Stout once a Month they march a bluft'ring Band,
And ever, but in times of Need, at hand:
This was the Morn when iffuing on the Guard,
Drawn up in Rank and File they ftood prepar'd
Of seeming Arms to make a short Effay,
Then haften to be Drunk, the Business of the Day.
The Cowards would have fled, but that they
Themselves so many, and their Foes fo few; [knew
But crowding on, the last the first impel:
Till overborn with weight the Cyprians fell.
Cymon inflav'd, who first the War begun,
And Iphigene once more is loft and won.
Deep in a Dungeon was the Captive caft,
Depriv'd of Day, and held in Fetters fast:
His Life was only fpar'd at their Requeft,
Whom taken he so nobly had releas'd:
But Iphigenia was the Ladies Care,
Each in their turn addrefs'd to treat the Fair;
While Pafimondand his the Nuptial Feaft prepare
Her fecret Soul to Cymon was inclin❜d,
But she must suffer what her Fates affign'd;
So paffive is the Church of Womankind.
What worse to Cymon could his Fortune deal,
Rowl'd to the lowest Spoke of all her Wheel?
It rested to dismiss the downward weight,
Or raise him upward to his former height;
The latter pleas'd; and Love (concern'd the most)
Prepar'd th' amends, for what by Love he loft.
The Sire of Pafimond had left a Son
Though younger, yet for Courage early known,
Ormifda call'd; to whom by Promise ty'd,
A Rhodian Beauty was the destin'd Bride;
Caffandra was her Name, above the reft
Renown'd for Birth, with Fortune amply blefs'd.
Lyfymachus who rul'd the Rhodian State,
Was then by choice their annual Magistrate:
He lov'd Caffandra too with equal Fire,
But Fortune had not favour'd his Defire;
Cross'd by her Friends, by her not disapprov❜d,
Nor yet preferr'd, or like Ormifda lov'd:
So ftood th' Affair: Some little Hope remain'd,
That fhould his Rival chance to lofe, he gain'd.
Mean time young Pafimond his Marriage
prefs'd,
Ordain'd the Nuptial Day, prepar'd the Feast;
And frugally refolv'd (the Charge to shun,
Which would be double should he wed alone)
To join his Brother's Bridal with his own.
Lyfymachus opprefs'd with mortal Grief
Receiv'd the News, and study'd quick Relief:
The fatal Day approach'd: If Force were us'd,
The Magistrate his publick Trust abus'd;
0 To Juftice liable, as Law requir'd;
For when his Office ceas'd, his Pow'r expir'd:
While Pow'r remain'd, the Means were in his
By Force to feize, and then forfake the Land:
Betwixt Extreams he knew not how to move,
A Slave to Fame, but more a Slave to Love:
Restraining others, yet himself not free,
Made impotent by Pow'r, debas'd by Dignity!
Both Sides he weigh'd: But after much Debate,
The Man prevail'd above the Magistrate.
Love never fails to mafter what he finds,
But works a diff'rent way in diff'rent Minds,
The Fool enlightens, and the Wife he blinds.
This Youth propofing to poffefs, and fcape,
Began in Murder, to conclude in Rape :
Unprais'd by me, tho' Heav'n fometime may bless
An impious Act with undeferv'd Succefs:
The Great, it seems, are privileg'd alone
To punish all Injustice but their own.
But here I ftop, not daring to proceed,
Yet blush to flatter an unrighteous Deed:
For Crimes are but permitted, not decreed.
Refolv'd on Force, his Wit the Pretor bent,
To find the Means that might secure th' Event;
Not long he labour'd, for his lucky Thought
In Captive Cymon found the Friend he fought;
Th' Example pleas'd: The Caufe and Crime the
An injur❜d Lover, and a ravish'd Dame. [fame;
How much he durft he knew by what he dar'd,
The less he had to lose, the lefs he car'd
[ward.
To menage loathfomLife when Love was theRe-
This ponder'd well, and fix'd on his Intent,
In depth of Night he for the Pris'ner fent;
In fecret fent, the Publick View to shun,
Then with a fober Smile he thus begun.
The Pow'rs above, who bounteously bestow
Their Gifts and Graces on Mankind below,
Yet prove our Merit first, nor blindly give
To fuch as are not Worthy to receive:
For Valour and for Virtue they provide
Their due Reward, but first they must be try'd:
Thefe fruitful Seeds within your Mind they fow'd;
'Twas yours t'improve the Talent they beftow'd:
They gave you to be born of noble Kind,
They gave you Love to lighten up your Mind,
And purge the groffer Parts; they gave you Care
To please, and Courage to deferve the Fair.
Thus far they try'd you, and by Proof they found
The grain intrusted in a Grateful Ground:
But ftill the great Experiment remain❜d,
They fuffer'd you to lose the Prize you gain'd;
That you might learn the Gift was theirs alone:
And when restor'd, to them the Bleffing own.
Reftor'd it foon will be; the Means prepar❜d,
The Difficulty smooth'd, the Danger shar'd:
Be but your felf, the Care to me refign,
Then Iphigene is yours, Caffandra mine.
Your Rival Pafimond purfues your Life,
Impatient to revenge his ravish'd Wife,
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