Father's Right and Fear of future Fame The Publick Good that Universal Call To which even Heav'n submitted answers all Nor let his Love Enchant your generous Mind 'T is Natures trick to propagate her Kind Our fond Begetters who would never die Love but themselves in their Posterity Or let his Kindness by th' Effects be try'd Or let him lay his vain Pretence aside God said he lov'd your Father could he bring A better Proof than to Anoint him King It surely shew'd he lov'd the Shepherd well Who gave so fair a Flock as Israel Woud David have you thought his Darling Son What means he then to Alienate the Crown The name of Godly he may blush to bear 'T is after God's own heart to Cheat his Heir He to his Brother gives Supreme Command To you a Legacy of Barren Land Perhaps th' old Harp on which he thrums his Lays Or some dull Hebrew Ballad in your Praise Then the next Heir a Prince Severe and Wise Already looks on you with Jelous Eyes Sees through the thin Disguises of your Arts And markes your Progress in the Peoples Hearts Though now his mighty Soul its Grief contains He meditates Revenge who least complains And like a Lion Slumbring in the way Or Sleep dissembling while he waits his Prey His fearless Foes within his Distance draws Constrains his Roaring and Contracts his Paws Till at the last his time for Fury found He shoots with sudden Vengeance from the Ground The Prostrate Vulgar passes o'er and Spares But with a Lordly Rage hisâ—Hunters tears Your Case no tame Expedients will afford Resolve on Death or Conquest by the Sword Which for no less a Stake than Life you Draw And Self-defence is Natures Eldest Law Leave the warm People no Considering time For then Rebellion may be thought a Crime Prevail your self of what Occasion gives But trie your Title while your Father lives And that your Arms may have a fair Pretence Proclaim you take them in the King's Defence Whose Sacred Life each minute would Expose To Plots from seeming Friends and secret Foes And who can sound the death of David's Soul Perhaps his fear his kindness may Controll He fears his Brother though he loves his Son For plighted Vows too late to be undone If so by Force he wishes to be gain'd Like Womens Leachery to seem Constrain'd Doubt not but when he most affects the Frown Commit a pleasing Rape upon the Crown Secure his Person to secure your Cause They who posses the Prince possess the Laws He said And this Advice above the rest With Absalom's Mild Nature suited best Unblam'd of Life Ambition set aside Not stain'd with Cruelty nor puft with Pride How happy had he been if Destiny Had higher plac'd his Birth or not so high His Kingly Virtues might have claim'd a Throne And blest all other Countries but his own But charming Greatness since so few refuse 'T is Juster to Lament him than Accuse Strong were his hopes a Rival to remove With Blandishments to gain the publick Love To head the Faction while their Zeal was hot And Popularly prosecute the Plot. To further this Achitophel Unites The Male-contents of all the Israelites Whose differing Parties he could wisely Joyn For several Ends to serve the same Design The Best and of the Princes some were such Who thought the pow'r of Monarchy too much Mistaken Men and Patriots in their Hearts Not Wicked but seduc'd by Impious Arts. By these the Springs of Property were bent And wound so high they Crack't the Government The next for Int'rest sought t' embroil the State To sell their Duty at a dearer rate And make their Iewish Markets of the Throne Pretending Publick Good to serve their own Others thought Kings an useless heavy Load Who Cost too much and did too little Good These were for laying Honest David by On Principles of pure good Husbandry With them joyn'd all th' Haranguers of the Throng That thought to get Preferment by the Tongue Who follow next a double danger bring Not onely hating David but the King The Solymaean Rout well Vers'd of old In Godly Faction and in Treason bold Cowring and Quaking at a Conqu'ror's Sword But Lofty to a Lawfull Prince Restor'd Saw with Disdain an Ethnick Plot begun And Scorn'd by Iebusites to be Outâ—done Hot Levites Headed these who pull'd before From th' Ark which in the Judges days they bore Resum'd their Cant and with a Zealous Crie Pursu'd their old belov'd Theocracie Where Sanhedrin and Priest enslav'd the Nation And justifi'd their Spoils by Inspiration For who so fit for Reign as Aaron's Race If once Dominion they could found in Grace These led the Pack though not of surest scent Yet deepest mouth'd against the Government A numerous Host of dreaming Saints succeed Of the true old Enthusiastick Breed 'Gainst Form and Order they their Pow'r employ Nothing to Build and all things to Destroy But far more numerous was the Herd of such Who think too little and who talk too much These out of mere instinct they knew not why Ador'd their Father's God and Property And by the same blind Benefit of Fate The Devil and the Iebusite did hate Born to be sav'd even in their own despight Because they could not help believing right Such were the Tools but a whole Hydra more Remains of sprouting heads too long to score Some of their Cheifs were Princes of the Land In the first Rank of these did Zimri stand A man so various that he seem'd to be Not one but all Mankind's Epitome Stiff in Opinions always in the wrong Was Every thing by starts and Nothing long But in the course of one revolving Moon Was Chymist Fidler States-Man and Buffoon Then all for Women Painting Rhiming Drinking Besides ten thousand Freaks that dy'd in thinking Blest Madman who coud every hour employ With something New to wish or to enjoy Railing and praising were his usual Themes And both to shew his Judgment in Extremes So over Violent or over Civil That every Man with him was God or Devil In squandring Wealth was his peculiar Art Nothing went unrewarded but Desert Beggar'd by Fools whom still he found too late He had his Jest and they had his Estate He laugh'd himself from Court then sought Relief By forming Parties but could ne'er be Chief For spight of him the weight of Business fell On Absalom and wise Achitophel Thus wicked but in Will of Means bereft He left not Faction but of that was left Titles and Names 't were tedious to rehearse Of Lords below the dignity of Verse Wits Warriors Common wealths-men were the best Kind Husbands and mere Nobles all the rest And therefore in the name of Dulness be The well-hung Balaam and cold Caleb free And Canting Nadab let Oblivion damn Who made new Porridge for the Paschal Lamb. Let Friendships holy Band some Names assure Some their own Worth and some let Scorn secure Nor shall the Rascal Rabble here have Place Whom Kings
Arme disdain Submits with Quiet to the looser rein An hundred Eyes had Argos yet the while One silly Maid did all those Eyes beguile Danae though shut within a brasen Tower Felt the Male virtue of the Golden shower But chaste Penelope leâ—t to her own will And free disposal never thought of ill She to her absent Lord preserv'd her truth For all th' Addresses of the smoother Youth What 's rarely seen our fancy magnifies Permitted pleasure who does not despise They Care provokes beyond her Face and more Men strive to make the Cuckold than the Whore They 're wondrous charms we think and long to know That in a Wise inchant a Husband so Rage Swear and Curse no matter shee alone Pleases who sighs and cryes I am undone But could thy Spies say we have kept her chaste Good Servants then but an ill Wife thou hast Who fears to be a Cuckold is a Clown Not worthy to partake of this lewd Town Where it is monstrous to be fair and Chaste And not one Inch of either Sex lies waste Wouldst thou be happy with her ways comply And in her Case lay poynts of honour by The Friendship she begins wisely improve And a fair Wife gets one a world of Love So shalt thou wellcome be to Every treat Live high not pay and never run in debt ELEGY the FIFTH Ovid's Dream 'T Was night and sleep had clos'd my wearied eyes When dreadfull Visions did my Soul surprise Under an open Hill I dreamt there stood A stately visionary Oaken Wood Which flocks of Birds continually receives In to the Shady Covert of its leaves Beyond a Meadow lay to sleeping view Which murmuring Waters constantly bedew The pleasant Virdure of th' extended Plain Those murmuring Waters constantly maintain Within the Wood I thought my self to shade From Heat but Heat did even the Woods invade When Lo a Cow imaginary white Did seem to feed within my fancy's sight With a promiscuous Bite she did devour The tender Herb mixt with the springing Flower The purest Fleece of silent Waters ne'er Cou'd boast a White that cou'd with Hers compare When fresh unâ—ulli'd on the Earth it lay And was not melted by too long a stay Nay whiter far than Milk squeez'd from the Tett That seem'd to quit the Udder with regret Whilst murmuring Bubbles wrinkle its smooth Face Being rudely forc'd to leave its native place By Her a Bull her happy Lover fed And they together made the Earth their Bed But as He lay and recall'd herbs did eat And feast on his before digested meat The Lover seem'd with heavy sleep oppress'd And did incline his horney Head to rest Mean time a Crow that cut the yielding air Th' Occasion took and thither did repair By the white Cow the wing'd Ill-Omen stood And with new Passion fir'd her wanton blood Thrice with his saucy Beak her breast did gore And from her Neck her silver Hair he tore She seem'd her Mate and Pasture loath to leave Yet on her Breast a spot I did perceive And when far off she grazing did espy Another Herd I 'm sure they graz'd not nigh To them she went thinking relief might be In fresher Pasture and fresh Company Tell me O tell me ye that can reveal The fatal Truths that boding Dreams conceal What 's thus obscurely to my Fancy brought In Hieroglyphicks made of sleeping Thought So I. So did th' experienc'd Augur say Who did each Circumstance exactly weigh The scorching Heat that you so vainly strove T' exclude with Leaves was your prevailing Love The Cow your Mistress was for what cou'd be By such a lovely Creature meant but She The Bull her happy Yoke-fellow and Mate Did figure you in your unrival'd state The Crow that seem'd the Heifers Breast to gore Was a damn'd Bawd that urg'd her to turn Whore Your Mistress as she left you did bemoan You in a Widow'd Bed left cold alone The Spot on her white Breast I fear will be A sign of violated Chastity Thus spake the wise Interpreter when I Pale with Despair and Grief resolv'd to dye Had not the Vision that did wound my Sight Kindly dissolv'd into the shades of Night ELEGY the SIXTH To a River as he was going to his Mistress Englished By Mr. Rimer THy course thy noble course a while forbear I am in haste now going to my Dear Thy banks how rich thy Stream how worthy praise Alas my haste sweet River let me pass No Bridges here no Ferry not an Oar Or Rope to hawl me to the farther shoar I have remembred thee a little one Who now with all this floud com'st blundring down Did I refuse my Sleep my Wine my Friend To spurr along and must I here attend No art to help me to my Journeys end Ye Lapland powers make me so far a Witch I may a-stride get over on a switch Oh for some Griffin or that flying Horse Or any Monster to assist my Course I wish his art that mounted to the Moon In shorter journey wou'd my job be done Why rave I for what crack-brain'd Bards devise Or name their lewd unconscionable lyes Good River let me find thy courtesie Keep within bounds and mayst thou ne'er be dry Thou can'st not think it such a mighty boast A Torrent has a gentle Lover crost Rivers shou'd rather take the Lovers side Rivers themselves Love's wondrous power have try'd 'T was on this score Inachus pale and wan Sickly and green into the Ocean ran Long before Troy the ten-years siege did fear Thou Xanthus thou Neara's chains didst wear Ask Achelöus who his horns did drub Streight he complains of Hercules's club For Calydon for all Aetolia Was then contested such outrageous fray It neither was for Gold nor yet for Fee Deianira it was all for thee E'en Nile so rich that rowls through seven wide doors And uppish over all his Country scowrs For Asop's Daughter did such flame contract As not by all that stock of waters slack't I might an hundred goodly Rivers name But must not pass by thee immortal Thame E'er thou coud'st Isis to thy bosome take How did'st thou wind and wander for her sake The lusty with broad Humber strove Was it for Fame I say it was for Love What makes the noble Ouz up from the main With hideous roar come bristling back again He thâ—nks his dearest Derwent left behind Or fears her false in new Embraces joyn'd Thee also some small Girl has warm'd we guess Thô woods and forests now hide thy soft place Whilst this I speak it swells and broader grows And o'er the highest banks impetuous flows Dog-floud what art to me Or why dost check Our mutual Joys And Churle my journey break What wou'dst if thee indeed some noble race Or high descent and glorious name did grace When of no ancient house or certain seat Nor known before this time untimely great Rais'd by some sudden Thaw thus high and proud No holding thee ill-manner'd upstart Floud Not my Love-tales
prize And spreads her Locks before her as she flies Had thus Old David from whose Loins you Spring Not dar'd when Fortune call'd him to be King At Gath an Exile he might still remain And Heaven 's Anointing Oyl had been in vain Let his successfull Youth your hopes engage But shun th' example of Declining Age Behold him setting in his Western Skies The shadows lengthning as the Vapours rise He is not now as when on Iordan's Sand The joyfull People throng'd to see him Land Cov'ring the Beech and blackning all the Strand But like the Prince of Angels from his height Comes tumbling downward with diminish'd light Betray'd by one poor Plot to publick Scorn Our onely blessing since his curst Return Those heaps of People which one Sheaf did bind Blown off and scatter'd by a puff of Wind. What strength can he to your Designs oppose Naked of Friends and round beset with Foes If Pharaoh's doubtfull Succour he should use A Foreign Aid wou'd more incense the Iews Proud Aegypt wou'd dissembled Friendship bring Foment the War but not support the King Nor wou'd the Royal party e'er unite With Pharaoh's Arms t' assist the Iebusite Or if they shou'd their Interest soon wou'd break And with such odious Aid make David weak All sorts of men by my successfull Arts Abhorring Kings estrange their alter'd Hearts From David's Rule And 't is their general Cry Religion Common-wealth and Liberty If you as Champion of the Publick Good Add to their Arms a Chief of Royal Blood What may not Israel hope and what Applause Might such a General gain by such a Cause Not barren Praise alone that Gaudy Flow'r Fair onely to the sight but solid Pow'r And Nobler is a limited Command Giv'n by the Love of all your Native Land Than a successive Title Long and Dark Drawn from the Mouldy Rolls of Noah's Ark. What cannot Praise effect in Mighty Minds When Flattery Sooths and when Ambition Blinds Desire of Pow'r on Earth a Vitious Weed Yet sprung from High is of Coelestial Seed In God 't is Glory And when Men Aspire 'T is but a Spark too much of Heavenly Fire Th' Ambitious Youth too Covetous of Fame Too full of Angels-Metal in his Frame Unwarily was led from Virtues ways Made Drunk with Honour and debauch'd with Praise Half loath and half consenting to the Ill For Royal Blood within him struggled still He thus Reply'd And what Pretence have I To take up Arms for Publick Liberty My Father Governs with unquestion'd Right The Faiths Defender and Mankinds Delight Good Gracious Just Observant of the Laws And Heav'n by Wonders has espous'd his Cause Whom has he Wrong'd in all his Peacefull Reign Who sues for Justice to his Throne in Vain What Millions has he pardon'd of his Foes Whom Just Revenge did to his Wrath expose Mild Easie Humble Studious of our Good Enclin'd to Mercy and averse from Blood If Mildness ill with Stubborn Israel Suit His Crime is God ' s beloved Attribute What could he gain his People to Betray Or change his Right for Arbitrary Sway Let Haughty Pharaoh Curse with such a Reign His Fruitfull Nile and Yoak a Servile Train If David's Rule Ierusalem Displease The Dog star heats their Brains to this Disease Why then should I encouraging the Bad Turn Rebel and run Popularly Mad Were he a Tyrant who by Lawless Might Opprest the Iews and rais'd the Iebusite Well might I Mourn but Natures holy Bands Wou'd Curb my Spirits and restrain my Hands The People might assert their Liberty But what was Right in them were Crime in me His Favour leaves me nothing to require Prevents my Wishes and out-runs Desire What more can I expect while David lives All but his Kingly Diadem he gives And that But there he paus'd then Sighing said Is Justly destin'd for a Worthier Head For when my Father from his Toyls shall Rest And late Augment the Number of the Blest His Lawfull Issue shall the Throne ascend Or the Collat'ral Line where that shall end His Brother though Opprest with Vulgar Spight Yet Dauntless and Secure of Native Right Of every Royal Virtue stands possest Still dear to all the Bravest and the Best His Courage Foes his Friends his Truth Proclaim His Loyalty the King the World his Fame His Mercy ev'n th' Offending Croud will find For sure he comes of a Forgiving Kind Why should I then Repine at Heavens Decree Which gives me no Pretence to Royalty Yet oh that Fate Propitiously Inclin'd Had rais'd my Birth or had debas'd my Mind To my large Soul not all her Treasure lent And then betray'd it to a mean Descent I find I find my mounting Spirits Bold And David's Part disdains my Mothers Mold Why am I scanted by a Niggard Birth My Soul disclaims the Kindred of her Earth And made for Empire Whispers me within Desire of Greatness is a God-like Sin Him Staggering so when Hells dire Agent found While fainting Virtue scarce maintain'd her Ground He pours fresh Forces in and thus Replies Th' Eternal God Supremely Good and Wise Imparts not these Prodigious Gifts in vain What Wonders are Reserv'd to bless your Reign Against your will your Arguments have shown Such Virtue 's onely given to guide a Throne Not that your Father's Mildness I contemn But manly Force becomes the Diadem 'T is true he grants the People all they crave And more perhaps than Subjects ought to have For Lavish Grants suppose a Monarch tame And more his goodness than his Wit proclaim But when should People strive their Bonds to break If not when Kings are Negligent or Weak Let him give on till he can give no more The Thrifty Sanhedrin shall keep him poor And every Sheckle which he can receive Shall cost a Limb of his Prerogative To ply him with new Plots shall be my care Or plunge him deep in some Expensive War Which when his Treasure can no more supply He must with the Remains of Kingship buy His faithfull Friends our Jealousies and Fears Call Iebusites and Pharaoh's Pensioners Whom when our Fury from his Aid has torn He shall be naked left to publick Scorn The next Successor whom I fear and hate My Arts have made obnoxious to the State Turn'd all his Virtues to his Overthrow And gain'd our Elders to pronounce a Foe His Right for Sums of necessary Gold Shall first be Pawn'd and afterwards be Sold Till time shall Ever-wanting David draw To pass your doubtfull Title into Law If not the People have a Right Supreme To make their Kings for Kings are made for them All Empire is no more than Pow'r in Trust Which when resum'd can be no longer Just. Succession for the general Good design'd In its own wrong a Nation cannot bind If altering that the People can releive Better one suffer than a Nation grieve The Iews well know their pow'r e'er Saul they chose God was their King and God they durst Depose Urge now your Piety your Filial Name A
when he has it come to thee again Love truly none but seem in Love with all And at old friends to thy new Lover rail Sometimes deny 't will Appetite procure The sharp-set Hawks will stoop to any Lure Then grant again lest he a habit get Of living from thee but be sure thou let No empty Lover in murmur sometimes And as first hurt reproach him with thy Crimes Seem jealous when thou 'st been thy self to blame 'T will stop his mouth if thou the first complain All thou hast done be ready to forswear For Lovers Oaths fair Venus has no Ear. Whilst he is with thee let some Woman bring Some Indian Stuff or Foreign pretious thing Which thou must say thou want'st and he must buy Though for it Six months hence in Gaol he lye Thy Mother Sister Brother and thy Nurse Must have a pull each at thy Lover's Purse Let him from Rivals never be secure That hope once gone Love will not long endure Shew him the presents by those Rivals sent So shall his bounty thy request prevent When he will give no more ask him to lend If he want money find a trusting Friend Get Hangings Cabinets a Looking-glass Or any thing for which his word will pass Practise these Rules thou 'lt find the benefit I lost my Beauty e'er I got this wit I at that word stept from behind the door And scarce my Nails from her thin Ceeks forbore Her few Grey hairs in rage I vow'd to pull And thrust her drunken Eyes into her Skull Poor in a Dungeons bottom mayst thou rot Dye with a blow with thy beloved Pot No Brandy and Eternal thirst thy Lot SEVERAL OF Ovid's Elegies BOOK II. ELEGY the FIFTH To his false Mistress Englished By Sir Ch. Sidly CVpid begon who wou'd on thee rely And thus at every moment wish to dye Death is my wish when on thy guilt I think Thy faithless guilt at which I fain wou'd wink False Maid thou various torment of my life Thou flying pleasure and thou lasting grief No doubtfull Letters thy lost faith accuse Nor private gifts thou mightst with ease excuse Such proofs one word of thine might overcome Why is my cause so good and thou so dumb Happy 's the man that 's handsomely deceiv'd Whose Mistress swears and lies and is believ'd These Eyes beheld thee when thou thoughst me gone In books and signs nor yet in those alone Conveying the glad message of thy Love To that gay vain dull Fopp that sate above I knew the Language soon what could be hid From Lovers Eyes of all ye said or did When others rose I saw thee Dart a kiss The wanton prelude to a farther bliss Not such as Wives to their cold Husbands give But such as hot Adulterers receive Such as might kindle frozen appetite And fire even wasted nature with delight What art thou mad I cry'd before my face To steal my wealth and my new Rival grace I 'll rise and seize my own upon the place These soft endearments should not farther go But be the secret treasure of us two How comes this third in for a share I 'd know This and what more my grief inspir'd I said Her face she cover'd with a Conscious red Like a Cloud guilded by the rising Sun Or Virgin newly by her Love undone Those very blushes pleas'd when she cast down Her lovely Eyes with a disdainfull frown Disdain became her looking on the Earth Sad were her looks but Charming above mirth I could have kill'd my self or him or her Scarce did my rage her tender Cheeks forbear When I beheld her Face my anger cool'd I felt my self to a mere Lover fool'd I who but now so fierce grow tame and sue With such a kiss we might our Love renew She smil'd and gave me one might Iove disarm And from his hand the brandisht Thunder charm 'T was worse than death to think my Rival knew Such Joys as till that hour to me were new She gave much better kisses than I taught And something strange was in each touch me-thought They pleas'd me but too well and thou didst tongue With too much art and skill for one so young Nor is this all though I of this complain Nor should I for a kiss be so in pain But thine cou'd never but in Bed be taught I fear how dear thou hast thy Knowledge bought ELEGY the SIXTH Englished By Mr. Creech ALas poor Poll my Indian talker dyes Go Birds and celebrate his Obsequies Go Birds and beat your Breasts your Faces tear And pluck your gaudy plumes instead of hair Let dolefull Tunes the frighted Forests wound And your sad Notes supply the Trumpets sound Why Philomel dost mourn the Thracian rage It is enough thy Grief at last asswage His Crimson faults are now grown white with Age. Now mourn this Bird the Cause of all thy woe Was great 't is true but it was long ago Mourn all ye wing'd Inhabitants of Air But you my Turtle take the greatest share You two liv'd constant Friends and free from strife Your kindness was intire and long as life What Pylades to his Orestes vow'd To thee poor Poll thy friendly Turtle show'd And kept his Love as long as Fate allow'd But ah what did thy Faith thy Plumes and Tail And what thy pretty Speaking-art avail And what that thou wert given and pleas'd my Miss Since now the Birds unhappy Glory dyes A lovely verdant Green grac't every Quill The deepest vivid Red did paint thy Bill In speaking thou didst every Bird excell None pratled and none lisp't the words so well 'T was envy onely sent this fierce Disease Thou wert averse to War and liv'dst in peace A talking harmless thing and lov'dst thine Ease The fighting Quails still live midst all their strife And even that perhaps prolongs their Life Thy Meat was little and thy pratling tongue Would ne'er permit thee make thy Dinner long Plain Fountain-water all thy drink allow'd And Nut and Poppy-seed were all thy Food The preying Vultures and the Kites remain And the unlucky Crow still caws for Rain The Chough still lives midst fierce Minerva's hate And scarce nine hundred years conclude her Fate But my poor Poll now hangs his sickly head My Poll my present from the East is dead Best things are soonest snatcht by covetous Fate To worse she freely gives a longer date Thersites brave Achilles Fate surviv'd And Hector fell whilst all his Brothers liv'd Why should I tell what Vows Corinna made How oft she beg'd thy Life how oft she pray'd The Seventh-day came and now the Fates begin To end the thread they had no more to Spin. Yet still he talkt and when death nearer drew His last breath said Corinna now Adieu There is a shady Cypress Grove below And thither if such doubtfull things we know The Ghosts of pious Birds departed go 'T is water'd well and verdant all the year And Birds obscene do never enter there There harmless Swans securely take
me then who have truely spent my bloud Love in thy service and so boldly stood In Celia's trenches wer 't not wisely done E'en to retire and live at peace at home No might I gain a Godhead to disclaim My glorious Title to my endless Flame Divinity with scorn I would forswear Such sweet dear tempting Devils Women are When e'er those flames grow faint I quickly find A fierce black storm pour down upon my mind Headlong I 'm hurl'd like horsemen who in vain Their fury flaming Coursers would restrain As Ships just when the harbour they attain Are snatcht by sudden blasts to Sea again So Loves fantastick storms reduce my heart Half rescu'd and the God resumes his dart Strike here this undefended bosome wound And for so brave a Conquest be renown'd Shasts fly so fast to me from every part You 'll scarce discern the Quiver from my heart What wretch can bear a live-long Nights dull rest Or think himself in lazy slumbers blest Fool is not sleep the Image of pale Death There 's time for rest when Fate hath stopt your breath Me may my soft deluding Dear deceive I 'm happy in my hopes while I believe Now let her flatter then as fondly chide Often may I enjoy oft be deny'd With doubtfull steps the God of War does move By thy Example in Ambiguous Love Blown to and fro like Down from thy own Wing Who knows when Joy or Anguish thou wilt bring Yet at thy Mother's and thy slaves request Fix an eternal Empire in my breast And let th' inconstant charming Sex Whose wilfull scorn does Lovers vex Submit their hearts before thy Throne The Vassal world is then thy own ELEGY the TWELVTH Englished By Mr. Creech TRiumphant Laurels round my Temples twine I 'm Victor now my dear Corinna's mine As she was hard to get a carefull spy A Door well barr'd and jealous Husband's Eye Long time preserv'd her troublesome Chastity Now I deserve a Crown I briskly woo'd And won my Prey without a drop of Bloud 'T was not a petty Town with Gates and Bars Those little Trophies of our meaner Wars No 't was a Whore a lovely Whore I took I won her by a Song and by a Look When Ten years ruin'd Troy how mean a Name Atrides got how small his share of Fame But none pretends a part in what I won The Victory 's mine the Glory all my own I in this Conquest was the General The Souldier Engine Horse and Foot and all Fortune and lucky Chance can claim no share Come Triumph gotten by my single Care I fought as most have done for Miss and Love For Helen Europe and all Asia strove The Centaures rudely threw their Tables o'er And spilt their Wine and boxt to get a Whore The Trojans thô they once had lost their Troy Yet fought to get their Lord another Joy The Romans too did venture all their Lives And stoutly fought their Fathers for their Wives For one fair Cow I 've seen two Bulls engage Whilst she stands by and looks and heats their rage Ev'n I for Cupid says he 'll have it so As most men are must be his Souldier too Yet I no bloudy Conquerer shall prove My Quarrels will be Kindness Wars be Love ELEGY the NINETEENTH Englished By Mr. Dryden IF for thy self thou wilt not watch thy Whore Watch her for me that I may love her more What comes with ease we nauseously receive Who but a Sot wou'd scorn to love with leave With hopes and fears my Flames are blown up higher Make me despair and then I can desire Give me a Jilt to tease my Jealous mind Deceits are Vertues in the Female kind Corinna my Fantastick humour knew Play'd trick for trick and kept her self still new She that next night I might the sharper come Fell out with me and sent me fasting home Or some pretence to lye alone wou'd take When e'er she pleas'd her head and teeth wou'd ake Till having won me to the highest strain She took occasion to be sweet again With what a Gust ye Gods we then imbrac'd How every kiss was dearer than the last Thou whom I now adore be edify'd Take care that I may often be deny'd Forget the promis'd hour or feign some fright Make me lye rough on Bulks each other Night These are the Arts that best secure thy reign And this the Food that must my Fires maintain Gross easie Love does like gross diet pall In squeasie Stomachs Honey turns to Gall. Had Danae not been kept in brazen Tow'rs Iove had not thought her worth his Golden Show'rs When Iuno to a Cow turn'd Io's Shape The Watchman helpt her to a second Leap Let him who loves an easie Whetstone Whore Pluck leaves from Trees and drink the Common Shore The Jilting Harlot strikes the surest blow A truth which I by sad Experience know The kind poor constant Creature we despise Man but pursues the Quarry while it flies But thou dull Husband of a Wife too fair Stand on thy Guard and watch the pretious Ware If creaking Doors or barking Dogs thou hear Or Windows scratcht suspect a Rival there An Orange-wench wou'd tempt thy Wife abroad Kick her for she 's a Letter-bearing Bawd In short be Jealous as the Devil in Hell And set my Wit on work to cheat thee well The sneaking City Cuckold is my Foe I scorn to strike but when he Wards the blow Look to thy hits and leave off thy Conniving I 'll be no Drudge to any Wittall living I have been patient and forborn thee long In hope thou wou'dst not pocket up thy wrong If no Affront can rouse thee understand I 'll take no more Indulgence at thy hand What ne'er to be forbid thy House and Wife Damn him who loves to lead so dull a life Now I can neither sigh nor whine nor pray All those occasions thou hast ta'ne away Why art thou so incorrigibly Civil Doe somewhat I may wish thee at the Devil For shame be no Accomplice in my Treason A Pimping Husband is too much in reason Once more wear horns before I quite forsake her In hopes whereof I rest thy Cuckold-maker SEVERAL OF Ovid's Elegies BOOK III. ELEGY the FOURTH To A Man that lockt up his Wife Englished By Sir Ch. Sedley VEx not thy self and her vain Man since all By their own Vice or Vertue stand or fall She 's truely chaste and worthy of that name Who hates the ill as well as fears the shame And that vile Woman whom restraint keeps in Though she forbear the Act has done the Sin Spies Locks and Bolts may keep her brutal part But thou' rt an odious Cuckold in her heart They that have Freedom use it least and so The power of ill does the design o'erthrow Provoke not Vice by a too harsh restraint Sick men long most to drink who know they may'nt The fiery Courser whom no Art can stay Or rugged force does oâ—t fair means obey And he that did the rudest
fills With echoing cryes from all the Neighbouring hills The Dryades roar'd out in deep despair And with united voice bewail'd the Fair. For such a loss he sought no vain relief But with his Lute indulg'd his tender grief All o'er the lonely sands did wildly stray And with sad Songs begin and end the day At last to Hell a frightfull journey made Pass'd the wide gaping Gulph and dismall shade Visits the Ghosts and to that King repairs Whose heart 's inflexible to humane prayers Hell seems astonish'd with so sweet a Song Light Souls and airie Spirits slide along In troops like millions of the feather'd kind Driv'n home by night or some tempestuous wind Matrons and Men raw Youths and unripe Maids And mighty Heroes more majestick Shades Sons burnt before their mournfull Parents face Styx does all these in narrow bounds embrace Nine times with loathsome mud and noysome weeds And all the filth which standing water breeds Amazement reacht e'en the deep Caves of death The Sisters with blue snaky curles took breath Ixion's Wheel a while unmov'd remain'd And the great Dog his three-mouth'd voice restrain'd Now safe return'd and all these dangers past His Spouse restor'd to breathe fresh air at last Following for so Proserpina was pleas'd A sudden rage th' unwary Lover seiz'd He when the first bright glimps of daylight shin'd Unmindfull and impatient look't behind A fault of Love could Hell compassion find A dreadfull noise thrice shook the Stygian coast His hopes now fled and all his labour lost Why hast thou thus undone thy self and me What madness this Again I 'm snatch't from thee She faintly cry'd Night and the powers of Hell Surround my eyes O Orpheus O farewell My hands stretch forth to reach thee as before But all in vain alas I 'm thine no more No more allow'd to behold him or day Then from his sight like smoak she slipp'd away Much he would fain have spoke but Fate alas Would ne'er again consent to let him pass Thus twice undone what course now could he take To redeem her already pass'd the Lake How bear his loss what tears procure him ease Or with what vows the angry Powers appease 'T is said he seven long months bewail'd his loss On bleak and barren Rocks on whose cold moss While languishing he Sung his Fatal flame He mov'd e'en Trees and made fierce Tigers tame So the sad Nightingale when Childless made By some rough Swain who steals her young away Bewails her loss under a Poplar shade Weeps all the night in murmurs wasts the day Her sorrow does a mournfull pleasure yield And melancholly musick fills the Field Marriage nor Love could ever move his mind But all alone beat by the Northern wind Shivering on Tanais Snowey banks remain'd Still of the Gods and their vain grace complain'd Ciconian Dames enrag'd to be despis'd As they the feast of Bacchus solemnis'd Kill'd the poor Youth and strew'd about his limbs His Head torn off from the fair body swims Down that swift current where the Hebre flows And still his Tongue in dolefull accents goes Ah poor Euridice it dying cry'd Euridice resounds from every side THE PARTING OF SIRENO and DIANA Englished By Sir C. Scrope THE ARGUMENT Sireno and Diana having lov'd each other with a most violent passion Sireno is compell'd upon the Account of his Master's service to go for some time into a Foreign Country The Melancholly parting of the two Lovers is the Subject of the following Eclogue CLose by a stream whose flowry bank might give Delight to Eyes that had no Cause to grieve The sad Sireno sate and fed his Sheep Which now alas he had no Joy to keep Since his hard Fate compell'd him to depart From her dear Sight who long had Charm'd his heart Fix'd were his thoughts upon the Fatal day That gave him first what this must take away Through all the Story of his Love he ran And nought forgot that might increase his pain Then with a sigh raising his heavy Eyes Th' approach of his afflicted Nymph he spies Sad as she was she lost no usual Grace But as she pass'd seem'd to adorn the place Thither she came to take her last Farewell Her silent Look did her sad Business tell Under a Neighbouring Tree they sate 'em down Whose shade had oft preserv'd 'em from the Sun Each took the other by the willing hand Striving to speak but could no word Command With mutual Grief both were so overcome The much they had to say had made 'em dumb There many a time they two had met before But met alas upon a happier score Cruel reverse of Fate which all the Joys Their mutual presence us'd to bring destroys Sireno saw his Fatal hour draw near And wanted strength the parting pang to bear All drown'd in tears he gaz'd upon the Maid And she with equal Grief the Swain survey'd Till his imprison'd passion forc'd its way And gave him leave faintly at last to say SIRENO O my Diana who wou'd have believ'd That when the sad Sireno most had griev'd Any affliction cou'd have fall'n on me That wou'd not vanish at the sight of thee Thy Charming Eyes cou'd all my Clouds dispell Let but Diana smile and all was well Absent from thee my Soul no Joy cou'd know And yet alas I dye to see thee now DIANA Turn O Sireno turn away thy Face While all her shame a blushing Maid betrays For though my Eyes a secret pain reveal My tongue at least shou'd my fond thoughts conceal Yet I wou'd speak cou'd speaking doe me good And since it is to thee methinks it shou'd O Shepherd think how wretched I shall be When hither I return depriv'd of thee When sitting all alone within this shade Which thou so oft thy tender Choice hast made I reade my Name Engrav'd on every bark Of our past Love the kind affecting mark Then my despairing Soul to death must fly And must thou be content to let me dye Why dost thou weep Alas those Tears are vain Since 't is thy Fault that both of us Complain By this the Falshood of thy Vows I know For were thy sorrow true thou wou'dst not go SIRENO Cease cruel Nymph such killing Language cease And let the poor Sireno dye in peace Witness ye Everlasting Powers above That never Shepherd bore a truer Love With thee I wish 't had been my happy doom With thee alone to spend my Life to come That we now part is by no Fault of mine Nor yet my dearest Shepherdess of thine For as no Faith did ever mine excell So never any Nymph deserv'd so well But the great Shepherd whom we all obey 'T is his Command that forces me away What ever he ordains none dare refuse I must my Joy or else my Honour loose Should I to him deny th' Allegiance due Thou might'st to thee think me disloyal too DIANA No no Sireno now too late I find How fond she is that can believe Mankind Who
he thinks in such a beauteous bride Since all the World 's thus gay and free Why should not we Let 's then accept our Mother Natures treat And please our selves with all that 's sweet Let 's to the shady Bowers Where crown'd with gaudy flowers We 'll drink and laugh away the gliding hours Trust me Thyrsis the grim Conquerer's death With the same freedom snatches a King's breath He huddles the poor fetter'd Slave To 's unknown Grave Thô we each day with cost repair He mocks our greatest skill and utmost care Nor loves the Fair nor fears the strong And he that lives the longest dyes but young And once depriv'd of light We 're wrapt in mists of endless Night Once come to those dark Cells of which we 're told So many strange Romantick tales of Old In things unknown Invention's justly bold No more shall Mirth and Wine Our loves and wits refine No more shall your Phyllis have Phyllis so long you 've priz'd Nay she too in the Grave Shall lye like us despis'd THE IV. ODE OF THE SECOND BOOK OF HORACE Englished By Mr. Duke BLush not my friend to own the Love Which thy fair Captives eyes do move Achilles once the Fierce they Brave Stoopt to they Beauties of a Slave Tecmessa's charmes could over-power Ajax her Lord and Conquerour Great Agamemnon when success Did all his Arms with Conquest bless When Hector's fall had gain'd him more Than◠ten long rolling years before By a bright Captive Virgin 's Eyes E'en in the midst of Triumph dyes You know not to what mighty line The lovely Maid may make you joyn See but the charmes her sorrow wears No common cause could draw such tears Those streams sure that adorn her so For loss of Royal kindred flow Oh! think not so divine a thing Could from the bed of Commons spring Whose faith could so unmov'd remain And so averse to sordid gain Was never born of any race That might the noblest Love disgrace Her blooming Face her snowey Armes Her well shap't Leg and all her charmes Of her Body and her Face I poor I may safely praise Suspect not Love the youthfull Rage From Horace's declining Age But think remov'd by forty years All his flames and all thy fears THE VIII ODE OF THE SECOND BOOK OF HORACE Englished By Mr. Duke IF ever any injur'd Power By which the false Barine swore False fair Barine on thy head Had the least Mark of Vengeance shed If but a Tooth or Nail of thee Had suffer'd by thy Perjury I should believe thy Vows but thou Since perjur'd dost more charming grow Of all our Youth the publick care Nor half so false as thou art Fair. It thrives with thee to be forsworn By thy dead Mothers sacred Urn By Heaven and all the Stars that shine Without and every God within Venus hears this and all the while At thy empty Vows does smile Her Nymphs all smile her little Son Does smile and to his Quiver run Does smile and fall to whet his Darts To wound for thee fresh Lovers hearts See all the Youth does thee obey Thy train of Slaves grows every day Nor leave thy former Subjects thee Thô oft they threaten to be free Thô oft with Vows false as thine are Their forsworn Mistress they forswear Thee every carefull Mother fears For her Son's blooming tender years Thee frugal Sires thee the young Bride In Hymen's Fetters newly ty'd Left thou detain by stronger Charms Th' expected Husband from her Armes HORACE and LYDIA THE IX ODE Englished By Mr. Duke HORACE WHilst I was welcome to your heart In which no happier youth had part And full of more prevailing Charms Threw round your Neck his dearer Armes I flourish'd richer and more blest Than the great Monarch of the East LYDIA Whilst all thy Soul with me was fill'd Nor Lydia did to Chloe yield Lydia the celebrated Name The onely Theme of Verse and Fame I flourish'd more than she renown'd Whose Godlike Son our Rome did found HORACE Me Chloe now whom every Muse And every Grace adorn subdues For whom I 'd gladly dye to save Her dearer Beauties from the Grave LYDIA Me lovely Calais does fire With mutual flames of fierce desire For whom I twice would dye to save His youth more pretious from the Grave HORACE What if our former Loves return And our first fires again should burn If Chloe's banish't to make way For the forsaken Lydia LYDIA Thô He is shining as a Star Constant and kind as he is fair Thou light as Cork rough as the Sea Yet I would live would dye with thee A DIALOGUE BETWEEN HORACE and LYDIA Englished by another Hand HORACE WHile I remain'd the Darling of your heart And no encroaching Lover claim'd a part Unrival'd while my Longing Arms I cast About your lovely Neck and slender waste And you to every one but me were chaste I scorn'd the lofty Persian Monarch's state And thought my self more happy and as great LYDIA While I enjoy'd you and no fairer she Had stoln your wandring heart away from me While Chloe seem'd not Lydia to out-shine Nor gain'd a Conquest that before was mine Not Roman Ilia more renown'd I thought Although a God her sweet embraces sought HORACE Now Thracyan Chloe has supply'd your place She Charms me with her Musick and her Face To save her life I with my own would part And freely give it as I gave my heart LYDIA Fair Calais now the sweet Messenian Boy Loves me I him as equally enjoy If by my Dying he might longer live I 'd give two lives if I had two to give HORACE What if kind Venus should our hearts unite And force us to adore that Love we slight If Chloe with her Golden locks should yield And banisht Lydia should regain the Field LYDIA If so thô you are cruel and unkind Less to be trusted than the Seas or Wind Thô he so kind so charming and so true I willingly wou'd live wou'd dye with you THE III. ELEGY Of the first Book of Propertius Englished By Mr. Adams AS on the Beach sad Ariadne lay While the deaf Winds false Theseus bore away As from the Rock Andromeda redeem'd More sweet more fair in her first Slumber seem'd Or as the no less weary Bacchanall Surpris'd by sleep near some smooth stream do's fall Such seem'd to Me so was my Cynthia lay'd While breathing soft repose the lovely Maid On her fair hand reclin'd her bending Head When I well drunk through the too narrow Street Drag'd home at Midnight my unfaithfull Feet But as sh'appear'd so charming to my view Gently I prest the Bed and near her drew Thinking for so much sense I still retain'd The Fort of Love might by surprise be gain'd Yet thô commanded by a double fire Both by the flames of Wine and hot desire Thô my lewd hand would naughtily have stray'd And I would fain my Arms have ready made I durst not in the soft assault engage Dreading to wake her well
their rest And there the single Phoenix builds her nest Proud Peacocks there display their gaudy Train And billing Turtles Coo o'er all the plain To these dark shades my Parrot's soul shall go And with his Talk divert the Birds below Whilst here his bones enjoy a Noble Grave A little Marble and an Epitaph In talking I did every Bird excell And my Tomb proves my Mistress lov'd me well ELEGY the SEVENTH He protests that he had never any thing to doe with the Chamber-maid Englished By Mr. Creech ANd must I still be guilty still untrue And when old crims are purg'd still charg'd with new What tho' at last my Cause I clearly gain Yet I 'm asham'd to strive so oft in vain And when the Prize will scarce reward the pain If at the Play I in Fop-corner sit And with a squinting Eye glote o'er the pit Or View the Boxes you begin to fear And fansie streight some Rival Beauty there If any looks on me you think you spy A private Assignation in her Eye A silent soft discourse in every Grace And Tongues in all the Features of her Face If I praise any one you tear your hair Shew frantick Tricks and rage with wild Despair If discommend O then 't is all Deceit I strive to Cloak my Passion by the Cheat If I look well I then neglect your Charms Lye dull and lazy in your active Arms If weak my voice if pale my Looks appear O then I languish for another Fair. Would I did sin and you with Cause complain For when we strive to shun yet strive in vain 'T is Comfort sure to have deserv'd the pain But sure fond Fancies now such heats engage Your credulous peevish humour spoils your Rage In frequent Chidings I no force can see You frown too often to prevail with me The Ass grows dull by Stripes the constant blow Beats off his briskness and he moves but slow But now I 'm lavish of my kind Embrace And Moll forsooth supplies her Lady's place Kind Love forbid that I should stoop so low What unto mean ignoble Beauties bow A Chamber-maid no Faith my Love flyes high My Quarry is a Miss of Quality Fy who would clasp a Slave who joy to feel Her hands of Iron and her sides of Steel 'T will damp an eager thought 't will check my mind To feel those knubs the Lash hath left behind Besides she dresses well with lovely grace She sets thy Tour and does adorn thy Face Thy natural Beauty all her Arts improve And make me more enamour'd of my Love Then why should I tempt her and why betray Thy usefull Slave and have her turn'd away I swear by Venus by Love's darts and Bow A desperate Oath you must believe me now I am not guilty I 've not broke my Vow ELEGY the EIGHTH Englished By Mr. Creech To Corinna's Chamber-maid DEar skilfull Betty who dost far excell My Lady 's other Maids in dressing well Dear Betty fit to be preferr'd above To Iuno's Chamber or the Queen of Love Gentile well bred not rustically coy Not easie to deny desired Joy Through whose soft Eyes still secret wishes shine Fit for thy Mistress Use but more for mine Who Betty did the fatal Secret see Who told Corinna you were kind to me Yet when she child me for my kind Embrace Did any guilty Blush spread o'er my Face Did I betray thee Maid or could she spy The least Confession in my conscious Eye Not that I think it a disgrace to prove Stoln sweets or make a Chamber-maid my Love Achilles wanton'd in Briseis Armes Atrides bow'd to fair Cassandra's Charms Sure I am less than these then what can bring Disgrace to me that so became a King But when she lookt on you poor harmless Maid You blusht and all the kind Intrigue betray'd Yet still I vow'd I made a stout defence I swore and lookt as bold as Innocence Damme I gad all that and let me dye Kind Venus do not hear my perjury Kind Venus stop thy Ears when Lovers lye Now Betty how will you my Oaths requite Come prethee le ts compound for more delight Faith I am easie and but ask a Night What! Start at the proposal how deny Pretend fond Fears of a Discovery Refuse lest some sad Chance the thing betray Is this your kind your damn'd Obliging way Well deny on I 'll lye I 'll swear no more Corinna now shall know thou art a Whore I 'll tell since you my fair Address forbid How often when and where and what we did ELEGY the EIGHTH Englished By Another Hand To his Mistress's Maid THou to whom ev'ry Artfull dress is known Fit to attend on Goddesses alone Whom I in stoln delights have found so free Fit for your Mistress but more fit for Me Tell me O tell the false Discoverers Of our past Joys and all our tender hours Yet did I blush Or did my Language move The least Suspicion of our conscious Love What thô I tax'd the man with want of sense Whose generous Love cou'd with the Maid dispence Did not Achilles fair Briseis love And Greece's King his Captive's Vassal prove Am I then greater than brave Peleus Son That I should scorn the thing which Kings have done But when on you she fix't her angry Eyes Your Cheeks confest the Crime your Tongue denies While my more settl'd Soul the Fact disproves And makes the Gods the Patrons of our Loves But O ye Gods forgive the Injury And spare so sweet so harmless Perjury Then what Reward is to such Service due Be kind my Dear and let 's our Joys renew Ingratefull Maid can you here feign delay More than my Passion shall her Anger sway Should your nice Folly still deny Access I 'll turn Informer and my self confess E'en where we were how oft and what was done Both to your Mistress and the World I 'll own ELEGY the NINTH Englished By the late Earl of Rochester To Love O Love how cold and slow to take my part Thou idle wanderer about my heart Why thy old faithfull Souldier wilt thou see Opprest in thy own Tents they murther me Thy Flames consume thy Arrows pierce thy friends Rather on foes pursue more noble ends Achilles Sword would certainly bestow A cure as certain as it gave the blow Hunters who follow flying Game give o'er When the prey 's caught hopes still lead on before We thine own slaves feel thy Tyrannick blows Whilst thy tame hand 's unmov'd against thy foes On men disarm'd how can you gallant prove And I was long ago disarm'd by Love Millions of dull men live and scornfull Maids We 'll own Love valiant when he these invades Rome from each corner of the wide World snatch't A Laurel or 't had been to this day thatcht But the old Souldier has his resting place And the good batter'd Horse is turn'd to Grass The harrast Whore who liv'd a wretch to please Has leave to be a Bawd and take her ease For