Dum feror inceffu fpectabilis ipfe paterno
Reginam infigni dignatus honore futuram.
Jam fortaffe Abræ fi mens vaga geftiat ire
Latiùs in fylvas, cervofque agitare fugaces;
Sole recens orto, cita fe delecta Juventus
Corripit è fomnis, properatque ad luftra ferarum.
Majeftate humili cinctus pompâque minori
Rex vefter, Solyma, adventantem inglorius Abram
Expectat, Prodit jam tandem: corpore purus
Partim Arabum partìm Perfarum è femine natus
Vectat Equus. Tunicâ lafcivam undante per auram,
(Sidoniæ quo more folent Thresæque Puella)
Docta genu medium mediumque exponere pectus,
Consultò neglecta, palàm spectantibus offert.
Venatoris Equi lævâ torquentur habenæ,
Dum tremit in dextrâ minitanti argenteus arcus:
Aureâque ex pharetrâ (lateri quæ affixa pependit)
Nigrantes plumam oftentant crepitantque fagittæ.
Fronte alta, Sapphiri adamantibus intertextis
Crefcentem nitido referunt curvamine Lunam.
Sylvarum Dominæ nitet Abra fimillima; vultus,
Inceffum, vocemque agnofcimus: ipfa DIANA,
Ipfa Dea eft; digno veneramur honore, Deæque
Whilft I affume my Father's Step and Mein,
To meet with due Regard my future Queen.
If hap❜ly ABRA's Will be now inclin'd
To range the Woods, or chace the flying Hind;
Soon as the Sun awakes, the sprightly Court
Leave their Repose, and haften to the Sport.
In leffen'd Royalty, and humble State,
Thy King, JERUSALEM, defcends to wait,
'Till A BRA comes. She comes: a Milk-white Steed,
Mixture of PERSIA's, and ARABIA's Breed,
Suftains the Nymph: her Garments flying loofe
(As the SYDONIAN Maids, or THRACIAN use)
And half her Knee, and half her Breast appear,
By Art, like Negligence, difclos'd, and bare.
Her left Hand guides the hunting Courfer's Flight:
A Silver Bow She carries in her Right:
And from the golden Quiver at her Side,
Ruftles the Ebon Arrow's feather'd Pride.
Saphirs and Diamonds on her Front display
An artificial Moon's increafing Ray.
DIANA, Huntrefs, Mistress of the Groves,
The fav'rite ABRA fpeaks, and looks, and moves.
Her, as the present Goddess, I obey;
Ponimus ante pedes quicquid captavimus agris.
Vocali infignem Chorus accinit ore DIANAM;
Altiùs & lituorum unà clangorque tubarum
Divinas effert laudes: pulfare triumphi
Oppofitos Colles: Colles iterare triumphos.
Cras fi fortè animus peragrati tædia Saltûs Lenire ad vitreas pifcofi fluminis undas Suaferit; extemplò artifices fe mille labori Addunt, & Regis certatìm Juffa capeffunt. Littore in irriguo multis cumulantur in altum Arboribus Tabulata, & mobilis Infula furgit. In medio, Currus folido ftat fulgidus auro, Cui vifi gemere argentei fub pondere Cycni. Abra Dea infignis folio fedet alta corufco, Argolica VENERIS vultus induta decoros. Circumfufa latus Ponti Gens humida, amoris Egregias celebrant dulci modulamine laudes. Dum magni intereà Spectac'li pompa propinquat, Et VENEREM lætæ clamant inftare Catervæ; Cultor Ego heu! nimium fupplex in margine terræ Extremo, fervens avidâ fpe brachia tendo
Excipere impatiens furgentem è gurgite Divam.
Beneath her Feet the captive Game I lay.
The mingl'd Chorus fings DIANA'S Fame:
Clarions and Horns in louder Peals proclaim
Her Mystic Praife: the vocal Triumphs bound
Against the Hills: the Hills reflect the Sound.
If tir'd this Evening with the hunted Woods,
To the large Fish-pools, or the glaffy Floods
Her Mind To-morrow points; a thousand Hands
To-night employ'd, obey the King's Commands.
Upon the wat'ry Beach an artful Pile
Of Planks is join'd, and forms a moving Isle.
A golden Chariot in the Midft is fet;
And filver Cygnets feem to feel it's Weight.
ABRA, bright Queen, afcends her gaudy Throne,
In femblance of the GRECIAN VENUS known:
TRITONS and Sea-green NAIADS round her move;
And fing in moving Strains the Force of Love:
Whilft as th' approaching Pageant does appear;
And echoing Crouds fpeak mighty VENUS near;
I, her Adorer, too devoutly ftand
Fast on the utmost Margin of the Land,
With Arms and Hopes extended, to receive
The fancy'd Goddess rifing from the Wave.
O Ratio fubjecta jacens! ô fæve Cupido! Quò tamen ulterius mea fe Dementia ferret? Satne erit, ut Nympham fumma ad fastigia ducam Intra ædes claufas vel amica filentia Villæ : Aut ficti ut vultus mutataque nomina magno Dedecori obducant blandam caliginis umbram? Quin omni potiùs Solymæ fpectante coronâ Prodeat in lucem jactata infamia Regis: Solennis dapibus Menfis datur; hofpitioque Collectam gentem communiter excipit Abra. Utque dies omnis pleno celebretur honore, Huc varios mittunt fætus Sylvæque Lacufque, Huc Arabum & Deferta Ægypti; huc fertur Edule Quodcunque eft: vix ipfe fugit convivia Phenix. Commiffis citharifque Viri cantuque Puellæ Dulce fonant Abræ decus & mea gaudia: fervi Quinetiam Vates præconia fordida fingunt, Et celebrant noftros numeris mendacibus ignes. Mox quoque Nupta dapes me deducente relinquens, Quam vulgi ex oculis prudens retineret Amator, Se jactat spectatam omni notamque popello Participem Solii pariter Cordifque magiftram.
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