fickle grown I 'll change too with the Wind Sometimes in Storms of Love I 'll frown Sometimes be calm and kind My Proteus Love shall frown and play As subtle Foxes doe Till they have seiz'd th' unwary Prey But then shall kill like you IV. A Courtier 's Tongue for Flattery A Poet's Brain for Wit A Womans Breast for Treachery For my designs I 'll get Then through the silly Female flock I cunningly will rove Thus thus for once I 'll try my luck To get their Hate or Love. ON HIS SECRET PASSION FOR COSMELIA BY no Discov'ry have I e'er reveal'd My secret Love so closely yet conceal'd But rather oft with Hypocritick Art In a dissembled look bely'd my Heart Yet cou'd Discov'ry gratifie my Wish Concealment shou'd not long defer the bliss For straight my Passion then I wou'd reveal And whisper in her Ear the Am'rous Tale. But no Relation can my wants relieve Or Limits to my boundless Wishes give Shou'd my Belov'd whose Art hath giv'n new breath To dying Heroes at the point of Death She who no Cure scarce ever undertook But the disease her Patient soon forsook She who each Simple's Sov'reign Vertue knows And to their proper use can them dispose Shou'd She her utmost Skill in Physick try All All wou'd fail to ease my misery All her Prescriptions without Love are vain Love only suits the Nature of my pain Thrice hath the Sun his Annual progress made Since first my Heart was by my Eyes betray'd With various Scenes of suitable delight Cosmelia's Beauty entertain'd my sight Th' Idea of which doth still salute my Eye Nor can her Absence this delight deny Whilst Wit and Learning also charm'd each sence Her Poetry had no less influence For flights of fancy in her lines abound As Wine in Conduits when a King is Crown'd Thus Art Wit Beauty Learning all conspire T' insnare my Heart and set my Soul on fire Her Words her Looks my waking thoughts employ And when I sleep I see her with more joy But ah too soon the silent Shades of Night Do leave their Empire to the rising Light. When lo I find my Pleasures but a Dream Thus chiefest Ioys glide with the swiftest stream A sleep or wake still Love creeps through my Veins And in my Mind the fierce infection reigns Sometimes with Books I wou'd divert my Mind But that increases but the pain I find Sometimes I court enjoyment â—rom my Muse Till by distraction I my fancy lose So wretched Men that sundry Med'cines try As oft increase as cure the Malady In vain I strive these fantoms to remove Or shun those Aerial Images of Love Her bright Idea makes Affections yield Like Ears of Corn when Wind salutes the Field Each rising Sun views her more bright and fair Her Vertues more conspicuous appear Gentle 's her Nature Modest is her Meen Her Conversation's Mild Her Looks Screen No Tyrant Passion rages in her Breast But the meek Dove builds there her Halâ—yon Nest. More Native Wealth doth that fair Breast contain Than all the Treasures of the boundless Main Not so delightfull was the Sacred Tree Nor God-like knowledge cou'd more tempting be For the fair Tree cou'd not such Fruit impart As this fair Virgin wou'd she yield her Heart Happy false Strephon then whose pow'rfull Charms Alone might win this Lady to his Arms His gracefull Meen resistless Charms impart And glide unfelt into her tender Heart Whilst on his Lips such smooth discourse is hung His Person 's less attractive than his Tongue No Storms in Love need Strephon then maintain Without a Siege he may the Conquest gain For where the Fort by Love's betray'd within It needs must yield to let the Hero in But for th' Squire and the young hopefull Cit With the Gay Spark that wou'd be thought a Wit Their hopes are blasted and each strives in vain By Nuptial Tyes the lovely prize to gain The Squire she slights lest he unkind shou'd prove And to his Horse or Dogs prefer her Love. Covetous and unbred she styles the Citt Debauch'd the vain pretender to lewd Wit. Thus bravely she doth these kind Heroes slight Thinking they all intrude on Strephon's right Whilst unconcern'd Triumphant Strephon stood Like some dull Image carv'd of Stone or Wood Insensible of all Love 's pow'rfull Charms Nor mov'd by Wit 's or Beauty's loud Alarms But oh my Soul unlike Effects I find Her Virgin charms produceth in thy mind As nought that 's dead and barren can excite Vital affections or the sence delight So nought inanimate cou'd e'er improve My Gen'rous thoughts to any fruits of Love Or as Clarinda's painted Shadows fed Only my fancy with their White and Red. So bright Cosmelia's Pen it do's impart Vigour and Motion to my Love-sick Heart Her sacred Presence all my Parts do render Vocal except my Tongue that stupid Member Her Wit my Soul inspires with thoughts too great For words to comprehend shou'd silence break If in kind glances by a swift surprize I do behold the Aspect of her Eyes Alternate Paroxysms of Cold and Heat My Vital Spirits strangely do defeat Thus various Passions in my Breast do rove Yet all do meet and terminate in Love. Oh wou'd kind Heav'n but be so much my friend To make my Fate upon my choice depend All my Ambition here I wou'd confine And only this fair Virgin shou'd be mine Lock'd in her Arms in Love and Peace I 'd lye And whilst I breathe my Flames shou'd never dye For shou'd that Beauty which she do's possess Fade into Autumn I cou'd love no less TO CLARINDA ON HIS Deserting her and loving Cosmelia 'T IS true Clarinda once I did resign To your frail Beauty this kind Heart of mineâ— Yet the Resignment but in thought was sign'd For words ne'er seal'd the impress of my Mind Too well my Heart was sensible you gain'd By treach'rous Wiles the Conquest you obtain'd And that by Art y' assum'd deluding Looks Looks unrecorded in kind Nature's Books Therefore I 've justly banish'd you my Breast No more your Beauty shall invade my rest I 've entertain'd a more deserving Guest Not One whose Heart 's inconstant as the Wind But One whose Love to One can be confin'd One whose true Love with Friendship ever flows And whom kind Fate has for my Lover chose To her m' inamour'd Heart doth panting move By fervent Efforts of Ecstatick Love With modest Blushes I inform her Eyes Her vertuous Love has made my Heart her prize And whilst my Blushes doe confess I burn By Sighs and Looks she makes as kind return Know then kind Nymph my Love to you's expir'd And fled to her who thus my Breast has fir'd Without her Art your Beauty will decay A fit of Sickness makes it fade away Whilst in her sight no bold Disease durst stand But trembling vanishes at her command What though your Pencil Nature oft supplies With Charms as piercing as your Azure Eyes Yet know 't is
have all his love Or some debauch'd pretender to lewd wit Or covetous conceited unbred Citt. Thus the brave Horse who late i' th' Coach did neigh Is forc'd at last to tug a nasty Dray To Dr. R. S. my indifferent Lover who complain'd of my Indifferency YOu 'd little reason to complain of me Or my unkindness or indiff'rency Since I by many a circumstance can prove That int'rest was the motive of your love But Heav'n it self doth ever hate th' address VVhose crafty Motive 's only interess No more can honest Maids endure to be The objects of your wife indiff'rency Such wary Courtship only should be shown To cunning jilting Baggages o' th' Town For faithfull Loveâ—s the rhetorick that persuades And charms the hearts of silly Countrey Maids But when we find your Courtship 's but pretence Love were not Love in us but impudence At best I 'm sure it needs must prove to us VVhat e're you think on 't most injurious For had I of that gentle nature been As to have lov'd your Person Wit or Mien How many sighs and tears it would have cost And fruitless expectations by the Post Saying he is unkind oh no his Letter 's lost Hoping him sick or lame or gone to Sea Hope any thing but his inconstancy Thus what in other Friends cause greatest fear To desp'rate Maids their only comforts are This I through all your Blandishments did see Thanks to ill nature that instructed me Thoughts of your sighs would plead sometimes for you But second thoughts again would let me know In gayest Serpents strongest Poysons are And sweetest Rose-trees sharpest prickles bear And so it proves for now it do's appear Your Flames and Sighs only for Money were As Beggers for their gain turn Blind and Lame On the same score a Lover you became Yet there 's a kindness in this false Amour It teaches me ne'er to be Mistress more Thus Blazing Comets are of good portent If they excite the People to repent On the DEATH of my Dear Friend and Play-fellow Mrs E. D. having Dream'd the night before I heard thereof that I had lost a Pearl I Dream'd I lost a Pearl and so it prov'd I lost a Friend much above Pearls belov'd A Pearl perhaps adorns some outward part But Friendship decks each corner of the heart Friendship 's a Gem whose Lustre do's out-shine All that 's below the heav'nly Crystaline Friendship is that mysterious thing alone Which can unite and make two Hearts but one It purifies our Love and makes it flow I' th' clearest stream that 's found in Love below It sublimates the Soul and makes it move Towards Perfection and Celestial Love. We had no by-designs nor hop'd to get Each by the other place amongst the great Nor Riches hop'd nor Poverty we fear'd 'T was Innocence in both which both rever'd Witness this truth the Wilsthorp-Fields where we So oft enjoyd a harmless Luxurie Where we indulg'd our easie Appetites With Pocket-Apples Plumbs and such delights Then we contriv'd to spend the rest o' th' day In making Chaplets or at Check-stone play When weary we our selves supinely laid On Beds of Vi'lets under some cool shade VVhere th' Sun in vain strove to dart through his RayÌ„sâ— Whilst Birds around us chanted forth their Lays Ev'n those we had bereaved of their young VVould greet us with a Querimonious Song Stay here my Muse and of these let us learn The loss of our deceased Friend to Mourn Learn did I say alas that cannot be We can teach Clouds to weep and Winds to sigh at Sea Teach Brooks to murmur Rivers too re-flow VVe can add Solitude to Shades of Yeaugh VVere Turtles to be witness of our moan They'd in compassion quite forget their own Nor shall hereafter Heraclitus be Fam'd for his Tears but to my Muse and Me Fate shall give all that Fame can comprehend Ah poor repair for th' loss of such a Friend The Prospect of a LANDSKIP Beginning with a GROVE WEll might the Antients deem a Grove to be The Sacred Mansion of some Deity For it our Souls insensibly do's move At once to humble Piety and Love The choicest Blessings Heav'n to us has giv'n And the best Off'ring we can make to Heav'n These only poor Mortality make bless'd And to Inquietude exhibit rest By these our rationality is shown The cognisance by which from Brutes we 'r known For who themselves of Piety devest Are surely but a Moral kind of Beasts But those whom gentle Laws of Love can't bind Are Salvages of the most sordid kind But none like these do in our Shades obtrude Though scornfully some needs will call thâ—m rude Yet Nature's culture is so well exprest That Art her self would wish to be so drest For here the Sun conspires with ev'ry Tree To deck the Earth with Landskip-Tapistry Then through some space his brightest Beams appearâ— VVhich do's erect a Golden Pillar there Here a close Canopy of Bows is made There a soft grassie Cloth of State is spread VVith Gems and gayest Flow'rs embroider'd oâ—re Fresh as those Beauties honest Swains adore Here Plants for health and for delight are met The Cephalick Cowslip Cordial Violet Under the Diuâ—eâ—ick Woodbine grows The Splenetick Columbine Scorbutick Rose The best of which some gentle Nymph doth takâ— For saithfull Corydon a Crown to make VVhilst on her Lap the happy Youth's head lyes Gazing upon the Aspects of her Eyes The most unerring best Astronomy VVhereby to Calculate his destiny VVhilst o're their heads a pair of Turtles Coo VVhich with less zeal and constancy do wooâ—â— And Birds around through their extended throats In careless Consort chant their pleasing Notes Than which no sweeter Musick strikes the Ear Unless when Lover's sighs each other hear Which are more soft than Austral Breeses bring Although they say they 're harbingers of th' Spring Ah silly Town wil 't thou near learn to know What happiness in Solitude do's grow But as a hardn'd Sinner for 's defence Pleads the insipidness of innocence Or some whom Vertue due respect would grant But that they feign they 're of her ignorant Yet Blindness is not laudable to plead When we 're by wilfull Ignorance mis-led Should some who think 't a happiness to get Crouds of acquaintance to admire their Wit Resolve their Sins and Follies to discard Their Cronies quickly would them disregard 'T is hard we must the World 's so wicked grown Be complaisant in Sin or live alone For those who now with Vertue are endu'd Do live alone though in a multitude Retire then all whom Fortune don't oblige To suffer the distresses of a Siege Where strong temptation Vertue do's attacque 'T is not ignoble an escape to make But where no Conquest can be hop'd by â—ight 'T is honourable sure to 'scape by flight Fly to some calm retreat where you may spend Your life in quietude with some kind Friend In some small Village and adjacent Grove At once your Friendship and your
you But ah alas my Spells are all too weak To keep a silence which you urge to break Though I remember justly where and when I promis'd ne'er to trouble you agen And when I spoke I meant my words for true But those Resolves were cancell'd at review Of your obliging Lines which made me know Silence to be the greater fault o' th' too For where Perfection do's in triumph sit 'T is rude to praise but sinfull to omit I often read your Lines and oft admire How Eloquence and Fancy do conspire With Wit and Iudgment to make up a Quire And grace the Musick of Apollo's Lire But that which makes the Musick truly sweet Virtue and Innocence in Chorus meet So smooth so gentle all your Writings are If I with other Authors them compare Methinks their Modish Wit to me do's shew But as an Engyscope to view yours through Nor do your Writâ—ngs only smoothly glide Whilst your whole life 's like some impetuous tide But both together keep a gentle pace And each other do each other grace There 's very few like you that do possess The Stoicks strictness Poets gentleness I much admire your Worth but more my Fate That worthless I thereof participate Ev'n so the Sun disdains not to dispence On meanest Insects his bright influence But gives them animation by his Rays Which they requite like me with worthless praise Which now I 'm sure 's grown troublesome to you But you must bear that fate which others do For those that needs will taste of Parents joys Must too indure the plague of Cradle-noise On my Mother and my Lady W who both lay sick at the same time under the Hands of Dr. Paman LIke two sweet Youths stripâ—d naked on the Strand Ready to plunge in consternation stand Viewing the dimples of that smiling Face Whose frigid Body they design t' imbrace Till by their Angel's care some friend Snatches them from the danger they intend So did these Pious Souls themselves prepare By putting off the Robes of worldly care Thus fitted as they were in each degree To lanch into a bless'd Eternity They both had shot the Gulph Had not theiâ— Guardian-God good Paman sent Who by his Skill a longer time them lent Ah happy Paman mightily approv'd Both by thy Patients and the Poor belov'd Hence let no Slander light upon the Fame Of thy great Art much less upon thy Name Nor to bad Druggs let Fate thy Worth expose For best Receipts are baffl'd oft by those Nor let no Quack intrude where thou do'st come To crop thy Fame or haste thy Patients doom Base Quackery to Sickness the kind Nurse The Patients ruine and Physicians curse Let no infectious Sickness seize thy Blood But that thou may'st live long to do much good May all the Blessings light on thee that can Attend a Doctor or a Christian Man. Since by thy care thou hast restor'd to us Two in whom Virtue 's most conspicuous Better I 'm sure no Age can ever shew Whose Lives are Precepts and Examples too In Commendation of the Female Sex. Out of SCIPINA AH Beauteous Sex to you we 're bound to give Our thanks for all the Blessings we receive Ev'n that we 're Men the chief of all our boast Were without you but a vast blessing lost In vain would Man his mighty Patent show That Reason makes him Lord of all below If Woman did not moderate his rule He 'd be a Tyrant or a softly fool For e'er Love's documents inform his Breast He 's but a thoughtless kind of Houshold Beast Houses alas there no such thing wou'd be He 'd live beneath the umbrage of a Treâ— Or else usurp some free-born Native's Cave And so inhabit whilst alive a Grave Or o'er the World this Lordly Brute wou'd rove Were he not taught and civiliz'd by Love. 'T is Love and Beauty regulate our Souls No rules so certain as in Venus Schools Your Beauty teacheth whatsoe'er is good Else good from bad had scarce been understood What 's eligible by your smiles we know And by your frowns refuse what is not so Thus the rough draught of Man you have refin'd And polish'd all the Passions of his mind His Cares you lessen and his Ioys augment To both extreams set the just bounds Content In fine 't is you to Life its relish give Or 't were insipid not worth while to live Nay more we 're taught Religion too by you For who can think that such Perfections grew By chance no 't was the divine Pow'rs which thus Chose to exhibit their bright selves to us And for an Antepast of future bliss Sent you their Images from Paradise To my BROTHER whilst he was in France DEar Brother So far as you advance Your knowledge by your Iourney into Franceâ— So far and more I 'm sure I backward go For I can't say As in praesenti now Nor ever shall I am so much concern'd For your dear safety whilst you are return'd Nothing at present wonted pleasure yields The Birds nor Bushes or the gaudy Fields Nor Osier holts nor Flow'ry banks of Glen Nor the soft Meadow-grass seem Plush as when We us'd to walk together kindly here And think each blade of Corn a Gem did bear Instead of this and thy Philosophy Nought but my own false Latin now I see False Verse or Lovers falsest of the three Ev'n thoughts of formor happiness augment My Griefs and are my present punishment As those who from a state of Grandeur fall Find adverse Fate hard to dispence withall Had Devils never Heaven seen Their Hell a smaller Curse had been On the DEATH of my Brother COme Sorrow come embrace my yielding heart For thou' rt alone no Passion else a-part Since of my Dear by Death I am bereft Thou art the faithfull'st Lover I have left And so much int'rest thou hast got in me All thoughts of him prove only Pimps to thee If any joy sâ—em to accost my Soul One thought of him do's presently controle Those fawning Rivals all which steal away Like wand'ring Ghosts at the approach of day But hold fond Grief thou must forbear a while Thy too too kind Caresses which beguile Me of my Reason retire whilst I Repeat the Life the Death the Elogy Of him my Soul ador'd with so much pride As makes me slight all worldly things beside Of him who did by his fraternal Love More noble Passions in my Bosome move Than e'er cou'd be infus'd by Cupid's Darts Or any feign'd adulterate sordid Arts Of him whose blooming Youth pleas'd each Man's Eye And tempted Women to Idolatry Of him whose growing Art made Death afraid He shou'd be vanquish'd and his Throne betray'dâ— 'Cause with success and yet no less applause He rescu'd many from the Tyrant's jaws At last the Tyrant raging full with spight Assaults his Enemy with all his might And for his Second brings a Feavour too In this Attacque what could our Champion doe He bravely fights but forc'd at last to
Poverty 's the certain Fate Which attends a Poet's state TO THE Importunate ADDRESS OF POETRY KInd Friend I prithee cease t' infest This barren Region of my Breast Which never can a Harvest yield Since Sorrow has o'er-grown the Field If Int'rest won't oblige thee to 't At least let Honour make thee do 't 'Cause I ungratefully have chose Such Friends as will thy Charms opposeâ— But nought I see will drive thee hence Grief Bus'ness nor Impertinence Still still thou wilt thy Ioys obtrude Upon a Mind so wholly rude As can't afford to entertain Thee with the welcom of one strain Few Friends like thee will be so kind To come where Int'rest do's not bind Nay some because they want excuse To be unkind will feign abuse But thou kind Friend art none of those Thy Charms thou always do'st oppose 'Gainst all Inquiâ—tudes o' th' Mind If I 'm displeas'd still thou art kind And by thy Spells do'st drive away Dull Spirits which with me wou'd stay And fill'st their empty places too With Thoughts of what we ought to doe Thoughts to the Soul if they be good Are both its physick and its food They fortiâ—ie it in distress In joy th' augment its happiness Thoughts do attend us at all times They urge us to good deeds and crimes They do assist us in all states To th' Wretched they 're Associates And what 's more strange than all before They 're Servants to the innocent and poor But to the Rich and Wicked Lords or something more A Farewell to POETRY WITH A Long Digression on ANATOMY FArewell my gentle Friend kind Poetry For we no longer must Acquaintance be Though sweet and charming to me as thou art Yet I must dispossess thee of my Heart On new Acquaintance now I must dispence What I receiv'd from thy bright influence Wise Aristotle and Hippocrates Galen and the most Wise Socrates AEsculapius whom first I should have nam'd And all Apollo's younger brood so fam'd Are they with whom I must Acquaintance make Who will no doubt receive me for the sake Of Him from whom they did expect to see New Lights to search Nature's obscurity Now Bartholine the first of all this Crew Does to me Nature's Architecture shew He tells me how th' Foundation first is laid Of Earth how Pillars of strong Bones are made How th' Walls consist of carneous parts within The out-side pinguid over-laid with Skin The Fretwork Muscles Arteries and Veins With their Implexures and how from the Brains The Nerves descend and how they do dispence To ev'ry Member Motive Pow'r and Sence He shews what Windows in this Structure's fix'd How tribly Glaz'd and Curtains drawn betwixt Them and Earths objects all which proves in vain To keep out Lust and Innocence retain For 't was the Eye that first discern'd the food As pleasing to it self then thought it good To eat as b'ing inform'd it wou'd refine The half-wise Soul and make it all Divine But ah how dearly Wisdom's bought with Sin Which shuts out Grace le ts Death and Darkness in And because we precipitated first To Pains and Ignorance are most accurs'd Ev'n by our Counter-parts who that they may Exalt themselves insultingly will say Women know little and they practise less But Pride and Sloth they glory to profess But as we were expatiating thus Walaeus and Harvey cry'd Madam follow us They brought me to the first and largest Courtâ— Of all this Building where as to a Port All necessaries are brought from far For sustentation both in Peace and War For War this Common-wealth do's oft infest Which pillages this part and storms the rest We view'd the Kitchin call'd Ventriculus Then pass'd we through the space call'd Pylorus And to the Dining-Room we came at last VVhere the Lactaeans take their sweet repast From thence we through a Drawing-room did pass And came where Madam Iecur busie was Sanguificating the whole Mass of Chyle And severing the Cruoral parts from bile And when she 's made it tolerably good She pours it forth to mix with other Blood. This and much more we saw from thence we went Into the next Court by a small ascent Bless me said I what Rarities are here A Fountain like a Furnace did appear Still boyling o'er and running out so fast That one shou'd think its Efflux cou'd not last Yet it sustain'd no loss as I cou'd see VVhich made me think it a strange Prodigie Come on says Harvey don't stand gazing here But follow me and I thy doubts will clear Then we began our Iourney with the Blood Trac'd the Meanders of its Purple flood Thus we through many Labyrinths did pass In such I 'm sure Old Daedalus ne'er was Sometimes i' th' Out-works sometimes i' th' first Court Sometimes i' th' third these winding streams wou'd sport Themselves but here methought I needs must stay And listen next to what the Artists say Here 's Cavities says one and here says he Is th' Seat of Fancy Iudgment Memory Here says another is the fertile Womb From whence the Spirits Animal do come Which are mysteriously ingender'd here Of Spirits from Arterious Blood and Air Here said a third Life made her first approach Moving the Wheels of her Triumphant Coach Hold there said Harvey that must be deny'd 'T was in the deaf Ear on the dexter side Then there arose a trivial small dispute Which he by Fact and Reason did confute Which being ended we began again Our former Iourney and forsook the Brain And after some small Traverses about We came to th' place where we at first set out Then I perceiv'd how all this Magick stood By th' Circles of the circulating Blood As Fountains have their Waters from the Sea To which again they do themselves conveigh But here we find great Lower by his Art Surveying the whole Structure of the Heart Welcome said he sweet Cousin are you here Sister to him whose Worth we all revere But ah alas so cruel was his Fate As makes us since almost our Practice hate Since we cou'd find out nought in all our Art That cou'd prolong the motion of his Heart I. BUT now my Dear thou know'st more than Art can Thou know'st the substance of the Soul of Man Nay and its Maker too whose Pow'rfull breath Gave Immortality to sordid Earth What Ioys my Dear do Thee surround As no where else are to be found Love Musick Physick Poetry And in each Art each Artist do's abound And all 's converted to Divinity II. No drooping Autumn there No chilling Winter do's appear No scorching Heat nor budding Spring Nor Sun do's Seasons there divide Yet all things do transcend their native pride Which fills but do's not nausâ—ate No change or want of any thing Which time to periods or perfection brings But yet diversity of state And of Souls happiness there is no date III. Should'st thou my Dear look down on us below To
end Can e'er obscure or hide his Honour'd Name For o'er the World the Golden Wings of Fame Shall spread his praise and to his Friends proclaim That whilst alive His Soul was always drest VVith Robes of Innocence the peacefull Guest Of a good Conscience ever fill'd his Breast His smiling Countenance abroad wou'd send His hearty Wishes to his real Friend His Words were few but of important weight Mix'd with no stains of flatt'ry or deceit Too much in 's way his Library has stood Himself he minded not for others good 'T is strange to think he shou'd himself neglect VVhose study 't was to cure what e'er defect Nature might fall into yet this he did In short his Worth though smother'd can't be hid To sound his Praise may th' utmost Skill ingage Since that he dy'd the Wonder of his Age. VVell may his friends then and acquaintance weep VVhen such a brave Physician 's fall'n asleep UPON HEAVEN OH thou Theanthropos who did'st contain In one joint Body here both God and Man And thou who'rt Alpha and Omega still To blazon forth thy Courts assist my Quill Inlarge my Fancy and transport my Mind Above the common pitch of Humane kind Oh represent and spread before my Muse One glimpse of Heav'ns great light which when she views May make her soar in Raptures and make known The glorious Seat of Heav'ns triumphant Throne But first before my Tongue begins to speak Such unknown joys which no Man yet cou'd make A true description of though Poets have Feign'd an Elyziums bliss beyond the Grave I crave thy pardon for my bold attempt In showing Sense what here for Faith was meant Like the bright Amathyst and Onyx Stone This glorious Fabrick is erected on The entrance Gates of this great Court excell The most Magnificent and Orient Pearl Brighter than burnish't Gold her Walls appear Of spangled Stars her Floor and Pavements are Her high-built Pillars from the dazling ground Look as beset all o'er with Diamond Like purest Sardonyx her Roof do's show Whilst as green Emeralds are spread below The blushing Ruby and the glitt'ring Saphir Mix't with bright Chrysolites and Stones of Iasper Make but a poor Resemblance of this light Whose gilt and radiant Beams appear too bright For ought of humane Race to view or see Unless transform'd to Immortalitie Thousands of Angels guard the outward Gate From th' utmost spleen and rage of Devil's hate Who keep this Palace from or Siege or Storm For all those Martyrs who have bravely born With an undaunted patience th' utmost Ill That Men or Devils could bethink or will But when once past from th' outward Gates you 'll spy Millions of Angels bless'd Eternally Also Illustrious Cherubs Seraphins Clapping their gilded and rejoycing Wings Numbers unnumbred of the Saints in light Singing their Hymns to God both day and night There nought but simple Love and Rest abide All worldly Grief and Cares are laid aside Freed from all cross Events and slavish Fear In Ioy and Peace they live for ever there ON THE MARTYRDOM OF King CHARLES the First THE crimson Theam on which I now do treat Is not unregistred or out of date No it 's wrote deep in ev'ry Loyal Breast And with loud Accents will be still exprest Though Time shou'd take more wings and faster hast His sudden flight from hence yet soon as past Such Tragick cruelty this mournfull Theam In bloody Characters wou'd still remain I wish my Pen had ne'er had cause to write This one day's Prodigie more black than Night The very Fiends themselves are now out-done For Men the shape of Devils have put on What but the spawn of Hell cou'd thus design Or hatch such treachery to undermine The best of Kings on Earth nay pull him down From his own Regal and Establish'd Throne What was there none but Charles the First the Great And most indulgent worthiest Potentate To vent their rage upon Oh barb'rous Crew A King beheaded by 's own Subjects too Ecclesiastical and Civil Writ Unto the World did ne'er as yet transmit So Tragical a Scene or mournfull News Save one alone Iesus the King of th' Iews Who was like Charles our Sovereign betray'd Whom the same shew of Iustice did degrade But now the Iews from these do differ hence Their Errours did from Ignorance commence Because they thought not Christ their lawful Prince But these curs'd Regicides did fully know Charles was their King and had proclaim'd him soâ— The Antient Fathers always own'd their Prince God's Representative in Truth 's defence And since that Kings to God Vicegerents are Their Subjects ought true Loyalty to bear Who are protected by their Princely care But as if Nature had these Miscreants left And of Humanity they were bereft ' Stead of Allegiance they preach up Intrusion Sound a Battalia and make all confusion And then delude and cheat the Common-weal With a pretence that all was done through Zealâ— Whilst an unnat'ral War they do bâ—gin And persevere in their Rebellious Sin Till they 've intrench'd upon their Soveraign's Rigâ—â— By Usurpation and by lawless Might Then next they seize his Person with pretence That they 're his chiefest Bulwark of defence At last his Head and Crown lop off at once Without a Reason or a just Response At which black deed shou'd th' Elements dissolveâ— And th' Universal World it self involve In present ruin shou'd th' infernal Lake Flash out in Flames Or shou'd the Waters break Through their strong Banks and so a Deluge make Shou'd Sun and Moon at once Eclipsed be And to compleat a full Calamity Stars fall from Heav'n and dash in pieces those Who did their Sov'raign and his Laws oppose This we might judge is to their Merit due Who such perfidious treachery pursue Forgive my passion if I do transgress Beyond the limits of true Holiness I wish that all effectually repent This bloody Sin whereby they may prevent Those heavy Iudgments which predict th' Event And may those Persons who were Actors in This cursed Cause against the Father bring Their true Obedience to his Son now King That so they may to him and all his Race And to themselves bring a continu'd Peace And after crown'd with honour and success At last enjoy Eternal happiness UPON ONE'S Birth-Day LOok upwards O my Soul and thou may'st see Once more thy Birth-days Anniversary Another year of Time is passed by And now methinks hath slid so silently As if unmeasur'd yet and thus will seem Most of thy Days when spent in thy esteem Man's Life is fitly liken'd unto Fire Which unsupply'd with fuel do's expire And thus no sooner 's run our â—leeting Sand But the Glass breaks by Death's destroying hand Since then my Soul that Time so fast doth slide How much art thou obliged to provide That which may beautifie thy nobler part And also cleanse and purifie thy Heart From all pollution which within doth reign And in that Empire such Dominion gain Make firm
with mine 'T is wretched sure to be a Pow'r Divine And not the Ioys of happy Lovers know Wou'dst thou my Dearest be an Angel now O how the Moments sweetly glide away Nothing of Night appears but all is Day Inflam'd with Love these Minutes I 'll improve And sum an Ages Bliss in one Hours Love. But shou'd I long such vehement raptures feel I fear the transports of delight wou'd kill THE Lover's Will. LET me not sigh my last before I breathe Great Love some Legacies I here bequeathe Mine Eyes to Argus if mine Eyes can see If they be blind then Love I give them thee My Tongue to Fame t' Embassadors mine Ears And unto Women or the Sea my Tears My Constancy I to the Planets give My Truth to them who at the Court do live My Silence t' any who abroad have been My Money to a Capuchin My Modesty I give to Souldiers bare And all my Patience let the Gamesters share I give my Reputation unto those Which were my Friends my Industry to Foâ—s To School-men I bequeath my Doubtfulness My Sickness to Physicians or Excess To Nature all that I in Rhime have writ And to my Company I leave my Wit. To him for whom the Passing-bell next tolls I gâ—ve my Physick-Books my Written Rolls Of Moral Counsels I to Bedlam give My Brazen Medals unto them which live In want of Bread To them which pass among All Foreigners I leave my English Tongue Thou Love taught'st me by making me adore That charming Maid whose Twenty Servants more To give to those who had too much before Or else by loving where no Love receiv'd cou'd be To give to such as have an incapacitie A LOVE-LETTER By W. S. M. D. Sweet Lady YOur conqu'ring Eyes have by their Magick Art Convey'd such Flames into my Captiv'd Heart I cannot rest Ah therefore do not prove Cruel to him whom your Eyes taught to Love Nor blame this rude attempt since what I do My ardent Passion do's compell me to I wou'd be silent fearing to offend But then my Torments ne'er wou'd have an end Yet though in this I may appear too bold My Love is pure and therefore may be told Besides you are so fair your Vertues such That shou'd I strive I cannot say too much So well accomplish'd you 're in th' Art of Love You 've Charms enough t' inflame another Iove Let not your coyness therefore blind the light Of your fair Eyes which now do shine so bright For she that gives occasion to despair By all that 's good is neither kind nor fair Though outward Beauty soon may charm the Mind And make the most obdurate Heart prove kind Yet nothing charms an Am'rous Heart so strong As the sweet Notes of a fair Female Tongue That charms the Soul and all the Senses move And adds new Sweets to the delights of Love. Love is the noblest Passion of the Mind And she that unto it can prove unkind Is either simple destitute of Wit Or else her Pride will not acknowledge it But that 's too black to dwell in your fair Breast Nothing but things divine can there have rest If therefore wilfull Pride don't taint your Mind But as your Face is fair your Heart is kind My Pen shall then maintain your worth and praise And from all others I 'll possess the Bays But if by frowns against me you take Arms Your Beauty has no Snares your Eyes no Charms And though a Stranger yet to you I am If you prove kind I 'll not conceal my Name Till then I rest to see these lines success On which depends my future happiness A Speech to his Mistress in a Garden THE Glory which we see invest these Flow'rs Is lent they must live but some few hours So Time what we forbear to useâ— devours From fading Leaves you see how Time resumes Their fragrant scent and sweet perfumes Look but within the most retired places Where utmost Skill is us'd to keep good Faces Yet in some distant time they will be seen The spoil of Age witness th' Egyptian Queen Or the fair charming Hellen who by Time Had nothing left But what at last express'd were by her Shrine Or thus Shou'd some Malignant Planet bring Upon the Autumn or the blooming Spring A barren drought or rain a ceaseless show'r Yet 't wou'd not Winters coming stop one hour But cou'd you be preserv'd by Loves neglect From coming Years decay then more respect Were justly due to so divine a Fashion Nor wou'd I give indulgence to my passion AN ADDRESS TO A Gentlewoman Walking in a Garden By an Oxford Gentleman MAdam I hope though I a Stranger am Your candid Goodness will not let you blame This bold intrusion that do's now bereave You of these privacies without your leave And as you 're fair I hope you 're no less kind Craving your pardon then I 'll speak my mind But oh I fear my troubled Heart bodes ill One word from you my life do's save or kill First for your pity then I must beseech Lodg'd at your feet you would behold this wretch O that the Gods above wou'd bring to pass You might my suit without my speaking guess But that won't be relating then fair Saint My firm-fix't Love in murmuring complaint Not long since walking through the shady Grove To see those tender budding Plants improve And coming downwards from the Rivers head To hear the noise the purling Waters made And see her various and delightfull pride Streaming in Circles as the Waters glide Then 't was I heard a shrill melodions sound Pleasanter far than what I there had found One while I thought it was some Angel's tune Whose pleasing Echo still wou'd re-assume Its first high quav'ring strein and then fall low'r In short too charming for the strongest pow'r My curiosity then brought me to A lonesome Grotto where as prying through Its verdant spreading branches I did see That beauteous Form which thus has wounded meâ— And ever since my Passion is the same Resist not then so true and pure a Flame But with kind pity send me some relief Since my Heart 's stole by you the pretty Thief From whose bright Eyes such conqu'ring Charms do dart As might enslave and captivate each Heart The greatest Praise is to your Beauty due All must their Homage pay when seen by you The Fruit-tree nodding with each blast that blows Through the great pressure of her loaden Boughs Seems to design none but your hand to crop Her pendent Clusters from her Branches top The purple Vi'let and the blushing Rose With sweet Carnations wait till you dispose Their fragrant scent to your sagacious Nose If you 're displeas'd the fairest downwards drop Its fading pensive head and wither'd top But if you 're angry possibly the Sun Might stop his course and not his journey run At which th' amazed and affrighted World Might to its first rude Chaos soon be hurl'd And since my Fate 's wrapt up
spreading Beams To rouse up Mortals from their slumb'ring Dreams When summoning the Morning can't compleat That modest blush which in your Cheeks takeâ— seatâ— Whiter than untrod Snow on Mountains seen And which I must confess beyond esteem Are those white Iv'ry Teeth whose even row The harmony of Love in Union show In various wantonness each branching Vein Do's your white Breasts with blue Meanders stain From which clear Fountains flow with greatest measure The most delightfull Magazine of treasure The Muses and the Syrens cease their Song At the soft Musick of your charming Tongue Angel or Saint I know not which by feature Sure both are joyn'd to make so sweet a Creature The lovely chance-work Master-piece of Nature As if the Gods mistaking Mould that time Had cast your Species more than half divine Who can his Passion from such Beauty tame You 've Charms enough to set the World on flame Mix't with more tempting and atractive graces Than can extracted be from humane Faces Oh let me at those balmy Lips take â—ire And with pursuit of Kisses ev'n tire Which do display such a Vermilion red And when with pleasure fill'd then hold thy head Fast to my kindled and inflamed Heart Pierc'd by your Eyes bright glancing beams which dart Through my Souls secret and most inward part Which done let mine in your fair Bosom lye Till in excess of joy and ecstasie I there shall languish out my Soul and dye And afterwards with like transport of Mindâ— Revive again and all my Senses find In Praise of LETTERS LEtters are wing'd Postillions and do move From East to West on Embassies of Love. The bashfull Lover when his stamm'ring Lips Falter with fear from unadvised slips May boldly Court his Mistress with the Quill And his hot Passions to her Breast instill The Pen can furrow a fond Females Heâ—rt And pierce it more than Cupid's feigned Dart. Letters a kind of Magick Vertue have And like strong Philtres humane Souls inslave They can the Poles and Emperour inform What Towns in Hungary are won by storm From the great Turk Mounsieur of them may know How Foreign States on French Intriegues do blow The lucky Goose sav'd Iove's beleagu'rd Hill Once by her Noise but oftner by her Quill It twice prevented Rome was not o'er-run By the tough Vandal and the rough-hewn Hun. Letters can Plots though moulded under-ground Disclose and their fell complices confound Witness that fiery Pile which wou'd have blown Up to the Clouds Prince People Peers and Town Tribunals Church and Chappel and had dry'd The Thames though swelling in her highest pride And parboyl'd the poor Fish which from her Sands Had been toss'd up to the adjoyning Lands Lawyers as Vultures had soar'd up and down Prelates like Magâ—yes in the Air had flown Had not the Eagle's Letter brought to light That Subterranean horrid work of Night Letters may more than History inclose The choicest learning both in Verse and Prose Witness Mich. Drayton whose sweet-charming Pen Produc'd those Letters so admir'd by Men. Words vanish soon and vapour into Air While Letters on record stand fresh and fair And like to Gordian Knots do Nature tye Else all Commerce and Love 'twixt Men wou'd dye The IDEA By Charles Cotton Esq ART thou then absent O thou dear And only Subject of my Flame Are these fair Objects that appear But shadows of that noble frame For which I do all other form disclaim Am I deluded do I only rave Was it a Phantasme only that I saw Have Dreams such power to deceive Oh lovely Shade thou did'st too soon withdraw Like fleecy Snow that as it falls doth thaw Glorious Illusion Lovely shade Once more deceive me with thy light 'T is pleasure so to be betray'd And I for ever shall delight To be pursu'd by such a charming Sprite LOVE's SYMPATHY I. SOul of my Soul it cannot be That you shou'd weep and I from tears be free All the vast room between both Poles Can never dull the sence of Souls Knit in so fast a knot Oh can you grieve and think that I Can feel no smart because not nigh Or that I know it not II. Th' are heretick thoughts Two Lutes when strung And on a Table tun'd alike for Song Strike one and that which none did touch Shall sympathizing sound as much As that which touch'd you see Think then this World which Heav'n inrolls Is but a Table round and Souls More apprehensive be III. Know they that in their grossest parts Mix by their hallow'd Loves intwined Hearts This priviledge boast that no remove Can e'er infringe their sense of Love Iudge hence then our Estate Since when we lov'd there was not put Two Earthen hearts in one breast but Two Souls Co-animate A PINDARIQUE ODE ON Mr. COWLEY TO tune thy praise what Muse shall I invoke what Quire None but thy Davideis or thy David's Lyre True Poet and true Man Say more than this who can No not an Angel's mighty Eloquence These two These only doe Of all perfections make a Quintessence Then my dear Cowley dye For why shou'd foolish I Or foolish Sympathy Wish thee to live since 't is no more to live no more to dye Than to be here on Earth and to be there about the Sky Both to you shared equally An ODE By Mr. R. D. of Cambridge O Ye blest Pow'rs propitious be Unto my growing Love None can create my Misery If Cloe but constant prove Tell her if that she pity me From her you 'll ne'er remove Each Brize of Air my groans shall bear Unto her gentle Breast Silently whisp'ring in her Ear I never can be blest If she refuse to be my Dear I never can have rest Ye Groves that hear each day my grief Bear witness of my pain Tell her I dye if no relief I from her Pow'r can gain Tell her ah tell that pretty Thief I dye through her disdain Likely she may with piteous Eyes When dead my Hearse survey And when my Soul 'mongst Deities Doth melt in Sweets away Then may she curse those Victories That did my Heart betray AN ODE of ANACREON Paraphras'd Beauties Force I. I Wonder why Dame Nature thus Her various gifts dispences She ev'ry Creature else but us With Arms or Armour fences The Bull with bended horns she arms With hoofs she guards the Horse The Hare can nimbly run from harms All know the Lyon's force II. The Bird can danger fly on 's Wing She Fish with Fins adorns The Cuckold too that harmless thing His patience guards and 's horns And Men she Valiant makes and wise To shun or baffle harms But to poor Women she denies Armour to give or Arms. III. Instead of all she this do's do Our Beauty she bestows Which serves for Arms and Armour too 'Gainst all our pow'rfull Foes And 't is no matter so she doth Still beauteous Faces yield We 'll conquer Sword and Fire for both To Beauty leave the Field A PINDARIQUE ODE By
noble Verse sets off your Paint Her Poetry alone can dub a Saint TO COSMELIA ON HER Departure into the COUNTREY FArewell fair Mistress of my chief dâ—sires Whose charming Beauties kindleth pleasing fires Whilst I sad Fate must here forlorn remain Since you fair Conqu'ress do my Heart retain To you the Center of my Love it flies And ne'er can rest till it enjoys or dyes Farewell dear Eyes it will be tedious Night With me as long as I do want your light Farewell those ruby Lips which seem to me Of Nature's Glory an Epitome The Nectar and Ambrosia I shall want That hang on them and fast an irksome Lent. Farewell best Tongue now Thee I shall not hear I wou'd not care if all things silent were Farewell all fair Beauty I shall not view Untill again I do behold 't in You. Farewell Physician of my love-sick Soul Your sight alone can make your Patient whole On a ROSE sticking on a Ladies Breast SWeet fading Flower that with the Sun's uprise Unfold'st thy Bud and in the Ev'ning dyes Swell now with beauteous pride and let thy bright And blushing Leaves joy and refresh our sight Incorporate thy sweet and fragrant smell With those refreshing Odours there do dwell Blest ah for ever blest be that fair Hand That did transplant thee to that Sacred Land. Oh happy Rose that in that Garden rests That Paradise betwixt that Ladies Breasts There 's an Eternal Spring where thou shalt lye Betwixt two Lilly Mounts and never dye There thou shalt spring among the fertile Vallies By buds like thee that grow in midst of Allies There none dare pluck thee from that sacred place Nor yet attempt thy Beauty to deface If any but approach strait doth arise A most surprizing light which blasts his Eyes There ' stead of Ruin shall living Fountains flow For Wind her fragrant Breath for ever blow Nor now as wont shall one bright Sun thee cheer But two conjoyn'd which from her Eyes appear Oh then what Monarch wou'd not think 't a Grace To leave his Regal Throne to have thy place My self to gain thy blessed seat do Vow Wou'd be transform'd into a Rose as thou ON THE Most Charming GALECIA's PICTURE HAppy the Hand which to our longing sight Presents that Beauty which the dazling light Of your bright Charms do's hide from weaker Eyes And all access save by this Art denies 'T is only here our Sight hath strength to view Those Beauties which do terminate in you By this your great Perfections we conceive The Gracious Image seeming to give leave Which daily by your Votaries is seen And by the Muses has saluted been Who whilst an Infant placed in your Hand The Bays so many strove for in this Land. Wisely fore-seeing your Poetick Pen Might claim the primacy of th'wittiest Men. 〈◊〉 you th' extreams of Pow'r and Beauty move â—ho are the Quintessence and Soul of Love. â—s the bright Sun whose distant Beams delight â—f equal Glory to your Beauties light â—s wisely plâ—c'd in so sublime a seat â—'extend his light and moderate his heat â—o happy 't is you move in such a Sphere Which do's not over-come our sence but chear And in our Breasts do's qualifie that fire Which kindled by those Eyes hâ—d flamed higher Than when the scorched World like hazard run By the approach of the ill-guided Sun. Such Eyes as yours on Iove himself have thrown As bright and fierce a lightning as his own THE YOUNG LOVER's ADVOCATE BEING An Answer to a Copy of Verses Written by Galaecia to her Young Lover on his Vow TOo rigid too censorious and severe Your unjust scruples plainly do appear Why shou'd you question that most sacred Vow Which in sincerity I made but now Did I not Vow by all the Pow'rs above None but Galaecia shou'd but obtain my Love I did and made a Cov'nant with my Eyes No other Beauties shou'd my Heart surprize And may those Pow'rs their vengeance from above Show'r on my head when e'er I perjur'd prove A thousand Deaths I 'd rather chuse to dye Than once my Faith to break or falsifie Not all your Sexes charms shall tempt me more No other Object shall my Soul adore Thy Sex alas is but a Lottery Where thousand Blanks for one true Prize we see And since kind Fate has giv'n me such a Lott Think you I 'll hazard what 's so hardly got No rather think me constant as the Sun Who never sâ—ts till he his race hath run Firm as the Centre as the Poles unmov'd Faithfull as honest Swains to their Belov'd But you alledge for Love I am too green Though two years turn'd and upwards of Eighteen Alas too long I think I 've been debarr'd And five years since Love's pleasures shou'd have shar'd Lovers as young as me I can produce As Precedents to warrant my Excuse The Famous Sappho summ'd up all her joy In the Embrace of a Sicilian Boy The Queen of Greece lov'd Theseus but a Lad And Cytharea her Adonis had Nay Love himself that God is but a Child Shall I for want of Years then be Exil'd Yea I have heard fair Virgins say in truth Of all that love give me the smooth-chinn'd Youth My tender years my innocence may prove And non-acquaintance with the Wiles of Love. To my Ingenious Friend Mrs. IANE BARKER ON MY Publishing her Romance of SCIPINA COu'd I the Censure of each Critick dread Before your Book my Lines shou'd not be read For 't will be thought shou'd I attempt your Praise Trophies of Int'rest to my self I 'd raise Since the same Pen that wou'd applaud my Friend At once my Copy and her Lines commend Nor cou'd my Silence 'scape from Censure free Then other Hands they 'd say I brib'd for theâ— Yet cou'd Applause your learned Piece set forth To make your Fame as endless as your Worth I wou'd invoke some gentle Muse t' inspire My active Pen with a Poetick fire That it might blazon forth your Matchless Wit And your due Merits to the World transmit But since this Subject doth require the Skill Or of a Maro or a Waller's Quill I must desist and quit the brave design And the great task to better hands resign Only as th' empty Coach is wont t' attend To Mourn the Obsequies of some dear Friend So shall my Worthless lines ev'n now appear For want of better to bring up the Rear Of those that welcome th' Issue of your Wit Which in so soft and smooth a Style you 've writ You fair Scipina's Name do here advance Unto the Title of a sam'd Romance Then in smooth Lines you celebrate her Praise And crown her Temples with immortal Bays Her Heroes Fights you bravely have exprest Till blest with Peace he in her Arms finds rest How wou'd it please the gallant Scipio's Ghost The bravest Gen'ral th' Elyzian Fields can boast To see his Battles acted o'er again By thy victorious and triumphant Pen. Thy Virgin Muse soars upwards