APOLOGY TO A LADY,1 WHO TOLD ME I COULD NOT LOVE HER HEART ILY, BECAUSE I HAD LOVED OTHERS. IN IMITATION OF MR. WALLER. FAIR Sylvia, cease to blame my youth So men, ere they have learnt the truth, My youth ('tis true) has often rang'd, For, Sylvia, when I saw those eyes, If I from this great rule do err, May I again turn wanderer, And never settle more! 1 By the manner in which this and the two following little pieces are printed in the Oxford and Cambridge Miscellany Poems, there is little doubt but they are the productions of the excellent poet to whom I have ascribed them. FOR AGAINST MODESTY IN LOVE. many unsuccessful years At Cynthia's feet I lay ; And often bath'd them with my tears, Despair'd, but durst not pray. No prostrate wretch, before the shrine Of any saint above, E'er thought his goddess more divine, Or paid more awful love. Still the disdainful dame look'd down When Cupid whisper'd in my ear, "Use more prevailing charms, Fond, whining, modest fool, draw near, And clasp her in your arms. "With eager kisses tempt the maid, Who would possess the heart." With that I shook off all my fears, And Cynthia gave what she for years ON A YOUNG LADY'S GOING TO TOWN IN THE SPRING. ONE night unhappy Celadon, Beneath a friendly myrtle's shade, With folded arms and eyes cast down, Gently repos'd his love-sick head: Whilst Thyrsis, sporting on the neighbouring plain, Thus heard the discontented youth complain: "Ask not the cause why sickly flowers Faintly recline their drooping heads; As fearful of approaching showers, They strive to hide them in their beds, Grieving with Celadon they downward grow, And feel with him a sympathy of woe. "Chloris will go; the cruel fair, Regardless of her dying swain, Leaves him to languish, to despair, And murmur out in sighs his pain. The fugitive to fair Augusta flies, To make new slaves, and gain new victories." So restless monarchs, though possess'd Of all that we call state or power, Round the wide world impatiently they roam, WHEN THE CAT IS AWAY, THE MICE MAY PLAY. 1 A FABLE,1 INSCRIBED TO Dr. Swift. In domibus Mures avido dente omnia captant: A LADY once (so stories say) By rats and mice infested, With gins and traps long sought to slay Great havoc 'mongst her cheese, was made, At length Grimalkin to her aid Soon as Grimalkin came in view, 1 The hints of this and the following fable appear to have originated from the fable of the Old Lady and her Cats, printed in the General Postscript, Nov. 7, 1709. They have been both ascribed to Dr. Swift.-N. Ne'er cat before such glory won; Pert Mrs. Abigail alone Envied Grimalkin's glory; Her favorite lap-dog now was grown She cannot bear, she swears she won't, But firmly is resolv'd upon't, And vows, that, whatsoe'er comes on't, She begs, she storms, she fawns, she frets, (Her arts are all employ'd) And tells her lady, in a pet, Grimalkin cost her more in meat Then all the rats destroy'd. At length this spiteful waiting-maid The favourite cat's a victim made, Now lap-dog is again restor❜d |