The vanquish'd ifle our leisure must attend,
Till the fair bleffing we vouchsafe to fend;
Nor can we spare you long, tho' often we may lend.
The dove was twice employ'd abroad, before
The world was dry'd, and she return'd no more.
Nor dare we truft so soft a meffenger,
New from her fickness, to that northern air ;
Reft here a while your luftre to restore,
That they may fee you, as you fhone before;
For yet, th' eclipse not wholly past, you wade
Thro' fome remains, and dimuefs of a fhade.
A fubject in his prince may claim a right,
Nor fuffer him with ftrength impair'd to fight;
Till force returns, his ardor we restrain,
And curb his warlike wish to cross the main,
Now paft the danger, let the learn'd begin
Th' inquiry, where difeafe could enter in ;
How thofe malignant atoms forc'd their way,
What in their faultlefs frame they found to make their prey ?
Where ev'ry element was weigh'd fo well,
That heav'n alone, who mix'd the mass, cou'd tell
Which of the four ingredients could rebel;
And where, imprifon'd in fo fweet a cage,
A foul might well be pleas'd to pass an age.
And yet the fine materials made it weak:
Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break :
Ev'n to your breast the fickness durft afpire;
And, forc'd from that fair temple to retire,
Profanely set the holy place on fire.
In vain your lord like young Vefpafian mourn'd,
When the fierce flames the fanctuary burn'd:
And I prepar'd to pay in verfes rude
A most detested act of gratitude:
Ev'n this had been your elegy, which now
Is offer'd for your health, the table of my vow.
Your angel fure our Morley's mind infpir'd,
To find the remedy your ill requir'd;
As once the Macedon, by Jove's decree,
Was taught to dream an herb for Ptolomee:
Or heav'n, which had fuch over-cost bestow'd,
As fcarce it could afford to flesh and blood,
So lik'd the frame, he would not work anew,
To fave the charges of another you.
Or by his middle fcience did he fteer,
And saw some great contingent good appear
Well worth a miracle to keep you here:
And for that end, preferv'd the precious mould,
Whicn all the future Ormonds was to hold;
And meditated in his better mind
An heir from you, which may redeem the failing kind.
Bleft be the pow'r which has at once restor❜d
The hopes of loft fucceffion to your lord,
Joy to the first and last of each degree,
Virtue to courts, and, what I long'd to fee,
Το
you the Graces, and the Mufe to me.
O daughter of the rofe, whofe cheeks unite
The diff'ring titles of the red and white;
Who heav'n's alternate beauty well difplay,
The blush of morning and the milky way;
Whofe face is paradife, but fenc'd from fin:
For God in either eye has plac'd a cherubin,
All is your lord's alone; ev'n abfent, he
Employs the care of chafte Penelope.
For him you waste in tears your widow'd hours,
For him your curious needle paints the flowers;
Such works of old Imperial dames were taught;
Such, for Afcanius, fair Eliza wrought,
The foft receffes of your hours improve
The three fair pledges of your happy love :
B 4
All other parts of pious duty done,
You owe your Ormond nothing but a fon;
To fill in future times his father's place,
And wear the garter of his mother's race,
'N days of old, there liv'd, of mighty fame,
A valiant prince, and Thefeus was his name:
A chief, who more in feats of arms excell'd,
The rifing nor the fetting fun beheld.
Of Athens he was lord; much land he won,
And added foreign countries to his crown.
In Scythia with the warrior queen he ftrove,
Whom first by force he conquer'd, then by love;
He brought in triumph back the beauteous dame,
With whom her fifter, fair Emilia, came.
With honour to his home let Thefeus ride,
With love to friend, and fortune for his guide,
And his victorious army at his fide.
I pafs their warlike pomp, their proud array,
Their fhouts, their fongs, their welcome on the way:
But, were it not too long, I would recite
The feats of Amazons, the fatal fight
Betwixt the hardy queen, and heroe knight;
The town befieg'd, and how much blood it coft
The female army, and th' Athenian hoft ;
The fpoufals of Hippolita the queen ;
What tilts and turneys at the feast were seen ;
The ftorm at their return, the ladies fear:
But these, and other things, I must forbear.
The field is fpacious I design to fow,
With oxen far unfit to draw the plow :
The remnant of my tale is of a length
To tire your patience, and to wafte my ftrength;
And trivial accidents fhall be forborn,
That others may have time to take their turn ;
As was at firft enjoin'd us by mine host:
That he whofe tale is beft, and pleases moft,
Should win his supper at our common cost.
And therefore where I left, I will pursue
This ancient ftory, whether false or true,
In hope it may be mended with a new.
The prince I mention'd, full of high renown,
In this array drew near th' Athenian town;
When in his pomp and utmost of his pride,
Marching he chanc'd to caft his eye afide,
And faw a choir of mourning dames, who lay
By two and two across the common way:
|