25

1 ftrok d his neck and fhoulders bare,
And fqueez'd the water from his hair;
Then chaf'd his little hands in mine,
And cheer'd him with a draught of wine.
Recover'd thus, fays he; " I'd know,
"Whether the rain has spoil'd my bow;
"Let's try"-then fhot me with a dart.
The venom throbb'd did ake and fmart,
As if a bee had ftung my heart.
"Are there your thanks ungrateful child,
"Are thefe your thanks ?"-Th' impoftor
fmil'd;

"Farewell, my loving hoft, fays he;
"All's well: my bow's unhurt, I fe. ;

30

"But what a wretch I've made of thee" 35

20 }

Each parted houfe, retain'd a chink unfeen
For ages paft. The lovers foon espy'd
This mall defect, for Love is eagle-ey'd,
And in foft whifpers foon the paffage y d.
Safe went the murmuring founds, and every day
A thoufand amorous blandishments convey;
And often, as they ftood on either fide,

To catch by turns the flitting voice, they cry'd, 25
Why, envious wall, ah ! why doft thou deiroy
The lovers ho es, and why forbid the joy?
How should we blefs thee, would't thou yield to

charms,

ვი

35

And, opening, let us rush into each other's arms!
At least, if that's too much, afford a space
To meeting lips, nor fhall we flight the grace;
We owe to thee this freedom to complain,
And breathe our vows, but vows, alas! in vain.
hus having faid, when evening call'd to rest,
The faithful pair on either fide impreft
An intercepted kifs, then hade good night ;
Eut when th' enfuing dawn had put to flight
The fiars; and Phabus, rifing from his bed,
Drank up the dews, and dry'd the flowery mead,
Again they meet, in fighs again disclose
Their grief, and laft this bold defigu propofe;
That in the dead of night both would deceive
Their keepers, and the house and city leave;
And left, efcap'd, without the walls they ftray
In pathlefs fields, and wander from the way, 45
At Ninus's tomb their mecting they agree,
Beneath the fhady covert of the tree;

40

The tree well-known near a cool fountain grew, And bore fair mulberries of fnowy hue.

The project pleas'd; the fun's unwelcome light

1

(That flowly feem'd to move, and flack his

flight)

Sunk in the feas; from the fame feas arofe the

fable night;

When, flealing through the dark, the crafty fair Unlock'd the door, and gain'd the open air ;

way.

70

75

Belated Pyramus arriv'd, and found
The mark of favage feet along the fandy ground:
All pale he turn'd; but foon as he beheld
The crimson'd vesture scatter'd o'er the field,
One night, he cry'd, two lovers fhall deftroy!
She worthy to have liv d long years of joy,
But mine's the forfeit life; unhappy maid!
'Twas I that flew thee, I th' appointment made;
To places full of death thy innocence betray'd
And came not firft myself-O hither hafte,
Ye lions all that roam this rocky wafte!

80

115

120

'Tis thy own Thibe calls, look up and hear!
At Thibe s name he lifts his dying eyes,
And, having feen her, clos'd them up, and dies.
But when the knew the bloody veil, and spy'd
The ivory fcabbard empty by his fide,
Ah! wretched youth, faid fhe, by love betray'd!
Thy hapless hand guided the fatal blade.
Weak as I am, 1 boat as ftrong a love;
For fuch a deed, this hand as bold fhall prove.
I'll follow thee to death; the world fhall cail 125
Thibe the caufe, and partner of thy fall;
And ev'n in death, which could alone disjoin
Our perfons, yet in death thou shalt be mine.
But hear, in both our names, this dying prayer,
Ye wretched parents of a wretched pair!
Let in one urn our afhes be confin d,
Whom mutual love and the fame fate have join'd.
And thou, fair tree, beneath whofe friendly fhade,
One Lifelefs lover is already laid,

130

135

And foon fhall cover two; for ever wear
Death's fable hue, and purple berries bear
She faid, and plunges in her breast the sword,
Yet warm and recking from its flaughter'd lord
Relenting Heaven allows her laft request,
And pity touch'd their mournful pare ts breast.
The fruit, when ripe a purple dye retains;
And in one uru are plac'd their dear remains.

13

Tear my devoted entrails, gnaw, divide,

And gorge your famine in my open fide!

But cowards call for death-Thas having spoke,

The fatal garment from the ground he took, And bore it to the tree; ardent he kifs'd,

85

100

The fair, who fear'd to disappoint her love, Yet trembling with the fright, forfook the grave, And fought the youth, impatient to relate Her new adventure, and th' avoided fate. She faw the vary'd tree had loft its white, And doubting flood as if that could be the right, Nor doubted long; for now her eyes beheld A dying perfon fpurn the fanguine field. Aghalt the started back, and fh ok with pain, As rifing breezes curl the trembling main. She gaz'd awhile entranc'd; but when the found It was her lover weltering on the ground, She beat her lovely breaft. and tore her hair, 110 Clafp'd the dear corpfe, and, frantic in despair, Kifs d his cold face, fupply'd a briny flood

To the wide wound, and mingled tears with blood.

ТНЕ

TRIUMPH OF LOVE.

IN IMITATION OF OVID, AMORUM LIB. 1. ELEG. 2.

"ELL me, fome god, whence does this change
arife;

Why gentle fleep forfakes my weary eyes?
Why turning often, all the tedious nignt
In painie, and watch the springing light ?--
What cruel dæmon haunts my tortur'd mind:
Sure, if 'twere Love, I thould th' invader find;
Unleis difguis'd he lurks, the crafty boy,
With ûlent arts ingenious to destroy.
A as tis fo-'tis fix'd the fecret dart;
I feel the tyrant ravaging my heart.
Then, fhall yield; or th' infant flame oppose?,
I yield!-Refiftance woul increafe my woes:
For firuggling flaves a fharper doom sustain,
Than fuch as ftoop obedient to the chain.

10

I own thy power almighty Love! I'm thine 15
With pinion'd hands behold me here refign!
Let this fubmiffion then my life obtain ;
Small prar e 'twill be, if thus unarm'd I'm flain.
Go, join thy mother's doves; with myrtle braid
thy hai;

he god of war himself a chariot fhall prepare; 20 1 iz

Then thou triumphant through the fhouting throng

Shalt ride, and move with art the willing birds along,

25

While captive youths and maids, in folemn state,
Adorn the fcene, and on thy triumph wait.
There I, a later conqueft of thy bow,
In chains will follow too; and as I go,
To pitying eyes the new-made wound will fhew,
Next, all that dare Love's fovereign power defy,
In fetters bound, inglorious fhall pafs by :
All fall fubmit to thee-th' applauding crowd 30
Shall lift their hands, and fing thy praise aloud.
Soft looks fhall in thy equipage appear,
With amorous play, mifcoke, and jealous fear.
Be this thy guard, great Love: be this thy
train;

Since thefe extend o'er men and gods thy
reign;

35

But robb d of these, thy power is weak and

frain;

Since evn ty prefence, with prolific heat,
Does reach the heart, and active flames create.
From conquer'd India. fo the * jovial God,
Drawn o'er the plains by harnefs'd tigers, rode.
Then fince, great Love, I take a willing place
Amid thy fpoils, the facred fhow to grace;
O cease to wound, and let thy fatal ftore
Of piercing shafts be spent on me no more.
No more, too powerful in my charmer's eyes, 55
Torment a flave, that for her beauty dies;
Or look in fmiles from thence, and I fhall be
A flave no longer, but a God, like thec.

Like the bee's induftrious pains
To collect his golden gains,
So from every flower and plant
Gather firft th immortal paint.
Fetch me lilies, fetch me roses,
Daifies violets, cowflip-pofies,
Amaranthus, parrot-pride,
Woodbines, pinks and what befide
Does th' embroider'd mcads adorn;
Where the fawns and fatyrs play
In the merry month of May.
Steal the blush of opening morn:
Borrow Cynthia s filver white,
When the fhines at noon of night,
Free from clouds to veil her light.
Juno's bird his tail fhall spread,
Iris' bow its colour shed,
All to deck this charming piece,
Far furpaffing ancient Greece.

First her graceful stature show,
Not too tall, ner yet too low.
Fat the must not be, nor lean;
Let her fhape be ftraight and clean:
Small her waift, and, thence increas'd,
Gently fwells her rifing breast.

Next, in comely order trace
All the glories of her face.
Paint her neck of ivory,
Smiling checks and forehead high,
Ruby lips, and sparkling eyes,
Whence refiftlefs lightning flies.

Foolish Mufe! what haft thou done?
Scarce th' outlines are yet begun,
Fre thy pencil's thrown afide!
'Tis no matter, Love reply'd;
(Love's unlucky god flood by)
At one stroke behold how I
Will th' unfinish'd draught fupply.
Smiling then he took his dart,
And drew her picture in my heart.

And grace Barn-Elms with never-dying verse !

Smooth was the Thames, his waters fleeping

lay,

Unwak'd by winds that o'er the furface play; When th' early god, arifing from the east, Disclos'd the golden dawn, with blushes dreft. First in the fream his own bright form he fees, But brighter forms fhine through the neighbour

ing trees.

He fpeeds the rifing day, and sheds his light
Redoubled on the grove, to gain a nearer fight.
Not with mo e speed his Daphne he purfu d,
Nor fair Leucothoe with fuch pleasure view'd,
Five dazzling nymphs in gracious pomp ap-

pear;

He thinks his Daphne and Leucothoe here,

10

15

To lead the fair brigade against thy rebel foes; Behold the god advance in comely pride, Arm'd with his bow: his quiver by his fide: Inferior Cupids on their master wait ;

5.

He miles well-pleas'd, and waves his wings in ftate.

His little hands imperial trophies bear,
And laurel-wreaths to grace th' elected fair.

ΙΘ

Hyde-Park the scene for the Review he nam'd, Hyde-Park for pleasure and for beauty fam'd, Where, oft from western skies the god of light 15 Sees new-arifing funs, than his more bright; Then fets in blushes, and conveys his fire To distant lands, that more his beams require. And now the charming candidates appear: ehold Britannia's victor graces there, Who vindicate their country's ancient claim To Love's pre-eminence, and Beauty's fame. Some, who, at Anna's court, in honour rais'd, Adorn birth-nights, by crowding nations prais'd; Preferv'd in Kneller's pictures ever young, In trains immortal by the Mufes fung.

20

25.

Around the ring th' illuftrious rivals move, And teach to Love himfelf the power of love. Scarce, though a god, he can with fafety gaze On glory fo profufe, fuch mingled rays; For Love had eyes on this important day, And Venus from his forehead took the blinding cloth away.

30.

Here Mira pafs'd, and fix'd his wondering, view,

35

Her perfect shape diftinguish'd praises drew;
Tall, beauteous, and majestic to the fight,
She 'ed the train, and sparkled in the light.
There Stella claims the wreath, and pleads her
eyes,

39.

By which each day fome new adorer dies.
Serena, by good humour doubly fair,
With native fweetness charms, and smiling air.
While Flora's youthful years and looks display
The bloom of ripening fruits, the innocence of
May,

The opening fweets that months of pleasure

bring,

The dawn of Love, and Life's indulgent fpring.
'Twere endless to defcribe the various darts, 45
With which the fair are arm'd to conquer hearts.
Whatever can the ravifh'd soul infpire
With tender thoughts, and animate defire,
All arts and virtues mingled in the train:
And long the lovely riva's ftrove in vain,
While Cupid unrefolv'd ftill fearch'd around

the plain.

50

O! could I find, faid Love, the phœnix she,
In whom at once the several charms agree;
That phoenix fhe the laurel crown fhould have 54
And Love himself with pride become her flave.
He fearce had fpoke, when fee-Harmonia

came !

Chance brought her there, and not defire of fare;