Page images
PDF
EPUB

In vain Tour Lord like young Vespasian mourn'd,
When the fierce Flames the Sanctuary burn'd:
And I prepar'd to pay in Verfes rude

A moft detefted Act of Gratitude:

Ev'n this had been Tour Elegy, which now
Is offer'd for Your Health, the Table of my Vow.
Tour Angel fure our Morley's Mind inspir'd,
To find the Remedy Tour Ill requir'd;

As once the Macedon, by Jove's Decree,
Was taught to dream an Herb for Ptolomee:
Or Heav'n, which had fuch Over-coft beftow'd,
As fcarce it could afford to Flesh and Blood,
So lik'd the Frame, he would not work anew,
To Save the Charges of another You.

Or by his middle Science did he steer,

And far fome great contingent Good appear,
Well worth a Miracle to keep You here:
And for that End, preferv'd the precious Mould,
Which all the future Ormonds was to hold;
And meditated in his better Mind

}

An Heir from You, who may redeem the failing Kind.

Bless'd be the Pow'r which has at once reftor'd The Hopes of loft Succeffion to Your Lord,

[ocr errors]

Joy to the first and last of each Degree,
Virtue to Courts, and what I long'd to fee,
To You the Graces, and the Muse to me.

O Daughter of the Rofe, whofe Cheeks unite The diff'ring Titles of the Red and White; Who Heav'ns alternate Beauty well display, The Blush of Morning, and the Milky Way; Whofe Face is Paradife, but fenc'd from Sin: For God in either Eye has plac'd a Cherubin.

M

All is Tour Lord's alone; ev'n abfent, He
Employs the Care of Chaft Penelope.
For him You wafte in Tears Tour Widow'd Hours,
For him Your curious Needle paints the Flow'rs;
Such Works of Old Imperial Dames were tanght;
Such, for Afcanius, fair Elifa wrought.

The foft Receffes of Tour Hours improve
The Three fair Pledges of Tour Happy Love:
All other Parts of Pious Duty done,
You owe Your Ormond nothing but a Son;
To fill in future Times his Father's Place,
And wear the Garter of his Mother's Race.

PALA

PALA MON

AND

ARCIT

E:

OR, THE

KNIGHT'S TALE.

In THREE BOOKS.

BOOK I.

N Days of old, there liv'd, of mighty

Fame

A valiant Prince; and Thefeus was

his Name:

A Chief, who more in Feats of Arms excell'd

The Rifing nor the Setting Sun beheld,

B...

Of Athens he was Lord; much Land he won,
And added Foreign Countries to his Crown:
In Scythia with the Warrior Queen he strove,
Whom firft by Force he conquer'd, then by Love;
He brought in Triumph back the beauteous Dame,
With whom her Sifter, fair Emilia, came.
With Honour to his Home let Thefeus ride,
With Love to Friend, and Fortune for hisGuide,
And his victorious Army at his Side.

I pass their warlike Pomp, their proud Array,
Their Shouts, their Songs, their Welcome on the

Way:

But, were it not too long, I would recite

The Feats of Amazons, the fatal Fight

Betwixt the hardy Queen, and Heroe Knight.
The Town befieg'd, and how much Blood it coft
The Female Army, and th' Athenian Host;
The Spoufals of Hippolita the Queen;

What Tilts and Turneys at the Feast were feen;
The Storm at their Return, the Ladies Fear:
But these, and other Things, I must forbear.
The Field is fpacious I defign to fow,

With Oxen far unfit to draw the Plow:

The Remnant of my Tale is of a Length

Totire your Patience, and to waste my Strength; And trivial Accidents fhall be forborn,

}

That others may have time to take their Turn; As was at first enjoin'd us by mine Host: That he whose Tale is beft, and pleases most, Should win his Supper at our common Cost, And therefore where I left, I will pursue This ancient Story, whether false or true, In hope it may be mended with a new. The Prince I mention'd, full of high Renown, In this Array drew near th' Athenian Town; When in his Pomp and utmost of his Pride, Marching, he chanc'd to cast his Eye aside, And faw a Quire of mourning Dames, who lay By Two and Two across the common Way: At his Approach they rais'd a rueful Cry, And beat their Breafts, and held their Hands on high, Creeping and crying, till they feiz'd at last

His Courfer's Bridle, and his Feet embrac'd.

Tell me, faid Thefeus, what and whence you are, And why this Funeral Pageant you prepare?

« PreviousContinue »