As flow'ry bands in wantonness are worn,

65 A morning's pleasure, and at evening torn; This binds in ties more easy, yet more strong, The willing heart, and only holds it long.

Thus *Voiture's early care still shone the same, And Monthausier was only chang'd in name: 70 By this, ev’n now they live, ev'n now they charm, Their Wit still sparkling, and their flames still

warm. Now crown'dwith Myrtle, on th’Elysian coast, Amid those Lovers, joys his gentle Ghost : Pleas'd, while with smiles his happy lines you view, And finds a fairer Rambouillet in

you.

76 The brightest eyes of France infpir'd his Muse; The brightest eyes of Britain now peruse; And dead, as living, 'tis our Author's pride Still to charm those who charm the world beside,

E P I S T L E

To the fame,

On her leaving the Town after the

CORONATION.

AS

S some fond Virgin, whom her mother's

care

Drags from the Town to wholesome Country air,
Just when she learns to roll a melting eye,
And hear a spark, yet think no danger nigh ;
From the dear man unwilling the must sever, 5
Yet takes one kiss before she parts for ever :
Thus from the world fair Zephalinda flew,
Saw others happy, and with fighs withdrew;
Not that their pleasures caus'd her discontent,
She figh'd not that they stay'd, but that she went,

She went, to plain-work, and to purling brooks, Old-fashion'd halls, dull Aunts, and croaking

rooks: She went from Op'ra, Park, Asembly, Play, To morning-walks, and pray’rs three hours a day;

NOTE s.
Coronation.] Of King George the first, 1715.

P.

To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,

15 To muse, and spill her solitary tea, Or o'er cold coffee trifle with the spoon, Count the flow clock, and dine exact at noon ; Divert her eyes with pictures in the fire, Hum half a tune, tell stories to the squire ; 20 Up to her godly garret after sev'n, There starve and pray, for that's the way to heav'n.

Some Squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack; Whose game is Whisk, whose treat a toast in sack; Who visits with a Gun, presents you birds, 25 Then gives a smacking buss, and cries,--Nowords ! Orwith his houndcomes hallowing from the stable, Makes love with nods, and knees beneath a table; Whose laughs are hearty, tho' his jests are coarse, And loves you best of all things—but his horse.

30 In some fair ev'ning, on your elbow laid, You dream of Triumphs in the rural shade; In pensive thought recall the fancy'd fcene, See Coronations rise on ev'ry green ; Ecíore you pass th’imaginary fights 35 Of Lords, and Earls, and Dukes, and garter'd

Knights,

While the spread fan o'ersiades your closing eyes;
Then give one flirt, and all the vision flies.
Thus vanish sceptres, coronets, and balls,
And leave

you

in lone woods, or empty walls! 40 So when your Slave, at some dear idle time, (Not plagu'd with head-achs, or the want of

rhyme) Stands in the streets, abstracted from the crew, And while he seems to study, thinks of you; Just when his fancy points your sprightly eyes, 45. Or fees the blush of soft Parthenia rise, Gay pats my shoulder, and

you

vanish quite, Streets, Chairs, and Coxcombs rush upon my fight; Vex'd to be still in town, I knit my brow, Look four, and hum a Tune, as you may now. 50

CARD EL I A.
HE Basset-Table spread, the Tallier come;
Why stays SMILINDA in the Dressing-

Room?
Rise, pensive Nymph, the Tallier waits for

you:)

T

SMILINDA, Ah, Madam, since my SHARPER is untrue, I joyless make my once ador'd Alpeu. 5) I saw him stand behind OMBRELIA's Chair, And whisper with that soft, deluding air, And those feign'd fighs which cheat the listning

Fair.

N O T E s. The Basset-Table.] Only this of all the Town Eclogues was Mr. Pope's ; and is here printed from a copy corrected by his own hand --The humour of it lies in this happy circumstance, that the one is in love with the Game, and the Other with the Sharper.