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Before their Monarch they fhall fingly pass;
And the most worthy shall obtain the grace.

vn'd;

I faid the feaft was ferv'd; the bowl was crown'
To the King's pleasure went the mirthful round.
The women came as cuftom wills, they past :
On one (O that distinguish'd one !) I cast
The favourite glance! O! yet my mind retains
That fond beginning of my infant pains.
Mature the Virgin was, of Egypt's race;

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Grace fhap'd her limbs; and Beauty deek'd her face;
Eafy her motion feem'd, ferene her air;

Full, though unzon'd, her bofom rofe; her hair,
Unty'd, and ignorant of artful aid,

Adown her fhoulders loofely lay difplay'd;

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And in the jetty curls ten thoufand Cupids play'd.
Fix'd on her charms, and pleas'd that I could love,
Aid me, my friends, contribute to improve
Your Monarch's blifs, I faid; fresh roses bring
To ftrew my bed, till the impoverish'd Spring
Confefs her want; around my amorous head.
Be dropping myrrh and liquid amber fhed,
Till Arab has no more. From the foft lvre,
Sweet flute, and ten-ftring'd inftrument, require
Sounds of delight: and thou, fair Nymph! draw nigh;
Thou, in whofe graceful form and potent eye,
Thy Master's joy long-fought at length is found;
And, as thy brow, let my defires be crown'd;
O favourite Virgin! that halt warm'd the breast,
Whose fovereign dictates fubjugate the Eaft!
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I faid;

I faid; and fudden from the golden throne,
With a fubmiffive step, I hafted down.
The glowing garland from my hair I took,
Love in my heart, Obedience in my look ;
Prepar'd to place it on her comely head:
O favourite Virgin! (yet again I said)
Receive the honours deftin'd to thy brow;
And O, above thy fellows, happy thou!
Their duty muft thy fovereign word obey:
Rife up, my Love, my fair-one, come away.
What pang, alas! what ecftafy of smart,
Tore up my fenfes, and transfix'd my heart;
When the with modeft fcorn the wreath return'd,
Reclin'd her beauteous neck, and inward mourn'd !
Forc'd by my pride, I my concern suppress'd,
Pretended drowfinefs, and wifh of reft:
And fullen I forfook th' imperfect feast:
Ordering the Eunuchs, to whofe proper care
Our Eastern grandeur gives th' imprifon'd fair,
To lead her forth to a distinguish'd bower,
And bid her dress the bed, and wait the hour.
Reftlefs I follow'd this obdurate Maid
(Swift are the steps that Love and Anger tread);
Approach'd her perfon, courted her embrace,
Renew'd my flame, repeated my difgrace;
By turns put on the Suppliant and the Lord;
Threaten'd this moment, and the next implor'd;
Offer'd again the unaccepted wreath,

And choice of happy love, or inftant death.

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Averse to all her amorous King defir'd,

Far as fhe might the decently retir'd :

And, darting fcorn and forrow from her eyes,
What means, faid fhe, King Solomon the Wife?
This wretched body trembles at your power :
Thus far could Fortune, but fhe can no more.
Free to herself my potent mind remains;
Nor fears the Victor's rage, nor feels his chains.
'Tis faid, that thou canft plaufibly difpute,
Supreme of Seers! of Angel, Man, and Brute;
Canft plead, with fubtle wit and fair difcourfe,
Of Paffion's folly, and of Reafon's force;

That, to the Tribes attentive, thou canst show
Whence their misfortunes or their bleffings flow;
That thou in fcience as in power art great;
And Truth and Honour on thy edicts wait.

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Where is that knowledge now, that regal thought, 230
With juft advice and timely counfel fraught?
Where now, O Judge of Ifrael! does it rove?—
What in one moment doft thou offer? Love-

Love! why 'tis Joy or Sorrow, Peace or Strife;
'Tis all the colour of remaining life :
And human mifery muft begin or end,
As he becomes a tyrant or a friend.

Would David's fon, religious, juft, and grave,
To the first bride-bed of the world receive
A foreigner, a heathen, and a flave?

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Or, grant thy paffion has these names destroy'd,
That Love, like Death, makes all distinction void;

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Yet

Yet in his empire o'er thy abject breast
His flames and torments only are expreft;
His rage can in my fmiles alone relent;
And all his joys folicit my confent.

Soft Love, fpontaneous tree, its parted root
Muft from two hearts with equal vigour shoot;
Whilft each, delighted and delighting, gives
The pleafing ecftafy which each receives:
Cherifh'd with hope, and fed with joy, it grows :
Its chearful buds their opening bloom disclose;
And round the happy foil diffusive odour flows.
If angry Fate that mutual care denics,
The fading plant bewails its due fupplies;
Wild with despair, or fick with grief, its dies.
By force beafts act, and are by force reftrain'd:
The human mind by gentle means is gain'd.
Thy ufclefs ftrength, mistaken King, employ:
Sated with rage, and ignorant of joy,

Thou shalt not gain what I deny to yield;

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Nor reap the harvest, though thou spoil'ft the field.
Know, Solomon, thy poor extent of sway;
Contract thy brow, and Ifrael fhall obey:

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But wilful Love thou must with fmiles appeafe; 265
Approach his awful throne by juft degrees;

And, if thou would'st be happy, learn to please.
Not that those arts can here fuccessful prove:

For I am deftin'd to another's love.

Beyond the cruel bounds of thy command,

To my dear equal in my native land,

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870

My

My plighted vow I gave: I his receiv'd :

Each swore with truth, with pleasure each believ'd.
The mutual contract was to Heaven convey'd :

In equal fcales the bufy angels weigh'd

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Its folemn force, and clapp'd their wings, and spread The lafting roll, recording what we said..

Now in my heart behold thy poniard stain❜d ; Take the sad life which I have long difdain'd; End, in a dying Virgin's wretched fate,

;

Thy ill-ftarr'd paffion and my ftedfast hate :
For, long as blood informs these circling veins,
Or fleeting breath its lateft power retains
Hear me to Egypt's vengeful Gods declare,
Hate is my part; be thine, O King, despair.
Now ftrike, she said, and open'd bare her breast;

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Stand it in Judah's chronicles confeft,

That David's fon, by impious paffion mov'd,

Smote a fhe-flave, and murder'd what he lov'd !
Afham'd, confus'd, I started from the bed;

And to my foul, yet uncollected, faid:
Into thyfelf, fond Solomon, return;

Reflect again, and thou again fhalt mourn.

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When I through number'd years have Pleasure fought, And in vain hope the wanton phantom caught;

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To mock my fenfe, and mortify my pride, 'Tis in another's power, and is deny'd.

Am I a King, great Heaven! does life or death
Hang on the wrath or mercy of my breath;

While kneeling I my fervant's fmiles implore;

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And one mad Damfel dares difpute my power?

To

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