Page images
PDF
EPUB

F

To a Coquet Beauty.

ROM wars and plagues come no fuch harms,
As from a nymph so full of charms;

So much sweetness in her face,

In her motions fuch a grace,
In her kind inviting eyes
Such a foft enchantment lies;
That we please ourselves too foon,
And are with empty hopes undone.
After all her softness, we
Are but flaves, while fhe is free;
Free, alas! from all defire,

Except to fet the world on fire.

Thou, fair diffembler, doft but thus
Deceive thyself, as well as us.
Like a restless monarch, thou

Would'st rather force mankind to bow,
And venture round the world to roam,
Than govern peaceably at home.
But trust me, CELIA, trust me, when
APOLLO's felf infpires my pen;
One hour of love's delights outweighs
Whole years of universal praise;
And one adorer, kindly us'd,

Gives truer joys than crouds refus'd.

For what does youth and beauty ferve?
Why more than all your fex deferve?
Why such soft alluring arts

To charm our eyes, and melt our hearts?
By our lofs you nothing gain :

Unless you love, you please in vain.

The RELAPSE.

L

IKE children in a starry night, When I beheld those eyes before, I gaz'd with wonder and delight, Infenfible of all their pow'r.

I play'd about the flame fo long,
At last I felt the fcorching fire;

My hopes were weak, my passion strong,
And I lay dying with defire.

By all the helps of human art,
I just recover'd so much sense,
As to avoid, with heavy heart,
The fair, but fatal influence.

But, fince you fhine away defpair,
And now my fighs no longer fhun,
No Perfian in his zealous pray'r
So much adores the rifing fun.

If once again my vows difpleafe,
There never was fo loft a lover;
In love, that languishing disease,
A fad relapse we ne'er recover.

The RECOVERY.

IGHING and languishing I lay, A stranger grown to all delight, Paffing with tedious thoughts the day, And with unquiet dreams the night,

For your

dear fake, my only care

Was how my

fatal love to hide;

For ever drooping with despair,
Neglecting all the world befide:

Till, like fome angel from above,
CORNELIA came to my relief;
And then I found the joys of love

Can make amends for all the grief.

Those pleafing hopes I now purfue,
Might fail, if you could prove unjuft;
But promises from heav'n and you,
Who is fo impious to mistrust?

Here all my doubts and troubles end;
One tender word my foul affures;

Nor am I vain, fince I depend

Not on my own defert, but yours.

D

The CONVERT.

EJECTED, as true converts die,
But yet with fervent thoughts inflam'd,

So, faireft! at your feet I lie,

Of all my fex's faults afham'd.

Too long, alas! have I abus'd
Love's innocent and facred flame,
And that divineft pow'r have us'd
To laugh at, as an idle name.

But fince fo freely I confefs

A crime which may your fcorn produce, Allow me now to make it lefs

By any just and fair excufe.

I then did vulgar joys pursue,
Variety was all my blifs;

But ignorant of love and you,

How could I chufe but do amiss?

If ever now my wandring eyes

Seek out amufements as before;

If e'er I look, but to defpife

Such charms, and value yours the more;

May fad remorfe, and guilty fhame,
Revenge your wrongs on faithless me;

And, what remble ev❜n to name,
May I lofe all in lofing thee.

The PICTURE.

In Imitation of ANACREON.

TH

skill and care;

HOU flatterer of all the fair,
Come with all your
Draw me fuch a shape and face,
As your flatt'ry would difgrace.
Wish not that she would appear;
'Tis well for you she is not here;
Scarce can you with safety see
All her charms describ'd by me:
I, alas! the danger know;
I, alas! have felt the blow;
Mourn, as loft, my former days,
That never fung of CELIA's praife;
And thofe few that are behind
I shall bleft or wretched find,
Only just as fhe is kind.

With her tempting eyes begin,
Eyes that would draw angels in
To a fecond, fweeter fin.
Oh, those wanton rolling eyes!

At each glance a lover dies:

Make them bright, yet make them willing;
Let them look both kind and killing.

Next, draw her forehead; then her nofe,

And lips just op'ning, that disclose
Teeth fo bright, and breath fo fweet,
So much beauty, fo much wit,

}

« PreviousContinue »