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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 swan,
For this he reaffumes the nod

(While Semele commands the God);
Launces the bolt, and fhakes the poles;
Though Momus laughs, and Juno fcolds.
Here listening 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 pursue ?
For this, thou feeft, for this I leave,
Whate'er the world thinks wife or grave,
Ambition, business, friendship, news,
My useful books, and ferious Mufe.
For this, I willingly decline

The mirth of feasts, and joys of wine;
And chufe 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

1

THE

QUESTION,

TO LISETTA.

WHAT Nymph fhould I admire, or truft,

But Cloe beauteous, Cloe juft?

What Nymph fhould I defire to fee,
But her who leaves the plain for me?
To whom fhould I compose the lay,
But her who liftens when I play?
To whom in fong 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 boasts she wears it for my fake?
In love am I not fully bleft?
Lifetta, pr'ythee tell the rest.

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LISET TA'S

REPLY.

URE Cloe juft, and Cloe fair,

SURE

Deferves to be your only care:

But, when you and he to-day
Far into the wood did stray,
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

Does it not more afflict your heart,
That in thofe cares fhe bears a part?
When you the flowers for Cloe twine,
Why do you to her garland join

The meaneft bud that falls from mine?
Simpleft of fwains! the world may fee,
Whom Cloe loves, and who loves me.

}

THE GARLAND.

TH

HE pride of every grove I chose, The violet fweet, and lily fair, The dappled pink, and blushing rofe, To deck my charming Cloe's hair.

II.

At morn the nymph vouchsaf'd to place
Upon her brow the various wreath;
The flowers lefs blooming than her face,
The scent lefs fragrant than her breath.
III.

The flowers fhe wore along the day:
And every nymph and fhepherd faid,
That in her hair they look'd more gay
Than glowing in their native bed.
IV.

Undreft at evening, when the found

Their odours loft, their colours paft;

She chang'd her look, and on the ground
Her garland and her eye fhe caft.

5

V. That

V.

That eye dropt fense distinct and clear,
As any Mufe's tongue could fpeak,
When from its lid a pearly tear

Ran trickling down her beauteous cheek.
VI.

Diffembling what I knew too well,

My love, my life, said I, explain
This change of humour: pr'ythee tell :
That falling tear-what does it mean?
VII.

She figh'd; the fmil'd: and to the flowers
Pointing, the lovely Moralift faid;
See, friend, in fome few fleeting hours,
See yonder, what a change is made.
VIII.

Ah me! the blooming pride of May,
And that of Beauty, are but one:
At morn both flourish bright and gay;
Both fade at evening, pale, and gone.
IX.

At dawn poor Stella danc'd and fung ;
The amorous youth around her bow'd ;
At night her fatal knell was rung;

I faw, and kifs'd her in her fhrowd.

X.

Such as fhe is, who dy'd to-day:

Such I, alas! may be to-morrow: Go, Damon, bid thy Mufe display

The juftice of thy Cloe's forrow.

The

The LADY who offers her LOOKING-GLASS to VENUS.

Taken from an Epigram of PLATO.

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FORBE

ORBEAR to ask me, why I weep;
Vext Cloe to her shepherd faid
'Tis for my two poor ftraggling fheep,
Perhaps, or for my squirrel deads.

II:

For mind I what you late have writ?

Your fubtle questions and replies? Emblems, to teach a female wit

The ways, where changing Cupid flies?

III.

Your riddle purpos'd to rehearse

The general power that beauty has :

But why did no peculiar verfe

Defcribe one charm of Cloe's face?

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