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Apollo Outwitted.

To the Honourable Mrs. FINCH, under her Name of

P

ARDELIA.

Written, 1709.

HOEBUS now fhortning every Shade,
Up to the Northern Tropick came,
And thence beheld a lovely Maid
Attending on a Royal Ďame.

THE God laid down his feeble Rays,
Then lighted from his glitt'ring Coach,
But fenc'd his Head with his own Bays,
Before he durft the Nymph approach.
UNDER thofe facred Leaves, fecure
From common Lightning of the Skies,
He fondly thought he might endure
The Flashes of Ardelia's Eyes.

THE Nymph, who oft had read in Books,
Of that bright God whom Bards invoke,
Soon knew Apollo by his Looks,

And gueft his Bufinefs e're he fpoke.
HE in the old Celeftial Cant,

Confeft his Flame, and fwore by Styx, What e're she would defire, to grant, ollBut wife Ardelia knew his Tricks.

OVID had warn'd her to beware,
Of troling Gods, whofe ufual Trade is,
Under Pretence of taking Air,

To pick up Sublunary Ladies.
HOWEVER he gave no flat Denial,
As having Malice in her Heart,
And was refolv'd upon a Tryal,

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To Cheat the God in his own Art,
HEAR my Request, the Virgin said,
Let which I please of all the Nine
Attend when e'er I want their Aid,
Obey my Call, and only mine.
BY Vow oblig'd, by Paffion led,

The God could not refufe her Prayer;
He wav'd his Wreath thrice o'er her Head,
Thrice mutter'd fomething in the Air.
AND now he thought to feize his due,
But fhe the Charm already try'd,
Thalia heard the Call and flew
To wait at bright Ardelia's Side.
ON Sight of this Celeftial Prude,
Apollo thought it vain to ftay,
Nor in her Prefence durft be Rude,
But made his Leg and went away.
HE hop'd to find fome lucky Hour,
When on their Queen the Muses wait;
But Pallas owns Ardelia's Power,
For Vows Divine are kept by Fate.
THEN full of Rage Apollo Tpoke,
Deceitful Nymph, I fee thy Art,
And tho' I can't my Gift revoke,
I'll difappoint its nobler Part.
LET ftubborn Pride poffefs thee long,
And be thou negligent of Fame.
With ev'ry Mufe to grace thy Song,
May'st thou defpife a Poet's Name.

OF

Or Modeft Poets thou be firft,..
To filent Shades repeat thy Verfe,
Till Fame and Eccho almoft burst,

Yet hardly dare one Line Rehearse.
AND laft my Vengeance to compleat,
May thou defcend to take Renown,
Prevail'd on by the Thing you hate,
A and one that wears a Gown.

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April, 1709.

OW hardly here and there an Hack-
ney-Coach

Appearing, fhow'd the Ruddy Morn's
Approach.

Now Betty from her Mafter's Bed had flown.
And foftly ftole to difcompofe her own.
The Slipfhod 'Prentice from his Master's Door,
Had par'd the Dirt, and fprinkled round the Floor.
Now Moll had whirl'd her Mop with dext'rous
Airs,

Prepar'd to Scrub the Entry and the Stairs.

The Youth with Broomy Stumps began to trace The Kennel Edge, where Wheels had worn the Place.

The

The Small-Coal Man was heard with Cadence deep,

"Till droun'd in fhriller Notes of Chimney-Sweep.
Duns at his Lordship's Gate began to meet,
And Brick-duft Moll had fcream'd through half
the Street.

The Turn-key now his Flock returning fees,
Duely let out a-Nights to fteal for Fees.

The watchful Bailiffs take their filent Stands
And School-Boys lag with Satchels in their Hands.

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