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And that fond love, which should afford relief,
Does but increase the anguish of their grief:
While both could easier their own sorrows bear,
Than the fad knowledge of each other's care.
Yet may you rather feel that virtuous pain,
Than fell your violated charms for gain;
Than wed the wretch whom you defpife or hate,
For the vain glare of useless wealth or state.
The most abandon'd prostitutes are they,
Who not to love, but avarice, fall a prey:
Nor aught avails the fpecious name of wife;
A maid fo wedded is a whore for life.

Ev'n in the happiest choice, where favouring Heaven Has equal love and easy fortune given,

Think not, the Husband gain'd, that all is done :
The prize of happiness must still be won:

And oft, the careless find it to their coft,
The lover in the husband may be loft;
The Graces might alone his heart allure;·
They and the Virtues meeting must secure.
Let ev'n your prudence wear the pleafing dress
Of care for him, and anxious tenderness.
From kind concern about his weal or woe,
Let each domeftic duty feem to flow.
The houshold fceptre if he bids you bear,
Make it your pride his fervant to appear;
Endearing thus the common acts of life,
The mistress ftill fhall charm him in the wife;
And wrinkled age fhall unobferv'd come on,
Before his eye perceives one beauty gone:

Ev'n o'er your cold, your ever-sacred urn,
His conftant flame fhall unextinguish'd burn.
Thus I, Belinda, would your charms improve,
And form your heart to all the arts of love.
The task were harder, to fecure my own
Against the power of those already known :
For well you twift the fecret chains that bind
With gentle force the captivated mind,
Skill'd every soft attraction to employ,
Each flattering hope, and each alluring joy.
I own your genius; and from you receive
The rules of pleasing, which to you I give..

S O N G.

Written in the Year 1732.

I.

WHEN Delia on the plain appears,

Aw'd by a thousand tender fears,

I would approach, but dare not move:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

II.

Whene'er she speaks, my ravish'd ear
No other voice but hers can hear,
No other wit but hers approve :
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

III. If

III.

If the fome other youth commend,

Though I was once his fondest friend,
His inftant enemy I prove :

Tell me, my heart, if this be love?
IV.

When the is abfent, Ino more
Delight in all that pleas'd before,
The clearest spring, or fhadiest grove:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

V.

When, fond of power, of beauty vain,
Her nets she spread for every swain,
I ftrove to hate, but vainly strove :
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

S O N G.

Written in the Year 1733.

I.

THE heavy hours are almost past

That part my love and me :

My longing eyes may hope at laft
Their only wish to fee.

II.

But how, my Delia, will you meet

The man you've loft so long? Will love in all your pulses beat, And tremble on your tongue?

III. Will

III.

Will you in every look declare

Your heart is ftill the fame; And heal each idly-anxious care Our fears in abfence frame?

IV.

Thus, Delia, thus I paint the fcene,
When shortly we shall meet;
And try what yet remains between
Of loitering time to cheat.

V.

But, if the dream that fooths my mind
Shall falfe and groundless prove;

If I am doom'd at length to find

You have forgot to love:

VI.

All I of Venus afk, is this;

No more to let us join :

But grant me here the flattering bliss,
To die, and think you mine.

DAMON

DAMON AND DELIA.

IN IMITATION OF HORACE AND LYDIA.

Written in the Year 1732.

DAMON.

TELL me, my Delia, tell me why

My kindeft, fondeft looks you fly?
What means this cloud upon your brow?
Have I offended? Tell me how!-

Some change has happen'd in your heart,
Some rival there has ftol'n a part;
Reafon these fears may disapprove
But yet I fear, because I love.

DELIA.

Firft tell me, Damon, why to-day

At Belvidera's feet you lay ?

Why with fuch warmth her charms you prais'd,

And

every trifling beauty rais'd,

As if you meant to let me fee
Your flattery is not all for me?
Alas! too well your fex I knew,
Nor was fo weak to think you true.

DAMON.

Unkind! my falfehood to upbraid, When your own orders I obey'd;

You

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