drie His ruffled Cheeks of Scarlet die His Spaniel Cupid running by When by degrees he nearer drew My Face my Gate and Habit knew When falling prostrate on the ground As a Son in Duty bound Ten thousand times to speak I strove Ten thousand times struck dumb by Love. Transports of Wonder and Surprize Ravisht my Soul and burst out of my Eyes But he preventing my Petition With a prophetical suspicion Stroaking my Lethargick head In token of his Blessing said Thy Vow is heard and it is done The Father's Merits for the Son Make thee thô an unworthy Heir Fall to Praise instead of Prayer Go lay claim unto my Strains My Muse inspire thy fruitful Brains As a Reward for all thy pains However aim thou not too high Some at their lowest higher flie Than they that soar above the Skie Than they that soaring never fell Know your own sphere strive to excel In that to which your Genius leads I never sung Heroick deeds Nay should attempt it all in vain To write in Homer's lofty strain Yet in my own peculiar way Am every whit as fam'd as they But one Rule more before we go Let not your Fancy ebb and flow As your Brain on Spirits feeds 'T helps one Defect and twenty breeds Wine will nothing solid settle Hones by sharpning wear the Mettle Thô the bewitching Cups of Liquor Made elevated thoughts the quicker Yet the Grapestone stop'd my breath The Grape my life the Grape my death This said Anacreon smil'd and sneez'd A happy Omen he was pleas'd Then pull'd a Garland from his head The Garland was of Myrtle made The Garland smelt of Love and Wine Anacreontique sweet and fine With Violets Palms and Roses wrought And for a Song of Flora bought This he about my Temples twin'd And rapt in a strong blast of wind Left me and sordid Earth behind I for a Legacy did call He let his Book and Spaniel fall When out of sight the Coach was gone I put Anacreon's Garland on How glad I was to be undone The Philtre did effectual prove And nothing can these Charms remove But I am plung'd in the Abyss of endless Love. Bion Idyl 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. To Mrs. M Dr r. 'T IS the effect of Love not servile Fear The Muses fit their Songs to Cupid's Ear Proud at his feet to lay their Scepters down And pay Allegiance to their Soveraign's Crown 'T is only Love inspires Apollo's Lute Without that Harmony the Musick 's Mute The Harp of Eloquence Venus fairly won At Pythian Games a Present for her Son. Orpheus may tune up his Melodious Strings Yet none so sweetly as the Siren sings For that Apostate an eternal shame Confound the Rebel and his hateful Name Whose Actions all run counter to his Oath His debauch'd Judgment counter to them both Dull scribling Traytor who would fain infuse Treason into the heart of every Muse The wholsome streams of our Parnassus mud Wirh nasty Dregs of Wine and Lakes of Bloud With cold admittance thinks to baffle Love Blasphemously the God a Bastard prove Shall flagging flie and in those flights still fall Parnassus Doves for him produce a Gall. In vain he calls and swells and splits his Lungs Cupid has gagg'd their mouth or ty'd their tongues But he that with His Inspiration sings Scorns the mean thredbare stile of warlike Kings Iambick Rage great words or mighty things But in a soft a smooth a gentle strain Shall ease and without pangs his teeming Brain Shall as a Priest at Cupid's Altar wait And daily numerous Offerings consecrate His Reason never in Eclipse decay Nor he want fire to animate his Clay Etesian Gales of Wit Invention blow And Passion with Perfection joyntly flow Nature intent whilst this her Master sings And Immortality mount him on her Wings His Plaudits shall be eccho'd through the World Himself to the Elysian Mansions hurl'd By good Experience part my self can prove I never write so well as when I write of Love. A Greek EPIGRAM to Hemiera To Madam A R WHen Pallas arm'd met Venus in the Field Will you said she the Prize of Beauty yield Venus reply'd If naked with my Charms I can prevail what need have I of Arms The SNOW-BALL A Translation To Madam D B I Dera Snow-balls made and at me threw What can a persecuted Lover do What Labyrinths are these in which I rove Inextricable are the Schools of Love. Ev'n Snow O Irony to Fire she turns And every Vein with cold struck thorough burns Ah what so cold yet that she could inspire With heat enough to kindle my desire Thrown only by her hands it set my heart on fire What Antidote can such a Plague remove What place can save me from the Charms of Love If ev'n the Elements unconstant prove If they like all the World begin to cheat If Contrarieties can so friendly meet And cold so naturally bring forth heat If Snow it self a hidden Fire contains She only only she can ease my pains She captiv'd first my heart she must unloose my Chains But ah my flames cannot be quenched so By virtue of cold Ice or frozen Snow To Idera wearing a MASK A SONG To Madam M R 1. WHY should hoodwink'd Nature die And blinded Beauty fade Grace Innocence and Virtue lie Smother'd in Masquerade 2. Let Cupid's Monarchy display His Flags of White and Red Nor give the World just cause to say Sick of a Maidenhead 3. Why should the Mountebanks lay claim To th' Colours of your Skin 'T may raise a scandal on your Name Thô I should think it sin 4. Thô my Implicit Faith be strong Invisibles to believe Thô I should think I did you wrong To say you can deceive 5. Dispel those happy Clouds that kiss Your Rising Sun unseen That strive to ravish all the Bliss And interpose a Screen 6. Who would not at your Rays take fire T' Arabian Deserts flie And in a Spicy Nest expire And in a Fever die 7. Pity a bleeding wounded Hart Abandon'd by the Herd I 'd die but for my better part Life is to be preferr'd 8. Let Venus boast her Master-piece Let all the World admire Let me alone the Prize possess Troy Greece may be on fire Bion Idyl 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. To Mr. Dryden A Little Stripling once a shooting went And hot he was and on his Game intent He spy'd the little blinking Buzzard Love Sculking in a thick shady Myrtle Grove With joy and wonder struck first stones he flung And then his Bow sure of his Buzzard strung Close by the Tree a Fated Arrow drew But Love too quick still to another flew And all the Archer's Policy would not do Then to a good old Man he did himself apply Told him the News and shew'd Love perching up on high The Gaffer Plough-man smiling shook his head Pleas'd with the fancy to the Artist said Leave shooting Youngster and believe my words These are but feather'd
say the same Nature and Wisdom here do differ but in name Still thirsts your Soul as if your Heart would break Another Julep then more usual make Two thousand pound for a Pearl-Cordial take Still can you make a Face contract a Frown As if you could not get your Pect'ral Potion down Once more your former Cordial then repeat And add four thousand pound to make it sweet Still take you up a prejudice against this Receipt Then all the Wealth that both the Indies boast To this were thrown away and meerly lost Would never satisfie your damn'd excess Nor in the least contribute to true Happiness Omnis enim res Virtus fama decus divina humanaque pulchris Divitiis parent quas qui construxerit ille Clarus erit fortis justus c. Horat. Sat. lib. 2. s 3. An EPIGRAM To Mr. H. Northcote of Exeter-Colledge Oxon. The Happy Miser WHy should we to this World our Souls enslave That never yet true satisfaction gave That has no happiness but in the Grave She throws us Pleasures only to bereave To decay Subject Subject to deceive They us We them must once for ever leave Our Title 's good no longer than our Life Our Friends inherit little else but Strife In death the Miser's only happy found Who goes t' enjoy his Treasure under ground An EPIGRAM In praise of John Pig 's Diminutive Nose in imitation of the Emperour Trajan's To Mr. Frederick Colman WEll all the Dyal-makers are undone Let Pig but turn his Nosle to the Sun 'T will serve for both Steeple and Weather-cock And on his Teeth tell Travellers what 's a Clock Another out of Ammianus To Mr. T. Woolley Concerning John Pig 's Mountainous Nose and Quick-silver Feet WIth both his hands Pig cannot snight his Snout But he must go near half a mile about So long the Promontory of his Nose So short so slender are his Petty-toes Nor can he wind his horny Trunk with ease No nor to speak the truth hear himself sneeze So far that Marrow-bone's distant from his Ears He has not said God bless me for this fifty years I' th' strength of such a Staff Pig as they talk May well from London to New-Castle take a walk To a young Lady reading the seventh Verse of the first Chapter of Proverbs The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge c. To Idera WHilst the Contents of this one Verse So passionately you rehearse In it we comprehended find The perfect Copy of your Mind You teach us and inform us too What we should and what you do This is your Noon our early Dawn In miniature your Picture drawn Compendious History of your Life In Vertue your victorious strife Like wrestling Jacob whilst you halt You make us blush at our Revolt Here in this Looking-glass we see The Beauties of your Soul what we Like you and for your sake desire to be We came and heard and were undone With earthly flames the Fire begun When heavenly too conspir'd to joyn United Forces humane and divine High Winds more dangerous than they In vain our Engines then we play When the chief Castle is burnt down 'T is more than time that we surrender up the Town To his Valentine Hemiera Madam A. R. WEll Fortune prostrate at thy feet I 'll do my Penance in a Sheet For want of sight I call'd thee blind All thy Revenge was to be kind Amongst the Lots upon thy Throne Thou Omnipresent sat'st alone I laid my trembling hand on all And as I took them let them fall But confident in thee my Guide That which did shrinking from me slide I gently prest and it comply'd With this encouragement I draw But when the happy Name I saw Ye Gods with what amazement struck I kiss'd my Valentine and blest my Luck A. first was offer'd to my sight With a sweet relish to invite My over-eager Appetite My Soul resolv'd on life or death Of an auspicious ALPHA full took breath Then to suck Honey out of Love To the ripe Rose did next remove Her she rob'd of all her Red And on her fragrant sweetness fed My ravisht Soul her station took Here and durst no further look R was the Centre of my Heart R my only vital part R pleas'd and satisfy'd my tast As Roses beautiful as Lillies chast Pythagoras may his y admire 'T is R that sets my Heart on fire R never yet came out of time R is my Reason and my Rhime R so sweetly runs along R the burden of my Song But since R at a distance only darts a Smile Which at a distance must recoil My Vow I first will send before I bring In person a Religious Offering Here this I absent lay before her Shrine Kisses by proxy to communicate my design Remember Easter and Good Morrow Valentine To Idera Who would not be seen to steal a Look from Duserastes by turning her back Malo me Galatea petit lasciva puella Et fugit ad salices se cupit ante videri Vir. Bucol Ecl. 3. 1. WHy Cupid thus at hide and seek Why all those Blushes on your Cheek Are you asham'd that priviledge to give That man should see your face and live Or would you at a distance keep And never kiss Endymion but asleep 2. Are you afraid that should your Sun shine bright Whilst Duserastes only prays for Light My dazled Eyes with too much glory blind Earth and my self should hardly find Or that I should to Phaeton's Wish aspire To set my little World on fire 3. Why so cruel why so coy Never never to enjoy Have we profan'd Love's Deity all this while Ah Madam now to steal a Smile This is with time to kep Virginity And take the measure of Eternity To Hemiera Utraque formosa est operosae cultibus ambae Artibus in dubio est haec sit an illa prior Pulerior hâ illa est haec est quoque pulcrior illâ Et magis haec nobis magis illa placet Quid geminas Erycina meos sine fine dolores Nonne erat in curas una puella satis Ov. Amor. lib. 2. eleg 10. 1. TEll me individual Pair Beyond a Mediocrity of Fair Whose Beauties Heaven can scarce improve Whom I was born to love 2. How shall I divide my Heart Tell me ye that have there a double part Division multiplies my pains Distraction lays more weight upon my Chains 3. When stately Idera I see I think of Jove's high love for Semele Love that in Thunder and in Lightning came Oh! my Soul burns to die by such a flame 4. Hemiera by Nature kind Has Idera's face wrought in her mind Her sweet temper melts my Soul Which Idera ' s imperious Eyes controul 5. Idera with a haughty Air Affects to be thought something more than fair Hemiera is as good as Idera ' s great High courtly Idera made for me and State. 6. Hemiera's melancholy Face Has less Charms but more of Grace
Snow Snow Water reassumes My Flames do all your Cold withdraw Till we resolve on better Law That you shall never freeze to thaw For thus well arm'd you can defie A thousand Deaths at once let flie Laugh to see Duserastes die With your Temptations millions strong To do me right you do me wrong Nay ev'n with Chymical Experiments entice Your very Name can make a Burning-glass of Ice A Propitiatory Sacrifice To the Ghost of J M by way of Pastoral in a Dialogue between Thyrsis and Corydon To his dear Brother Mr. Ash Wyndham THYRSIS GOod morrow Corydon but why so strange What makes your jolly Countenance thus change What have you lost a Kid or pine and mourn For Galatea's slights or Amarylli's scorn Did melancholy Dreams disturb your rest Ease then on me the burthen of your breast A hearty Friend will not your Grief despise And Thyrsis will be proud to sympathize CORYDON Ah Thyrsis see after unpleasant food The very Cows will chew no bitter Cud Can my repeated Sorrows do thee good And yet for thee my Grief will I controul For thee I 'll offer Violence to my Soul Know then nor need I give that Caution weep Thy Eyes are neither drie nor Heart asleep Know then the rise of it is Daphny's death And since the Fates have stopt my Daphny's breath I have my Pipes my Flocks my Loves forswore And well I might since he is now no more THYRSIS When the Day 's Lamp's shadow'd before the Night's And spangled Heaven sets out her glittering Lights Sweet Philomel her little Throat does tune And charm with warbling Notes the listning Moon When the sharp watchful Thorn has gor'd her breast And bleeding Philomel can take no rest So may your Muse unfledg'd yet try her Wing And Grief and Love joyntly together sing So may we well pull up the Sluces of our Eyes For Death has stopt the Springs of Paradise Which in profuse Meanders curling ran Baptiz'd us Poets and gave life to Man. For Death has seiz'd our Mint of learned Ore And sweep'd away all our Poetick store So when an ancient Oak falls on the ground The Woods all tremble and the Rocks resound Nor falls alone but hovering in the Air A thousand little Fates the Branches bear Arcadians mourn Daphnis a publick loss And well may all our Tears and Grief engross Sound then his Obsequies Daphnis deceast Come sing away the burthen of thy Breast For he deserves thy Song and well deserves the best Or both alternately our parts will sing You shall the Laurel I the Myrtle bring CORYDON Ord'nary Tears sufficient are to fall Attendants of a common Funeral Daphnis deserves for each a drop of Blood And for each single drop a scarlet Flood As Nightingales sing sweeter than the Thrush The Cedar's better than the Bramble-bush Sweet Marjoram and Musk than stinking Weeds Daphnis our Merit and our Praise exceeds The Elm for Daphnis groans will let the Vine No more in his embraces fondly twine Bees leave their Flowers which droop their sickly head Have lost their sweet repast on which they fed Since he whose breath inspir'd it all is dead Our Flocks all keep a Fast for Daphnis sake Our Isle the sweet-tongu'd Chanters too forsake None but the inauspicious Ravens croke The Nymphs and Demy-Gods their Pipes have broke And bid adieu to all their Fairy Kings The Scriech Owl howts and the black Swallow sings Nature her self puts on her Mourning-Weed One Wound makes the whole Universe to bleed THYRSIS As Day without the prospect of the Sun As Night without the conduct of the Moon Such Daphnis is the World now thou art gone For Daphnis too too well belov'd of Heaven Only to teach us Self-denial given Is dead alas O Paradox is dead Voracious Grave and consecrated Head What could not Daphnis charm ambitious Death From gathering all the Reliques of his breath Could He not ev'n the Powers of Hell defy And by soft Airs bring them to Harmony Been something more than Mortal No Hard Fate Spares not the Rich the Good the Wise the Great The proudest Dust must hid in silence lie The proudest Dust must in oblivion die CORYDON Thô Fortune acted oft the Stepdame's part Yet would not Daphnis curse her in his heart Thô Gall infus'd into his bitter Cup Taught by Philosophy he drank it up Ah too too soon a shining Cherub made Of that blest place thou hadst so long survey'd My Muse must tell the Groves Great Daphnis dead Whilst pining Eccho answers what is said Eccho for him must die a second death Us'd to retort his words and suck his fragrant breath THYRSIS Trees full of Tears hide their heads bowing down All Rivals once which should be made his Crown All proudly conscious of their welcome Shade Where Judgment Wit and Innocence were laid Nurse of his Thought and Midwife of his Brain That fruitful teeming Womb that knew no pain But brought the well digested Product forth Pregnant with joy and boasting such a Birth Nor must we here his forward Youth forget To pay whose Portion Nature ran in debt So soon the Bard and so divine a share He well deserv'd who was her only Heir Her Darling-Son and her peculiar Care. He could teach Reverend Sages how to write And prescribe Rules ev'n to the God of Wit. Like Tages born a Poet from the Womb And sung himself from 's Cradle to his Tomb. Inspir'd with Melody with his first breath Improving Art and Learning till his death Still as his annual Circles rowl'd about They unknown Worlds of Sciences found out Here only Mother Nature for his sake Did her own Laws out of Indulgence break From Youth and Age one spiritual Compound make But when his Age and Fruit together ripe Of which blind Homer only was the Type Tiresias like he mounted up on high And scorn'd the filth of dull Mortality Convers'd with Gods and grac'd their Royal Line All Ecstasie all Rapture all Divine CORYDON So the Philosopher would needs be blind T' improve the nobler Eye-sight of his Mind Not to mean earthly Opticks be confin'd THYRSIS No wonder if th' ambitious Laurel's dead Degraded to a Mercenary Head. If Birds forget their Notes and sit alone With melancholy Progne in the Deserts moan Since this our Bird of Paradise is flown Daphnis the great Reformer of our Isle Daphnis the Patron of the Roman Stile Who first to sence converted Doggrel Rhimes The Muses Bells took off and stopt their Chimes On surer Wings with an immortal flight Taught us how to believe and how to write And could we but have reach'd his wondrous height We'd chang'd the constitution of our State. Where Reason must enlightned Souls confute To common Earth 't is still forbidden Fruit For all in Torrents his Inventions flow And drown the little Vales that lie below And yet so sweet Malice would silenc'd die So perfect they could Prejudice defie Daphnis whose Modesty might justly boast His Errours least his Excellencies most
LICENSED Rob. Midgley Octob. 25. 1688. POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS WRITTEN Upon several Occasions AND To several Persons By a late Scholar of Eaton Et nos ergo manum ferulae subduximus nunc Expectes eadem à summo minimoque Poeta Scripsimus stulta est clementia cum tot ubique Vatibus occurras periturae parcere chartae Juv. Non illud ipsum quod optimum est desperandum in praestantibus rebus magna sunt ea quae sunt optimis proxima prima enim sequentem honestum est in secundis tertiisque consistere Tull. LONDON Printed for Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1689. TO The Right Honourable THE Countess of CLARENDON THESE Rude and Vnpolish'd Poems Are Humbly Presented DEDICATED and DEVOTED By the Author Her Ladyship 's Most Dutiful and Obedient Servant TO THE Worthy M r RODERICK Upper-Master OF EATON-SCHOOL SIR THese Trifles at Your Feet I 'd humbly lay And gladly these for my vast Debts repay I 'd beg the great Protection of Your Name To have that Altar sanctifie my Flame My little All lent Stock I would resign With reason proud to serve at such a Shrine But that they 're Trifles all and all those Trifles mine Admit them moderate the Seed that 's sown At first was Yours much more the Crop's Your own You gave the Talent that improv'd I bring By You my Chirping Muse was taught to sing You warm'd my Soul with new Promethean Fire Your Wings my flagging Thoughts learnt to aspire You all the Wheels of my slow Fancy move My doubtful Wit at Your true Touch-stone prove My Pegasus was in Your Pasture bred Not on coarse Birch but Buds of Ivy fed Hail the profess'd Palaemon of our Isle Aetonian Helicon for every stile Now give me leave these my First-fruits to bring Pledge of the Summer and the Pride of Spring So Primroses are upon Altars laid And Pepper-corns for Rent by Beggars paid Your Dutiful Scholar c. THE TABLE A Translation out of Synesius To Mr. Henry Colman of Queens-Colledge in Cambridge Pag. 1 Anacreontiques Ode I. Love. To Mrs. S. Hill 4 Ode II. The Letter-Carrier To Madam Bebington 7 Ode III. Gold. To Madam Richardson 11 Ode IV. Grey Hairs To Mr. Anth. Whistler 14 Ode V. Drink To Mr. Will. Harding 15 Anacreon 's Blessing To Mr. O n 17 A Greek Epigram to Hemiera To Madam A R 23 The Snow-Ball A Translation To Madam D. Boscowen ibid. To Idera wearing a Mask A Song To Madam M R 24 Bion Idyl 2. To Mr. Dryden 27 A Paraphrase on the twenty third Idyl of Theocritus to Idera 28 Chorus 1. of Seneca's Agamemnon To my Lord Townshend 35 Parting with his dear Brother Mr. Ash Wyndham 39 To Mr. G. L. an Ode 42 The Spring To Mr. Ben. Wrightson 49 Learning To Mr. Francis Fuller of St. John's in Cambridge 51 To Mr. R. Smith of King's Colledge in Cambridge 52 To Idera in Mourning going into Mourning himself soon after 54 A Paradox in praise of Ambition To his dear Friend Mr. Edw. Taylour of Merton Colledge in Oxford 56 To Idera Age in a Looking-glass 64 Solitude To his dear Brother Mr. Ash Wyndham 65 To a young Lady that constantly slept at Church 76 To Idera putting a Copy of Verses in at her Window at midnight 78 To Idera Speechless 80 Incurable To Idera 82 To the Ingenious Mr. Barker Saul's Witch of Endor 84 To Mrs. B. Wright on her Incomparable Poetry 91 A Fragment of Catullus Advice to Hemiera To Madam A R 94 The Paradox to Idera 95 To Idera dreaming she was angry 96 Ovid's Amorum Lib. 3. Eleg. 9. on the death of Tibullus To Mr. William Lloyd 98 To Idera having by some mischance so hurt her self as to halt 104 To Mr. O n. A Disswasive from that effeminate Passion of Love 108 To Idera writing her Name in Snow which melting to water froze and soon after thaw'd 109 A Propitiatory Sacrifice to the Ghost of J M by way of Pastoral in a Dialogue between Thyrsis and Corydon To his dear Brother Mr. Ash Wyndham 110 Oldham's Ghost A Dream To Mr. Ro. Townshend 117 On the Death of the late Duke of Ormond To Mr. Will. Butler 121 To Mr. R. Nichols On the Little Man that was shew'd for a Sight all over England 124 Solomon 's Song cap. 1. ver 2. To Mrs. Mary Nichols 125 To Idera The Apology for Silence 127 The Dumb Discovery To Idera 129 In praise of Wine mixt with Water To Mr. Francis Nichols 130 Parting with Mr. Tho. Bebington 131 A Greek Epigram To Idera 134 On John Pig who was very famous for his great Nose To Mr. R. Nichols 136 Part of the fourteenth Satyr of Juvenal against Covetousness To Mr. William Percival ibid. An Epigram To Mr. Hen. Northcote of Exon-Colledge Oxon. The Happy Miser 152 An Epigram in praise of John Pig 's Diminutive Nose To Mr. Frederick Colman 153 Concerning John Pig 's Mountainous Nose and Quick-silver Feet To Mr. T. Wooley ibid. To a young Lady reading the seventh Verse of the first Chapter of Proverbs To Idera 154 To his Valentine Hemiera Madam A. R. 155 To Idera who would not be seen to steal a Look from Duserastes by turning her back 157 To Hemiera 158 To P. P. being to run a Race after Dinner 161 Mediocrity To Mr. Humph. Lind ibid. Diogenes in his Kingdom To Mr. Denham 162 Noll 's Epitaph To Mr. Andrew Snapes ibid. A Short Life and a Sweet To Mr. Edward Taylor 163 To Mr. Henry Palmer going to Sea ibid. To Mr. Butler A Greek Epigram 164 To Mr. Will. Percival That Poetry is Witchcraft ibid. Antipater 's Epitaph on Homer To Mr. John Penneck 165 To Mr. N. Smith On a Covetous old Miser a Religious Gripe ibid. To Mr. King against the Astrologers 166 To Mr. Hen. Fane ibid. An Epigram out of Plato To Madam Amara 168 ERRATA PAge 4. line 10. for now read when p. 11. l. 12. for Passengers r. Passenger p. 18. l. 27. for they r. would p. 22. l. 3. for and splits r. exhausts p. 27. l. 13. for Artist r. Bowman p. 40. l. 2. for Titles r. name and number p. 45. l. 14. for bare r. bear p. 53. l. 20. for can mount r. pretend p. 54. l. 9. for his r. her p. 81. l. 1. for her r. you p. 88. l. 10. for the r. her p. 124. l. 2. for drop r. pour p. 140. l. 1. for he r. she p. 156. l. 26. for R. r. she POEMS A Translation out of Synesius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. WIT alas what idle Charms Herculean Strength or Milo's Arms Beauty what ground for Pride is there Or Gold as trifling as the Fair What Halcyons build within a Crown What solid Pleasure 's in Renown If in an equal Ballance laid And by a hand impartial weigh'd With serious and Divine affairs With holy and Religious cares Compar'd with the Almighty's Love Lighter
than Vanity they 'll prove One easily outstrips in course The best that ever back'd a Horse Can ride Bucephalus full speed Or one of Neptune's generous Breed Can make his fiery Courser fly Like winged Lightning through the Sky Another has prodigious store Mountains and Seas of Golden Ore The Miser's heart could wish no more Whom Midas envying would prevent And of his second wish repent One is a Cretan at his Bow Can shoot a very Hair in two Excels the Master of this Art Makes Teucer lay it deep to heart And what was formerly his Pride His Bow as useless throw aside Another has a comely Face And when there 's Beauty in the case What Spell can lay this Spirit what Charms Of humane power resist these Arms H 'as such a Beauty so divine Nireus his Title would resign And emulous Narcissus pine Another prides in Noble Bloud Another in a numerous Brood Of lovely Girls and hopeful Boys Their Countries Props and Parents Joys Of Danaus and Aegyptus Stock A great and a well-order'd Flock This is my Wish let them have theirs Which are the least of all my cares Let me live private and obscure From Noise and Pride and Scorn secure From the drie Complements of Court Glistning Glo-worms Fortunes sport From mean Ambition lying Fame Base Actions and a tainted Name No fine-spun Cobwebs of the Great No gay Contrivances of State No gilded Greatness empty shows Mis-guiding Meteors make me lose That happy Path that I would chose Let me with Aglaus be found Pleas'd in my little spot of ground Or blest with the poor Gardner's fate Envied by Alexander's state Abdolonymus only known To some poor Pot-herbs of his own Gardner degraded to a Throne What if the World should never hear Of such a one as Go l there On Earth let me a Cypher be So I make one my God with thee Here let me as a stranger live At best a nameless Expletive So to my self I am but known And unto thee my God alone Anacreontiques ODE I. Love. AS lately on my sleepy Bed I laid my sick and drowsie head And Night it self with me lay dead The Heavens nodded Nature snor'd When Winking Morpheus gave the word Silence and at the Court of Night 'T was time to hang out every Light Now wearied Limbs took their repose When troubled Minds began to dose When twinkling Stars could hardly keep Themselves from dropping fast asleep Some dimm'd and shot but others fell Close was the silence deep as Hell. Half the Creation joyntly slept Clouds Sympathetick Showers wept The Moon like all the rest was gone To Bed to her Endymion Cupid knock'd at Anacreon's Gate What business have you here so late Said I and ask'd the stranger's name His Message and from whence he came Poor little Beggar-boy said he That is benighted pity me For Heaven's sake Sir let me in For I am almost wet to th' skin I 've been a shooting all this day 'T is dark and I have lost my way The Stars themselves the very Moon Share my Misfortune I 'm undone Let me but in a Stable lie 'T will be a deed of Charity I heard the flattering Rascal speak And could not but for pity's sake In such a case open the Gate Which straight my Youngster enter'd at With Bag and Quiver at his back And having drunk a Glass of Sack To warm within my little Squire I ask'd him to come near the Fire And brought him out a sumptuous hoard Of Victuals on a plenteous Board The best my House could then afford And play'd the Courtier to excuse The barren deserts of my Muse So poor a Meal as he must make And wish'd it better for his sake I rub'd his little hands in mine And wrung his hair so soft so fine Like his own Mother's Locks And now He look'd so charmingly I vow I scarcely could forbear to hug The little fiery wanton Pug. And thus no little time was spent In Ceremony and Complement Now when he found himself grow warm Has the Rain done my Bow no harm Said he and made no more to do But took his pretty little Bow And strung it up and pierc'd my heart So does the Gad-bee's tickling smart Fret and delight th' infected part Up and away then Whip and Spur Crying God b'ye your Servant Sir I wish you well my Host adieu I 'm very much oblig'd to you I see my Bow is well enough But Friend your Heart 's not Arrow-proof ODE II. The Letter-Carrier TEll me amiable Dove Thou great Embassadour of Love A Spokes man fit for amorous Jove Tell me tell me why such hast Whither is 't you flie so fast Where didst thou thy breath perfume From what Spicy Country come From whence with thy Mercurial Wing Dost thou these Heavenly Odours bring Swimming through th' ambitious Air Proud to kiss thy Wings so fair Leaving a scent of sweetness there Tell me who it is will be So honour'd with thy companie The Dove replied What would I give Poor Dove for a Preservative From Coxcombs so inquisitive Pray what are my concerns to you But since 't is your desire to know And Medlers will not be said no Save me ye Gods for what offence Must I be kill'd by Impertinence I am and then she curb'd her Head Her Tail Fan-like by Feathers spread And walk'd in state and clapp'd her Wings And did a hundred pretty things To shew her pride Anacreon's Dove And manage the affairs of Love With his Bathyllus that dear Boy Oh happy state that I enjoy Lovely Bathyllus he that can By one sweet look ev'n conquer Man Can by the Magick of his Eyes Over all things tyrannize Victorious Beauty of all Greece The whole Creation's Master-piece The Pride of Nature and the Fire That raises Venus's Desire Whom thô she envy she must still admire Could make a Stoick change his mind Fixt as the Sun turn like the Wind And in Love's School more Pleasures find Than in his former Hermite's Cell Principles dark and deep as Hell. To Venus once I did belong She sold me for a trifling Song O happy I that us'd to run From place to place from Sun to Sun Managing the Intrigues of Love With Mars and half the Gods above With her Seraglio of Gallants That by turns supply'd her wants Am Servant to Anacreon Who lov'd by all yet loves but one And as you see me now I bear His Letters to his lovely Fair This the perfume that scents the Air. He promises to set me free Excuse me for such libertie No other freedom would I crave Than name and nature of a Slave Nor other slavery can I dread Than being as he tells me freed For to what purpose should I flie And ramble in the spacious Skie By Famine Net or Arrow die Sit starving on a Mountains top Or coo on barren Trees and hop In fear of death from bough to bough I know not where I know not how Either die for want of Meat Else Haws
Monsters Beasts of Birds Were you at man's estate he 'd act your part Love's a damn'd Marks-man at a season'd heart Thô he flies now then would he follow you And as a greedy Vultur close pursue You are too young he 's for a noble Prey Yet lest he take a liking to you get you hence away A PARAPHRASE On the twenty third Idyl of Theocritus From the beginning to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. To Idera I. AN amorous little Swain Was set to keep His Father's goodly Flock of Sheep In the Arcadian Plain By chance a beauteous She came by Whom when his watchful Eyes did spy His Guardian Eyes That there stood Centinel with wonder and surpize Marking the beauty of her Angel's face Set off with a sweet Carriage and a heavenly Grace Blest with a pleasant Mein and sprightly Air And all the dear Enchantments of the Fair Well satisfy'd they let her pass Who thus admitted did impart The secret to his wounded Heart Charm'd with the lovely Maid that Fate had thither brought Whose Beauty did surpass desire or thought In making whom Nature for once did thus presume To go beyond her Rule and place On a sweet Virgin 's Body a Cherub's Face Or rather to adorn With more than heavenly Beauty a Terrestrial form II. But ah her Mind Not like to her Seraphick Face proud scornful and unkind Despising those whom Passion Whom resistless Passion mov'd To humble Adoration Those who disdain'd her most she above all things lov'd She knew not nor desir'd to know The fatal power of Cupid's Bow How oft and how infallibly he throws An amorous golden Dart To pierce the refractory Heart That dare his injur'd Deity expose Cruel in deed and word Ne're the least hopes of comfort would discover To a despairing burning dying Lover But in her Veins Fury for Passion boils No rosie Lips no pleasant Smiles No blushing Cheeks no languishing Eyes That might seem to sympathize But as a chased Boar that fills With roaring all the neighbouring Hills With Vengeance casts his Eyes around And foaming tears the groaning ground Till distant Vales the Eccho trembling take The Forest all and every Creature shake So she glances her Eyes upon the Swain With desperate Disdain Adding more fewel to his never dying Pain III. With scorn her Countenance turn'd pale And all her other Charms began to fail Disdain had banish'd every Grace Those blazing Comets of her Face Pride and Contempt took place Yet the Shepherd finds no Arms For these fainting sickly Charms Her divine Sweetness he must still admire Struck blind from Heaven with Cupid's fire The flashes of an impotent desire Alas how vain does speechless Reason prove When enter'd in that Tyrant's Schools We learn his Epidemick Rules And fetter'd in the Chains of Love Turn Fashionable Fools We cannot call our selves our own But our affections pay obeysance to another's Crown IV. No longer able to contain Thô all in vain Thô all his words were Offerings to the Wind Deaf as she was unkind Tears like the Torrent of a swelling Floud Tears from the Heart exhal'd and drops of Bloud Their sinking banks did overflow And drown the famish'd Vales below Trembling with dread and awful fear At last he ventur'd to draw near The Object of his Love the Cause of his Despair First he presumes to kiss The sacred ground whereon he with Devotion trod As in the presence of an angry God And then he strove to speak But conscious Jealousie oft gave a check And made his half-out-lisping words draw back Stam'ring at last he forc'd out such a Speech as this V. Inexorable cruel stony Saint Blind to my Tears and deaf to my Complaint Sure of some Lioness or Tyger born Unworthy of my Love as I unworthy of your Scorn A grateful Present to your Shrine I bring The Welcome and the only welcome thing That to my comfort must remain To ease me of my Pain To ease me of my Love and you of your Disdain And Lo proud haughty Nymph and Lo How willingly I go How willingly I go and take delight In your Commands thô banish'd from your sight I go where every Love-sick mind An universal Remedy may find The place is call'd Oblivion's Land And Lethe's lazy Lake i' th' midst does stand Which were it possible that I could dry In flames unquenchable I still should fry Nor could I yet forget thy Name So oft have I repeated o're the same But find alas no Water that can quench my Flame VI. Adieu fair Virgin and eternally adieu Yet thou proud Anaxarete learn what doom Undoubtedly shall on thy Beauty come And from my dying mouth believe it true The pleasant Day is quickly done Flowers in the Morning fresh cut down by Noon The blushing Roses fade and wither soon White Snow that melts before the scorching Sun So youthful Beauty's full of Charms all in a moment gone The time will come when you your self will prove How great a Deity is Love Beauty or Wit will ev'n that scornful Soul alarm A wanton Ovid or a fair Adonis Charm You 'll offer Hecatombs of Prayers Bedew your Sacrifice with flouds of tears Day and night sigh would but you dare not woo For all 's in vain that you can do No greater pity will you find than I from you Then will your tortur'd Conscience bring me into mind Not to encourage you but serve you in your kind My restless Ghost shall come Not with soft Sighs but Io's loud at your deserved doom VII And yet grant me but this ev'n this at least I'll ask no more but grant me this Request Pull out the fatal Dagger from my Breast And come and sigh and mourn a while I ask not what I long'd for once a Smile But pull the Dagger from the Wound And close and close embrace me round Thy Veil over my lifeless Body spread Give me one kiss one kiss when I am dead I ask no more coy Daphne grant but this A meeting parting Kiss Seal my cold Lips with thine When thou hast suckt up all my dying breath And mournful Cypress round my Temples twine When to th' Elysian Mansions I am fled Nor needst thou fear thus summon'd after death My ravisht Sould should come again No all thy Courtship is in vain All cannot draw me from the Joys of the Elysian Plain VIII Then build me up a stately Tomb For a close Retiring Room In it place a Downy Bed Where Love may lay his sworn Confederate's head And leave me after thou hast three times said My Duserastes He Soul of my Soul is dead Ah cruel Death that couldst us two divide Had Jove but pleas'd that I for thee had di'd Write this upon my Monument to prove Your own Unworthy Scorn my Constant Love Here lies a Lover Kill'd by deep Despair Stay Reader stay And only be so kind to say Alas he lov'd alas he lov'd a Cruel Fair. Chorus 1. Of Seneca's Agamemnon To my Lord Townshend I.
there 's an end of one And why should I the foolish hazard run Of being vertuous when I may as well In flouds of Pleasures swim the way to Hell Death drags us from the Altar to the Grave Whilst careless Heaven looks on and will not save Death makes no Sanctuary of any place To whom when where she comes 't is all a case The Laws of Fate without exceptions made Irrevocable needs must be obey'd Is Pluto blind what then the blind can hear And cannot Verses charm the Tyrant's Ear If so would our Tibullus thus have died Tibullus Beauty's Prince the Poet's Pride See now of that Great Man the small Remains A little narrow Urn in Dust contains How durst the flames dear Friend accost that breast With such an hallow'd Vestal Fire possest What dare not they that Vengeance can provoke And down with Gods and Temples at a stroke The Queen of Love with pity and with dread At such Presumption turn'd away her head Nay some affirm the Deity present there Could scarce from melting drops of Tears forbear Yet thanks to Heaven that thou diedst at home Corcyra could not be so sweet as Rome Thy Mother here clos'd thy departing Ey 's And set that Sun that never more would rise In the cold hands of unrelenting death Gather'd the fragrant Reliques of thy breath And paid her last Devotion to thy Urn With her thy Sister did in Consort mourn For thee she did her lovely Tresses tear For thee in flouds of tears she wash'd her scatter'd hair And when too forward on thy way to Bliss Delia and Nemesis secur'd a Kiss A Kiss said I millions they laid in store Since they were never like to see thee more Some of thy parting breath they did receive And for each Sob a thousand Kisses give Kisses on which they might for ever live The Rivals both with emulous passion stay Until the Flames had ravisht thee away Thus Delia parting for she left him first The Wounds of Bosom-friends are always worst 'T was I that season'd first thy untaught heart And did the secret Rites of Love impart Hadst thou been true Albius thou hadst not died But thank thy own inconstancy and pride One and the same Divorce did me and life divide Vengeance has found thee out in my defence And took the part of injur'd Innocence Ah! that thou hadst but thy own interest known And lov'd thy Delia and lov'd her alone But Nemesis with Tears resolv'd to prove She had best right and title to his Love Replies To me Grief only does belong And if you shed a Tear you do me wrong Long since your Tyranny you did resign Tibullus since was mine and only mine He grasp'd me in his Arms and held me fast Nor would he let me go whilst breath would last When Death's Convulsions Nature's Fabrick tore His Organs loos'd and he could speak no more In broken Accents this I heard him breath My Soul into thy arms my Nemesis I bequeath If there be ought of us survives the Flames Ought of us but our shadows and our names T' Elysium shall Tibullus be convey'd And there his Soul become the brightest Shade There shalt thou Calvus and Catullus find About his Temples sacred Ivy twin'd There in those Regions of Eternal Day If Fame belie him as I wish it may Shalt thou Tibullus with thy Gallus meet And your strange shades your former loves repeat Gallus inspir'd with an ambitious Flame Gallus too prodigal of Life and Fame But whilst his Shade wanders amongst the Just Thou Urn be careful of thy precious Trust Nor let his sacred Ashes touch the common Dust Lie light thou Earth indulgent to his rest Whilst his great Soul converses with the Blest To Idera Having by some Mischance so hurt her self as to halt 1. CEres in quest of Proserpine Seeing th' reflexion of her Face Not as 't was formerly divine Grief dispossessing every Grace 2. She unconcern'd at such a sight Yet made her Glass the Stygian Lake To mourning turn her crystal white And of her Grief the Streams partake 3. Blush not sweet Nymph thô envious Fate Proud on your Feet to set a mark Let them that dare provoke your hate Not at your Altar light a spark 4. Vulcan was lame althô a God Nor must the Truth be always said Let them not kiss the Ground you trod Scrupulous Fools but strike them dead 5. Timorous Fate like Diomede Struck Venus on the lower parts They that dare make the Wound to bleed Set hungry Vultures at their hearts 6. Set them a Mark for your fair Eye And kill them kill them with Despair They need not with worse Torments die Than to see Heaven but not come there 7. When Nature with Ambition fir'd Some strange and wondrous thing design'd And to out-do her self aspir'd She took you out of Womankind 8. All their Perfections knit in one Thy Soul presented from above Jealous to see her self out-done With her own Works she fell in love 9. Cupid could scarce his Mother know Venus and Idera were so like But Fate with a deciding Blow The Mark on Idera's side did strike 10. Yet thanks to Fate whose common Brand Has set us both on even ground Yet thanks to Fate whose heavy hand Could forbear a mortal Wound 11. Achilles by an Arrow fell Struck through his heel whilst you still live With Scars that can your Valour tell And yet a thousand Deaths can give 12. A thousand cas'd within my Breast Glance Idera a dissolving Smile If you would have them dispossest Or with the Quiver of my Heart recoil To Mr. Omnibon A Disswasive from that Effeminate Passion of Love. OFF Thyrsis with this melancholick Fit Nor like a Purgatory Fresh-man sit In love my Thyrsis and pretend'st to Wit What reconcil'd and canst thou not forbear What pardon those that did to pieces tear Thy Brother Orpheus what not Love forswear Love that damn'd Leprosie infectious Pest All Africa's Monsters kennell'd in his breast Tell me not 't is a sin to break your Vows Of Lovers perjury Jove himself allows No he 's an Ass that Womankind adores Let Bacchus kick the Bastard out of doors Come then dip the blind Rogue in a full Bowl And let Wine 's Spirits elevate your Soul. For Love will vanish at his Brother's sight So Phoebus dims the Lamps that rule the Night So Antidotes rank Poyson can expel And so one Witch undoes another's Spell So Musick helpeth when Tarantula's sting And Orpheus can as well as Sirens sing To Idera Writing her Name in Snow which melting to Water froze and soon after thaw'd YOur Name on fallen Snow I seal'd The melting drops to Ice congeal'd In Crystal Prints the Letters shine And their material white refine Here daily hourly as I pass By this heavenly Looking-glass I see the picture of my Face And the reflecting Name embrace But as by Images of Wax The Witch a real Body racks So as my Heart within consumes Ice
resign their place The Constellations all together croud And hide themselves behind a bashful Cloud The Signs contracted shrink to make him room Concern'd where Ormond will vouchsafe to come Each for the honour of his presence vy Yet blush Ormond should have no Rival in the Sky Hah what strange Light is this that strikes my Eyes And from those Mists of Darkness seems to rise What blazing Comet 's that I see Newly install'd chief in the Galaxy Perseus and Cassiopeia round him twine To blind his Lustre both their Forces joyn But he does all the heavenly Host out-shine 'T is Ormond by that Spotless Robe of white Nor could another Sign be half so bright 'T is He insert him in your Kalendar A worthy Saint and an auspicious Star. Thou World alternately rejoyce and mourn But rather drop more Tears into his Urn Whilst I to my own self and to my place return To Mr. R. Nichols On the Little Man that was show'd for a Sight all over England In imitation of a Greek Epigram out of Lucilius A Grave Philosopher of old that taught The World at first was out of Atoms brought Had Fate projected in his time thy Birth When Epicurus thus conceiv'd the Earth He would have made the Universe of thee As much less than diminutive Atoms be Or this at least he would for granted take Heaven did out of thee those Atoms make Man the World's Microcosm all allow The Microcosm of an Atom Thou Solomon's Song cap. 1. ver 2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth To Mrs. Mary Nichols WHat Angel's voice thus ecchoes thrô the Sky Thus rowls along and breaks in Harmony Rejoyce rejoyce for thy Redemption's nigh Ah! what soft welcome Airs salute my Ears Airs that enchant the Stars and charm the Spheres The Clouds all melt away succeeding Light And glorious Pomp dazle my fixed sight The Elements give back and bow the knee Whilst Seraphs dance unto the Melody But I alone stand weeping by the Tree Not yet the Tree of Life a melancholy Cross There seek for Remedy and bewail my loss For in my Saviour's absence that long while Nothing could force no not a feigned smile Nor make me blot the Copy he had set Whose Eyes were never wanton often wet Whose Sufferings Agonies drops of Bloud his Sweat. But now He 's come the Herald did proclaim And bow'd with Reverence at his Sacred Name My ravish'd Soul fell down before his Throne And now I knew it was the Holy One. 'T was my Beloved I had sought so long Whom I had found had I not sought him wrong And art thou come And is it thou blest Dove Can I believe my Eyes or trust my Love Pardon dear Jesu such a jealous Faith Thô weak my Trust my Love 's as strong as Death Pardon me too for since I saw thee last The Flouds have laid my fruitful Garden wast Alas what pleasure could a Widow take Who only lov'd that Garden for thy sake What 's all the rest when Sharon's Rose is gone The Rose that 's all my Garden 's Sweets in one Let me but hugg that Rose within my Breast And then my Love let who 's will take the rest No that has lain all open to the South And I have only kiss'd thy hands and feet Now kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth The kisses of thy mouth for they are sweet My Spouse let me suck up thy fragrant breath For ah my Love 's as strong as Wine or Death For a Kiss for our last parting I must sue And one at meeting justly is my due Pay all thy Debts for absence these and more With usury pay off that divine Score Do not my Passion O my Spouse disdain Nor let my Sighs and Tears be all in vain But give me Balmy Kisses in exchange Nor let unhappy Absence make thee strange Come let us strive which first their Lips can joyn Which can the closest to their Rivals twine Until our strugling Spirits both release Till these our Seconds make a perfect peace Victorious Captives both with joy return Both with new Love and Emulation burn As for my Soul thou shalt new life inspire In gratitude with zeal I 'll blow the Fire Come then dear Jesu come and no more part But take the full possession of my Heart To Idera The Apology for Silence 1. LOng has the Store-house of my heart Been laying Fewel in Here and there Cupid's left a Dart The fire for Matches to begin 2. But my Combustibles as yet Have not their Caverns broke And whilst they can no passage get Send only Vollies out of Smoke 3. Yet by these Sparks you might have guest What Balls of Flames do rowl Within the Furnace of my Breast And ev'n consume my melting Soul. 4. Vesuvius hollow Entrails glow Red-hot with hidden Fire And yet they nothing upwards throw But keep their stock of Flames entire 5. Their stock of Flames which once a year They pour upon the fruitful Plain Their Forge of loads of Ashes clear And to their Smithy work again 6. Thô Preludes yet I only shew Nor tell you all my mind Idera trust me to be true And think my Fair One th' more 's behind The Dumb Discovery To Idera THô Cupid flames from Vulcan stole And made a Bonfire of my Soul Resolv'd from Aetna to remove There to set up his Forge for Love With this perswasion prepossest That Flames pent in a narrow Breast Would dispatch sooner poyson'd Darts None so hot as Lovers hearts Yet thought I none this Shop can know Hid like Aetna under Snow None suspect an outward Styx With Phlegeton under ground should mix But my Ashes all betray And to my Work house shew the way Thus the Philosopher who fraught With an ambitious fury thought To be install'd a God by night Took downwards an immortal flight By his descension would aspire Through the burning Mount in fire Aetna to undeceive the World His Iron Slippers upwards hurl'd He greedy to advance his Name Beguil'd at once of Life and Fame In praise of Wine mixt with Water A Greek EPIGRAM Out of Meleager To Mr. Francis Nichols THE Nymphs when Bacchus like an Embryo came Out of his Mother's Ashes on a flame Dipt the young Deity in a cool stream To quench the fire and take away the steam The Nymphs and Bacchus ever since agree Without the Nymphs Thunder and Lightning He Thus Water moderates the rage of Wine And Fire it self proves cool and anodyne Wine all the Waters crudities consumes Water feeds on her hot and heady fumes To one another both a flavour give And make a Cordial of a Corrosive Parting with Mr. Tho. Bebington DOwn by a River's side together sat Thyrsis and Hylas such was once the State Of our First Parents in a friendly Strife Thus Innocence might learn to square her life Where singing Waters lull'd themselves asleep And clouded Heaven did sympathizing weep When pensive Thyrsis thus did silence