Sing that graceful toy, whofe waving play
With gentle gales relieves the fultry day,
Not the wide fan by Perfian dames difplay'd,
Which o'er their beauty cafts a grateful
Nor that long known in China's artful land,
Which, while it cools the face, fatigues the hand :
Nor fhall the mufe in Afian climates rove,
To feek in Indoftan fome fpicy grove,
Where ftretch'd at eafe the panting lady lies,
To fhun the fervor of meridian skies,
While fweating flaves catch ev'ry breeze of air,
And with wide-spreading fans refresh the fair;
No bufy gnats her pleafing dreams moleft,
Inflame her cheek, or ravage o'er her breast,
But artificial Zephyrs round her fly,
And mitigate the fever of the sky.
Nor shall Bermudas long the Muse detain,
Whofe fragrant forests bloom in Waller's strain,
Where breathing sweets from ev'ry field ascend,
And the wild woods with golden apples bend;
Yet let me in fome od'rous fhade repose,
Whilft in my verfe the fair Palmetto grows:
Like the tall pine it fhoots its ftately head,
From the broad top depending branches spread;
No knotty limbs the taper Body bears,
Hung on each bough a fingle leaf appears,
Which fhrivell'd in its infancy remains,
Like a clos'd fan, nor ftretches wide its veins,
But as the feafons in their circle run,
Opes its ribb'd furface to the nearer fun :
Beneath this shade the weary peasant lies,
Plucks the broad leaf, and bids the breezes rise.
Stay, wand'ring Mufe, nor rove in foreign climes, To thy own native Shore confine thy rhimes. Affift, ye Nine, your loftieft notes employ, Say what celestial skill contriv'd the toy; Say how this inftrument of Love began,
And in immortal strains display the Fan.
Strephon had long confefs'd his am'rous pain, Which gay Corinna rally'd with disdain :
Sometimes in broken Words he figh'd his care,
Look'd pale, and trembled when he view'd the fair ;
With bolder freedoms now the youth advanc'd,
He drefs'd, he laugh'd, he fung, he rhim'd, he danc'd
Now call'd more powerful prefents to his aid,
And, to feduce the mistress, brib'd the maid;
Smooth flatt'ry in her softer hours apply'd,
The fureft charm to bind the force of pride:
But ftill unmov'd remains the fcornful dame,
Infults her captive, and derides his flame.
When Strephon faw his vows difpers'd in air,
He fought in folitude to lose his care;
Relief in folitude he fought in vain,
It ferv'd, like Mufick, but to feed his pain.
To Venus now the flighted Boy complains,
And calls the Goddefs in these tender ftrains.
O potent Queen, from Neptune's empire fprung,
Whofe glorious birth admiring Nereids fung,
Who 'midst the fragrant plains of Cyprus rove,
Whofe radiant prefent gilds the Paphian grove,
Where to thy name a thousand altars rise,
And curling clouds of incense hide the skies
O beauteous Goddefs, teach me how to move,
Inspire my tongue with eloquence of love.
If loft Adonis e'er thy bofom warm'd,
If e'er his eyes or godlike figure charm'd,
Think on those hours when firft you felt the dart,
Think on the restless fever of thy heart;
Think how you pin'd in absence of the swain;
By thofe uneafy minutes know my pain.
Ev'n while Cydippe to Diana bows,
And at her shrine renews her virgin vows,
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