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MERCURY and CUPID.

IN fullen humour one day Jove

Sent Hermes down to Ida's grove,
Commanding Cupid to deliver

His ftore of darts, his total quiver;
That Hermes should the weapons break,
Or throw them into Lethe's lake.

Hermes, you know, must do his errand :
He found his man, produc'd his warrant :
Cupid! your
darts - this very hour.

There's no contending against power!
How fullen Jupiter, just now,
I think I faid: and you'll allow,
That Cupid was as bad as he :
Hear but the youngster's repartee.

Come, kinfman (faid the little god),
Put off your wings, lay by your rod;
Retire with me to yonder bower;
And reft yourself for half an hour:
'Tis far indeed from hence to Heaven;
But you fly fast: and 'tis but seven.
We'll take one cooling cup of nectar;
And drink to this celeftial Hector.

He break my darts! or hurt my power!
He, Leda's fwan, and Danaë's fhower!
Go, bid him his wife tongue restrain ;
And mind his thunder, and his rain.-

My darts! O certainly I 'll give 'em :
From Cloe's eyes he fhall 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 must strait be fent to fea;
And Flora fummon'd twice a day :
One must find fhells, and t' other flowers,
For cooling grots, and fragrant bowers,
may be ferv'd in ftate :

That Cloe

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
What care, that Juno should not
What work among you fcholar

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Dear

couz, faid Hermes in a fright,

For Heaven's fake! keep your darts: good night.

On BEAUTY, a RIDDLE.

ᎡᎬ

ESOLVE me, Cloe, what is this:

Or forfeit me one precious kiss.
'Tis the firft offspring of the Graces;
Bears different forms in different places;
Acknowledg'd fine, where'er beheld;
Yet fancied finer, when conceal'd.
'Twas Flora's wealth, and Circe's charm;
Pandora's box of good and harm :
"Twas Mars'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 this undid the Phrygian boy;
And blew the flames that ruin'd Troy.
This fhew'd great kindnefs to old Greece,
And help'd rich Jafon to the fleece.

is through the Eaft juft vengeance hurl'd,
ny the world.

her doom,

VI.

Love's fubalterns, a duteous band,

Like watchmen, round their chief appear:
Each had his lantern in his hand;
And Venus mafk'd brought up
VII.

the rear.

Accouter'd thus, their eager step
To Cloe's lodging they directed:
(At once I write, alas! and weep,
That Cloe is of theft fufpected).

VIII.

Late they fet out, had far to go:
St. Dunstan's as they pass'd struck one.
Cloe, for reasons good, you know,
Lives at the fober end o' th' town.
IX.

With one great peal they rap the door,
Like footmen on a visiting-day.

Folks at her house at fuch an hour!

Lord! what will all the neighbours say?
X.

The door is open up they run :

Nor prayers, nor threats, divert their speed : Thieves! thieves! cries Sufan; we 're undone; They'll kill my mistress in her bed.

XI.

In bed indeed the nymph had been
Three hours: for, all historians fay,

She commonly went up at ten,
Unless piquet was in the way.

XII. She

XII.

She wak'd, be fure, with strange furprizes

O Cupid, is this right or law, Thus to disturb the brightest eyes,.:

That ever flept, or ever faw?

XIII.

Have you obferv'd a fitting hare,
Liftening, and fearful of the ftorm
Of horns and hounds, clap back her ear,
Afraid to keep, or leave her form?

XIV.

Or have you mark'd a partridge quake,
Viewing the towering falcon nigh?
She cuddles low behind the brake:

Nor would she stay: nor dares she fly,
XV.

Then have you feen the beauteous maid;
When gazing on her midnight foes,
She turn'd each way her frighted head,
Then funk it deep beneath the cloaths.
XVI.

Venus this while was in the chamber

Incognito: for Susan said,

It smelt fo ftrong of myrrh and amber
And Sufan is no lying maid.

XVII.

But, fince we have no prefent need
Of Venus for an episode :

With Cupid let us e'en proceed;
And thus to Cloe spoke the god :

I 2

XVIII. Hold

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