Cupid at this, who all the while Had watch'd his steps with secret guile, Presents himself to sight;
And thinking now his conquest won, The indignant tyrant thus begun With insolent delight.
Attempt no more, thou rebel Slave, A weak and tender heart to save From mine and Celia's sway ; For whilst to me that charming maid Consents to lend her pow'rful aid, Thou shalt my will obey.
Cease then thy contest, and agree To pay due homage still to me At beauty's sacred shrine; Nor ever from this time presume Thy wonted commerce to resume With any of the NINE.
Half yielding up dear Freedom's cause To this usurper's rigid laws,
He hesitates assent;
And caught with Hope's delusive prize, Was half inçlin'd to sacrifice
Th' enjoyment of content,
When, hark! a soft harmonious sound, Through all the grove diffus'd around, With wond'ring joy he hears: And, lo! URANIA, quick as thought, In a rich garb, by IRIS wrought, Before him now appears.
Nor mild nor rigorous her mein, But such as spoke intent benign, Though purpos'd to upbraid; And thus, inclin'd at once to' excite Regret, attemper'd with delight, Severely kind, she said:
In Contemplation's bow'r reclined, Have I so often calm'd thy mind With soothing lays in vain ; My lyre, in vain, so often strung, And with each fav'rite poet sung To thee his choicest strain?
Let not this sly, insidious cheat, With all his wiles, thy heart defeat, But vindicate thy choice: With courage own thy truest friend, Nor fear to show thou dar'st attend To mine, and Reason's voice.
Reflect on thy past happy state, And call to mind, ere 'tis too late, How well you once was taught To bid defiance to those cares, Which now you feel, and shun those snares, In which you now are caught.
From Passion's meteor turn thy sight, And let calm Reason's steady light Thy footsteps always guide: That only roves through Folly's chase, But this leads Wisdom to the place Where Truth and Peace reside.
At this Urania paus'd, to try If Cupid chose to make reply To aught she had express'd: But ere suspense left either free, The Hamadriad of the tree Each party thus address'd:
The nymph, indeed, whose name I bear May well deserve your rival care, But 'tis as mutual friends: Your sev'ral gifts for her combine, Nor ere, in such a cause, decline To serve each other's ends.
Let her whose charms at once can raise The lover's sigh, the poet's praise, Your equal favour find:
No more each other's vot'ries scorn, While perfect grace and worth adorn Her person and her mind!
And though you must not yet declare To whom the fates reserve the fair, This gentle youth direct, If to his mind he can't be blest, From envy to secure his breast, And bear with cool neglect.
That face which jealousy can love, That conduct censure must approve, Permit him to admire:
But, Oh! with strength possess his soul Each anxious passion to controul,
And check each fond desire.
WHILE I was absent from my fair, Ye hours, I bad you speed your flight, Swift as the winds that sweep the air, Till Delia blest again my sight.]
But then you crept with dull delay, Regardless of a lover's pain; And slowly brought at length the day When Delia blest my eyes again.
Now when the nymph delights my sight, Ye hours, I bid you softly stay Your speed, nor with too hasty flight The precious minutes bear away.
But now on swiftest wings ye move, And now ye bring that moment near Which parts me from the nymph I love, And Delia sheds the tender tear.
O wayward hours, that slowly move, Or swiftly at your pleasure glide, Why are ye bent to cross my love, And from my fair one to divide ?
Yet vain your malice is and art! While you pursue your circling race, You never from my constant heart My Delia's image can efface.
With a new Year's Gift; the Author being accustomed to
make her an Annual Present.
Ix days of yore, as they record, When all was carried by the sword; When folks took not the least delight in Aught on the earth of God, but fighting; A King sometimes, by way of riot, Seeing his neighbours slept in quiet,
And little dream'd of harm, would therefore, Without another why or wherefore, Descend upon him sword in hand, And rob him of his crown and land. And then to shew his generosity, Laying aside his late ferocity, The Conqueror freely would restore What strictly was the man's before, Provided he, upon his knees,
Would swear to some such rules as these "You vassal in my cause must fight, "Whether that cause be wrong or right; "And without grumbling draw your sword, "Whene'er I please to give the word; "And when we meet, thus kneeling down, "Must do me homage for your crown: "And once a year, by way of token "That these your vows remain unbroken,
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