Soft fmiling, blufhing lips conceal'd her wiles;
Yet, ah! the blushes artful as the fmiles.
Oft-gazing on her fhade, th' enraptur'd fair
Decreed the fubftance well deferv'd her care:
Her thoughts, to others charms malignly blind,
Center'd in that, and were to that confin'd;
And if on others eyes a glance were thrown,
'Twas but to watch the influence of her own.
Much like her guardian, fair Cythera's queen,
When for her warrior fhe refines her mein;
Or when, to blefs her Delian favourite's arms,
The radiant fair invigorates her charms.
Much like her pupil, Egypt's fportive dame,
Her drefs expreffive, and her air the fame,
When her gay bark o'er filver Cydnos roll'd,
And all th' emblazon'd ftreamers wav'd in gold.
Such fhone the vifion; nor forbore to move
The fond contagious airs of lawless love.
Each wanton eye deluding glances fir'd,
And amorous dimples on each cheek conspir'd.
Lifeless her gait, and flow, with seeming pain,
She dragg'd her loitering limbs along the plain;
Yet made fome faint efforts, and first approach'd the
fwain.

So glaring draughts, with taudry lustre bright,
Spring to the view, and rush upon the fight:
More flowly charms a Raphael's chaster air,
Waits the calm fearch, and pays the fearcher's care.

Wrap'd in a pleas'd fufpence, the youth furvey'd
The various charms of each attractive maid:

}

Alternate

Alternate each he view'd, and each admir'd,
And found, alternate, varying flames infpir'd.
Quick o'er their forms his eyes with pleasure ran,
When fhe, who first approach'd him, first began.

"Hither, dear boy, direct thy wandering eyes;
Tis here the lovely vale of pleasure lies.
Debate no more, to me thy life refign;
Each fweet which nature can diffuse is mine,
For me the nymph diverfifies her power,
Springs in a tree, or bloffoms in a flower;
To please my ear, the tunes the linnet's strains;
To please my eye, with lilies paints the plains;
To form my couch, in moffy beds fhe grows;
To gratify my fmell, perfumes the rofe;
Reveals the fair, the fertile feene you fee,
And fwells the vegetable world, for me.

Let the gull'd fool the toils of war pursue,
Where bleed the many to enrich the few:

Where chance from courage claims the boasted prize:
Where, though the give, your country oft denies.
Industrious thou fhalt Cupid's wars maintain,
And ever gently fight his foft campaign.
His darts alone fhalt wield, his wounds endure,
Yet only fuffer, to enjoy the cure.

Yield but to me-a choir of nymphs shall rife,
And fire thy breaft, and blefs thy ravish'd eyes.
Their beauteous cheeks a fairer rofe fhall wear,
A brighter lily on their necks appear;

Where

Where fondly thou thy favour'd head shalt reft,
Soft as the down that fwells the cygnet's nest !
While Philomel in each foft voice complains,
And gently lulls thee with mellifluous strains :
Whilft, with each accent, sweeteft odours flow;
And spicy gums round every bofom glow.

Not the fam❜d bird Arabian climes admire,

Shall in fuch luxury of fweets expire.

At floth let war's victorious fons exclaim;

In vain! for pleasure is my real-name;.

Nor thou the head with bays o'er-grown ; envy

No, feek thou rofes to adorn thy own:

For well each opening fcene, that claims my care,
Suits and deferves the beauteous crown I wear.

Let others prune the vine; the genial bowl. Shall crown thy table, and enlarge thy foul. Let vulgar hands explore the brilliant mine, So the gay produce glitter ftill on thine. Indulgent Bacchus loads his labouring tree, And, guarding, gives its clustering sweets to me. For my lov'd train, Apollo's piercing beam Darts through the paffive glebe, and frames the gern. See in my caufe confenting gods employ'd, Nor flight thofe gods, their bleffings unenjoy'd! For thee the poplar fhall its amber drain; For thee, in clouded beauty, fpring the cane;. Some coftly tribute every clime fhall pay ; Some charming treasure every wind convey ; Each object round fome pleasing seene shall yield; Art built thy dome, while nature decks thy field;

of

Of Corinth's order fhall the ftructure rife;
The fpiring turrets glitter through the skies;
Thy coftly robe shall glow with Tyrian rays;
Thy vafe fhall sparkle, and thy car fhall blaze;
Yet thou, whatever pomp the fun display,
Shalt own the amorous night exceeds the day.

When melting flutes, and sweetly-founding lyres
Wake the gay loves, and cite the young defires;
Or, in th' Ionian dance, some favourite maid
Improves the flame her sparkling eyes convey'd;
Think, canft thou quit a glowing Delia's arms,
To feed on virtue's vifionary charms;

Or flight the joys which wit and youth engage,
For the faint honour of a frozen fage?

To find dull envy ev'n that hope deface,
And, where you toil'd for glory, reap disgrace?
O! think that beauty waits on thy decree,
And thy lov'd loveliest charmer pleads with me.
She, whofe foft smile, or gentler glance to move,
You vow'd the wild extremities of love;
In whofe endearments years, like moments, flew;
For whofe endearments millions feem'd too few;
She, fhe implores; the bids thee feize the prime,
And tread with her the flowery tract of time;
Nor thus her lovely bloom of life beflow
On fome cold lover, or infulting foe.

Think, if against that tongue thou canst rebel,
Where love yet dwelt, and reafon feem'd to dwell;

What strong perfuafion arms her fofter fighs!
What full conviction fparkles in her eyes!

See nature fmiles, and birds falute the shade,
Where breathing jafmin fcreens the fleeping maid:
And fuch her charms, as to the vain may prove,
Ambition feeks more humble joys than love!
There busy toil shall ne'er invade thy reign,
Nor fciences perplex thy labouring brain:
Or none, but what with equal fweets invite;
Nor other arts, but to prolong delight:
Sometimes thy fancy prune her tender wing,
To praise a pendant, or to grace a ring;
To fix the drefs that fuits each varying mien
To fhew where beft the clustering gems are feen;
To figh foft ftrains along the vocal grove,
And tell the charms, the fweet effects of love!
Nor fear to find a coy difdainful Muse;

Nor think the fifters will their aid refufe.

;

Cool grots, and tinkling rills, or filent fhades,
Soft fcenes of leisure! fuit th' harmonious maids;
And all the wife, and all the grave deeree
Some of that facred train ally'd to me.

But if more fpecious eafe thy wishes claim,
And thy breaft glow with faint defire of fame,
Some fofter fcience fhall thy thought's amufe,
And learning's name a folemn found diffuse:
To thee all nature's curious stores I'll bring,
Explain the beauties of an infect's wing;

The