'CUPID! instruct an am'rous Swain, Some way to tell the Nymph his pain, To common Youths unknown!

To talk of Sighs, of Flames, and Darts, Of bleeding Wounds, and burning Hearts, Are methods vulgar grown!'

'What need'st thou tell?' the God replied, 'That love the Shepherd cannot hide, The Nymph will quickly find! When PHOEBUS does his beams display To tell men gravely "That 'tis day!" Is to suppose them blind!'

6

PHILLIS'S RESOLUTION.

'WHEN Slaves their liberty require,
They hope no more to gain!
But you, not only that require;
But ask the power to reign!

Think how unjust a suit you make;

Then you will soon decline!

Your freedom, when you please, pray, take;

But trespass not on mine!

'No more, in vain, ALCANDER ! crave!
I ne'er will grant the thing!

That he, who once has been my Slave,
Should ever be my King!'

IPHIS AND IANTHE.

IANTHE the lovely, the joy of her Swain, By IPHIS was loved; and loved IPHIS again! She lived in the Youth; and the Youth, in the Fair! Their pleasure was equal, and equal their care! No time, no enjoyment, the dotage withdrew; But the longer they loved, still the fonder they grew!

A Passion so happy alarmed all the plain. Some envied the Nymph; but more envied the Swain! Some swore, 'Twould be pity, their loves to invade; That the Lovers alone for each other were made! But all, all, consented, That none ever knew A Nymph yet so kind; or a Shepherd so true!

LOVE saw them with pleasure; and vowed to take

care

Of the faithful, the tender, the innocent pair!
What either did want, he bid either to move;
But they wanted nothing but ever to love!
Said, 'Twas all that to bless them, his Godhead
could do,

If they still might be kind, and they still might be true!

TO A CANDLE.

THOU watchful Taper, by whose silent light
I lonely pass the melancholy night!
Thou faithful witness of my secret pain;
To whom alone I venture to complain!
O, learn with me, my hopeless love to moan!
Commiserate a life so like thy own!

Like thine, my flames to my destruction turn;
Wasting that heart, by which supplied they burn!
Like thine, my joy and suffering they display ;
At once, are signs of life, and symptoms of decay!
And as thy fearful flames the day decline,
And only, during night, presume to shine;
Their humble rays not daring to aspire
Before the sun, the fountain of their fire:
So mine, with conscious shame and equal awe,
To shades obscure and solitude withdraw!
Nor dare their light before her eyes disclose;
From whose bright beams their Being first arose.

THUS to a ripe, consenting Maid,
Poor, old, repenting DELIA said,
'Would you long preserve your Lover?
Would you still his Goddess reign?

Never let him all discover!

Never let him much obtain!

'Men will admire, adore, and die; While, wishing, at your feet they lie! But admitting their embraces

Wakes them from the golden dream! Nothing's new, besides our faces! Every woman is the same!'

SEE! see, she wakes! SABINA wakes!
And, now, the sun begins to rise!
Less glorious is the Morn that breaks
From his bright beams, than her fair eyes!

With light united, day they give;
But different fates, ere night fulfil!
How many, by his warmth, will live!
How many will her coldness kill!

FALSE though She be to me and Love;

I'll ne'er pursue revenge!
For still the Charmer I approve;
Though I deplore her change!

In hours of bliss, we oft have met;
They could not always last!
And though the present I regret ;
I'm grateful for the past!

SEMELE TO JUPITER.

WITH my frailty, don't upbraid me!
I am Woman, as you made me!
Causeless doubting, or despairing;
Rashly trusting, idly fearing;
If obtaining,

Still complaining;
If consenting,
Still repenting;

Most complying,
When denying;

And to be followed, only flying.

With my frailty, don't upbraid me!
I am Woman, as you made me!

I LOOKED, and I sighed, and I wished I could speak ;
And very fain would have been at her:
But when I strove most, my Passion to break;
Still then I said least of the matter!

I swore to myself, and resolved I would try
Some way, my poor heart to recover;

But that was all vain! for I sooner could die,
Than live with forbearing to love her!