The paramour of Jove, as she fojourn'd To Pytho o'er the Panopeian lawns ; Delicious landskip!-
Next Tantalus a doleful lot abides :
Chin-deep he stands, yet with afflictive drought Inceffant pines, while ever as he bows
To fip refreshment, from his parching thirst The guileful water glides. Around the pool Fruit-trees of various kinds umbrageous spread Their pamper'd boughs: the racy olive green The ripe pomegranate big with vinous pulp, The lufcious fig fky-dy'd, the tasteful pear Vermilion'd half, and apples mellowing sweet In burnish'd gold, luxuriant o'er him wave, Exciting hunger, and fallacious hope Of food ambrofial :---when he tries to feize The copious fruitage fair, a fudden gust Whirls it aloof amid th' incumbent gloom.
Then Sifyphus, the nearest mate in woe, Drew my regard; he with diftended nerves Ay rolls a ponderous ftone up a rugged rock; Urg'd up the fteep cliff flow with hand and foot It mounts, but bordering on the cloudy peak, Precipitous adown the flopy fide
The rapid orb devolving back renews
Eternal toil, which he, with duft befmear'd, And dew'd with fmoaking sweat, inceffant plies. I last the visionary semblance view'd
Of Hercules, a fhadowy form; for he, The real fon of Jove, in heaven's high court
Abides, affociate with the gods, and shares Celestial banquets; where, with soft difport Of love, bright Hebe in her radiant dome Treats him nocturnal. With terrific clang Surrounding ghoft, like fowl, the region wing Vexatious, while the threatening image stands, Gloomy as night, from his bent battle-bow In act to let th' aerial arrow fly.
Athwart his breast a military zone
Dreadful he wore, where grinn'd in fretted gold Grim woodland favages, with various scenes Of war, fierce jousting knights, and havoc dire, With matchless art portray'd; me strait he knew, And, piteous of my state, addrefs'd me thus: O exercis'd in grief, illuftrious fon Of good Laertes, fam'd for warlike wiles ! Fated thou art (like me, what time I breath'd Etherial draught) beneath unnumber'd toils To groan opprefs'd: ev'n 1, the feed of Jove, Combated various ills, and was adjudg'd By an inferior wretch (what could he more?) To drag to light the triple-crefted dog That guards hell's maffy portal: I atchiev'd The task injoin'd through the propitious aid Of Mercury and Pallas, who vouchfaf'd Their friendly guidance; then without reply, To Pluto's court majestic he retir❜d.
Mean time for others of heroic note I waited, in the lifts of ancient fame Inroll'd illuftrious; and had haply feen
Great Thefeus, and Pirithous his compeer, The race of gods; but at the hideous fcream Of spectres iffuing from the dark profound I wax'd infirm of purpose, fore difinay'd Left Proferpine should fend Medusa, curl'd With fnaky locks, to fix me in her realm Stiff with Gorgonian horror: to the ship Retreating speedy thence, I bade my mates To fhove from fhore: joyous they strait began To ftem the tide, and brush'd the whitening feas, Till the fresh gales reliey'd the labouring oar.
HAVE you not feen (to state the cafe) Two wafps lie ftruggling in a glass?
With the rich flavour of Tokay Allur'd, about the brim they play; They light, they murmur, then begin To lick, and fo at length flip in ; Embracing clofe the couple lies, Together dip, together rife;
You'd fwear they love, and yet they strive
Which fhall be funk, and which furvive.
Such feign'd amours, and real hate,
Attend the matrimonial state;
When facred vows are bought and fold, And hearts are ty'd with threads of gold. A nymph there was, who ('tis aver'd By fame) was born without a beard : A certain fign, the learn'd declare, That (guarded with uncommon care) Her virtue might remain at ten Impregnable, to boys or men. But from that æra we'll proceed, To find her in a widow's weed: Which, all love's chronicles agree, She wore juft turn'd of twenty-three ; For an old fot fhe call'd her mate, For jewels, pin-money, and plate. The dame, poffefs'd of wealth and ease, Had no more appetites to please; That which provokes wild girls to wed, Fie ---It ne'er enter'd in her head. Yet fome prolific planet fmil'd, And gave the pair a chopping child; Intitled by the law to claim
Her husband's chattels, and his name: But was fo like his mother! She
The Queen of Love, her Cupid he.
This matron fair for spouse deceas'd
Had forrow'd fore, a week at leaft; And feem'd to grudge the worms that prey, Which had lain dead full many a day. From plays and balls fhe now refrain'd, To a dark room by custom chain'd;
And not a male for love or gold,
But the dear hopes of two years old.
The maids fo long in prifon pent, Afk leave to air; fhe gives confent (For health is riches to the poor): But Tom muft ftay to guard the door. In reading Sherlock fhe'd employ Her folitude, and tend the boy.
When madam fees the coaft is clear, Her spirits mantle and career; Diffufing ardour through her mien; Pity they should condenfe to fpleen! But now by honour she's confin'd, Who flutter'd once as free as wind: And on a masquerading morn, By fix fecurely could return; Having, to feal him fafe till nine,
With opium drugg'd her spouse's wine. This the gay world no worse would hold, Than had the only chang'd his gold: The fpecies anfwer'd all demands, And only pass'd through other hands. But honour now prefcribes the law, The tyrant keeps her will in awe; For charity forbid to roam, And not a chitterling at home. What! a large ftomach, and no meat ! In pity, Love, provide a treat,
Can widows feed on dreams and wishes,
Like hags on vifionary dishes ?
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