Reading thy verse; Who heeds, said I, Whose heart to me is always true. My bloom indeed, my little flower Of beauty quickly lost its pride: For, sever'd from its native bower, It on thy glowing bosom died. Yet car'd I not what might presage, Or withering wreath, or fleeting youth; Love I esteem'd more strong than age, And time less permanent than truth. Why then I weep, forbear to know: I ever yet conceal'd from thee. The secret wound with which I bleed 30 40 ANSWER TO CLOE JEALOUS. IN THE SAME STYLE. THE AUTHOR SICK. ES, fairest proof of Beauty's power, While now I take my last adieu, Heave thou no sigh, nor shed a tear; Lest yet my half-clos'd eye may view On earth an object worth its care. From Jealousy's tormenting strife Yet when some better-fated youth Shall with his amorous parley move thee; Reflect one moment on his truth, Who, dying thus, persists to love thee. 10 A BETTER ANSWER. EAR Cloe, how blubber'd is that pretty face; Thy cheek all on fire, and thy hair all uncurl'd: Pr'ythee quit this caprice; and (as old Falstaff says) Let us e'en talk a little like folks of this world. How canst thou presume, thou hast leave to destroy The beauties, which Venus but lent to thy keeping? Those looks were design'd to inspire love and joy: More ord❜nary eyes may serve people for weeping. To be vext at a trifle or two that I writ, Your judgment at once, and my passion you wrong: You take that for fact, which will scarce be found wit: 11 Odds life! must one swear to the truth of a song? What I speak, my fair Cloe, and what I write, shows The difference there is betwixt nature and art: I court others in verse; but I love thee in prose : And they have my whimsies, but thou hast my heart. The god of us verse-men (you know, child) the sun, At night he declires on his Thetis's breast. 20 So when I am wearied with wandering all day, * They were but my visits, but thou art my home. Then finish, dear Cloe, this pastoral war; And let us, like Horace and Lydia, agree: For thou art a girl as much brighter than her, As he was a poet sublimer than me. PALLAS AND VENUS. AN EPIGRAM. HE Trojan swain had judg'd the great dispute, And beauty's power obtain'd the golden fruit; When Venus, loose in all her naked charms, Met Jove's great daughter clad in shining arms. The wanton goddess view'd the warlike maid From head to foot, and tauntingly she said: Yield, sister; rival, yield: naked, you see, I vanquish guess how potent I should be, If to the field I came in armour drest; Dreadful, like thine, my shield, and terrible my crest! My heart with her but, as guest-wise, sojourn'd; And now to Helen it is home return'd, There to remain. Midsummer Night's Dream, A. iii. S. 2 The warrior goddess with disdain replied: Thou to be strong must put off every dress; And more than once, (or thou art much belied) 11 TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN IN LOVE. A TALE. ROM public noise and factious strife, Take me, my Celia, to thy breast, And lull my wearied soul to rest. and he For ever, in this humble cell, May Heaven around this destin'd head 10 |