MOPSUS.

Damætas shall with Lictian Ægon join,

Close hugs the charmer, and asham'd to yield, To celebrate with songs the rites divine,

Though he has lost the day, yet keeps the field. Alphisibæus with a reeling gait Shall the wild Satyrs' dancing imitate.

When, with a sigh, the fair Panthea said, When to the nymphs we vows and offerings pay, “What pity 'tis, ye gods, that all When we with solemn rites our fields survey,

The noblest warriors soonest fa!l !” These honours ever shall be thine; the boar Then with a kiss she gently rear'd his head; Shall in the fields and hills delight no more; Arm'd hiin again to fight, for nobly she No more in streams the fish, in flowers the bee, More lov'd the combat than the victory. Ere, Daphnis, we forget our songs to thee: Offerings to thee the shepherds every year But, more enrag'd for being beat before, Shall, as to Bacchus and to Ceres, bear:

With all his strength he does prepare To thee, as to those gods, shall vows be made,

More fercely to renew the war; And vengeance wait on those by whom they are Nor ceas'd he till the noble prize he bore: not paid.

Ev'n her such wondrous courage did surprise; MOPSUS.

She hugs the dart that wounded her, and dies. What present worth thy verse can Mopsus find? Not the soft whispers of the southern wind So much delight my ear, or charm my mind;

A SONG Not sounding shores beat by the murmuring tide, THROUGH mournful shades, and solitary groves, Nor rivers that through stony valleys glide. Fann'd with the sighs of uusuccessful loves,

Wild with despair, young Thyrsis strays, MENALCAS.

Thinks over all Amyra's heavenly charms, First you this pipe shall take; and 'tis the same Thinks he now sees her in another's arms; That play'd poor Corydon's' unhappy flame: Then at some willow's root himself he lays, The same that taught me Melibæus'a sbecp. The loveliest, most unhappy swain;

And thus to the wild woods he does complain: You then shall for my sake this sheephook keep, “ How art thou chang'd, O Thyrsis, since the time Adorn'd with brass, which I have oft deny'd When thou could'st love and hope without a crime; To young Antigenes in his beauty's pride:

When Nature's pride and Earth's delight, And who could think he then in vain could sue?

As through her shady evening grove she past, Yet him I would deny, and freely give it you. And a new day did all around her cast,

Could see, nor be offended at the sight,
The melting, sighing, wishing swain,

That now must never hope to wish again!
TO MR. WALLER,
UPON THE COPY OF VERSES MADE BY HIMSELF “ Riches and titles! why should they prevail,

ON THE LAST COPY IN HIS BOOK 3. Where duty, love, and adoration, fail? When Shame, for all my foolish youth had writ,

Lovely Amyra, shouldst thou prize Advis'd 'twas time the rhyming trade to quit,

The empty uoise that a fine title makes;

Or the vile trash that with the vulgar takes, Time to grow wise, and be no more a witThe noble fire, that animates thy age,

Before a heart that bleeds for thee, and dies? Once more inflam'd me with poetie rage. (young, Your rigour kills, nor triumph o'er the slain.”

Unkind! but pity the poor swain
Kings, heroes, nymphs, the brare, the fair, the
Have been the theme of thy immortal song:
A nobler argument at last thy Muse,
Two things divine, thee and herself, does choose.

A SONG.
Age, whose dull weight makes vulgar spirits bend, See what a conquest Love has made !
Gives wings to thine, and bids it upward tend :

Beneath the myrtle's amorous shade
No more confin'd, above the starry skies,

The charming fair Corinna lies Out from the body's broken cage it flies.

All melting in desire,
But oh! vouchsafe, not wholly to retire,

Quenching in tears those flowing eyes
To join with and complete th'etheriul choir ! That set the world on fire!
Still here remain; still on the threshold stand;
Still at this distance view the promis'd land;

What cannot tears and beauty do ?
Though thou may'st seem, so heavenly is thy sense, The youth by chance stood by, and knew
Not going thither, but new come from thence.

For whom those crystal streams did flow;

And though he ne'er before

To her eyes brightest, rays did bow,
A SONG.

Weeps too, and does adore.
AFTER the fiercest pangs of hot desire,
Between Panthea's rising breasts

So when the Heavens serene and clear,
His bending breast Philander rests;

Gilded with gaudy light appear, Though vanquish'd, yet unknowing to retire : Each craggy rock, and every stone,

Their native rigour keep; I Virg. Ecl. ii.

2 Ecl. iii.

But when in rain the clouds fall down, 3 See Waller's Poems.

The hardest marble weeps.

205 TO MR. HENRY DICKINSON,

Shakespeare, 'tis true, this tale of Troy first told,

But, as with Ennius Virgil did of old,
ON HIS TRANSLATION OF

You found it dirt, but you have made it gold.

A dark and undigested heap it lay,
SIMON'S CRITICAL HISTORY OF THE OLD

Like Chaos ere the dawn of infant Day,
TESTAMENT.

But you did first the cheerful light display.
Waat senseless loads have over-charg'd the press,

Confus'd it was as Epicurus' world
Of French impertinence, in English dress!

Of atoms, by blind Chance together burld,
How many dull translators every day

But you have made such order through it shine
Bring new supplies of novel, farce, or play!

As loudly speaks the workmanship divine.
Like damn'd French pensioners, with foreign aid

Boast then, O Troy! and triumph in thy flames, Their native land with nonsense to invade,

That make thee sung by three such mighty names. Till we're o'er-run more with the wit of France,

Had Ilium stood, Homer had ne'er been rrad, Her nauseous wit, than with her protestants.

Nor the sweet Mantuan swan his wings display'd, But, sir, this poble piece obligeth more

Nor thou, the third, but equal in renown, Than all their trash hath plagu'd the town before :

Thy matchless skill in this great subject shown. With various learning, knowledge, strength of Not Priam's self, nor all the Trojan state, thought,

Was worth the saving at so dear a rate. Order and art, and solid judgment fraught;

But they now flourish, by you mighty three, No less a piece than this could make amends

In verse more lasting than their walls could be: For all the trumpery France amongst us sends.

Which never, never shall like them decay, Nor let ill-grounded superstitious fear

Being built by hands divine as well as they; Fright any but the fools from reading here.

Never till, our great Charles being sung by you, The sacred oracles may well endure

Old Troy shall grow less famous than the New. Th’exactest search, of their own truth secure; Though at this piece some noisy zealots bawl, And to their aid a numerous faction call With stretch'd-out arms, as if the ark could fall;

PARIS TO HELEN. Yet wiser heads will think so firm it stands,

TRANSLATED FROM OVID'S EPISTLES. That, were it shook, 'twould need no mortal hands.

THE ARGUMENT.

TO MR. DRYDEN,

Paris, having sailed to Sparta for the obtaining of

Helen, whom Venus had promised him as the ON HIS TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, 1679. reward of his adjudging the prize of beauty to

her, was nobly there entertained by Menelaus, And will our master poet then admit

Helen's husband; but he, being called away to A young beginner in the trade of Wit,

Crete, to take possession of what was left him To bring a plain and rustic Muse, to wait

by his grandfather Atreus, commends his guest On his in all her glorious pomp and state?

to the care of his wife. In his absence Paris Can an unknown, unheard-of, private name, courts her, and writes to her the following epistle. Add any lustre to so bright a fame? No! sooner planets to the Sun may give That light which they themselves from him derive. All health, fair nymph, thy Paris sends to thee, Nor could my sickly fancy entertain

Though you, and only you, can give it me.
A thought so foolish, or a pride so vain.

Shall I then speak ? or is it needless grown
But, as when kinys through crowds in triumphs go, To tell a passion that itself has shown
The meanest wretch that gazes at the show, Does not my love itself too open lay,
Though to that pomp his voice can add no more,

And all I think in all I do betray?
Than when we drops into the ocean pour,

If not, oh! may it still in secret lie, Has leave his tongue in praises to employ

Till Time with our kind wishes shall comply; (Th’ accepted language of officious joy):

Till all our joys may to us come sincere,
So I in loud applauses may reveal

Nor lose their price by the allay of fear!
To you, great king of verse, my loyal zeal, In vain I strive; who can that fire conceal,
May tell with what majestic grace and mien Which does itself by its own light reveal?
Your Muse displays herself in every scene;

But, if you needs would hear my treinbling tongue
In what rich robes she has fair Cressid drest, Speak what my actions have declar'd so long,
And with what gentle fires inflam'd her breast. I love; you've there the word that does impart
How when those fading eyes her aid implor'd, The truest message from my bleeding heart :
She all their sparkling lustre has restord, Forgive me, madam, that I thus confess
Added more charms, fresh beauties on them shed, To you, my fair physician, my disease,
And to new youth recall'd the lovely maid.

And with such looks this suppliant paper grace,
How nobly she the royal brothers draws;

As best become the beauties of that face.
How great their quarrel, and how great their cause! May that smooth brow no angry wrinkle wear,
How justly rais'd! and by what just degrees, But be your looks as kind as they are fair.
in a sweet calm does the rough tempest cease! Some pleasure 'tis to think these lines shall find
Envy not now “the god-like Roman's rage;" An entertainment at your hands so kind.
Hector and Troilus, darlings of our age,

For this creates a hope, that I too may,
Shall hand in hand with Brutus tread the stage. Receiv'd by you, as happy be as they

VOL. IX.

Ah! may that hope be true! nor I complain “ Fear not; thou art Jove's substitute below, That Venus promis'd you to me in vain :

The prize of heavenly beauty to bestow; For know, lest you through ignorance offend Contending goddesses appeal to you, The gods, 'tis Heaven that me does hither send. Decide their strife.” He spake, and up be flew, None of the meanest of the powers divine, Then, bolder grown, I throw my fears away, That first inspird, still favours my design. And every one with curious eyes survey: Great is the prize 1 seek, I must confess,

Each of them merited the victory, But neither is my due or merit less:

And I their doubtful judge was griev'd to see, Venus has promis'd she would you assign, That one must have it, when deserv'd by three. Fair as herself, to be for ever mine.

But yet that one there was which most prevailid, Guided by her, my Troy I left for thee,

And with more powerful charms my heart assail'd: Nor fear'd the dangers of the faithless sea. Ah! would you know who thus my breast could She, with a kind and an auspicious gale,

move? Drove the good ship, and stretch'd out every sail : Who could it be but the fair queen of love? For she, who sprung out of the teeming deep, With mighty bribes they all for conquest strive, Still o'er the main does her wide empire keep, Juno will empires, Pallas valour give, Still may she keep it ! and as she with ease Whilst I stand doubting which I should prefer, Allays the wrath of the most angry seas, Empire's soft ease, or glorious toils of war; So may she give my stormy mind some rest, But Venus gently smil'd, and thus she spake : And calm the raging tempest of my breast, They're dangerous gifts: O do not, do not take! And bring home all my sighs and all my vows I'll make thee love's immortal pleasures know, To their wish'd harbour and desir'd repose ! And joys that in full tides for ever flow. Hither my flames 1 brought, not found them For, if you judge the conquest to be mine, here;

Fair Leda's fairer daughter shall be thine.” I my whole course by their kind light did steer: She spake ; and I gave her the conquest due, For I by no mistake or storm was tost

Both to her beauty, and her gift of you. Against my will upon this happy coast.

Meanwhile (my angry stars more gentle grown) Nor as a merchant did I plow the main

I am acknowledg'd royal Priam's son. To venture life, like sordid fools, for gain.

All the glad court, all Troy does celebrate, No; may the gods preserve my present store, With a new festival, my change of fate. And only give me you to make it more!

And as I now languish and die for thee, Nor to admire the place came I so far;

So did the beauties of all Troy for me. I have towns richer than your cities are.

You o'er a heart with sovereign power do reign; ?Tis you I seek, to me from Venus due;

For which a thousand virgins sigh'd in vain: You were my wish, before your charms I knew. Nor did queens only fly to my embrace, Bright images of you my mind did draw,

But nymphs of form divine, and heavenly race. Long ere my eyes the lovely object saw.

I all their loves with cold disdain represt, Nor wonder that, with the swift-winged dart, Since hopes of you first fir'd my longing breast. At such a distance you could wound my heart : Your charming form all day my fancy drew, So Fate ordain'd; and lest you fight with Fate, And when night came, my dreams were all of Hear and believe the truth I shall relate.

you. Now in my mother's womb shut up 1 lay, What pleasures then must you yourself impart, Her fatal burthen longing for the day,

Whose shadows only so surpris'd my heart! When she in a mysterious dream was told, And oh! how did I burn approaching nigher, Her teeming womb a burning torch did hold; That was so scorch'd by so remote a fire ! Frighted she rises, and her vision she

For now no longer could my hopes refrain To Priam tells, and to his prophets he;

From seeking their wish'd object through the main. They sing, that I all Troy should set on fire ; I fell the stately pine, and every tree But sure Fate meant the flames of my desire. That best was fit to cut the yielding sea, For fear of this, among the swains expos'd, Fetch'd from Gargarian hills, tall firs I cleave, My native greatness every thing disclos'd. And Ida naked to the winds I leave, Beauty, and strength, and courage, join'd in one, Stiff oaks I bend, and solid planks I form, Through all disguise, spoke me a monarch's son. And every ship with well-knit ribs I arm. A place there is in Ida's thickest grove,

To the tall mast I sails and streamers join, With oaks and fir-trees shaded all above,

And the gay poops with painted gods do shine. The grass here grows untouched by bleating flocks, But on my ship does only Venus stand Or mountain goat, or the laborious ox. [pride, With little Cupid smiling in her hand, From hence Troy's towers, magnificence, and Guide of the way she did herself command. Leaning against an aged oak, I spy'd.

My fleet thus rigg'd, and all my thoughts on thee, When straight methought I heard the trembling I long to plow the vast Ægéan sea; ground

My anxious parents my desires withstand, With the strange noise of trampling feet resound. And both with pious tears my stay command. In the same instant Jove's great messenger, Cassandra too, with loose dishevell'd hair, On all bis wings borne through the yielding air, Just as our hasty ships to sail prepare, Lighting before my wondering eyes did stand, Full of prophetic fury cries aloud, His golden rod shone in his sacred hand :

“() whither steers my brother through the dood? With him three charming goddesses there came, Little, ah! little dost thou know or heed Juno, and Pallas, and the Cyprian dame.

To what a raging fire these waters lead!" With an unusual fear I stood amaz'd,

True were her fears, and in my breast I feel Till thus the god my sinking courage rais'd : The scorching flames her fury did foretel.

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Yet out I sail, and, favoured by the wind, I speak not this, your Sparta to disgrace, On your blest shore my wish'l-for haven find; For wheresoe'er your life began its race Your husband then, so Heaven, kind Heaven or- Must be to me the happiest, dearest place. dains,

Yet Sparta's poor; and you, that should be drest In his own house his rival entertains,

In all the riches of the shining East, Shows me whate'er in Sparta does delight

Should understand how ill that sordid place The curious traveller's inquiring sight:

Suits with the beauty of your charming face; But I, who only long'd to gaze on you,

That face with costly dress and rich attire Could taste no pleasure in the idle shew.

Should shine, and make the gazing world admire. But at thy sight, oh! where was then my heart ! When you the habit of my Trojans see, Qut from my breast it gave a sudden start, What, think you, must that of their ladies be? Sprung forth and met half way the fatal dart. Oh! then be kind, fair Spartan, nor disdain Such or less charming was the queen of love, A Trojan in your bed to entertain. When with her rival goddesses she strove.

He was a Trojan, and of our great line,
But, fairest, hadst thou come among the three, That to the gods does mix immortal wine;
Ev'n she the prize must have resign'd to thee. Tithonus too, whom to her rosy bed
Your beauty is the only theme of Fame,

The goddess of the Morning blushing led;
And all the world sounds with fair Helen's name: So was Anchises of our Trojan race,
Nor lives there she whom pride itself can raise Yet Venus' self to his desir'd embrace,
To claim with you an equal share of praise. With all her train of little Loves, did fly,
Do I speak false? Rather Report does so,

And in his arms learn’d for a while to lie.
Detracting from you in a praise too low.

Nor do I think that Menelaus can, More here I find than that could ever tell,

Compar'd with me, appear the greater man. So much your beauty does your fame excel. I'm sure my father never made the Sun Well then might Theseus, he who all things knew, With frighted steeds from his dire banquet run : Think none was worthy of his theft but you; No grandfather of mine is stain’d with blood, I this bold theft admire; but wonder more Or with his crime names the Myrtoan flood. He ever would so dear a prize restore:

None of our race does in the Stygian lake Ah! would these hands have ever let you go?

Snatch at those apples he wants power to take. Or could live, and be divorc'd from you? But stay; since you with such a husband join, No; sooner 1 with life itself could part,

Your father Jove is forc'd to grace his line. Than e'er see you torn from my bleeding heart. He (gods !) a wretch unworthy of those charms But could I do as he, and give you back,

Does all the night lie melting in your arms, Yet sure some taste of love I first would take, Does every minute to new joys improve, Would first, in all your blooming excellence And riots in the luscious sweets of love. And virgin sweets, feast my luxurious sense;

I but at table one short view can gain,
Or if you would not let that treasure go,

And that too, only to increase my pain :
Kisses at least you should, you would bestow, O may such feasts my worst of fues attend,
And let me smell the flower as it did grow. As often I at your spread table find.
Come then into my longing arms, and try

I loath my food, when my tormented eye
My lasting, fix'd, eternal constancy,

Sees bis rude hand in your soft bosom lie. Which never till my funeral pile shall waste; I burst with envy when I him behold My present fire shall mingle with my last. Your tender limbs in his loose robe infold. Sceptres and crowns for you I did disdain, When he your lips with melting kisses seald, With which great Juno tempted me in vain. Before my eyes I the large goblet held. And when bright Pallas did her bribes prepare, When you with him in strict embraces close, One soft embrace from you I did prefer

My bated meat to my dry'd palate grows. To courage, strength, and all the poinp of war. Oft have I sigh'd, then sigh'd again, to see Nor shall I ever think my choice was ill,

That sigh with scornful smiles repaid by thee. My judgment's settled, and approves it still. Oft I with wine would quench my hot desire: Do you but grant my hopes may prove as true, In vain; for so I added fire to fire. As they were plac'd above all things but you. Oft have I turn'd away my head in vain, I am, as well as you, of heavenly race,

You straight recall'd my longing eyes again. Nor will my birth your mighty line disgrace. What shall I do? Your sports with grief I see, Pallas and Jove our noble lineage head,

But it's a greater, not to look on thee.
And them a race of godlike kings succeed. With all my art I strive my flames to hide,
All Asia's sceptres to my father bow,

But through the thin disguise they are descry'd.
And half the spacious East his power allow. Too well, alas! my wounds to you are known,
There you shall see the houses roofd with gold, And O that they were so to you alone!
And temples glorious as the gods they hold. How oft turn I my weeping eyes away,
Troy you shall see, and walls divine admire, Lest he the cause should ask, and I betray!
Built to the concert of Apollo's lyre.

What tales of love tell I, when warm'd with What need I the vast flood of people tell,

wine,
That over its wide banks does almost swell? To your dear face applying every line!
You shall gay troops of Phrygian matrons meet, In borrow'd names I my own passion shew:
And Trojan wives shining in every street,

They the feign'd lovers are, but I the true.
How often then will you yourself confess

Sometimes, more freedom in discourse to gain, The emptiness and poverty of Greece !

For my excuse I drunkenness would feign. How often will you say, one palace there

Once I remember your loose garment fill, Contains more wealth than do wbole cities here! And did your naked, swelling breasts reveal,

228

Breasts white a's snow, or the false down of Jove, Then, if my wishes may aspire so highi,
When to your mother the kind swan made love: I with our flight shall win you to comply;
Whilst, with the sight surpris'd, I gazing stand, But, if nice honour little scruples frame,
The cup 1 held dropt from my careless hand, The force I'll use shall vindicate your fame.
If you your young Hermione but kiss,

Of Theseus and your brothers I can learn,
Straight from her lips I snatch the envy'd bliss. No precedents so nearly you concern:
Sometimes supinely laid, love songs I sing, You Theseus, they Leucippus daughter stole;
And wafted kisses from my fingers fling.

I'll be the fourth in the illustrious roll. Your women to my aid I try to move

Wellmann'd, wellarm’d, for you my fleet does stay,
With all the powerful rhetoric of love;

And waiting winds murmur at our delay.
But they, alas ! speak nothing but despair, Through Troy's throng'd streets you shall in
And in the midst leave my neglected prayer.

triumph go,
Oh! that by some great prize you might be won, Ador'd as some new goddess here below.
And your possession might the victor crown, Where'er you tread, spices and gums shall smoke,
As Pelops his Hippodamia won :

And victims fall beneath the fatal stroke.
Then had you seen what I for you had done: My father, mother, all the joyful court,
But now I've nothing left to do but pray,

All Troy, to you with presents shall resort. And myself prostrate at your feet to lay.

Alas! 'tis nothing what I yet have said;
O thou, thy house's glory, brighter far

What there you'll find, shall what I write exceed.
Than thy two shining brothers' friendly star! Nor fear, lest war pursue our hasty flight,
O worthy of the bed of Heaven's great king, And angry Greece should all her force unite.
If aught so fair but from himself could spring! What ravish'd maid did ever wars regain?
Either with thee I back to Troy will fly,

Vain the attempt, and fear of it as vain.
Or here a wretched banish'd lover die.

The Thracians Orithya stole from far,
With no slight wound my tender breast does smart, Yet Thrace ne'er heard the noise of following war..
My bones and marrow feel the piercing dart; Jason too stole away the Colchian maid,
I find my sister true did prophesy,

Yet Colchos did not Thessaly invade.
I with a heavenly dart should wounded die; He who stole you, stole Ariadne too,
Despise not then a love by Heaven design'd, Yet Minos did not with all Crete pursue.
So may the gods still to your vows be kind! Fear in these cases than the danger's more,

Much I could say ; but what, will best be known And, when the threatening tempest once is o'er,
In your apartment, when we are alone.

Our shame's then greater than our fear before. You błush, and, with a saperstitious dread, But say from Greece a threaten'd war pursue, Fear to defile the sacred marriage bed:

Know I have strength and wounding weapons too.
Ah! Helen, can you then so simple be,

In men and horse more numerous than Greece
To think such beauty can from faults be free? Our empire is, nor in its compass less.
Or change that face, or you must needs be kind; Nor does your husband Paris aught excel
Beauty and Virtue seldom have been join'd.

In generous courage, or in martial skill.
Jove and bright Venus do our thefts approve, Ev'n but a boy, from my slain foes I gain'd
Such thefts as these gave you your father Jove. My stol'n herd, and a new name attain'd;
And if in you aught of your parents last,

Ev'n then, o'ercome by me, I could produce
Can.Jove and Leda's daughter well be chaste? Deïphobus and great Ilioneus.
Yet then be chaste when we to Troy shall go Nor hand to hand more to be fear'd am I,
(For she who sins with one alone, is so):

Than when from far my certain arrows fiy.
But let us now enjoy that pleasing sin,

You for his youth can no such actions feign, Then marry, and be innocent again.

Nor can be e'er my envy'd skill attain.
Evin your own husband doth the same persuade, But could he, Hector's your security,
Silent himself, yet all his actions plead:

And he alone an army is to me.
For me they plead, and he, good man! because You know me not, nor the hid prowess find
He'll spoil no sport, officiously withdraws. Of him that Heaven has for your bed design &
Had he no other time to visit Crete?

Either no war from Greece shall follow thee,
Oh! how prodigious is a husband's wit!

Or, if it does, shall be repell’d by me.
He went; and, as he went, he cry'd, “ My dear Nor think 1 fear to fight for such a wife,
Instead of me, you of your guest take care!” That prize would give the coward's courage life.
But you forget your lord's command, I see,

All after-ages shall your fame admire,
Nor take you any care of Love or me.

If you alone set the whole world on fire, And think you such a thing as he does know

To sea, to sea, while all the gods are kind,
The treasure that he holds in holding you?

And all I promise, you in Troy shall find,
No; did he understand but half your charms,
He durst not trust them in a stranger's arms,
If neither his nor my request can move,
We're forc'd by opportunity to love;

THE EPISTLE OP
We should be fools, ev'n greater fools than he,

ACONTIUS TO CYDIPPE.
Should so secure a time unactive be,

TRANSLATED FROM OVID.
Alone these tedious winter nights you lie
In a cold widow'd bed, and so do ).

THE ARGUMENT.
Let mutual joys our willing bodies join,
That happy night shall the mid-day out-shine. Acontius in the temple of Diana at Delos (famous
Then will I swear by all the powers above,

for the resort of the most beautiful virgins of all And in their awful presence seal my love,

Greece) fell in love with Cydippe, a lady of

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