5%
Lansdown
SANS
RIEN
John Godley Esq
828
L295
1726
POEMS
UPON
Several Occafions.
ansdowne,
buran
Georie G..
>
The FOURTH EDITION.
1
000000
LONDON:
Printed for J. TONSON, at Shakeſpear's Head
over-againſt Katharine-Street in the Strand,
MDCCXXVI.
A 514738
·English
Bíaësavett
12.4-25
125ab
THE
↑
BOOKSELLER
ΤΟ ΤΗΕ
READE R.
Am to inform the Reader,
that the following Collecti-
on contains all the Poems
which have been written
by the Right Honourable George
Granville, Lord Lanfdown, very
few of which have been ever before
Printed; and as this Book is Publiſhed
by his Lordship's Permiffion, I que-
A 2
1
ftion
To the READER.
tion not but it will appear to be vẻ.
ry Correct, which cannot be ſaid of
fome of the Poems, which, as I have
'been told, came formerly into the
World without his Lordſhip's Know-
ledge and Approbation. For this
Reafon, and in Confideration that the
Subjects are various and entertaining,
I make no doubt but this Edition will
meet with a favourable Reception from
the Publick.
$
1
THE
+
THE
CONTENTS.
N the Earl of Peterborough's happy Nego-
tiation of the Marriage between his Royal Pag. È
Highness and the Princess Mary d'Efté of Modena.
Spoken by the Author, being then but Twelve 7
Years of Age, to her Royal Highness the Dutchefs
of York, at Trinity College in Cambridge.
To the King; In the First Year of His Majeſty's ?
Reign.
To the King.
To the King
}:
P. 5
P. C
to the King.
To Mr. Waller
P. T
P. 8.
Mr. Waller to the Author, on his foregoing Verſes"
Verſes }
P. 91
ibid.
P. 10.
}
S p. 13
ibid.
To the immortal Memory of Mr. Waller, upon his
Death.
On the Queen's Picture, given in Exchange for a-
nother.
On the Queen.
Love.
The Progress of Beauty.
On my Lady Hyde, having the Small-Pox.
To, Myra.
To Myra. Song.
To Myra. The Surrender,
P. 14
ibid.
p. 27
P. 28
ibid.
p. 29
To
CONTENT S
To Myra. Song.
To Myra.
Loving at first sight.
To Myra.
In Praise of Myra.
P. 31
ibid.
P. 32
F
P. 34
"
My Lady Hyde,' fitting for her Picture.
Written in a Garden in the North.
P. 35
P. 37
To Daphne.
p. 38
To a very learned young Lady.
ibid.
Thyrfis and Delia.
P. 39
My Lady Hyde.
P. 40
An Apology for an unfeaſonable Surprize.
P. 41
Myra Singing.
P. 42
Myra in her Riding Habit.
P. 43
Song to Myra
ibid.
Song to Myra.
P. 44
To Myra.
ibid.
Myra's Parrot.
P. 45
To Myra.
Ip. 46
The Difcovery. To the Countess of N
P. 48
Myra at a Review. -
P. 49
To Myra.
To Myra.
To Myra. Song.
To Myra. The Enchantment. In Imitation of
ibid.
P. 50
P. 51
Myth. theatment; In. } p. sz.
of
the Pharmaceutria of Theocritus,
To Myra. The Vifion.
Song. For Myra.
Death.
}
2
P. 59
P. 64
ibid
Sent the "Author into the Country. Written by a p. 66
Lady.
"}
CONTEN‍T S.
Occafion'd by the foregoing.
An Imitation of the Second Chorus in the Second
Act of Seneca's Thyeftes,
Chloe.
On the Same.
p. 69
d}
P. 71
P. 73`
On the Same.
P. 74
ibid.
Corinna.
7
ibid.
On the Same.
Belinda.
P. 75
P. 76
Clarinda.
P. 77
The Same.
P. 78
Cleora.
ibid.
Macro.
P. 81
Phyllis Drinking:
p. 82
Celia.
p. 83
Flavia.
ibid.
Love.
P. 84
Women.
ibid.
Fancy
ibid.'
Liberality.
P. 85
Written in Clarinda's Pray'r-Book,
P. 86
Fulvia.
To Celia.
ibid.
Celia singing.
To my Friend Mr. Dryden, on his Excellent Tran-
flations.
Upon a Hearing in the House of Lords of a Caufe
between her Grace the Dutchess of Grafton and
the Lord Chief Justice.
p. 87
P. 88
}
P. 89
P. 91
To
CONTENT 1
S.
To my Lord Lansdowne, upon the bombarding
and burning the Town of Granville in Nor-
mandy.
To my Friend Dr. Garth, in his Sickneſs.
Song. To Myra.
To Flavia. Her Gardens having efcap'd a Flood
that had deftroy'd all the Fruits of the Ground
in her Neighbourhood.
P... 97%
P. 98
P. 99
}
P: 100
Written in a Novel Entitled, Les Malheurs de p. 101
¡ l'Amour.
Prologue to the She-Gallants.
Epilogue to the fame.
in Mens Cloaths.
ibid.
Spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle
e}
Epilogue to the Jew of Venice.
Prologue to the Britiſh Enchanters.
Epilogue defign'd for the fame.
p. 103
R. 104
P. 106
P. 107
Prologue to Mr. Higgons's excellent Tragedy. p. 108
call'd The Generous Conqueror.
Peleus and Thetis, a Maſque, fet to Muſick.
Written under Mrs. Hare's Name upon a Drink-Z
ing-Glass.
Written under the Dutchess of Bolton's Name up-
on a Drinking-Glaſs.
P
A Latin Inſcription on a Medal for Lewis XIV.
English'd, and apply'd to the Queen.
P.
P. I LO
}
P. IT
}
P. 118
ibid.
ibid.
A Morning Hymn to her Grace the Dutchess of } p. 119
Hamilton.
An Eſſay upon Unnatural Flights in Poetry.
A Character of Mr. Wycherly.
P. 120
>
P. 124
"}
The Britiſh Enchanters; or, No Magick like Love. p. 127
A Dramatick Poem.
POEMS
POEMS
UPON
f
Several Occafions.
On the Earl of Peterborough's happy Ne-
gotiation of the Marriage between his Ry-
al Highness and the Princefs Mary d'Etté
of Modena.
H
{
IS Funo barren, in unfruitful Joys
Our British Jove his Nuptial Hours em-
ploys.
So Fate ordains, that all, our Hopes may
be,
And all our Safety, Gallant-York, in thee.
B
By
2
POEMS upen Several Occafions.
By the fame Wiſh aſpiring Queens are led,
Each languifhing to mount his Royal Bed;
His Youth, his Wiſdom, and his carly Fame,
Create in ev'ry Breaſt a Rival Flame:
Remoteft Kings fit trembling on their Thrones,
As if no Diſtance cou'd ſecure their Crowns ;
Fearing his Valbur, wifely they contend
To bribe with Beauty ſo renown'd a Friend :
Beauty the Price, there need no other Arts,
Love is the fureft Bait for Heroes Hearts:
Nor can the Fair conceal as high Concern
To fee the Prince, for whom, unſeen, they burn.
Brave York, attending to the genʼral Voice,
At length refolves to make the jwifh'd-for Choice
To noble Peterborough, Wife and Juft,
+4
Of his great Heart he gives the facred Truſt: -
"Thy Eyes, faid he, fhall well direct, that Heart
"Where thou, my beſt belov'd, haft ſuch a Part ;
"In Council oft, and oft in Battel try'd,
"Betwixt thy Mafter, and the World, decide.
قع
The chofen Mercury preparës t' obey
९
This high Command. Gently, ye Winds, convey,
And with aufpicious Gales his Safety wait,
On whom depend Great Britam's Hopes and Fate.
So Fafon with his Argonauts, from Greece.
To Colchos fail'd, to fetch the Golden Fleece.
}
As
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
3
As when the Goddeffes came down of old
On Ida's Hill, fò many Ages told,
;
With Gifts their young Dardanian Julge they try'd,
And each bad high to win him to her Side;
So tempt they him, and æmuloufly vie
To bribe a Voice that Empires wou'd not buy:
With Balls and Banquets his pleas'd Senfe they bait,
And Queens and Kings upon his Pleaſure wait.
*
Th' imperial Judge furveys, with vaft Delight,
All that the Sun furrounds of Fair and Bright:
Then, ftrictly juft, he, with adoring Eyes,
To radiant Efté gives the famous Prize.
Of Antique Stock, her high Defcent fhe brings,
Born to renew the Race of Britain's Kings,
Who cou'd deſerve, like Her, in whom we fee
United, all that Paris found in Three?
O Equal Pair! when both were fet above
All other Merit, but each other's Love.
Welcome, Bright Princefs, to Great Britain's Shore;
As Berecynthia to high Heav'n, who bore
That ſhining Race of Goddeffes and Gods
Who rul'd the World, and fill'd the bleft Abodes
From thee, my Muſe expects as noble Themes,
Another Mars and Jove, another James,
Qur future Hopes all from thy Womb ariſe,
Our prefent Joy and Safety from your Eyes;
B 2
Thofe
POEMS upon several Occafions,
Thoſe charming Eyes that fhine, to reconcile,
To Harmony and Peace, our ſtubborn Iſle :
On brazen Memnon, Phoebus cafts a Ray,
And the tough Metal fo falutes the Day.
T
The British Dame, fam'd for refiftless Grace,
Contends not now, but for the ſecond Place;
Our Love fufpended, we neglect the Fair
For whom we burn'd, to gaze adoring here:
So fang the Syrens, with enchanting Sound,
Enticing all to liften and be drown'd,
"Till Orpheus raviſh'd in a nobler Strain,
They ceas'd to fing, or finging charm'd in vain.
This bleft Alliance, Peterborough, may
Th' indebted Nation bounteously repay;
Thy Statues, for the Genius of our Land,
With Palm adorn'd, on ev'ry Threſhold ſtand.
¿
J
2
I
t
Spoken
{
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. S
Spoken by the Author, being then but
Twelve Years of Age, to her Royal
Highness the DUTCHESS of YORK,
at Trinity-College in Cambridge.
WHEN join'd in One, the Good, the Fair, the
Great,
Defcend to view the Mufes humble Seat,
Tho' in mean Lines they, their vaft Joys declare,
Yet for Sincerity and Truth, they dare
With your own Taffo's mighty felf compare.
Then, bright and merciful as Heav'n, receive
From them fuch Praifes, as to Heav'n they give,
Their Praiſes for that gentle Influence,
4
Which thoſe auſpicious Lights, your Eyes, diſpenſe.
Thoſe radiant Eyes, whoſe irrefiftless Flame
Strikes Envy dumb, and keeps Sedition tame:
They can to gazing Multitudes give Law,
Convert the Factious, and the Rebel awe:
They conquer for the Duke; where-e'er you tread,
Millions of Profelytes behind are led,
J
Thro' Crowds of new-made Converts Atill you go,
Pleas'd and triumphant at the glorious Show!
B 3
}
Happy
6
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Happy that Prince, who has by you attain'd
A greater Conqueft than his Arms e'er gain'd:
With all War's Rage he may abroad o'ercome,
But Love's à gentler Victory at home.
Securely here, he on that Face relfel,
Lays by his Arms, and conquers with your Eyes;
And all the glorious Actions of his Life
Thinks well rewarded, bleft with fuch a Wife.
To the KING, in the First Year of
His Majesty's Reign.
AY all thy Years, like this, propitious be,
MAY
And bring theeCrowns, and Peace, and Victory:
Scarce had it thou Time t'unfheath thy conqu'ring Blade,
It did but glitter, and the Rebels fled :
Thy Sword, the Safeguard of thy Brother's Throne,
Is now become the Bulwark of thy own.
Aw'd by thy Fame, the trembling Nations fend
Thro'-out the World, to court to brave a Friend;
The guilty Senates that refus'd thy Sway
Repent their Crime, and halten to obey;
Tribute they raiſe, and Vows and Off'rings bring,
Confeſs their Phrenzy, and confirm their King.
Who
POEMS upon ſeveral Occafions.
7
Who with their Venom over-fpread thy Soil,
Thoſe Scorpions of the State, prefent their Oyl.
So the World's Saviour, like a Mortal dreſt;
Altho' by daily Miracles confeft,
Accus'd of Evil Doctrine by the Jews,
Their righful Lord they impiouſly refuſe;
But when they faw fuch Terror in the Skies,
The Temple rent, their King in Glory rife,
Dread and Amazement feiz'd the trembling Crowd,
Who, conſcious of their Crime, adoring bow'd.
To the KIN G.
THO' train'd in Arms, and learn'd in Martial Arts,
Thou chuſeЯ not to conquer Men, but Hearts… ·
Expecting Nations for thy Triumphs wait,
But thou prefer'ft the Name of Juft to Great.
So Jove fufpends his fubject World to doom,
Which, wou'd he pleaſe to thunder, he'd confume.
1
O! cou'd the Ghofts of mighty Heroes dead
Return on Earth, and quit th' Elyſian Shade,
Brutus to James wou'd truft the Peoples Caufe;
Thy Juftice is a ſtronger Guard than Laws:
B 4
Marius
୫
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Marius and Sylla would refign to thee;
Nor Cafar, and great Pompey, Rivals be,
Or Rivals only who fhou'd beft obey,
And Cato give his Voice for Regal Sway!
To the KING.
HEROES of old, by Rapine and by Spoff,
In fearch of Fame, did all the World embroil.
Thus to their Gods each then ally'd his Name,
This fprang from Jove, and That from Titan came.
With equal Valour, and the fame Succeſs,
Dread King, might'st thou the Univerſe opprefs.
But Chriftian Laws conftrain thy Martial Pride,
Peace is thy Choice, and Piety thy Guide';
By thy Example, Kings are taught to fway,
Heroes to fight, and Saints may learn to pray.
The Grecian Leaders were but half Divine ;
Neftor in Council, and Ulyffes thine :
But in the Day of Combat, all wou'd yield
To the fierce Maſter of the fev'n-fold Shield.
Their very Deities were grac'd no more,
Mars had the Courage, Jove the Thunder bore:
But all Perfections meet in James alone,
And Britain's King is all the Gods in One.
ウ
​Mr.
·POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
:
Mr. Waller to the Author, on his
foregoing Verfes to the KING.
AN early Plant, which fuch a Bloffom bears,
And fhows a Genius ſo beyond his Years,-
A Judgment that cou'd make ſo fair a Choice,
So high a Subject to employ his Voice,
Still as it grows, how ſweetly will he fing
The growing Greatness of our matchlefs King!
蠢
​i.
To Mr. W´AL LER.
(
WHEN into Libya the young Grecian came,
•
To talk with. Hammon, and .confult for Fame,
When from the Sacred Tripod where he ſtood,
The Prieſt inſpir'd faluted him a God si ·
Scarce fuch a Jóy that haughty: Victor knew,
So own'd by Heav'n, as I thus prais'd by you,
Whoe'er their, Naïnes can in thy Numbers ſhow,
Have more than Empire, and immortal grow;
Ages to come ſhall feorn the Powers of ald,
When in thy Verfe of greater Gods they're told;
Our beauteous Queen, land, martial Monarch's Name,
For Jove and June ſhall be plac'd by Fame;
B 5
f
Thy
Ro
?
POEM's upon Federal. “Oêcuſions.
Thy Charles for Neptune fhall the Seas command,
And Sachariffa fhall for Venus fland ; ·
Greece fhall no longer boaft, nor haughty Rome,
But think from Britain all the Gods did come..
To the Immortal Memory of Mr.
WALLER, upon his Death.
N
ALIKE partaking of Celeſtial Fire,
"Poets and Heroes to Renown afpire,"
Till crown'd with Honour, and immortal Name,
By Wit, or Valour, led to equal Fame,"
They mingle with the Gods, that breath'd the noble Flame:
Homer ſhall taft, like Alexander, 'long,
As much recorded, and as often fung.
A Tree of Life is Sacred Poetry's
Sweet is the Fruit and tempting to the Eye.
Many there are whỏ hibble without Leave; ›
But none, who are not 'born' to Tafte, furviye.
Waller fhall never dye, of Life fecute;
As long as Fame or aged Time 'endure:
Waller, the Mufe's Darling, free to taſte
Of all their Stores, the Maſter of the Feast;
C
•
5
+
Not
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
II
Not like old Adam'ſtinted in his Choice,
But Lord of all the ſpacious Paradiſe.
Thoſe Foes to Virtue, Fortune and Mankind.
Favouring his Fame, once to do Juſtice join'd;
No carping Critick interrupts his Praife,
No Rival ſtrives, but for a ſecond Place :
No Want conſtrain'd, the Writer's ufual Fate,
A Poet, with a plentiful Eſtate;
The first of Mortals, who before the Tomb
Struck that pernicious Monster, Envy, dumb ;
Malice and Pride, thoſe Savages, difarm'd ;
5
Not Orpheus-with fuch pow'rful Magick charmi'd.
Scarce in the Grave can we allow him more
Than, Living, we agreed to give before.
His noble Mufe employ'd her gen'rous Rage
In crowning Virtue, ſcorning to engage
The Vice and Follies of an impious Age:
No Satyr lurks within this Hallow'd Ground,
#
But Nymphs and Heroin's, Kings and Gods aboudd,
Glory, and Arms, and Love, is all the Sound :,
His Eden with no Serpent is defil❜d,
But all is gay, delicious all, and mild.
Miſtaken Men his Muſe of Flatt'ry blame,
Adorning twice an impious Tyrant's Name:
A
We
12
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
We raiſe our owo, by giving Fame to Foes ;
The Valour that he prais'd he did oppofe.
Nor were his Thoughts to Poetry confin'd,
The State and Buſineſs ſhar'd his ample Mind;
As all the Fair were Captives to his Wit,
So Senates to his Counfels would ſubmit:
His Voice ſo ſoft, his Eloquence ſo ſtrong,
Like Cato's was his Speech, like Qvid's was his Song.
Our Britiſh Kings are rais'd above the Herfe,
Immortal made in his immortal Verſe ;
No more are Mars and Jove Poetick Themes,
But the Cæleftial Charles's and juſt James :
Juno and Pallas, all the fhining Race
Of Heav'nly Beauties, to the Queen give Place;
Clear like ber Brow, and graceful was his Song,
Great like her Mind,, and like her Virtue ftrong.
Parent of Gods, who do'ft to Gods remove,
Where art thou plac'd, and which thy Seat above?
Waller the God of Verfe we will proclaim,
Not Phœbus now, but Waller be his Name ;
Of joyful Bards the ſweet Seraphick Quire
Acknowledge thee, their Oracle and Sire ;
The Spheres do homage, and the Mufes fing
Waller the God of Verfe, who was the King.
O#
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
13
On the QUEEN's Picture, given in
Exchange for another.
F the rude Indians, artless and untaught,
So brightest Jewels are with Trifles bought:-
Deceiv'd Ixion's Fate revers'd is ſhow'd,
Imperial Juno given for a Cloud.
On the QUEEN.
WHEN we reflect upon our charming Queen,
Her Wit, her Beauty, her Imperial Mein;
Majeftick Funo in her Air we find,
The Form of Venus, with Minerva's Mind:,
Who was fo grac'd, ſhe, ſhe was fit alone
With Royal James to fill the British Throne,
LOVE.
14
POEM's upon feveral Occafions.
4
T
LOVE.
O Love, is to be doom'd, in Life, to feèl
What after Death the Tortur'd meet in Hell.
The Vulture dipping in Prometheus Side
His bloody Beak, with his torn Liver dy¹d,
Is Love: The Stone that labours up the Hill,
Mocking the Lab'rer's Toil, returning ftill,
Is Love: Thofe Streams where Fantalusis curft
To fit, and never drink, with endleſs Thirſt,
Thofe loaden Boughs that with their Burthen bend
To court his Täfte, and yet eſcape his. Hand,
All this is Love, that to diffembled Joys
Invites vain Men, with real Griefs deſtroys.
The Progress of BEAUTY.
+
HE God of Day, defcending from above,
THE
Mixt with the Sea, and got the Queen of Love:
Beauty, that fires the World, 'twas fit fhould rife
From him alone, who lights the Stars and Skies.
In Cyprus long, by Men and Gods obey'd,
The Lover's Toil fhe gratefully repaid;
7
Pro-
POEMS upon:feveral Occafions. AS
Promifcuous Bleffings to her Slaves affign'd,
វ
And ſhow'd the World that Beauty fhou'd be kind.
Learn by this Pattern, all ye Fair, to charm ;
Bright be your Beams, but without fcorching warm.
Hellen was next, from Greece to Phrygia brought;
With much Expence of Blood and Empire fought;
Beauty and Love the nobleft Cauſe afford
That can try Valour, or employ the Sword:
Not Men alone, incited by her Charms,
But Heav'n's concern'd, and all the Gøds-take Arms.
The happy Trojan, gloriouſly poſſeſt,
Enjoys, and lets defpairing Fools conteſt:
"Secure, faid he, of that for which they fight,
"Theirs be the Toil, and mine be the Delight s
"'Your dull Reflections, Moralifts, forbear,
“His Title's beſt, who beſt can pleaſe the Fair.
Ten Years, a noble Space! he kept his Hold;
Nor loft, 'till Beauty was decay'd and old,
And Love by long Poffeffron pall'd and cold.
And now the Gods, in pity to the Cafes,
The fierce Defires, Divifions, and Defpairs
Of tortur❜d Men, while Beauty was confin'd,
Refolv'd to multiply the charming Kind.
Greece was the Land where this bright Race begun,
And ſaw a thouſand Rivals to the Sun;
44
Hence
16
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Hence follow'd Arts, each ſtudying with Care,
Some new Production to delight the Fair.
To bright Egeria, Socrates retir'd ;«~
His Wiſdom grew but as his Love inſpir'd:
Thoſe Rocks and Oaks that ſuch Emotions felt,
Were cruel Maids, whòm Orpheus taught to melt:
Mufick and Songs, and ev'ry way to move
The raviſht Heart, were Seeds and Plants of Love.
The Gods entic'd by ſo divine, a Birth,
Defcend from Heav'n, to this New-Heav'n on Earth.
Thy Wit, O Mercury, 's no Defence from Love;
Nor, Mars, thy Target; nor thy Thunder, fove.
The mad Immortals, in a thouſand Shapes
警
​Range the wide Globe; fome yield, fome fuffer Rapes
Invaded, or deceiv'd, not oneſcapes:
The Wife, tho' a bright Goddeſs, thus gives place
To mortal Concubines of fresh Embrace:
By fuch Examples, were we taught.to fee
The Life and Soul of Love is ſweet Variety,
In thoſe firſt Times, ere charming Womankind
Reform'd their Pleafures, polifhing the Mind,
Rude were their Revels, and obſcene their Joys,
The Broils of Drunkards, and the Luft of Boys:
Phœbus laments for Hyacinthus dead ; ·
*
And Juno jealous, storms at Ganymed.
+
Keturn
S
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
17
Return, my Mufe, and cloſe that odious Scene,
Nor ſtain thy Verſe with Images unclean :
Of Beauty fing, her fhining Progreſs view,
From Clime to Clime the dazling Light purfue,
Tell how the Goddess fpread, and how in Empire
grew.
Let others govern or defend the State,
Plead at the Bar, or manage a Debate;
In lofty Arts and Sciences excell,
Or in proud Domes employ their boaſted Skill,
To Marble and to Brafs fuch Features give,
The Metal and the Stone may feem to live;
Deſcribe the Stars, and Planetary Way,
And trace the Footsteps of Eternal Day:
Be this, my Mufe, thy Pleaſure and thy Care,
A Slave to Beauty, to record the Fair;
Still wand'ring in Love's fweet delicious Maze,
To fing the Triumphs of a heav'nly Face,
୮
Of lovely Dames, who with a Smile or Frown
Subdue the Proud, the fuppliant Lover crown;
From Venus down to Mira bring thy Song,
To thee alone fuch tender Tasks belong.
From Greece to Africk Beauty takes her Flight;
And ripens with her near Approach to Light:
Frown not, ye Fair, to hear of fwarthy Dames
With radiant Eyes, that take unerring Aims;
?
Beauty
18
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Beauty by no Complexion is defin'd,
Is of all Colours, and to none confin’d.
Jewels that ſhine, in Gold or Silver føt,
As fparkling and as precious are in Jet.
Here Cleopatra, with a liberal Heart,
,
Bounteous of Love, improv'd the Joy with Art;
The firft, who gave recruited Slaves to know
That the rich Pearl was of more Ufe than Show;
Who with high Meats, or a luxurious Draught,
Kept Love for ever flowing and full fraught.
Julius and Anthony, thofe Lords of All,
Low at her Feet prefent the conquer'd Ball.
Thoſe dreadful Eagles that had fac'd the Sun
From Pole to Pole, at length fáil dazled down.
Her dying Truth fome generous Tears would coft,
But that her Fate infpir'd the World well loft, *
With fecret Pride the ravifh'd Mufes view
The Image of that Death, which Dryden drew.
Pleas'd in fuch, happy Climates, warm and bright,``
Love for fome Ages revell'd with Delight:
The Martial Moors, in Gallantry refin'd,
Invent new Arts to make their Charmers kind;
See! in the Lifts, by golden Barriers `bound,
In warlike Ranks they wait the Trampet's Sound,
* All for Love, or the World well loft, written by Mr.
Dryden.
Some
í
Potмs upon feveral Occafions.
19
Some Love-Device is wrought on ev'ry Sword,
And ev'ry Ribban bears fome Myſtick Word:
As when we ſee the winged Winds engage,
Mounted on Courfers foaming Flame and Rages,
Ruftling from ev'ry Quarter of the Sky,
North, Eaft, and Weft, in airy Swifthefs vy
One Cloud repuls'd, new Combatants prepare
To meet as fierce, and form a thund'ring War:
So when the Trumpêt founding gives the Sign,
The jufting Chiefs in de Rencounter join;
So meet, and fo renew the dextrous Fight,
Each fair Beholder trembling for her Knight;
Their clattering Arms with the fierce fhock refound,
Helmets and broken Lances ſpread 'tlie Ground,.
Still as one falls, another takes in,
And all muſt be o'ercome, br none can'win;
The Victor, from the littering Daine, whole Eyes
Aided his conquering Arm, receives a precious Prize,
Thus flouriſh'd Love, and Beauty reign'd in State,
'Till the proud Spaniard gave thefe Glories Date;
Paft is the Gallantry, the Fame remains,
Tranfmitted 'fe in Dryden's lofty Scenes;
Granada loſt, Béheld her Pomps reltord, *
And Almahiile again by Kingsador'd. †
* The Conquest of Granada, written by Mr. Dryden.
† The Part of Almahide afted by Nell Gwyn.
$
Love
20
POEMS upon ſeveral Occafions."
Love driven thence, to colder Britain flies,
And with bright Eyes the diftant Sun fupplies;
Romances, that relate the dreadful Fights,
The Loves and Prowefs of adventrous Knights,
To animate their Rage, a Kifs, record
From Britain's faireft Nymph, was the Reward,
Thus antient to Love's Empire was the Claim
Of British Beauty, and fo.wide the Fame,
Which like our Flag upon the Seas gives Law,
By Right avow'd; and keeps the World in awe.
Our gallant Kings, of whom long Annals prove
The mighty Deeds, ftand as renown'd for Love;
A Monarch's Right o'er Beauty they may claim,
Lords of that Ocean from whence Beauty came.
Thy Rofamond, Great, Henry, on the Stage
By a late Mufe prefented in our Age,
With aking Hearts and flowing Eyes we view,
While that diffembled Death preſents the true:
In Bracegirdle the Perfons fo agree,
That all feems real the Spectators fee,
Of Scots, and Gauls defeated, and their, Kings
Thy Captives, Edward, Fame for ever fings;.1
Like thy high Deeds thy noble Loves are prais'd,
Who haſt to Love the nobleſt Trophy rais'd:
**
Thy Statues, Venus, tho' by Phidias' Hand
Deſign'd immortal, yet no longer ftand;
霉
​罩
​11
*
1
The
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
21
The Magick of thy fhining Zone is paſt,
But Salisbury's Garter ſhall for ever laſt,
Which thro' the World by living Monarchs worn,
Adds Grace to Scepters, and does Crowns adorn.
If fuch their Fame, who gave theſe Rites divine
To facred Love, O what Dishonour's thine,
Forgetful Queen, who fever'd that bright Head
Which charm'd two mighty Monarchs.to her Bed!
Hadſt thou been born a Man, thou hadſt not err'd,
Thy Fame had liv'd, and Beauty been preferr❜d:
But ah! what mighty Magick can affwage
A Woman's Envy, and a Bigot's Rage!
Love tir'd at length, Love that delights to fmile,
Flying from Scenes of Horror, quits our Iſle;
With Charles the Cupids and the Graces gone,
In Exile live; for Love and he were One.
With Charles he wanders, and for Charles he mourns;
But oh how fierce the Joy when Charles returns!
As eager Flames, with Oppofition pent,
Break out impetuous when they find a Vent;
As a fierce Torrent hinder'd in his Race,
Forcing his Way, rowls with redoubled Pace;
From the loud Palace to the filent Grove,
All by the King's Example live, and love;
The Mufes with Diviner Voices fing,
And all rejoice to pleaſe the Godlike King.
Then
22
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Then Waller in immortal Verfe proclaims
*
The fhining Court, and all the glitt'ring Dames.
Thy Beauty, Sidney, like Achilles' Sword,
Refiſtleſs ſtands, upon as fure Record;
The foremoſt Hero, and the brighteſt Dame,
Both fung alike, ſhall have their Fate the fame.
And now, my Muſe, a nobler Song prepare,
And ſing it loud, that Heay'n and Earth may hear.
Behold from Italy a wand'ring Ray
Of moving Light illuminates the Day,
Northward the bends, majeſtically bright,
And here the fixes her Imperial Light.
Be bold, be bold, my Mufe, nor fear to raise
Thy Voice to her, who was thy earlieſt Praiſe:
What, tho' the fullen Fates refufe to fhine,
Or frown fevere, on thy audacious Line; }
Keep thy bright Theme within thy fteady Sight,
The Clouds ſhall fly before the dazling Light,
And everlaſting Day direct thy lofty Flight;
Thou who haft never yet put on Diſguiſe
To flatter Folly, or deſcend to Vice,
Let no vain Fear thy gen'rous Ardour targe,
But ftand erect, and found as loud as Fame
WYV
* The Lady Dorothy Sidney, celebrated under the Name of
Sachariffa,
As
POEMs upon feveral Occafions.
23
As when our Eye fome Profpect would purfue,
Defcending from Hill, looks round to view,
Paffes o'er Lawns and Meadows, till it gains
}
Some beauteous Spot, and fixing there remains:
With equal Rapture my tranfported Muſe
Flies other Objects, this bright Theme to chufe.
7
Queen of our Hearts, and Charmer of our Sight,'
A Monarch's Pride, his Glory, and Delight,
Princefs ador'd and lov'd, if Verſe can give
A deathleſs Name, thine fhall for ever live,
Invok'd where-e'er the British Lion roars,
Extended as the Seas that gird the British Shoars.
The wife Immörtáls in their Seats above,
To crown their Labours, ftill appointed Love;
Phœbus enjoy'd the Goddeſs of the Sea,
Alcides had Omphale, Fames has Thee..
O happy James! Content thy mighty Mind,
Grudge not the World, for ftill thy Queen is kind;
To lye but at whofe Feet more Glory brings,
Than 'tis to tread on Scepters and on Kings:
Secure of Empire in that beauteous Breaſt,
Who wou'd not give their Crowns to be ſo bleſt?
Was Hellen half to fair, fo form'd for Jay,
Well chofe the Trojan, and well burnt was Tray.
But ah! what ftrange Viciffitudes of Fate,
What Chance attends on ev'ry worldly State !
As when the Skies were fackt, the conquer'd Gods,
Compell'd from Heav'n, forfook their blett Abodes;
Wand'ring
24 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Wand'ring in Woods they fled from Den to Den,
Or leading Flocks, turn'd Hirelings to Men:
Or, as the ſtately Pine erecting high
Her beauteous Branches, fhooting to the Sky;
If ſtrucken by the Thunderbolt of Jove,
Down falls at once the Pride of all the Grove,
Level with loweſt Earth lyes the tall Head,
That rear'd aloft, as to the Clouds were ſpread;
So-
But ceaſe, my Mufe, thy Colours are too faint,
Hide with a Veil thoſe Griefs that none can paint :
This Sun is fet
But fee in bright Array
What Hofts of Heav'nly Light recruit the Day!
Love in a fhining Galaxy appears
{
Triumphant ftill, and Grafton leads the Stars: 2
Ten thouſand Loves ten thouſand fev❜ral Ways
Invade the Lookers-on, who die to gaze,
Knowing our Dooms, as to the Syren's Voice,
So fweet's th' Enchantment, that our Fate's our Choice.
Who moſt reſembles her, let next be nam'd,
Villers, for Wiſdom as for Beauty fam'd:
1
Of a high Race that congu'ring Beauty.brings
To charm the World, and Subjects make of Kings.
With what Delight my Mufe to Sandwich flies,
Whofe Wit is piercing as her fparkling Eyes;
Ah! how the mounts, and ſpreads her airy Wings,
And tunes her Voice, when the of Ormond fings,
*
Of
1
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
25
Of radiant Ormond, only fit to be
The Succeffor of beauteous Offory.
Richmond's a Title that but nam'd implies
Majeſtick Graces and victorious Eyes;
Holmes and St. Albans rich in Charms appear;
Hyde Venus is, the Graces are Kildare :
By Effex, and fair Rutenberg, we find
That Beauty to no Climate is confia'd.
Rupert, of Royal Blood, with modeſt Grace
Bluſhes to hear the Triumphs of her Face.
Careless, but yet fecure of Conqueſt ſtill,
Lu'fon unaiming, never fails to ki.l, *
Guiltless of Pride, to captivate, or ſhine,
Bright without Art, fhe wounds without Defign.
But Wyndham like a Tyrant throws the Dart,
And takes a cruel Pleaſure in the Smart;
Proud of the Ravage that her Beauties make,
Delights in Wounds, and kills for killing-fake;
Afferting the Dominion of her Eyes,
As Heroes fight, for Glory, not for Prize.
The skilful Mufe's earlieſt Care has been
The Praiſe of never-fading Mazarin ;
The Poet, and his Theme, in fpight of Time,
For ever young, enjoy an endleſs Prime.
* My Lady Gower.
+ St. Evremond, who has celebrated Madam Mazarin under
the Name of Hortenfe.
C
With
+
26
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
With Charms fo numerous Myra can ſurpriſe,
The Lover knows not by which Dart he dies;
So thick the Volly, and the Wound fo fure,
No Flight can fave, no Remedy can cure.
Yet dawning in her Infancy of Light,
◇ fee another Brudenel heav'nly bright,
Born to fulfill the Glories of her Line,
And fix Love's Empire in that Race divine.
Fain wou'd my Mufe to Stowel bend her Sight,
But turns aftonifh'd from the dazling Light,
Nor dares attempt to climb the ſteepy Flight.
O Kneller! like thy Pictures were my Song,
Clear like thy Paint, and like thy Pencil ftrong,
Theſe matchlefs Beauties fhould recorded be
Immortal in my Verfe, as in thy Gallery. †
ww
}
↑ The Gallery of Beauties at Hampton-Court, drawn by Sir
Godfrey Kneller.
}
Он
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 27
On my Lady HYDE, having the
Small-Pox.
SCARCE cou'd the general Joy for Mohun appear,
But new Attempts fhow other Dangers near:
Beauty's attack'd in her imperial Fort,
Where all her Loves and Graces kept their Court,
In her chief Refidence befieg'd at last,
Laments to fee her faireſt Fields laid waſte.
On things immortal all Attempts are vain,
Tyrant Difeafe, 'tis lofs of Time and Pain ;
Glut thy wild Rage, and load thee with rich Prize,
Torn from her Cheeks, her fragrant Lips and Eyes,
As much Vermillion, as much Luftre take,
As might a Hellen or a Venus make;
Like Thetis, fhe fhall fruftrate thy vain Rape,
And in variety of Charms efcape.
The twinkling Stars drop numberlefs each Night,
Yet fhines the radiant Firmament as bright;
So from the Ocean ſhould we Rivers drain,
Still wou'd enough to drown the World remain.
Ca
10
28
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
To MYRA.
W Arn'd and made wife by others Flame,
I fled from whence fuch Mifchiefs came,
Shunning the Sex that kills at Sight,
I fought my Safety in my Flight.
But ah! in vain from Fate we fly?
For, first or laft, as all muft die;
So 'tis as much decreed above,
That, firſt or laft, we all muſt love.
My Heart, that flood fo long the Shock
Of Winds and Waves, like fome firm Rock,
By one bright Spark from Myra thrown,
Is into Flame, like Powder, blown.
2
SONG,
To MYRA.
Ooliſh Love, begone, faid I,
Fooliſh
Vain are thy Attempts on me,
Thy foft Allurements
defie;
Women, thoſe fair Diffemblers, fly;
My Heart is not made for thee.
•
· Love
POEM's upon feveral Occafions.
29
Love heard, and ſtrait prepar'd a Dart :
Myra, revenge my Cauſe, faid he.
Too fure 'twas fhot; I feel the Smart,
It rends my Brain, and tears my Heart:
O Love! my Conqueror, pity me.
To MYRA. The Surrender.
Now fly, Difcretion, to my Aid,
Sec haughty Myra, fair and bright,
In all the Pomp of Love array'd s
Ah how I tremble at her Sight!
She comes! She comes! Before her all
Mankind does proftrate fall.
Love, a Deſtroyer fierce and young,
Adventrous, terrible, and ftrong,
Cruel and raſh, delighting ſtill to vex,
Sparing nor Age nor Sex,
Commands in chief: Well fortify'd he lies,
And from her Lips, her Cheeks, her Eyes,
All Oppofition be defies.
Reaſon, Love's old inveterate Foe,
Scarce ever reconcil'd 'till now,
Reafon affifts her too.
A wife Commander he, for Council fit,
But nice and coy, nor has been ſeen to fit
C 3
In
30
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
In modern Synods, nor appear'd of late
In Courts, or Camps, or in Affairs of State;
Reaſon proclaims 'em all his Foes,
Who fuch refiftleſs Charms oppoſe.
My very Bofom Er ends make War
Within my Breaſt, and in her Int'refts are;
Efteem and Judgment with ftrong Fancy join,
To call the fair Invader in;
My darling Favourite, Inclination too,
All, all confpiring with the Foe!
Ah! whither fhall I fly to hide
My Weakneſs from the Conqueror's Pride?
Now, now, Diſcretion be my Guide!
But fee, this mighty Archimedes too
Surrenders now ;
Prefuming longer to refift,
His very Name
Diſcretion muſt diſclaim,
Folly and Madneſs only wou'd perfift.
L
To
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 31
To MYRA. SONG.
LL tell her the next time, faid I :
I'LL
In vain! in vain! for when I try,
Upon my timorous Tongue the trembling Accents die.
Alas! a thouſand thouſand Fears
Still over-awe when the appears,
My Breath is spent in Sighs, my Eyes are drown'd in Tears.
To MYRA. Loving at first Sight.
I
No warning of th' approaching Flam:,
Swiftly like fudden Death it came,
Like Travellers by Light'aing kill'd,
I burnt the Moment I beheld.
II.
1.
In whom ſo many Charms are plac❜d,
Is with a Mind as nobly grac'd.;
The Cafe, fo fhining to behold,
Is fill'd with richeft Gems and Gold.
III.
To what my Eyes admir'd before,
I add a thouſand Graces more;
And
C4
32
POEMS upon several Occafions.
'And Fancy blows into a Flame
The Spark, that from her Beauty came.
IV.
The Object thus improv'd by Thought,
By my own Image I am caught:
Pygmalion fo, with fatal Art,
Polifh'd the Form that fung his Heart.
To MYR A.
I.
WHEN wilt thou break, my ftubborn Heart?
O Death, how flow to take my part
Whatever I purfue, denies,
Death, Death it felf, like Myra flies,
II.
Love and Deſpair, like Twins, poffeft
At the fame fatal Birth my Breaft ;
No Hope could be, her Scorn was all
That to my deftin'd Lot cou'd fall.
III,
I thought, alas! that Love cou'd dwell
But in warm Climes, where no Snow fell;
Like Plants, that, kindly Heat require,
To be maintain'd by conftant Fire.
IV. That
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
33
IV.
That without Hope 'twou'd die as foon,
A little Hope
-But I have none:
On Air the poor Camelions thrive,
Deny'd even that, my Love can live.
V.
As tougheſt Trees in Storms are bred,
And grow in fpight of Winds, and spread;,
The more the Tempest tears and ſhakes
My Love, the deeper Root it takes.
VI.
Defpair, that Aconite does prove,
And certain Death to other's Love,
That Poiſon, never yet withſtood,
Does nouriſh mine, and turns to Food.
VII.
O! for what Crime is my torn Heart
Condemn'd to fuffer deathlefs Smart ?
Like fad Prometheus, thus to lye
In endleſs Pain, and never dye.
1
C 5
In
34
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
In Praise of MYRA.
འ.
TUNE, tune thy Lyre; begin, my Mufe;
What Nymph, what Queen, what Goddefs wilt
thou chufe?
Whofe Praiſes fing? what Charmer's Name
Tranfmit immortal down to Fame?
Strike, frike thy Strings; let Eeho take the Sound,
And bear it far, to all the Mountains round:
Pindus again fhall hear, again rejoice,
And Hamus too, as when th' enchanting Voice
Of tuneful Orpheus charm'd the Grove,
Taught Oaks to dance, and made the Cedars move.
11.
Nor Venus, nor Diana, will we name,
Myra is Venus, and Diana too;
All that was feign'd of them, apply'd to her, is true:
Then fing, my Mufe, let Myra be our Theme.
As when the Shepherds wou'd a Garland make,
They fearch with Pains the fragrant Meadows round,
Plucking but here and there, and only take
The fweeteft Flowers, with which fome Nymph is
crown'd:
In framing Myra fo divinely fair,
Nature has taken the fame Care,
All
x
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 35
All that is lovely, noble, good, we fee,
All, beauteous Myra, all bound up in thees
III.
Where Myra is, there is the Queen of Love,
Th' Arcadian Paftures, and the Cyprian Grove,
When Myra walks, fo charming is her Meen,
In ev'ry Motion ev'ry Grace is feen:
When Myra fpeaks, fo juft's the Senfe and ftrong,
So ſweet the Voice, 'tis like the Muſes Song.
Place me on Mountains of eternal Snow,
Where all is Ice, all Winter Winds that blow,
Or caft me underneath the burning Line,
Where everlaſting Sun does ſhine,
Where all is ſcorch'd — Whatever you decree,
Ye Gods! where-ever I fhall be,
Myra ſhall ſtill be lov'd, and ſtill ador❜d-by me.
My Lady HYDE, Sitting for her
Picture.
WHILE Kneller with inimitable Art
Attempts that Face, whofe Print's on ev'ry Heart,
The Poet with a Pencil lefs confin'd
Shall draw her Virtues, and deferibe her Mind,
Unlock the Shrine, and to the Sight unfold
The fecret Gems, and all the inward Gold.
Two
36
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Two only Patterns do the Mufes name
Of perfect Beaury, but of guilty Fame;
A Venus and a Hellen have been ſeen,
Both perjur❜d Wives, the Goddeſs and the Queen,
In this, the Third, are reconcil'd at laſt
Thoſe jarring Attributes of Fair and Chaſt.
This dazling Beauty is a lovely Cafe
Of fhining Virtue, ſpotless as her Face,
With Graces that attract, but not enfnare,
Divinely good, as fhe's divinely fair:
With Beauty nor affected, vain, nor proud,
With Greatneſs caſie, affable, and good.
Others, by guilty Artifice, and Arts
Of promis'd Kindnefs, practife on our Hearts,
With Expectation blow the Paffion up;
She fans the Fire without one Gale of Hope:
Like the chafte Moon, fhe fhines to all Mankind,
But to Endymion is her Love confin’d.
What cruel Deſtiny on Beauty waits,
When on one Face depend fo many Fates!
Oblig'd by Honour to relieve but One,
Unhappy Men by Thoufands are undone,
Written
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 37
Written in a Garden in the North.
WHAT Charm is this, that in the midſt of Snow,
Of Storms and Blafts, the nobleft Fruits do grow?
Mellons on Beds of Ice are taught to bear,
And Strangers to the Sun, yet ripen here?
On frozen Ground the ſweeteſt Flower's ariſe,
Unſeen by any Light but Flavia's Eyes:
Where-e'er ſhe treads, beneath the Charmer's Feet
The Rofe, the Jasʼmin, and the Lillies meet:
Where-e'er the looks, behold ſome ſudden Birth
Adorns the Trees, and fructifies the Earth:
In midft of Mountains and unfruitful Ground,
As rich an-Eden as the firft is found.
In this new Paradiſe fhe reigns in State
With Sov'reign Pride, difdainful of a Mate,
Like the firſt Charmer fair, but not fo frail,
Againſt whofe Virtue all Temptations fail:
Beneath thoſe Beams that ſcorch us from her Eyes,
Her fnowy Boſom ſtill unmelted lyes;
Love from her Lips fpreads all his Odours round,
But bears on Ice, and ſprings from frozen Ground.
So cold the Clime that can fuch Wonders bear,
The Garden ſeems an Emblem of the Fair.
!
To
38 POEMS upor feceral Occafions.
A
To DAPHNE.
Roman and a Greek our Praiſe divide,
Nor can we yet who beft deferv'd, decide:
Behold two mighty Conquerors appear,
Some for your Wit, fome for your Eyes declare,
Debates arife which captivates us moſt,
And none can tell the Charm by which he's loft.
The Bow and Quiver does Diana bear,
Cybel the Lions, Pallas has the Spear;
Poets fuch Emblems to their Gods affign;
Hearts bleeding by the Dart, and Pen, be thine.
To a very learned young Lady.
LOVE, like a Tyrant whom no Laws conſtrain,
Now for fome Ages kept the World in Pain;
Beauty by vaft Deftru&tions got Renown,
And Lovers only by their Rage were known;
But Delia, more auſpicious to Mankind,
Conqu❜ring the Heart, as much inftructs the Mind;
Bleft in the Fate of her victorious Eyes,
Seeing, we love, and hearing, we grow wife:
So
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 39
So Rome, for Wisdom as for Conqueft fam'd,
Improv'd with Arts whom the by Arms had tam'd.
Above the Clouds is plac'd this glorious Light,
Nothing lies hid from her enquiring Sight;
Athens and Rome for Arts reftor'd rejoice,
*
Their Language takes new Mufick from her Voice,
Learning and Love in the fame Seat we find,
So bright her Form, and ſo adorn'd's her Mind.
Long has Minerva govern'd in the Skies,
But now deſcends, confeft to human Eyes:
Behold in Delia that inſpiring Queen
Whom learned Athens ſo adör❜d unfeen.
D
THYRSIS and DELIA.
THYRS I S.
Elia, how long muſt I deſpair,
And tax you with Diſdain,
Still to my tender Love ſevere,
Untouch'd when I complain?
DELĮ A
When Men of equal Merit love us,
And do with equal Ardour fue,
Thyrfis, you know but one can move us;
Can I be yours and Strephon's too?
My
40
POEMS upon feveral Occafions:
My Eyes view both with mighty Pleaſure,
Impartial to your high Defert,
To both a like Efteem I meaſure,
To one alone can give my Heart.
THYRSI S.
Myfterous Guide of Inclination,
Tell me, Tyrant, why am I,
With equal Merit, equal Paffion,
Thus the Victim choſe to die?
Why am I
?
The Victim choſe to die?
DELIA.
On Fate alone depends Succeſs,
And Fancy Reafon over-rules,
Or, why ſhou'd Virtue ever mifs
Reward, ſo often given to Fools?
'Tis not the Valiant, nor the Witty,
But who alone is born to pleafe,
Love does predeſtinate our Pity;
We chufe but whom he firſt decrees.
My Lady HYDE.
WHEN fam'd Apelles fought to frame
Some Image of th' Idalian Dame,
To furnifh Graces for the Piece
He fummon'd all the Nymphs of Greece;
So
!
POEMS upon feveral Occafions:
41
So many Mortals were combin'd,
To ſhow how one Immortal ſhin'd..
Had Hyde thus fat by Proxy too,
As Venus then was faid to do,
Venus her felf, and all the Train
Of Goddeffes, had fummon'd been;
The Painter muſt have ſearch'd the Skies,
To match the Luftre of her Eyes,
Comparing then, while thus we view
The ancient Venus, and the new,
In her we many Mortals fee,
As many Goddeffes in Thee.
An APOLOGY for an unfeafonable
Surprize.
Aireft Zelinda, ceaſe to chide, or grieve,
Nor blush at Joys that only you can give.
Who with bold Eyes furvey'd thofe matchlefs Charms,
Is puniſh'd, feeing in another's Arms.
With greedy Looks he views each naked Part,
Joy feeds his Sight, but Envy tears his Heart.
So caught was Mars, and Mercury aloud
Proclaim'd his Grief, that he was not the God:
So
42
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
So to be caught was ev'ry God's Defire;
Nor lefs than Venus can Zelinda fire.
Forgive him then, thou more than Heav'nly Fair,
Forgive his Rafhnefs, punish'd by Despair.
All that we know which wretched Mortals feel
In thoſe fad Regions where the Tortur'd dwell,
Is that they ſee the Raptures of the Bleft,
And view the Joys that they muſt never taſte.
MYRA SINGING.
THE Syrens, once deluded, vainly charm'd;
Ty'd to the Maft, Ulyffes fail'd unharm❜d:
Had Myra's Voice entic'd his lift’ning Ear,
The Greek had ſtøpt, and wou'd have dy'd to hear.
When Myra fings, we feek th' enchanting Sound,
And bleſs the Notes that can ſo ſweetly wound:
What Mufick needs muft dwell upon that Tongue,
Whofe Speech is tuneful as another's Song?
Such Harmony, fuch Wit, a Face fo fair,
So many pointed Arrows, who can bear?
Who from her Wit, or from her Beauty flies,
If with her Voice fhe overtakes him, dies.
Like Soldiers fo in Battel we fucceed,
One Peril fcaping, by another bleed;
(
to
POEMS upon feveral Occafions: 43
In vain the Dart or glittering Sword we ſhun,
Condemn'd to perifh by the flaught'ring Gun.
MYRA in her Riding Habit.
WHEN Myra in her Sex's Garb we fee,
The Queen of Beauty then fhe feems to be;
Now, fair Adonis in this Male-difguife,
Or Cupid, killing with his Mother's Eyes:
No Style of Empire chang'd by this remove,
Who feem'd the Goddeſs, ſeems the God of Love.
SONG to MYRA.
Orſaken of my kindly Stars,
Forfaken
Within this melancholy Grove
I waſte my Days and Nights in Tears,
A Victim to ungrateful Love.
The happy ftill untimely end,
Death flies from Grief, or why fhould I
So many Hours in Sorrow ſpend,
Wiſhing, alas! in vain to die?
Ye Pow'rs! take Pity of my Pain,
This, only this, is my Defire;
Ah!
44
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Ah! take from Myra her Difdain,
Or let me with this Sigh expire.
SONG to MYR A.
WH
HY fhou'd a Heart ſo tender break?
○ Myra! give its Anguiſh Eaſe:
The Ufe of Beauty you miſtake,
Not meant to vex, but pleaſe.
Thoſe Lips for ſmiling were defign'd,
That Bofom to be preſt,
Your Eyes to languiſh and look kind,
For am'rous Arms your Waſte:
Each thing has its appointed Right
Eſtabliſh'd by the Powers above;
The Sun and Stars give Warmth and Light,
The Fair diftribute Love.
To MYR A.
Nature indulgent, provident, and kind,
In all things that excell fome Ufe defign'a.
The radiant Sun, of ev'ry Heav'nly Light
The firft, did Myra not difpute that Right,
Sends
POEMS upon Jeveral Occafions.
45
Sends from above ten thoufand Bleffings down,
Nor is he fet fo high for Show alone;
His Beams reviving with aufpicious Fife,
Freely we all enjoy what all admire.
The Moon and Stars, thofe faithful Guides of Night,
Are plac'd to help, not entertain, the Sight.
Plants, Fruits, and Flow'rs the fertile Fields producej
Not for vain Ornament, but wholeſome Uſe;
Health they reſtore, and Nouriſhment they give,
We fee with Pleaſure, but we tafte to live.
Then think not, Myra, that thy Form was meant
More to create Defire, than to content:
Wou'd the juft Gods fo many Charms provide
Only to gratifie a Mortal's Pride?
Wou'd they have rais'd thee ſo above thy Sex
Only to play the Tyrant, and to vex?
'Tis impious Pleaſure to delight in Harm,
And Beauty fhou'd be kind, as well as charm.
MYRA'S PARROT.
N thoſe firſt times, when Nymphs were rude and
coy,
IN
The Gods diſguis'd, laid Ambuſhes for Joy;
From
46 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
From Jove in Feathers, harmless to the Sight,
Lada, without a Bluſh, accepts Delight.
Myra, as chaſte as Lada, and more fair,
Forgive an anxious Lover's jealous Care,
And O take heed, for if fuch Tales were true,
The Gods may practiſe theſe Deſigns on you;
Their Heav'n and all their Brightneſs they will quit
For any Form, that may to you admit.
See, how the wanton Bird, at ev'ry Glance,
Spreads his gay plumes, and feels an am'rous Trance;
Preſt by that Hand, he melts at ev'ry Touch;
Preft by that Hand, who wou'd not melt as much?
The Queen of Beauty fhall forfake the Dove,
Henceforth the Parrot be the Bird of Love.
·
To MYR A.
INCE Truth and Conſtancy are vain,
SINCE
Since neither Love, nor Senfe of Pain,
Nor Force of Reaſon, can perfuade,
Then let. Example be obey'd.
In Courts and Cities, cou'd you
How well the wanton Fools agree,
fee
Were all the Curtains drawn, you'd find
Scarce one, perhaps, but who is kind.
Minerva
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
47
Miverva naked, from above,
With Venus, and the Wife of Jove,
Expoſing ev'ry Beauty bare, ·
Deſcended to the Trojan Heir
Yet this was the whom Poets name
Goddeſs of Chaſtity and Fame.
Penelope, her Lord away,
Gave am❜rous Audiences all Day;
Now round the Bowl the Suitors fit,
With Wine provoking Mirth and Wit:
Then down they take the ftubborn Bow;
Their Strength, it ſeems, ſhe needs muſt know:
Thus twenty chearful Winters paſt,
She's yet immortaliz'd for chaſte.
Smile Myra then, reward my Flame,
And be as much ſecure of Fame:
By all thoſe matchlefs Beauties fir'd,
By my own matchleſs Love inſpir'd,
So will I fing, fuch Wonders write,
That when th' aftoniſh'd World ſhall cite
A Nymph of ſpotlefs Worth and Fame,
Myra fhall be th' immortal Name.
The
48 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
The DISCOVERY. To the Countess
of N-
WITH Myra's Charms, and my extream Deſpair,
Long has my Muſe amaz'd the Reader's Ear,
My Friends with Pity heard the mournful Sound,
And all enquir'd who gave the fatal Wound;
Th' aftoniſh'd World beheld an endleſs Flame,
Ne'er to be quencht, and knew not whence it came:
So fcatter'd Fire from burning Etna flies,
Yet none can tell from whence thofe Flames arife.
My timorous Tongue, ftill trembling to confefs,
Fearful to name, wou'd fain have had her gueſs;
Slight Paffions with great Eaſe we can unfold:
Were my Love lefs, my Tongue had been more bold;
But who can live, and endleſs Torments feel?
Compell'd by Racks, the moſt Refolv'd reveal
Thoſe Secrets that their Prudence wou'd conceal.
My weeping Muſe, oppreft with hopeleſs Vows,
Flies to her Feet, and thus for Mercy bows.
Survey your felf, and then forgive your Slave,
Think what a Paffion fuch a Form muſt have;
Who can, unmov'd, behold that heav'nly Face,
Thoſe radiant Eyes, and that reſiſtleſs Grace?
}
My
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
49
My Vows to Myra all were meant to Thee,
The Praiſe, the Love, the matchleſs Conſtancy.
'Twas thus of old, when all th' immortal Dames
Were grac'd by Poes, each with fev'ral Names;
For Venus, Cytherea was invok'd,
Altars for Pallas, to Athéna ſmoak'd :
Such Names were theirs; and thou the moſt Divine,
Moft lov'd of Heav'nly Beauties, Myra's thine.
MYRA at a Review.
LET meaner Beauties conquer fingly ſtill,
But haughty Myra will by thoufands kill,
Thro' armed Ranks triumphantly fhe drives,
And with one Glance commands ten thouſand Lives:
The trembling Heroes nor refift nor fly,
But at the Head of all their Squadrons die.
To MYR A.
I.
So calm and fo ferene but now,
What means this Change on Myra's Brow ?
Her aguiſh Love now glows and burns,
Then chills and ſhakes, and the cold Fit returns.
D
JI. Mockt
50
POEMS upon ſeveral Occafions.
II.
Mockt with deluding Looks and Smiles,
When on her Pity I depend,
My airy Hope fhe foon beguiles,
And laughs, to ſee my Torments never end.
III.
So up the fleepy Hill with Pain
The weighty Stone is rowl'd in vain,
Which having touch'd the Top, recoils,
And leaves the Lab'rer to renew his Toils.
To MYRA,
'Houghtful Nights, and reſtleſs Waking,
TH
O the Pains that we endure !
Broken Faith, unkind Forfaking,
Ever doubting, never fure.
Hopes deceiving, vain Endeavours,
What a Race has Love to run!
Falſe Proteſting, fleeting Favours,
Ev'ry, ev'ry way, undone.
Still complaining, and defending,
Both to love, yet not agree,
Fears tormenting, Paffion rending,
O the Pangs of Jealouſie!
From
POEMS upon Several Occafions.
SI
From fuch painful Ways of living,
Ab how fweet, cou'd Love be free!
Still preſenting, ftill receiving,
Fierce, immortal Ecftafie!
To MYRA. SONG.
Prepar'd to rail, refolv'd to part,
When I approach the perjur'd Maid,
What is it awes my timorous Heart?
Why is my Tongue afraid?
With the leaſt Glance a little kind,
Such wondrous Pow'r have Myra's Charms,
She calms my Doubts, enflaves my Mind,
And all my Rage difarms.
Forgetful of her broken Vows,
When gazing on that Form divine
Her injur❜d Vaffal trembling bows,
Nor dares her Slave repine.
D 2
}
52 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
}
To MYRA. The Enchantment. In
Imitation of the Pharmaceutria of
Theocritus.
——
MIX, mix the Philters Quick- fhe flies, fhe flies,
Deaf to my Call, regardleſs of my Cries.
Are Vows fo vain? Cou'd Oaths fo feeble prove?
Ah with what Eaſe the breaks thoſe Chains of Love?
Whom Love with all bis Arts had bound in vain,
Let Charms compel, and Magick Rites regain.
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
Queen of the Night, bright Emprefs of the Stars,
The Friend of Love, affift a Lover's Cares:
And thou, infernal Hecatè, be nigh,
At whofe Approach fierce Wolves affrighted fly,
Dark Tombs difcloſe their Dead, and hollow Cries
Echo from under Ground; Ariſe, ariſe.
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
As crackling in the Fire this Lawrel lyes,
So ftruggling in Love's Flame her Lover dies:
It burfts, and in a Blaze of Light expires;
So may ſhe burn, but with more lafting Fires
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
~Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
As
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
53
cold
As the Wax melts that to the Flame I hold,
So may the melt, but never more grow
Pliant and warm may ſtill her Heart remain,
Soft for the Print, but ne'er turn hard again.
Tough Ir'n will yield, and ſtubborn Marble run,
And hardeſt Hearts by Love are melted down.
Begin, begin, the myſtick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
As with impetuous Motion whirl'd apace,
This magick Wheel ſtill moves, yet keeps its place,
Ever returning: So may the come back,
And never more th' appointed Round forſake.
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
Diana, hail! all hail! Moft welcome Thou,
To whom th' infernal King and Judges bow;
O thou who canft the Pow'rs of Hell perfwade,
Now try thy Charms upon a faithleſs Maid.
Hark! the Dogs bark! She comes, the Goddeſs comes:
Sound, found aloud, and beat our brazen Drums.
Begin, begin, the myſtick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer,
How calm's the Sky! how undiſturb'd the Deep!
Nature is hufh'd, the very Tempefts fleep,
The drowzy Winds breathe gently thro' the Trees,
And filent on the Beach repoſe the Seas:
Love only wakes: The Storm that tears my Breaſt
For ever rages, and diſtracts my Reft:
D 3
O Love!
54
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
O Love! Relentleſs Love! Tyrant accurſt!
In Defarts bred, by cruel Tygers nurſt!
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
This Ribban that once bound her lovely Waſte,
O that my Arms might gird her there as faſt!
Smiling ſhe gave it, and I priz'd it more,
Than the rich Zone th' Idalian Goddeſs wore.
This Ribban, this lov'd Relick of the Fair,
So kifs'd and fo prefery'd
Thus, thus I tear,
O Love! why doft thou thus delight to rend
My Soul with Pain? Ah why torment thy Friend!
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
Thrice have I facrific'd, and proftrate thrice
Ador'd: Affift, ye Pow'rs, the Sacrifice.
Who-e'er he is, whom now the Fair beguiles
With guilty Glances, and with perjur'd Smiles,
Malignant Vapours blaſt his impious Head,
Ye Lightnings fcorch him, Thunder ftrike him dead,
Horror of Confcience all his Slumbers break,
Diſtract his Reft, as Love keeps me awake;
If marry'd, may his Wife a Helen be,
And curft and fcorn'd, like Menelaus he.
Begin, begin, the myftick Spells prepare,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
Theſe pow'rful Drops thrice on the Threſhold pour,
And bathe with this enchanted Juice her Door,
That
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
That Door where no Admittance now is found,
But where my Soul is ever hov'ring round.
Haſte, and obey: And binding be the Spell.
Here ends my Charm: O Love fucceed it well:
By force of Magick ſtop the flying Fair,
Bring Myra back, my perjur'd Wanderer.
Thou'rt now alone; and painful is Reſtraint :
Eaſe thy preft Heart, and give thy Sorrows Vent,
Whence fprang, and how began thefe Griefs, declare,
How much thy Love, how cruel thy Defpair.
Ye Moon and Stars, by whofe aufpicious Light
I haunt theſe Groves, and waſte the tedious Night,
Tel', for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguiſh, and its fecret Smart.
Too late for Hope, for my Repofe too foon,
I faw, and lov'd: Her Heart engag'd, was gone:
A happier Man poffefs'd whom I adore ;
OI fhou'd ne'er have feen, or feen before.
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguiſh, and its ſecret Smart.
What shall I do? Shall I in Silence bear,
Deſtroy my felf, or kill the Raviſher ?
Die, wretched Lover, die: But ah beware,
Hurt not the Man who is belov'd by her,
Wait for a better Hour, and truft thy Fate :
Thou ſeek'ſt her Love, beget not then her Hate.
D 4
Tell
$6
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguiſh, and its fecret Smart.
My Life confuming with eternal Grief,
From Herbs and Spells I feck a vain Relief;
To ev'ry wife Magician I repair,
In vain! for ſtill I love, and I deſpair.
Circè, Medea, and the Sibyl Books,
Contain not half th’Enchantment of her Looks.
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguifh, and its fecret Smart.
As melted Gold preferves its Weight the fame,
So burnt my Love, nor wafted in the Flame.
And now unable to fupport the Strife,
A glimmering Hope recalls departing Life;
My Rival dying, I no longer grieve,
Since I may ask, and fhe with Honour give,
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguiſh, and its fecret Smart.
Witneſs ye Hours, with what unweary'd Care,
From Place to Place I ſtill purfu'd the Fair.
Nor was Occafion to reveal my Flame
Slow to my Succour, for it ſwiftly came:
It came, it came, that moment of Delight,
O Gods! And how I trembled at her Sight!
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its kiling Anguifh, and its fecret Smart.
Difmay'd and motionlefs, confus'd, amaz'd,
Trembling I ftood, and terrify'd I gaz’d;
My
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
57
My falt'ring Tongue in vain for Utt'rance try'd,
Faint was my Voice, my Thoughts abortive dy'd,
Or in weak Sounds and broken Accents came
Imperfect, as Diſcourſes in a Dream.
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguiſh, and its fecret Smart.
Soon the divin'd what this Confufion meant,
And guess'd with Eafe the Caufe of my Complaint:
My Tongue emboldning as her Looks were mild,
At length I told my Griefs And ſtill ſhe ſmilð.
O Siren, Siren! fair Deluder, fay
Why would you tempt to truft, and then betray?
So faithlefs now, why gave you Hopes before?
Alas! you ſhou'd have been leſs kind, or more.
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
Its killing Anguifh, and its fecret Smart.
Secure of Innocence, I ſeek to know
From whence this Change, and my Misfortunes 'grow;
*
Rumour is loud, and every Voice proclaims
Her violated Faith, and conſcious Flames."
Can this be true? Ah flattering Mifchief, ſpeak
Can you make Vows, and in a Moment break?
And can the Space fo very narrow be
Betwixt a Woman's Oath, and Perjury?
O Jealoufie! All other Ills at firſt
My Love effay'd, but thou art fure the worst!
Tell, for you know the Burthen of my Heart,
"Its killing Anguiſh, and its fecret Smart,
D 5
Ungrate
58 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Ungrateful Myra! urge me thus no more,
Nor think me tame, that once fo long I bore:
Tho' now by Philters I'd avert thy Change,
The Philters failing, Poiſon fhall revenge :
Already ftands prepar'd the deadly Draught,
Of an Affyrian was the Secret bought:
For whom that Draught? Ah feeble Rage and vain!
With how fecure a Brow fhe mocks my Pain?
Thy Heart, fond Lover, does thy Threats belie,
Canſt thou hurt her, for whom thou yet wou'dſt die?
Nor durft ſhe thus thy juft Refentment brave,
But that ſhe knows how much thy Soul's her Slave.
But fee! Aurora rifing with the Sun
Diffolves my Charm, and frees th' enchanted Moon,
My Spells no longer bind at Sight of Day,
And young Endymion calls his Love away.
Love's the Reward of all, on Earth, in Heav'n,
And for a Plague, to me alone was giv’n.
Evils we cannot fhun we muſt endure,
Death and a broken Heart's a ready Cure.
Cynthia farewell, go reft thy weary Light,
I muſt for ever wake- We'll meet again at Night.
<
To
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. $9
To MYR A. The Vifion.
N lonely Walks, diftracted by Defpair,
IN
Shunning Mankind, and torn with killing Care,
My Eyes o'erflowing, and my frantick Mind
Rackt with wild Thoughts, fwelling with Sighs the Wind
Thro' Paths untrodden, Day and Night I rove,
Mourning the Fate of my fuccefsleſs Love.
Who moſt defire to live, untimely fall;
But when we beg to die, Death flies our Call.
Adonis dies, and torn is the lov❜d Breaſt
In midft of Joy, where Venus wont to reſt:
The Fate, that cruel feem'd to him, would be
Pity, Relief, and Happineſs to me.
When will my Sorrows end? In vain, in vain
I call to Heav'n, and tell the Gods my Pain;
The Gods averfe, like Myra, to my Pray'r,
Conſent to doom, whom ſhe denies to ſpare.
Why do I feek for foreign Aids, when I
Bear ready by my Side the Pow'r to die?
Be keen, my Sword, and ferve thy Mafter well,
Heal Wounds with Wounds, and Love with Death repel
Strait up I rofe; and to my aking Breaſt,
My Bofom bare, the pointed Blade I preft,
When lo! aftoniſh'd! an unuſual Light
Pierc'd the thick Shade, and all around grew bright.
1
My
60
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
My dazled Eyes a radiant Form behold,
Splendid with Light, like Beams of burning Gold,
Eternal Rays his thining Temples grace,
Eternal Youth fat blooming on his Face;
*
Trembling I liften, proftrate on the Ground,
His Breath perfumes the Grove, and Mufick's in the Sound
Ceaſe, Lover, ceaſe thy tender Heart to vex
In fruitless Plaints of an ungrateful Sex ;
In Fate's eternal Volumes it is writ,
That Women ever fhall be Foes to Wit:
With
proper Arts their fickly Minds command,
And pleafe 'em with the things they underftand,
With noifie Fopperies their Hearts affail,
Renounce all Senfe; how thou'd thy Songs prevail,
When I, the God of Wit, fo oft cou'd fail?
Remember me; and in my Story find
How vainly Merit pleads to Womankind.
I by whom all things fhine, who tune the Sphears,
Create the Day, and gild the Night with Stars,
Whofe Youth and Beauty from all Ages paft
Sprang with the World, and with the World ſhall laſtı
How oft with fruitleſs Tears have I implor'd
Ungrateful Nymphs? And, tho' a God, ador'd?
When cou'd my Wit, my Beauty, or my Youth,
Move one hard Heart? or mov'd, fecure its Truth?
}
*
}
Apollo,
Here
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
6I
Here a proud Nymph with painful Steps I chafe,
The Winds out-flying in our nimble Race;
Stay Daphnè, ſtay ---- In vain, in vain I try
To ſtop her Spred, redoubling at my Cry;
O'er craggy Rocks and rugged Hills fhe climbs,
And tears on pointed Flints her tender Limbs;
But caught at lengtb, juft as my Arms I fold,
Turn'd to a Tree, ſhe yet eſcapes my Hold.
In my next Love a different Fate I find:
Ah! which is worfe? the Falfe, or the Unkind?
Forgetting Daphne, I Coronis chofe,
A kinder Nymph--too kind for my Repoſe.
The Joys I give but more enflame her Breaſt,
She keeps a private Drudge to quench the reſt;
How, and with whom, the very Birds proclaim *
Her black Pollution, and reveal my Shame.
Hard Lot of Beauty! fatally beſtow'd,
Or given to the Falfe, or to the Proud;
By fev❜ral Ways they bring us equal Pain,
The Falfe betray us, and the Proud difdain.
Scorn'd, and abus'd; from mortal Loves I fly,
To ſeek more Truth in my own Native Sky;
Venus, the fairest of immortal Loves,
Bright as my Beams, and gentle as her Doves,
With glowing Eyes, confeffing hot Defires,
She fummons Heav'n and Earth to quench her Fires,
* Diſcover'd by a Crow.
6
Mo
62
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Me the excludes: And I in vain adore
Who neither God nor Man refus'd before:
Vulcan, the very Monſter of the Skies,
Vulcan ſhe takes, the God of Wit denies.
Then ceaſe to murmur at thy Myra's Pride:
Whimfie, not Reaſon, is the Female Guide!
The Fate, of which their Mafter does complain,
Is of bad Omen to th' inſpired Train.
What Vows have fail'd! Hark how Catullus mourns,
How Ovid weeps, and flighted Gallus burns.
In melting Strains fee gentle Waller bleed,
Unmov'd the hears, what none unmov'd can read.
And thou, who oft with fuch ambitious Choice
Haft rais'd to Myra thy aſpiring Voice,
What Profit thy neglected Zeal repays?
Ah what Return? Ungrateful to thy Praife!
Change, change thy Style, with mortal Rage return
Unjuft Difdain, and Pride oppofe to Scorn;
Search all the Secrets of the Fair and Young,
And then proclaim, foon fhall they bribe thy Tongue:
The ſharp Detractor with Succeſs affails,
Sure to be gentle to the Man that rails:
Women, like Cowards, tame to the Severe,
Are only Fierce, when they diſcover Fear.
Thus fpake the God: And upward mounts in Air,
In juft Refentment of his paft Defpair,
5
Provok❜d
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
63
Provok'd to Vengeance, to my Aid I call
The Furies round, and dip my Pens in Gall;
Not one ſhall 'ſcape of all the coz'ning Sex,
Vex'd fhall they be, who fo delight to vex.
In vain I try, in vain to Vengeance move
My gentle Muſe, ſo us'd to tender Love;
Such Magick rules my Heart, whate'er I write
Turns all to foft Complaint, and am'rous Flight.
Begone, fond Thoughts, begone; be bold, ſaid I,
Satyr's thy Theme-
In vain again I try.
So charming Myra to each Senfe appears,
My Soul adores, my Rage diffolves in Tears.
So the gaul'd Lion, fmarting with his Wound,
Threatens his Foes, and makes the Foreſt found,
With his ftrong Teeth he bites the bloody Dart,
And tears his Side with more provoking Smart,
'Till having ſpent his Voice in fruitless Cries,
He lays him down, breaks his proud Heart, and dies
SONG
64
POEMS upon several Occafions:
}
SONG: For MYRA.
HERE end my Chains, and Thraldom ceafe;
If not in Joy, I'll live in Péace,
Since for the Pleaſures of an Hour
We must endure an Age of Pain,
I'll be this abject thing no more;
Love, give me back my Heart again.
Deſpair tormented firft my Breaſt,
Now Falfhood, a more cruel Gueſt.
O, for the Peace of Human-kind,
Make Women longer true, or fooner kind;
With Juftice or with Mercy reign,"
O Love! or give me back my Heart again.
DE AT H.
J.
Nough, enough, my Soul, of worldly Noife,
Of airy Pomps, and fleeting Joys,
What does this bufie World provide at beft,
But brittle Goods that break like Glafs,
But poifon'd Sweets, a troubled Feaſt,
And Pleaſures like the Winds that in a Moment pafs?
Thy
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
6.5
Thy Thoughts to nobler Meditations give,
And ſtudy how to die, not how to live. .
How frail is Beauty!
N.
Ah how vain
And how ſhort-liv'd thofe Glories are,
That vex.our Days and Nights with Pain
And break our Hearts with Care!
In Duft we no Diftinction fee,
Such Helen is, fuch Myra thou muſt be.
III.
How ſhort is Life! Why will vain Courtiers toil
And crowd a vainer Monarch for a Smile?
What is that Monarch but a Mortal Man,
His Crown a Pageant, and his Life a Span?
With all his Guards, and his Dominions, he
Muft ficken too, and dies as well as we.
IV.
Thoſe boafted Names of Conquerors and Kings
Are fwallow'd, and become forgotten things:
One deftin'd Period Men in common have,
The Great, the Vile, the Coward, and the Brave,
Are Food alike for Worms, Companions in the Grave.
The Prince and Parafite together lye,
No Fortune can exalt, but Death will climb as high.
8983
}
}
Sent
66
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Sent the Author into the Country.
Written by a Lady.
WHY Granville, is thy Life confin'd
To Shades? Thou, whom the Gods deſign'd
In Publick, to do Credit to Mankind!
Why fleeps the noble Ardor of thy Blood,
Which from thy Anceſtors fo many Ages paft,
From Rollo down to Bevil flow'd,
And then appear'd again at laſt
In thee, when thy victorious Lance *
Bore the disputed Prize from all the Youth of France.
In the firſt Tryals that are made for Fame,
Thofe to whom Fate Success denies,
If taking Counſel from their Shame,
They modeftly retreat, are wife :
But why fhou'd you? who ſtill fucceed
In all you do, whether with graceful Art you lead
The fiery Barb, or with as graceful Motion tread
In fhining Balls, where all agree
To give the higheſt Praiſe and the firſt Place to thee.
So lov'd and prais'd, whom all admire,
Why, why fhou'd you from Courts and Camps retire?
If Myra is unkind, if it can be
That any Nymph can be unkind to thee,
}
* At a Carouſel at Paris, in the Tear 1686.
If
POEMS upon feveral Occafions:
67
If penfive made by Love you thus retire,
Awake your Mufe, and ftring your Lyre;
Your tender Song and your melodious Strain
Can never be addreft in vain,
She needs muſt love, and we ſhall have you back again.
Occafion'd by the foregoing.
WHoe'er
'Hoe'er thou art, who tempt'ft in ſuch a Strain,
Sweet is thy Syren Song, but fung in vain :
When the Winds rage, and loud the Billows roar,
What Fool will truft the Sea, and quit the Shoar?
Early and Vain into the World I came,
Big with falfe Hopes, and eager after Fame,
Till looking round me ere the Race began,'
Madmen, and giddy Fools, were all that ran:
Reclaim❜d betimes, I from the Liſt retire,
And thank the Gods who my Retreat inſpire.
Survey the World, and with impartial Eyes
Confider, and examine, all who rife,
Weigh well their Actions, and their treacherous Ends,
How Greatneſs grows, and by what Steps afcends,
What Murders, Treafons, Perjuries, Deceit,
How many fall, to make one Monſter great.
Wou'd you command? Have Fortune in you'r Pow'r ?
Hug whom you ftab, and ſmile when you devour:
Be
68 '
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Be bloody, falfe, flatter, forfwear, and lie,
Turn Pander, Pathick, Paraſite, or Spy;
Such thriving Arts may your wifh'd Purpoſe bring,.
At leaſt a General be, perhaps a King.
Fortune we moft unjustly partial call,
A Mißtrefs free, who bids alike to all,
But on fuch Terms as only fuit the Bafe,
Honour denies, and fhuns the foul Embrace ;
The honeſt Man, who ſtarves and is undone,
Not Fortune, but his Virtue, keeps him down.
Had Cato bent beneath the conquering Cauſe,
He might have liv'd to give new Senates Laws:
But on vile Terms difcaining to be great,
He pèriſh'd by his Choice, and not his Fate:
Honours and Life th' Ufurper bids, and all
That vain miſtaken Men good Fortune call,
Virtue forbids, and fets before his Eyes
An honeſt Death, which he accepts, and dies.
O glorious Refolution! Noble Pride!
More honour'd than the Tyrant liv'd, he dy'd,
More prais'd, more lov'd, more envy'd in his Doom,.
Than Cafar trampling on the Rights of Rome.
The Virtuous nothing fear, but Life with Shame,
And Death's a pleaſant Road, that leads to Fame.
On Bones and Scraps of Dogs let me be fed,
My Limbs uncover'd, and expos'd my Head
To bleakeſt Colds, a Kennel be my Bed,-.
This,
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
69
This, and all other Martyrdom, for thee
Seems glorious all, thrice-beauteous Honeſty!
Fortune and Life depend on Fate alone,
My Honour and my Conſcience are my own.
Ye great Disturbers, who in endleſs Noife,
In Blood and Horror, feek unnatural Joys,
For what is all this Buftle, but to fhun
Thofe Thoughts, with which you dare not be alone?
As Men in Mifery, oppreft with Care,
Seek in the Rage of Wine to drown Deſpair.
Let others fight, and eat their Bread in Blood,
Regardless if the Cauſe be bad or good,
Or cringe in Courts, depending on the Nods
Of frutting Pygmies, who wou'd pafs for Gods;
For me, unpractis'd in the Courtiers School,
Who loath a Knave, and tremble at a Fool,
Who honour generous Wycherly oppreſt,
Poffeft of little, worthy of the beſt,
Rich in himſelf, in Virtue, that outfhines
All but the Fame of his immortal Lines,
More than the wealthiest Lord, who helps to drain
The famifh'd Land, and rowls in impious Gain,
What can I hope in Courts? or how fucceed?
Tygers and Wolves fhall in the Ocean breed,
The Whale and Dolphin fatten on the Mead,
And every Element exchange its kind,
When thriving Honefty in Courts we find.
Happy
70 POEMS upon ſeveral Occafions.
Happy the Man, of Mortals happieſt he,
Whofe quiet Mind from vain Defires is free,
Whom neither Hopes deceive, nor Fears torment,
But lives at Peace within himſelf, content,
In Thought, or A&t, accountable to none
But to himſelf, and to the Gods alone.
O Sweetness of Content! Seraphick Joy,
That nothing wanting, nothing can deſtroy!
Where dwells this Peace, this Freedom of the Mind?
Where, but in Shades, remote from Humankind,
In flow'ry Vales, where Nymphs and Shepherds meet,
But never comes within the Palace-Gate.
Farewel then Cities, Courts and Camps farewel,
Welcome ye Groves, bere let me ever dwell,
From Care, from Bufinefs, and Mankind remove, 1
All but the Mufes, and infpiring Love.
How fweet the Morn! How gentle is the Night!
How calm the Evening! And the Noon how bright!
From hence, as from a Hill, I view below
The crowded World, that like fome Wood does fhow,
Where fev'ral Wand'rers travel Day and Night
Thro' fev'ral Paths, and none are in the right.
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 71
Y
An Imitation of the Second Chorus in
the Second Act of SENECA'S
THYESTES.
WHEN will the Gods, propitious to our Pray'rs
Compoſe our Factions, and conclude our Wars!
Ye Sons of Inachus, repent the Guilt
Of Crowns ufurp'd, and Blood of Parents ſpilt,
For impious Greatneſs Vengeance is in Stores
Short is the Date of all ill-gotten Pow'r.
Give Ear, ambitious Princes, and be wiſe,
Liſten and learn wherein true Greatneſs lyes :
Place not your Pride in Roofs that ſhine with Gems,
In Purple Robes, not ſparkling Diadems,
Nor in Dominion, nor Extent of Land :
He's only Great, who can himſelf command,
Whoſe Guard is peaceful Innocence, whofe Guide
Is faithful Reaſon, who is void of Pride,
Checking Ambition, nor is idly wain
Of the falſe Incenſe of a Popular Train:
Who without Strife, or Envy, can behold
His Neighbour's Plenty, and his Heaps of Gold,
Nor covets other Wealth but what we find
In the Poffeffions of a virtuous Mind.
Fear-
72
POEMS upon ſeveral Occafions.
Fearless he fees, who is with Virtue crown'd,
The Tempeſt rage, and hears the Thunder found,
Ever the fame, let Fortune fmile or frown,
Whether upon the Scaffold, or the Throne;
Serenely as he liv'd, refigns his Breath,
Meets Deſtiny half way, nor fhrinks at Death.
Ye Sovereign Lords, who fit like Gods in State,
Awing the World, and bustling to be great,
Lords but in Title, Vaffals in Effect,
Whom Luft controuls, and wild Defires direct,
The Reins of Empire but ſuch Hands diſgrace,
Where Paffion, a blind Driver, guides the Race.
What is this Fame, thus crowded round with Slaves?
The Breath of Fools, the Bait of flatt'ring Knaves.
'An honeſt Heart, a Confcience free from Blame,
Not of great Acts, but good, give me the Name.
In vain we plant, we build, our Stores encreaſe,
If Confcience roots up all our inward Peace.
What need of Arms, of Inftruments of War,
Or battering Engines, that deſtroy from far?
The greateſt King and Conqueror is he
Who Lord of his own Appetites can be,
Bleft with a Power that nothing can deſtroy,
And all have equal Freedom to enjoy.
Whom worldly Luxury and Pomps allure,
They tread on Ice, and find no Footing fure.
Place me, ye Pow'rs! in fome obſcure Retreat,
O keep me Innocent, make others Great;
โร
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
73
In quiet Shades, content with rural Sports,
Give me a Life, remote from guilty Courts,
Where free from Hopes, or Fears, in humble Eaſe
Unheard of I may live and die in Peace.
Happy the Man who thus retir'd from Sight,
Studies himſelf, and feeks no other Light;
But most unhappy he, who fits on high,
Expos'd to ev'ry Tongue, and ev'ry Eye,
Whoſe Follies, blaz'd about, to all are known,
And are a Secret to himſelf alone:
Worfe is an evil Fame, much worse than none.
}
C
J
CHLO E,
HLOE's the Wonder of her Sex,
'Tis well her Heart is tender;
How might fuch killing Eyes perplex,
With Virtue to defend her!
But Nature, graciouſly inclin'd,
Not bent to vex but pleaſe us,
Has to her boundleſs Beauty join'd
A boundleſs Will to cafe us.
983
1
·
E
On
74
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
៩
On the fame.
BRIGHT as the Day, and like the Morning fair,
Such Chloë is and common as the
Air.
On the fame.
OF injur'd Fame, and mighty Wrongs receiv'd,
Chloë complains, and wondroufly's aggriev❜d:
That, free, and lavish of a beauteous Face,
The fairest and the fouleft of her Race,
She's mine, or thine, and ftrolling up and down,
Sucks in more Filth-than any Sink in Town,
I not deny, This, I have ſaid 'tis true;
What Wrong! To give fo bright a Nymph her due!
CORIN N A.
Orinna in the Bloom of Youth
Corinn
Was coy to every Lover,
Regardleſs of the tendereft Truth,
No foft Complaint cou'd move her.
Mankind
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
75
Mankind was hers: All at her Feet
Lay proftrate and adoring,
The Witty, Handſome, Rich and Great,
In vain alike imploring.
But now grown old; ſhe wou'd repair
Her Lofs of Time and Pleaſure,
With willing Eyes, and wanton Air,
Inviting every Gazer.
But Love's a Summer Flow'r, that dies
With the firft Weather's changing;
The Lover, like the Swallow, flies
From Sun to Sun, ſtill ranging.
Myra, let this Example move
Your fooliſh Heart to Reafon :
Youth is the proper time for Love,
And Age is Virtue's Seaſon.
On the Same.
So well Corinna likes the Joy,
She vows ſhe'll never more be coy,
She drinks eternal Draughts of Pleafure:
J
Eternal
198
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Eternal Draughts will not fuffice,
Ab give me, give me more, ſhe cries,
'Tis all too little Meaſure.
Thus wifely fhe makes up for Time
Mif-ſpent, while Youth was in its Prime:
So Travellers who waſte the Day
Careful and cautious of their Way,
Noting at length the ſetting Sun,
They mend their Pace as Night comes on,
Double their Speed to reach their Inn,
And whip and spur thro' thick and thin.
BELINDA
BElinda's Pride's an arrant Cheat,
A fooliſh Artifice to blind;
Some honeſt Glance, that fcorns Deceit,
Does ftill reveal her native Mind.
With Look demure, and forc'd Diſdain,
She idly acts the Saint;
We fee thro' this Difguife, as plain
As we diſtinguiſh Paint,
The Pains ſhe takes are vainly meant
To hide her amorous Heart,
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
77
Tis-like pe: fuming an ill Scent,-
The Smell's too ſtrong for Art.
So have I feen grave Fools defign
With formal Looks to pafs for wife :
But Narure is a Light will ſhine,
And break thro' all Diſguiſe.
CLARIND A.
N vain a thou fand Slaves have try'd
IN
To overcome Clarinda's Pride:
Pity pleading,
Love perſwading,
When her icy Heart is thaw'd,
Honour chides, and ftrait fhe's aw'd.
Foolish Creature,
Follow Nature,
Waſte not thus your Prime;
Youth's a Treaſure; -
Love's a Pleaſure,
Both deftroy'd by Time.
E 3
THE
28
POEMS upon ſeveral Occafions.
THE SAME.
Larinda, with a haughty Grace,
CLA
In fcornful Poftures fets her Face,
And looks as fhe were born alone
To give us Love, and take from none.
Tho' I adore to that degree,
Clarinda, I wou'd die for thee,
If you're too proud to eaſe my Pain,
I am too proud for your Diſdain.
CLEOR A.
Leära has her With, fhe weds a Peer,
Her weighty Train two Pages fcarce can bear,
Perfia and both the Indies must provide
To grace her Pomp, and gratifie her Pride;
Of rich Brocard a fhining Robe ſhe wears,
And Gems furround her lovely Neck, like Stars.
Drawn by fix Greys of the proud Belgian kind,
With a long Train of Livery Beaus behind,
She charms the Park, and fets all Hearts on Fire,
The Ladics Envy, aud the Mens Defire.
Be
POEMS upon feveral Occafions:
79
Beholding thus, O happy as a Queen!
We cry : But ſhift the gaudy flattering Scene,
View her at home in her Domeſtick Light,
For thither ſhe muſt come, at leaſt at Night,
What has ſhe there? A furly, ill-bred Lord,
That chides, and fnaps her up at ev'ry Word;
A brutal Sot, who, while fhe holds his Head,
With drunken Filth bedawbs the Nuptial Bed :
Sick to the Heart, the breathes the nauſeous Fume
Of odious Steams, that poiſon all the Room :
Weeping all Night the trembling Creature lyes,
And counts the tedious Hours when the may rife:
But moſt ſhe fears, left waking ſhe ſhou'd find,
To make amends, the Monſter wou'd be kind :
Thoſe matchlefs Beauties, worthy of a God,
Muft bear, tho' much averſe, the loathfome Load.
What then may be the Chance that next enfues?
Some vile Diſeaſe, fresh reeking from the Stews.
The fecret Venom, circling in her Veins,
Works thro' her Skin, and burſts in bloating Stains,
Her Cheeks their Freſhneſs lofe, and wonted Grace,
And an unuſual Paleneſs ſpreads her Face,
Her Eyes grow dim, and her corrupted Breath
Tainting her Gums, infects her Ivory Teeth,
Of ſharp nocturnal Anguifh fhe complains,
And guiltless of the Caufe, relates her Pains.
The conſcious Husband, whom like Symptoms ſeize,
Charges on her the Guilt of their Diſeaſe.
E 4
Af-
80
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
UW
Affecting Fury, acts a Madman's Part,
He'll rip the fatal Secret from her Heart!
Bids her confefs, calls her ten thouſand Names,
In vain ſhe kneels, fhe weeps, proteſts, exclaims;
Scarce with her Life fhe fcapes, expos'd to Shame,
In Body tortur'd, murder'd in her Fame,
Rots with a vile Adulterefs's Name,
'Abandon'd by her Friends, without Defence,
And happy only in her Innocence.
Such is the Vengeance the juft Gods provide
For thofe, who barter Liberty for Pride,
Who impiouſly invoke the Pow'rs above
To witness to falfe Vows of mutual Love.
Thouſands of poor Cleora's may be found,
Such Husbands and fuch wretched Wives abound.
Ye Guardian Pow'rs, the Arbiters of Blifs,
Preferve Clarinda from a Fate like this:
You form'd her fair, not any Grace deny❜d,
But gave, alas! a Spark too much of Pride;
Reform that Failing, and protect her ftill,
O fave her from the Curfe of chuſing ill.
Deem it not Envy, or a jealous Care,
That moves theſe Wiſhes, or provokes this Pray'r,
Tho' more than Death I dread to ſee thoſe Charms
Allotted to fome happier Mortal's Arms;
Tor-
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 81
Tormenting Thought! Yet cou'd I bear that Pain,
Or any Ill, but hearing her complain ;
Intent on her, my Love forgets his own,
Nor frames one Wiſh, but for her fake alone.
Whome'er the Gods have deftin'd to prefer,
They cannot make me wretched, bleffing her.
MACR O.
THAT Macro's Looks are good, let no Man doubt,
Which I, his Friend and Servant, thus make out.
On his dark Forehead a falfe Friend is writ,
Let none condemn the Light that ſhows a Pit.
Cocles, whofe Face finds Credit for his Heart,
Who can eſcape ſo ſmooth a Villain's Art?
Adorn'd with ev'ry Grace that can perfwade,
Seeing, we truft; and trufting, are betray'd!
His Looks are Snares: But Macro's cry Beware,
Believe not, tho' ten thouſand Oaths he ſwear.
If thou'rt deceiv'd, obferving well this Rule,
Not Macro is the Knave, but thou the Fool.
In this one Point he and his Looks agree,
As they betray their Mafter, fo did he.
ES
3
PHYLLIS
82 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
→
PHYLLIS Drinking.
W Hile Phyllis is drinking, Love and Wine in Alliance.
With Forces united bid refiftlefs Defiance;
By the Touch of her Lips the Wine ſparkles higher,
And her Eyes by her drinking redouble their Fire.
Her Cheeks glow the brighter, recruiting their Colour,
As Flowers by fprinkling revive with freſh Odour;
His Dart dipt in Wine, Love wounds beyond curing,
And the Liquor, like Oyl, makes the Flame more enduring.
By Cordials of Wine, Love is kept from expiring
And our Mirth is enliven❜d by Love and Defiring,
Relieving each other, the Pleaſure is laſting,
And we never are cloy'd, yet are ever a taſting.
Then Phyllis begin, let our Raptures abound,
And a Kiſs and a Glafs be ftill going round ;,
Our Joys are immortal while thus we remove
From Love to the Bottle, from the Bottle to Love.
CELIA
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
83
CELI A.
Mpatient with Defire, at laſt
I ventur❜d to lay Forms aſide:
Twas I was modeft, not ſhe chaſte;
Celia, fo gently preſs'd, comply'd.
With idle Awe, an amorous Fool,
I gaz'd upon her Eyes with Fear;
Say, Love, how came your Slave ſo dull
To read no better there?
Thus to our felves the greateſt Foes,
Altho' the Nymph be well enclin'd,
For want of Courage to propoſe,
By our own Folly ſhe's unkind.
FLAVI A.
F two Reliefs to cafe a Love-fick Mind,
Flavia prefcribes Defpair: I urge, Be kind,
Flavia be kind: The Remedy's as fure,
'Tis the moſt pleaſant, and the quickeſt Cure.
98
LOVE.
84
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
LOVE.
LOVE is begot by Fancy, bred
By Ignorance, by Expectation fed;
Deftroy'd by Knowledge, and at beſt
Loſt in the Moment 'tis poffeſt.
WOMEN.
Omen to Cards may be compar'd: We play
Women
A Round or two; when us'd, we throw away.
Take a freſh Pack; nor is it worth our grieving
Who cuts or fhuffles with our dirty leaving.
FANC r.
LOVE is by Fancy led about
From Hope to Fear, from Joy to Doubt;
Whom we now a Goddefs call,
Divinely grac'd in every Feature,
Strait's a deform', a perjur'd Creature:
Love and Hate are Fancy all.
Tis
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 85
'Tis but as Fancy fhall prefent
Objects of Grief, or of Content,
That the Lover's bleſt, or dies:
Viſions of mighty Pains, or Pleaſure,
Imagin'd Want, imagin'd Treaſure:
All in pow'rful Fancy lyes.
LIBERALIT T
THO' fafe thou think'ſt thy Treaſure lyes,
Conceal'd in Cheffs from human Eyes,
A Fire may come, and it may be
Bury'd, my Friend, as far from thee.
Thy Veffel that yon Ocean ſtems,
Loaded with Golden Duſt and Gems,
Purchas'd with fo much Pains and Coſt,'
Yet in a Tempeft may be loſt.
Pimps, Whores, and Bawds, a thanklefs Crew,
Prieſts, Pick-pockets, and Lawyers too,
All help by feveral Ways to drain,
Thanking themſelves for what they gain.
The Liberal are fecure alone,
For what we frankly give, for ever is our own.
&&3
Written
86 POEMS upon feveral Occafions
Written in Clarinda's Pray'r-Book.
N vain, Clarinda, Night and Day
IN
For Mercy to the Gods you pray:
What Arrogance on Heav'n to call'
For that, which you deny to All!
FULVI A.
HY pines my Dear? To Fulvia, his young Bride,
Who penfive fat, thus aged Cornus cry’d.
WHY pines my Dear?
Alas! faid fhe, fuch Viſions break my Reſt,
The ftrangeft Thoughts! I think I am poffeft:
My Symptoms I have told a Man of Skill,
And if I wou'd-he fays-I might be well.
Take his Advice, faid he, my poor dear Wife,
I'll buy at any rate thy precious Life:
Bluſhing ſhe wou'd excuſe, but all in vain,
A Doctor muſt be fetch'd to eafe her Pain.
Hard preft, fhe yields: From White's, or Will's, or Tom's,
No matter which, he's fummon'd, and he comes.
The careful Husband, with a kind Embrace
Entreats his Care; then bows, and quits the Place,
h
For
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
87
For little Ailments oft attend the Fair,
Not decent for a Husband's Eye, or Ear.
Something the Dame would ſay: The ready Knight
Prevents her Speech-Here's that ſhall fet you right,
Madam, faid he With that the Door's made clofes
He gives, deliciously, the healing Dofe.
Alas! fhe cries, Ah me! Ah cruel Cure!
Did ever Woman yet like me endure!
The Work perform'd: Uprifing gay and light,
Old Cornus is call'd in, to fee the Sight.
A sprightly Red vermillions all her Face,
And her Eyes languiſh with unuſual Grace.
With Tears of Joy, freſh guſhing from his Eyes,
O wondrous Pow'r of Art! old Cornus cries,
Amazing Change! Aftonishing Succefs!"
Thrice happy I! What a brave Man was this!
Maids, Wives, and Widows, with like Whims poffeft,
May thus find certain Eaſe
Probatum eft.
To CELI A.
HY, cruel Creature, why fo bent
WHY, cruel
To vex a tender Heart?
To Gold and Title you relent,
Love throws in vain his Dart.
Let
88
POEM's upon several Occafions:
Let glittering Fools in Courts be great,
For Pay let Armies move:
Beauty fhou'd have no other Bait
But gentle Vows and Love.
If on thoſe endleſs Charms you lay
The Value that's their Due,
Kings are themſelves too poor to pay,
A thouſand Worlds too few.
But if a Paffion without Vice,
Without Difguife or Art,
Ah Celia! if true Love's your Price,
Behold it in my Heart.
1
f
1
}
CELIA SINGING,
WHEN we behold her Angel Face,
Or when the fings with heav'nly Grace,
In what we hear, and what we ſee,
So ravishing's the Harmony,
The melting Soul, in Rapture loft,
Knows not which Charm enchants it moſt.
Sounds that made Hills and Rocks rejoice,
Amphion's Lute, the Syrens Voice,
Wonder
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
89
Wonders with Pain receiv'd for true,
At once find Credit. and renew;
No Charms like Celia's Voice furprize,
Except the Magick of her Eyes.
To my Friend Mr. Dryden, on his
Excellent Tranflations.
AS Flow'rs tranfplanted from a Southern Sky
But hardly bear, or in the Raifing die,
Miffing their native Sun, at beſt retain
But a faint Odour, and furvive with Pain:
Thus ancient Wit, in modern Numbers taught,
Wanting the Warmth with which its Author wrote,
Is a dead Image, and a fenfeleſs Draught:
While we transfufe, the nimble Spirit flies,
Eſcapes unfeen, evaporates, and dies.
Who then to copy Roman Wit defire,
Muft imitate with Roman Force and Fire;-
In Elegance of Style and Phraſe the ſame,
And in the fparkling Genius and the Flame:
Whence we conclude from thy tranflated Song,
So juft, fo fmooth, fo foft, and yet fo ftrong,
Celeſtial Charmer! Soul of Harmony!
That ev'ry Genius was reviv'd in thee.
M
ง
Thy
00
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Thy Trumpet founds, the Dead are rais'd to Light,
Never to die, and take to Heav'n their Flight,
Deckt in thy Verfe, as clad with Rays they ſhine,
All Glorify'd, Immortal, and Divine.
As Britain in rich Soil abounding wide,
Furnish'd for Ufe, for Luxury, and Pride,
Yet fpreads her wanton Sails on ev'ry Shore
For foreign Wealth, impatient ſtill of more;
To her own Wooll the Silks of Afia joins,
And to her plenteous Harvefts, Indian Mines:
So Dryden, not contented with the Fame
Of his own Works, tho' an immortal Name;
To Lands remote fends forth his learned Mufe,
The nobleſt Seeds of foreign Wit to chufe:
Feaſting our Senſe ſo many various Ways;
Say, Is't thy Bounty? or thy Thirſt of Praiſe?
That by comparing Others, All might fee
Who moſt excell, are yet excell'd by Thee.
pers
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Upon a Hearing in the House of Lords
of a Caufe between her Grace the
Dutchess of Grafton and the Lord
Chief Justice.
HE Princes fate. Beauty and Law contend:
TH
The Queen of Love will her own Cauſe defend.
Secure fhe looks, as certain none can fee
Such Beauty plead, and not her Captive be.
What need of Words with fuch commanding Eyes!
Muſt I then ſpeak? O Heav'ns! the Charmer cries;
O barbarous Clime, where Beauty borrows Aid
From Eloquence, to charm, or to perſuade!
Will Difcord never leave with envious Care
To raiſe Debate? but Diſcord governs here.
To Juno, Pallas, Wiſdom, Fame, and Power,
Long fince preferr'd, what Tryal eeds there more?
Confeft to Sight, three Goddeffes deſcend
On Ida's Hill, and for a Prize contend,
Nobly they bid, and lavishly purſue
A Gift, that only cou'd be Beauty's Due:
Honours and Wealth the generous Judge denies,
And gives the Triumph to the brighteſt Eyes.
Such Precedents are numberlefs: We draw
Our Right from Cuſtom: Cuſtom is a Law,
As
92
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
As high as Heav'n, as wide as Seas and Land,
As ancient as the World, is our Command.
It might fuffice that I pronounce it mine,
And right or wrong he fhou'd his Claim refign.
Mars and Alcides would this Plea allow,
Beauty was ever abfolute till now,
Not Bears nor Tygers fure fo favage are
As thefe ill-manner'd Monſters of the Bar.
Loud Rumour has proclaim'd a Nymph divine,
Whofe matchlefs Form, to counter-ballance mine,
By dint of Beauty ſhall extort your Grace:
Let her appear, this Rival, Face to Face,
Let Eyes to Eyes oppos'd this Strife decide;
Now when I lighten let her Beams be try'd.
Was't a vain Promife, and a Gown-Man's Lie?
Or ftands the bere, unmark'd, when I am by?
So Heav'n was mock'd, and once all Elis round-
Another Jupiter was faid to found;
On brazen Floors, the Royal Actor tries
To ape the Thunder rattling in the Skies;
A brandish'd Torch, with emulating Blaze,
Affects the forky Light'ning's pointed Rays?
Thus born aloft, triumphantly he rode
Thro' Crowds of Worshippers, and acts the God.
The Sire Omnipotent prepares the Brand
By Vulcan wrought, and arms his potent Hand,
Then flaming hurls it hiffing from above,
And in the vaſt Abyss confounds the mimick Jove.
Pre
POEMS upon several Occafions.
93
Prefumptuous Wretch! with Mortal Art to dare
Immortal Power, and brave the Thunderer.
点
​Caffiopè, preferring with Difdain
Her Daughter to the Nereids, they complain:
The Daughter, for the Mother's guilty Scorn,
Is doom'd to be devour'd; the Mother's born
Above the Clouds, where by immortal Light
Reverft the fhines, expos'd to human Sight,
And to a ſhameful Pofture is confin'd,
As an eternal Terror to Mankind.
Did thus the Gods fuch private Nymphs protect,
What Vengeance might the Queen of Love expect?
But grant fuch arbitrary Pleas are vain,
Wav'd let them be: Meer Juftice ſhall obtain:
Who to a Husband better can fucceed,
Than his lov'd Wife, the Partner of his Bed?
Or to a Father's Right lay Aronger Claim,
Than the dear Youth in whom furvives his Name?
Behold that Youth, confider whence he fprings,
And in his Royal Veins refpect your King's;
Immortal Jove upon a Mortal She
Begat his Sire; Second from Jove is he.
Well did the Father blindly fight your Cauſe,
Following the Cry of Liberty and Laws,
If by thofe Laws, for which he loft his Life,
You fpoil ungratefully the Son and Wife.
"
What
94
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
What need I more; 'Twere Treaſon to diſpute:
The Grant was Royal: that decides the Suit:
Shall vulgar Laws Imperial Power conſtrain ?
Kings, and the Gods, can never act in vain.
She finish'd here, the Queen of ev'ry Grace,
Difdain vermillioning her beav'nly Face;
Our Hearts take Fire, and all in Tumult rife,
And one Wiſh ſparkles in a thouſand Eyes.
O might fome Champion finiſh theſe Debates,
My Swɔrd ſhou'd end, what now my Muſe relates.
Up rofe the Judge, on each Side bending low,
A crafty Smile accompanies his Bow,
Ulyffes-like, a gentle Pauſe he makes,
Then, raifing by Degrees his Voice, he ſpeaks.
In you, my Lords, who judge, and all that hear,
Methinks I read your Wishes for the Fair,
Nor can I wonder; even I contend
With ſecret Pain, unwilling to offend;
Unhappy, thus oblig❜d to a Defence
That may diſpleaſe fuch Heav'nly Excellence.
Might we the Laws on any Terms abuſe,
So bright an Influence were the beſt Excuſe.
Let Niobe's juft Doom, the vile Disgrace
Of the Propetides polluted Race,
Let Death, or Shame, or Lunacy, furpriſe
Who dare to match the Luftre of her Eyes:
Aloud the fairest of the Sex complain
Of Captives loft, and Love's invok'd in vaini
F
AL
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
95
At her Appearance all their Brightneſs ends,
Thofe Stars of Beauty fet, when ſhe aſcends.
Where Love prefides, till may the bear the Prize,
But rigid Law has neither Ears nor Eyes;
Charms to which Mars and Hercules wou'd bow,
Minos and Rhadamanthus difavow:
Juftice, by nothing biafs'd or enclin'd,
Deaf to Perfwafion, to Temptation blind,
Determines without Favour, and the Laws
O'erlook the Parties, to decide the Cauſe.
What then avails it that a beardleſs Boy
Took a raſh Fancy for a Female Toy?
Th' infulted Argives with a numerous Hoft
Purfue Revenge, and ſeek the Dardan Coaſt;
Tho' the Gods built, and tho' the Gods defend,
Thofe lofty Towers the hoftile Greeks aſcend,
Nor leave they 'till the Town in Aſhes lies,
And all the Race of Royal Priam dies.
The Queen of Paphos mixing in the Fray,
Rallies the Troops, and urges on the Day,
In Perfon in the foremoſt Rank ſhe ſtands,
Provokes the Charge, directs, affifts, commands;
Stern Diomed, advancing high in Air
His feather'd Jav'lin, ftrikes the heav'nly Fair,
The vaulted Skies with her loud Skrieks refound,
And high Olympus trembles at the Wound.
In Cauſes juft, fhou'd all the Gods oppoſe,
Twere honeft to difpute: So Cato chofe.
Difmif
96 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Difmifs that Plea, and what ſhall Blood avail?
If Beauty is deny'd, fhall Birth prevail?
Blood, and high Deeds in diftant Ages done,
Are our Fore-fathers Merit, not our own.
Might none a juft Poffeffion be allow'd,
But who cou'd bring Deſert, or boaſt of Blood,
What Numbers, even here, might be condemn'd?
Strip'd and defpoil'd of all, revil'd, contemn❜d?
Take a juſt View, how many may remark
Who's now a Lord, his Grandfire was a Clerk:
Then O beware, nor do theſe Røbes deſpiſe,
But honour that, from whence your Honours rife.
How dear to Britain are her darling Laws!
What Blood has the not lavifh'd in their Caufe?
Kings are like common Slaves to Slaughter led,
Or wander thro' the World to beg their Bread.
Such fatal Precedents might awe the Throne
From lawless Grants: Who give what's not their own,
The Gift is void: 'Twere a cheap way to clear
The Crown Accounts, by robbing from the Bar!
"!
That Power which takes from me, may force from you:
To your own Intereſts
You were ever true:
Confider that: I plead but your own Cauſe:
Give Sentence then, protect, maintain the Laws.
He ſpoke. The Princes differ and divide,
Some follow Law, and ſome with Beauty ſide.
So once th' Apoftate Angels brav'd the Pow'r
Whom they were wont to worship and implore:
Like
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. ` 97
Like impious is their Rage, who have in chace
A new Omnipotence in Grafton's Face.
Bold Rochefter, undaunted, juft, and wife,
Afferts the Goddeſs with the charming Eyes:
Beauty her Orders, like th' Almighty, fends,
And Rochefter, like Michaël, cleaves the Fiends:
And O may Beauty never want Reward
For thee, her noble Champion and her Guard!
Beauty triumphs, and Law fubmitting lyes,
The Tyrant tam'd, aloud for Mercy cries:
Conqueft can never fail in radiant Grafton's Eyes.
To my Lord Lanfdowne, upon the
bombarding and burning the Town
of Granville in Normandy.
HO' built by Gods, confum'd by hoftile Flame
Troy bury'd lyes, yet lives the Trojan Name,
And fo fhall thine, tho' with theſe Walls were loſt
All the Records thy Anceſtors cou'd boaſt.
For Latium conquer'd, and for Turnus flain,
Eneas lives, tho' not one Stone remain
Where he arofe: Nor art thou leſs renown'd
For thy loud Triumphs on Hungarian Ground.
F
Thofe
98
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Thofe Arms which for nine Centuries had brav'd *
The Wrath of Time, on antick Stone engrav'd,
Now torn by Mortars, ftand yet undefac'd
On nobler Trophies by thy Valour rais'd:
Safe on thy + Eagles Wings they foar, above
The Rage of War, or Thunder to remove,
Born by the Bird of Cefar, and of Jove.
}
To my Friend Dr. GARTH, in his
Sickness.
MAchaon fick, in ev'ry Face we find
His Danger is the Danger of Mankind,
Whofe Art protecting, Nature cou'd expire
But by a Deluge, or the general Fire.
More Lives he faves than perish in our Wars,
And fafter than a Plague deftroys, repairs:
The bold Carowfer, and advent'ring Dame,
Nor fear the Fever, nor refuſe the Flame,
* The Arms of his Family, at that time ftill remaining on one
of the Gates of the Town.
↑ Created a Count of the Roman Empire, with Privilege to
quarter his Arms on the Imperial Spread Eagle, in acknowledg-
ment of his Bravery at the Relief of Vienna, and several other
Occafions in the War of Hungary, where his Lordſhip ferv'd a
Volunteer.
Safe
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 99
Safe in his Skill, from all Reftraint fet free,
But confcious Shame, Remorfe, and Piety.
Sire of all Arts, defend thy darling Son,
O fave the Man, whofe Life's fo much our own,
On whom, like Atlas, the whole World's reclin'd,'
And, by reftoring Garth, preſerve Mankind.
SONG. To MYR A.
I.
THE happieſt Mortals once were we,
I lov'd Myra, Myra me;
Each defirous of the Bleffing,
Nothing wanting but Poffeffing;
I lov'd Myra, Myra me;
The happieſt Mortals once were we.
II.
But fince cruel Fates diffever,
Torn from Love, and torn for ever,
Tortures end me,
Death befriend me;
Of all Pains the greateſt Pain
Is to love
and love in vain.
F 2
To
100 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
B
>
To FLAVIA. Her Gardens having
efcap'd a Flood that had deftroy'd
all the Fruits of the Ground in her
Neighbourhood.
WH
HAT Hands Divine have planted, and protect,
The Torrent ſpares, and Deluges refpect;
So when the Waters o'er the World were fpread,
Cov'ring each Oak, and ev'ry Mountain's Head,
The chofen Noah fail'd within his Ark,
Nor might the Waves o'erwhelm the facred Bark.
The charming Flavia is no lefs, we find,
The Favourite of Heav'n, than of Mankind;
The Gods, like Rivals, imitate our Care,
And vie with Mortals, to oblige the Fair;
Thefe Favours, thus beſtow'd on her alone,
Are but the Homage that they fend her down.
O Flavia, may thy Virtue from above
Be crown'd with Bleffings endleſs as my Love,
*
ป
Written
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
101
Written in a Novel Entitled, Les
Malheurs de l'Amour.
HASTE to Clarinda, and reveal
Whatever Pains poor Lovers feel;
When that is done, then tell the Fair
That I endure much more for her.
Who'd truly know Love's Pow'r or Smart,
Muft view her Eyes, and read my Heart.
PROLOGUE to the She-Gallants.
AS quiet Monarchs, that on peaceful Thrones
In Sports and Revels long had reign'd like Drones,
Roufing at length, reflect with Guilt and Shame
That not one Stroke had yet been given for Fame,
Wars they denounce, and to redeem the paſt,
To bold Attempts and rugged Labours haſte.
Our Poet fo with like Concern reviews
The youthful Follies of his Love-fick Mufe.
To amorous Toils, and to the filent Grove,
To Beauty's Snare's, and to deceitful Love,
He bids farewel: His Shield and Lance prepares,
And mounts the Stage, to bid Immortal Wars.
F 3
Vice
102
}
POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Vice, like fome Monfter, fuffring none t'efcape,
Has feiz'd the Town, and varies ftill her Shape.
Here, like a General fhe fruts in State,
While Crowds in Red and Blue her Orders wait.
There, like fome penfive Statefman, walks demure,
And fmiles, and hugs, to make Deſtruction fure;
Now, under high Commodes, with Looks erect,
Barefac'd devours, in gaudy Colours deck'd;
Then in a Vizard, to avoid Grimace,
Allows all Freedom, but to ſee the Face.
In Pulpits, and at Bar, the wears a Gown.
In Camps a Sword, in Palaces a Crown.
Refolv'd to combat with this morley Beaſt,
Our Poet comes to ſtrike one Stroke at leaſt.
His Glafs he means not for this Jilt or Beau,
Some Features of you all he hopes to ſhow;
On chofen Heads nor lets the Thunder fall,
But fcatters his Artillery at All.
Yet to the Fair he fain wou'd Quarter fhow,
His tender Heart recoils at ev'ry Blow;
If unawares he give too fmart a Stroke,
He means but to correct, and not provoke.
1
EPI-
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 103
EPILOGUE to the fame. Spoken by
Mrs. Bracegirdle in Mens Cloaths.
I
Who have been the Poet's Spark to-day,
Will now become the Champion of his Play.
Know all, who would pretend to my good Grace,
I mortally diſlike a damning Face.
Pleas'd or difpleas'd, no matter, now 'tis paſt;
The first who dares be angry breaths his laſt:
Who fhail prefume to doubt my Will and Pleaſure,
Him I defie to fend his Weapon's Meafure:
If War you chufe, and Blood muft needs be fpilt here,
By Jove, let me alone to match your Tilter,
I'll give you Satisfaction if I can ;
'Sdeath, 'tis not the firſt time I've kill'ď my Man.
On Pain of being poſted to your Sorrow,
Fail not, at Four, to meet me here To-morrow,
EP I-
F4
104 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
EPILOGUE to the Jew of Venice.
E
ACH in his turn, the Poet *, and the Prieſt†,
Have view'd the Stage, but like falfe Prophets gueſt:
The Man of Zeal, in his Religious Rage,
Wou'd filence Poets, and reduce the Stage.
The Poet, rafhly to get clear, retorts
On Kings the Scandal, and befpatters Courts.
Both err: For, without mincing, to be plain,
The Guilt's your own, of every odious Scene.
The preſent Time ftill gives the Stage its Mode:
The Vices that you practife, we explode:
We hold the Glaſs, and but reflect your Shame,
Like Spartans, by expofing, to reclaim.
The Scribler, pinch'd with Hunger, writes to dine,
And to your Genius must conform his Line;
Not lewd by Ghoice, but meerly to fubmit;
Wou'd you encourage Senfe, Senfe would be writ.
Good Plays we try, which after the firft Day
Unſeen we act, and to bare Benches play;
Plain Senfe, which pleas'd your Sires an Age ago,
Is loft, without the Garniture of Show.
* Mr. Dryden, in his Prologue to the Pilgrim.
1 Mr. Collier, in his View of the Stage.
At
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 105
At vaft Expence, we labour to our Ruin,
And court your Favour, with our own Undoing;
A War of Profit mitigates the Evil,
But to be tax'd
and beaten-
is the Devil.
How was the Scene forlorn, and how defpis'd,
When Timon without Mufick, moraliz'd;
Shakespear's Sublime in vain entic'd the Throng,
Without the Aid of Purcell's Siren Song.
In the fame antique Loom thefe Scenes were wrought,
Embelliſh'd with good Morals and juft Thought,
True Nature in her nobleft Light you fee,
Ere yet debauch'd by modern Gallantry
To trifling Jefts, and fulfome Ribaldry:
What Ruft remains upon the fhining Mafs,
Antiquity muſt privilege to paſs.
'Tis Shakespear's Play, and if thefe Scenes mifcarry,
Let * Gorman take the Stage
or+ Lady Mary.
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}
1
$
* A famous Prize fighter.
↑ A famous Rope-daneer,
F5
44
PRO
100 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
PROLOGUE to the Britiſh En-
chanters.
OETS by Obfervation find it true,
POETS
'Tis harder much to pleaſe themſelves, than you:
To weave a Plot, to work and to refine
'A labour'd Scene, to polifh ev'ry 'Line,
Judgment muft fweat, and feel a Mother's Pains:
Vain Fools! thus to diflurb and rack their Brains,
When more indulgent to the Writer's Eaſe,
You are too good, to be fo hard to pleaſe:
No fuch convulfive Pangs it will require
To write
the pretty Things that you admire.
Our Author then to pleaſe you in your Way,
Preſents you now a Bawble of a Play,
In gingling Rhyme, well fortify'd and ftrong,
He fights entrench'd, o'er Head and Ears, in Song.
If here and there fome evil-fated Line-
Shou'd chance, thro' Inadvertency, to fhine,
Forgive him, Beaus, he means you no Offence,
But begs you, for the Love of Song and Dance,
To pardon All the Poetry and Senfe.
£183
EPI
I
#
2
POEMS upon Several Occafions. 107
H
#
EPILOGUE defign'd for the fame.
WIT once, like Beauty, without Art or Drefs,
Naked and unadorn'd, cou'd find Success,
'Till by Fruition Novelty deftroy'd,
The Nymph muft find new Charms to be enjoy'd.
As by his Equipage the Man you prize,
And Ladies muſt have Gems, beſide their Eyes;
So fares it too with Plays:`in vain we write,
Unleſs the Mufick or the Show invite;
Not Hamlet clears the Charges of the Night.
Wou'd you but fix fome Standard how to move,
We wou'd transform to any thing you love:
Judge our Defire by our Coft and Pains,
Sure in Expence, uncertain in our Gains.
But tho' we fetch from Italy and France
Our Fopperies of Tune, and Mode of Dance,
Our sturdy Britons ſcorn to borrow Senſe:
Howe'er to Foreign Faſhions we ſubmit,
Still ev'ry Fop prefers his Mother Wit:
In only Wit this Conſtancy is ſhown,
For never was that arrant Changeling known
Who, for another's Senfe, wou'd quit his own,
In all things elfe to love of Change enclin'd,
Scarce in two following Seffions can we find
That Politician — but has chang'd his Mind:
}
~
}
W W
But
108 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
But fure fuch Patriots change not, but forget;
'Tis want of Memory, the Curſe of Wit.
Our Author wou'd excuſe theſe youthful Scenes,
Begotten at his Entrance in his Teens;
Some childish Fancies may approve the Toy,
Some like the Muſe the more ——— for being a Boy;
'And Ladies fhou'd be pleas'd, tho' not content,
To find fo young a Thing not impotent.
Our Stage Reformers too he wou'd diſarm,
In Charity fo cold, in Zeal fo warm,
And therefore, to atone for paſt Abuſes,
'And gain the Church Indulgence for the Muſes,
He gives his Thirds to charitable Ufes.
PROLOGUE to Mr. Higgons's ex-
cellent Tragedy, call'd The Gene-
rous Conqueror.
OUR Comick Writer is a common Foe:
None can intrigue in Peace, or be a Reau,
Nor wanton Wife nor Widow can be ſped,
Not even Ruffel can inter the Dead,
But ftrait this Cenfor, in his Whym of Wit,
Strips, and prefents you naked to the Pit.
Thus Criticks fhou'd, like thefe, be branded Foes,
Who for the Poiſon only fuck the Roſe,
Rejecting
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 109
+
Rejecting what is fweet, like Vultures they
Feed only on the Carrion of a Play,
Snarling and carping without Wit or Senfe,
Impeach Miſtakes, o'erlooking Excellence,
As if to ev'ry Fop it might belong
Like Senators to cenfure, right or wrong.'
But generous Wits have more heroick Views,
And Love and Honour are the Themes they chufe.
From yon bright Heav'n * our Author fetch'd his Fire,
And paints the Paffions that your Eyes inſpire ;
Full of that Flame, his tender Scenes he warms,
And frames his Goddess by your matchlefs Charms.
* To the Ladies.
PELE-
110 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
PELE VS and THETIS.
A MASQUE, Set to MUSICK.
The ARGUMENT.
Peleus, in love with Thetis, by the Affiftance of
Proteus obtains her Favour; but Jupiter inter-
pofing, Peleus in Defpair confults Prometheus,
famous for his Skill in Aftrology; upon whofe Pro-
phecy, that the Son born of Thetis fhould prove
greater than his Father, Jupiter defifts. The
Prophecy was afterwards verify'd in the Birth
of Achilles, the Son of Thetis by Peleus.
PERSONS in the MAS QUE.
MASQUE.
Jupiter. 25 Prometheus.
Peleus.
}}{
Thetis.
Prometheus appears upon Mount Coucafus chain'd to a
Rock, with the Vulture at his 'Breaft, Peleus enters, ad-
dreffing himself to Prometheus.
Ondemn'd on Caucafus to lye,
Pel.Co
Condema'd
Still to be dying, not to die,
With certain Pain, uncertain of Relief,
True Emblem of a wretched Lover's Grief!
To whofe infpecting Eye 'cis given
To view the Planetary Way,
To penetrate Eternal Day,
-And to revolve the Starry Heav'ng
To
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. IIT
To thee, Prometheus, I complain,
And bring a Heart as full of Pain.
Prom. From Jupiter ſpring all our Woes,
Thetis is Jove's, who once was thine:
'Tis vain, O Peleus, to oppofe
Thy Torturer
Contented with Deſpair,
and mine.
O wretched Man! refign
Whom you adore, or elſe prepare
For Change of Torments, great as mine,
'Tis vain, O Peleus, to oppofe
Thy Torturer and mine.
Pel. In change of Torment wou'd be Eafe;
Cou'd you divine what Lovers bear,
Even you, Prometheus, wou'd confefs
There is no Vulture like Deſpair.
Prom. Ceafe, cruel Vulture, to devour.
Pel. Ceafe, cruel Thetis, to difdain.
THETI S enters.
The. Peleus, unjustly you complain.
Prom. Ceafe, cruel Vulture, to devour.
Pel. Ceafe, cruel Thetis, to difdain.
The. Peleus, unjustly you complain.
The Gods, alas! no Refuge find
From Ills refiftlefs Fates ordain :
I ftill am true
And wou'd be kind,
Pet
112 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Pel. To love and to languiſh,
To figh and complain,
How killing's the Anguiſh,'
How tormenting the Pain!
Suing,
Purfuing,
Flying,
Denying,
O the Curfe of Difdain,
How tormenting's the Pain!
To love, &c.
The. Accurfed Jealoufie,
Thou Jaundice in the Lover's Eye,
Thro' which all Objects falſe we ſee,
Accurfed Jealoufie!
Thy Rival, Peleus, rules the Sky,
Yet I fo prize thy Love;
With Peleus I wou'd chufe to die,
Rather than live with Jove.
JUPITER appears defcending.
But fee, the mighty Thunderer's here;
Tremble, Peleus, tremble, fly;
The Thunderer! the mighty Thunderer!
Tremble, Peleus, tremble, fly.
A
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 113
A full Chorus of all the Voices and Inftruments while Jupiter
is defcending,
CHORUS.
But fee, the mighty Thunderer's here;
Tremble, Peleus, tremble, fly;
The Thunderer! the mighty Thunderer!
Tremble, Peleus, tremble, fly.
[JUPITER being defcended:]
Jup. Presumptuous Slave, Rival to Jove,
How dar'ft thou, Mortal, thus defie
A Goddeſs with audacious Love,
And irritate a God with Jealoufie?
Preſumptuous Mortal, hence.
Tremble at Omnipotence.
Pel. Arm'd with Love, and Thetis by,
I fear no Odds
Of Men or Gods,
But Jove himself defie.
Jove, lay thy Thunder down;
Arm❜d with Love, and Thetis by,
There is more Terror in her Frown,
And fiercer Lightning in her Eye:
I fear no Odds
Of Men or Gods,
But Fove himſelf defie.
Fup
114 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Jup. Bring me Lightning, give me Thunder ;
Hafte, ye Cyclops, with your forked Rods,
This Rebel Love braves all the Gods,
And every Hour by Love is made
Some Heav'n-defying Encelade.
Bring me Lightning, give me Thunder.
Pel, and Thet. Jove may kill, but ne'er fhall funder.
Jup. Bring me Lightning, give me Thunder.
Pel, and Thet. Jove may kill, but ne'er fhall funder.
Thet. Thy Love ftill arm'd with Fate
Is dreadful as thy Flate:
O might it prove to me,
So gentle Peleus were but free,
O might it prove to me
'As fatal as to loft confuming Semelè!
Thy Love ſtill arm'd with Fate
Is dreadful as thy Hate.
Prom. Son of Saturn, take Advice
From one, whom thy fevere Decree
Has furniſh'd Leiſure to grow wife:
Thou rul❜ft the Gods, but Fate rules thee.
Whoe'er th' Immortal Maid compreffing
Shall tafte the Joy, and reap the Bleſſing,
Thus th’unerring Stars adviſe:
From that aufpicious Night an Heir fall rife,
Paternal
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. IIS
Paternal Glories to out-fhine,
And be the Greateſt of his Lîne.
Jup. Shall then the Son of Saturn be undone,
Like Saturn, by an impious Son!
Juftly th' impartial Fates confpire,
Dooming that Son to be the Sire
Of fuch another Son.
Confcious of Ills that I have done,
My Fears to Prudence fhall adviſe,
And Guilt that made me great, ſhall make me wife.
The fatal Bleffing I refign;
Peleus, take the Maid Divine:
[Giving her to Peleus
Jove confenting, fhe is thine;
The fatal Bleffing I refign.
Pel. Heav'n had been loft, had I been Jove:
There is no Heav'n like mutual Love.
Fup. to Prom. And thou, the Stars Interpreter,
'Tis juft I fet thee free,
Who giv'ft me Liberty:
Arife, and be thy felf a Star.
'Tis juft I fet thee free,
Who giv'ſt me Liberty.
[The Vulture drops dead at the Feet of Prometheus, bis
Chains fall off, and he is born up to Heaven with Jupi-
ter, to a loud Flourish of all the Mufick.
Pel.
116 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Pel. Fly, fly to my Arms, to my Arms,
Goddess of Immortal Charms!
To my Arms, to my Arms, fly, Ay,
Goddeſs of tranſporting Joy!
But to gaze
On thy Face,
Thy gentle Hand thus preffing,
Is heav'nly heav'nly Bleffing.
O my Soul!
Whither, whither art thou flying?
Loft in ſweet tumultuous dying,
Whither, whither art thou flying,
O my Soul!
Thet. You tremble, Peleus
Ah ftay, and we'll together die.
Immortal, and of Race Divine.
So do I:
My Soul ſhall take her Flight with thine:
Life diffolving in Delight,
Heaving Breafts, and fwimming Sight,
Falt'ring Speech, and gafping Breath,
Symptoms of delicious Death,
Life diffolving in Delight,
My Soul is ready for the Flight.
O my Soul!
Whither, whither art thou flying?
Loft in ſweet tumultuous dying,
Whither, whither art thou flying,
O my Soul!
}
Pel.
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 117
Pel. and Thet.
repeat together.} my Soul, &c.
CHORUS of all the Inftruments and Voices Sing
ing and Dancing.
When the Storm is blown over,
How bleft is the Swain,
Who begins to diſcover
An End of his Pain!
When the Storm, &c.
Written under Mrs. HARE's Name
upon a Drinking-Glass.
THE Gods
HE Gods of Wine, and Wit, and Love,
prepare
With chearful Bowls to celebrate the Fair,
Love is enjoin'd to name his Favʼrite Toaſt,
And Hare's the Goddeſs that delights him moft;
Phœbus approves, and bids the Trumpets found,
And Bacchus, in a Bumper, fends it round.
118 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Written under the Dutchess of BOL-
TON's Name upon a Drinking-Glaſs.
L
OVE's keeneſt Darts are charming Bolton's Care,
Which the bright Goddeſs poiſons with Deſpair;
The God of Wine the dire Effect forefees,
And fends the Juice that gives the Lover Eaſe.
A Latin Infcription on a Medal for
LEWIS XIV.
PRoximus & fimilis regnas Ludovice Tonanti,
Vim fummam, fumma cum pietate geris:
Magnus es expanfis Alis, fed maximus Armis,
Protegis hinc Anglos, Teutones inde feris.
Quin coeant toto Titania fadera Rheno,
Illa Aquilam tantum, Gallia Fulmen habet.
Engliſh'd, and apply'd to the QUEEN.
N
EXT to the Thunderer let ANNA ſtand,
In Piety Supream, as in Command,
6
Fam'd
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 119
Fam'd for Victorious Arms and Generous Aid,
Young Auftria's Refuge, and fierce Bourbon's Dread:
Titanian Leagues in vain fhall brave the Rhine,
When to the Eagle YOU the Thunder join.
AMORNING HYMN to Her Grace
the Dutchess of Hamilton.
A Wake bright Hamilton, arife,
Goddeſs of Love, and of the Day,
Awake, diſcloſe thy charming Eyes,
And fhow the Sun a brighter Ray:
Phœbus in vain calls forth the bluſhing Morn,
He but creates the Day, which you adorn.
The Lark, that wont with warbling Throat
Early to falute the Skies,
Or fleeps, or elfe fufpends his Note,
Diſclaiming Day 'till you ariſe.
Goddeſs awake, thy Beams difplay,
Reſtore the Univerfe to Light,
When Hamilton appears then dawns the Day,
And when the disappears, begins the Night.
Lovers, who watchful Vigils keep,
-
(For Lovers never, never ſleep!)
}
Wait
120 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
Wait for the rifing of the Fair,
To offer Songs and Hymns of Prayer,
Like Perfians to the Sun:
Even Life and Death and Fate are there,
For in the Rolls of ancient Deſtiny
Long fince 'twas noted down,
The Dying ſhall revive, the Living die,
But as you Smile, or Frown.
Awake bright Hamilton, arife,
Goddeſs of Loye and of the Day,
Awake, diſcloſe thy charming Eyes,
And ſhow the Sun a brighter Ray:
Phœbus in vain calls forth the bluſhing Morn;
He but creates the Day, which you adorn.
An ESSAY upon Unnatural
Flights in Poetry.
S
As when fome Image of a charming Face,
In living Paint, an Artiſt tries to trace,
He carefully confults each beauteous Line,
Adjuſting to his Object his Defign;'
We praiſe the Piece, and give the Painter Fame,
But as the bright Reſemblance ſpeaks the Dame.
Poets
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 121
Poets are Limners of another kind,
To copy out Ideas in the Mind,
Words are the Paint by which their Thoughts are ſhown,
And Nature is their Object to be drawn;
The written Picture we applaud, or blame,
But as the juſt Proportions are the fame.
Who, driven with ungovernable Fire,
Or, void of Art, beyond theſe Bounds afpire,
Gigantick Forms and monstrous Births alone
Produce, which Nature ſhock'd diſdains to own.
By true Reflection I wou'd ſee my Face,
Why brings the Fool a magnifying Glafs?
"
But Poetry in Fiction takes Delight,
"And mounting in bold Figures out of Sight,
Leaves Truth behind, in her audacious Flight:
Fables, and Metaphors, that always lie,
"And rafh Hyperboles, that foar fo high,
"And ev'ry Ornament of Verſe, muſt die.
Miſtake me not: No Figures I exclude,
And but forbid Intemperance, not Food.
Who wou'd with Care ſome happy Fiction frame,
So mimicks Truth, it looks the very fame,
Not rais'd to force, or feign'd in Nature's Scorn,
But meant to grace, illuftrate, and adorn:
Important Truths ftill let your Fables hold,
And moral Myſteries with Art unfold;
Ladies and Beaus, to pleaſe, is all the Task,
But the fharp Critick will Inftruction ask:
G
}
As
122 POEMs upon feveral Occafions.
4
As Veils tranfparent cover, but not hide,
Such Metaphors appear, when right apply'd;
When, thro' the Phrafe, we plainly fee the Senfe,
Truth with fuch obvious Meanings will difpenfe,
"The Reader what in Reaſon's due believes,
Nor can we call that falſe which not deceives.
Hyperboles fo daring and ſo bold,
Difdaining Bounds, are yet by Rules control'd;
Above the Clouds, but yet within our Sight,
They mount with Truth, and-make a tow'ring Flight;
Prefenting Things impoffible to View,
They wander thro' Incredible, to True:
Falfhoods thus mix'd, like Metals are refin'd,
And Truth, like Silver, leaves the Drofs behind.
Thus Poetry has ample Space to foar,
Nor needs forbidden Regions to explore;
Such Vaunts as his who can with Patience read,
Who thus defcribes his Hero when he's dead?
In Heat of Action flain, yet fcorns to fall,
"But ſtill maintains the War, and fights at All.
The noiſie Culverin, o'er-charg'd, lets fly,
And burſts, unaiming, in the rended Sky;
Such frantick Flights are like a Madman's Dream,
And Nature fuffers in the wild Extream.
The Captive Canibal, oppreft with Chains,
Yet braves his Foes, reviles, provokes, difdains,
-Of Nature fi.rce, untameable, and proud,
He bids Defiance to the gaping Croud,
And
POEMS upon feveral Occafions. 123
And ſpent at laft, and fpeechlefs as he lies,
With fiery Glances mocks their Rage, and dies.
This is the utmoſt Stretch that Nature can,
And all beyond is fulfome, falſe, and vain.
The Roman Wit, who impiouſly divides
His Hero, and his Gods, to different Sides,
I wou'd condemn, but that, in fpight of Senfe,
Th' admiring World ſtill ſtands in his Defence:
The Gods, permitting Traitors to fucceed,
Become not, Parties in an impious Deed,
And, by the Tyrant's Murder, we may find
That Cato and the Gods were of a Mind.
Thus forcing Truth with fuch prepoftrous Praife,
Our Characters we leffen, when we'd raiſe;
Like Caſtles built by Magick Art in Air,
That vanish at Approach, fuch Thoughts appear;
But rais'd on Truth, by fome judicious Hand.
As on a Rock, they fhall for Ages ftand.
Our King return'd, and banish'd Peace reftor'd,
The Mufe ran mad, to fee her exi'd, Lord;
On the crack'd Stage the Bedlam Heroes roa'd,
And ſcarce cou'd fpeak one reaſonable Word:
Dryden himſelf, to pleaſe a frantick Age,
Was forc'd to let his Judgment ftoop to Rage,
To a wild Audience he conform'd his Voice,
Comply'd to Cuftom, "but not err'd thro' Choice
Deem then the People's, not the Writer's Sin,
Almanfor's Rage, and Rants of Maximiny
G 2
That
124 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
That Fury ſpent, in each elab'rate Piece,
He vies for Fame with ancient Rome and Greece.
Roscommon firſt, then Mulgrave roſe, like Light,
To clear our Darkness, and to guide our Flight;
With fteady Judgment, and in lofty Sounds,
They gave us Patterns, and they fet us Bounds.
The Stagyrite, and Horace, laid afide,
Inform'd by them, we need no Foreign Guide.
Who feek from Poetry a laſting Name,
May from their Leffons learn the Road to Fame;
But let the bold Adventurer be fure
That ev'ry Line the Teft of Truth endure;
On this Foundation may the Fabrick riſe
Frm and unfhaken, 'till it touch the Skies.
From Pulpits baniſh'd, from the Court, from Love,
Abandon'd Truth feeks Shelter in the Grove;
Cheriſh, ye Mufes, the forfaken Fair,
And take into your Train this beauteous Wanderer.
R
A Character of Mr. WY CHER LY,
F all our Modern Wits, none ſeems to me
Once to have touch'd upon true Comedy,
But hafty Shadwell, and flow Wycherly...
Shadwell's unfiniſh'd Works do yet impart
Great Proofs of Nature's Force, tho' none of Art;
WW
But
导
​POEMS upon feveral Occafions:
1*25**
But Wycherly earns hard whate'er he gains,
He wants no Judgment, and he fpares no Pains. c.
Ld. Rocheſter's Poems!
This Character, however juft in other Particulars, yet
is injurious in one, Mr. Wycherly being reprefented as a
laborious Writer, which every Man who has the leaſt Per-
fonal Knowledge of him can contradict.
Thoſe indeed who form their Judgment only from his
Writings, may be apt to imagine fo many admirable Re-
flections, fuch Diverſity of Images and Characters, fuch
ftrict Enquiries into Nature, fuch cloſe Obfervations on
the feveral Humours, Manners, and Affections of all Ranks
and Degrees of Men, and, as it were, fo true and fo per-
fect a Diffection of Humankind, deliver'd with ſo much
pointed Wit and Force of Expreffion, could be no other
than the Work of extraordinary Diligence and Application:
Whereas others, who have the Happiness to be acquainted
with the Author, as well as his Writings, are able to af-
firm theſe happy Performances were due to his infinite Ge-
nius and natural Penetration. We owe the Pleaſure and
Advantage of having been fo well entertain’d and inſtruct-
ed by him, to his Facility of doing it: For, if I miftake him
not extremely, had it been a Trouble to him to write, he
would have fpar'd himself that Trouble. What he has
perform'd would indeed have been difficult for another;
but the Club which a Man of ordinary Size could not lift,
was but a Walking-ftaff for Hercules.
Mr. Wycherly, in his Writings, has been the fharpeft
Satyrift of his Time; but, in his Nature, he has all the
Softneſs of the tendereſt Difpofitions: In his Writings he
is Severe, Bold, Undertaking; in his Nature Gentle, Mo-
deft, Inoffenfive: He makes ufe of his Satyr, as a Man
truly brave of his Courage, only upon Publick Occafions, and
for Publick Good: He compaffionates the Wounds he is un-
der a Neceffity to probe, or, like a good-natur'd Conqueror,
grieves at the Occafions that provoke him to make fuch
Havock.
G 3
There
326 POEMS upon feveral Occafions.
There are who object to his Verfification: But a Dia-
mond is not lefs a Diamond for not being polish'd. Ver-
fification is in Poetry, what Colouring is in Painting, a
beautiful Ornament; But if the Proportions are juft, the
Poſture true, the Figure bold, and the Refemblance accor-
ding to Nature, tho' the Colours fhould happen to be
rough, or carele fly laid on, yet may the Piece be of in-
eftimable Value: Whereas the fineſt and the niceſt Co-
louring Art can invent, is but Labour in vain, where the
reft is wanting. Our prefent Writers indeed, for the moſt
part, ſeem to lay the whole Streſs of their Endeavours up-
on the Harmony of Words; but then, like Eunuchs, they
facrifice their Manhood for a Voice, and reduce our Poetry
to be like Echo, Nothing but Sound.
In Mr. Wycherly every thing is Maſculine: His Muſe is
not led forth as to a Review, but as to a Battel; not a-
dorn'd for Parade, but Execution: He would be try'd by
the Sharpneſs of his Blade, and not by the Finery: Like
your Heroes of Antiquity; he charges in. Iron, and feems
to defpife all Ornament, but intrinfick Merit: And like
thole Heroes has therefore added another Name to his
own, and by the unanimous Confent of his Contemporaries,
is diftinguifh'd by the juft Appellation of Manly Wycherly.
1
THE
}
THE
British Enchanters;
O R,
No Magick like Love.
A
DRAMATICK POEM.
As it was A&ted
At the QUEEN's Theatre in the
Hay-Market,
BY
Her MAJESTY's Servants.
Printed in the YEAR MDCCXXVI.
}
Advertisement to the Reader.
UPON the Separation of the
Houſes, when Mufical Perform-
ances were confin'd to one Theatre,
and Dramatick to the other, it be-
came neceffary to lengthen the Re--
preſentation of the enſuing Poem with
feveral Alterations and Additions, and
fome entire new Scenes, to fill up the
Spaces occafion'd by the Neceffity of
leaving out the Mixture of Muſical
Entertainment. Which Additions are
herewith Printed, having never been
Publifh'd before.
Gs
PRO-
JGS
PROLOGUE.
POETS, by Obſervation, find it trues
'Tis harder much to pleaſe themſelves, than You:
To Weave a Plot, to Work, or to Refine
A labour'd Scene, to Polish ev'ry Line,
Fudgment muſt ſweat, and feel a Mother's Pains:
Vain Fools! thus to diſturb and rack their Brains:
When, more indulgent to the Writer's Eafe,
You are too good to be fo hard to pleafe:
No fuch convulfive Pangs it will require,
To write the pretty Things that you admire.
Our Author then, to pleaſe you in your Way,
Prefents you now a Bawble of a Play,
In jingling Rhime, well fortify'd and ſtrong,
He fights entrench'd, o'er Head and Ears, in Song,
If here and there ſome evil-fated Line
Should chance, thro' Inadvertency, to shine,
Forgive him, Beaux, he means you no Offence,
But begs you, for the Love of Song and Dance,
To pardon all the Poetry and Senfe.
Dia
1
Dramatis Perfonæ.
MEN.
Mr. Betterton.
in}
Celius, King of Britain, Father toOriana.
Conftantius, Emperor of Rome, in
Love with Oriana.
Amadis, a famous Knights Adventurer,7
in Love with Oriana,, and beloy'd
by her.
Mr. Booth.
Mr. Verbruggen.
Floreſtan, Companion to Amadis, in 3 Mr. Husbands:
Love with Cori, .nda.
Lucius, a Roman.
}
Arcalaus, an Enchanter, Enemy to Mr. Bowman,
Amadis.
to}
WOMEN.
Arcabon, an Enchantrefs, Siſter to Ar-
calaus.
Ar-}
Mrs. Barry.
Oriana..
Mrs. Bracegirdle;
Corifandas
Mrs. Porter..
Urganda, a good Enchantreft.
Delia, her Attendant.
Mrs. Bowman.
Mrs. Baker.
Officers and Guards attending Celius; Romans attend-
ing Conftantius; Ladies attending Oriana; Attendants
to the feveral Enchanters; Knights and Ladies Cap-
tives; Singers and Dancers.
The SCENE in BRITAIN
THE
THE
British Enchanters.
ACTI. SCENE I.
The Curtain rifes to a Flourish of all forts of loud Muſick.
The Scene is a Grove beautify'd with Fountains, Statues,
&c. Urganda is difcover'd as in the midst of fome Cere-
mony of Enchantment. Thunder during the Mufick.
Urganda, Delia, and Attendants.
URGAND A.
OUND, found, ye Winds, the rended
Clouds divide,
Fright back the Prieft, and fave a trembling.
Bride;
Affift an injur❜d Lover's faithful Love :
An injur❜d Lover's Caufe is worthy Jove,
Dela
134
The British Enchanters.
Del. Successful is our Charm: The Temple thakes,
The Altar nods, th' aftoniſh'd Priest forfakes
The hallow'd Shrine, ftarts from the Bridegroom's Side,
Breaks off the Rites, and leaves the Knot unry'd.
[Thunder again and Mufick. Urganda walks down the
Scene, waving her inchanted Rod during the following
Incantation.
Ye Sweet Musicians of the Sky,
Hither, hither, fly, flys
“And with enchanting Notes all Magick elſe ſupply.
Sound the Trumpet, touch the Lute,
Strike the Lyre, and tune the Flute;
18
In Harmony,
Celestial Harmony,
All Magick Charms are found;
Sound the Trumpet, found.
A Single Voice.
Jafon thus to Orpheus faid,
Take thy Harp, and melt the Maid;
Vows are vain, with Mufick warm her,
Play, my Friend, and charm the Charmer,
Hark! bark! 'tis Orpheus plays,
The Cedars dance, the Grove obeys.
Hark, bark again!
Medea melts like Proferpine,
Liftning
The Britiſh Enchanters:
135
Liftning fhe turns: How foft, fhe cries!
How fweet! ah how fweet each String replies,
'Till on the warbling Note fhe dies,
Ah how ſweet, and how divine !
O! 'tis a Pleaſure
Beyond Meaſure,
Take the Treaſure,
Greek, 'tis thine.
CHORU S.
Sound the Trumpet, touch the Lutez
Strike the Lyre and tune the Flute;
In Harmony,
Celestial Harmony,
All Magick Charms are found;
Sound the Trumpet, found.
}
First Dance of Statues.
A Single Voice.
When with adoring Looks we gaze
On bright Oriana's heav'nly Face,
In every Glance, and every Grace,
What is that we ſee,
But Harmony;
Celestial Harmony!
Our
136
The British Enchanters.
Our ravish'd Hearts leap up to meet
The Musick of her Eyes, and dance around her Feer.
Urg. This Care for Amadis, ye Gods, approve ;
For what's a Soldier's Recompence but Love?
When forc'd from Britain, call'd to diftant War,
His vanquish'd Heart remain'd a Captive here;
Oriana's Eyes that glorious Conqueft made,.
Nor was his Love ungratefully repaid.
Del. By Arcabon, like hoſtile Juno, croſt,
And like Æneas driv'n from Coaſt to Coaſt,
The wandring Hero wou'd return too late,
Charg'd by Oriana with the Crimes of Fate;
Who, anxious of Neglect, fufpe&ting Change,
Confults her Pride, and meditates Revenge.
Urg. Juft in the Moment, when Reſentment fires,
A charming Rival tempts, a rugged King requires;
Love yields at laft, thus combated by Pride,
And the fubmits to be the Roman's Bride.
Del. Did not your Art, with timely Aids, provide,
Oriana were his Wife, and not his Bride.
Urg. In ancient Times, ere Chivalry was known,
The Infant World with Monſters overgrown,
Centaurs and Giants, nurft with human Blood,
And dire Magicians, an infernal Brood,
Vex'd Men and Gods: but moſt the Fair complain,
Of violated Loves, and Lovers flain.
室
​Ą
To
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137
To fhelter Innocence, and injur'd Right,
The Nations all elect fome Patron-Knight,
Sworn to be true to Love, and Slaves to Fame,
And many a valiant Chief enrolls his Name;
By fhining Marks diſtinguiſh'd they appear,
And various Orders various Enfigns bear.
Bound by ftrict Oaths, to ferve the brighteft Eyes,
Not more they ſtrive for Glory than the Prize;
While, to invite the Toil, the fairest Dame
Of Britain, is the boldeft Champion's Claim.
Del. Of all who in this Race of Fame delight,
Brave Amadis is own'd the hardy'ft Knight.
Nor Thefeus, nor Alcides, ventur'd more,
Nor he fo fam'd, who, bath'd in Monſter's Gore,
Upon his crefted Helm the trampled Dragon bore.
Urg. O mighty Amadis! what Thanks are due
To thy victorious Sword, that Ardan flew?
Ardan, that black Enchanter, whofe dire Arts
Enſlav'd our Knights, and broke our Virgins Hearts,
Met Spear to Spear, thy great deliv'ring Hand
Slew the Deſtroyer, and redeem'd the Land;
Far from thy Breaſt all Care and Grief remove,
Oriana's thine, by Conqueſt as by Love.
Del. The haughty Arcabon, of Ardan's Blood,
And Arcaläus, Foes alike to Good,
Gluttons in Murder, wanton to deſtroy,
Their fatal Arts as impiouſly employ :
J
MA
Heirs
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Heirs to their Brother's Hatred, and fworn Foes
To Amadis, their Magick they oppoſe
Againſt his Love and Life.
Urg. With equal Care,
Their Vengeance to prevent, we now prepare.
Behold the Time, when tender Love fhall be
Nor vext with Doubt, nor preft with Tyranny.
The Love fick Hero fhall front Camps remove,
To reap Reward: The Hero's Pay is Love.
The Tasks of Glory painful are and hard,
But oh! how bleft, how ſweet is the Reward!
Urganda retires down the Scene as continuing the Ceremony
of Enchantments Mufick playing, and her Attendants re-
peating the Chorus of the foregoing Incantation 'till out of
Sight. The Scene changes to an Apartment in King Ce-
lius's Palace. Enter a numerous Train of Britons and
Romans preceding Conftantius and Corifanda, follow'd by
other Attendants, Men and Women; the Britons in a
painted Drefs, after the ancient Manner.
Conftantius, Oriana, Corifanda.
Con. Lovers confult not Stars, nor watch the Skies,
But feek their Sentence in their Charmer's Eyes.
Careleſs of Thunder, from the Clouds that break, '
My only Omens from your Looks I take;
When my Oriana fmiles, from thence I date
My future Hope, and when the frowns, my Fate.
Ori.
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139
Ori. If from my Looks your Sentence you wou'd hear,
Behold, and be inftructed to Defpair.
Con. Loft in a Labyrinth of Doubts and Joys,
Whom now her Smiles reviv'd, her Scorn deſtroys;
She will, and ſhe will not; fhe grants, denies;
Confents, retracts; advances, and then flies;
Approving and rejecting in a Breath,
Now proffring Mercy, now prefenting Death:
Thus Hoping, thus Deſpairing, never fure,
How various are the Torments I endure!
Cruel Eftate of Doubt! ah! Princeſs try
Once to refolve, or let me live, or die.
Ori. Ccafe, Prince, the Anger of the Gods to move:
'Tis now become a Crime to mention Love.
Our holy Men, interpreting the Voice
Of Heav'n in Wrath, forewarn th' ill-omen'd Choice.
Con. Strange Rules for Conftancy your Prieſts devife,
If Love and Hate muft vary with your Skies.
From fuch vile Servitude fet Reafon free;
The Gods in ev'ry Circumftance agree;
To fuit our Union, pointing out to me,
In this right Hand, the Scepter that they place
For me to hold, was meant for you to grace.
Thou beſt and faireſt of the beauteous Kind,
Accept that Empire which the Gods deſign'd,
And be the charming Miſtreſs of Mankind.
}
}
M
Ambig
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}
M
Ambition, Love, whatever can inſpire
A mutual Flame, Glory, and young Defire,
To guide and to adorn the deſtin'd Choice conſpire.
If Greatneſs then with Beauty may compare,
And fure the Great are form'd but for the Fair,
Then 'tis moft plain, that all the Gods decree
That I was born for you, and you for me.
Cor. Nuptials of Form, of Int'reft, or of State,
Thofe Seeds of Pride, are fruitful in Debate;
Let happy Men for generous Love declare,
And chufe the needy Virgin, Chaſte and Fair:
Let Women to fuperior Fortune born, }
For naked Virtue all Temptations fcorr,
The Charm's immortal to a gallant Mind,
If Gratitude cement whom Love has joyn'd.
And Providence, not niggardly, but wife,
Here lavishly beſtows, and there denics,
That by each other's Virtue we may rife:
Weak the bare Tye of Man and Wife we find;
But Friend and Benefactor always bind.
Enter King Celius with a Guard of Britons.
Cel. Our Prieſts recover, 'twas a boly Cheat,
Lead back the Bride, the Ceremonies wait,
Ori. What Heav'n forbids
Cel. 'Twas Ignorance of my Will,
Our Prieſts have better learnt: What now is ill,
1
Can
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Can, when I pleafe, be good; and none ſhall dare
Preach or expound, but what their King wou'd hear.
E'er they interpret let 'em mark my Nod,
My Voice their Thunder, this right Arm their God.
Prince, take your Bride.
Ori. 'Twere impious now to fuffer him my Hand.
[Refusing to Conftantius, who offers to take her
Hand.
Cel. How dar'ft thou diſobey, when I command ?
Mind, mind her not, nor be difturb'd at Tears,
[To Conftantius.
A counterfeited Qualm of Bridal Fears;
All feign'd and falſe; while her Defires are more
A real Fire, but a diffembled Show'r:
You'd fee, cou'd you her inward Motions watch,'
Feigning Delay, the wishes for Difpatch;
Into a Woman's Meaning wou'd you look,
Then read her backward, like a Wizard's Book.
On to the Temple lead
Ori. Obedience is your Due, which I muſt pay;
But as a Lover I command you,
Stay.
[Again rejecting his Hand.
Obeying him, I'll be obey'd by you.
Con. Not Saints to Heav'n with more Submiſſion bow:
I have no Will but what your Eyes ordain:
Deftin'd to Love, as they are doom'd to reign,
Cel.
£42
The British Enchanters.
Cel. [Afide.] Into what Hands, ye Gods! have you re
fign'd
Your World? Are theſe the Mafters of Mankind?
#
Theſe ſupple Romans teach our Women Scorn.
I thank you, Gods, that I'm a Briton born.
Agree thefe Trifles in a ſhort Debate:
Woman [To her.] no more of this, but follow ftrait i
And you [To him.] be quick, I am not us'd to wait.
[Exit Celius.
Oriana ftands filent and weeping a-while, Conftantius look-
ing concern'd. After a short Paufe, Oriana fpeaks.
Ori. Your Stars and mine have chofen you, to prove
The nobleft Way how gen'rous Men fhould love;
All boaſt their Flames, but yet no Woman found
A Paffion, where Self-love was not the Ground.
Now we're ador'd, and the next Hour diſpleaſe,
At firſt your Cure, and after, your Diſeaſe:
Slaves we are made, by falfe Pretences caught;
The Briton in my Scul difdains the Thought.
Con. So much, so tenderly, your Slave adores,
He has no Thought of Happineſs, but yours.
Ori. Vows may be feign'd, nor fhall meer Words prevail,
I muſt have Proofs; but Proofs that cannot fail.
By Arms, by Honour, and by all that's dear
To Heroes, or expecting Lovers, fwear.
A
Cont
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143
Con. Needs there an Oath? and can Oriana ſay,
Thus I command, and doubt if I'll obey?
Ori. Then to be ſhort, and put you out of Pain,
Leave me, and never ſee my Face again.
Start not, nor look furpriz'd, nor paufing ſtand,
Be your Obedience brief, as my Command.
Con. Your ftrange Command you give with fuch an Air
Well may I pauſe, who tremble but to hear.
Love is a Plant of the most tender Kind,
That fhrinks and fhakes with ev'ry ruffling Wind;
Such Words in jeft, fcarce can my Heart fupport,
In Pity, ah! forbear fuch cruel Sport.
Ori. Our ferious Fates no Hours for Mirth allow,
And one (hort Truth is all my Refuge now.
Prepare then, Prince, to hear a Secret told,
That Shame wou'd fhun, and bluſhing I unfold,
But dangers preffing, Cowards will grow bold;
Know then, I love-
Con. Can you command Defpair, yet Love confefs;
And curfe with the fame Breath with which you blefs?
Ori. Miſtake me not
That I do love, is true,
But flatter not your felf, it is not you.
Con. Forbid it, Gods! Strike any where but there;
Let but thofe Frowns, and that diſdainful Air,
Be the accuftom'd Niceness of the Fair;
Then I might hope, that Time, affiduous Love,
Vows, Tears, and Pray'rs fach Coynefs might remove:
Ad
}
But
144
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But if engag'd
Recall the fatal Breath
That ſpoke that Word
the Sound is inſtant Death,
Ori. Too late to be recall'd, or to deny,
I own the fatal Truth; if one muft die,
You are the Judge; fay is it you, or I?
Enter haftily a Briton.
Brit. The King is much diſpleas'd at this Delay.
Con. And let him wait, while 'tis my Will to ſtay.
Ori. Bear back a gentler Anfwer
We'll obey.
but her
Con. Hence ev'ry Sound that's either foft or kind;
O for a War like that within my Mind:
Yes, by the Gods! I cou'd to Atoms tear,
Confound Mankind, and all the World
Say, Flatterer, fay! ah, fair Deluder, ſpeak,
Anfwer me this, ere yet my Heart does break;
Since thus engag'd, you never cou'd intend
Your Love, why was I flatter'd with your Hand?
Ori. To what a Father and a King thinks fit,
A Daughter and a Subject muſt ſubmit.
Think not from Tyranny that Love can grow;
I am a Slave, and you have made me ſo.
Thoſe Chains that Duty have put on, remove;
Slaves may obey, but they can never love.
Con. Cruel Oriana, much you wrong'd my Flame,
To think that I could lay fo harfh a Claim.
M.
}
Love
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Love is a Subject to himſelf alone,
And knows no other Empire than his own ;
No Ties can bind, that from Conſtraint ariſe,
Where either's forc'd, all Obligation dies:
Curft be the Man, who ufes other Art
But only Love, to captivate a Heart.
O fatal Law! requiring to refign
The Object lov'd; or hated, keep her mine.
Ori. Accufe me not of Hate; with equal Eyes
I judge your Merit, and your Virtue prize ;
Friendſhip, Esteem be yours: Bereft before
Of all my Love, what can I offer more!
Your Rival's Image in your Worth I view,
And what I lov'd in him, eſteem in you;
Had your Complaint been first, it might have mov'd;
He then had been eſteem'd, and you belov❜d:
Then blame not me, fince nothing bars your Fate,
But that you pleaded laft, and came too late.
[Conftantius ftands in a thoughtful Pofture
Cor. Thus Merit's ufelefs, Fortune holds the Scale,
And ſtill throws in the Weight that muſt prevail;
Your Rival is not of more Charms poffeft,
A Grain of better Luck has made him bleſt.
Con. To love, and have the Power to poffefs,
And yet refign, can Fleſh and Blood do this?
Shall Nature, erring from her firft Command,
Self-Prefervation, fall by her own Hand ?
H
Br
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By her own Act, the Springs of Life deftroy,
The Principles, and Being of her Joy?
Senfual and bafe Can Nature then approve
Bleffings obtain'd, by curfing whom we love?
Poffeffing, the is loft; renouncing, I;
Where then's the Doubt? Die, die, Conftantius, die.
Honour and Love, ye Tyrants, I obey,
Where-e'er your cruel Call directs my Way,
To Shame, to Chains, or to a certain Grave
Lead on, unpitying Guides, behold your Slave.
Ori. Love's an ignoble Joy, below your Care,
Glory ſhall make amends with Fame in War;
Honour's the nobleft Chace, purſue that Game,
And recompence the Lofs of Love with Fame:
If ſtill againſt ſuch Aids your Love prevails,
Yet Abfence is a Cure that feldom fails.
Con. Tyrannick Honour! what Amends canft thou
E'er make my Heart, by flattering my Brow?
Vain Race of Fame! unless the Conqueft prove
In fearch of Beauty, to conclude in Love.
Frail Hope of Aids! for Time or Chance to give
That Love, which ſpite of Cruelty can live!
From your Disdain, fince no Relief I find,
I muſt love Abfent, whom I love Unkind;
Tho' Seas divide us, and tho' Mountains part,
That fatal Form will ever haunt my Heart.
O! dire Reverfe of Hope, that I endure,
From fure Poffeffion, to Defpair as fure!
#
Farewel
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147
Farewel, Oriana; yet, ere I remove,
Can you refuſe one Tear to bleeding Love?
Ah no, take heed, turn, turn thofe Eyes away;
The Charm's fo ftrong, I fhall for ever ſtay.
Princeſs rejoyce, for your next News ſhall be;
Conftantius dies to fet Oriana free.
H 2
[Exeunt feverally.
ACT
148 The Britiſh Enchanters.
ACT II. SCENE I
SCENE, A Thick-wooded Forest.
Enter Arcabon feeming penfive, and Arcalaus.
Arcab. No Warning of th' approaching Flame,
Swiftly like fudden Death it came ;
Like Travellers by Light'ning kill'd,
I burnt the Moment I beheld.
In whom ſo many Charms-are plac'd,
Is with a Mind as nobly grac'd;
The Cafe, fo fhining to behold,
Is fill'd with richeſt Gems and Gold.
To what my Eyes admir'd before,
I add a thouſand Graces more,
And Fancy blows into a Flame
The Spark, that from his Beauty came.
The Object thus improv'd by Thought,
By my own Image I am caught.
Pygmalion fo with fatal Art,
Polifht the Form that ftung his Heart.
}
Arca
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149
Arcal. Enchantrefs fay, whence fuch Replies as theſe?
Thou anſwer'ſt Love, I ſpeak of Amadis.
Arcab. Swiftly he paft, and as in Sport purfu'd
The favage Herd, and hunted round the Wood;
[Seeming not to mind him
Tygers and Wolves in vain his Stroke withſtand,
Cut down, like Poppies by the Reaper's Hand;
Like Mars he look'd, as terrible and ſtrong,
Like Fove majeſtick, like Apollo young;
With all their Attributes divinely grac❜d,
And fure their Thunder in his Arm was plac'd.
Arcal, Who pafs'd? who look'd?
Arcab. Ah! there's the facal
That tears my Heartſtrings ---
Wound,
But he ſhall be found:
Yes, ye Infernals, if there's Pow'r in Art,
My Arms fhall hold him, as he grafps my Heart.
Shall I, who can draw down the Moon, and keep
The Stars confin'd, enchant the boift'rous Deep,
Bid Boreas halt, make Hills and Foreſts move,
Shall I be baffled by this Trifler, Love?
Arcal. Sufpend thefe Follies, and let Rage furmount.
A Brother's Death requires a ſtrict Account;
To Day, to Day, perhaps this very Hour,
This Moment, now, the Murth'rer's in our Pow'r.
Leave Love in Cottages and Cells to reign,
With Nymphs obfcure, and with the lowly Swain.
Who waſte their Days and Strength in fuch fhort Joys,
Are Fools, that barter precious Life for Toys.
H 3
Arc ab
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Arcab. They're Fools who preach we wafte our Days
and Strength;
What is a Life, whoſe only Charm is Length?
Give me a Life that's fhort, and wing'd with Joy,
A Life of Love, whofe Minutes never cloy:
What is an Age in dull Renown drudg'd o'er?
One little fingle Hour of Love is more.
An Attendant enters haftily, and whiſpers Arcalaus.
Arcal. See it perform'd
And thou shalt be,
[Exit Attendant.
Dire Inftrument of Hell, a God to me.
He comes, he comes, juft ready to be caught.
Here Ardan fell, bere on this fatal Spot
Our Brother dy'd; here flow'd that precious Gore,
The purple Flood, that cries fo loud for more:
Think on that Image, fee him on the Ground,
His Life and Fame both bury'd in one Wound.
Think on the Murderer, with infulting Pride
Tearing the Weapon from his bleeding Side,
Oh think
Arcab. What need theſe bloody Images to move?
Revenge I will And would fecure my Love.
Why fhou'd I of a Frailty fhameful be,
From which no Mortal yet was ever free?
Not fierce Medea, Miftrefs of our Art,
Nor Circe, nor Calypfo 'fcap'd the Smart.
If
The British Enchanters.
isl
If Hell has Pow'r, both Paffions I will pleaſe,
My Anger and my Love ſhall both have Eafe.
Lead on, Magician, make Revenge fecure,
My Hand's as ready, and ſhall ſtrike as fure.
[They go off•
Oriana and Corifanda appear entring from the lower Part of
the Scene.
Ori. Thrice happy they, who thus in Woods and Groves,
From Courts retir'd, poffefs their peaceful Loves.
Of royal Maids, how wretched is the Fate,
Born only to be Victims of the State,
Our Hopes, our Wishes, all our Paffions ty'd
For publick Ufe; the Slaves of others Pride.
Here let us wait th' Event, on which alone
Depends my Peace, I tremble 'till 'tis known.
Cor. So generous this Emperor's Love does feem,
'Twould juſtifie a Change, to change for him.
[Flouriſh of Muſick as in the Foreft.
Ori. Oft we have heard ſuch airy Sounds as theſe,
Which in foft Mufick murm'ring thro' the Trees,
Salute us as we país
Cor. The Air we breathe fure is inchanted Air.
[They liften, looking about as furpriz'd.
H 4
Enter
152
The British Enchanters.
Enter feveral of Arcalaus's Magicians, reprefenting Shepherds-
and Shepherdeffes, finging and dancing.
A SHEPHERDESS.
Follow ye Nymphs and Shepherds all,
Come celebrate this Festival,
And merrily fing, and ſport, and play,
For 'tis Oriana's Nuptial Day.
To Oriana.] Queen of Britain, and of Love,
Be happy as the Bleft above ;
A joyful Day is in thy Power,
Seize, O feize the fmiling Hour.
Graces numberless attend thee,
The Gods as many Bleffings fend thee:
Be happy as the Bleft above,
Queen of Britain, and of Love.
CHORUS.
[Exeunt, finging in
Follow ye Nymphs, &c.
Ori. Prepofterous Nuptials, that fill ev'ry Breaft
With Joy, but only hers, who ſhou'd be bleft.
Cor.
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153
Cor. Sure fome Magician keeps his Revels here:
Princeſs retire, there may be Danger near.
Ori. What Danger in fuch gentle Notes can be?
Thou Friend to Love, thrice pow'rful Harmony,
I'll follow thee Play on
Mufick's the Balm of Love, it charms Despair,
Suſpends the Smart, and foftens ev'ry Care.
[Exeunt, following the Mufick.
Arcalaus enters, with an Attendant, obſerving them.
Arcal. Finiſh the reft, and then be free as Air :
My Eyes ne'er yet beheld a Form ſo fair.
Happy beyond my Wifh, I go to prove
At once, the Joys of fweet Revenge and Love.
[Exeunt following.
Enter Amadis and Floreftan.
Amad. Miſtake me not
No, Amadis fhall dieỷ
If he is pleas'd, but not durb her Joy.
Nice Honour ſtill engages to requite
Falſe Miſtreſſes, and proud, with Slight for Slight.
But if, like mine, the ftubborn Heart retain
A wilful Tenderneſs, the Brave muſt feign,
In private grieve, but with a careleſs Scorn
In publick, ſeem to triumph, not to mourn.
HS
Flor.
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The British Enchanters.
Flor. Hard is the Task, in Love or Grief to feign;
When Paffion is fincere, it will complain:
Doubts that from Rumour rofe, you fhou'd fufpend;
From evil Tongues what Virtue can defend?
In Love, who injures by a raſh Diſtruſt,
Is the Aggreffor, and the firft unjuſt.
Amad. If ſhe is true, why all this Nuptial Noiſe,
Still echoing as we pafs her guilty Joys?
Who to a Woman trufts his Peace of Mind,
Trufts a frail Bark, with a tempeftuous Wind.
Thus to Ulyſſes, on the Stygian Coaſt
His Fate enquiring, fpake Atrides' Ghoſt ;
Of all the Plagues with which the World is curft,
Of ev'ry Ill, a Woman is the worſt;
Truft not a Woman,
Well might he adviſe,
Who perifh'd by his Wife's Adulteries.
Flor. Thus in Deſpair, what moſt we love, we wrong,
Not Heav'n eſcapes the impious Atheist's Tongue.
Amad. Enticing Crocodiles, whofe Tears are Death;
Sirens, that murder with enchanting Breath:
Like Egypt's Temples, dazling to the Sight,
Pompously deck'd, all gaudy, gay, and bright;
With glitt'ring Gold and fparkling Gems they fhine,
But Apes and Monkeys are the Gods within.
Flor. My Love attends with Pain, while you purſue
This angry Theme: I have a Miſtreſs too:
The faultless Form no fecret Stains diſgrace,
A beauteous Mind unblemiſh'd as her Face,
5
Not
1
The British Enchanters.
Iss
Not painted and adorn'd to varniſh Sin,
Without all Goddefs, all Divine within,
By Truth maintaining what by Love ſhe got,
A Heav'n without a Cloud, a Sun without a Spot.
Amad. Forgive the Viſions of my frantick Brain,
Far from the Man I love, be all fuch Pain:
By the immortal Gods I fwear, my Friend,
The Fates to me no greater Joy cou'd fend,
Than that your Labours meet a profp'rous End.
After fo many glorious Toils, that you
Have found a Miſtreſs, beautiful and true.
Oriana and Corifanda without.
Ori. and Cor. Help, help, oh! Heav'ns, help
Amad. What Cries are theſe?
Flor. It feem'd the Call of Women in Diftrefs.
Of favage Beaſts and Men a monftruous Brood
Poffefs this Land·
Ori. and Cor. Help, help,
Amad. Again the Cry's renew'd.
Draw both our Swords, and fly with Speed to fave;
Th' Oppreft have a fure Refuge in the Brave.
76
[Exeunt drawing their Swords.
[Oriana and Corifanda cross the Stage purfu'd by a Party
belonging to Arcalaus.
Ori. and Cor. Help, help!
!
+
Party.
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The British Enchanters.
Party. Purfue, purſue.
[Flor. croffes the Stage following the Purſuit
Arcalaus enters fighting, and retreating before Amadis.
Arcab. Forbear, rafh Mortal, give thy. Frenzy o'er,
For know thou tempt'ſt a more than mortal Pow'r.
Amad. Think not my Sword fhall give the leaft Reprieve,
Twere Cruelty to let ſuch Monſters live.
[Floreftan re-enters retreating before another Party, is
feiz'd, difarm'd, and carry'd off.
Arcal. Yet paufe, and be advis'd; avoid thy Fate;
Without thy Life, my Vengeance is compleat:
Behold thy Friend born to eternal Chains,
Remember Ardan now, and count thy Gains.
Amad. Like Ardan's be thy Fate, unpity'd fall.
Thus I'll at once revenge, and free 'em all.
Fight again, Arcalaus ftill retreating 'till off the Stage. In-
ftruments of Horror are heard under Ground, and in the
Air. Monsters and Damons rife from under the Stage,
whilst others fly down from above, croffing to and fro in
Confufion: Clashing of Swords behind the Scenes: Thunder
and Lightning, during which Time the Stage is darken'd.
On the fudden a Flourish of all the Mufick fucceeds, the
Sky clears, and the Scene changes to a pleasant Profpect:
Amadis appears leanng on his Sword, furrounded by Shep-
herds and Shepherdeffes, who with Songs, Mufick and Dances
perform the following Enchantment.
A
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157
A SHEPHERD.
Love, Creator Love, appear,
Attend and hear;
Appear.
A SHEPHERDESS.
Love, Creator Love,
Parent of Heav'n and Earth,
Delight of Gods above,
To thee all Nature owes her Birth,
Love, Creator Love.
CHORU S.
Appear, appear,"
Attend and hear;
Appear.
SHEPHERD.
All that in ambient Air does move,
Or teems on fertile Fields below,
Or fparkles in the Skies above,
Or does in rowling Waters flow,
Spring from the Seeds that thou doft ſow,
Love, Creator Love.
CHO-
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The British Enchanters.
2
CHORU S.
Appear, appear;
Attend, and hear;
Appear.
SHEPHERDESS.
When Love is away,
Or is not ours,
How dull is the Day,
How flow the Hours;
When Love is away there's no Delight;
How dull is the Day,
When Love's away,
How dull is the Day,
How flow the Hours;
But wing'd with Love, how ſwift is the Flight!
CHORU S.
Better in Love a Slave to be,
Than with the wideft Empires free.
[Symphony for Difcord
ODE
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159
ODE for DISCOR D.
When Love's away, then Difcord reigns:
The Furies he unchains,
Bids Eolus unbind
The Northern Wind,
That fetter'd lay in Caves,
And root up Trees, and plough the Plain,
Old Ocean frets and rayes,
From their deep Roots the Rocks he tears,
Whole Deluges lets fly,
That dash against the Sky,
And ſeem to drown the Stars,
Th' aſſaulted Clouds return the Shock,
Blue Lightnings finge the Waves,
And Thunder rends the Rock.
Then Jove ufurps his Father's Crown,
Inftructing Mortals to aſpire;
The Father would destroy the Son,
The Son dethrones the Sire,
The Titans, to regain their Right,
Prepare to try a fecond Fight,
Briareus arms his hundred Hands,
And marches forth the bold Gigantick Bands.
Pelion upon Offa thrown,
Steep Olympus they invade,
}
Gids
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Gods and Giants tumble down,
And Mars is foil'd by Encelade,
Horror, Confufion, vengeful Ire,
Daggers, Poifon, Sword, and Fire,
To execute the deftin'd Wrath confpire:
The Furies looſe their Snaky Rods,
And lafh both Men and Gods.
Chorus of Inftrumental Mufick for Diſcord.
SYMPHONY for LOVE.
SHEPHERDESS.
But when Love bids Difcord ceafe,
The jarring Seeds unite in Peace;
O the Pleaſures past expreſſing!
All is Foy, and all is Bleffing,
Hail to Love, and welcome Foy,
Hail to the delicious Boy!
In Cyprus first the God was known;
Then coafting to the Main,
In Britany he fix'd his Reign,
And in Oriana's Eyes his Throne.
CHORU S.
Hail to Love, and welcome Foy,
Hail to the delicious Boy!
See
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161
See the Sun from Love returning,
Love's the Flame in which he's burning.
See the Zephyrs kiffing cloſe,
On Flora's Breast their Wings repofe.
Hail to Love! the fofteft Pleasure;
Love and Beauty reign for ever.
DANCE.
Dance of Shepherds and Shepherdeffes.
Shepherdefs to Amadis.
Now Mortal prepare,
For thy Fate is at hand;
Now Mortal prepare
And furrender.
For Love fhall ariſe,
Whom no Pow'r can withstand,
Who rules from the Skies
To the Center.
Now Mortal prepare,
For thy Fate is at Hand;
Now Mortal prepare
And ſurrender.
[Oriana rifes enchanted, repofing on a Bed of Flowers. A
madis feeing her, throws away his Sword, and offers
to run to her, but is feiz'd in the fame Inftant.
Amad.
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Amad. I'll break thro' all Enchantments to thofe Arms
I am all Love, and thou all over Charms.
[Here he is feiz'd: Oriana wakes and rifes
Ori. In what enchanted Regions am I loit?
Am I alive? Or wander here a Ghoſt?
Art thou too dead?
Amad. Where-e'er you are, the Realms of Bliſs muſt be;
I fee my Goddeſs, and 'tis Heav'n to fee!
Stand off-
Ori. No
and give me way
keep him there,
Th' ungrateful Traitor, let him not come near:
Convey the Wretch where Sisyphus atones
For Crimes enormous, and where Tityus groans,
With Robbers and with Murderers let him prove
Immortal Pains for he has murder'd Love.
Amad. Have I done this!
Ori. Bafe and perfidious Man,
Let me be heard, and anfwer if you can.
Was it your Love, when trembling by your Side
I wept, and I implor'd, and almoft dy'd,
-
Urging your Stay Was it your Love that bore
Your faithlefs Veſſel from the Britiſh Shore?
What faid I not, upon the fatal Night,
When you avow'd your meditated Flight?
Was it your Love, that prompted you to part,
To leave me dying, and to break my Heart?.
See whom you fled, Inhuman and Ingrate,
Repent your Folly, but repent too late.
Amad.
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163
Amad. Miſtaken Princeſs! By the Stars above,
The Pow'rs below, and by Immortal Fove,
Unwilling and compell'd
Ori. Unwilling and compell'd! Vain, vain Pretence,
For bafe Neglect, and cold Indifference.
Was it your Love, when by thoſe Stars above,
Thofe Pow'rs below, and that Immortal Jove
You vow'd, before the first revolving Moon
You wou'd return Did you return? The Sun
Thrice round the circled Globe was feen to move,
You neither came, nor fent- Was this your Love!
Amad. Thrice has that Sun beheld me on your Coaſt,
By Tempeſts beaten, and in Shipwrecks loft.
Ori. And yet you choſe thoſe Perils of the Sea,
Of Rocks, and Storms, or any thing, but me.
The raging Ocean, and the Winter Wind,
Touch'd at my Paffion, with my Wishes join'd,
No Image, but of certain Fate, appear'd,
Lefs I your Abſence, than your Danger, fear'd;
In vain they threaten'd, and I fu'd in vain.
More deaf than Storms, more cruel than the Main,
No Pray'r, nor gentle Meffage cou'd prevail,
To wait a calmer Sky, or fofter Gale;
You brav'd the Danger, and defpis'd the Love,
Nor Death cou'd fright, nor Tenderneſs cou'd move.
Amad. Of our paft Lives, the Pleaſure, and the Pain,
Fixt in my Soul, for ever fhall remain ;
Recall
ง.
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.
Recall more gently my unhappy Stare,
And charge my Crime, not on my Choice, but Fate:
In Mortal Breaft, fure, Honour never wag'd
So dire a War, nor Love more fiercely rag'd;
You faw my Torment, and you knew my Heart,
'Twas Infamy to flay, 'twas Death to part.
Ori. In vain you'd cover, with the Thirft of Fame,
And Honour's Call, an odious Traitor's Name;
Cou'd Honour fuch vile Perfidy approve?
Is it no Honour, to be true to Love?
O Venus! Parent of the Teojan Race,
In Britain too, fome Remnants found a Place;
From Brute deſcending in a Line direct,
Within theſe Veins, thy favʼrite Blood reſpect;
Mother of Love, by Men and Gods rever❜d,
Confirm theſe Vows, and let this Pray's be heard.
The Briton to the Gaul henceforth ſhall bear
Immortal Hatred, and Eternal War;
Nor League, nor Commerce, let the Nations know,
But Seeds of everlaſting Diſcord grow ;
With Fire and Sword the faithlefs Race purfue,
This Vengeance to my injur'd Love is due:
Rife from our Afhes fome avenging Hand,
To curb their Tyrants, and invade their Land,
Waves fight with Waves, and Shores with Shores engage,
And let our Sons inherit the fame Rage.
Amad. Might I be heard one Word in my Defence
Ori
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165
Ori. No, not a Word. What fpecious forc'd Pretence
Wou'd you invent, to gild a weak Defence?
To falfe Æneas, when 'twas given by Fate
To tread the Paths of Death, and view the Stygian State,
Forfaken Dido was the first that stood
To ftrike his Eye, her Bofom bath'd in Blood
Fresh from her Wound: Pale Horror and Affright
Seiz'd the falfe Man, confounded at the Sight,
Trembling he gaz'd, and fome faint Words he fpoke,
Some Tears he ſhed, which, with difdainful Look,
Unmov'd fhe heard, and faw, nor heeded more,
Than the firm Rock, when faithlefs Tempeſts roar.
With one laſt Glance, his Falfhood ſhe upbraids,
Then fullenly retires, and feeks eternal Shades.
Lead me, O lead me, where the bleeding Queen,
With juft Reproaches, loads perfidious Men,
Banish'd from Joy, from Empire, and from Light,
In Death involve me, and in endleſs Night,
But keep-
that odious Object
from my Sight.
}
[Exit.
Enter Arca'aus.
Arcal. With her laft Words (he fign'd his dying Breath:
Convey him ftrait to Tortures and to Death.
Amad. Let me not perish with a Traitor's Name!
Naked, unarm'd, and fingle as I am,
Looſe this right Hand, I challenge all thy Odds
Of Heav'n, or Hell, of Demons, or of Gods.
Arcal.
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The Britiſh Enchanters.
Arcal. Hence to his Fate the valiant Boafter bear.
For him, let our infernal Prieſts prepare
Their Knives, their Cords, and Altars
[They force him off.
But for her,
Soft Beds, and flow'ry Banks, and fragrant Bow'rs,
Mufick and Songs, and all thoſe melting Pow'rs
With which Love fteals on Hearts, and tunes the Mind
To tenderneſs and yielding
Superior Charms, enchant us to be kind.
QUUMIMAD
[Exeunt]
ACT
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167
$
ACT III. SCENE I.
Arcalaus and Arcabon meeting.
Arcal. W
Elcome as after Darkneſs chearful Light,
Or to the weary Wanderer downy Night:
Smile, fmile, O Arcabon, for ever ſmile,
And with thy gayeft Looks reward my
That fullen Air but ill becomes thee now,
Toil:
See'ft thou not glorious Conqueft on my Brow?
Amadis, Amadis
Arcab. Dead, or in Chains? Be quick in thy Reply.
Arcal. He lives, my Arcabon, but lives to die.
The gnawing Vulture, and the reſtleſs Wheel,
Shall be Delight to what the Wretch ſhall feel.
Arcab. Goddeſs of dire Revenge, Erinnys riſe,
With Pleaſure grace thy Lips, with Joy thy Eyes;
Smile like the Queen of Love, and ftrip the Rocks
Of Pearls and Gems, to deck thy jetty Locks,
With chearful Tunes diſguiſe thy hollow Throat,
And emulate the Lark and Linnet's Note;
Let Envy's felf rejoice, Defpair be gay,
For Rage and Murder fhall triumph to Day.
Arcal. Arife, O Ardan, from the hollow Womb
Of Earth, arife, burft from thy brazen Tomb,
Bear
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The British Enchanters.
Bear witneſs to the Vengeance we prepare,
Rejoice, and reft for ever void of Care.
Arcab. Pluto arife, Infernal King releaſe
Thy tortur'd Slaves, and let the damn'd have Peace,
But double all their Pains on Amadis,
Arcal. Mourn all ye Heav'ns, above yon azure Plain
Let Grief abound, and Lamentation reign,
The Thunderer with Tears bedew the Sky,
For Amadis, his Champion's doom to die.
Arcab. Death be my Care: For to compleat his Woe,,
The Slave fhall perish by a Woman's Blow,
Thus each by turns fhall his dire Vow fulfill:
'Twas thine to conquer, and 'tis mine to kill.
Arcal, So look'd Medea, when he Rival Bride,
Upon her nuptial Day, confuming dy'd:
O never more let Love diſguiſe a Face,
By Rage adorn'd with fuch triumphant Grace.
Arcab. In fweet Revenge inferior Joys are loft,
And Love lyes fhipwrack'd on the ſtormy Coaſt;
Rage rules all other Paſſions in my Breaſt,
And ſwelling like a Torrent, drowns the reſt.
Should this curft Wretch, whom moft my Soul abhors,
Prove the dear Man whom moſt my Soul adores,
Love fhou'd in vain defend him with his Dart,
Thro' all his Charms I'd ſtab him to the Heart.
[Exeunt
SCENE
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169
SCENE II.
Enter Conftantius, Celius, Lucius a Roman, and Guard
of Britons.
Con. Refus❜d a Safeguard, menac'd and confin'd !
Do Royal Gueſts no better Ufage find?
Are theſe the Cuſtoms of the Britiſh Court ?
Here only then let Beaſts, not Men, reſort.
This Treatment, Briton, from another Man
Cel. It is my Will, and help it as you can.
From Contracts fign'd, and Articles agreed,
With British Faith it fuits not to recede :
How may the World interpret fuch Neglect,
And on her Beauty, for her Fame, reflect?
Roman, confider well what Courſe you run,
Refolve to be my Priſoner, or my Son.
If this founds rude, then know, we Britons flight
The fupple Arts that Foreigners delight,
Nor ftand on Forms to vindicate our Right.
}
[Exit King Celius'
Luc. Happy Extremity! now, Prince, be bleft,
Of all you love, and all you wish, poffeft;
No Cenfure you incur, conſtrain'd to chuẩe,
Poffeft at once of Pleaſure and Excuſe.
Con. If for my felf alone I wou'd poffefs,
'Twere fenfual Joy, and brutal Happineſs:
I
When
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L
When moſt we love, embracing and embrac'd,
The Particle fublime of Blifs, is plac'd
In Raptures that we feel the raviſh'd Charmer taſte.
Oriana, no-one t tho' certain Death it be,
I'll keep my Word — I'll die, or fet thee free.
Hafte Lucius, hafte, found loud our Trumpets, call
Our Guard to Arms, tho' few, they're Romans all.
Now tremble, favage King, a Roman Hand
Shall ne'er be bound, that can a Sword command.
As they got off, re-enter Celius haftily, attended as before.
Cel Not to be found! fhe muft, fhe fhall be found
Difperfe our Parties, fearch our Kingdoms round,
Follow Conftantius, feize him, torture, kill:
Traitor! What Vengeance I can have, I will.
Well have thy Gods, O Rome, fecur'd thy Peace,
Planted behind fo many Lands and Seas,
Or thou should't feel me, City, in thy Fall,
More dreadful than the Samnite or the Gaul.
But to fupply and recompence this Want,
Hear, O ye Guardians of our Ifle, and grant
That Wrath may rife, and Strife immortal come
Betwixt the Gods of Britain, and of Rome.
[Exit.
The
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171
The Scene changes to a Scene of Tombs and Dungeons; Men
and Women chain'd in Rows oppofite to each other; in the
Front of the Captives Floreftan and Corifanda, A Guard
of Dæmons. Plaintive Mufick.
To be fung by a Captive King.
Look down, ye Pow'rs, look down,
And caft a pitying Eye
Upon a Monarch's Mifery.
Look down, look down.
I who but now, on Thrones of Gold,
Gave Laws to Kingdoms uncontroul'd,
To Empire born,
From Empire torn,
A wretched Slave,
A wretched Slave,
Am now of Slaves the Scorn.
Alas! the Smiles of Fortune prove
As variable as Womens Love.
Look down, ye Pow'rs, look down,
And cast a pitying Eye,
Upon a Monarch's Mifery.
Look down, look down,
Avenge affronted Majefly,
Avenge, avenge, avenge,
Affronted Majesty.
J
By
I 2
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By a Captive Lover.
The happy'ſt Mortals once were we,
I lov❜d Myra, Myra me;
Each defirous of the Bleſſing,
Nothing wanting but Poffeffing;
I lov'd Myra, Myra me,
The happy'ft Mortals once were we.
But fince cruel Fates diffever,
Torn from Love, and torn for ever,
Tortures end me,
Death befriend me :
Of all Pains, the greateſt Pain
Is to love, and love in vain.
By a Captive Libertine.
I.
Plague us not with idle Stories,
Whining Loves, and fenfelefs Glories;
What are Lovers, what are Kings,
What at best but ſlaviſh Things?
11.
Free I liv'd as Nature made me,
Love nor Beauty durft invade me,
Ne
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173
No rebellious Slaves betray'd me,
Free I liv'das Nature made me.
III.
Each by Turns, as Senſe inſpir³d me,
Bacchus, Ceres, Venus fir'd me;
I alone have loft true Pleaſure.
Freedom is the only Treafure.
Chorus of Dæmons, expreffing Horror and Defpair.
Ceafe, ye Slaves, your fruitless Grieving,
- No, no,
The Powers below ·
No Pity know,
Ceafe, ye Slaves, your fruitless Grieving :
No, no,
The Powers below.
No Pity know,
Ceafe, ye Slaves, your fruitless Grieving.
Flor, to Cor. To taſte of Pain, and yet to gaze on thee,
To meet, and yet to mourn, but ill agree.
Well may the Brave contend, the Wife contrive,
In vain againſt their Stars the deſtin'd ſtrive.
Cor. So to th' appointed Grove, the feather'd Pair
Fly chirping on, unwatchful of the Snare,
Purſuing Love, and wing'd with am'rous Thought,
The wanton Couple in one Toil are caught,
I 3
Lux
174
The British Enchanters.
1
In the fame Cage in mournful Notes complain
Of the fame Fate, and curfe perfidious Men.
Captives. O Heav'ns, take Pity of our Pains,
Let Death give Freedom from our Chains.
Flourish of Inftruments of Horror.
Enter Arcabon with
Dagger in her Hand, attended by infernal Spirits.
Arcab. Your Vows have reach'd the Gods, your Chains
and Breath
Have the fame Date
Prepare for Freedom, for I bring you Death.
He who fo oft has 'fcap'd th' Affaults of Hell,
Whom yet no Spells cou'd bind, no Force cou'd quell,
By whom ſo many bold Enchanters fell,
Amadis, Amadis, this joyful Day,
Your Guardian Deity himſelf's our Prey.
From all their Dungeons let our Captives come,
Idle Spectators of their Hero's Doom.
}
MA
[Other Dungeons open, and discover more Captives in
Chains.
Cor. On me, on me, let ev'ry Vengeance fall,
Make me the Victim to atone for all.
Flor. Rather on me let all your Fury bend,
But fave, O fave my Miſtreſs and my Friend.
Arcab. As foon the Lionefs fhall ftarve, to spare
Behold the Sacrifice appear.
Her Prey
[A
The Britiſh Enchanters.
175
[A Traverfe is drawn discovering Amadis in Chains.
Arcabon advancing hastily to ftab him, ftarts and ftops.
Thou dy'ſt ————What ftrange and what refiftlefs Charm,
With fecret Force, arrests my lifted Arm?
What art thou, who with more than Magick Art
Doft make my Hand unfaithful to my Heart ?-
Amad. One, who difdaining Mercy, fues to die;
I ask not Life, for Life were Cruelty.
Of all the Wretched, fearch the World around,
A more unhappy never can be found;
Eet loofe thy Rage, like an avenging God,
Fain wou'd my Soul encumber'd caſt her Load.
Arcab. In ev'ry Feature of that charming Face,
The dear Enchanter of my Soul I trace:
[Afide, obſerving him.
My Brother! had my Father too been kill'd,
Nay, my whole Race, his Blood fhould not be ſpill'd.
The Tyes of Nature do but weakly move,
The ſtrongeſt Tye of Nature, is in Love.
[Stands gazing upon him.
Amad. O Florestan! I fee thoſe Chains with Shame,
Which I cou'd not prevent - Stain to Fame!
O Honour loft for ever! Thefeus fell,
But Hercules remain'd unconquer'd still,
I 4
And
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The British Enchanters.
'And freed his Friend
What Man cou'd do, I did,
Nor was I overpower'd, but betray'd.
O my lov❜d Friend! with better Grace we ſtood
In Arms repelling Death, wading in Blood
To Victories; the manly Limb that trod
Firm and erect, beneath a treble Load
Of pond'rous Mail, theſe ſhameful Bonds diſdains,
And finks beneath th' inglorious Weight of Chains.
Flor. Where fhall the Brave and Good for Refuge run
When to be virtuous is to be undone ?
Sure Jupiter's depos'd, fome Giant rules
An impious World, contriv'd for Knaves and Fools.
Arcab. He spoke, and ev'ry Accent to my Heart
Gave a freſh Wound, and was another Dart :
He weeps.
but reddens at the Tears that fall
Is it for theſe? Be quick, and free 'em all.
[Throws away her Dagger,
Let ev'ry Captive be releas'd from Chains:
How is it that I love, if he complains ?
Hence ev'ry Grief, and ev'ry anxious Care,
Mix with the Seas and Winds, raiſe Tempeſts there :
Strike all your Strings, to joyful Meaſures move,
And év'ry Voice found Liberty and Love.
[Flourish of all the Mufick. The Captives are fet at Li
berty. Arcabon frees Amadis her felf.
SONG,
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177
!
SONG.
Liberty! Liberty!
1
Ah how fweet is Liberty!
Arm, arm, the gen'rous -Britons cry,
Let us live free, or let us die,
Trumpets founding, Banners flying,
Braving Tyrants, Chains defying,
Arm, arm, the gen'rous Britons cry,
Let us live free, ‘or let us die,
Liberty! Liberty!
Another Voice.
Happy Ifle, all Foys poffeffing's
Clime refembling Heav'n above,
Freedom 'tis that crowns thy Bleffing,.
Land of Liberty, and Love!
When the Nymphs, to cure Complaining,.
Set themselves and Lovers free,
In the Bleffing of Obtaining,
Ah! how ſweet is Liberty!
Fifth Dance of Captives.
15
Plo
1
178 The British Enchanters.
Floreftan and Coriſanda run into each other's Arms.
Flor. In this enchanting Circle let me be,
For ever and for ever bound with thee.
Cor. Life of my Life, and Charmer of my Heart,
From thefe Embraces let us never part.
Flor. Never, O never In fome fafe Retreat,
Far from the Noiſe and Tumults of the Great,
Secure and happy on each other's Breaſt,
Within each other's Arms we'll ever reft;
Thofe Eyes fhall make my Days ferene and bright,
Theſe Arms, thus circling round me, bleſs the Night.
Arcabon advances with Amadis, the rest stand in Rows,
bowing as they advance.
Arcab. When Rage like mine makes fuch a fudden Paufe
Methinks 'twere eafie to divine the Caufe:
Soldiers, tho' rough, may in a Lady's Face
The fecret Meaning of her Bluſhes trace,
When ſhort-breath'd Sighs, and catching Glances, fent-
From dying Eyes, reveal the kind Intent.
All Day in War's rude Hazards take Delight,
But Love and gentler Pleaſures rule the Night.
Amad. The Lords of Fate, who all our Lots decree,
Have deſtin'd Fame no other Joy for me,
My fullen Stars in that one Circle move,
The happy only are ordain'd for Love.
Areabi
The Britiſh Enchanters.
179
Arcab. The Stars that you reproach, my Art can force,
I can direct 'em to a kinder Courſe.
What conquer'd Nations, driven from the Field,
Can pleaſe your Pride, like tender Maids that yield?
What Sound fo fweet or raviſhing, can move
Like the foft Whiſper of confenting Love?
What Spoils of Fame, what Trophies have the Charms
Of Love, triumphant in a Virgin's Arms?
Freely as Nature made the Traefure mine,
And boldly rifle all, each Gem is thine >
Unguarded fee the Maiden Casket ftand,
+
Glad of the Theft, to court the Robber's Hand; .
Honour his wonted Watch no longer keeps,
Seize quickly, Soldier, while the Dragon fleeps.
Amad. Enchanting are your Looks, lefs Magick lyes-
In your myfterious Art, than in your Eyes;
Such melting Language claims a foft Return,
Pity the hopeless Love with which I burn:
Faſt bound already, and not free to chuſe,
I prize the B'effing which I muſt refuſe. .
-
Arcab. Thoſe formal Lovers be for ever curft,:
Who fetter'd free-born Love with Honour firſt,
[Turning angrily afide.
Who thro' fantaſtick Laws are Virtue's Fools, .
And againſt Nature will be Slaves to Rules.
How cold he ſtands! Unkindling at my Charms! ›
[Obferving him.
འ
Thou Rock of Ice, I'll melt thee in my Arms. [To him gently..
Your
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2
Your Captive, Friends have Freedom from this Hour
Rejoyce for them, but for thy felf much more:
Sublimer Bleffings are referv'd for thee,
Whom Glory calls to be poffeft of me.
The Shipwrackt Greeks, caft on Ean's Shore,
With trembling Steps the dubious Coaſt explore;
Who first arrive, unworthy of Regard,
In vain lament, unpity'd. and unheard:
But when Ulyffes with Majeftick Mein
Approach'd the Throne, where fat th' Enchantress Queen;
Pleas'd with a Prefence that invades her Charms,
She takes the bold Advent'rer in her Arms,
Up to her Bed the leads the Conqu’ror on,
Where he enjoys the Daughter of the Sun.
[She leads Amadis out. Floreftan and Corifanda g• off
together, looking back with Concern after Amadis. The
remaining Captives express their Foy for Liberty, with,
Songs and Dances, with which the Act concludes.
CHORU S.
I.
To Fortune give immortal Praife,
Fortune depofes, and can raife;
Fortune the Captives Chains does break,
And brings defpairing Exiles back;
However law this Hour we fall,
One lucky. Moment may mend all.
IL 'Tis
The British Enchanters.
1&1
II.
'Tis Fortune governs all below:
The Statefman's Wiles, the Gamefter's Throw,
The Soldier's Fame, the Merchant's Gains,
The Lover's Joy, the Prisoner's Chains,
Are but as Fortune ſhall beſtow;
Tis Fortune governs all below.
Sixth Dance of Captives to the Chorus.
[Exeunt
C
ACT
12.
The British Enchanters.
ACT IV. SCENE I.
SCENE, A Grove, &c.
Enter Arcabon and Arcalaus.
Arcab. HIS firft Excufes I to Forms allow'd,
•
And deem'd 'em Policy before the Croud;
But when alone, in Shades where Lovers hide,
Death! Hell! and Furies! then to be deny❜d!
Arcal. Of Women Tyrants 'tis the common Doom,
Each haughtily fets out in Beauty's Bloom,
'Till late repenting, to redeem the paſt,
You turn abandon'd Proſtitutes at laft.
Arcab. Who Hate declares, is fure of Hate again:
Rage begets Rage, Difdain provokes Difdain:
Why, why, alas, fhou'd Love lefs equal prove?.
Why is not Love return'd with mutual Love?
Arcal, Bleffings when cheap, or certain, we deſpiſe;
From fure Poffeffion what Defire can rife?
Love, like Ambition, dies as 'tis enjoy'd,
By Doubt provok'd, by Certainty deftroy'd.
Arcab. To govern Love! alas! what Woman can?
Yet 'tis an eafie Province to a Man.
Why
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183
I
L
I'd ask it-
if I might.
'Why am I then of Hope abandon'd quite?
There is a Cure
Forgive me, Brother, if I pry too far;
I've learnt
If that be true
my Rival is your Pris'ner here;.
Arçal. What thence wou'd you infer?
Arcab. What but her Death
When Amadis is free
From Hopes of her, there may be Hope for me.
Arcal. Thou Cloud to his bright Funo! Fool, fhall Ke
Who has lov'd her, ever defcend to thee?'
Arcab. Much vainer Fool art thou; where are thoſe.
Charms
That are to tempt a Princeſs to thy Arms?
Thou Vulcan to Oriana's Mars.
Arcal. But yet, .
This Vulcan has that Mars within his Net:
Your Counſel comes too late, for 'tis decreed,
To make the Woman fure, the Man fhall bleed.
}
[Exit Arcalaus furlily.
Arcab. Firſt periſh thou, Earth, Air, and Seas and Sky,
Confounded in one Heap of Chao's lie,
And ev'ry other living Creature die.
I burn, I burn; the Storm that's in my Mind
Kindles my Heart, like Fires provok'd by Wind:
Love and Reſentment, Wiſhes and Diſdain,
Blow all at once, like Winds that plough the Main.
Furies)
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The Britiſh Enchanters.
Furies, Alecto, aid my juft Defign:
But if, averſe to Mercy, you decline
The pious Task, affift me, Pow'rs divine;
Juft Gods, and thou their King, Imperial Jove;
Strike whom you pleaſe, but fave the Man I love.
W
[Exit
The SCENE changes to a pleasant Garden, Oriana
fitting in a Bower at the lower Part of the Scene, lift'ning
to foft Mufick. Arcalaus enters bowing refpectfully; he
rifes; they advance flowly towards the Stage in mute Di-
fcourfe, 'till the Mufick ceafes.
Arcal. Of Freedom loft, unjuſtly you complain,
Born to command, where-e'er you come, you reign;
No Fetters here you wear, but others bind,
And not a Priſon, but an Empire find.
Ori. Death I expe&, and I defire it too,
"Tis all the Mercy to be with'd from you.
To die is to be free: Oh let me find
A fpeedy Death; that Freedom wou'd be kind.
Arcal. Too cruel to fufpect fuch Ills were meant,
Here is no Death, but what your Eyes prefent:
O may they reign, thoſe Arbiters of Fate,
Immortal, as the Loves that they create.
We know the Caufe of this prepoft'rous Grief,
And we fhou'd pity, were there no Relief:
One
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185
One Lover loſt, have you not Millions more?
Can you complain of Want, whom all adore?
All Hearts are yours, evʼn mine, that fierce and free
Ranging at large, difdain'd Captivity,
Caught by your Charms, the Savage trembling lies,
And proftrate in his Chain, for Mercy dics.
Ori. Reſpect is limited to Pow'r alone,
Beauty diſtreſt, like Kings from Empire thrown,
Each Infolent invades, regardleſs of a Frown.
How art thou chang'd, ah wretched Princefs! now,
When ev'ry Slave that loves, dares tell thee fo!
Arcal. If I do love, the Fault is in your Eyes,
Blame them that wound, and not the Slave that dies:
If we may love, then fure we may declare;
If we may not, ah why are you fo fair!
Who can behold thoſe Lips, that Neck, this Waſte,
That Form divine, and not be mad to taſte?
}
Ori. Pluck out theſe Eyes, revenge thee on my Face,
Tear off my Cheeks, and root up ev'ry Grace,
Disfigure, kill me, kill me inſtantly,
Thus may'ſt thou free thy ſelf at once, and me.
Arcal. Such ſtrange Commands 'twere impious to obey,
I wou'd revenge my felf a gentler Way.
[Takes her by the Hand, ſhe fnatches it away diſdainfully,
he turns furlily upon her.
Some
18.6
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Some Hope there is that you may change your Mind;.
Madam, you have not always been unkind.
Ori. Some Whirlwind bear me from this odious Place,
Earth open wide, and bury my Disgrace;
Save me, ye Pow'rs, from Violence and Shame,
Affift my Virtue, and protect my Fame.
Arcal. Love, with Submiffion firſt begins in Courſe,
But when that fails, a fure Reſerve is Force:
The niceft Dames, who our Embraces fhun,
Wait only a Pretence, and Force is one:
She who thro' Frailty yields, Difhonour gains,
But ſhe that's forc'd, her Innocence retains:
Debtors and Slaves for Favours they beftow,
Invading, we are free, and nothing owe.
No Tyes of Love or Gratitude conſtrain,
But as we like, we leave, or come again.
It ſhall be fo
Since fofter Arguments have prov'd fo vain,
Force is the laft Refiſt it if you can.
[Afide.
[Seizes her, ſhe firuggles and breaks from him.
Ori. Help, help, ye Gods!
Arcal. Who with fuch Courage can reſiſt Deſire,
With what a Rage fhe'll love when Raptures fire!
Behold in Chains your vanquish'd Minion lies,
And if for nothing but this Scorn, he dies.
[Amadis
The British Enchanters.
187
[Amadis faft bound in Chains. Oriana and Amadis at
Sight of each other ſtart and look amaz'd. Arcalaus
advances to ſtab him. Arcabon in the Inſtant enters,
feizes Oriana, holding a Dagger at her Breaft. Arca-
laus with-holds his Blow.
Arcab. Strike boldly, Murd'rer, ftrike him to the Ground,
While thus my Dagger anſwers ev'ry Wound;
Drink deep the Blood from the moſt mortal Part,
I'll do thee reaſon in Oriana's Heart.
By what new Magick is thy Vengeance charm'd?
Trembles thy Hand, before a Man unarm'd?
When by Oriana's Death, debarr'd of Blifs,
Then triumph in the Fate of Amadis.
Ori. Strike, my Deliv'rer, 'tis a friendly Stroke
I ſhun thee not, but rather wou'd provoke:
Death to the Wretched is an end of Care,
But yet, methinks he might that Victim ſpare.
[Pointing to Amadis
Amad. Burſt, burſt theſe Fetters, that like Perfeus I
May to the Succour of the Charmer fly;
My Soul, till now, no Dangers cou'd affright,
But trembles, like a Coward's, at this Sight.
Arcab. So paffionate! But I'll revenge it here.
Arcal. Hold, Fury, or I ftrike as home; forbear.
[She
188
The Britiſh Enchanters.
[She offering at Oriana, he offers at Amadis, both withi
hold their Blow.
Had I enjoy'd
A Curfe on the Reprieve!
Thou might'ſt have ſtruck, and had the Lover's Leave.
Trumpets found, enter haftily Urganda with a numerous
Train of Attendants.
Urg. To Arms, to Arms, ye Spirits of the Air,
Ye Guardians of the Brave, and of the Fair,
Leave your bright Manſions, and in Arms appear.
}
[Thunder, Trumpets, Kettle-drums, and other warlike
Inftruments. Spirits defcend in Clouds, fome continue
in the Air, playing upon Inftruments of War. Others
remain rang'd as for Battel. Others defcend upon the
Stage, and draw up in Order of Battel by Amadis,
whom Urganda frees, preſenting him a Sword. Arca-
bon and Arcalaus look aftonish'd, and retire to the
oppofite Side of the Stage. Oriana goes over to Urganda.
Arcal Fly quick, ye Damons, from your black Abodes,
And try another Combat with the Gods,
Blue Fires and peftilential Fumes arife,
And flaming Fountains ſpout againſt the Skies,
From their broad Roots theſe Oaks and Cedars tear,
Burn like my Love, and age like my Defpair.
[Trumpets
The British Enchanters.
189
[Trumpets found on Arcabon's Side, which are answer'd on
Urganda's. The Grove appears in an Inftant all in a
Flame. Fountains from below caft up Fire as in Spouts;
a Rain of Fire from above. The Sky darken'd the while•
Thunder and Lightning. Damons range themselves on
the Stage by Arcalaus; other Demons face Urganda's
Spirits in the Air. Arcalaus advances before his Party
with his Sword drawn to Amadis.
Arcal. Let Heav'n and Hell ftand neuter, while we try,
On equal Terms, which of us two ſhall die.
[Arcalaus and Amadis engage at the Head of their Parties:
A fight at the fame time in the Air, and upon the
Stage: Martial Mufick the while mixt with Inftru.
ments of Horror: Thunder and Lightning. The Das
mons are overcome; Arcalaus falls.
Amad. Thou might'ſt have learnt more Policy from Hell,
Than tempt the Sword by which thy Brother fell.
[To Arcalnus falling.
Urg. Sound Tunes of Triumph all ye Winds, and bear
Your Notes aloft, that Heav'n and Earth may hear;
And thou, O Sun, fhine out ferene and gay,
And bright, as when the Giants loft the Day.
[The Sky clears, and Tunes of Triumph refound from all
Parts of the Theatre. Amadis approaches Oriana,
bowing respectfully. Arcabon the while stands fullen
and obferving.
Amad.
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The British Enchanters.
Amad. While Amadis Oriana's Love poffeft,
Secure of Empire in that beauteous Breaſt,
Not Jove, the King of Gods, like Amadis was bleft.
Ori. While to Oriana Amadis was true,
}
}
Nor wand'ring Flames to diftant Climates drew,
No Heav'n, but only Love, the pleas'd Oriana knew.
Amad. That Heav'n of Love, alas! is mine no more'
Braving thofe Pow'rs by whom the falfly fwore,
She to Conftantius wou'd thofe Charms refign,
If Oaths cou'd bind, that fhou'd be only mine.
Ori. With a feign'd Falfhood you'd evade your Fart
Of Guilt, and tax a tender faithful Heart:
While by fuch Ways you'd hide a conſcious Flame,
The only Virtue you have left, is Shame.
[Turning difdainfully from him.
Amad. But fhou'd this injur'd Vaffal you reject
Prove true, ab what Return might he expect?
[Approaching tenderly.
Ori. Tho' brave Conftantius charms, with ev'ry Art,
That can entice a tender Virgin's Heart,
Whether he ſhines for Glory or Delight,
To tempt Ambition, or enchant the Sight,
Were Amadis reftor'd to my Efteem,
I wou'd reject a Deity for him.
Amad. Tho' falfe as watry Bubbles blown by Wind,
Fix'd in my Soul, and rooted in my Mind,
I love Oriane, faithleſs and unkind:
}
Oh
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191
Oh were the kind, and faithful, as the's fair,
For her alone I'd live, and die for her.
Urg. Adjourn thefe Murmurs of unquiet Love,
And from this Scene of Rage and Fate remove.
Thy Empire, Arcabon, concludes this Hour,
Short is the Date of all flagitious Pow'r;
Spar'd be thy Life, that thou may'ft living bear
The Torments of the Damn'd in thy Deſpair.
Where Zephyrs only breathe, in Myrtle Groves,
There will I lead you to debate your Loves.
[Urganda takes Oriana's Hand leading her out. As A.
madis is following, Arcabon takes him by the Robe.
Arcab. What, not one Look! not one diffembling Smile,
To thank me for your Life! Or to beguile
Deſpair? Cold and ungrateful as thou art,
Hence from my Sight for ever, and my Heart.
[Lets go her Hold with an Air of Contempt.
Back, Soldier, to the Camp, thy proper Sphere,
Stick to thy Trade, dull Hero, follow War,
Uſeleſs to Women; thou meer Image, meant
To raife Defire, and then to difappoint.
So ready to be gone!~
[Amadis goes out.
Barbarian, ftay
He's gone, and Love returns, and Pride gives way.
Oh ftay, come back
I rage! I rave! I die!
Horror and Hell! I burn!
Retara, return,
3
Eternal
192
The Britiſh Enchanters.
}
Eternal Racks my tortur'd Bofom tear,
Vultures with endleſs Pangs are gnawing there,
Fury! Diſtraction! I am all Deſpair.
Burning with Love, may'st thou ne'er aim at Blifs,
}
But Thunder ſhake thy Limbs, and Lightning blaſt tby Kifs,
While pale, aghaft, a Spectre I ftand by,
Pleas'd at the Terrors that diftra&t thy Joy;
Plague of my Life! thy want of Pow'r fhall be
A Curfe to her, worse than thy Scorn to me.
CHORU S.
The Battel's done,
Our Wars are over,
The Battel's done,
Let Lawrels crown
The Heads that rugged Steel did cover.
Let Myrtles too
Bring Peace for ever,
Let Myrtles too
Adorn the Brow
That bent beneath the warlike Beaver.
Let Kiffes, Embraces,
Dying Eyes, and kind Glances,
Let Kiffes, Embraces,
And tender Careffes
Give Warmth to our amorous Trances.
6
Let
[Exit.
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193
Let Trumpets and Tymbals,
Let Atabals and Cymbals,,
Let Drums and Hautboys give over;
But let Flutes
And let Lutes
Our Paffions excite
To gentle Delight,
And every Mars be a Lover.
#5
!
1
K
ACT
+
194
The British Enchanters.
ACT V. SCENE I.
1
SCENE, Urganda's Bower of Bliss: Being
a Repreſentation of Woodſtock-Park.
Enter Oriana and Amadis.
DriN my Efteem he well deſerves a Part,
He ſhares my Praiſe, but you have all my Heart:
When equal Virtues in the Scales are try'd,
And Justice againft neither can decide,
When Judgment thus perplex'd fufpends the Choice,
Fancy muſt ſpeak, and give the caſting Voice:
Much to his Love, much to his Merit's due,
But pow'rful Inclination is for you.
Amad. Thou haft.no Equal, a fuperior Ray
Unrival'd as the Light that rules the Day.
Shou'd Fame follicit me with all her Charms,
Nor blooming Laurels, nor victorious Arms
Shou'd purchaſe but a Grain of the Delight,
A Moment from the Raptures of this Night.
Ori. Wrong not my Virtue, to ſuppoſe that I
Can grant to Love, what Duty muſt deny;
A Father's Will is wanting, and my Breaft
Is rul'd by Glory, tho' by Love poffeft:
Rather
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195
Rather than be another's I wou'd die,
Nor can be yours, 'till Duty can comply.
Amad. Curft, Rules! that thus the nobleſt Loves engage;
To wait the peevish Humours of old Age!
Think not the Lawfulneſs of Love confifts
In Parents Wills, or in the Forms of Prieſts;
Such are but licens'd Rapes, that Vengeance draw
From Heav'n, howe'er approv'd by human Law.
Marriage the happy'ſt Bond of Love might be,
If Hands were only join'd when Hearts agree.
Enter Urganda and Corifanda, Floreftan and Attendants.
Urg. Here faithful Lovers to fafe Joys remove,`
The foft Retreat of Glory and of Love,
By Fate prepar'd, to crown the happy Hours
Of mighty Kings, and famous Conquerours.
The Bower of Bliſs 'tis call'd, and is the fame
Which Mortals fhall hereafter Blenheim name,
Delicious Seat, ordain'd a ſweet Receſs
For thee, and for a future Amadis.
}
Here, Amadis, let all your Suff'rings end;
Before I brought a Miſtreſs, now a Friend,
The greateſt Bleffings that the Gods can fend.
[Prefenting Floreftan.
Amad. O, Florestan! there wanted but this more,
This ſtrict Embrace, to make my Joys run o'er:
K 2
The
196
The British Enchanters.
The Sight of thee does fuch vaſt Tranſports breed,
That ſcarce the Ecftafies of Love exceed.
Flor. If beyond Love or Glory is a Taſte
Of Pleaſure, it is fure in Friendſhip plac'd.
Ori. My Corifanda too!
Not Florestan cou'd fly with greater haſte
To take thee in his Arms: O welcome to my Breaſt,
As to thy Lover's
Cor. O Joy compleat!
Bleft Day!
Wherein ſo many Friends and Lovers meet.
Flor. The Storm blown over, fo the wanton Doves
Shake from their Plumes the Rain, and feck the Groves,
Pair their glad Mates, and cooe eternal Loves.
Amad. ○ Florestan! bleſt as thou doſt deſerve,
To thee the Fates are kind, without Reſerve.
My Joys are not fo full; tho' Love wou'd yield,
Fierce Honour ſtands bis Ground, and keeps the Field:
Nature within feduc'd, in vain befriends,
While Honour, with his Guard of Pride, defends:
O Nature frail, and faulty in thy Frame,
Fomenting Wiſhes, Honour muſt condemn;
Or O! too rigid Honour thus to bind,
When Nature prompts, and when Deſire is kind.
Enter
The British Enchanters.
197
Enter Arcabon conducting Conftantius, her Garments loofe
and Hair difhevel'd, feeming frantick.
Arcab. This, Roman, is the Place: 'Tis Magick Ground,
Hid by Enchantment, by Enchantment found.
Behold 'em at our View diffolv'd in Fear;
Two Armies, are two Lovers in Deſpair.
Proceed, be bold, and fcorning to entreat;
Think all her Strugglings feign'd, her Cries Deceit.
Not creeping like a Cur that fawns to pleaſe,
Nor whine, nor beg - but like a Lyon feize:
Kill him, and ravifh her: For fo wou'd I,
Were I a Man; or rather let both die.
The Rape may pleaſe
Each was difdain'd; to equal Rage refign
Thy Heart, and let it burn and blaze like mine.
>Tis fweet to love, but when with Scorn we meet,
Revenge fupplies the Lofs, with Joys as great.
A Chariot defcends fwifily drawn by Dragons, into which
She enters at the following Lines.
Up to th' etherial Heav'ns where Gods refide,
Lo! thus I fly to thunder on thy fide,
[Thunder. The Chariot mounts in the Air, and vanishes
with her.
Con. Fly where thou wilt, but not to bleſt Abodes,
For know, where-e'er thou art, there are no Gods.
[Approaches Oriana bowing respectfully.
K 3
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The British Enchanters.
I come not here an Object to affright,
Or to moleft, but add to your Delight.
Behold a Prince expiring in your View,
Whoſe Life's a Burthen to himſelf, and you.
Fate and the King all other Means deny
To fet you free, but that Conftantius die.
A Roman Arm had play'd a Roman's part,
But 'tis prevented by my breaking Heart:
I thank you, Gods, nor think my Doom ſevere,
Refigning Life, on any Terms, for her.
Urg. What cruel Deſtiny on Beauty waits,
When on one Face depend ſo many Fates?
Confia'd by Honour to relieve but One,
Unhappy Men by Thouſands are undone,
SIT
Con. Make Room, ye Decii, whoſe devoted Brea.
Se cur'd your Country's Happiness by Death;
I come a Sacrifice no lefs renown'd,
The Caufe as glorious, and as fure the Wound.
[Kneels at Oriana's Feet, ſhe feems concer;
Oh Love! with all thy Sweets let her be bleft,
Thy Reign be gentle in that beauteous Breaft.
Tho' thy malignant Beams, with deadly (Force,
Have ſcorch'd my Joys, and in their baneful Courſe
Wither'd each Plant, and dry'd up ev'ry Source;
Ah! to Oriana fhine lefs fatal bright,
Cherish her Heart, and nouriſh her Delight,
Reftrain
The British Enchanters.
19.9
Reſtrain each cruel Influence that deſtroys,
Blefs all her Days, and ripen all her Joys.
རྗ
[ Amadis addreſſing to Conftantius,
Amad. Were Fortune us'd to fmile upon Defert,
Love had been yours; to die had been my Part:
Thus Fate divides the Prize; tho' Beauty's mine,
Yet Fame, our other Miſtreſs, is more thine.
[Conftantius rifes, looking fternly upon him.
Difdain not, gallant Prince, a Rival's Praife,
Whom your high Worth has humbled to confeſs
In every thing, but Love, he merits leſs.
Con. Art thou that Rival then? O killing Shame!
And has he view'd me thus, fo weak, fo tame?
Like a fcorn'd. Captive proftrate at his Side,
To grace his Triumph, and delight his Pride?
O'tis too much! and Nature in Difdain
Turns back from Death, and firing ev'ry Vein,
Reddens with Rage, and kindles Life again.
Be firm, my Soul, quick from this Scene remove,
Or Madneſs elfe may be too ftrong for Love.
}
M
[Draws a Dagger, and stands between Amadis and
Oriana, facing Amadis.
Spent as I am, and weary'd with the Weight
Of burthening Life ---- I cou'd reverſe my Fate.
K 4
Thus
}
1200
The British Enchanters.
*
Thus planted, ftand thy everlaſting Bar ;
[Seizing Amadis, holding the Dagger at his Throat: A=
madis ftruggles for his Sword.
But for Oriana's fake 'tis better here.
[Looking back upon Oriana, ftabs himself; all run to fup-
port him.
Ori. Live, genʼrous Prince, fuch Virtue ne'er ſhou'd die,
Con. I've liv'd enough, of all I wish poffeft,
If dying, I may leave Oriana bleft:
Nor can I now recall my Fate-
Th❜ Invader has too fure a Footing found,
He ſpreads his Troops, and cov'ring all around,
He marches unoppos'd: In ev'ry Vein
Feavers affault, and Phrenfies burn my Brain,
The laft warm Drop forfakes my bleeding Heart:
Oh Love! how fure a Murderer thou art.
[Dies
Ori, There breaks the nobleſt Heart that ever burn'd
In Flames of Love, for ever to be mourn'd.
Amad, Laviſh to him, you wrong an equal Flame;
Had he been lov'd, my Heart had done the fame.
Flor. Oh Emperor, all Ages fhall agree,
Such, but more happy, fhou'd all Lovers be.
}
Urg. No Lover now throughout the World remains
But Amadis, deferving of your Chains.
Remove that mournful Object from the Sight.
Carry off the Body
Ere yon' bright Beam is ſhadow'd o'er with Night,
The ftubborn King fhall licenſe your Delight;
The
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201
The Torch, already bright with nuptial Fire,
Shall bring you to the Bridegroom you defire;
And Honour, that fo long has kept in doubt,
Be better pleas'd to yield, than to hold out.
[Here an Entertainment of Mufick and Dancing.
To be Sung.
Make Room for the Combat, make Room;
Sound the Trumpet and Drum:
A fairer than Venus prepares
To encounter a greater than Mars.
Make Room for the Combat, make Room;
Sound the Trumpet and Drum:
The Gods of Defire take part in the Fray,
And Love fits like Jove, to decide the great Day.
For the Honour of Britain
This Duel is fought!
Give the Word to begin,
Let the Combatants in ;
The Challenger enters all glorious:
But Love has decreed,
Tho' Beauty may bleed,
Yet Beauty ſhall ſtill be victorious:
CHO
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1
CHORUS.
Make Room for the Comba, make Ro..
Sound the Trumpet and Dr
A fairer than Venus prepares
To encounter a greater than Mars.
SONG..
Help! help! th unpractis'd Conqueror cries;
He faints, he falls, help, help! Ah me ! he dies :
Gently she tries to raiſe his Head,
And weeps, alas ! to find him dead.
Sound, found a Charge, 'tis War again;
Again he fights, again is fläin ;
Again, again, help, help! She cries,
He faints, he falls, help, help! Ah me! he dies.
3
Another.
Happy Pair.
Free from Care,
Enjoy the Bleffing
Of Sweet Poffeffing,
Free from Care,
Happy Pair.
t
Love
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203
+
Love inviting,
Souls uniting,
Defiring,
Expiring,
Enjoy the Bleſſing
Offweet Poffeffing,
Free from Căre,
Happy Pair.
1
1
Chorus Singing and Dancing.
Be true, all ye Lovers, whate'er you endure ;
Tho' cruel the Pain is, how sweet is the Cure !
So divine is the Bleſſing,
In the Hour of Poffeffing,
That one Moment's obtaining
Pays an Age of Complaining.
Be true; all ye Lovers, whate'er you endure i
cruel the Pain is, how sweet is re
[Here enter two Parties from the opp
Theatre, with Lances in their Hand
a Warlike Meaſure of Trumpets, &
Tilt, and having broken or quitte
form divers Combats with Sword an
SAMST
!
Conquerors dance a Meaſure, expro...ng queer joy
204
The British Enchanters.
CHORUS to the Dance.
Amadis is the Hero's Glory,
Of endless Fame a lasting Story:
Amadis is the Hero's Glory.
Oriana is the Queen of Pleaſure,
A Light of Love, to ſhine for ever:
Oriana is the Queen of Pleasure.
[The Entertainment concludes with variety of Songs
and Dances, after which the Company rife and come
forward.
Amad. So Phœbus mounts triumphant in the Skies,
The Clouds difperfe, and gloomy Horror flies;
Darkneſs gives place to the victorious Light,
And all around is gay, and all around is bright:
Ori. Our prefent Joys are ſweeter for paſt Pain;
To Heav'n, and Love, by Suff'ring we attain.
Urg. Prophetick Fury rowls within my Breaſt.
And as at Delphos, when the foaming Prieſt
Full of his God, proclaims the diſtant Doom-
Of Kings unborn, and Nations yet to come:
My labouring Mind fo ftruggles to unfold,
On Britiſh Ground, a future Age of Gold :
But left incredulous you hear
behold.
Ad
[Here a SCENE reprefents the Queen and all the
Triumphs of her Majesty's Reign.
High
The Britiſh Enchanters.
205
High on a Throne appears the Martial Queen,
With Grace fublime, and with Imperial Mien,
Surveying round her with impartial Eyes,
Whom to protect, or whom ſhe ſhall chaſtiſe.
In ev'ry Line of that aufpicious Face
Soft Mercy fmiles, adorn'd with ev'ry Grace.
So Angels look, and ſo, when Heav'n decrees,
They scourge the World to Piety and Peace.
Emprefs, and Conqueror, hail! Thee, Fates ordain
O'er all the willing World, fole Arbitreſs to reign:
To no One People are thy Laws confin'd,
Great Britain's Queen, but Guardian of ¡Mankind.
Sure Hope of all who dire Oppreffion bear,
For all th' Oppreft become thy inſtant Care.
Nations of Conqueft proud, Thou tam'ſt, to free;
Denouncing War, preſenting Liberty ;
The Victor to the Vanquiſh'd yields a Prize,
For in thy Triumph, their Redemption lyes;
Freedom and Peace, for raviſh'd Fame, you give;
Invade to bleſs, and conquer tò relieve.
So the Sun fcorches, and revives by Turns,
Requiting with rich Metals, where he burns.
Taught by this great Example to be juſt,
Succeeding Kings fhall well fulfill their Truft;
Diſcord and War and Tyranny fhall ceaſe,
And jarring Nations be compell'd to Peace;
Princes
206
The British Enchanters.
Princes and States, like Subjects, ſhall agree
To truft Her Power, fafe in Her Piety..
If curious to infpect the Book of Fate,
You'd farther learn the deftin'd Time and Date
Of Britain's Glory, know, this Royal Dame
From Stuart's Race fhall rife, ANNA fhall be her Name.
་
FINI Ș
7
ta
BOOKS Printed for Jacob Tonfon,
at Shakeſpear's Head over-against
Katharine-Street in the Strand.
?
TATLERS, Four Vol. Sedators. Eight Vol. Guar-
dians, Two Vol. Engliſhman, and Lovers.
Steeel's Ecclefiaftical Hiſtory.
Stanyan's Account of Swifferland.
The Works of Mr. William Shakeſpear, in Six Vol. a-
dorn'd with Cuts; revis'd and corrected, with an Account
of the Life and Writings of the Author, by N. Rome, Efq;
The Works of Mr. Francis Beaumont, and Mr. John
Fletcher, in Seven Vol. adorn'd with Cuts; revis'd and,
corrected, with fome Account of the Life and Writings
of the Authors.
The Works of Mr. William Congreve, in Three Vol. con-
taining his Plays and Poems, fome of which were never
before publish'd.
The Works of Sir George Etherege, containing his Plays
and Poems.
The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley, in Two Vol, con-
fifting of thofe which were formerly printed, and thoſe
which he defign'd for the Prefs, publiſh'd out of the Au-
thor's Original Copies, with the Cutter of Coleman-ſtreet.
The Twelfth Edition.
Miſcellany Poems, in Six Vol. containing Variety of
new Tranſlations of the ancient Poets; together with fe
veral Original Poems: By the moſt Eminent Hands.
Poems and Tranflations; with the Sophy, a Tragedy.
Written by the Honourable Sir John Denham, Knt. of the
Bath; the Fifth Edition.
The
Books Printed for J. Tonfon.
The Works of Sir John Suckling; containing his Poems,
Letters and Plays.
Ovid's Epiftles, tranflated by ſeveral Hands. The Eighth
Edition; with a new Tranſlation of three Epiftles, and ſe-
veral Cuts never before publiſh❜d.
•
Ovid's Art of Love in three Books, together with his
Remedy of Love; tranflated into English Verfe by feveral
Hands: To which is added the Court of Love, a Tale
from Chaucer; and the Hiſtory of Love; adorn'd with Cuts.
The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis, and of Aulus
Perfius Flaccus; tranflated into English Verfe by Mr. Dry-
den, and ſeveral other eminent Hands; to which is pre-
fix'd a Diſcourſe concerning the Original and Progreſs of
Satyr. The Fifth Edition, adorn'd with Sculptures.
Poems, &c. written upon feveral Occafions, and to fe-
veral Perfons, by Edmund Waller, Efq; The Eighth Edi-
tion, with Additions; to which is prefix'd the Author's
Life.
The Poetical Works of Mr. John Milton, containing
Paradife Loft, Paradife Regain'd, Samson Agonistes, and
his Poems on ſeveral Occafions, in two Vols.
Poems by the moſt deſervedly admired Mrs. Katharine
Philips, the matchlefs Orinda; to which are added Mr.
Corneille's Tragedies of Pompey and Horace, with ſeveral
other Tranflations out of French.
Poems on ſeveral Occaſions; with Valentinian a Trage-
dy. Written by the Right Honourable John late Earl of
Rochefter.
Poems on feveral Occafions, by Mr. Prior.
ARTES
LIBRARY
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
EUS UNUM
E PLURIEL
TLEBOR
SI-QUÆRIS-PENINSULAM-AMIEŇAM)
CIRCUMSPICE
late
ровша
Compan
33
120-1