54 Heavy her ire will fall on thee, The glittering steel is sure; Sooner or later, all agree, She cuts off the impure. 55 To her I leave thee, gloomy peer, APOLOGY TO A LADY, WHO TOLD ME I COULD NOT LOVE HER HEARTILY, IN IMITATION OF MR WALLER 1 FAIR Sylvia, cease to blame my youth So men, ere they have learned the truth, 2 My youth ('tis true) has often ranged, And many thousand loves has changed, 3 For, Sylvia, when I saw those eyes, Stars might as well forsake the skies, 4 If I from this great rule do err, May I again turn wanderer, And never settle more! AGAINST MODESTY IN LOVE. 1 For many unsuccessful years At Cynthia's feet I lay; And often bathed them with my tears, 2 No prostrate wretch, before the shrine any saint above, Of E'er thought his goddess more divine, 3 Still the disdainful dame looked down 4 When Cupid whispered in my ear, 5 'With eager kisses tempt the maid, 6 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. 1 ONE night unhappy Celadon, Beneath a friendly myrtle's shade, With folded arms and eyes cast down, Gently reposed his love-sick head; Whilst Thyrsis, sporting on the neighbouring plain, Thus heard the discontented youth complain: 2 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. 3 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.' 4 So restless monarchs, though possessed Round the wide world impatiently they roam, WHEN THE CAT IS AWAY, THE MICE MAY PLAY. A FABLE, INSCRIBED TO DR SWIFT. In domibus Mures avido dente omnia captant: In domibus Fures avida mente omnia raptant. 1 A LADY once (so stories say) With gins and traps long sought to slay 2 Great havoc 'mongst her cheese was made, At length Grimalkin to her aid 3 Soon as Grimalkin came in view, 4 Ne'er cat before such glory won; 5 Pert Mrs Abigail alone Envied Grimalkin's glory; 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 Swift. WHEN THE CAT IS AWAY, THE MICE MAY PLAY. 453 Her favourite lap-dog now was grown 6 She cannot bear, she swears she won't, And vows, that, whatsoe'er comes on 't, 7 She begs, she storms, she fawns, she frets, 8 At length this spiteful waiting-maid The favourite cat's a victim made, 9 Now lap-dog is again restored Sumptuously kept at bed and board, 10 Nab much exults at this success, 11 But vain such hopes; the mice that fled |