SITTING BEFORE HER GLASS.
O fmooth and clear the fountain was
In which his face Narciffus spy'd,
When, gazing in that liquid glass,
He for himself defpair'd and dy'd:
Nor, Chloris, can you fafer fee
Your own perfections here than he.
The lark before the mirror plays,
Which fome deceitful swain has fet;
Pleas'd with herself the fondly stays
To die deluded in the net.
Love may fuch frauds for you prepare,
Yourself the captive, and the snare.
But, Chloris, whilft you there review
Thofe graces opening in their bloom,
Think how disease and age pursue,
Your riper glories to confume :
Then fighing you would wish your glass
Could fhew to Chloris what she was.
Let Pride no more give Nature law,
But free the youth your power enflavcs: Her form, like yours, bright Cynthia faw Reflected on the crystal waves,
No longer let your glass fupply
Too juft an emblem of your breaft ;
Where oft' to my deluded eye
Love's image has appear'd impreft;
But play'd fo lightly on your mind,
It left no lafting print behind.
READING THE ART OF LOVE.
WHILST Ovid here reveals the various arts,
Both how to polish, and direct their darts,
Let meaner beauties by his rule improve,
And read these lines to gain fuccefs in love :
But heaven alone, that multiplies our race,
Has
power
t' increase the conquests of your face.
The Spring, before he paints the rifing flowers,
Receives mild beams, and foft defcending fhowers;
But love blooms ever fresh beneath your charms,
Though neither Pity weeps, nor Kindness warms.
The chiefs who doubt fuccefs, affert their claim
By ftratagems, and poorly steal a name :
The generous Son of Jove, in open fight,
Made bleeding Victory proclaim his might:
Like him refiftlefs, when you take the field
Love founds the signal, and the world muft yield.
"Et gladios aufim. Neque ad hoc tamen ignibus ullis, "Aut gladiis opus eft; opus eft mihi crine.—”
WE fage Cartefians, who profess
Ourselves fworn foes to emptiness,
Affert that fouls a tip-toe ftand
On what we call the Pineal Gland;
As weather-cocks on fpires are plac'd,
To turn the quicker with each blast.
This granted, can you think it strange
We all should be fo prone to change;
Ev'n from the go-cart till we wear
A fattin cap i' th' elbow chair?
The follies that the child began,
Cuftom makes current in the man;
And firm by livery and seisin
Holds the fee-fimple of his reafon.
But ftill the gufts of love we find
Blow strongest on a woman's mind i
Nor need I learnedly pursue
The latent caufe, th' effect is true,
Q&
For proof of which, in manner ample,
I mean to give you one example.
Upon a time (for fo my nurse,
Heaven reft her bones! began difcourfe)
A lovely nymph, and juft nineteen,
Began to languish with the spleen :
She who had fhone at balls and play
In gold brocade extremely gay,
All on a fudden grew precife,
Declaim'd against the growth of vice,
A very Prude in half a year,
And moft believ'd fhe was fincere :
Necklace of pearl no more she wears,
That's fanctify'd to count her prayers :
Venus, and all her naked Loves,
The reformado nymph removes ;
And Magdalen, with faints and martyrs,
Was plac'd in their respective quarters.
Nor yet content, fhe could not bear
The rankness of the public air,
'Twas fo infected with the vice
Of luscious fongs, and lovers' fighs:
So moft devoutly would be gone,
And ftrait profefs herself a Nun.
A youth of breeding and address,
And call him Thyrfis if you please,
Who had fome wealth to recompenfe
His flender divdend of fenfe;
Yet could with little thought and care
Write tender things to please the fair;
And then fucceffively did grow
From a half-wit, a finifh'd beau!
(For fops thus naturally rise,
As maggots turn to butterflies)
This fpark, as story tells, before
Had held with madam an amour,
Which he refolving to pursue,
Exactly took the proper cue;
And on the wings of love he flies
To Lady Abbefs in disguise,
And tells her he had brought th' advowfon
Of foul and body to difpofe on.
Old Sanctity, who nothing fear'd
In petticoats without a beard,
Fond of a profelyte, and fees,
Admits the fox among the geese.
Here duty, wealth, and honour prove,
Though three to one, too weak for Love;
And to defcribe the war throughout
Would make a glorious piece no doubt,
Where moral virtues might be flain,
And rife, and fight, and fall again :
Love should a bloody myrtle wear,
And, like Camilla, fierce and fair,
The Nun fhould charge.-But I forbear.
All human joys, though sweet in tafting,
Are feldom (more's the pity!) lasting :
The nymph had qualms, her cheeks were pale,
Which others thought the effects of zeal':
|