His wars, retirements, councils, should attend,
In all diftinguish'd by the name of Friend.
He that, for want of worlds to conquer, wept,
Without confulting Homer never flept.
The Poet's cares all terminate in fame;
As they obtain, they give, a lasting name.
Thus from the dead Lucrece and Cynthia rife,
And Berenice's hair adorns the skies.
The facred Bard no treacherous craft difplays,
But virtuous actions crowns with his own bays.
Far from Ambition and Wealth's fordid care,
In him good-nature and content appear:
And far from Courts, from ftudious parties free,
He fighs forth Laura's charms beneath fome tree;
Defpairing of the valued prize he loves,
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Commits his thoughts to winds and echoing groves.
Poets have quick defire and paffion strong;
Where once it lights, there it continues long.
They know that Truth is the perpetual band,
By which the world and heaven of Love must stand.
The Poet's art foftens their tempers fo,
That manners eafy as their verses flow.
Oh could they but juft retribution find,
And as themfelves what they adore be kind!
In vain they boaft of their celeftial fire,
Whilft there remains a Heaven to which they can't afpire!
Apelles firft brought Venus to our view,
With blooming charms and graces ever new,
Who elfe unknown to mortals might remain,
Hid in the caverns of her native main :
And with the Painter now the Poets join
To make the Mother and her Boy divine.
Therefore attend, and from their mufick learn
That which their minds infpir'd could best discern.
First fee how Sidney, then how Cowley mov'd, 2035
And with what art it was that Waller lov'd.
Forget not Dorfet, in whole generous mind
Love, fenfe, wit, honour, every grace, combin'd;
And if for me you one kind with would spare,
Anfwer a Poet to his friendly prayer.
Take Stepney's verfe, with candour ever bleft;
For Love will there ftill with his afhes reft.
There let warm fpice and fragrant odours burn,
And everlafting fweets perfume his urn.
Not that the living Mufe is to be fcorn'd:
Britain with equal worth is still adorn'd.
See Halifax, where fenfe and honour mixt
Upon the merits juft reward have fixt :
And read their works, who, writing in his praife,
To their own verfe immortal laurels raife.
Learn Prior's lines; for they can teach you more
Than facred Ben, or spenfer, did before:
And mark him well that uncouth Phyfick's art
Can in the fofteft tune of Wit impart.
See Paftorella o'er Florello's grave,
See Tamerlane make Bajazet his flave;
And Phædra with her ancient vigour rave.
Through Rapin's nurseries and gardens walk,
And find how Nymphs transform'd by amorous colours
Pomona fee with Milton's grandeur rise,
The most delicious fruit of Paradife,
With Apples might the first-born man deceive,
And more persuasive voice than tempting Eve,
Not to confine you here; for many more
Britain's luxuriant wealth has ftill in store,
Whom would I number up, I must outrun
The longest courfe of the laborious fun.
OUR manners like our countenance should be ;
They always candid, and the other free:
But, when our mind by anger is possest,
Our noble manhood is transform'd to beast.
No feature then its wonted grace retains,
When the blood blackens in the fwelling veins :
The eye-balls fhoot out fiery darts, would kill
Th' oppofer, if the Gorgon had its will.
When Pallas in a river faw the flute
Which in that paffion once confults her glass.
Deform'd her cheek's, fhe let the reed be mute.
Anger no more will mortify the face,
Let Beauty ne'er be with this torment feiz'd,
But ever reft ferene, and ever pleas'd.
A dark and fullen brow feems to reprove
The first advances that are made to Love,
To which there's nothing more averfe than pride.
Men without speaking often are denied:
And a difdainful look too oft' reveals
Those feeds of hatred which the tongue conceals.
When eyes meet eyes, and fmiles to fmiles return,
'Tis then both hearts with equal ardour burn,
And by their mutual paffion foon will know
That all are darts, and fhot from Cupid's bow.
But, when fome lovely form does strike your eyes,
Be cautious ftill how you admit furprize.
What you would love, with quick difcretion view:
The object may deceive by being new.
You may fubmit to a too hafty fate,
And would shake off the yoke when 'tis too late
We often into our deftruction fink,
By not allowing time enough to think.
Refift at firft: for help in vain we pray,
When ills have gain'd full ftrength by long delay.
Be fpeedy; left perhaps the growing hour
Put what is now within, beyond our power.
Love, as a fire in cities finds increase,
Proceeds, and till the whole 's destroy'd won't cease.
It with allurements does, like rivers, rife
From little fprings, enlarg'd by vaft fupplies.
Had Mirtha kept this guard, the had not flood
A monumental crime in weeping wood.
Because that Love is pleafing in its pain,
We not without reluctance health obtain.
Phyfick may tarry till to-morrow's fun,
Whilft the curs'd poisons through the vitals run.
The tree not to be shook has pierc'd the ground;
And death muft follow the neglected wound.
O'er different ages Love bears different sway,
Takes various turns to make all forts obey..
The Colt unback'd we footh with gentle trace;
We feed the Runner deftin'd for the race;
And 'tis with time and mafters we prepare
The manag'd Courfers rushing to the war.
Ambitious Youth will have fome fparks of pride,
And not without impatience be denied.
If to his Love a Rival you afford,
You then prefent a trial for his fword :
His eager warmth difdains to be perplext,
And rambles to the beauty that is next.
Maturer years proceed with care and sense,
And, as they feldom give, fo feldom take offence :
For he that knows refiftance is in vain,
Knows likewise struggling will increase his pain.
Like wood that 's lately cut in Paphian Grove,
Time makes him a fit facrifice for Love..
By flow degrees he fans the gentle fire,
Till perfeverance makes the flame afpire.
This Love's more fure, the other is more gay;
But then he roves, whilt this is forc'd to stay.
There are fome tempers which you must oblige,
Not by a quick furrender, but a fiege;
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