I saw and started at the sight And interchangably look'd red and white I felt my Blood run swiftly to my heart And a chill Trembling seize each outward part My Breath grew short my Pulse did quicker beat My Heart did heave as it wou'd change its Seat A faint cold Sweat o're all my Body spread A giddy Megrim wheel'd about my head VVhen for the reason of this change I sought I found my Eyes had all the mischief wrought For they my Soul to Strephon had betray'd And my weak heart his willing Victim made The Traytors conscious of the Treason They had committed ' gainst my Reason Look'd down with such a bashful guilty Fear As made their Fault to every Eye appear Tho the first fatal Look too much had done The lawless wanderers wou'd still gaze on Kind Looks repeat and Glances steal till they Had look'd my Liberty and Heart away Great Love I yield send no more Darts in vain I am already fond of my soft Chain Proud of my Fetters so pleas'd with my state That I the very Thoughts of Freedom hate O Mighty Love thy Art and Power joyn To make his Frozen breast as warm as mine But if thou try'st and can'st not make him kind In Love such pleasant real Sweets I find That though attended with Despair it be 'T is better still than a wild Liberty The Change or Miracle VVhat Miracles this childish God has wrought Things strange above belief who wou'd have thought My Temper cou'd be to this Tameness brought I who the wanton Boy so long defi'd And his Fantastick Godhead did deride And laugh'd at Lovers with insulting Pride Now pale and faint beneath his Altar lie Own him a great and glorious Deity And want the pitty that I did deny For my proud Victor does my Tears neglect Smiles at my Sighs treats me with disrespect And if I do complain with frowns I 'm check't Though all I sue for be the empty bliss Of a kind Look or at the most a Kiss Yet he 's so cruel to deny me this Before my Passion struck my Reason blind Such Generosity dwelt in my mind I car'd for none and yet to all was kind But now I tamely bend and sue in vain To one that takes delight t' encrease my pain And proudly does Me and my Love disdain To a Gentleman that durst not pass the door while I stood there SIR PAssion 's force compels me now to write And aggravates the wrongs I fain wou'd slight They to my Soul in such loud clamours speak That Reason to resist them is too weak First Rage or Anger call it which you please VVhispers my Soul bear such affronts as these Can your great Mind be unconcern'd when you VVith your own Eyes did such a passage view Can you with Patience hear him say he dare Not stir from thence while that fond Fool is there Oh! where is all your former Greatness gone You in this Act the Stoicks have out done He calls you fond and kind but let him see You can disdain such petty things as he Thus Anger counsel'd me to do but when I strove to obey her Dictats ah then Something like Pitty in your Cause did plead And my faint Anger did in Triumph lead Shame pleaded next and mildly did request She might not quite be exil'd from my brest VVhich she must be if I shou'd entertain But the least Thought of loving you again For when first notice of the words I took Such heat and blood into my Face it struck My self cou'd hardly tell for what it came VVhether I blush'd for Anger or for Shame But when your face I saw I straight grew cold I started trembl'd and my Eye-balls roul'd The breath I had scarce serv'd me to retire E're in a Swound I gently did expire But my high Thoughts and too too gen'rous Flame Scorn'd to be curbed by a needless Shame Hate pleaded next fiercer than all the rest And yet a greater stranger to my brest For my calme brest till now was ne're the Seat Of Surly Passion or unruly Heat Hate urg'd each Action look'd as done in scorn Then asked if I to bear affronts was born This and much more She said but all in vain Ill thoughts of you I ne're cou'd entertain Your great Affronts I witty Jests did think And at coy Looks would turn my head or wink Nay when you gave such proofs of your Disdain That I must see 't I gav 't another Name I only thought you saw me go astray And generously put me in my way How strangely is my Life perplex'd by fate I wou'd not Love and yet I cannot hate First farewel to J. G. FArewel my dearer half joy of my heart Heaven only knows how loth I am to part VVhole Months but hours seem when you are here VVhen absent every Minute is a Year Might I but always see thy charming Face I 'de live on Racks and wish no easier place But we must part your Interest says we must Fate me no longer with such Treasure trust I wou'd not tax you with Inconstancy Yet Strephon you are not so kind as I No Interest no nor Fate it self has pow'r To tempt me from the Idol I adore But since you needs will go may Africk be Kinder to you than Europe is to me May all you meet and every thing you view Give you such Transport as I met in you May no sad thoughts disturb your quiet mind Except you 'l think of her you left behind To Mr. J. G. on his being chosen Steward of his Club presented with the Laurel SIr by your Merit led to you I bring A Laurel-wreath but 't is too mean a thing For your high VVorth and Parts which we In vain wou'd Blazon by such Herauldry For Laurel Palme and Olive may set forth Our Love to you but not express your worth VVhich doth exceed these humble types as far As Titans Rays out shine a twinkling Star I 'le say no more lest while I make You best I seem Injurious to all the rest Of this fair Company who do all by me Chuse you their Steward and unanimously Intreat your care to make their Club to be For Honour and Grandure The Society To J. G. in absence DEar Object of my Love didst thou but know The Tortures that I daily undergo For thy dear sake thou sure woud'st be so kind To weep the Troubles that invade my mind I need not tell thee that I dearly love No all my Actions will my Passion prove For thee I 've left the wise the great the good And on my Vows not my Preferment stood Think then dear Strephon how unkind thou art To prove the Torturer of that tender heart That chose thee out to be its chief Delight And knows no real Joy but in thy sight Since first thy Courtship me to Love inclin'd Thou ne're hast been one hour out of my mind How tedious then must thy long absence be To her that
sway And fled to Heaven while Man did Gold obey Now Money reign'd in chief and sottish Man A slavish servitude to Wealth began Kingdomes to Rule and Princes to Advise Men fondly chose the Rich and not the Wise All lov'd the Man that had a good Estate And Poverty was cause enough to Hate The Rich might all things do and Plaudits have For his worst Acts but scarce the Poor cou'd save His best from Censure now it might be said Wealth hid more Faults than ever Folly made A Friend though heretofore a Sacred Name Now nothing but an empty Sound became For as Mens Riches did or Ebb or Flow So less or more their Friends did kindness show Honour that flew such noble Flights before VVith gen'rous Pinions now no more cou'd soare Such Hights but check'd to stoon did not difdain T' a gilded Lure and ware a Golden Chain Beauty that all Men did for Heavenly hold Forgot its worth and sold its self for Gold Nay Love though more Divine than all the rest Became a Mercenary or at best A mingled Compound of desire and wealth If any's better 't must be had by Stealth Marriage is Love and Joynture mixt together And yet sometimes it happens that there 's neither But VVit this glorious trifle did disdain VVealth strove to make it yield but all in vain More noble Objeâ—ts gen'rous VVit did chuse To employ its Thoughts and did this Trash refuse VVealth threatn'd VVit it ever shou'd be Poor Yet VVit the Golden Calf wou'd not adore So when both saw their Labour was in vain They vow'd to part and never meet again Song 1. RAnging the Plain one Summers Night To pass a vacant hour I fortunately chanc'd to light On lovely Phillis bow'r The Nymph adorn'd with Thousand Charms In expectation fate To meet such joys in Sprephon's Armes As Tongue can ne're Relate 2. Upon her hand She lean'd her Head Her Breasts did gently rise And every Lover might have read Her wishes in her Eyes With every breath that mov'd the Trees She suddainly wou'd Start A Cold on all her Body seiz'd A Trembling on her Heart 3. But He that knew how well she Lov'd Beyond his Hour had staid Which both with Fear and Anger mov'd The Melancholick Maid You Gods she said how oft he Swore He wou'd be hear by One And now alas 'T is Six and more And yet He is not come Loves Cruelty or the Prayer SPeak cruel Love what is 't thou dost intend Oh! tell me have thy Tyrannies no end Tho to thy Pow'r I have a Rebel bin May not Repentance expiate my Sin Oh! long e're this if I had injur'd Heaven So true a Convert it wou'd have forgiven Four times the Sun his Yearly Race hath run Since first my Heart was by my Eyes undone In all which time thou scarce hast been so kind To give one Minutes Quiet to my mind Thou takest from me the Rellish of Delights My Days no Pleasure know no Sleep my Nights With wandring thoughts each Pray'r thou dost prophane I offer to my God and mak'st them vain Sometimes with Books I wou'd divert my mind But nothing there but J's and G's I find Sometimes to ease my Grief my Pen I take But it no Letters but J G will make I seek Diversion in Company But my discourse great Love is all of Thee In Sighs and Sobs I Languish out the Night And all the day in Tears I drown my Sight Yet I no pity can from thee obtain Thou 'lt neither Cure nor mitigate my Pain Mercyless Tyrant Since thou wilt not Save Quickly Destroy and send me to my Grave The Reply by a Friend WHat Pray'r incessant to my Ears does fly What proud Presumption me of Tyranny Accuseth can Love whose pow're is so Great Be taxed with Ingratitude or Hate Fond Girle sorbear and know that your Dispair Is want of Courage cou'd you once but dare Your Victor and my Vassal you shou'd see How Heav'n wou'd punish his inconstancy But while your Hope on his fond Vows relies And thinks Heaven minds those little Perjuries You quit the greater Pow'r that you may claime By Beauty's Conquest the loss of it 's your Shame When first to you he his Addresses made Smiles gave him Life your frowns strike him Dead But Viper like being in your Bosom warm'd And his chill'd Soul being into Action charm'd By th' Influence of your Beams he straight denies What gave his Love a Life and from it flies From such a Rebel as from Plagues I 'de run 'Twixt Love and Hate is no comparison Nor is he worth your Anger or your Scorn Do but forget that ever he was Born You can't believe the Gods would e're create Ingratitude that Quintessence of Hate Think him a Spectrum that had only Shape Without Substance and Love did onely Ape Then reassume that Pow'r that Nature's Law Gives to your Sex be Wise keep Slaves in Awe Be generous in Love Love not in vain 'T is base to Love where we 're not Lov'd again To J. G. TEll me you Hate and Flatter me no more By Heaven I do not wish you shou'd adore With humbler Blessings I content can be I only beg that you would pity me In as much Silence as I first design'd To bear the Raging Torture of my Mind For when your Eyes first made my Heart your Slave I thought t' have hid my Fetters in my Grave Heaven witness for me that I strove to hide My violent Love and my fond Eyes did chide For glancing at thee and my Blushes hid With as much care as ever Virgin did And though I languish'd in the greatest pain That e're despairing Lover did sustain I ne're in publick did let fall a Tear Nor breath'd a Sigh i' th' reach of any Ear Yet I in private drew no Breath but Sighs And Show'rs of Tears fell from my wretched Eyes The Lillies left my Front the Rose my Cheeks My Nights were spent in Sobs and suddain Shreeks I felt my strength Insensibly decay'd And Death aproach but ah then you convey'd Soft Am'rous tales into my listning Ears And gentle Vows and well becoming Tears Then deeper Oaths nor e're your Seige remov'd 'Till I confest my Flame and own'd I lov'd Your kinder Smiles had rais'd my Flames so high That all at Distance might the Fire Discry I took no care my Passion to suppress Nor hide the Love I thought I did possess But ah too late I find your Love was such As Gallants pay in course or scarce so much You Shun my sight you feed me with delays You slight affront a Thousand several ways You doe Torment with Study'd Cruelty And yet alternately you Flatter me Oh! if you Love not plainly say you hate And give my Miseries a shorter date 'T is kinder than to Linger out my Fate And yet I cou'd with less regret have Dy'd A Victime to your Coldness than your Pride Song 1. BEneath a spreading Willows shade Ephelia a harmless Maide
at all Song 1. OBscure the Glories of your Eyes Or give us leave to Love To see and not desire that Prize Impossible must prove Look not so nicely on your Slave That at your Feet doth bow When such enticeing Looks you gave To tempt the Fool so low 2. Coy wanton Nymph though you forbid Your Slaves to seek Redress And force us keep our Torture hid Your Guilt is ne're the less It cannnot sure be Pity found But barb'rous Cruelty VVhen you with Pleasure give a VVound So deep you start to see To a Lady who tho Married could not endure Love should be made to any but her Self SAy jealous Phillida what Humour 's this No Shepherd can bestow a Smile or Kiss On any Nymph but you must pout and vex Wou'd you Monopolize the Masc'line Sex Is not the sprightly Damon's heart Your Prize Securely bound by Hymens Sacred ties Strephon and Colon your Adorers are And bashful Cleon does your Fetters wear Young Coridon did by your Beauty fall Insatiate Nymph wou'd you ingross them All Who doth not smile to see what Pains you take To watch our private Meetings and to make Our Amours publick and if your list'ning Ear By chance soft Amorous Discourses hear Then raging Mad with Jealousie and Pride You curse the Shepherds and the Nymphs you chide But why thus Angry if we entertain The Heart and Love of some poor humble Swain VVho never his cheap Thoughts so high durst lift As to present you with so mean a Gift What wrong have you why shou'd you break your Rest If they to us present a Linnets Nest A Wreath of Flowers or a Bunch of Grapes Filberts or Strawberries or the Roots of Rapes When Lambs and Kids are daily offer'd you By the great Swains that for your favour sue If any Shepherdess so bold dare be T' invade thy Right or proudly Rival thee Th'had'st Reason for thy Anger but while we Content with what you slight and scorn can be Why shou'd you Envy or disturb our Joys Let us possess in Peace these little Toys ACROSTICH V ain Girl thy Muse to be more Modest teath E ndeavour not at things above thy Reach N o common Pen for this great Task is fit I t asks great Dryden's or sweet Cowley's Wit T' express the Beauteous wonders of your Face I nimitable Colours Features Grace A ngelick Sweetness and a charming State C ompounded sweetly on each Look doth wait O h if my Fancy cou'd but reach your Worth O r find fit Epithets to set it forth K ings then to thy fair Eyes shou'd Homage pay E xpressing Thee more like the Gods than They. SONG 1. YOu wrong me Strephon when you say I 'me Jealous or Severe Did I not see you Kiss and Play With all you came a neer Say did I ever Chide for this Or cast one Jealous Eye On the bold Nymphs that snatch'd my Bliss While I stood wishing by 2. Yet though I never disapprov'd This modish Liberty I thought in them you only lov'd Change and Variety I vainly thought my Charms so strong And you so much my Slave No Nymph had Pow'r to do me Wrong Or break the Chains I gave 3. But when you seriously Address With all your winning Charms Unto a Servile Shepherdess I 'le throw you from my Arms I 'de rather chuse you shou'd make Love To every Face you see Then Mopsa's dull Admirer prove And let Her Rival me ACROSTICH R arest of Virgins in whose Breast and Eyes A ll that is Vertuous and Lovely lies C ou'd I describe but half thy Excellence H ow wou'd the Gods with speed Bodies condense E ternity for Thee they wou'd despise L eave their Divine Abodes new Shapes devise L ovelier than that which Danae did surprize P roud if in any Form they thee cou'd please O r give to their Immortal Cares some ease W hen us poor Mortals with your Sight you bless N one can find words their wonder to express E namouring and dazling with your Sight Y ou prove at once our Torture and Delight The Twin Flame FAntastick wanton God what do'st thou mean To break my Rest make me grow pale and lean And offer Sighs and yet not know to who Or what 's more strange to sigh at once for two Tyrant Thou know'st I was thy Slave before And humbly did thy Deity Adore I lik'd nay doated on my Strephon's Face And Sung his Praise and thine in every place My Soul he singly sway'd alone possest My Love and reign'd sole Monarch of my Breast Was not all this enough but thou fond Boy Wanton with too much Pow'r thy Self t' employ Must In my Breast oh let it ne're be told Kindle new Flame yet not put out the Old Young Clovis now though I oppose in vain Succeeds not Strephon but doth with him Reign And I though both I love dare neither choose Lest gaining one I shou'd the other loose Both Fires are equal great Flame equal high Yet spight of this a difference I descry One wild and raging furiously Devours My Peace my Rest and all my pleasant Hours The other mild and gentle like those Fires That melt Perfumes creates as sweet desires That doth with Violence to Passion tend This climbs no higher than the name of Friend Yes greedy Strephon you shall ever be My only Love and singly Reign o're me My Passion you shall Monopolize You 've such resistless Magick in your Eyes Though Clovis Merits yours do far transcend Yet I 'm your Lover and but Clovis Friend Blindly I love you yet too plain discover He 'l prove a better Friend then you a Lover Accept sweet Clovis of that little part I can present of my unruly Heart Cou'd I command my Love or know a way My Stubborn lawless Passion to sway My Love I wou'd not Parcel nor bestow A little Share where more than all I owe This undeserving Strephon I wou'd teare From my fond Breast and place your Merit there But 't is not in my Pow'r some hidden Fate Compels me love Him that I strive to Hate That Love we to our Prince or Parents pay I 'le bear to you and love an humble way I 'le pay you Veneration for your Love And your Admirer not your Mistress prove Oh! be contented with the Sacred Name Of Friend and an inviolable Flame For you I will preserve and the first place Of all the few I with that Title grace And yet this Friendship doth so fast improve I dread lest it in time shou'd grow to Love To a Proud Beauty IMperious Fool think not because you 're Fair That you so much above my Converse are VVhat though the Gallants sing your Praises loud And with false Plaudits make you vainly Proud Tho they may tell you all Adore your Eyes And every Heart 's your willing Sacrifice Or spin the Flatt'ry finer and perswade Your easie Vanity that we were made For Foyles to make your Lustre Shine more Bright And must pay
Homage to your dazling Light Yet know what ever Stories they may tell All you can boast is to be pretty well Know too you stately piece of Vanity That you are not Alone ador'd for I Fantastickly might mince and smile as well As you if Airy Praise my mind cou'd swell Nor are the loud Applauses that I have For a fine Face or things that Nature gave But for acquired Parts a gen'rous Mind A pleasing Converse neither Nice nor Kind When they that strive to Praise you most can say No more but that you 're Handsome brisk and gay Since then my Fame 's as great as yours is why Should you behold me with a loathing Eye If you at me cast a disdainful Eye In biting Satyr I will Rage so high Thunder shall pleasant be to what I 'le write And you shall Tremble at my very Sight VVarn'd by your Danger none shall dare again Provoke my Pen to write in such a strain SONG 1. BE Judge dear Strephon was it kind Through ev'ry sense t' invade my Heart And when I had my Soul resign'd To play a Cruel Tyrants part 2. Being your Slave I 'm not so vain To hope to have one minutes Ease But shou'd take Pleasure in my Pain If my Dear Conqu'rer it wou'd please 3. In Sighs and Sobs and Groans and Tears And Languishment I pass the Day My Rest at Night is broke with Fears Yet you my Grief with Scorns repay 4. But Since you can so Cruel prove To mock the Suffrings you Create Triumph and Boast how much I Love I 'le give your Mirth a speedy Date 5. For know Insulter I disdain To live to feed your Vanity My Blood shall wash out that fond Stain My Honour got by loving Thee To one that asked me why I lov'd J. G. WHy do I Love go ask the Glorious Sun Why every day it round the world doth Run Ask Thames and Tyber why they Ebb and Flow Ask Damask Roses why in June they blow Ask Ice and Hail the reason why they 're Cold Decaying Beauties why they will grow Old They 'l tell thee Fate that every thing doth move Inforces them to this and me to Love There is no Reason for our Love or Hate 'T is irresistable as Death or Fate 'T is not his Face I've sence enough to see That is not good though doated on by me Nor is 't his Tongue that has this Conquest won For that at least is equall'd by my own His Carriage can to none obliging be 'T is Rude Affected full of Vanity Strangely Ill-natur'd Peevish and Unkind Unconstant False to Jealousie inclin'd His Temper cou'd not have so great a Pow'r 'T is mutable and changes every hour Those vigorous Years that Women so Adore Are past in him he 's twice my Age and more And yet I love this false this worthless Man VVith all the Passion that a VVoman can Doat on his Imperfections though I spy Nothing to Love I Love and know not why Sure 't is Decreed in the dark Book of Fate That I shou'd Love and he shou'd be ingrate Intended Farewel to J. G. FArewel Dear Love may'st thou have in Excess Pleasure Delight Content and Happiness Oh may thy Joys but equalize my Grief Thine great above compare as mine beyond Relief 'T were vain to wish Fate wou'd to thee be kind 'T were vain for thee to bribe the Sea or Wind 'T were vainer yet to fear a Storm or Fight Who know thy Worth such thoughts as these will slight The Fates their Duty so well understand Without my Wish they 'l briâ—g thee safe to Land Thy Merits and it's charge Heaven so well knows 'T will guard thee though unpray'd to from thy foes If thou hast any But sure no one can Bear hatred to so Great so Brave a Man But if by chance thy Princes Enemie Shou'd hope to make your Ship their Prize to be Tell the Brave Captain that he need not fear Their Force though Strong for if thou but appear With Awful Reverence they 'l strait Retire And hold it Impious one Gun to Fire Sav'd by thy Pow'r they 'l all acknowledge thee The Guardian Angel of the Ship to be Mocked in Anger FArewel ungrateful Man Sail to some Land Where Treach'ry and Ingratitude command There meet with all the Plagues that Man can bear And be as Wretched as I 'm Happy here 'T were vain to wish that Heav'n wou'd Punish thee 'T were vain to Invocate the Wind and Sea To fright thee with rude Storms for surely Fate Without a wish will Punish the Ingrate It's Justice and thy Crimes Heaven so well knows That all it's Creatures it will make thy Foes If they 're not so already but none can Love such a worthless such a sordid Man And though we 've now no publick Enemies And you 're too strong for private Piracies Yet is the Vessel in more danger far Than when with all our Neighbours we had War For all that know what Guest it doth contain VVill strive to Fire or Sink it in the Main Plagu'd for thy sake they all will reckon thee The Achan or Accursed thing to be A Lovers State UNthinking Fool wrong not thy Reason so To fancy Pleasures in Loves Empire grow Alass a Lovers state is full of Fears Their daily Entertainment Sighs and Tears The Cruel god in Tortures did delight And either Shoots at Rovers or in Spight Amongst his numerous Slaves you 'l hardly find One pair of Lovers mutually kind Or if they be those mighty Bars of Fate Int'rest and Friends their Persons separate An am'rous Youth here for a Lady Dies Offring his Heart a Tribute to her Eyes With thousand Vows which proudly she Rejects Sighs for another that her Sighs neglects A beautious Nymph whom Heaven and Nature made To be by all Ador'd by all Obey'd Though thousand Victims sigh beneath her Feet In all her Conquests can no Pleasure meet But for some Sullen Youth who proudly Flies Dresses her Cheeks in Tears in languid looks her Eyes Here we shall Lovers find possessing all That by mistake we Joys and Pleasures call And yet with Jealousies and Idle fears Eclipse 'em so that scarce a Glimps appears Men are unconstant and delight to Range Not to gain Freedom but their Fetters change And what a Year they did with Passion seek Grows troublesome and nauseous in a Week And the poor Lady newly taught to Love With Grief and Horror sees her Man remove Wonder not then thou canst no Pleasure see But know thou seek'st it where it cannot be Who vainly seeks for Joys in Love as well Might Quiet seek in Courts and Ease in Hell A Vindication to angry Clovis DEar Clovis can'st thou entertain one Thought That I who 've with so many Hazards sought T' oblige and please Thee now wou'd blot thy Name Or seek t' Eclipse thy well deserved Fame Shou'd but one word slip from my heedless Tongue Against that Vertue I 've admired so long To expiate
Fame o're all the Plain Phylena's Praises rung And on their Oaten Pipes each Swain Her Matchless Beauty sung The Envious Nymphs were forc'd to yield She had the sweetest Face No Emulous Disputes they held But for the second Place 2. Young Celadon whose stubborn Heart No Beauty e're cou'd move But smil'd to hear of Bow and Dart And brav'd the God of Love Wou'd view this Nymph and pleas'd at first Such Silent Charmes to see VVith wonder Gaz'd then Sigh'd and Curst His Curiosity To a Gentleman that had left a Vertuous Lady for a Miss DUll Animal miscall'd a Man for Shame Give o're your foolish tales of Fire and Flame The Nymphs abhor you and your Stories hate Count you a Monster barb'rously Ingrate Your fine sweet Face in which such Pride you take Th' exactness of your clever easie Make Your Charming Meen bewitching Tongue nor yet The fancied Greatness of your boasted Wit Can now the meanest Nymph to Pity move Though once they taught the great Phylena Love Phylena Glory of the Surrey-Plain The envy'd Wish of every hopeless Swain Whose Artless Charms the Proud and Great had brought Upon their Knees th' Old and Morose had taught How to Languish and they that durst not show They were her Lovers silently were so But you alone did of her Conquest boast In that one Prize all Natures Wealth engross't But your insipid Dulness found more Charms More Pleasure in the wanton Flora's Armes With Her you past your hours in idle Prate While poor Phylena unregarded sate Kind heart She wept and gently She Reprov'd Your strange Ingratitude told you you lov'd A Shepherdess that had a sickly Fame And wou'd bring Infamy upon your Name Who can believe With unheard Impudence You own'd your Crime and urg'd in your defence The Nymph sung charmingly was very Witty Gay Brisk had Teeth oh infinitely Pretty Ingenious Lime-twigs to catch Woodcocks on Pretty Ingredients to Dote upon Can you prefer these trivial Toys that are As common as their Owner to the rare Perfections dwell in your Phylena's Breast Things too Divinely Great to be exprest Her Vertues though her Beauty shou'd decay Might Charm the World and make Mankind obey Degen'rous Man break this ignoble Chain That dims your Lustre does your Honour stain Or you 'l be judg'd for all your vain Pretences Not only to have lost your Wits but Sences SONG 1. EPhelia while her Flocks were fair Was sought by ev'ry Swain The Shepherds knew no other care Than how her Love to gain In Rural Gifts they vainly strove Each other to Out-vie Fondly imagining her Love They might with Presents buy 2 But she did every Gist despise And ev'ry Shepherd hate Till Strephon came whose Killing Eyes Was ev'ry Womans Fate A while alas She vainly strove The Bleeding Wound to hide But soon with Pain cry'd out I Love In spight of all my Pride 3. The Wolves might now at pleasure Prey On her desenceless Sheep Her Lambs o're all the Plain did stray None in the Fold would keep But she regardless of these Harms In Pastimes spent the Day Or in her faithless Strephons Arms Dissolv'd in Pleasures lay 4. But as Her num'rous Flocks decay'd His Passion did so too Till for a Smile the easie Maid Was forc'd with Tears to woe But being Shrunk from few to none He left the Nymph forlorn Derided now by every one That she did lately scorn Fortune Mistaken THough Fortune have so far from me remov'd All that I wish or all I ever lov'd And Rob'd our Europe of its chief Delight To bless the Africk world with Strephons Sight There with a Lady Beauteous Rich and Young Kind Witty Vertuous the best Born among The Africk Maids presents this happy Swain Not to oblige Him but to give Me Pain Then to my Ears by tattling Fame conveys The Tale with large Additions and to raise My Anger higher tells me 't is design'd That Hymens Rites their hands and hearts must bind Now She believes my Business done and I At the dire News wou'd fetch a Sigh and Die But She 's deceiv'd I in my Strephon grow And if he 's happy I must needs be so Or if Fate cou'd our Interests disjoyn At his good Fortune I shou'd ne're Repine Though 't were my Ruin but I exulte to hear Insulting Mopsa I no more shall fear No more he 'l smile upon that ugly Witch In that one Thought I 'm Happy Great and Rich And blind Dame Fortune meaning to Destroy Has fill'd my Soul with Extasies of Joy To Him I love She 's given a happy Fate And quite destroy'd and ruin'd Her I hate To J. G. on the News of his Marriage MY Love alas I must not call you Mine But to your envy'd Bride that Name resign I must forget your lovely melting Charms And be for ever Banisht from your Arms For ever oh the Horror of that Sound It gives my bleeding Heart a deadly wound VVhile I might hope although my Hope was vain It gave some Ease to my unpitty'd Pain But now your Hymen doth all Hope exclude And but to think is Sin yet you intrude On every Thought if I but close my Eyes Methinks your pleasing Form besides me lies VVith every Sigh I gently breath your Name Yet no ill Thoughts pollute my hallow'd Flame 'T is pure and harmless as a Lambent Fire And never mingled with a warm Desire All I have now to ask of Bounteous Heaven Is that your Perjuries may be forgiven That She who you have with your Nuptials blest As She 's the Happiest VVife may prove the Best That all our Joys may light on you alone Then I can be contented to have none And never wish that you shou'd Kinder be Than now and then to cast a Thought on Me And Madam though the Conquest you have won Over my Strephon has my hopes undone I 'le daily beg of Heaven he may be Kinder to You than he has been to Me. To Damon Gay Fop that know'st no higher Flights than Sense What was it gave thee so much Impudence T' attempt the violation of a Shrine That lodg'd a Soul so Sacred so Divine Her lovely Face might teach thee to Adore But cou'd not tempt thee to a loose Amour Such charming goodness in her Eyes appear Might strike a Satyr with an awful Fear But thou less humane and more wild than they Thy impious Passion durst before her lay Sweet Innocence how she amazed stood To hear such Tales how her affrighted blood Flush'd in her Face and then recoyl'd again To hear discourse so horridly Prophane She look'd such things might teach thee to despair Dissolve thy Being fright thee into Air But thy unpar'llel'd boldness durst despise The Sacred Lightning that flasht from her Eyes And by a second Guilt durst tempt her Tongue To thunder Vengeance on thee for her Wrong Impious Criminal for this Offence Heaven hardly will accept of Penitence In tempting of her Vertue know that you Have done more than
FEMALE POEMS On several OCCASIONS Written by Ephelia LONDON Printed by William Downing for James Courtney Anno Dom. 1679. To the most EXCELLENT PRINCESS MARY Dutchess of Richmond Lenox AS he that Plants a tender Vine takes care To shelter it from the cold Northern Aire And place it where the Vigour of the Sun May Cherish it till it be stronger grown So I that must a blooming Bud expose To greater Dangers than the North-wind blows Under some happy Shade wou'd have it grow Where it secure from Blasts may kindly Blow Than Your great Self none fitter can I find For You to all that need your Help are kind So great your Power is none will pretend T' oppress the Smallest thing that You defend Your Noble Clemency bids me be Bold And lay it at Your Feet Fear bids me hold Asks how I can but hope that you who enjoy Such Mighty Wit shou'd mind so poor a Toy But Fear I 'le Banish Hope shall be my Guide And I will Act a Miracle of Pride Omit th'Address that all to Greatness use And begg you 'd Patronize an Infant Muse Give leave the front may with your Name be drest And then the World will value all the rest All know great Madam that you do Inherit Your Noble Fathers far more noble Spirit In generosity you 've Wonders done And Bounty's Prize from all Mankind have won Your Face was always Beauty's Standard thought Where all Pretenders to be try'd were brought Such noble Constancy dwells in your Breast Such gen'rous Scorn of Fortune you 've exprest Ev'n when the greatest of her Ill you 've had A Fathers fall as undeserv'd as fad Lost crouds of Noble Friends a large Estate You bravely bore these sad Effects of Fate The Noble Richmond and Great Howard are Losses that nothing ever can Repaire Such Valiant Comely Loyal Gallant Men The Court must never hope to shew agen Yet you with Patience these Stroaks sustain More Fortitude's in your Heroick Mind Than can be shown again by Woman-kind Had I a less Soul'd Patron I shou'd fear This idle Trifle would offend your Ear But Madam your Indulgence doth extend Not only to Encourage but Defend Ephelia A POEM Presented to his SACRED MAJESTY on the Discovery of the PLOT HAil Mighty Prince whom Heaven has design'd To be the chief Delight of human kind So many Vertues croud your Breast that we Do almost question your Mortality Sure all the Planets that o're Vertue Reigns Shed their best Influence in your Royal Veins You are the Glory of Monarchial Pow'rs In Bounties free as are descending Show'rs Fierce as a Tempest when ingag'd in War In Peace more mild than tender Virgins are In pitying Mercy you not imitate The Heavenly Pow'rs but rather Emulate None but your Self your Suffrings could have born With so much Greatness such Heroick Scorn When hated Traytors do your Life persue And all the World is fill'd with cares for you When every Loyal Heart is sunk with Fear Your Self alone doth unconcern'd appear Your Soul within still keeps it's lawful State Contemns and dares the worst effects of Fate As the bright Majesty shot from your Eye Aw'd your tame Fate and rul'd your Destiny Though your undaunted Soul bear you thus high Your solid Judgment sees there 's danger nigh Which with such Care and Prudence you prevent As if you fear'd not but would cross th' Event Your Care so nobly looks it doth appear 'T is for your Subjects not your Self you fear Heaven make this Princes Life your nearest care That does so many of your Vertues share If Monarchs in their Actions copy you This is the nearest piece you ever drew Blast every Hand that dares to be so bold An impious Weapon ' gainst his Life to hold Burst every Heart that dares but think him ill Their guilty Souls with so much Terrour fill That of themselves they may their Plot unfold And live no longer than the Tale is told Safe in your Care all else will needless prove Yet keep him safe too in his Subjects love Your Subjects view you with such Loyal eyes They know not how they may their Treasure prize Were you defenceless they would round you fall And Pile their Bodies to build up a Wall Were you distress'd 't would move a gen'rous strife Who first should loose his own to save your Life But since kind Heaven these dangers doth remove VVee 'l find out other ways t' express our Love VVee 'l force the Traytors all their Souls resign To Herd with him that taught them their Design AN ELEGY On the Right Reverend GILBERT SHELDON L d Arch-Bishop of Canterbury WHen I heard Sheldon had to Fate resign'd A sudden Consternation seiz'd my Mind Senseless I stood the dangerous Surprize Kept back the Pious Tribute of my Eyes And tho no words can e're my Grief express Yet by their own all may judge it's Excess For when so good so great a Prelate falls The World must Celebrate his Funerals And not a man in the vast Universe But sends a Bleeding Heart t' attend his Herse To tell his Vertues would whole Volumes ask And were a Scraph's not a Womans task Over his Flock so tenderly Austere He taught them both at once to Love and Fear So strictly Pious that to all that knew His holy life his Precepts needless grew Despis'd Religion did so Beauteous seem In this blest Saint it rais'd its first Esteem His head a Receptacle did contain More Learning than the world can boast again He made his Wealth and large Possessions be But humble Handmaids to his Charitie VVhich was so great it might be truly said That by his Death the Poor were Orphans made VVhen ugly Treason flourisht highest he Spight of the danger own'd his Loyalty VVith joy he suffer'd for the Church and State And bore with ease the weightiest stroaks of Fate Stop stop a while fierce Rapture choaks my words And no expression to my Thoughts affords I am all admiration and as well Some heavenly Vision as his Worth might tell ACROSTICH A ll sev'ral Beauties Colours Airs and Grace N one ever saw together in one Face N o hold a while I do a Lady know E ach several Beauty splendidly can show B ut alass Beauty 's but the smallest Grace U nless it be i' th' Mind as well as Face R are she is too i' th' Beauties of the Mind Y oung and yet wise the wonder of her Kind ACROSTICH A pollo hence thy aid I do refuse N o Nymph will I implore nor yet no Muse N o Nectar do I want to write her praise G reat Subjects without help our Fancies raise I n thy sweet Face such charming Beauties be L ess we at Angels wonder than at thee B righter than Suns thy lovely Eyes appear E ach Look doth a Majestick sweetness wear R eign Sov'reign Queen of Beauty Love and VVit T ill Death 's cold hand shall teach thee to submit Love's first Approach Strephon
wishes nothing else to see And lives not but when in thy Company Haste then dear Love for if thou longer stay My Griess will make me sigh my Soul away Prologue to the Pair-Royal of Coxcombs Acted at a Dancing-School Gallants IF as you say you Love Varietie VVe have some hopes that you so kind will be To the poor Play to give it your Applause Though not for Wit nor Worth but yet because A Woman wrote it though it be not rare It is not common VVomen seldom dare To reach so high to entertain your Ears VVhich strikes our Poets with a thousand fears Of your displeasure yet some little Ray Of hope is left for womens Pardons may Be gain'd with ease surely from Gentlemen Be kind for once then to a Female Pen. VVhen you with women in discourse do sit Before their Faces you 'l commend their wit Pray flatter now the Poet heareth it She hopes too the great Wits who croud the Age Censure the Poets and undo the Stage Won't undervalue so their mighty Wit To Criticize on what a Woman writ Yet if you 'l have it so it shall be Naught They that dislike are welcome to find Fault For She protests She had no other ends In writing this than to divert her Friends Like or dislike She 's careless bid me say That you shou'd Censure only when you Pay True they must sawn that write for a Third day She scornes such Baseness therefore will not sue But yet bright Ladies does submit to you Your Smiles may cherish what their Frowns wou'd blast Then when they Hiss be pleas'd to Clap more fast She knows your Judgments are too clear and high To be Deceiv'd but knows no Reason why You may not Pardon all the Faults you spy Be kind then Ladies to this trifling Play Her Wit is now i' th' Bud when blown She may Present you with a better till It come This Ladies humbly begs a gentle Doom The first Song in the Play BEgone fond Love make haste away Duty not thee our Souls must sway Can thy Almighty Pow'rs Find out no other Hearts To Shoot thy Fatal Darts But hapless Ours VVho cannot though we wou'd Obey What secret Pow'r is it Controuls The Empire thou pretend'st o're Souls That still thy shafts are lost And still thou Shoot'st in vain For they that feel most Pain By Duty 're Crost Or else unjustly meet Disdain Fondly Men say the VVorld doth move By Loves Command for simple Love Alass is Subject unto Fate Oh Love Assert thy Pow'r And make the Dotards in an hour Our Faces hate And the young Knights like Swans or Turtles prove The Second Song COme quickly Death And with thy fatal Dart Release that Heart That hath too long been thy great Rivals Slave Oh! stop that Breath I languish out in pain Let me not Sigh in vain But quick and gently send me to my Grave For since that Swain That I so dearly prize Doth scorn my Sighs And break those Sacred Vows to me he gave I 'le not complain of Mans Inconstancie But humbly Beg of thee with speed and ease To send me to my Grave And Love I 'le still Adore thy Deity And Worship thee If to my alter'd Shepherd thou'lt Relate Since 't was his will I should not call him mine I freely can Resign and Die for him And glory in my Fate Epilogue The Play is damn'd well That we look'd to hear Yet Gentlemen pray be not too severe Though now the Poet at your Mercy lies Fates wheel may turn and she may chance to rise Though she 's an humble Suppliant now to you Yet time may come that you to her may Sue Pardon small Errors be not too unkind For if you be she 'l keep it in her mind The self same usage that you give her Play She 'l copy back to you another day If you her Wit or Plot or Fancy blame VVhen you Addresses make She 'l do the same But if you 'l Clap the Play and Praise the Rime She 'l do as much for you another time Welcome to J. G. Those that can tell Heaven's Joy when News is brought That some Poor Sinners dear Conversion's wrought Might tell our Raptur'd Extasies when we Receiv'd the News that you were come from Sea Each wore such Looks as visibly exprest Some more than common Joy sate smiling in his Brest Great as your Friend's Joys you will nothing find Unless the Grief of those you left behind I can describe my Joy for your Return No more then tell how I your Absence Mourn Both are beyond the reach of words t' express And to describe them wou'd but make them less The Blessing of young Heirs is mixt with Pain And by their Father's Deaths Princes their Empires gain If then all pleasure meets with some allay Forgive me Dearest Strephon if I say I almost Grieve to think that thou canst be Six days in London e're thou Visit me Wealth 's Power HOw Happy was the VVorld before men found Those metals Nature hid beneath the Ground All Necessary things She plac'd in View But this She wisely hid because She knew That it destructive to her work wou'd be And jarr the consort of her Harmony No sooner Steel was Found but men began To find new ways to Death and cruel man MadeSwords and Spears and Bows and Darts which he First use'd on Beast VVho fell the Victimes of his Cruelty Pride and Revenge then Rag'd in every Soul And Fiery Passion Reason did controule But when those Mines we 're found which we call rich Because their Glitt'ring Beauty did bewitch And please our cousen'd Senses then with more Than mean devotion man did Gold adore Deluded man did then this Trifle call The chiefest Good that cou'd to him befall How strangely Frantick man didst thou mistake When of this trash thou didst an Idol make For tho to it thou did'st no Altars rear It s Zealous Votary thou didst appear This fatal Poyson was by Heaven hid I' th bowels of the earth and when it did By chance i' th' Hesperian Garden shoot above Heaven knowing how mischievous it wou'd prove The passage did with watchful Dragons guard And made the way to misery more hard To pass than that which lead to Bliss But all in vain for had Heaven hidden this I'th'Verge of Hell man wou'd have fetcht it thence And thought it a sufficient Recompence For â—ll his pains but when he had attain'd This much desired Curse he thought he 'd gain'd A Blessing Heav'n wou'd Envy blut alas The worth not in the Metal but his Fancy was No Man did needless Merit now regard None Vertue sought none Valout wou'd reward None Learning valu'd none poor Wit did mind None honour'd Age few were to Beauty kind All Gold ador'd all Riches did Admire Beyond being Rich no Man did now aspire Gold thus Advanc'd and all things else neglected Justice depos'd and Wisdom disrespected They left the Earth to Wealth 's more pow'rful
Sate rifling Natures store Of every Sweet with which she made A Garland for her Strephons Head As Gay as ever Shepherd wore 2. She seem'd to know no other Care But wether Pinks or Roses there Or Lillys look'd most sweet Scarce thinking on her Faithless Swain VVho Ranging on the neighb'ring Plain A wanton Shepherdess did meet 3. But by Mischance he led her near Th' Unlucky Fatal Willow where His kind Ephelia sate He told the Kindness that she show'd Boasted the Favours she bestow'd And glory'd that he was ingrate 4. The Angry Nymph did rudely tare Her Garland first and then her Hair To hear her Self abus'd Oh Love she said is it the Fate Of all that Love to meet with Hate And be like me unkindly us'd To my Rival SInce you dare Brave me with a Rivals Name You shall prevail and I will quit my Claime For know proud Maid I Scorn to call him mine Whome thou durst ever hope to have made thine Yet I confess I lov'd him once so well His presence was my Heav'n his absence Hell With gen'rous excellence I fill'd his Brest And in sweet Beauteous Forms his Person drest For him I did Heaven and its Pow'r despise And onely liv'd by th' Influence of his Eyes I fear'd not Rivals for I thought that he That was possess'd of such a Prize as me All meaner Objects wou'd Contemn and Slight Nor let an abject thing Usurpe my Right But when I heard he was so wretched Base To pay devotion to thy wrinkled Face I Banisht him my sight and told the Slave He had no Worth but what my Fancy gave 'T was I that rais'd him to this Glorious State And can as easily Annihilate But let him live Branded with Guilt and Shame And Shrink into the Shade from whence he came His Punishment shall be the Loss of Me And be Augmented by his gaining Thee Neglect Returned PRoud Strephon doe not think my Heart So absolute a Slave Nor in so mean a servile state But if I say that you 're Ingrate I 've Pride and Pow'r enough my Chains to Brave 2. I Scorn to Grieve or Sigh for one That does my Tears Neglect If in your Looks you Coldness wear Or a desire of Change Appear I can your Vows your Love and you Reject 3. What refin'd Madness wou'd it be VVith Tears to dim those Eyes VVhose Rays if Grief do not Rebate Each hour new Lovers might Create And with each Look gain a more glorious Prize 4. Then do not think with Frowns to Fright Or Threaten me with Hate For I can be as cold as you Disdain as much as proudly too And break my Chain in spight of Love or Fate On a Bashful Shepherd 1. YOung Clovis by a lucky Chance His Lov'd Ephelia spy'd In such a place as might advance His Courage and abate her Pride VVith Eyes that might have told his Sute Although his bashful Tongue was mute Upon her gazed he But the Coy Nymph though in Surprize Upon the Ground fixing her Eyes The Language wou'd not see 2. VVith gentle Grasps he woo'd her Hand And sigh'd in seeming Pain But this she wou'd not understand His Signs were all in vain Then change of Blushes next he try'd And gave his Hand freedom to slide Upon her panting Brest Finding she did not this controul Unto her Lips he gently stole And bid her guess the rest 3. She blush'd and turn'd her Head aside And so much Anger feign'd That the poor Shepherd almost Dy'd And she no Breath retain'd Her killing Frown so chill'd his Blood He like a senseless Statue stood Nor further durst he Woe And tho his Blessing was so near Check'd by his Modesty and Fear He faintly let it goe Maidenhead Written at the Request of a Friend AT your Intreaty I at last have writ This whimsey that has nigh nonplust my wit The Toy I 've long enjoyed if it may Be call'd t' Enjoy a thing we wish away But yet no more its Character can give Than tell the Minutes that I have to Live 'T is a fantastick Ill a loath'd Disease That can no Sex no Age no Person please Men strive to gain it but the way they chuse T' obtain their Wish that and the Wish doth lose Our Thoughts are still uneasie till we know What 't is and why it is desired so But th' first unhappy Knowledge that we boast Is that we know the valu'd Trifle's lost Thou dull Companion of our active Years That chill'st our warm Blood with thy frozen Fears How is it likely thou shou'dst long endure When Thought it self thy Ruin may procure Thou short liv'd Tyrant that Usurp'st a Sway O're Woman-kind though none thy Pow'r obey Except th' Ill-natur'd Ugly Peevish Proud And these indeed thy Praises Sing aloud But what 's the Reason they Obey so well Because they want the Power to Rebell But I forget or have my Subject lost Alass thy Being's Fancy at the most Though much desired 't is but seldom Men Court the vain Blessing from a Womans Pen. The Reconcilement IF you Repent can I forgive your Crime Except you Love again and call you Mine What Question 's this Ask some poor Slave if he Will take again his former Liberty Some greedy Miser ask that Gold had lost If hee 'l Receiv't again one that is tost In a feirce Tempest on the raging Main Ask if he wou'd be safe on Land again Ask the Diseased if they wou'd be Well Or ask the Damn'd if they wou'd leave their Hell But ask not me a Question So Vain As can you take my wandring Heart again No Conqu'ring Hero e're did Foes persue VVith half the Pleasure that I took in you No Youthful Monarch of a Glit'ring Crown Or prating Coxcomb of a Scarlet Gown VVas half so proud as I was of your Love Nor cou'd great Juno's State my Envy move VVhile in your Heart I thought I Reigned in chief Then Strephon think how killing was the Grief That I sustain'd to find my Empire lost And servile Mopsa of your Conquest boast None but a depos'd Monarch made a Scorn By the rude Slaves that were his Vassals born VVho while th' Imperial Circle grace'd his Brow At awfull distance to his Feet did bow His Scepter shatch'd by an unworthy hand That late was proud to wait his least command But now th' Insulting wretch dares threat the Head Of him whose Frown but late cou'd look him dead Cou'd guess the horrid Tortures seiz'd my mind VVhen I perceiv'd you were to Mopsa kind That ill-look't Hag who nere had guilty bin No not in thought of such a dareing Sin Had you not broke the Solemne Faith you vow'd Made me a Scorn to the Ignoble Crow'd Of vulgar Nymphs who now dare loudly prate Reviling tales they durst not think of late I did almost to Death this usage Mourn Yet 't is forgot i' th Joy of your Return Your proofs of Penitence shall be but small Look kind on me and not on her
it's guilt I 'de in thy sight The Impious Criminal in pieces bite Knew'st thou my thoughts I then wou'd scorn to fear The Envious Tales of any Whisperer But since that Object is not in thy ken My Heart 's true Effigiis take from my Pen In my Esteem thou hast so high a Seat All I think of Thee 's Eminently great From thy sweet Tongue one word ne're slipt away That holy Priests or Angels might not say Thy Actions so just and free from Blame Heaven by thy Life it 's Sacred Laws might frame The scatter'd Vertues that all mankind Share In thy great self alone united are These are my thoughts of Thee and while they flow Thus pure my Tongue can no foul language know Those prophane Words cou'd never come from me For had'st thou Faults I have no Eyes to see So fast the Ties of sacred Friendship bind That when I shou'd not see I can be blind Thou know'st I can not wrong thee if I wou'd And Clovis know I wou'd not if I cou'd Last Farewel to J. G. FArewell thou soft Seducer of my Eyes That in Loves shape did'st Cruelty disguise No longer shall thy lovely Melting Charms Bewitch my Soul to please it's self in Harms No more I 'le show'r down unregarded Tears No more I 'le break my Rest with Am'rous Fears With Scorching Sighs I 'le blast my Lips no more No more thy Pity I 'le in vain implore In Languishment no more my Eyes I 'le dress But reassume that Heart thou did'st possess For since the Guest thou wou'd'st not entertain It was but just it shou'd return again Now 't is my own again with care and Art I 'le guard each passage that leads to my Heart Love shall Resign and Reason shall command And Care and Wisdome Sentinels shall stand My treachrous eyes nor thy more treachrous tongue Shall not betray me as they 've done too long Nor will I cast one single Thought on Thee Unless my Heart again Assaulted be Then I 'le remind it of thy Cruelty And though the Headstrong Passion shou'd prevaile Against my Reason yet this barb'rous Tale Wou'd make the Rebel willingly Submit And change the Fever to an Ague fit For who again wou'd venture on that Shore Where hee 'd been split and Shipwrackt once before The Unkind Parting LOvely Unkind cou'd you so Cruel be To leave the Land e're you took Leave of me Explain this mystick Act and let me know Whether it doth your Hate or Kindness show Lov'd you too well my Parting sighs to hear Or wanted Strength my kinder Tears to bear Or were you Tend'rer yet and did decline A solemn Leave not for your Sake but mine Lest my kind Heart o're charg'd with too much Grief Shou'd with my Farewell-sighs breath out my Life Or was it how the very Thought doe's fright To show with how much Contempt you cou'd slight Or did you love so little that no Thought Of poor Ephelia to your mind was brought No no 't was none of these I guess thy mind Strephon thou knew'st I was so fondly kind That at the News of Parting into Tears I strait had melted Thousand Am'rous Fears I had Suggested to my self and you In Complaisance must needs have done so too You must have told how loth you were to part And vow'd that tho you went I kept your Heart Omitted nothing tender Love cou'd shew From my pale Cheeks have kist the Pearly Dew Spoke all the tender'st things you cou'd devise And to the old added new Perjuries Vow'd Constancy in Absence and then Swear A quick Return shou'd dissipate my Fear All of these pleasing Vanities you knew A declar'd Lover was oblig'd to doe But to this trouble you wou'd not be brought But stole in silence hence yet tho you thought This Tale too long and troublesome to tell You might have grasp'd my hand and said Farewel At which dire Words such Consternation wou'd Have seiz'd my Soul I senseless shou'd have stood 'Till you beyond a Sigh's faint Call had fled Nay till Tangiere you 'd near recovered This way my Kindness cou'd not tiresome be Nor your Neglect wou'd not have troubled me Seeing Strephon Ride by after him I supposed gone STay lovely Youth do not so swiftly fly From her your Speed must cause as quick to die Each step you take hales me a step more near To the cold Grave nor is 't an idle Fear For know my Soul to you is chained fast And if you make such cruel fatal hast Must quit it's Seat and be so far unkind To leave my fainting breathless Trunk behind Your Sight unthought of did so much surprise You might have seen my Soul danc'd in my Eyes But the cold Look you gave in passing by Froze my warm Blood and taught my Hopes to die When you were past my Spirits soon did fail My Limbs grew stiff and cold my Face grew pale My Heart did Pant scarce cou'd I fetch my Breath In every part nothing appear'd but Death Yet did my Eyes persue your cruel Flight Nor ever mov'd 'till you were out of Sight But then alas it cannot be exprest I faint I faint my Death shall tell the rest SONG 1. KNow Celadon in vain you use These little Arts to me Though Strephon did my Heart refuse I cannot give it thee His harsh Refusal hath not brought It's Value yet so low That what was worth that Shepherds Thoughts I shou'd on You bestow 2. Nor can I love my Strephon less For his ungrateful Pride Though Honour does I must confess My guilty Passion chide That lovely Youth I still adore Though now it be in vain But yet of him I ask no more Than Pity for my Pain To Madam Bhen MAdam permit a Muse that has been long Silent with wonder now to find a Tongue Forgive that Zeal I can no longer hide And pardon a necessitated Pride VVhen first your strenuous polite Lines I read At once it Wonder and Amazement bred To see such things flow from a Womans Pen As might be Envy'd by the wittiest Men You write so sweetly that at once you move The Ladies Jealousies and Gallant 's Love Passions so gentle and so well exprest As needs must be the same fill your own Breast Then Rough again as your Inchanting Quill Commanded Love or Anger at your Will As in your Self so in your Verses meet A rare connexion of Strong and Sweet This I admir'd at and my Pride to show Have took the Vanity to tell you so In humble Verse that has the Luck to please Some Rustick Swains or silly Shepherdess But far unfit to reach your Sacred Ears Or stand your Judgment Oh! my conscious Fears Check my Presumption yet I must go on And finish the rash Task I have begun Condemn it Madam if you please to th' Fire It gladly will your Sacrifice expire As sent by one that rather chose to shew Her want of Skill than want of Zeal to you SONG 1. WHen Busie
the Devil dar'd to do Audacious Villain sure thou next wil't try Deposing of thy God to rule the Sky That Action hardly can more wicked be Than what already hath been done by Thee If e're again thy Crime thou do'st repeat Expect thy Ruine to be quick and great With Thunder-bolts thou shalt be crush'd to Hell There with the Devils and the Damn'd to dwell While that bright Maid that thou would'st have betraid Shall be by Angels lov'd by Men obey'd To Phylocles inviting him to Friendship 1. BEst of thy Sex if Sacred Friendship can Dwell in the Bosom of inconstant Man As cold and clear as Ice as Snow unstain'd With Love's loose Crimes unsully'd unprophan'd 2 Or you a Woman with that Name dare trust And think to Friendship 's Ties we can't be just In a strict League together we 'l combine And Friendship 's bright Example shine 3. We will forget the Difference of Sex Nor shall the World 's rude Censure us Perplex Think Me all Man my Soul is Masculine And Capable of as great Things as Thine 4. I can be Gen'rous Just and Brave Secret and Silent as the Grave And if I cannot yield Relief I 'le Sympathize in all thy Grief 5. I will not have a Thought srom thee I 'le hide In all my Actions Thou shalt be my Guide In every Joy of mine Thou shalt have share And I will bear a part in all thy Care 6. Why do I vainly Talk of what we 'l do We 'l mix our Souls you shall be Me I You And both so one it shall be hard to say Which is Phylocles which Ephelia 7. Our Ties shall be strong as the Chains of Fate Conqu'rors and Kings our Joys shall Emulate Forgotten Friendship held at first Divine T' it 's native Purity we will refine To the Honoured Eugenia commanding me to Write to Her FAir Excellence such strange Commands you lay I neither dare Dispute nor can Obey Had I the sweet Orinda's happy Strain Yet every Line would Sacriledge contain Like to some awful Deity you sit At once the Terrour and Delight of Wit Your Soul appears in such a charming Dress As I admire but never can express Heav'n that to others had giv'n sev'ral Graces Sorne noble Souls some Wit some lovely Faces Finding the World did every one Admire Resolv'd to raise their Admiration higher And in one Piece every Perfection croud So fram'd your Self and of it's work grew Proud Each Rising Sun saw you more Good more Fair As you alone took up all Heaven's Care Such awful Charms do in your Face appear As fill Man-kind at once with Love and Fear VVho hear you Speak must take your Tongue to be The first Original of Harmony Your Meen hath such a Stately Charming Air As without Heralds doth your Birth declare Your Soul so Noble yet from Pride so free That 't is the Pattern of Humility Else I had never dar'd to give one Line To your fair Hand so Impolite as Mine Pardon dear Madam these untuned Lays That have Prophan'd what I design'd to Praise Nor is 't possible but I so must do All I can think falls so much short of you And Heaven as well with Man might angry be For not describing of the Deity In its full height of Excellence as you Quarrel with them that give you not your Due To the Beauteous Marina 1. NAture that had been long by Art out-done Resolved a Piece to frame So Beauteous that sawcy Art shou'd own She was quite vanquished and o're-thrown And all her mended Faces after came In this Resolve your lovely Self she made And lavish of her Graces Out-did her self exhausted all her Store Of ev'ry Sweet till she cou'd give no more Bankrupt for ever to all other Faces In Infancy all did the Bud admire But when full Blown it rais'd our Wonder higher And Admiration grew into Desire 2. When with your Sight the Change you bless Or walk the open Street A thousand Tongues your Praise express While dying Eyes aloud confess You have a Captive in each Man you meet When bashful Clovis chanc'd to spy Your killing Face with mine So much you charm'd that Shepherds Eye That my faint Lights he did despise And look'd as I my Empire must resign Though his each Look I challenge as my Due He scarce gave one his Eyes no motion knew But fixt as the dull Earth with Wonder gaz'd on you Passion discovered I Thought I 'le Swear that I could freely part With the small Theft I 'de made of Clovis Heart 'T is true of Him I still had in my Breast Some busie Thoughts that did disturb my Rest Yet like wild Passion it did not seem But lookt like Friendship or at most Esteem I thought his Heart was a too glorious Prize To be a Trophy to my twylight Eyes And when with Sighs he has his Passion show'd A thousand times I 've wisht it were bestow'd On sweet Marrina thinking none beside Had Worth enough to be young Clovis Bride And beg'd of Love that he would give her leave He smil'd to see me thus my Self deceive Fancying that lazy Friendship that alas Too late I found an active Passion was To undeceive me brought that Shepherd where I and Marrina both together were The Swain surpriz'd to me did hardly lend A squinting Glance but to my Beauteous Friend Fierce VVishing-looks from dying Eyes did send I turn'd my Head and sigh'd at the Disgrace VVhile Love and Jealousie rag'd in my Face Love laught out-right to see my Discontent Now Fool said she thy fatal Pray'rs repent Malicious God quoth I so much above My Self or Interest I Clovis love That still I wish that lovely Nymph and he united were But wish not now the Killing-news to hear To Coridon on shutting his Door against some Ladies COnceited Coxcomb tho' I was so kind To wish to see you think not I design'd To force my self to your unwilling Arms Your Conversation has no such Charms Think less those lovely Virgins were with me VVou'd thrust themselves into your Company They 've Crowds of Gallants for their Favours sue And to be Caress'd need not come to you ' Gainst handsom VVomen rudely shut your Dore Had it been 〈◊〉 â—â—ants you cou'd do no more Faith we expected with a horrid yelp Out of the VVindow you 'd have cry'd help help What Outrage have you offer'd to our Sex That you should dread we came but to perplex Or since I saw you last what have I done Might cause so strange an Alteration Till now your wishing Eyes have at my Sight Spoke you all Rapture Extasie Delight But at the Change I have a Critick guess So much of Friendship to me you profess More than your lazy Tongue can e're express And your performance hath been so much less That Debtor-like you dare not meet my Eyes Which was the reason of your late Surprize I 'le tell you Sir your kindness to requite A loving Secret meerly out of
spight A Secret four and twenty Moons I 've kept I 've sigh'd in private and in private wept And all for You but yet so muâ—◠〈◊〉 Pride Surmounts my Passion that now were I try'd And th' Heart so long I 've wisht for prostrate lay Before my Feet I 'de spurn the Toy away And tho perhaps I wish as much as you I 'le starve my Self so I may starve You too And for a Curse wish you may never find An open Door nor Woman when she 's kind My Fate OH cruel Fate when wilt thou weary be VVhen satisfied with tormenting me VVhat have I e're design'd but thou hast crost All that I wisht to gain by Thee I 've lost From my first Infancy thy Spight thou 'st shown And from my Cradle I 've thy Malice known Thou snatch'st my Parents in their tender Age Made me a Victim to the furious Rage Of cruel Fortune as severe as thee Yet I resolv'd to brave my Destiny And did with more than Female Constancy Not all thy Malice cou'd extort a Tear Nor all thy Rage cou'd ever teach me Fear Still as thy Pow'r diminisht my Estate My Fortitude did my Desires abate In every state I thought my Mind content And wisely did thy cross Designs prevent Seeing thy Plots did unsuccessful prove As a sure Torment next thou taught'st me Love But here thou wer 't deceiv'd too for my Swain As soon as he perceiv'd pity'd my Pain He met my Passion with an equal Fire Both sweetly languisht in a soft Desire Claspt in each other's Arms we sate all Day Each Smile I gave he 'd with a Kiss repay In every Hour an Ages Bliss we reap'd And lavish Favours on each other heap'd Now sure thought I Destiny doth relent And her insatiate Tyranny repent But how mistaken how deceiv'd was I Alas She onely rais'd my Hopes thus high To cast me down with greater Violence For midst our Joys she snatch'd my Shepherd hence To Africa yet tho' I was neglected I bore it better than could be expected VVithout Regret I let him cross the Sea VVhen I was told it for his Good wou'd be But when I heard the Nuptial Knot he 'd ty'd And made an Afric Nymph his happy Bride My Temper then I could no longer hold I curs'd my Fate I curs'd the Pow'r of Gold I curs'd the Easiness believ'd at first And Heaven forgive me Him I almost curs'd Hearing my Loss to him was mighty Gain I check'd my Rage and soon grew Calm again Malicious Fate seeing this wou'd not do Made Strephon wretched to make me so too Of all her Plagues this was the weightiest Stroke This Blow my resolv'd Heart hath almost broke Yet spight of Fate this Comfort I 've in store She 's no room left for any Ill thing more To One that Affronted the Excellent Eugenia THing call'd a Man Ambition cheats thy Sense Or thou' rt deceiv'd with too much Impudence To think that Divine Creature you pursue Can be deserv'd or merited by you Dare not to be so Impiously Rude To tax such Goodness with Ingratitude One Smile from her will more Obligements pay Than shoud'st thou live ten Ages thou coud'st lay Thou talk of Obligations that wer 't fram'd To make proud man of his own Sex asham'd When in his greatest Pride he cast an Eye On thy ill Manners and Deformity He 'l hate himself and rather wish to be An Ass or Owl than such a thing as thee Dar'st thou affront Her thou pretend'st t' adore That Heavenly Mortal if she be no more Because to them better deserv'd it she Shew'd more respect and more Civility You rudely must Invite her to expose Those God-like Men unto your barb'rous Blows She will not do 't not that thy Arm she fears Or thinks thy Valour more refin'd than theirs Tho' in their Glory she designs no share Yet of their Honour she takes too much care To let 'em Fight a despicable Thing That when they 've Conquer'd can no Trophy bring Know Fool too thee she does too much contemn To let thee boast thou ever Fought'st with them To vex thee they her Favourites shall be And make their Court still in abusing thee Abusing thee what have I vainly sed What Nonsence unawares I 've uttered The harshest Satyr that we can invent Is Panegyrick when of Thee 't is meant All my Invention cannot reach a Curse For whatsoe're I think still thou art worse Yet I 'le endeavour at One Be 't thy Fate To live the Object of Eugenia's Hate To Clovis desiring me to bring Him into Marina's Company CHarming Insulter sure you might have chose Some easier way than this you now propose To try the boundless Friendship I prosess For if Fate can this Task will make it less Clovis believe if any Thing there is I can deny your Merit it is this If I had Rocks of Diamonds Mines of Ore Engross'd the Pearls upon the Eastern-shore VVith as much Joy I 'de lay'em at your Feet As Youthful Monarchs in new Empires meet Cou'd you be Happy by my Misery In any shape but this I 'de wretched be VVith ev'ry other Wish-I wou'd comply But bright Marina's Sight I must deny That Gift's too prodigal I 'de rather part With Life its self and give my bleeding Heart For I with Blushes own that Sacred Fire Once rul'd my Breast degenerate to desire I thought it Friendship Swore it shou'd be so Yet spight of Me it wou'd to Passion grow When to this worthless Heart you did address With all the Marks that Passion cou'd express On my soft Neck your Pensive Head wou'd lay And Sigh and Vow and Kiss the Hours away Your Tears and languish'd Looks I did neglect And wou'd not Love yet highly did Respect Thought you the best of Men and counsel'd you To turn your Passion into Friendship too Told you my Heart was cruel Strephon's Prize His devout tho neglected Sacrifice Wou'd often talk of sweet Marina's Charms And oft'ner wish her lodg'd in your dear Arms. Ah fatal Wish ye Gods why shou'd you mind The foolish Wishes made by Woman-kind I ev'ry hour saw Strephon's Love decay And Clovis more Endear'd me every day Why at so vast a Rate shou'd he Oblige Or why so soon shou'd he remove his Siege That Hour that Mine began Your Love did end You took my Counsel and became my Friend And by those Ties did earnestly request That I wou'd make Marina's Heart your Guest Oh cruel Task you Destinies am I In my own Ruine made a Property Yet want the Pow'r the Treason to deny Yes tho this piece of knotty Friendship be Hard in its self and harder far to me I 'le try and in th' Attempt such Vigor show I 'le make her Yours tho Fate it self say no I 'le tell your Merits in such soft smooth Strains Shall leave a Thrilling Pleasure in her Veins And when my Tongue no sweeter Words can find I 'le look as there were ten times more behind Then
speak again nor leave her till I spy She is Inthrall'd and loves as much as I. Then I 'le present you with this Beauteous Slave The greatest Gift a Lover ever gave And when you cannot wish happier to grow Then think with how much Pain I made you so In the Person of a Lady to Bajazet Her unconstant Gallant HOw far are they deceiv'd that hope in vain A lasting Lease of Joys from Love t' obtain All the Dear Sweets we 're promiss'd or expect After Enjoyment turn to cold Neglect Cou'd Love a constant Happiness have known That Mighty Wonder had in Me been shown Our Passions were so favoured by Fate As if she meant them an Eternal Date So kind he look'd such tender Words he spoke 'T was past Belief such Vows shou'd e're be broke Fix'd on my Eyes how often wou'd he say He cou'd with Pleasure gaze an Age away When Thought too great for Words had made him mute In Kisses he wou'd tell my Hand his Sute So strong his Passion was so far above The common Gallantries that pass for Love At worst I thought if he unkind shou'd prove His ebbing Passion wou'd be kinder far Than the First Transports of all others are Nor was my Love weaker or less than his In him I center'd all my hopes of Bliss For him my Duty to my Friends forgot For him I lost alas what lost I not Fame all the Valuable Things of Life To meet his Love by a less Name than Wise How happy was I then how dearly blest VVhen this Great Man lay panting on my Breast Looking such Things as ne're can be exprest Thousand fresh Loves he gave me every hour VVhile eagerly I did his Looks devour Quite overcome with Charms I trembling lay At every Look he gave melted away I was so highly happy in his Love Methought I pity'd those that dwelt above Think then thou greatest loveliest falsest Man How you have vow'd how I have lov'd and than My faithless Dear be cruel if you can How I have lov'd I cannot need not tell No every Act has shewn I lov'd too well Since first I saw you I ne're had a Thought VVas not entirely yours to you I brought My Virgin Innocence and freely made My Love an Offering to your Noble Bed Since when you 've been the Star by which I 've steer'd And nothing else but you I lov'd or fear'd Your Smiles I onely liv'd by and I must VVhen e're you Frown be shatter'd into Dust I cannot live on Pity or Respect A Thought so mean wou'd my whole Frame infect Less than your Love I scorn Sir to accept Let me not live in dull Indiff'rency But give me Rage enough to make me die For if from you I needs must meet my Fate Before your Pity I wou'd choose your Hate To Madam F. DIvinest Thing whom Heaven made to shew The very utmost that its Skill cou'd do If you had liv'd in ancient Rome or Greece You had had Altars built you long ere this Not all the Pow'rs they worship'd e're possest Half of the Merit crouds your Noble Brest So Good so Great so Brave so Heavenly Fair Princes are proud your Lovely Chains to wear So perfect are the Vertues of your Mind Not Envy's self a single Stain can find The Vastness of your Gallant Soul doth move The World to pay an Universal Love Yet at an awful Distance they admire Beyond a Veneration none aspire Oh may these Blessings have a lasting Date And You be safe from all the Strokes of Fate My Wish is vain and Pray'rs are needless too Heav'n is too Just to be Unkind to You. SONG KNow Strephon once I lov'd you more Than Misers do their Wealth I took from Heaven you to adore And thought no Sin i' th Stealth I knew no Joys but what you gave Nor ever had a Thought Of any state beyond your Slave Freedom I never sought 2. But since your strange Ingratitude Cou'd the soft Favours slight For which your Rivals vainly su'd Know you 've no longer Right To the least Joy that I can give So unconcern'd I 'de prove The World shall easily believe That I did never love To the Angry Eugenia INcensed Fair One if Forgiveness be Not in thy Power to extend to Me Which to believe were such an impious Thought Heav'n scarce wou'd pardon tho with Tears 't were sought Destroy at once the Creature that you hate And wrack me not with a sad ling'ring Fate Yet e're I Die permit some small Defence Not that I will pretend to Innocence That were to think that You have been Unjust Which let me Perish when I once Mistrust With all that Rev'rence that a Pious Jew Wou'd name Jehovah I should Speak of You But I prophanely nam'd you in the Ear Of Crowds unfit such Sacred Sounds to hear Yet what I said if traced you will find Tho short of you out-did all Woman-kind My Fault was too much Zeal this forc'd my Tongue To tell the Worth it had Adored long My Life will witness this for Madam know I love too well to Live and Injure You. SONG AH Phillis had you never lov'd Your Hate I could have born Contentedly I wou'd have prov'd The Object of your Scorn But you were once as soft as kind As yielding Virgins be Gods that That Face shou'd have a Mind Stain'd with Inconstancy 2 No Tongue can tell the Mighty Joy Your Kindness did Create But the Sweet Rapture you destroy With suddain causeless Hate So have I seen a Rising Sun Promise a Glorious Day But soon o're-cast its Brightness gone Did to rough Storms give way To Madam G. SPight of my Best Resolves my Thoughts Aspire To Speak what I in Silence shou'd Admire How vainly I endeavour to express What none can e're describe but make it less When your Composure was as first Design'd Heaven to a vast Extravagance was kind Beauty and Wit did lavishly Contest Who shou'd give most which shou'd adorn you best A Stately Meen soft Charms a Face so sweet In You alone do all Perfections meet So Bright your Beauty so Sublime your VVit None but a Prince to wear your Chains is Fit I wou'd wish Something but all Heaven's Store Cannot afford One Single Blessing more Honour nor VVealth you want nor any Thing Unless I wish you a Perpetual Spring Of Youth and Blooming Beauties such as may Make all Your Envious Rivals pine away Ephelia FINIS