Page images
PDF
EPUB

From the towering eagle's plume

The generous hearts accept their doom:
Shot by the peacock's painted eye,
The vain and airy lovers die :
For careful dames and frugal men,

The shafts are fpeckled by the hen.

The

and parrots pyes

deck the darts,

When prattling wins the panting hearts;
When from the, voice the paffions fpring,
The warbling finch affords a wing:
Together, by the fparrow ftung,
Down fall the wanton and the young:
And fledg'd by geefe the weapons fly,
When others love they know not why.
All this (as late I chanc'd to rove)
I learn'd in yonder waving grove,
And fee, fays Love, who call'd me near,
How much I deal with Nature here;
How both fupport a proper part,
She gives the feather, I the dart :
Then ceafe for fouls averfe to figh,
If Nature crofs you, fo do I;
My weapon there unfeather'd flies,

And shakes and shuffles through the skies.
But if the mutual charms I find

By which the links you mind to mind,
They wing my fhafts, I poize the darts,

And strike from both, through both your hearts.

ANACRE

G

".

ANACREONTIC.

AY Bacchus, liking Eftcourt's wine
A noble meal bespoke us;

And for the guests that were to dine,
Brought Comus, Love, and Jocus.

The God near Cupid drew his chair,
Near Comus, Jocus plac'd;
For wine makes Love forget its care,
And mirth exalts.a feaft.

The more to please the sprightly God,
Each fweet engaging Grace
Put on fome cloaths to come abroad,
And took a waiter's place.

Then Cupid nam'd at every glass

A lady of the sky;

While Bacchus fwore he'd drink the lafs
And had it bumper-high.

Fat Comus toft his brimmers.o'er,

And always got the most; Jocus took care to fill him more, Whene'er he mifs'd the toast.

They call'd, and drank at every touch;

He fill'd and drank again;

And if the Gods can take too much,

'Tis faid, they did fo then.

C 2

A celebrated comedian and tavern-keeper.

Gay

Gay Bacchus little Cupid ftung,

By reckoning his deceits;

And Cupid mock'd his ftammering tongue,
With all his ftaggering gaits:

And Jocus droll'd on Comus' ways,

And tales without a jeft;

While Comus call'd his witty plays
But waggeries at best.

Such talk foon fet them all at odds
And had I Homer's pen,

I'd fing ye, how they drank like Gods,
And how they fought like Men.

To part the fray, the Graces fly,
Who make them foon agree;
Nay, had the Furies felves been nigh,
They ftill were three to three.

Bacchus appeas'd, rais'd Cupid up,
And gave him back his bow;
But kept fome darts to ftir the cup,
Where fack and fugar flow.

Jocus took Comus' rofy crown,
And gayly wore the prize,

And thrice, in mirth, he push'd him down,
As thrice he strave to rife.

Then Cupid fought the myrtle grove,
Where Venus did recline;

And Venus clofe embracing Love,

They join'd to rail at wine.

And

And Comus loudly curfing wit,
Roll'd off to fome retreat;
Where boon companions gravely fit
In fat unweildy ftate,

Bacchus and Jocus ftill behind,
For one fresh glass prepare;
They kifs, and are exceeding kind,
And vow to be fincere.

But part in time, whoever hear
This our inftru&tive fong;
For though fuch friendships may be dear,··
They can't continue long.

A FAIRY TALE.

IN THE ANCIENT ENGLISH STILE.

IN Britain's ifle, and Arthur's days,

When midnight Fairies daunc'd the maze,

Liv'd Edwin of the Green;

Edwin, I wis, a gentle youth,

Endow'd with courage, fenfe, and truth,
Though badly shap'd he'd been.

His mountain back mote well be faid,

To measure height against his head,
And lift itself above;

Yet, fpite of all that Nature did

To make his uncouth form forbid,

This creature dar'd to love.

He felt the charms of Edith's eyes,
Nor wanted hope to gain the prize,~
Could ladies look within;

But one Sir Topaz dress'd with art,
And, if a shape could win a heart,
He had a fhape to win..

Edwin, if right I read my fong,
With flighted paffion pac'd along
All in the moony light;

"T was near an old enchanted court,.
Where sportive fairies made refort-
To revel out the night.

His heart was drear, his hope was crofs'd, 'Twas late, 't was far, the path was loft

That reach'd the neighbour-town;.
With weary steps he quits the fhades,
Refolv'd, the darkling dome he treads,
And drops his limbs adown.

But fcant he lays him on the floor,
When hollow winds remove the door,

And, trembling, rocks the ground:
And, well I ween to count aright,
At once a hundred tapers light
On all the walls around.

Now founding tongues affail his ear,
Now founding feet approachen near,

And now the founds increase:

And

« PreviousContinue »