The lover, taught by thee, her pride o'ercame;
She reads his oaths, and feels an equal flame :
Oh, may my flame, like thine, Acontius, prove,
May Venus dictate, and reward my love,
When crowds of fuitors Atalanta try'd,
She wealth and beauty, wit and fame defy'd;
Each daring lover with advent'rous pace
Purfu'd his wishes in the dang'rous race ;
Like the swift hind, the bounding damfel flies,
Strains to the goal, the distanc'd lover dies.
Hippomenes, O Venus, was thy care,
You taught the fwain to ftay the flying fair,
Thy golden prefent caught the virgin's eyes,
She ftoops; he rushes on, and gains the prize.
Say, Cyprian Deity, what gift, what art,
Shall humble into Love Corinna's heart;
If only fome bright toy can charm her fight,
Teach me what prefent may fufpend her flight.
Thus the defponding youth his flame declares,
The Goddess with a nod his paffion hears.
Far in Cythera ftands a spacious grove, Sacred to Venus and the God of love;
Here the luxuriant myrtle rears her head,
Like the tall oak the fragrant branches spread;
Here nature all her fweets profufely pours,
And paints th' enamell'd ground with various flow'rs;
Deep in the gloomy glade a grotto bends,
Wide through the craggy rock an arch extends,
The rugged stone is cloath'd with mantling vines,
And round the cave the creeping woodbine twines:
Here bufy Cupids, with pernicious art,
Form the stiff bow, and forge the fatal dart ;
All share the toil; while fome the bellows ply;
Others with feathers teach the fhafts to fly:
Some with joint force whirl round the ftony wheel,
Where ftreams the sparkling fire from temper'd steel;
Some point their arrows with the nicest skill,
And with the warlike ftore their quivers fill.
A different toil another forge employs;
Here the loud hammer fashions female toys,
Hence is the fair with ornament fupply'd,
Hence fprung the glitt'ring implements of pride;
Each trinket that adorns the modern dame,
First to these little artists ow'd its frame.
Here an unfinish'd di'mond crosslet lay,
To which foft lovers adoration pay ;
There was the polish'd cryftal bottle feen,
That with quick Scents revives the modifh fpleen: 120
Here the yet rude unjointed fnuff-box lies,
Which ferves the rally'd fop for fmart replies;
There piles of paper rose in gilded reams,
The future records of the lover's flames;
Here clouded canes 'midft heaps of toys are found, 125
And inlaid tweezer-cafes ftrow the ground.
There ftands the Toilette, nursery of charms,
Compleatly furnish'd with bright beauty's arms;,
The patch, the powder-box, pulville, perfumes,
Pins, paint, a flatt'ring glass, and black-lead combs. 130
The toilfome hours in diff'rent labours fide,
Some work the file, and fome the graver guide;
From the loud anvil the quick blow rebounds,
And their rais'd arms defcend in tuneful founds.
Thus when Semiramis, in ancient days,
Bade Babylon her mighty bulwarks raife ;;
A fwarm of lab'rers diff'rent tasks attend:
Here pullies make the pond'rous oaks ascend,
With echoing ftrokes the cragged quarry groans,
While there the chiffel forms the shapeless ftones; 140 The weighty mallet deals refounding blows,
Till the proud battlements her tow'rs inclofe..
Now Venus mounts her car, she shakes the reins,
And steers her turtles to Cythera's plains;
Straight to the grot with graceful step fhe goes,
Her loofe ambrofial hair behind her flows:
The fwelling bellows heave for breath no more,
All drop their filent hammers on the floor;
In deep fufpence the mighty labour stands,
While thus the Goddess spoke her mild commands. 150
Industrious Loves, your present toils forbear, A more important task demands your care; Long has the scheme employ'd my thoughtful Mind, By judgment ripen'd, and by time refin'd.. That glorious bird have ye not often seen
Who draws the car of the celestial Queen ?
Have ye not oft furvey'd his varying dyes,
His tail all gilded o'er with Argus' eyes ?
Have ye not feen him in a funny day
Unfurle his plumes, and all his pride display,
Then fuddenly contract his dazling train,
And with long-trailing feathers fweep the plain?
Learn from this hint, let this inftru&t your art;
Thin taper fticks must from one centre part:
Let these into the quadrant's form divide,
The fpreading ribs with fnowy paper hide:
Here shall the pencil bid its colours flow,.
And make a miniature creation grow..
Let the machine in equal foldings close,
And now its plaited furface wide dispose.
So fhall the fair her idle hand employ,
And grace each motion with the restless toy,
With various play bid grateful Zephyrs rise,.
While love in ev'ry grateful Zephyr flies..
The mafter Cupid traces out the lines,
And with judicious hand the draught designs,
Th' expecting Loves with joy the model view,
And the joint labour eagerly purfue..
Some flit their arrows with the nicest art,
And into fticks convert the fhiver'd dart;
The breathing bellows wake the fleeping fire,
Blow off the cinders, and the sparks aspire;
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