which by its soft reproach becomes Refin'd Friendship which even Loves mighty power controuls When that but touches this Exchange Souls The remedy of Grief the safe retreat Of the scorn'd Lover and declining great This sacred tye between thy self and me Not to be alter'd by my Destiny This tye which equal to my new desires Preserv'd it self amidst Loves softer Fires Obliges me without reserve 't impart To Lycidas the story of my Heart Tho' 't will increase its present languishment To call to its remembrance past content So drowning Men near to their native shore From whence they parted near to visit more Look back and sigh and from that last Adieu Suffer more pain then in their Death they do That grief which I in silent Calms have born It will renew and rowse into a Storm The TRUCE With you unhappy Eyes that first let in To my fond Heart the raging Fire With you a Truce I will begin Let all your Clouds let all your Show'rs retire And for a while become serene And you my consiant rising Sighs forbear To mix your selves with flying Air But utter Words among that may express The vast degrees of Ioy and Wretchedness And you my Soul forget the dismal hour When dead and cold Aminta lay And no kind God no pittying Power The hasty fleeting Life would stay Forget the Mad the Raving pain That seiz'd Thee at a sight so new When not the Wind let loose nor raging Main Was so destructive and so wild as thou Forget thou saw'st the lovely yielding Maid Dead in thy trembling Arms Iust â—n the Ravishing hour when all her Charms A willing Victim to thy Love was laid Forget that all is fled thou didst Adore And never never shall return to bless Thee more Twelve times the Moon has borrow'd Rays that Night Might favour Lovers stealths by Glimmering Light Since I imbarqu'd on the inconstant Seas With people of all Ages and Degrees All well dispos'd and absolutely bent To visit a far Country call'd Content The Sails were hoisted and the Streamers spread And chearfully we cut the yielding Floud Calm was the Sea and peaceful every Wind As if the Gods had with our Wishes joyn'd To make us prosperous All the whispering Air Like Lovers Joys was soft and falsly fair The ruffling Winds were hush'd in wanton sleep And all the Waves were silenc'd in the deep No threatning Cloud no angry Curl was found But bright serene and smooth 't was all around But yet believe false Iris if she weep Or Amorous Layis will her promise keep Before the Sea that Flatters with a Calm Will cease to ruin with a rising Storm For now the Winds are rows'd the Hemisphere Grows black and frights the hardy Mariner The Billows all into Dis-order hurl'd As if they meant to bury all the World And least the Gods on us should pity take They seem'd against them too a War to make Now each affrighted to his Cabin Flyes And with Repentance Load the angry Skyes Distracted Prayers they all to Heaven Address While Heaven best knows they think of nothing less To quit their Interest in the World 's their fear Not whether but to go is all their Care And while to Heav'n their differing crimes they mount Their vast dis-orders doubles the account All pray and promise fair protest and weep And make those Vows they want the pow'r to keep But sure with some the angry Gods were pleas'd For by degrees their Rage and Thunder ceas'd In the rude War no more the Winds engage And the destructive Waves were tir'd with their own Rage Like a young Ravisher that has won the day O're-toil'd and Panting Calm and Breathless lay While so much Vigour in the Incounter's lost They want the pow'r a second Rape to Boast The Sun in Glory daignes again t' appear But we who had no Sense but that of fear Cou'd scarce believe and lessen our dispair Yet each from his imagin'd Grave gets out And with still doubting Eyes looks round about Confirm'd they all from Prayer to Praises hast And soon forgot the sense of dangers past And now from the recruited Top-mast spy'd An Island that discover'd Natures Pride To which was added all that Art could do To make it Tempting and Inviting too All wondering Gaz'd upon the happy place But none knew either where or what it was Some thought th' Inaccessible Land 't had been And others that Inchantment they had seen At last came forth a Man who long before Had made a Voyage to that fatal shoar Who with his Eyes declin'd as if dismaid At sight of what he dreaded Thus he said THis is the Coast of Africa Where all things sweetly move This is the Calm Atlantick Sea And that the Isle of Love To which all Mortals Tribute pay Old Young the Rich and Poor Kings do their awful Laws obey And Shepherds do Adore There 's none its forces can resist Or its Decrees Evince It Conquers where and whom it list The Cottager and Prince In entering here the King resigns The Robe and Crown he wore The Slave new Fetters gladly joyns To those he dragg'd before All thither come early or late Directed by desire Not Glory can divert their fate Nor quench the Amorous fire The Enterances on every side Thâ— Attracts and Beauties Guard The Graces with a wanton Pride By turn secure the Ward The God of Love has lent 'em Darts With which they gently Greet The heedless undefended Hearts That pass the
all-pow'rful hand Awful his looks but rude in his Address And his Authority roughly did express His violent Hands he on Aminta laid And out of mine snatch'd the dear trembling Maid So suddenly as hinder'd my defence And she cou'd only say in parting thence Forgive Lisander what by force I do Since nothing else can ravish me from you Make no resistance I obey Devoir Who values not thy Tears thy Force or Prayer Retain thy Faith and Love Aminta still Since she abandons thee against her Will. Immoveable I remain'd with this surprize Nor durst reply so much as with my Eyes I saw her go but was of Sense bereav'd And only knew from what I heard I liv'd Yes yes I heard her last Commands and thence By violent degrees retriev'd my Sense Ye Gods in this your Mercy was severe You might have spar'd the useless favour here But the first Thoughts my Reason did conceive Were to pursue the injurious Fugitive Raving that way I did my haste direct But once more met the Reverend Respect From whom I strove my self to dis-ingage And faign'd a calmness to disguise my Rage In vain was all the Cheat he soon perceiv'd Spight of my Smiles how much and why I griev'd Saw my despairs and what I meant to do And begg'd I wou'd the rash Design forego A thousand dangers he did represent T' win me from the desperate attempt I ever found his Counsel just and good And now resolv'd it shou'd not be withstood Thus he ore-came my Rage but did not free My Soul from Griefs more painful Tyranny Grief tho' more soft did not less cruel prove Madness is easier far then hopeless Love I parted thus but knew not what to do Nor where I went nor did I care to know With folded Arms with weeping Eyes declin'd I search the unknown shade I cou'd not find And mixt my constant Sighs with flying Wind. By slow unsteady steps the Paths I trace Which undesign'd conduct me to a place Fit for a Soul distrest obscur'd with shade Lonely and sit for Love and Sorrow made The Murmuring Boughs themselves together twist And 't wou'd allow to Grief her self some rest Inviron'd 'tis with lofty Mountains round From whence the Eccho's Sighs and Crys rebound Here in the midst and thickest of the Wood Cover'd with bending Shades a Castle stood Where Absence that dejected Maid remains Who nothing but her Sorrow entertains ABSENCE HER mourning languid Eyes are rarely shown Vnless to those afflicted like her own Her lone Apartment all obscure as Night Discover'd only by a glimmering Light Weeping she sate her Face with Grief dismaid Which all its natural sweetness has decaid Yet in despight of Grief there does appear The ruin'd Monuments of what was fair E'r cruel Love and Grief had took possession there These made her old without the aid of Years Worn out and faint with lingring hopes and fears She seldom answers ought but with her Tears No Train attends she only is obey'd By Melancholy that soft silent Maid A Maid that fits her Humour every way With whom she passes all the tedious day No other object can her Mind content She Feeds and Flatters all her languishment The noisy Streams that from high Mountains fall And water all the Neighbouring flowry Vale The Murmurs of the Rivulets that glide Against the bending Seges on the side Of mournful Birds the sad and tuneful Noats The Bleats of straggling Lambs and new yean'd Goats The distant Pipe of some lone Mountain Swain Who to his injur'd Passion fits his strain Is all the Harmony her Soul can entertain On a strict league of Friendship we agree For I was sad and as forlorn as she To all her Humours I conform my own Together Sigh together Weep and Moan Like her to Woods and Fountains I retreat And urge the pitying Eccho's to repeat My tale of Love and at each Period sound Aminta's name and bear it all around Whilst listening Voices do the charm reply And lost in mixing Air together dye There minutes like dull days creep slowly on And every day I drag an Age along The coming hours cou'd no more pleasures hast Than those so insupportably I 'd past I rav'd I wept I wisht but all in vain The distant Maid nor saw nor eas'd my pain With my sad tale each tender Bark I fill This soft complaints and that my Ravings tell This bears vain Curses on my cruel fate And Blessings on the Charming Virgin that The Willow by the lonely Spring that grows And o're the Stream bends his forsaken Boughs I call Lisander they like him I find Murmur and ruffl'd are with every Wind On the young springing Beech that 's straight and tall I Carve her name and that Aminta call But where I see an Oak that Climbs above The rest and grows the Monster of the Grove Whose pow'rful Arms when aiding Winds do blow Dash all the tender twining Shades below And even in Calms maliciously do spread That naught beneath can thrive imbrace or breed Whose mischiefs far exceed his fancy'd good Honour I call him Tyrant of the Wood. Thus rove from Thought to Thought without relief A change 't is true but 't is from Grief to Grief Which when above my silence they prevail With Love I 'm froward on my Fortune rail And to the Winds breathe my neglected Tale. To LOVE I. FOnd Love thy pretty Flatteries cease That feeble Hope you give Vnless ' twoud make my happiness In vain dear Boy in vain you strive It cannot keep my tortur'd Heart alive II. Tho' thou shou'dst give me all the Ioys Luxurious Monarch's do possess Without Aminta 't is but empty noise Dull and insipid happiness And you in vain invite me to a Feast Where my Aminta cannot be a Guest III. Ye glorious Trifles I renounce ye all Since she no part of all your splendour makes Let the Dull unconcern'd obey your call Let the gay Fop who his Pert Courtship takes For Love whilst he Profanes your Deity Be Charm'd and Pleas'd with all your necessary vanity IV. But give me leave whose Soul 's inspir'd With sacred but despairing Love To dye from all your noise retir'd And Buried lie within this silent Grove For whilst I Live my Soul 's a prey To insignificant desires Whilst thou fond God of Love and Play With all thy Darts with all thy useless Fires VVith all thy wanton flatteries cannot charm Nor yet the frozen-hearted Virgin warm V. Others by absence Cure their fire Me it inrages more with pain Each thought of my Aminta blows it higher And distance strengthens my desire I Faint with wishing since I wish in vain Either be gone fond Love or let me dye Hopeless desire admits no other remedy Here 't was the height of Cruelty I prov'd By absence from the sacred Maid I lov'd And here had dy'd but that Love found a way Some Letters from Aminta to convey Which all the tender marks of pity gave And hope enough to
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 of 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 Aâ—toms 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 formâ—d 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 a loft 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 In Diamond Characters this Motto stood Behold 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 slame 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 to 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 openâ—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 Vnskill'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 seel 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 sly he crys sly 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 sly sond 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 â—d 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 Ioys 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 Ioys 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 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-armâ—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 Ioys 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 Ioys 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 Iesamine 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 Ioy 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 slowry 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 Ioys 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 Ioy 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 Ioys 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 Ioys 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 Transporting softnesses beyond his hopes 'T is here fair Eyes all languishing impart The secrets of the fond inclining Heart Fine Hands and Arms for tender Pressings made In Love's dear business always are imploy'd The soft Inchantments of the Tongue That does all other Eloquence controul Is breath'd with broken Sighs among Into the Ravish'd Shepherds Soul VVhilst all is taken all is given That can compleat a Lovers Heav'n And Io Peans through the VVoods do ring From new fletch'd God in Songs all Ravishing Oh my dear Lysidas my faithful Friend Woud I cou'd here with all my Pleasures end 'T was Heaven 't was Extasie each minute brought New Raptures to my Senses Soul and Thought Each Look each Touch my Ravisht fancy charm'd Each Accent of her Voice my Blood Alarm'd I pant with every Glance faint with a Kiss Oh Judge my Transports then in higher Bliss A while all Dead between her Arms I lay Unable to possess the conquer'd Joys But by degrees my Soul its sense retriev'd Shame and Confusion let me know I liv'd I saw the trembling dis-appointed Maid With charming angry Eyes my fault up-braid While Love and Spight no kind Excuse affords My Rage and Softness was above dull Words And my Misfortune only was exprest By Sighing out my Soul into her Brest A thousand times I breath'd Aminta's name Aminta call'd but that increas'd my flame And as the Tide of Love flow'd in so fast My Low my Ebbing Vigor out did hast But 't was not long thus idly and undone I lay before vast Seas came rowling on Spring-tides of Joy that the rich neighboring shoar And down the fragrant Banks it proudly bore O're-flow'd and ravisht all great Natures store Swoln to Luxurious heights no bounds it knows But wantonly it Triumphs where it flows Some God inform Thee of my blest Estate But all their Powers divert thee from my Fate 'T was thus we liv'd the wonder of the Groves Fam'd for our Love our mutual constant Loves Young Amorous Hero's at her Feet did fall Despair'd and dy'd whilst I was Lord of All Her Empire o're my Soul each moment grew New Charms each minute did appear in view And each appointment Ravishing and New Fonder each hour my tender Heart became And that which us'd t' allay increas'd my Flame But on a day oh may no chearful Ray Of the Sun's Light bless that succeeding day May the black hours from the account be torn May no fair thing upon thy day be born May fate and Hell