He break my dart, or hurt my power!
He, Leda's fwan, and Danae's fhower!
Go, bid him his wife's tongue restrain ;
And mind his thunder, and his rain.—
My darts? O certainly I'll give 'em :
From Cloe's eyes he shall receive 'em :
There's one, the best in all my quiver,
Twang! through his very heart and liver,
He then shall pine, and figh, and rave:
Good lord! what buftle fhall we have!
Neptune muft ftrait be sent to fea;
And Flora fummon'd twice a day :
One must find shells, and t'other flowers,
For cooling grotts, and fragrant bowers,
That Cloe may be ferv'd in state :

The Hours must at her toilet wait :
Whilft all the reafoning fools below,
Wonder their watches go too flow,
Lybs must fly fouth, and Eurus eaft,
For jewels for her hair and breast:
No matter though their cruel hafte
Sink cities, and lay forefts wafte.
No matter though this fleet be loft;
Or that lie wind-bound on the coaft.
What whispering in my mother's ear!
What care, that Juno should not hear!
What work among you scholar gods!
Phoebus muft write him am'rous odes:
And thou, poor coufin, muft compofe
His letters in fubmiffive profe :

VOL. I.

I

Whilt

}

Whilft haughty Cloe, to fuftain
The honour of my mystick reign,
Shall all his gifts and vows difdain;
And laugh at your old bully's pain.
Dear couz, faid Hermes in a fright,
For Heaven fake keep your darts: good night.

RESOLVE me, Cloe, what is this:

Or forfeit me one precious kifs.

'Tis the firft off-spring of the Graces:
Bears different forms in different places;
Acknowledg'd fine, where-e'er beheld;
Yet fancy'd finer, when conceal'd.
'Twas Flora's wealth, and Circe's charm
Pandora's box of good and harm:
'Twas Mar's wifh, Endymion's dream ;
Apelles' draught, and Ovid's theme.
This guided Thefeus through the maze;
And fent him home with life and praise.

But

But this undid the Phrygian boy;

And blew the flames that ruin'd Troy.
This fhew'd great kindness to old Greece,
And help'd rich Jason to the fleece.
This through the eaft juft vengeance hurl'd,
And loft poor Anthony the world.
Injur'd, though Lucrece found her doom;
This banish'd tyranny from Rome.
Appeas'd, though Lais gain'd her hire;
This fet Perfepolis on fire.

For this Alcides learn'd to fpin:
His club laid down, and lion's skin.
For this Apollo deign'd to keep,
With fervile care, a mortal's fheep.
For this the father of the gods,
Content to leave his high abodes,
In borrow'd figures loosely ran,
Europa's bull, and Leda's fwan,
For this he reaffumes the nod,
(While Semele commands the God)
Launces the bolt, and fhakes the poles ;
Though Momus laughs, and Juno scolds,
Here liftening Cloe fmil'd and faid;
Your riddle is not hard to read:
I guess it-fair one, if you do ;
Need I, alas! the theme purfue?
For this thou fee'ft, for this I leave,
Whate'er the world thinks wife or grave,
Ambition, bufinefs, friendship, news,
My useful books, and ferious Mufe.

For this I willingly decline

The mirth of feasts, and joys of wine;
And chuse to fit and talk with thee,
(As thy great orders may decree)

Of cocks and bulls, and flutes and fiddles,
Of idle tales, and foolish riddles.

THE

QUES

то

TIO N,

L I SETT A.

WHAT nymph fhould I admire, or truft,

But Cloe, beauteous Cloe, just?

What nymph should I defire to see,
But her who leaves the plain for me?
To whom should I compofe the lay,
But her who liftens when I play?
To whom, in song, repeat my cares,
But her who in my forrow fhares?
For whom should I the garland make,
But her who joys the gift to take,
And boafts fhe wears it for my fake?
In love am I not fully bleft ?
Lifetta, pr'ythee tell the rest.

LI

LISET TA'S REPLY.

SURE Cloe juft, and Cloe fair,

Deferves to be your only care:
But when you and she to day
Far into the wood did ftray,
And I happen'd to pass by:
Which way did you caft your eye?
But when your cares to her you fing,
Yet dare not tell her whence they spring;
Does it not more afflict your heart,
That in those cares fhe bears a part?
When you the flowers for Cloe twine,
Why do you to her garland join
The meanest bud that falls from mine?
Simpleft of fwains! the world may fee,
Whom Cloe loves, and who loves me.

}

THE