Before their Monarch they fhall fingly pass; And the most worthy shall obtain the grace.
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;
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;
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! K 4
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.
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.
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?
Or, grant thy paffion has these names destroy'd, That Love, like Death, makes all distinction void;
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;
Nor reap the harvest, though thou spoil'ft the field. Know, Solomon, thy poor extent of sway; Contract thy brow, and Ifrael fhall obey:
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,
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
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;
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.
When I through number'd years have Pleasure fought, And in vain hope the wanton phantom caught;
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;
And one mad Damfel dares difpute my power?
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