I drank; I lik'd it not: 'twas Rage; 'twas Noife; An airy Scene of tranfitory Joys. In vain I trusted, that the flowing Bowl Perhaps, alas! the pleafing Stream was brought Add yet unnumber'd Ills, that lye unseen In the pernicious Draught; the Word obscene, Or harsh, which once elanc'd must ever fly Sæpius incauto pronum devolvier ore Adde etiam exhauftas vini quòd largior ufus Sanguinis attenuat vires, carpitque Salutem. Ah miferum! rabies quem cæca atrique dolores Morborum omne genus; lentæ intolerabile pondus Ecquid inexpertum reftat, quod pectoris ægri Mulceat infanos æftus, Curafque refolvat? Reftat Amor propera, falientibus imbibe venis Spem lætam, blandofque accende Cupidinis ignes; Hanc tandem extremam ne parce adhibere medelam Liberiore animo, totafque exquirere vires. Irrevocable? the too prompt Reply, Seed of fevere Diftruft, and fierce Debate; What We should shun, and what We ought to hate. Add too the Blood impoverish'd, and the Course Of Health fupprefs'd by Wine's continu'd Force. Unhappy Man! whom Sorrow thus and Rage Who drinks, alas! but to forget; nor fees, Remains there Ought untry'd, that may remove Sickness of Mind, and heal the Bosom? --- Love, Love yet Remains: Indulge his genial Fire, Cherish fair Hope, folicit young Defire, And boldly bid thy anxious Soul explore This laft great Remedy's Myfterious Pow'r. Why Quis malus hic languor? vel quæ tam fera moratur Segnities? rapienda Animus cur gaudia differt? Quin agite ô fidi citius properate miniftri, Lætitiæque alacres optata adducite dona. Omnis Amicarum cætus Sponfæque frequentes Indutæ nitidos, 'celebrent convivia, cultus; Quas plaga noftra tulit, quas extera regna, volentum Munera feu Regum fuerint, feu præmia Martis. Ordine quæque fuo noftri ftudiofa favoris Prodeat, & meritam referet Pulcherrima palmam. Hæc ubi dicta, onerant menfas, cyathofque coronant; Spirabat! quæ forma! ut mollia membra movebat, Ore Why therefore hefitates my doubtful Breast? Fly swift, my Friends; my Servants, fly; imploy I faid: the Feaft was ferv'd: the Bowl was crown'd: The fav'rite Glance: O! yet my Mind retains Grace fhap'd her Limbs; and Beauty deck'd her Face: Easy her Motion feem'd, ferene her Air: Full, tho' unzon'd, her Bofom rofe: her Hair Unty'd, and ignorant of artful Aid, Adown her Shoulders loosely lay display'd; And in the Jetty Curls ten thousand CUPIDS play'd. |