Festival of Love (1812)

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THE FOURTH EDITION IMPROVED.

FESTIVAL of LOVE;
OR, A COLLECTION OF
CYTHEREAN POEMS:

PROCURED AND SELECTED
BY G-------E P--------E,*
AND DEDICATED TO
HIS BROTHER.
CONTAINING
Elegant Tranflations from Anacreon, Sapphos
Mus.ffius, Coluthus, Secundus, &c
AND
INNUMERABLE ORIGINAL PIECES,
NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED,
BY THE

D-e of B-------       h Dr. W-—«           |\ D- of D—
Mr. S—— Dr. K.                       D-ofM——
Mr. t-------                L~d J— R— Mr. J----------
Mr. H——               L-d J— T— E~ of E--------
WM---------            Mr. F-             ■ |E-ofS------
L-dW—R— Mr. B—                 D-ofC------
Sir j. J-------            I Mr. F—es               Dr. A------g
Sir C. W-------         |; R. B. S—, Esq,  U D- of Q;—y
AND
MANY OTHER EQUALLY CONSPICUOUS PERSONS IN
THE WORLD OF LITERATURE.
■
Ex amore vita oritur, tunc prima vitce designatiu amor est.

LONDON.
PRINTED FOR M. SMITH J

And, by the Editors Permission, sold by the Booksellers
in Fleet-streety Piccadilly, and Paternoster-row*

PREFACE.

WITH authors and with their productions the
world are pestered daily:—however, I will add
my small mite to the enormous pile already erected*
Royalty, by Horace Walpole's Catalogue, has for ages
entered, and hut grovelled in the paths of literature, un~
edified themselves, ungratified the public; for, alas! the
frailty and insufficiency of men have induced them to
throw aside the veil that has concealed their defects to
the commonalty, and as beacons to their successors, pre-
cipitated into the gulph of obloquy and contempt. The
Waterman, the Porter, the Ploughman, and the Milk-
woman, have stood forth each descendants of the nine,—
The Tradesman has built a System of Morality, the
Banker has written on Astronomy, and the Astronomer
has descended to Witchcraft and Astrology : Kings have
scribbled upon that, which they cannot or will not com-
prehend-—Republicanism; Nobles have considered the
advantages of Monarehism, and Plebeians have applauded
an Aristocracy.

After having taken a view of such a strange perver-
sion of the human powers, I conceive I stand excused to t
the public, for employing my modicum of ability in pro-
curing a number of Amorous Poems, having sacrificed
lavishly at the shrine of my favourite Goddess?
A3                       With .

iv                               PREFACE.
With respect to this Collection, it will be but justice
to mention, that many celebrated characters in the lite«
rary horizon have contributed to the enrichment of this
my entry into Authorship or Editorship, or whatever the
reader is pleased to call it.

One word more, and I have done. As there are many
prudes, or women who would wish to be considered so •
let them, if they have a mind to peruse my volume, with-
out injuring their reputation, have it bound prayer-book
fashion, lettered, Marriage Ceremony with Notes; when
they may at all times and places, and in all company,
amuse themselves, and at the same time establish the
piety of their characters. If it suits the constitution of
the Divine, he may bind it in vellum, and letter it, Ca-
tulli, Tibulli, et Propertii Opera j if of the Philosopher,
it may wear the appearance of the Morals of Seneca, the
Sayings of Epictetusj the Problems of Euclid, or the
Labours of Archimedes j or should it delight the Physi-
cian, he may convert it into the Works of Galen or Hip-
pocrates, or the Art of Midwifery : the Lawyer may con-
sider it as the Lex Naturae ; the Statesman as An Essay-
on Increasing the Poll-Toxy the Botanist as the Genera
Plantarum Linnsei *, and the Tradesman as Hayes's In-
terest, or The pleasant Art of becoming a Bankrupt with
-xpediuon and female pity. Nay, so well am I con-
inced it will suit my brother's taste, that I intend send-
ing him a copy under the title of The complete Art of
Free Living.

CONTENTS.

CONTENTS.
A.                                         PAGE

A nacreon to his Mistress, by Dr. Broome .. 64
J-J&- .--------_. on his Mistress's Picture, from the
Greek................................ 139
Adieu and Recall to Love, by Mr. P—------ .... 140
The Amorous Groom, a tale, from La Fontaine .. 289
Anacreontic Song, aung by Mr. liooke ........ 300
' B. '
Beauty and Wine, Union of, a song, by G. A.
Stevens..............................     94
The Bower, from Anacreon, by E. O. B. Esq. ..   105
Belinda, Epigram on ......................   168
B-------------, D— of, Song by..............   245
Billingsgate Nan, a song..................   362
C.
Cynthia, by the B— of B~—d..............     18
Chloe, Epigram on, by Sir C. H. Williams ......     28
Celia, Lines left on the Toilet of, by It. B.
S--------_, Esq. ......................     48
Chloe's Wedding on the twenty-first of December,
by C~-----F—.......................«.-..     66
Chloe, Song on, by C—— T-------------n ,, „...     68
Cupid stray'd............................     77
Cautious Bride, by R. B. "S—------, Esq.......     79
Corinna and Belvidera.....................,     97
To the Hon, Miss Carteret..................     99
Captain .

vl                               CONTENTS,
PAGE
Captain Cupid, by Lord E—--------m .......... 106
Celia vanquished.......................... 110
*»___. .„.., „„.,— Answer to.................... Ill
Chastity, a song, by G. A. Stevens ............ 113
Chloe triumphant, by Sir J—- J------• .......... 146
Cupid lost, from Moschus, by Fawkes .......... 177
Cynthia, a song.......................... 244
Cupid, the Birth of, by the D— of D---------- .. -288
Cure for the Influenza, a tale, by Mr. H, ...... 350
D.
The Dream, from Anacreon, by Fawkes ........ 21
Don Pringello's Tale, by Mr. H------II ........ ib.
Dick and Doll, a song, by G. A. Stevens........ 44
To Delia, by Mr. B—t .................. 90
Dolly, a song...................,..,...,, 309
E.
.Epigram, from Martial...................... 28
Epithalamium, from Secundus, by R. B. S——, ,
Esq................................... 50
.The End, a song, by G. A. Stevens.......... 103
Epithalamium of Achilles and Deidamia, from Blon,
by Fawkes *. .......................... 117
Economy of Love, by Dr. Armstrong .......... 118
Epitaph pinned to a Lady's Bed-curtains, on her
Wedding-night, by the E— of S.---------< .... 153
Epithalamium on the Marriage of Stratocles and
Myrilla, from Anacreon^ by Fawkes ........ 158
Epigram on ■■ ■ ...,,..,................ 168
The Eggs, a tale, by Lr- W— E— ...... 180
Epistle

CONTENTS.                             Til
PACE
Epistle from Mr. B-———> written at Otaheite, to
L—y G—r..........................   265
F.
F----------y Lady, on a Picture of, by L—d
p_„---------h ..........................     12
Fiaviila, Epigram on ......................     47
Fanny, Song on, by C-------1 T.........n........     67
On a Fan, by L—d J. T-------------....____v...     69
Fair Penitent, a song......................   263
Fair Nun, a tale, by Mr. Fenton............   312
Fancy-stirring Bowl, a song, by Capt. Morris ....   346
G.
The Geranium, by R. B. Sheridan, Esq.......,.     24
On a Lady's Girdle........................     97
H.
Hans Carvel's Ring .............................. 401
Honey-Moon, an Ode.........................■, 7
The Husband, by a Lady ...................... 152.".
To Hamilla, a Song .............................- 191
Hero and Leander, Loves of, from Musseus, by
Fawkes................................ 246
Hob in the Well, a tale, by Mr, H—-—- .... 284
Helen, the Rape of, from the Greek of Coluthus,
by the B—m of L——..................•., 374
J.
Jove and Semele, by the D— of Q————. .... j 01
The Inseparable Pair, a tale, by Mr. H——- .-. 322
Jeu de Mot ori a Dealer in the Miraculous, who in-
trigued with his Maid.................... 392
K.
Kissing, a song, by Gf A. Stevens ....»,,,,,,, 71
Km

viii                             CONTENTS.
PAGE
Kiss of Bonefonius ........................ 97
Kiss, Design of a.......................... 7 8
Kitty's Chamber Window, Soliloquy at ........ 298
L.
Lydia and Lubin, an epigram, by L—d M—— y 6
Lincoln, Lord, Ode to, by Sir C. H. Williams, i '. ♦ 13
To a Lady on her Parrot.................. .. 29
On a Lady's Pocket-book, by the Hon. Mrs.
T—-—.............;;.;............ si
Ladies, Epigram on the ..................... 47
Lamentable Case, by Sir C. H. Williams ........ 72
To Lydia by the D— of 0—- ......____.. 73
On Lesbia, by L—d S------—........-----.... 75
On Love, from Anacreon, by Fawkes .......... 92
Love-Song, by G. A, Stevens ,,.,». 1......... 95
Logical Song............................ 110
The Love Draught, from Anacreon, by Fawkes .. 2 49
Lydy, churning............................ 156
A Lover's Anger, by the D— of M-——----...... 169
Love, Ode to, by G— K—*——, Esq........... 283
The Leaky Vessel, a tale .....,,..»........... 355
The Lout looking for his Heifer.............. 406
M.
Mutual Love, a song, by G. A. Stevens.......» 4
To Myra, by Lord Lyltletap................ 70
The Marriage Morn, an Anacreontic.......... 93
Maria, a song, by G. A. Stevens .............'. 112
Margaret and Moses, Epigram on the Marriage
Of..........................,......... 152
Melissa's

CONTENTS.                              k
PAGE
Melissa's Lips, Sonnet to, by Br. W—— •••••• 15/
1 Melissa, Sonnet to, by the same............. • ib.
Maid, Epitaph on a....................... • 168
The Curious Maid ..............-----...... 399
IM---------, General, and his young Wife, a tale,
by'Mr.H-------.........................- 273
Melesinda's Misfortune, or the Burning of her
Smock................................ 346
My Thing is my own, a song ....>........**. 368
The Magnifying Glass, a tale ...............* 370
Morris, Captain, Songby .................... 373
Miss in her Teens, a tale, by Mr. H-------1 ...... 393
N.
Nesera, Epigram on, from Marullus, by the E— of
S~-------..........,;.y................. 47
Nell Wedded, an epigpam.................... 67
. Nesera, Kiss of, from Secundum, by the &—* of
Q-^------.......................«,......-. lis..
The Ninevite, a tale...................... 174
Nelly, a song e.. „........................ 2SI
O.
Odd, Imitation of the 10th Elegy of the Second
Book of, by Dr. W—».................. 142
P.
Phillis, Epigram on ... I ........'....,.*..... 46
Pompadour, Madam, Epigram on, by Yoltaire, on
her being made MistreSs to Lewis XV. ..;. 145
Pallas and Venus, by the ^Countess of H-*-——- .. 151
Progress of Love...................,*,,..> 321
The, Parson and Maid, &c, . »....,...„.,..... 417
Quadrille*

x                               CONTENTS.
PAGE
Q.
Quadrille, to a Lady playing at, by Mr. T—11 ,»     49
R.
The Rapture..............................     11
Rose, the Birth of, by Bonnel Thornton, Esq. «\     27
The Rival Beauties, from the Greek............     31
Ralph and Kate, an epigram .................     48
Roger and Molly.........................♦   154
A Riddle, by L~ W.------— R—-----1........   155
The Ramblers; or, an Imitation of the first
Love Scene in open Air, a tale, by L-— J-—
■ r__—4.,;;;;, .%.;..".>,.....,....... •««   17.0
Royal Assignation...................,.,....'.  173
The Royal Cuckold, a tale..................   329
S.
Song, by Mrs, R. ..........------........------       9
.------„__ the Hon. Mr, H---------- .♦>.*........   107
----—-------Captain Jackson..................   108
Song on a beautiful, but very young Lady ......   264
Stray Nymph, by Dr. W—-----........,.....     10
Strephon and Blowsalind, by Dr. M-——- ....     30
The Saddle..............................   407
The Spectacles /,,......____.............   409
i '■ The 'Squire, a tale, by Myself................   192
Softly, an Ode from Hafez, by the late Captain
Thomas Ford..........................   2?S
Seeing is Believing, a tale, by Mr. H——*----* • •«   280
S—h, E— of, Song by...............   31©
Ibid ,'...................................   347
T.
T-----;—-1 L—j an Address to, by Capt. Morris ..     16

CONTENTS.                                xi
PAGE
On Lady TyrconneFs Ring, by Mr. S-----—— ....   169
The Three Monks, a tale, by Mr. H----------....   302
The Tree of Life, a song, by Capt. M------s ....   318
T—------1 L—, Song by....................   320
V.
Venus, Hymn to, from Sappho, by Fawkes......       1
_-™_J Ode to, by Mr. H—1.....r........       3
Venus mistaken..........................     12
— —, General Churchill's Address to..........     14
„—-? Girdle of, unbuckled. By the D— of
■    b«------......................*.........     31
■ -u. represented on a Disk, from Anaereon, by
the Hon. Mr. G—------e........-----...... 65
——» Pastime of, from Bonefonius ............ 76
■------Prayer to, by W------S----------, Esq....... 149
Valentine's Day, Lines to a young Lady, with a
pair of Gloves, by Dr. B——y................ 49
W.
Wt**-——y, L—y, Epistle from, to a Female
Friend, descriptive of the Nuptial Joys ...... 80
To Mrs. W—-—•—, on her putting Orange Flowers
in her Bosom, by L—d F-^— —.. ■♦.....„-.;»,- §s
The Warming-Pan, by Capt.. Thompson .»,....« 144
Well Judged, a tale, by Mr. T---------—4 ..,„,. 159 -
Woman, a song ........• *.....•.......... * 392
The

The following Collection may be had of the same
Booksellers ; it has frequently enlivened the brilliant
Circles at St. James's, Buckingham-House, and Wind-
sor.
The Birth of the Rose, the Geranium, the Pastime of
Venus, the Devil's Tail, the Kiss of Lydia, Life's &
Joke, and several other celebrated Poems are now
added, which were formerly handed about only in Ma-
nuscript.

The SIXTEENTH EDITION of
The FESTIVAL of WIT;
Selected by G------ K-----—,
SUMMER RESIDENT AT WINDSOR;
And carefully copied from the Common-place Book3
with the Names, of the Parties who introduced them
to the R-------E~»
u This is, beyond all comparison, the best Collection
" of good Things we ever read: it is not a delicate Mor~
€i ceau for the polite Circles only, it must suit the taste
" of every Man who- loves cheerftil Conversation and At-
<c tic Wit. Were we to bestow on it as much Praise as
€£ it really merits, we should occupy more Room in our
" Review in pointing out the Excellencies of this little
u Volume than we can spare."
Review for September*

Price Three Shillings and Six-pence in boar-K
*#* The FESTIVAL of WIT, and the FESTIVAL of
LOVE, form two of the most lively and entertaining
Volumes that ever were printed.

POEMS.
HYMN TO-VENUS.
FROM SAPPHO. BY FAWKES.
TTENUS, bright goddess of the skies,
To whom unnumbered temples rise,
Jove's daughter fair, whose wily arts
Delude fond lovers of their hearts ;
O ! listen gracious to my prayer,
And free my mind from anxious care.
If e'er you heard my ardent vow,
Propitious goddess, hear me now !
And oft my ardent vow you *ve heard, *
I By Cupid's friendly aid preferr'd,
Oft left the golden courts of Jove,
To listen to my tales of love*
The radiant car your sparrows drew j
You gave the word, and swift they flew.
Through liquid air they wing'd their way,
fc-1 saw their quivering pinions play j
To my plain roof they bore their queen,
Of aspect mild and look serene.
B                          Soon

[ 2 ]
Soon as you came, by your command
Back flew the wanton feather'd band,
Then, with a sweet enchanting look^
Divinely smiling, thus you spoke;               / .
* Why didst thou call me to thy cell ?
* Tell me, my gentle Sappho, tell.
*  What healing med'cme shall I find
* To cure thy love-distemper'd mind ?
*  Say, shall I lend thee all my charms,
* To win young Phaon to thy arms ?
*  Or does some other swain subdue
8 Thy heart? my Sappho, tell me who ?
* Though now, averse, thy charms he slight^
*  He soon shall view thee with delight j
* Though now he scorns thy gifts to take,
g He soon to thee shall offerings make;
*  Though now thy beauties fail to move,
g He soon shall melt with equal love.9
Once more, O Venus ! hear my prayer^
And ease my mind of anxious care j
Again vouchsafe to be my guest,
And calm this tempest in my breast I
To thee* bright queen, my vows aspire |
O grant me ail my heart's desire!
■ ©BE

[ s J
ODE TO VENUS,
BY MR. H-------LL«
f\ VENUS ! awful sovereign of the spring,
Could I like thy Lucretius sing,
Here would I pause, thy wonders to relate !
Here would I pause, to hymn thy praise
In adamantine words, stronger than fate^
And everlasting as his lays I
O'er seas and deserts, undismay'd,
Strengthtn'd by thy inspiring breathy
The timorous and bashful maid,
Faces both infamy and deathI
Driven by the incens'd divinity,
Confounding equity and truth,
Order, and rank, and consanguinity,
And loathsome age, and blooming youth*
Behold the frantic passion, how it burns,
Like a wild beast, breaks ev'ry tie j
Laughs at the priest, the legislator spurns,
And gives both heav'n and earth the lie !
Let youth and insolence alone
Provoke thy vengeance v.v'ry houri
But O ! spare those that know, that ow%
Adore3 and tremble at thy power I
B 2                            With

[ 4 j
With thy propitious doves descend,
And hear the tender virgin's sighs j
The humble and the meek defend,
And bid the prostrate suppliant rise,
MUTUAL LOVE.
A SONG. BY G* A, STEVENS.
Tune ;—As Chloe onjlowcrs reclin'd, &c»
/~\N a brook's grassy brink, in the willow's cool
shade,
' The primroses pressing, a damsel was laid ;
She smil'd on the tide that roll'd limpid along.
Beholding herself, to herself sung this song.—
The 'Squire's fine lady last night he brought
home |
What', though in such gay clothes from London she '$
come, . _
Had I costly fashions, as well should I seem,
For fairer my face is, if truth's in this stream*
Through church-yard, on Sunday, as slowly 1 tread,
While gaping louts, grinning, on tombstones are
spread j
I hear how they praise me, I keep on my way,
And, down-looking, seem not to heed what they
say.
Sometimes

[ 5 ]
Sometimes lords and captains, all over perfume,
Will stop me, and tell me, I Jm beauty in bloom j
That I rival the rose,—that I *m whiter than snow :
I simper, and simply say,—a Don't jeer one so."
They Ve press'd me, they Ve promis'd, nay offer'd
me gold^
Sometimes (I assure them) they Ve strove to.be bold;
They 've talk'd of my treasure, they 've caiPd it a
gem;
To be sure so it is,«—but it is not for them.
No! no ! 'tis for him, and 'tis only his part,
Who's the man of my hope, and the hopes of my
heart;
Who friendly instructs me, who fondly can play,
And his eyes always speak what his wishes wou'd
say.
The ranging bee sweets from the honey-cup sips.
As sweet I taste love from the touch of his lips j
Oft my cheek on the fleece of my lambkins I rest,
But cold is that pillow compar'd to his breast.
'Tis here for my fair one S—her lover reply'd,,
O'er the hedge as he leap'd, and light dropp'd at her
side;
She started ! a moment life 's bloom left her face,
But quick 'twas recall'd by the warmth of embrace.
She languishing lay, in love's tenderest scene,
And question'd the rambler* where 'twas he had
been ?
Why

[ 6 ]
Why so he wou'd fright her—she Jd scold him she
vow'd j
But a kiss was his plea, and that plea was allow'd.
Till by kisses o'ereome, to his transports she
yields,
The landscapes were lost, and forgot were the
fields 5
Each felt those sensations susceplibles prove,
Who, mutually melting, exchange mutual love,
EPIGRAM.
BY l— D M—-------Y.
AS Lydia on a bank reclining lay,
Young Lubin stole one half her charms away:
The lovely maid, her honour to preserve,
Brew back, and treated him with cold reserve.
But he more am'rous grown, now press'd her
hand,
The more he press'd, the less she could withstand;
Vanquish'd, in excess of bliss her all she lost,—
And with a boy soon made him pay the cost!
THE

[ 7 ]
THE HONEY-MOON.
AN ODE.
ipOME, Cytherea, with thy doves,
And all thy train of little loves,
Come from Idalia's pleasing shade,
For joy and am'rous frolics made j
Come, and assist an anless tune,
Which strives to waible forth the Honey-Mooiu
When Hymen does the pair unite,
And promises supreme delight 5
With sparkling torch comes bright to view,
And points at raptures great and new;
What pleasure is expected soon;
Then, then ! comes on the pleasing Honey-Moon*
Cynthia, the virgin goddess bright,
With greater speed rides down the night $
Her modesty betrays her heart,
Shews in such sports she fd take a part;
But that her wish she dares not own,
Or Jove with her would have an Honey-Moon*
c An Honey-Moon !' cries simpering miss,
s 1 wonder much what *s meant by this!
' I have all sweets quite near me, handy,
* Is Honey-Moon like sugar-candy?*
The joyful time will tell you soon,
When you will bless the happy Honey-Moon.
Ah! '

-       .[ 8 ]
Ah I then those sweets unknown before,,
Will make you long, dear miss, for more ■
Will make you lick your lips, and cyj9
4 Till now, O what a fool was I!
*  What pleasing touches!—what a tune .
I Can e'er be play'd that *s like the Honey-Moon/
Could but the virgin in her teens,
Tell what the joys of wedlock means j
She would not long the bliss delay,
But with the first dear youth away j
On Venus5 bed would tumble down,
And there prolong the charming Honey-Moon.
When heaving breasts delightful rise5
And pant with soft ecstatic sighs !
When folding arms fond arms embrace, '
And love seems furious for the chace |
Unnumber'd joys the pair must crown$
Who then begin the pleasing Honey-Moon,
Ah I then encounter breast with breast.*
And tenderest accents are exprest;
*  My love>. I melt! I burn 1 I burst V
The next is better than the first;
And so progressive they go on,
To make a heaven of the Honey-Moon.
Then all that youthful poets dreanv
Beneath the shade or by the stream^
Is realiz'd, and certain found,
Beyond imagination's bound;
All

t 9 ]
All that can please is felt or shewn,'
During the happy time of Honey-Moon.
Then hastes ye youths, and haste, ye fair,
Love's banquet of delight to share j
Advance to Hymen's sacred fane,
A rich reward you 11 surely gain;
Each rapture will attend you soon,
And give you all the joys of Honey-Moon.
song; ■ .
BY MRS. R«-----——
'TO make the man kind, and, keep true to your
bed,,
Whom your choice, or your destiny, brings you to
wed j
Take a hint from a friend, whom experience has
taught,
And experience, we know, never fails when 'tis
bought!
The arts which you practis'd, at first, to ensnare,
(For in love little arts, as in battle, are fair)
Whether neatness, or prudence, or wit were the
bait,
Let the hooje still be eover'd, and still play the
cheat,
B s                  Shou'd

. [ 10 ]
Should he fancy another, upbraid not his fkraie !
To reproach him is never the way to-reclaim j
*Tis more to recover than conquer an heart;
For one is all nature, the other all art.
Though a fairer than you he shou'd happen to see,
Bs pleas'd with his choice, and then wish you were
she;
Slvly find out your rival's particular charms,
And at night be the very same girl in his arms.
Good sense is to them, what a face is to you;
Flatter that, and like us, they but think it their
due: ' .
Doubt the strength of your judgment, compared to
his own,
And he *11 give you perfections, at present unknown.
Shou'd you learn that your rival his bounty
partakes,
And your merited favour, ungrateful, forsakes |
Still, still, debonair j still engaging and free,
Be deaf, though you hear j and be blind, while you see,
THE STRAY NYMPH.
BY DR. W-----------.
/~"*EA3E your music, gentle swains |
Saw ye Delia cross the plains,?
Every thicket, every grove,
Have I rang'd to find my love i
A W;

[ 11 ]                         .
A kid, a lamb, my flock I '1! give"%
Tell me only, doth she live ?
White her skin as mountain-snow,
in her cheek the roses blow.
And her eye is brighter far
Than the beamy morning star.
When her ruddy lip ye view,
sTis a berry moist with dew :
And her breath, Oh I 'tis a gale
Passing o'er a fragrant vale,
Passing when a friendly shower
Freshens every herb and flower.
Wide her bosom opens, gay
As the primrose-dell in May ;
Sweet as violet-borders growing,
Over fountains ever-flowing,
Like the tendrils of the vine,
Do her auburn tresses twine j
Glossy ringlets all behind,
Streaming buxom to the wind,
When along the lawn she bounds,
Light as hind before the hounds %
And the youthful ring she fires,
Hopeless in their tfond desires.
As her flitting feet advance,
Wanton in the winding dance.
Tell me, shepherds, have ye seen.
My delight,-my love, my queen ?
THE

[- u 1
THE BAPTURE,
/"iRIED Streplion, panting in Cosmelia's arms,
I die, bright -nymph, I die amidst your charms !
Cheer up, dear youth, reply'd the maid,
Dissolved in am'rous pain,
All men must die, (bright boy, you know,)
Ere they can rise again.
VENUS MISTAKEN.
TyHEN Chloe's picture was to Venus shown;
Surprised, the goddess took it for her own;
And what, said she, does this bold painter mean?
When was I bathing thus, and naked seen ?
Pleas'd Cupid heard, and check'd his mother's pride j
' And who's blind now, mamma ? the urchin cried.
Tis Chloe's eye, and cheek, and lip, and breast;
Friend Howard's genius fancied all the rest,
ON A PICTURE OF LADY F—Y.
" BY L—B P-™-----H.
WHEN fam'd Apelles sought to frame
Some image of th? Idalian dame,
To furnish graces for the piece,
He summon'd all the nymphs of Greece %
\ So

[ 13 ]
So many mortals were combi n'd,
To shew how one immortal shin'd:
Hadst thou thus sat by proxy too,
As Venus then was said to do,,
Venus herself, and ail her train
Of goddesses, had summon'd been ;
The painter must have searched tlte skies.,
To match the lustre of your eyes :
Comparing- then, while thus we view,
The ancient Venus and the new,
In her we many mortals see,
As many goddesses in thee.
ODE TO L—D L~~~~N,
BY SIR C. H. WILLIAMS.
r\ LINC-LNI joy of womankind,
To you this humble ode's designMj
Let ——- inspire my song:
Gods I with what pow'rs are you endu'd^
Tiberius was not half so lewd,
Nor Hercules so strong.
*Tis —— now my pen employs,
And since I sing of heav'nly joys,
From heav'n my notes I ?li bring:
And though the lyric strain I choose^
1 '11 open like the Mantuan muse,
——., and the man I sing.
But

[ 14 ]
But don't expect much flattery
From such an honest bard as me,
Dear, noble, vig'rous youth ;
For when I say that you-----—— more
Than mortal ever did before,
You know I say the truth.
Four times a night some happy fair,
You ■——■— throughout the gliding year,
This course of joy pursuing;
Of feats like these, what annals speak ?
'Tis eight-and-twenty-times a week,
And, 'faith! that's glorious doing.
Had Messalina------■-— with you,
Whom no man gever could subdue,
Though many a Roman tried;
She M own'd your vigour and your charms,
And melting, dying in your arms,
Cried out«--------—— 1 'm satisfied!
Then still love on with loosen'd reins,
While youth is boiling in your veins,
'And sparkles in your face:
With whores be lewd, with whigs be hearty;
And both in -———, and in party,
Confess your noble race.
To you and steady Pelham then,
With joy I sll dedicate my pen.
For both shall be my theme j
Since both divided England share,
You have the love of every fair.
He every man's esteem.

[ 15 ]
HORACE, Lib. I. Ode XXX,'
Paraphrased by Sir C. H. WILLIAMS,
GENERAL CHURCHILl/s
ADDRESS TO VENUS.
f\ VENUS, joy of men and gods,
Forsake awhile thy blest abodes,
And deign to visit my land;
On thy fond vot'ry kindly smile,
Quit Paphos and the Cyprian isle,
To reign in my dear island.
Thee, goddess, thee, my pray'rs invoke g
To thee alone my altars smoke;
O ! treat me not with rigour j
Thy wanton son bring with thee too.,
My dying embers he '11 renew,
And give, me back my vigour.
Bring too the graces to my arms,
Girls that are prodigal of charms,
Of every favour lavish;
Melting and yielding let them be j
Consider I am sixty-three,
And that's too old to ravish.
het florid youth attend thy train \
Much wanted by thy crazy swain $
And, gentle Venus, prithee,
To crown my gifts, and ease my pain,
Since Ward has labour'd long in vain,
Let Mercury come with thee.
ADDRESS

[ 16 ]
ADDRESS TO LADY i-*-*U>?
Who asked Captain Morris, What the Passion of Love
was f
VOU ask me, What's Love?—Why, that virtue-fed
vapour,
Which poets spread over our longings, like gauze,
May do for a swain who can feed upon paper;
But flesh is my diet, and blood is the cause.
A delicate tendre, spun into Platonic,
Suits the feminine fop—whom no beauties pro-
voke j
But the blood of a Welchman is hot and laconic,
And he loves, as he fights, with a word and a stroke.
Yetj I grant you, there is a sweet madness of passion^
A raptur'd delirium of mental delight;
Though, alas! my dear madam, not live in the nation
Whose souls have an optic to view the blest light.
But we speak not of minds of distinguished selection,
But love, common love, in its earthly attire;
Which, believe me, when dress'd in this high-flown
affection,
Wears the thread*bare disguise of a bankrupt desire.
For the bosom *s deceit, like the spendthrift's pro-
fusion,
As the substance declines* rich appearances tries j
More gay as more weak, till this splendid delusion,
In a pang of bright vanity, dazzles and dies*
Ah!

[ 17 ]
All! if in a strain of pure sentiment flowing,
No animal warmth cheeks the eloquent tongue $ •
Tis the trick of the coxcomb to boast your undoing.
And pride, taste, or impotence, prompts the foul
wrong!
For love, in a tumult of soft agitation,
O'ercome with its ardour, bids language retire j
And, lost in emotions of troubled sensation,
Still breathes the soft accent of silent desire.
Yes, the god's on the wing, when a delicate Damon
In sickly composure sits down to refine j
For love, like a hectic, when weakly the stamen,
Still brightens the skin as the solids decline.
If such be the love you propose in the question,
No doubt 'tis a phantom, dress'd up by the mind,,
And, believe me, it is not a substance to rest on,
But the fraud of cold bosoms, and Vanity's blind.
But for me, my dear madam, a poor carnal sinner,
Whose love keeps no Lent, or on rhapsody starves j
With the sharp sauce of hunger I fall to my dinner,
And take without scruple, what appetite carves.
So, my good lady ———, all beauty and merit,
You see, though I doat on your face and your mind5
The devil a grain should I feel of love's spirit,
If looks didn't warrant your shape and your kind.
With

[ 18 ]
With tliis taste you, perhaps, will upbraid my vile
nature;
But thus stands the case; and in truth to my
theme,
Were my mistress the first, both in mind and in
feature,
Unsejc her, and passion would fade like a dream.
As a poet indeed, I Ve a licence for fiction,
To dress in heroics the treacherous heart;
But take tjie sad truth, and excuse the plain diction,
" For love moves with me in an honester part."
But, perhaps, you may know something more of the
matter,
Then deign to inform the dull soul of a brute—*
A hint of your mind would most pleasingly flatter,
And to hear it I 'd always be willing and mute*
TO CYNTHIA. ;;
BY THE D—— OF B——»
npHE transient season let's improve.
That human life allots to love j
.Youth soon, my Cynthia 1 flies away.
And age assumes its frozen sway j
With

[ 19 J
With elegance and neatness drest,
Come then, in beauty's bloom confess
And in my fond embrace be blest!
Faint stragglings but inflame desire,
And serve to fan the lover's fire;
Then yield not all at once your charms,
But with reluctance fill my arms ;
My arms 1 that shall, with eager haste,
Encircle now your slender waist j
Now round your neck be careless hung,
And now o'er all your frame be flung t
About your limbs my limbs I '11 twine,
And lay your glowing cheek to mine 3
Close to my broader manlier chest,
I *11 press thy firm, proud-swelling breast |
Now rising high, now falling low,
As passion's tide shall ebb or flow,
My murm'ring tongue shall speak my blisSj
Shall court your yielding lips to kiss,
Each kiss with thousands I'll repay,
And almost suck my .breath away ;
. A thousand more you then shall give,
And then a thousand more receive;
In transport half-dissolved we '11 lie,
Venting our wishes in a sigh I
Quick-starting from me, now display
Your loose and discompos'd array;
Your hair shall o'er your polish'd brow
In sweetly-wild disorder flow,
- And

[ so ]
And those long tresses from "behind,
You us'd in artful braids to bind,
Shall down your snowy bosom spread
Redundant, in a soften'd shade;
And from your wishful eyes shall stream
The dewy light of passion's flame :
While now and then a look shall glance j
Your senses lost in am'rous trance ;
That fain my rudeness would.remove,
Yet plainly tells how strong you love :
The roses., heighten'd on your cheek,
Shall the fierce tide of rapture speak j
And on your lips a warmer glow
The deepened ruby then shall show;
Your breast, replete with youthful fire,
Shall heave with tumults of desire;
Shall heave at thoughts of wish'd-for bliss,
Springing as though 'twould meet my kiss;
Down on that heav'n I '11 sink quite spent,
And lie in tender languishment ;
But soon your charms' reviving pow'r
Shall to my frame new life'restore;
With love I '11 then my pains assuage,
With kisses cool my wanton rage,
Hang o'er thy beauties till I cloy,'
Then cease, and then renew my joy !
THE

[ *i ]
THE DREAM.
FROM ANACREON. BY FAWKES*
AS oV>n a purple bed supine.
Rapt- in the pleasing joys of wine,
I lull'd my ^eary limbs to rest,
Methought, w, ;th nymphs supremely blest*
A beauteous band, \ urg'd the chace,
Contending in the rapi, 4 race .
While fairest youths, witi ^ envv stun<*",
Fair as Lyaeus ever young,'
With jealous leer and bitter jes;-^
I Their keen malevolence exprest j
Intent to love, I strive to greet
I The gamesome girls with kisses sw<
And, as on pleasure's brink I seem,
Wake?—and behold! 'tis all a dream.
Vex'd to be thus alone in bed,
My visionary charmers fled;
To dream l3nce more I close my eyes,
. Again, ye soft illusions, rise !
DON PRINGELLO'S TALE.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY NUNS: OR,
THE MONK'S WISE JUDGMENT.
BY MR, H—-LL.
'THERE is a noble town call'd Ghent,
A city famous for its wares,
For priests, and nuns, and Flanders mares;
And for the best of fish in Lent.
/There

[ %% f
There you may see, threatVmg destruction^
A hundred forts and strong redoubts,
Just like Vauban's, with ins and outs,
And cover'd-ways of love's construction.
In one, constructed as above,
There dwelt two nuns of the same a^3 »
Joln'd like two birds in the samp cage,
Both by necessity and love.
In towns of idleness and sloth »
Where the chief trade h* tittle-tattle,
Though priests are .commoner than cattle,
They had but cu-ae between them both.
OuMiur.s should have had two at least,
In Ghent they 're common as great gunsj
Which made it hard upon our nuns,—>
And harder still upon the priest.
But he was worthy of all praise,
With spreading shoulders and a chesty
A leg, a chine, and all the rest.
tike Herculess of the Farnese,
Amongst the nuns there was a notion,
That these two sisters were assign'd
To him, for a severer kind
Of penitential devotion.
His penance lasted a whole year,
And he had such-a piece of work j
If it had been for turning Turk,
It could not have been i^ore severe.

I 23 I
©ur nuns, which is no common case^
Living together without jangling j
All on a sudden fell a wrangling,
About precedency and place.
They both with spleen were like to burst,
Like two proud misses when they fight
At an assembly, for the right
Of being taken out the first.
Before the priest they made this clatter,
. Btiween them both he was perplex'dj
And study'd to find out a text
To end the controverted matter.
Children, said he, scratching his sconce*
I should be better pleas'd than you^
Could I divide myself in two,
And satisfy you both at once.
Angels, perhaps, may have such pow'rsf
But it is fit and seasonable,
That you should be more reasonable,
Whilst you 're with beings such as ours,
Be friends, and listen to the teacher t
Cease your vain clamour and dispute^
Be je like fishes mute,
Before Saint Anthony the preacher.
To end at once all disputation,
I '11 set my back against that gate,
'And there produce, erect and straight^
The cause of all your altercation,

[ «* '■]
But first, you both shall hooded be,
Both so effectually blinded,
'Twill be impossible to find it,
Except by chance or sympathy.
Which of you first, be it agreed,
The rudder of the church can seize^
Like Peter's vicar with his keys,
Shall keep the helm, and heave the lead j
She shall go first, I mean to say,
And have precedence ev'ry day.
The nuns were tickled with the jest,
They were content; and.he contriv'd,
To give the helm, for which they strivMj
To her that manag'd it the best!
THE GERANIUM.. '
BY R. B. SHERIDAN, E S <J*
There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken■ at the
flood, leads on to fortune, Shakespeare,
TN the close covert of a grove,
By nature form'd for scenes of love,
Said Susan in a lucky hour,
Observe yon sweet geranium flower?
How straight upon its stalk it stands,
And tempts our violating hands.;
WbUf

[                           [ 25 ]
While the soft bud, as yet unspread.
Hangs down its pale declining head j
Yet, soon as it is ripe to blow,
The stem shall rise, the head shall glowo
Nature, said I, my lovely Sue,
I ■ To all her followers lends a clew;
Her simple laws themselves explain,
As links of one continued chain;
For her, the mysteries of creation
Are but the works of generation:
Yon blushing, strong, triumphant flower,
Is in the crisis of its power.;
But short, alas! its vigorous reign,
He sheds his seed, and drops again j
The bud that hangs in pale decay,
Feels not, as yet, the plastic ray;
To-morrow's sun shall bid him rise,
I Then, too, he sheds his seed, and dies :—-
But words, my love, are vain and vveak^
For proof, let .bright example speak.
Then straight before the wond'ring maid
The tree of life I gently laid;
Observe, sweet Sue, his drooping head,
How pale, how languid, and how dead !
Yet, let the sun of thy bright eyes
Shine but a moment, it shall rise;
Let but the dew of thy bright hand
Refresh the stem, it straight shall stand;
Already, see, it swells, it grows,
Its head is redder than the rose ;
C                                    Its

[ * ]
Its shrivell'd fruit, of dusky hue,
Now glows, a present fit for Sue j
The balm of life each artery fills,
And in o'erflowing drops distils.
€t Ah I me!" cried Susan, " whence is this ?
What strange tumultuous throbs of bliss I
Sure, never mortal, till this hour,
Felt such emotion at a flower:
Oh, serpent I cunning to deceive,
Sure 'tis this tree that tempted Eve;
The crimson apples hang so fair,
Alas! what woman could forbear ?"
Well hast thou guess'd, my love, I cried,
It is the tree by which she died;
The tree which could alone content her|
All nature, Susan, seeks the centre.
Yet, let us still poor Eve forgive,
It is the tree by which we live j
For lovely woman, still it grows,
And in the centre only blows.
But chief for tliee it spreads its charms,
For paradise is in thy arms.—
I eeas'd, for nature kindly here
Began to whisper in her ear j
And lovely Sue lay softly panting,
While the geranium tree was plantings
Till in the heat of am'rous strife,
She burst the mellow tree of life.
*' Oh, Heav*n!" cried Susan, with a sigh,
** The hour we taste,—we surely die 5
Strange

E If :|
Strange raptures seize ray fainting frame*
And all my body glows with flame j
Yet let me snatch one parting kiss^
To tell my love I die with bliss;
That pleas'd, thy Susan yields her breath-—;
Oh! who would live, if this be death!—!?
THE BIRTH OF THE ROSE;
AN ANACREONTIC
BY BONNEL THORNTON, ES£*
** pOME, bind my brows with Venus* ftow*f|
u —'Here, boy 1—another fragrant show'n
u A waste of roses;—heap them higher."
So sung Anaereon to his lyre,
As on the tender bed he lay,
And cmafFd and sported out the day.
When Venus,—-so the poet sung,—-•
First from thej foam of ocean sprung 5
All-dripping wet, all-glowing fair,
Distilling sweets her amber hairs
I As coral red her pulpy lips,
Full as the swelling surge her hipsi
And full her bosom, heaving strong,
Like wave propelling wave along;
Smooth set her teeth in even rows,
White as the foam from whence she rose)
And, shaded soft, a mossy grove
Hung o'er the saline cell of love.
C2                    —-Thus

c m ]
——Thus breathing youth and untouch'd charms.,
Mars seiz'd her in his ardent arms,
And, spread amidst a vernal gloom,
All nerve, compress'd her virgin bloom.
Trickling from love's delicious wound
Some sanguine drops bedew'd the ground j
When straight a living crimson spreads.
And new-born roses rear'd their heads.
Their tincture thence—but the sweet gale9
The dews ambrosial they exhale;
Their balmy soul her sigh bestow'd,
Deep as she felt the potent gods
—•And still the prickly thorns declare,
How mix'd with pain her raptures were!
MARTXALIS EPIGRAMMA.
Lib. vL Ep; 34* Imitated*
BY SIR C. H. WILLIAMS.
f*OME, Chloe, and give me sweet kisses,
For sweeter sure never girl gave ;—
But why, in the midst of my blisses,
Do you ask me how many I'd have ?
I'm not to be stinted in pleasure,
Then pry'thee, my charmer, be kind;
For whilst I love thee above measure^
To numbers I'll ne'er be confin'd.
Count

t m j
€ount the bees that on Hybla are playing,
Count the fiow'rs that enamel its fields,.
Count the flocks that on Tempe are straying.
Or the grain that rich Sicily yields j
Go number the stars in the heaven,
Count how many sands on the shore %
When so many kisses you've givens
I still shall be craving for more.
To a heart full of love let me hold thee,
' To a heart which, dear Chloe, is thine,. ,
With my arms I'll for ever infold thee,
And twist round thy limbs like a vine.
What joy can be greater than this is ?
My life on thy lips shall be spent j
But the wretch that can number his kisses^.
With few will be ever content.
TO A LADY ON HER PARROT.
1X7HEN nymphs were coy, and love could not prevail.,
The gods, disguis'd, were never known to faiL
Leda was chaste, but yet a feather'd Jove
Surpris'd the fair, and taught her how to love i
There 's no celestial, but his heav'n would quit
For any form, which might to you admit.
See! how the wanton bird, at ev'ry glance,
Swells his glad plumes, and feels an amorous trance-$
The queen of beauty has forsook the dove,
Henceforth-the parrot be the bird of love.
STRE^

f m- '3
STBEPHON AND BLOWSALIND. ■
OR, THE AMOROUS 'SQUIRE.
BY BR. M_—.
gTREPHON in vain pursued a rural fair,
The rosy object of his tender care!
The nymph, who long had lov'd a jollier swain,
Still view'd the amorous Strephon with disdain.
Provok'd, he strove by force to storm her charms;
She rais'd her hand—and dash'd him from her arms.
*c Oli cease (he cries), subdue that barbarous spite,
u Though doom*d to love—I was not born to fight S
u You 've stoFa my heart, deprive me not of breath j
*' Those frowns are cruel—but that Jist is death Vs
FROM MARTIAL.
Lib. i, Ep. 58*
"Vt)U ask me, my friend, what lass IM enjoy j
I *d have one that is neither too coming—nor coy i
A medium is best| that gives us no pain
By too much indulgence—nor too much disdain.
WRITTEN

.        C 3i ]
WRITTEN Of A LAPY'3 POCKET-BOOK.
BY THE HON. MR. T«------.
"WITH what strange raptures would my soul be blest3
Were but her book an emblem of her breast ?
As I, from that, all former marks efface,
And, uncontroFd, put new ones in their plaees
So might I chase all others from her heart,
And my own image in the room impart I
But, ah! how short the bliss would prove, if he
Who seiz'd it next, might do the same by me!
FROM THE GREEK.
THE RIVAL BEAUTIES.
HPHREB lovely nymphs contending for a prize,
Djsplay'd their charms before my critic eyes s
Superior beauties heighten'd ev'ry gracey           " -
And seem*d to mark them of celestial race:
But I, who, bless'd like Paris, fear'd his fall$
Swore each a Venus was—and pleas'd them alh
THE GIRDLE OF VENUS
UNjBUCKLED.
Written at the Age of Eighteen^
BY THE I>~~ OF B-*~—.
TN Tempers vale, where nature bloom'd around,
■ And smiling peace and happiness were found i
Where

[ 32 ]
Where rural cots and rustic clowns were seen,
And rosy nymphs gave rapture to the green j
In times long past, Palemon in his cot
Was fix'd by fate to this enchanting spot:
A snowy herd was all he had to boast,
Whose fleecy backs repaid his care and cost j
Wide o*er the dewy lawn they tripp*d along.,
While he, reclined, attun'd his artless song.
Ambitious views had ne'er disturbed his breast*
His mind was simple,, and his heart at rest.
O blissful state of happiness below,
From whence the source of ev'ry good must flow S
Content is pleasure of the purest kind,
The only balm of comfort to the mind.
In shady groves the youth still took his way,
And ease and indolence crowned ev'ry day.
What mortal ills could alter then his state.
And counteract the happiness of fate ?
Love, mighty love, invaded now his breast,
Dlmm'd his bright eye, and robb'd his soul of rest *
Near to a thicket as one morn he stray*d,
He saw a cottage in the pleasing shade j
A little riv'let murmur'd gently by.
Whose flow*r-crowa*d banks gave rapture to the eye j
Listless he laid him down to rest awhile^
And nature all around was seen to smile;
The babbling brook his meditations warm'd,
It pleas'd his fancy, and his soul it charm'd.
While studious thus the moments pass'd away,
His ewes and lambs disporting all the day;
He

[ S3 ]
He fear'd no danger, for he knew no ill,
But fix'd his hopes on Providence's wili|
That Providence which still must govern all,
Who raises up the low, and bids the mighty fall I
Here, while his roving eyes were sent about.
From various scenes to find new beauties out,
A virgin, cheerful as the month of May,
Blithe as the lark, and as the lapwing gay,
Approach'd the water, struck the swain with awe.
Who thought it was a goddess that he saw*--*
Her cheeks were blushing as the op'ning rose,
Her breath was balmy as the zephyr blows,
v Her sparkling eyes gave lustre to the day,
While round her jetty locks in ringlets play;
Light was her robe, thro' which her breasts were
seen,
And show'd the lovely valley close between ;
Loose floating round, her well-turn'd limbs dis-
play'd,
*Twas nature- only cover'd with a shade j                         /
Her iv'ry legs were naked to the knee,
Where all might fancy what they could not see,
Palemon started instant to her sight,
And gaz'd.upon her with supreme delight:
Nor was the nymph's astonishment less great,
Her bosom swell'd with ev'ry joy elate;
Quick thro* each vein her wand'ring pulses beat,
Pain mix'd with pleasure, something smart, yet
sweet.

f 34 ]!
In silent ecstasy the youth she viewed*
His well-made limbs and manly form pursu'd j
His rosy cheeks, and lustre-darting eye,
Which did the place of language well supply.
Both look'd, both blush'd, as Nature could not reach,
At such a time as this, the pow'r of speech.
At last some broken accents found their way,
And love, unseen, dictated what to say j
The softest words precede substantial blisses,
And close embraces follow'd balmy kisses.
But long they can't indulge their infant flame,
For from the cot forth comes the envious dame j
Who, dead to pleasure, forc'd the nymph away,
A moment longer would not let her stay.
Like to a frantic wretch Palemon star'd,
Soon as the lovely maiden disappeared.
Was it a vision that my sense deceiv'd,
And all my faculties at once bereav'd ?
Was it a dream that flutter'd o'er my mind,
And left this strong impression still behind?'
Ah I no ; too well by me 'tis understood,
No visionary form, but flesh and blood.
Each humid kiss my happy lip retains,
Each close embrace now fills my glowing veins 5
I felt her heaving bosom gently rise,
i saw her blushes, and I heard her sighs,
Where are my flocks ? alas! you heedless strayf
Your shepherd now, like you, has lost his way.
No more shalt downy sleep my eyelids close.
Love, cruel Love, has banish'd my repose \
Or

[ m ]
Or if in sleep sometime I chance to Yie9
Phyllira then is present to my eye;
Fancy supplies what fortune has deny'd,
And throws each artful covering aside;
'Tis then each beauty of her form I view.
Each naked beauty, elegantly true;
No longer cover'd is each heaving breast.
Where love and rapture only is exprest ;
My glancing eye then roves o'er ev'ry part,
And sends the keenest transports to my heart $
With eager lips I snatch a burning kiss,
And rush at once into a sea of bliss.
Gods ! 'tis too much, 'tis agonizing pain,
It fires my fancy, it invades my brain I
And am I in idea only blest ?
Substantially I must enjoy the rest;
1 will, I must; I'll seek again the spot,
And watch Phyllira from her rural cot 5
Invite the nymph my little stock to share.
Soothe rae with love, and banish ev'ry care 1
Her looks, her words, my passion did approve,
And her whole soul was melted into love j
She must be mine, nor shall her haggard dame,
Through spite or envy bar a lover's claim.
Swift as the thought, the shepherd speeds away,
Nor can his bleating flock prolong his stay;
His eager pace soon gains the happy grove,
The pleasing scene of tenderness and love \
Forth to his wish again the maid is found,
Tripping with hasty steps the fertile ground,
: Eager

[ 36 1
Eager like him again she hop'd to meet,
Again embrace, and mingle kisses sweet *
And Venus, to her vot'ries ever true,
Kindly contrived this tender interview.
The thickest shelter of the grove they seek,
Where none but Love can see, or hear them speak;
Now all is rapture, ecstasy, and joy,
The sports of love alike do both employ*
No vagrant footsteps do the scene invade^
But birds sing joyful in the rural shade.
Now vows of constancy between them pass'd,
With truth to love while life itself should last %
That soon at Hymen's fane they would unite^
Then revel free in. unreprov'd delight.
That vow performed, Pa emon takes her home..
Each bosom heaving with new joys to come ;
Each look is pleasure, and each touch imparts
The thrill of rapture to their panting-hearts.
Now Phoebus glitters In the distant west,
And soothes his daily toil on Thetis' breast f
For gods, like mortals, still are fond to prove
The genial source of pleasure and of love,
The nuptial-bed prepar'd, the sun retir'dj,
And sable night come on, by love desir'd,
Phyllira, panting for the wish'd embrace,
First on the couch of bliss now takes her place;
No fear'd delays detain Palemon long.
He mounts the bedj in youth and vigour strong.
Come, glowing Fancy! with the subject join,
Describe those joys which are alone divine
Now

[ S7 ]
Now heaves the nymph, the coming stroke to aid,.
Her head reclining, and her limbs display'd :
While the fond youth his utmost effort gives
That balmy treasure which the fair receives;
Till, lost in floods of joy, they seem'd to die,
And breathe their souls out in a murm'ring sigh !
Each ah! and oil 1 declare the height of bliss,
And lips meet lips, to print a burning kiss.
But all description of this tender sport
Baffles the verse, and must indeed fall short,
When youth and beauty are, by Heav'n design^
In the soft bands of Hymen to be join'd.
The force of love, engaging breast to breast,
May be coneeiv'd, but cannot be exprest.
All night in joy they passM the hours away,
And seem'd to wish the absence of the day j
Yet then, and not till then, did soft repose
Their weary eyes in balmy slumber close,
Which well their over-acting limbs might suits
And give their tired spirits a recruit \
For weary nature some relief requires,
• To aid again our over-warm desires.
Now ev'ry day, and each succeeding night,
Appears a round of unappall'd delight:
More calm their transports, yet their love as true,
As when at- first they struck each other's view 5
For at first sight they lov'd, and sought the cause?
To ease their passion by just Nature's laws.
The hours, the days, the weeks, all eheerfut flew,
Till fair PhylUra far less slender grew *
Bet

£ 38 1
Her teeming womb her fruitfulness confessed,
Palemon's joy could hardly be exprest ■...............-
A son, be cried, great Hercules ! like thee s
A girl, Phyllira cried, a girl for me j
A snowy pillar to delight my eyes,
And make my pains inferior to my joys.
Venus, to thee I send my strong request,
Attend my prayer, and make a parent blest j
Grace her with beauty equal to thy own,
And grant she may enjoy thy magic zone ;■
That girdle bind about her infant waist,
Which makes her lovely, and which keeps her chaste s
Then to your altars constantly I'll bow,
And lift my hands, and pay the promised vow.
The queen of beauty granted her request*—
A daughter came, with ev'ry charm confest \ .
Her infant smiles gave exquisite delight j
The rose was mingled with the lily white
O'er all her limbs, but chiefly in her face,
Where Nature's pencil lavish'd ev'ry graee f
Her lively eyes bespoke her future sense,
And much her doting parents hop'd from thence j
Perfection seem*d in her to be alone,
And so well guarded by the magic zone.
Stellina now (for so they call'd the maid)
The blooming charms of innocence display'd;
Her prattle'pleases every one alike,
Her little actions each beholder strike;
She roams about the cot, and on the lawn,
Plays with a lambkin or some tender fawn..
But

[ 39 ]
But as her age increas'd, so did her mind,
Just as her happy mother wish'd to find.
To aid her growing reason, now they thought,
A plan of education should be sought,
Such as might suit with beauty, and with grace,
And make her mind and person both take place;
For beauty, join'd with folly, is a jest,
And gains our wonder with contempt at best.
They taught her first in reading to excel!,
But seldom practised by each modern belle.
Who such old-fashion'd education slight;
What need a lady learn to read and write ?
In music next her mind they did improve,
The science fit for beauty and for love;
She rivaPd all the little feathered choir,
And made the hapless Philomel retire
To deeper shades, where only Echo dwells,
And hides herself in rocks and mossy cells.
The graceful dance with care she studied too,.
To charm beholders when she came in view i
An easy carriage, with good manners join'd,
Is sure to gain on ev'ry candid mind.
Thus perfected in all the arts to please,
Taste, sentiment and beauty, grace and ease*
Perhaps some female critic here may cry,
You Ve giren a fine description, let me die——-
But, dear Sir, answer candidly, I pray,
What does your fine Stellina know of play?
Routs, drums, ridottos, concerts, musquerades ?
She did not even know the ace of spades,
0 mon-

[ 40 1
O monstrous Ignorance beyond compare j
Pray in what style, Sir, did she dress her hair ?
Had she no orris-powder, or perfume ?
A French friseur she must have, I presume.
'Faith, no; kind Nature cm I'd her auburn hair,
Which flow'd in ringlets o'er her shoulders bare?
And, with a charming grace, was seen to deck
The iv'ry whiteness of her well-tum'd neck.
Then for her dress; had she Italian stays,
Or the bell-hoop, so charming nowra-days ;
The drawn-up gown, white flounce and furbelow ^
The white silk stocking, red Morocco shoe j
Short petticoats, the ancle to display,
That men may think of what's another way;
The fine broad tucker round the swelling breast^
The fashion is to show a full round chest ?
And then for ornament, a miniature,
Which has a double meaning to be sure?
Pins with large heads, in length about a foot^
With some complete device genteelly put ?
O, darling fashion 1 what can equal be.
Or in the world's comparable to thee ?
Goddess of whims and fancies, thou art sure-
Pride of the rich, and envy.of the poor.
Such fashions never struck Stellina's view,,
To Nature and her dictates strictly true. .
A thin-spun robe her graceful person wore,
Which showM each limb, and made each beauty more,*.
The Cyprian girdle circled round her waist.
And form'd in pleasing folds her flowing vest?.
§                 " '                    '           Which,

i 4i ]
Which, when she walk'd or danc'd, at once displayed
The whole delighting beauty of the maid.
Now sixteen years the nymph had pass'd away^
Still inoffensive, innocent, and gay;
Guarded from folly by the zone she wore,
Though many youths the virgin did adore |
The darts of love unheeded flew around,
Pointless to her, they fell upon the ground?.
She laugh'd at ev'ry fond and sighing swain,
And thought it nonsense when he talk'd of pain„
Venus provok'd that charms, by her designed,
Should grace a person with so harsh a mind,
Repented she the mystic girdle gave,
And vow'd that she would make her soon her slave,
Philander proper, vigorous, and young,
Had woo'd in vain the bright Stellina long;
Yet all his hopes her cruelty had erost.
His passion slighted, though he lov'd her most,
Oft in the grove he met the charming fair.
She fled, the moment that the youth came near§
Swift as the roe she darted from his view.
And vain was each endeavour to pursue;
In vain was all the language made to move j.
No words were made to soften her to love i
Sweet liberty, she cried, is all to me,.
The only happiness is to be free.
The blind boy, Cupid, with his store of darts,.
With which he wounds the loose unguarded hearts,
Can never touch me while this girth I wear;
Then what have I from him, or Love, to fear ?
Get

[ 42 ]
Get but this Girdle from my slender waist,
Then may you win, and may I be unchaste!
But that, by prudence guarded, ne'er can be|
So all may love, and none be lotfd by me.
The boast was vain j for Venus, on a day,
When wild with youth, and fall of wanton plays
Stellina, tir'd and faint, the green turf press'd.
Sunk into sleep, and inoffensive rest ;—•
Now, cried the goddess, now, Philander, fly!
The time for genial happiness draws nigh j
Haste to the grove, undo the fatal zone,
And make Stellina's beauties all your own*
The tender impulse wing'd the lover's haste,
Bach hill and dale was in an instant past,
And soon he gain'd the wish'd-for happy grove.
Directed by the mighty queen of love :
Softly approaeh'd the fair, the buckle found,
And soon the icy girdle was unbound %
Nor yet awak*d the fair-one from her trance,
Till he did further to her charms advance |
Her airy robe he quickly threw aside,
And view*d the nymph in all her naked pride §
Her ev'ry charm enhanced his glowing bliss,
He knelt, and gave' the fount of joy a kiss i
The mossy spot gave exquisite delight,
And, while it warm*d the fancy, pleas'd the sight §
But greater pleasure still remain'd behind,
Which were by Venus* aid for him design d«
No longer hesitation was his foe;
Nature was strong, and told him what to do f
Gently

[ 43 ]
Gently he drew her naked limbs aside,—
Where now, alas! Stellina, is your pride ?
Your boasted guard is gone, the charm is o'er$
Philander conquers, and shall sue no more.
She felt the tickling rapture at her heart,
And hugg'd the youth, nor wish'd again to part |
Returned each kiss, and ev'ry pleasing move
Which now he practised in the art of love.
Full wak'd with ecstasy before unknown,
She smil'd and kiss'd—and banish'd ev'ry frown j
And when the youth lay panting by her side,
To raise him up to joy, again she tried 5
Her warm soft hand a genial glow imparts,
And crowns alike the wishes of their hearts.
Repeated transports crown'd the happy day,
And secret night renew'd the pleasing play,
StelUna now we find no longer coy,
But eagerly takes in the luscious joy:
Her chief delight to no one now confined,
She grants her favours free as light, or wind;
Defies all modesty, and ev'ry way
That art can think of in the arn'rous play
She tries,—Worsley or Newton can't with her compar«s
\ So cheaply now she holds her C****** ware.
Her rare accomplishments, so highly pris'd.
Are ail neglected, or perhaps despis'd ;
Lascivious, wanton, in a high degree,
In bagnioa, and in brothels, who but she;
Her nature, temper, and her rural cot?
Her tender parents, all alike forgot;
No

[ & ]
No more the rose's blush o'erspreads her face j -
Lost is her charming form, and ev'ry grace;
Usurping lust has tainted all her mind,
And not one trace of reason now we find !
Ye blooming beauties of the present day,
Who may be innocent, although you 're gay,..
Pause on this tale j attend to honest Love,.
Lest you the fate of lost Stellina prove..
If you are cruel, man will use each art>.
If not to win, to storm th* unguarded heart.
Let lustful pass-ions ne'er your bosom sway,
But banish vice and all her train away :
So shall your age be happy as your youth,
Kenown'd alike for beauty, love, and truth;
But if to looser thoughts your hearts incline*.
Sorrow, and shame^ and woe, must sure be thine I
DICK AND DOLL.
ASONG. B Y 6* A. S T E V E N ,S.
Tune;—~Pm like a skiff on the ocean ioss'd,,
A,S one bright summer's sultry day,
For sake of shade I sought the grove,
Through thickset-hedge on top of hay,
I met with mutual love:
A youth with one arm round his pretty girl's waists
On small swelling breasts he his other hand plae'd5
While she cried, " Dick? be still,
" Pray, tell me what's your, will .?"
a I come- 1

[ .45 ]
I **' I come (quoth Dick) to have some chat/*
And close to her's his iips he squeezed:
" I guess (cries Doll) what you'd be at,
" But now I wou't be teaz'd,"
She strove to rise up, but his strength held her down,,

^She call'd out for help! and petition'd the clown,
" O Dick ! dear Dick! let me rise,
(( The sun puts out my eyes.
\ "Til tear your soul out!—Lord! these men,
"*' If ever—~~well—I won't submit—
« Why ? what ? the devil!—Curse me then j—
I         « You'll fling me in a fit."
Down, like a bent lily, her head dropp'd aslant,
Her eyes lost the day-light, her breath became scant §
(And, feebly, on her tongue
Expiring accents hung.
The chorus birds sung o'er their heads,
The breeze blew rustling thro' the grove,
Sweet smelt the: hay on new-mown meads,
All seem'd the scene of love.
'Dickoifer'd to lift up the lass as she lay,
A look full of tenderness told him to stay §
" So soon, Dick, will you go ?
igl wish'-------dear me!—heigh-ho ?'
Vibrating with heart-heaving sighs,
Her tucker trembling to and fro',
Her erimson cheeks, her glist'ning eyes,
Proclaim'*! possession's glow*
Dick

t 46 ]
Dick bid her farewell; but she languishing cried,
As wanton she play'd by her fall'n shepherd's side j
" A moment! pray, sit still,
f( Since now you 've had your will.
f< Lord I" cries the girl, " you hasty men,
" Of love afford but one poor proof;
" Our fowls at home, each sparrow-hen,
" Is ten times better off—-
f* No'. that you shou'd not, had I known your design,
" But, since you 've had your will, pray let me have
mine;
" So, once more, ere we rise,
" Do, dear Dick, save my eyes."
EPIGRAM.
FROM THE GREEK.
TpHILLIS the gay, in robe of beauty drest,
Late on ray lips a humid kiss impress'd;
The kiss was nectar which the fair bestow'd,
For in her am'rous breath a gale of nectar flowM
What love, ye gods! what raptures in her kiss I
My soul was drank with ecstasy of bliss.
EPIGRAM.

[ 47 ]
EPIGRAM,
FROM MARULLUS. BY THE EARL OF S——«
A KISS from chaste Nesera's lips I stole.
But on those lips, in kissing, left my soul;
Incautious youth!—long time the loss I mourn'd.
And waited long, my soul still ne'er retum'd!
At length, exanimate with slow delay,
I sent my heart to seek my soul astray;
But my poor heart, by beauty's pow'r enchain'd,
With my lost soul, and with the nymph remain'd*
Then, Oh I unless, to foster this sad frame*
I from Nesera's lips draw vital flame j
That day I kiss'd thee, must for ever prove
Wretched to me, the greatest wretch in love!
EPIGRAM.
WHEN Carlos 'tempted to be free,
Flavilla cried, f* My chastity !—
|tl Know all but virgins are my foes.'*
She said no more—off dropp'd her nose.
EPIGRAM.
T\ID ladies now (as we are told
Our great grand-mother did of old)
Wake

[ 48 ]
Wake to a sense of blasted fame,
The fig-tree spoil to bide their shame.
So num'rous are those modern Eves,
A forest scarce could find them leaves*
1 EPIGRAM.
GCARCE had five months expir'd since Ralph did wedj
When lo! his fruitful wife was brought to bed.
How now, quoth Ralph—this is too soon, my Kate ?
No, Ralph, said she-—you marry'd me too late*
LEFT UPON A YOUNG LADY'S TOILET.
BY B. B. S-------—-N, ESQ.
C OFT god of sleep, when next you steal
To charming Caeliafs eyes,
To the dear maid in dreams* reveal,
Who 'tis that for her dies.
But should the fair-one be displeas'd
At the unwelcome theme,
Fly her, and let my heart be eas*d
By finding it &.dream,
TO

[ *9 ]
TO A YOUNG LADY WITH A PAIR OF
. GLOVES, ON VALENTINE'S DAY.
SAID TO BE BY DK. B-------Y.
"DRIMFUL of anger—not of love,
The champion sends his foe a glove;
But I, that have a double share
Of the softer passion—send a pair;
Nor think it, dearest Delia, cruel
That I invite you to a duel.
Ready to meet you face to face,
At any time, in any place;
Nor shall I leave you In the lurch,
Though you should dare to fix the church \
There come equipp'd with all your charms,
A ring and licence are my arms 5
I will th' unequal contest try,
Resolv'd to fight, though sure to die*
TO A LADY PLAYING AT QUADRILLE.
BY MR. T™—LL.
npHREE goddesses of old, on Ida's hill,
Sat with young Paris, playing at quadrille;
The shepherd held the hand, but whom to call,
That was the doubt; contention's fatal ball!
I)                            Diamonds"

[ 50 ]
Diamonds' proud monarch Juno wav'd on high,
Emblem of wealth, and pow'r, and majesty;
But Pallas, hoping to inspire the youth
With love of virtue, and a zeal for truth,
Show'd him the majesty of spades, thereby
Inviting him to toil and industry;
Whilst Venus, practising her usual arts,
Glanc'd at him, thrice, the majesty of hearts.
But oh! if you, Belinda, had been there,
Adorn'd with such a face, with such an air!—-
So much good sense, with so much beauty join'd,
So fair a face, enrich'd with such a mind,
Would soon have fiYd his choice; in you we see
AU the perfections of each deity :
There are no charms but what your presence brings,
And, play who will, yet you hold all the kings!
■ ■
THE EPITHALAMIUM.
FROM SECUNDUS.
TTAIL, genial hour!
In myrtle bow'r
Of young-ey'd Pleasure born ;
Whom wanton wiles,
And jests, and smiles,
And roseate sports adorn.
Sweet

[ o\ j
Sweet hour, all hail!
With envy pale,
Which Jove himself-might sees
And own at least
His nectar'd feast
Equal'd, sweet hour! by thee.
No happier hour.
The Gnydian pow'r
Could on blest man bestow;
Nor he, who reigns
O'er farthest plains,
God of the fatal bowj
Young Cupid! wild
As any child,
Who shakes his purple wings;
And some rich joy,
Delicious boy!
On ev'ry sorrow flings:
Nor thou, great queen,
Unrival'd seen,
With wond'rous grace to move;
At love's high feast3                 , j
A bidden guest*                           ■- •...
Sister and wife of Jove.
Nor Hymen, thou,
Upon the brow
Of tuneful mountain born %
- D2                                 Who '

[ S2 ]
Who dwell'st in bow*rs
Of am'rous flow'rs;
And, from her mother torn,
Lead'st, much afraid.
Much pleas'd, the maid,
(Midst doubts, and hopes, and sighs,)
To the dear youth,
Who full of truth
In wild expectance lies.
O hour of bliss!
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain ,
O happy pair I
O happy fair!
O happy, happy swain I
Hail, wedded boy!
Whose only joy
Soon in thy arms shall rest j
And face to face,
In fond embrace,
Sink gently on thy breast.
She I who all day
An infant lay
Prattling at beauty*s feet |
Who kiss'd the child j
And, as it smii'd,
Breath'd o*er it ev'ry sweet j
Breath'd

£ 53 ]
Breath'd charms so bright,
That at the sight
Venus shrunk back with awe|
And from her skies,
With envious eyes,
Indignant Juno saw
A nobler mien $
E'en Wisdom's Queen,
With female anger glow'd;
And ask'd what chance,
At each proud glance,
Such matchless gifts bestow'd ?
Should they all three.
Once more agree
To visit Ida's shade •
And should again
The shepherd swain
Be of the contest made
Sole judge; no more
To Faphos' bow'r
Would laughing Venus bear
The prize awayi
No longer say,
" Vm fairest of the fair Is*
But with one choice,
With one loud voice,
Hers would the Apple be,
In features, sense,
And elegance,
Who most resembled thee,
O hour

L 54, j
O hour of bliss!
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain;
O happy pair!
O happy fair!
O happy? happy swam!
Hail, happy bride5
Thy husband's prides
Who soon in eager fold,
The conscious bed
With blushes red,
Thy virgin neck shall hold.
Long hath the fire
Of slow desire
His early prime consum'd j
Marking, as blows
The op'ning rose,
How the young beauties bloom'dj
Thy breasts of snow,.
Thy lips that glow
In health divinely warm ;
And thy bright hair.
With artless care,
Whose wanton ringlets charm*
" Ne'er will the sun
i( His circuit run B"
Impatient of delay?
He sighing cries,
" O moon arise I
** 0 come, O come away t
€( Comet

C 55 ]
*' Come, mildly bright,
a Pure orb of light!
" To thee such scenes belong 5
*•' Come, ev'ry star!
" And from afar
iS Begin the bridal song.*9
O hour of bliss!
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain |
O happy pairf
O happy fair I
0 happy, happy swain!
Cease, cease thy fears,
Thy vows, thy tears,
0, fervent bridegroom 1 cease;
Soon shall thy heart,
No more to part,
Eesume its long-lost peace;
Soon from her throne
Of cygnet's down,
With many a chaplet gay,
Love's constant friend I
Shall Venus bend,
And chide the ling'ring day.
She chides;——and see,
The burning sea
Its radiant god receives j
Faintly he gleams,
And his shorn beams
In blushing billows laves,
See,

L 56 ]
See, in her band
An ebon wand,
How his lov'd sister glides
Her silver car,
Sweet wanderer!
Climbing heavVs crystal sides.
Mark, too, that, star,
To virgins dear,
Hesper! with glittering heads
Who loves his train,
O'er the blue plain^
lo golden ranks to lead.
O hour of bliss!
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain j
O happy pair!
O happy fair!
0 happy, happy swain !
Now shall the maid
At length be laid,
0 rich, unspotted prize!
Now youth beware*.
Be yours the care*
That she no maid arise*
Now plac'd in beds
With unfeigned red
Her beauteous face shall glow^
Nor shall she fear
Thy tread to hear,
And hope, and wish it now„
Perhaps

[ 57 ]
Perhaps a tear,
As crystal clear,
In trickling haste may Howj
Perhaps with sighs
Your heart she tries,
Or, murm'ring vents her woe.
But mind not thou
The tears that flow,
Mind not the piteous sigh ,
Soft-soothing speak,
And her wet cheek
Wipe with thy kisses dry*
O hour of bliss !
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain;
O happy pair I
O happy fair!
0 happy, happy swain!
Thus when supine.
With limbs divine
She prints the nuptial bed j
And, like a flower
With hasty show'r
Overcome, her virgin head
Hangs down in shame j
When o'er her frame
Soft languors gently creep,
And the clos'd eye.,
Unknowing why,
Attempts in vain to sleep;
D 5                                When

[ * 3
When at the side
Of thy dear bride
Thou liest, Dione's care j
Happier in love
Than am'rous Jove,
Than monarchs happier far!
Then in full tides,
Whilst vigour glides
Trembling through ev'ry veins
Begin the fight
Of fierce delight,
Of pleasure mixt with pain.
Then let the kiss
Of human bliss
O'er her sweet body fly;
0*er her warm cheek?
Her eyes, her neckj,
And lips of luscious dye.
Oft shall she cry,
" O cruel! fy !"
Oftj weeping, say,iS Forbear;*'
Oft shall her hand
Your lips withstand I
Oft meet you, you know where*
O night of bliss !
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain j
O happy pair!
O happy fair 1
0 happy, happy swain!
Much '

[ te 1
Much, in defence
Of innocence,
Of virtue's nicest laws,
Will the dear maid
Affrighted plead,
And urge a moment's pause.
In vain she strives;
Enjoyment lives
On such endear'd delays;
And the wild fire
Of fierce desire,
Oppos'd, the wilder plays.
Hence, proud in arms,
O'er her rich charms,
With nimblest strength you move j
Hence, bolder grown,
To the great throne
Of love, insatiate rove.
What vast excess
Of happiness j
In show'rs of kisses veil'd,
When her soft cries
In softer sighs
You drown, and win the field!
O night of bliss I
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain j
O happy pair!
O happy fair!
O happy, happy swain !
Not

[ 60 ]
Not but he'll speak
In accents meek.
Pleading his tale of love;
Soft! as when plays
The silken breeze,
That wakes the whisp'ring grove:
Soft! as when coos
The dove that woos
His mate in vernal bow'rs ;
Or, with sweet throat,,
When her last note
The swan expiring pours.
Till vanquished quite
In the fond fight,
O'ercome by Cupid's dart,
She lends her ear,
In blushing fear,
And yields her virgin heart:
Till, that she lies
All bare, and cries,
" Sweet lovely murd'rer, come 1"
Expands her arms,
Unfolds her charms.
And panting waits her doom.
O night of bliss 1
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain §
O happy pair!
O happy fair!
0 happy, happy swain !
'.....                                                 • Then j

C « j
Then shall thy lip,
Delighted sip
The dew of nectar'd bliss %
Then shall thy soul,
Without control,
Enjoy the ling'ring kiss.
Then thy rich smiles,
And wanton wiles,
As wanton she'll return 5
With raptures sweet,
Thy raptures meet j
And, as thou burnest, burn*
Then close to thine,
Her mouth shall join,
Sucking voluptuous breath j
Till, in one sigh
Of ecstasy,
Both touch the verge of death:
Till that, more gay,
In am'rpus play,
The genial couch she shakes;
Warm, livelier sports
Inventive courts^
And what she wishes speaks,
O night of bliss !
To equal.this
Olympus strives in vain j
O happy pair!
O happy fair!
0 happy, happy swain !
Then,

c m ]
Then, then, " To arms!"
The queen of charms;
" To arms !" young Cupid cries:
They hear, they fly j
Resolv'd to die,
Or win the glorious prize!
They pant, they bleed;
Who shall succeed,
Who best the contest wage;
Now their sole care,
Love's nimble spear,
Provoking mutual rage.
That wond'rous spear,
Great god of war !
Which not thy sister guides |
But one more dear,
Thy mistress fair I
Who at these sports presides;
Who, in such fights
Well-pleas'd, delights
The last, great thrust to spyi
Who loves to see
Coy chastity
A bleeding victim lie.
Marks with what heat
They struggling meet!
How ev'ry limb *s employ'd j
Till at the last,
Consuming fast.
Enjoying, and enjoy'd^
xThey

[ 83 1
They gasp for breath;
A moment's death
Tli' enervate body knows;
While, on each side,
Love's various tide
In streams of pleasure flows.
O night of bliss!
To equal this
Olympus strives in vain.j
O happy pair S
O happy fair I
0 happy, happy swain !
Rest, take your ease;
May sports like these,
With many a conscious moon,
Be oft renewed;
As oft he vievv'd
By many a blushing sun !
And, O blest pair 1
May offspring dear
Soon crown your fond embrace;
Soon may they rise,
To glad your eyes,
A long and beauteous race!
Whose converse gay
Will chase away
Each heart-consuming care;
Whose infant smile
Those pains beguile,
Those pains you Ve doom'd to bear !
And

C 64 j
And when old age
Life's whitest page
Shall from your sight remove ;
Who on your bier
Will drop a tear,
The tear of filial love I
Rest, take your ease,
For sports like these
New strength, new vigour gain !
Rest, happy pair!
Rest, happy fair I
Rest, happy, happy swain I
ANACREON TO HIS MISTRESS,
BY DR. BROOME,

^HE gods o'er mortals prove their sway,
And steal them from themselves away.
Transformed by their almighty hands,
Sad Niobe an image stands;
And Philomel upborne on wings,
Through air her mournful story sings.
Would heaven, indulgent to my vow,
The happy change I wish, allow j
The envied mirror I would be,
That thou mightst always gaze on me;
And, could my naked heart appear,
Thoud'st see thyself«-for thou art there!
Or

[ 65 ]
Or were I made thy folding vest,
That thou mightst clasp me to thy breast 1
Or, turn'd into a fount, to lave
Thy naked beauties in my wave !
Thy bosom-cincture I would grow,
To warm those little hills of snow :
Thy ointment, in rich fragrant streams,
To wander o'er thy beauteous limbs;
Thy chain of shining pearl, to deck,
And close embrace thy graceful neck j
A very sandal I would be
To tread on—if trod on by thee.
ON A DISK, REPRESENTING VENUS.
FROM ANACREON. BY THE HON. MR. G---------E.
"DARE artist, whose inventive skill
Could this orb with wonders fill!
Where the mimic ocean glides
Soft, with well-dissembled tides;
The waves seem floating, and above
Shines the beauteous queen of love :
The workman's fancy mounted high,
And stole th' idea from the sky.
Transporting sight!—the waves conceal
But what 'twere impious to reveal!
She, like some flow'r all-blossom'd gay,
Shines along the smiling way:
The amorous waters, as she swims,
Crowd to embrace her snowy limbs j
Then*

'J 60 ]
Then, proudly swelling to be presJy
Beneath her snowy fragrant breast,
Ambitiously up-rise on high,
And lift the goddess to the sky j
And, while her lucid limbs they lave.
She brightens the transparent wave;
So violets enlightened glow,
Surrounded by the lily's snow
But see! a lovely smiling train,
Conspicuous o'er the. limpid main,
The queen attends ! in triumph moves
Gay Cupid with his laughing Loves.
On dolphins borne, in state they ride,
And beautify the silver tide^
Dancing around, in shoals they play.
And humble adoration pay.
Rare art, that life to phantoms gives 1
See ! see ! a second Venus lives.
ON A LADY'S WEDDING BEING ON THE
TWENTY-FIRST OF DECEMBER.
BY C--------- F—.
|>ETURN'D from the Op'ra,, as lately I sat,
Indiff'rently chatting of this thing and that;
My Chloe I ask'cLfhow it enter'd her head,
To fix on St. Thomas', of all days, to wed ?
To which she replied, with reason the strongest,
■" Tho' shortest the day is^—the night, Sir, is longest,"
' J2PIGRAMJJ

[ 67 ]
EPIGRAM.
WHEN wedded Nell was brought to-bed,
She scream'd and roar'd with pain 5
She'd rather die a maid, she said,
Was it to do again.
Pray have a little patience, Nell,
And say, why now this pother ?
Before your marriage you could tell
What 'twas to be a mother.
SONG.
BY C------------L T«------—.
"llfHEN Fanny, blooming fair,
First caught my ravish'd sight |
Struck with her shape and air,
I felt a strange delight:
J           Whilst eagerly I gaz'd,
Admiring ev'ry part,
And ev'ry feature prais'd,
(She stole into my heart.
In her bewitching eyes,
Ten thousand loves appear j
There Cupid basking lies,
His shafts are hoarded there.
, . Her

C 68 5
Her blooming cheeks are d/d
With colour all their own,
Excelling far the pride
Of roses newly blown.
Her well-turnM limbs confess
The lucky hand of Jove ;■
Her features all express
The beauteous queen of love!
When flames my nerves invadej
When I behold the breast
Of that too charming maid
Rise, suing to be prestl
Venus round Fanny's waist
Has her own cestus bound,
With guardian Cupids grae'd,
Who dance the circle round.
How happy must he be,
Who shall her zone unloose !
That bliss to all, but me?
May heav'n and she refuse,
SONG.
BY THE SAME.

^HENEVER, Chloe, I begin,
Your heart, like mine, to move.
You tell me of the crying sin
Of unchaste lawless love.
How

[ 69 j
How can that passion be a sin,
Which gave to Chloe birth ?
How can those joys but be divine,
Which makes a heav'n on earth ?
To wed, mankind the priests trapann'd
By some sly fallacy,
And disobey'd God's great command,
" Increase and multiply !"
You say that love *s a crime; content j
Yet this allow you must,
More joys in heav'n, if one repent,
Than over ninety just.
Sin, then, dear girl, for heaven's sake^
Repent, and be forgiv'n;
Bless me, and by repentance make
A holy-clay in heav*nB
ON A FAN.
BY L—~D J. T—~ *
, In which the story ofCephalus and Procris was ^ai?ited$
with the motion u Aere venh'*
I POME, gentle air, the iEolian shepherd said,
While Procris panted in the secret shade.
[Come, gentle air, the fairer Delia cries,
While at her feet her swain expiring lies,
hoi

[ TO ]
Lo ! the glad gales o'er all her beauties stray,
Breathe on her lips,, and in her bosom play i
In Delia's hand this toy is fatal found,
Nor could that fabled dart more surely wound*
Both gifts destructive to the giver prove;
Alike both lovers fall, by those they love.
Yet guiltless too this bright destroyer lives;
At random wounds, nor knows the wounds she gives:
She views the story with attentive eyes,
And pities Procris, while her lover dies.
BY LORD LITTLETON,
C AY, Myra, why is gentle love
A stranger to that mind.
Which pity and esteem can move^
Which can be just and kind ?
Is it because you fear to share ,
The ills that love molest 1
The jealous doubt, the tender eare^
That rack the am'rous breast ?
Alas! by some degree of woe,
We ev'ry bliss must gaini
The heart can ne'er a transport know,
, That never feels a pain,
KISSING

[ « ]
KISSING. A SONG,
EY G. A. STEVENS.
Tune ;—In pursuit of some lambs from myjiocks that
had stray'd.
V"E delicate lovelies, with leave, I maintain,
That happiness here you may find:
To yourselves I appeal for felicity's reign,
When you meet with a man to your mind.
When gratitude friendship to fondness unites,,
Inexpressive endearments arise j
Then hopes, fears, and fancies, strange doubts and
(delights,
Are announced by those tell-tales the eyes.
Those technical terms, in the science of love,
Cold schoolmen attempt to describe;
But how should they paint what they never can provej
For tenderness knows not their tribe.
Of all the abuse on enjoyment that *s thrown,
The treatment love takes most amiss,
Is the rant of the coxcomb, the sot, and the clow%
Who pretend to indulge on a kiss.
? The love of a fribble at self only aims :
For sots and clowns—class them with beasts;
No fibre, no atom, have they in their frames,
To relish such delicate feasts.
la

[ 72 ]
In circling embraces, when lips to lips move5
Description, oh ! teach me to praise,
The Overture Kiss to th* Op'ra of Love-—■
But beauty would laugh at the phrase.
Love's preludes are kisses, and, after the play.
They fill up the pause of delight:
The rich repetitions, which never decay,
The lips' silent language at night.
The raptures of kissing we only can taste,
When smypathies equal inspire ;
And while to enjoyment, unbounded, we haste5
Their breath blows the coals of desire.
Again, and again, and again beauty sips;
With feelings these pressures excite !
When fleeting life 's stopp'd by a kiss of the lips,
Then sinks in a sigh of delight.
LAMENTABLE CASE.
Submitted to the Bath Physicians.
BY SIR C. H. WILLIAMS.
"V"-^ fam'd physicians of this place,
Hear Strephon's and poor Chloe's case,
Nor think that. I am joking ;
When she would, he can sot comply,
When he would drink, she *s not a-dryi
And is no't this provoking ?
At

[ n ]
At night when Strephon comes to rest,
Chloe receives him on her breast,
With fondly-folding arms;
Down, down he hangs his drooping !iead#
Falls fast asleep, and lies as dead,
Neglecting all her charms.
Reviving when the morn returns,
With rising flames young Strephon burns*
And fain wou'd he be doing j
But Chloe, now asleep, or sick,
Has no great relish for the trick,
And sadly baulks his wooing.
0 cruel and disastrous ease,
When in the critical embrace,
That only one is burning !
Dear doctors, set this matter right,
Give Strephon spirits over night,
Or Chloe in the morning.
TO LYDIA.
BY THE D—E OF D-----—-.
LOVELY Lydia! lovely maid!
Either rose in thee 's display*d j
Roses of a blushing red,
O'er thy lips and cheeks are shed:
Roses of a balmy hue
In thy fairer charms we view.
E                          . '• Now

[ N ]
!$o\v thy braided hair unbind ;
Now luxuriant, uncoiifin5d}
Let thy wavy tresses flow;
Tresses bright, of burnish'd glow!
Bare thy iv'ry neck, my fair!
Wow thy snowy shoulders bare %
Bid the vivid lustre rise
In thy passion-streaming eyes \
See, the lucent meteors gleam!
See, they speak the wishful flame!
And how gracefully ^bove,
Modell'd from the bow of love,
Are thy arching brows displayed,
Soft'ning in a sable shade I
Let a warmer crimson streak
The velvet of thy downy cheek j
Let thy lips that breathe perfume,
Deeper purple now assume j
Give me little billing kisses,
Intermixt with murmuring blisses.
Soft, my love!—-my angel, stay I—
Soft 1—you suck my breath away;
Drink the life-drops of my hearty
Draw my soul from ev'ry part:
Scarce my senses can sustain
So much pleasure, so much pain!
Hide thy broad voluptuous breast!
Hide that balmy heav'n of rest!
See, to feast tlr* enamour d eyes^
How the snowy hillocks rise!
Parted

[ n 3
Parted by tlie luscious vale,
Whence luxurious sweets exhale;
Nature fram'd thee hut t* inspire
Never-ending fond desire!
Again, above its envious vest,
See, thy bosom heaves confest!
Hide the rapt'rous dear delight !
Hide it from my ravish'd sight!
Hide it!—for through all my soul,
Tides of madd'ning transport roll:
Venting now th" impassion'd sigh,
See me languish, see me die !
Tear not from me then thy charms !
Snatch, oh ! snatch me to thy arms I
With a life-inspiring kiss,
Wake my sinking soul to bliss !
ON LESBIA.
BY L—-D S——----h
WHEN beauteous Lesbia. fires my melting soul,
(She who the torch and how from Cupid stole)
By many a smile, by many an ardent kiss;
And with her teeth imprints the tell-tale bliss ;
Through all my frame the madding transport glows,
Through ev'ry vein the'tide of rapture flows.
As many stars as o'er heav'n's concave shine,
Or clusters as adorn the fruitful vise $
E2                                      S»

[ 76 ]
So many blandishments, voluptuous joys,
T* enfiame my breast, the wily maid employs.
But, dearest Lesbia! gentle mistress I say,
Why thus d *ye wound my lips in am'rous play ?
With kisses, smiles, and ev'ry wanton art,
Why raise the burning fever of my heart ?
Let us, my love I on jon soft couch reclin'd,
Each other's arms around each other twin'd,
Yield to the pleasing force of strong desire;
And, panting, struggling, both at once expire S
For, oh! my Lesbia! sure that death is sweet,
Which lovers in the fond contention meet!
THE PASTIME OF VENUS,
FROM BONEFONIUS.
INTENT to frame some new design of bliss!
The wanton Cyprian Queen composed a kiss:
An ample portion of*ambrosial juice,
With mystic skill she tempered first for use;
This done, her infant work was well bedew'd
With choicest nectar'; and o'er all she strew'd
Part of that honey, which sly Cupid stole,
Much to his cost, and blended with the whole j
^Then, that soft scent which from the vi'let flows3
She mix'd with spoils of many a vernal rose j
Each gentle blandishment in love we find,
Each graceful winning gesture next she joinM j

[ 77 ]
And all those joys that in her zone abound,
Made up the kiss, and the rich labour crown'd ;
Consid'ring now what beauteous nymph might prove
Worthy the gift, and worthy of her love ;
She fix'd on Chloe, as her fav'rite maid ;
To whom the goddess, sweetly smiling, said,
" Take this, my fair! to perfect ev'ry grace,
I And on thy lips the fragrant blessing place."
CUPID STRAY'D.
VES, beauteous queen—thy son, they say,
Thy wanton son, is gone astray;-------—■
Nay, Venus, more 5------'tis said, from thee,
A kiss the sweet reward shall be
To any swain, who truly tells
Where 'tis thy little wand'rer dwells :
Then grieve no more, nor drop a tear;
For know, the little urchin *s here;
He, from the search of vulgar eye^
ConceaPd within my bosom ljes.
Now, goddess, as I 've told thee this,
Give me, oh give the promised kiss!
KISS OF BONEFONIUS.
pLASP'D, sweet*maid, in thy embrace,
While I view thy smiling face, $fa

C ^ j
And tlie sweets with rapture sip-,
Flowing from thy honied lip ;
Then I taste, in heav'nly state,
All that '$ happy, all that ss great:
But when you forsake my arms,
And displeasure clouds, your charms j
Sudden I, who prov'd so late
All that's happy, all that's great.
Prove the tortures of a ghost,
WandYmg on the Stygian coast.
DESIGN OF A KISS..,-
A H ! canst thou, cruel nymph! suppos« .
One kiss rewards thy anurous youth j
Enough rewards his tender woes ;
His long, long constancy, and truth ?
Think not thy promised kindness paid
By simple kissing j—for the kiss
Is but an earnest, beauteous maid 1
Of more substantial, future bliss ;
Sweet kisses only were designed,
Our warmer raptures to improve j
Kisses were meant soft vows to bind,
Were silent pledges meant of love.
THE

It Ml 1
THE POET'S TALE i-
OB, THE CAUTIOUS BRIDE.
BY R. B. »——r-, ESQ.
BRIBES, in all countries, have been reckoned,
For the first night, timid and coolish $
If they continue so the second,
They always have been reckon'd foolish.
The reason *s obvious and plain-
In many nice and ticklish cases,
There 's much to lose, and nought to gain,
By affectation and grimaces.
A bridegroom, on the second night,
Whipt off the bed-clothes in surprise.
Behold, my dear, said he, a sight
Enough to make your choler rise.
She turn'd away as red as scarlet j
Whilst he continued, Pray behold,
Lay hands on that outrageous varlet,
That looks so impudent and bold.
This is the fifteenth time in vain,
He hath been sent to jail and fettcrVI j
But there *s no prison can contain
A prison-breaker like Jack Shephard.
The bride turn'd round, and took her place j
After some studying and thinking—
Said she, recovering her face,'
Though modesty still kept her winking ;

[ 80 1
In vain the vagabond 's committed,,
And to hard work and labour sent,
If you, his keeper, are outwitted
By bis pretending to repent.
You treat him ruggedly and hard,
Whilst any insolence appears,
But you 're disarm'd, and off your guard,
The moment that he falls in tears.
Now you must know that I suspect
A fellow-feeling in such shape,
Or else you would not, through neglect,
Let him continually escape.
I'll lend no hand, unless you ?11 swear,
That you'll deliver him to me,
And suffer me to keep him there,
Till I consent to set him free.
EPISTLE
fKOM L—V W——Y, TO A FEMALE FRIEND.,
SINGLE, DESCRIPTIVE OF THE
NUPTIAL JOYS.
J liCY, to you this simple verse I send,
"..- My old companion, and my constant friend;
When school-day chat employed our youthful hours,
And fancy strew'd the path of life with flow'rs-,
Oft

r 8i }
Oft have we sat beneath the verdaut shade,,.
And talk'd of love while we our samplers made ,
Love in idea, for the real sweet
Our infant bosoms were too young to meet j
Yet, as time circled round his varied course,,
Our growing years discover'd soon its source;
That men to females gave the genial joy,
And women them that sweet which ne'er can cloy :
From wanton boys at first the cause we guess'd,
Whose naked parts, when bathing, were confessed; -
How, when we pass'd the pool where those were seen,
The fan has been before our eyes a screen j
While virgin-blushes crimson'd o'er the cheek,
Our bosoms heav'd for what we dar'd not speak 5
We look'd aside sometimes, and stole a peep
Of that which oft return'd in pleasing sleep;
' When sportive Morpheus brought unto our arms
I The youthful boy, in ail his glowing charms I
' How have we toss'd and tumbled in the bed,
Flung round our arms, nay, ev'ry limb was spread ; "
Till sportive nature, in her wanton schemes,
Wak'd us with joys—which prov'd, alas ! bat,dreams-
Advancing still to womanhood apace,
How have we long'd to run love's pleasing race !
Yet, check'd by fear, and dread of future shame.
Have us'd vile means our heated blood'to tame; ;
With lewd contrivances, al! senseless, dull,
You know, my Lucy, oft we've play'd the fool j v
And try'd to gain (oh 1 most deceiving plan)
That bliss of blisses only found in man,.
E 5                      , Vir^iMSj

[ 82 ]
Virgins, you know, by custom 'tis decreed,
Must ne'er the bounds of modesty exceed j
Must shut their eyes and ears at nature's call.
And cold-form'd prudence still must govern all j
Nor dare Indulge the sweetly-pleasing flame,
For loss of chastity is loss of fame!
That vapour, which with men improves the bliss,
(For more they're valued, as the more they kiss);
No dread of swelling wombs from am'rous play,
No check from prudence, or from parents, they:
But, uncontroFd, may ramble all abroad,
Each bush and thicket beat to catch love's bird \
Ransack the nest, and wild as fancy roam,
Nov chiding fear, at their returning home.
Thanks to my stars, the day of trial's past.
And I have gain'd love's haven at the last j
Secure in Hymen's temple I am bound.
And all the joys of sweet fruition found j
Which no false delicacy shall now withhold,
But shall with glowing heart to you be told %
You, who still labour in a barren field,
Which no delight, and no increase can yield ;
You, who a maiden's name are forc'd to bear,
And, with that seeming honour, eVry care |
- For care is with virginity combined,
And both alike, you know, disturb the mind.
But not to keep you in suspense, my dear,
I '11 now describe what must delight your ear|
Tell all the rapture; all the joy that's mine;
(Oh, may an equal share be quickly thine!)
• From i

[ 83 1
From dull restraint that soon you may he free'd,
And taste the real joys of lore indeed.
My mother always wish'd to see me wed.,
And a good husband fill'd my father's head;
I with their wish still modestly complied,
Yet long'd devoutly till I was a bride.
A youthful Captain from Hibernians shore,
With ev'ry charm to please, at last came o'er;
Well recommended, of our table free,
Of all our guests—the Captain who but he j
Gay was his air, and sweetly he would woo,
He won my heart—I think my mother's too.
An honourable lover once profest ;
To me my father, kindly left the rest,
Not doubting but the lessons I'd Imbib'd,
(Which are to ev'ry girl alike described)
Would make my virtue hold his courtship out.
Nor yield before the time should come about,
When I, as law directs, my charms might yields
And let the Captain conquer in the field.
To win my heart I found was his intent,
For ev'ry night to balls and routs we went-;
The play, the op'ra, or the masquerade,
In ev'ry place where pleasure was display'd,
I and the Captain constantly were found,
True votaries in fashion's charming round;
At dear Vauxhall how oft we *ve pass'd the night,
And mix'd with mirth and music sweet delight \
Oft in the darkest grove have kiss'd and toy'd.
And felt of things true lovers can't avoid >
Ev'a .

[ « ]
Ev?n Prudence then ..had like to've lost her sway.
And wanton Cupid gain'd o'er her—the day j
But Fate preserv'd me for the happy hour,
To give me decently into his pow'r;
And the sweet rose-bud of my maidenhead
Be lost in form upon the marriage-bed.
For this what preparations were display'd,
Flounces and furbelows of rich brocade •
But afterwards the Captain let me know,
What he lik'd best was still the fur-below.
At length bright Phoebus usher'd in the morn,
By much the sweetest stare since I was born j
The bridal maids attended all in white,
It was, indeed, a most enchanting sight;
The bridemen too, most gaily did appear,
But none so charming as my only dear j
•Tall and erect, he handed me along,
The grace and envy of the gazing throng !
What wishes did engage the lasses then,
What were their thoughts,.dear Lucy, of the men ?
From roving eyes and downcast looks, no doubt,
. Your active fancy quickly will make out.
For me, I walk'd so modest and demure,
Some took me for an angel to be sure;
But could they trace the movements of my mind,
A very mortal they would surely find.
Before the priest and altar now I stand,
And, as the law directs, join hand in hand j
Sweet junction I which I rightly did divine,
In a few hours some other things would join.
■

[ 85 ]
The ceremony now was quickly read,
(Indeed I scarce remember what was said) :
Honour I heard, and something like obey,
Which I may know, perhaps, another ckyj
To love, and cherish, that was utter'd plain,
With all his strength, with all his might and main.
0 ! "love and cherish!" charming words are these,
To love and cherish every one must please,
And my dear Captain is so very kind,
He cherishes, and loves, just to my mind 1.
The wedding dinner and the supper past, .
The chiefest pleasure, Lucy, comes at last;
Disrob'd of all my finery of dress,
In virgin-smock the snowy sheets I press ;
Snowy at present—soon another shew
Their white shall stain, and leave a crimson hue!
The maids withdrawn, and far remov'd the light,
The Captain enters, well prepar'd for fight.j
Th' amroos fight, which shall in blood commence-,
A while to wound, yet soon enchant each sense*
Ye virgin Muses on Parnassus'-hill,
There, with yonr chastity, continue still j •'*
Nor aid I ask from you—hut, Venus, thee
1  ask to lend assistance unto me,
While I describe the'fierce encounter, where
1 lost my maidenhead, and virgin fearj
Thou who warm wishes to young bosoms send,
The youth's best guide, and tender miss's friend i/,
Goddess of joy, and never-tiring sport!
Thy aid, bright Venus! only now I court!
G\rc

L B6 ]
Give thy assistance, bid the picture glow
With all the charms thy colouring can bestow.
Trembling, and panting, for the wishM embrace,
The fiery lover soon assumes his place ;
The fount of love awhile he seeks in vain,,
I grasp my shift his fury to restrain ;
His fury from restraint more ardent grows,
And from the bed the coverlid he throws j
With one rude rent my lily shift he tore^
And open laid what covered was before j
Then, with his finger first, he gropes about
To find the centre of all raptures out |
That once obtain'd, he plunges dreadful in
A thing, to name, would be a mortal sin»
At first, indeed, ii some resistance found,
J3ut soon was with a noble conquest crown'd ;
I smarted much, but straight a flood of joy
Did, ev'ry fear and ev'ry harm destroy.
Such home-felt thrusts, with vigour so pursu'd^
With, an-enchanting fren/.y seiz'd ray blood.;
.,A clammy dew o'er ev'ry limb was spread,
Willi murm'ring si^hs I turn'd aside my head;
Yet to his anient wishes did bestow,
From nature's fountain-, a capacious flow.
■ Believe me, Lucy, such the joys I shar'd,
None else, on earth, are possibly compared j
•No"wonder love in ev'ry age has been.
The idol, chief ador'd in.ev'ry scene;
Whether with shepherds on the rural plain,
Or in the court where kings and princes reign;
T» .

. t 87 ]
To all it does the sweetest joys dispense,
The only certain good of Providence !
The charming youth from sport could not re*
frain,
But soon he mounts the throne of joys again !
Again begins to run another course,
With equal charms., and with an equal force. j.
Plunges all manly his subduing dart,
Sinks me with joys that overflow my heart;
Till kind emission bids him rest once more,
And softer dalliance shall his strength restore*
Lock'd in each other's arms, awhile we lay,
And kiss and chat about the am'rous play :
O'er ev'ry part his ready fingers rove,
Now press my rising breasts, and then the fount of
love?
Till strong emotions bid those joys renew,
(Which soon, dear Lucy, must be known to you)
For sure a girl with such a glowing heart,
Must in love's sports ere 'long perform a part .
({ All night the dauntless hero kept his way/9
Nor did he slumber till the dawn of day ;
Then, in sweet dreams, we melted into bliss,
And gave, in sleep, to each the humid kiss.
But, lo ! m' officious mother opes the door,
And-wakes to breakfast at th' accustomed hour;
My husband rises, but recumbent I,
' (For rest was needful)—something longer lie.
At leng.h the maids repair to see me drest,
From their-sly looks their wanton thoughts I guess'd-! '
What. :

C 88 ]
What buzzing hosts of visitors appear,
With * How d' y' do ? I wish you joy, my dear !9
I wish'd their tongues would other themes employ,
For 'faith I could not tell them half my joy ;
The Captain kindly comes to my relief,
My only wish, of all my joys the chief!
From those impertinents who'd bliss delay,
We tip the wink, and slily steal away;
To a snug room we haste, make fast the door,
And play the game so lately play'd before j
There, on a couch, he feasts his roving eyes,
And views each secret charm with great surprise;
Kisses that spot from whence his pleasure flows !
And then a benediction large bestows*
Th* elastic tube, which gave me so much joy,
Does now the wonder of my eyes employe
Its ruby crest, bright rising to the sight,
Gave, to behold, most exquisite delight;
I strok'd the marble pillar with my hand,
And, as it grew, I found my bliss expand!
Till once again we tried the charming sport,
And the sweet Captain storm'd again love's fort!"
" Thus, ev'ry day, and ev*ry coming night,
For one whole month we pass*d in sweet delight!
To tell the times 1 as easy might we trace
The varied tribes that varied Flora grace ;
Not all the sweets of all her lovely flow'rs
Were nothing near so sweet as what was ours,
And yet remain;—-for though fond nature cools
Yet tender sentiments each bosom rules j
The

I 89 ]
The wish to please in ev'ry gentle art,
And in 'domestic business take a part;
To soothe each anxious care, if care intrude,
True to each other, as no doubt we should :
To join sometimes in folly's happy ring,
(For half life's pleasures do from folly spring)
Claims our attention and relieves the day
With something whimsical, or something gays
As fancy prompts, and love and joy inspires*
The fountain still of both of our desires !
A thousand pranks, a thousand times we 've try*d5
All happy, since that I became a bride j
A thousand more I hope again to try ;
If he proposes, I shall sure comply;
For ne'er in frolic will I be outdone,
But meet him kindly for a bit of fun !
Love, joy, and pleasures is my heart's desire,
I And while life lasts I think I ne'er can tire :
Fortune has scatter'd treasure in my way,
And health her roses, why not then be gay ?
Let the dull wretches dream o'er heaps of. wealth,
And, in the search of more, still waste their health;
To bounteous nature I my song will tune,
And make my whole life-long a Honey-Moon !
Roam o'er the vast delight's which charm the'soul;
Wild as the bee, and free from all control I
The ills of life my reason bids me shun,
And 'tis to share the sweets that thus I run)
And, let the prudent wires say all they can,
A woman's chiefest bliss must flow from man!

[ 90 ]
Ye dear enchanters of the female heart,
Still, still proceed, to act a manly part!
The British Fair, to manly hearts inclin'd,
Give all they have to such real worth, we find ;
*Tis nature prompts, what harm can be in this5
To give and take from each the balmy bliss I
When age comes on, and passion is no more.
Perforce we must the pleasing sport give o*er |
But those who won 't enjoy it while they can.
Deceive themselves, and run from nature's plan*
Thus, my dear Lucy, have I told the truth
Of all my pleasures since my wedded youth;
To you, who are to love's soft sport inclin'dj
No doubt a kind acceptance they will find.
Adieu! my dear, may love its influence shed,
And Hymen lead you to the nuptial bed !
There scatter blooming roses, sweet, and soon;
That you, like me, may taste an Honey-Moon,
TO DELIA,
BY MR. B-----—— T.
TVELIA! once the fairest virgin of the morn, -,
To melancholy now a prey forlorn ;
Seek not, sweet maid, the lonely sea-beat shore.
Not let thy swain, for love, thy loss deplore.
When he the ruthless surge did first assail,
And spread the canvass for the prosperous gale 5
By

k[ 91 ]
y honour urg'd to far Indostan's plain,
o gain a laurel, or a tropby'd fame ;
To fight for thee, the best3 the noblest prize,
That tyrant man could give, or Heav'n devise :
Now in the short-liv'd year again to meet.
Again to bless thee in thy lone retreat;
In ecstasy of soul to breathe his last,
On lips ambrosial gain a new repast,
And to returning life fresh vigour lend,
Returning joys another exit endj
Voluptuous bliss, and pain, alternate move
To crown with joys the bower of mutual love j
So the aweet-scented bud of pallid hue
Soon shines, a full-blown crimson rose to view,
And marks to man, how transient is his flame.
While the prolific stock new joys proclaim j
Another now supplies the vacant seat,
And shades the sacred grot of love's retreat;
Envied witness of the am'rous fight—
Luscious privilege of the nuptial night S
Then why, fair nymph, expose those heav'nly charms,
Why let thy cheek to fade with false alarms j
Why mourn o'er woes unnumber'd, yet unknown;
Why reckon others' sorrows for your own ?
I 'Tis sympathy, sweet maid, that racks thy soul,
To spread a partial misery through the whole;
'Tis that which decorates thy heav'n-born breast,
I And plants thy happiness above the rest,
In Henry's arms to live the envied fair,
Oh happy man ! Oh happy, happy pair !

C M ]
For thee, sweet girl, thy Henry hast'neth near.
When Cupids will prolong thy fond career ;
When day and night will lead to new desires.
And strive to quench the never-cooling fires;
Such the delights of th' Hymeneal state,
Such joys, my Delia, thee do now await;
Then will the timbrels beat to song divine,
And the gay'st couplets of the tuneful Nine
Will tell the fickle world, with fond design.
How Henry and Delia did in one combine ;
How happy were the well-deserving pair,
How gen'rous was the noble Henry's care,
How happy was the happiest of the fair.
ON LOVE.- ■
FROM ANACREON. BY FAWKES.
HjPQ love I wake the silver string,
And of his soft dominion sing :
A wreath of flowers adorns his brow,
The sweetest, fairest flowers that blow.
All mortals own his mighty sway,
And him the Gods above obey.
THE

[ 93 ]
THE MARRIAGE MORN.
Sung by Mr. DIGNUM,
AT THE ANACREONTIC SOCIETY,
T'HE marriage-morn I can't forget,
My senses teem'd with new delight ;
** Time," cried I, <« haste the coming nights
" And, Hymen, give me sweet Lisette V*
I whisper'd softly in her ear,
And said, " The God of night draws near.'*
0 how she look'd 1 O how she smil'd ! O how she sigk'd!'
She sigh'd—then spent a joyful tear.
Now nuptial night her curtain drew,
And Cupid's mandate was a Commence,
<* With ardour break the virgin's fence 1"
Then to the bed sweet Lisette flew——-
'Twas heav'n to view her as she lay,
And hear her cry, " Come to me, pray!
« 0 how I feel! O how I pant! O I shall die I
" Shall die before the break of day ¥'.
Soon manhood rose with furious gustj
And Mars, when he lewd Venus view'd,
Ne'er felt his power so closely screw'd
Up to the standing post of lust!
But when the stranger to her sight,
Sweet Lisette saw, in rampant plight!
0 how she scream'd ! O how she scream'd! O how she
scream'd 1
She scream'd—then grasp'd the dear delight!
Now

[ 94 ]
Now lustful nature eager grew,
And longer could not wanton toy,
So rushing up the path of joy,
Quick from the fount, love's liquor flew !—>
At morn, she cried, " Full three times three,
iC The vivid stream I 've felt from thee !
" O how I *m eas'd ! O how I 'm pleas'd ; gods how 1 'w
" chavm'd 1
iC I 'm charm'd, with rapt'rous three times three 1**
THE
UNION OF BEAUTY AND WINE,
A SONG. BY G. A. STEVENS.
Tune \—Attend all ye fair ones, I'll tell you the art,
f\NE day at her toilet, as Venus began
To prepare for her face-making duty,
Bacchus stood at her elbow, and swore that her plan
Would not help it, but hinder her beauty.
A bottle young Seraele held up to view,
And begg'd she'd observe his directions—-
This Burgundy, dear Cytharea, will do,
*Tis a rouge that refines all complexions.
Too polite to refuse him, the bumper she sips,
On Ms knees, the buck begg'd she'd encore;
The joy-giving goddess, with wine-moisten'd lips,
Bcclar'd she wou'd hob-nob once more.
Out

C 95 ]
Out of the window each wash, paste, and powder, she
hurl'd,
And the god of the grape vow'd to join ;
Shook hands, sign'd and seal'd, then bid fame tell the
world.
The Union of Beauty and Wine.
A LOVE SONG.
BY G» A STEVENS.
Tune ;—Genteel is my Damon, engaging his air*
T ET him, fond of fibbing, invoke which he '11 choose*,
Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, or madam the Muse :
Great names in the classical kingdom of letters.
But poets are apt to make free with their betters.
I scorn to say aught, save the tiling which is true,.
No beauties I '11 plunder, yet give mine her due j
She has charms upon charms, such as few people may
view,
She has charms-—for the tooth-ache, and eke for the
ague.
Her lips;—she lias two, and her teeth they are
white,
And what she puts into her mouth they can bite j
Black and all black her eyes j but what's worthy
remark,
They are shut when she sleeps, and she '$ blind in the
dark.
Her

[ 96 3
Her ears from her cheeks equal distance are bear-
*Cause each side her head should go partners in hear-
ing;
The fall of her neck *s the downfall of beholders,
Love tumbles them in by the head and the shoulders.
Her waist is—so—so, so waste no words about it,
Her heart is within it, her stays are without It 5
Her breasts are so pair'd—two such breasts when you
see,
You'll swear that no woman, yet born, e'er had three.
Her voice neither nightingales, no! nor canaries,
Nor all the wing'd warblers wild whistling vagaries s
Nor shall I to instrument music compare it,
*Tis likely, if you was not deaf, you might hear it.
Her legs are proportion'd to bear what they've
e&rry'd.
And equally pair'd, as if happily marry* d 1
But wedlock will sometimes the best friends divide,
By her spouse so she's serv'd, when he throws them
aside.
Not too tall, nor too short, bat I'll venture to say,
She ss a very good size—in the middling way j
She 's—aye—that she is,-—she is—but I *m wrong;
Her all I can }t say? for I *ve sung all my song.
BY

[ 97 j
BY MR. ADDISON...
MY love.was fickle once, and changing,
Nor e'er would settle in my heart;
From beauty still to beauty ranging,
In ev'ry face I found a dart.
| 'Twas first a charming shape ensiav'd rae3
An eye then gave the fatal stroke :
Till by wit Cortnna sav'd me,
And all my former fetters broke*
I But now a long and lasting anguish
For Belvidera I endure j
'Hourly I sigh, and hourly languish,
Nor hope to find the wonted cure.
For here the false, inconstant lover,
After a thousand beauties shown,
Does new, surprising charms discover,
And finds—variety in one.
ON A LADY'S GIRDLE...
BY WALLER.
THAT which her slender waist confin'd.
Shall now my joyful temples bind •
No monarch but would give his crownf
His arms might do what this has done.
It was my heavVs extremest sphere^
The pale which held that lovely deer;             i
F                             Mv

£ 9* ]
My joy, my grief, my hope, my love,
Did all within this circle move.
A narrow compass! and yet there
Dwelt all that's good, and all that's fair !
, Give me but what this ribbon bound,
Take all the rest the sun goes round.
TO MRS. W—, 01 HER PUTTING ORANGE /
FLOWERS IN HER BOSOM.
BY L—E E——.
|"10, lovely flower, in all thy pride,
To that fair bosom go i
There thou thy showy blossoms hide,'
In whiter drifts of snow.
Yet, warmer than thy native clime,
Thou f\t find that seat of love !
•Matur'd to fruit before thy time,
As in,the genial stove.
Ah! no; with fragrant sweets opprcst,
You there entranc'd shall lie :
And like her swain, supremely blest*
In ecstasies must die! -
10

[ 99 1
TO THE HON. MISS CARTERET.
12 LOOM of beauty, early fiow'r
Of the blissful bridal bow'r,
Thou, thy parent's pride and carei;
Fairest offspring of the fair,
Lovely pledge of mutual love,
Angel seeming from above,
Was it not thou day by day
Dost thy very sex betray,
Female more and more appear.
Female, more than angel dear,
How to speak thy face and mien,
(Soon too dangerous to be seen)
How shall. I, or shall the muse,
Language of resemblance choose ?
Language like thy mien and face,
Full of sweetness, full of grace ?
By the next returning spring,'
When again the linnets sing,
When again the lambkins play,
Pretty sportlings full *of May,                  . '
When the meadows nest are seer*.*
Sweet enamel! white and greies*
And the year, in fresh attire,                                 _ ,
Welcomes ev'ry gay desire,
Blooming on shah thou appear,
More inviting than the year,
Fairer sight than orchard shows.
Which beside a river blows ;
F"2                                Ver,

Yet, another spring I see,
And a brighter bloom in thee:
And another round of time,
Circling, still improves thy prime j
And, beneath the vernal skies,
Yet a verdure more shall rise,
Ere thy beauties, kindling slow,
In each finish'd feature glow;
Ere, in smiles and in disdain,
Thou exert thy maiden reign.
Absolute, to save or kill
Fond beholders at thy wilL
Then the taper-moulded waist,
With a span of ribbon brac'd,
And the swell of either breast,
And the wide high-vaulted chest,
And the neck so white and rounds
Little neck with brilliants bound,
And the store of charms which shine
Above, in lineaments divine,
Crowded in a narrow space
To complete the desp'rate facej
These alluring powers, and more,
Shall enamoured youths adore;
These, and more, in courtly lays, _
Many an aching heart shall praise*
Happy thrice, and thrice agen5
Happiest he of happy men,
Who, in courtship greatly sped,
Wins the damsel to his bed,
Bears

[ ioi 3
Bears the virgin-prize away,
Counting life one nuptial day !
For the dark-brown dusk of hair,
Shadowing thick thy forehead fair,
Down the veiny temples growing,
O'er the sloping shoulders flowing;
And the smoothly-pencil'd brow,
Mild to him in ev'ry vow,
And the fringed lid below,
Thin as thinnest blossoms blow,
And the hazley-lueid eye,
Whence heart-winning glances fly,
And that cheek of health, o'erspread
With soft-blended white and red*
And the witching smiles which break
Round those lips, which sweetly speak.
And thy gentleness of mind,
Gentle from a gentle kind;
These endowments, heav'nly dow'r!
Brought him in the promis'd hour,
Shall for ever bind him to thee,
Shall renew him still to woo thee.
JOVE AND SEM-ELE.
BY THE D-— OF Q—»
TOVE, for amusement, quitted oft his skies,
To visit earth, contracted to our size;
And. :.

[ i02 ]
And lov'd (however things in lieav'n might go)
Exceedingly a game of romps below.
Miss Semele he pick'd up, as he went,
And thought he pleas'd her to her heart's content.
But minds aspiring ne'er can be at ease;
Once known a god, as man he ceas'd to please.
In tenderest time, which women know, 'tis said,
Thus she 'bespoke the loving god in bed :
Thou who gav'st Daedalus his mazy art,
And knowesc all things but a woman's heart,
Hear my request for something yet untiVd,
And swear by Styx, I shall not be deny'd.
Fond Jove, like men, the better to succeed,
Tool: :„• ; «. L.i': j—then did the girl proceed:
In human guise, great Jo^e, -leave-off to iQ£g#,
Deceiving woa m- a s :, and pitf'rjajg love,
What are those joys, which as a man you give.
To* what a god of thunder can achieve ?
Such measure of love, and might of limbs employ.
As give immortal madams heav'nly joy.
Jove came array*d, as bound by cruel fate,
And Semele enjoy'd the god in state :
When flaming splendors round his beamy head
Divinely shone, and struck the mortal dead.
Faint from the course though we a while retrear,
To cool, and breathe, before another heat 5
The gods can *t know, fresh with eternal prime,
Love*s stinted pause, nor want recruits from timej
But must with unabatiug ardour kiss,
And bear down nature with excess of bliss*
Learn

' ' [' 103 j
I Learn hence, each fair one, whom like beauties grace,
I Possess'*! of lawless empire by your face,
I Not to do what you list, because you may;
I Let cool discretion warm desires allay,
I And itching curiosity relieve-—
I Marking taint cleriv'd from mother Eve,
Spare then the men, ye fair, and frankly own,
I Your sex, like ours, lias had its Phaeton.
THE END.-
A SONG. BY G. A. STEVENS.
Tu ne j—Thejool that is wealthy is sure of a bridf*
t pAPILIO the rich, in the hurry of love,
I Resolving to wed, to fair Arabel drove;
He made his proposals, he begg'd she wou*d fix—-
What maid, cou'd say No to a new coaeh-aiid-six ?
We'll suppose they were wed, the guests bid, supper
done,
The fond pair in bed, and the stocking was thrown ,
The bride lay expecting to what this would tend;
Since created a wife, wishM to know for what end.
On the velvet peach oft, as the gaudy fly rests.,
I The bridgroom's lips sioppM, on love's pillows, 'her
breasts |
V"'- "',-,-,                           r-'.'^         -. :'•/"''¥'t%.P

[ 104 ]
All amazement, impassive, the heart-heaving fair,
With a sigh seem'd to prompt him, don't stay too long
there.
Round her' waist, and round such a waist, circling his
arms,
He raptures rehears'd on her unpossess'd charms;
Says the fair-one, and gap'd, I hear all you pretend,
But now, for I'm sleepy, pray come to an end.
My love ne'er shall end, 'Squire Shadow reply'dj
But still, unattempting, lay stretehM at her side:
She made feints, as if something she meant to defend,
But found out, at last, it was all to no end.
In disdain starting up from the impotent boy,
She, sighing, pronoune'd, There's an end of my joy;
-Then resolvM this advice to her sex she would send,
Ne 'er to wed till they *re sure they' can wed to some
end.
And what end is that ? why the end which prevails-
Ploughs, ships, birds, and fishes, are steer'd by their j
tails:
And though man and wife, for the head may contend,
1 *m sure they 're best pleas'd when they gain t'other
end.
The end of our wishes, the end of bur wives5
The end of our loves, and the end of our lives.
The end of conjunction, 'twixt mistress and male,
Though the head may design, has its end in the tail.
, ;.;                                                                  Tis

E !<» 1
: -'Us time though to finish, if aught I intend,
Lest, like a.bad husband, I come to no end;
I The ending I mean is, what none will think wrong,
[ And that is, to make now an end of my song.
THE BOWER.
FROM ANACREOST. BY E. &, B., ESQ.
OERE, ray Chide, charming maid,
Here beneath the genial shade,
Shielded from each ruder wind,
Lovely Chloe, lie reclin'd !
Lo! for thee the balmy breeze
Gently fans the waving trees 1
Streams that whisper through the grove,
'Whisper low the voice of love,
Sweetly bubbling wanton sport
Where persuasion holds her court.
•Yevvhopass th' enumei'cl m'ove,
Through tie rustling shade who rove,
Sure my blisi your breasts must fire I
C3an you see, and not admire ?
F:,                CAPTAIN

I «^ J
CAPTAIN CUPID.
BY LORD E——M» r
pEST, in Cyiherea's sacred shade, -
When Venus clasp'cl the god of war,
The laughing Loves around them play'd,
One bore the shield, and one the spear,
The little warriors Cupid led.
The sinning baldric grac'd his breast,
The mighty helmet o'er his head
Nodded Its formidable crest.
Hence oft, to win some stubborn maid,
Still does the wanton god assume
The martial air, the gay cockade,
The sword, the shoulder-knot, and plume,
. Fliillis had Jong his power defy'd,
Resolv'd her conquest to'maintain;'
His fruitless art each poet try'd,
Each shepherd tun'd his pipe in vain.
Till Cupid came, a Captain bold,
Of trenches arid of pallisadoes
. He talk'd, and many a tale he told
Of battles, and of ambuscadoes.
How oft his godship had been drunk 5
What melting maids he had undone 5
How oft by night had storm'd a punk,
Or bravely beat a saucy dun,
.- ;•                                                        He

, ' ■                [ 107 j
H? s\\ >re, d a c, 'vhor\L sang, danc'd with' spirit,
And- o'er each pleasing topic ran,
lis! 11 ill 3 gh il, and own'd his merit,
Tiie Captain Js sure a charming masi9
Ye bards, on verse let Phoebus dote,
Ye shepherds, leave your pipes to Pan;
• Nor verse nor pipe will Phillis note,
The Captain is the charming man,
SONG.
BY THE HON, MR, H ——~»
VE belles, and ye flirts, and ye pert little things,
Who trip in this frolicsome- round,
Pray tell me from whence this indecency springs.
The sexes at once to confound ?
What means the cock'd hat, and the masculine air.
With each motion design's;! to perplex?
Bright eyes were intended to languish, not stare,
And softness the test of your sex.
The girl who on beauty depends for support,,
May call ev'ry art to her aid :
j The bosom display *d, and the petticoat short,
Are samples she gives of her trade,

[ 108 ]
But you, on whom fortune indulgently smiles,
And whom pride has preserved from the snare,
Should slily attack us, with coyness and wiles,
Not with open and insolent air.
The Venus, whose statue delights all mankind,
Shrinks modes!ly back from the view,
And kindly sliou'd seem by the artist deslgo'd
To serve as a model for you.
Then learn with her beauties to copy her air,
Nor venture too much to reveal;
Our fancies will paint what you cover with care,
And double each charm you conceal.
The blushes of morn, and the mildness of May,
Are charms which no art can procure:
Oh 1 be but yourselves, and our homage we pay.
And your empire is solid and sure.
But if Amazon-like you attack your gallants,
And put us in fear of our lives,
You may do very well for sisters and aunts,
But, believe me, you '11 never be wives.
SONG.
WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN JACKSON.
AS pensive on the Severn's side,
Cieora, soon to be a .bride,
Soft sighing to the breeze was laid^—-
Was ever so forlorn a maid ?
Yet

; '            [ 109 j .
. Yet all you frora her plaint could learn,
Was, When will Isidore return ?
My Isidore-, all! when will Isidore return?
The panting swain her plainings heard,
And instant at her feet appear'd :
But mark the coy dissembling fair,-
And learn of virgins to beware j.
At once she slily chang'd her tune
To—Isidore returns too soon,
My Isidore, ah ! Isidore returns too soon.
Entranced he snatch'd a glowing kiss,
Ambrosial antepast of bliss;
The bashful damsel hung her head,
And thus with fait'ring lips she said,
With lips that far hely'd her heart,—
My Isidore, again depart,
My Isidore, all S Isidore again depart.
Regardless of her fancied fears,
For joy as- well as grief has tears;.
The youth, all eager to be blest,
Next dawn decoyM her to the priest;
And if you now her note won'd know,
'Tis—Isidore no more shall go,
My Isidore, ah 1 Isidore no more shall go,
. A. LO-

A LOGICAL SONG,
I17RY, Chloe, thus squander your prime-
In debate between fear and temptation ?
If adulterous love be a crime,
Why quarrel with plain fornication ?
But your beauties with age you may lose;
■ Then seize the short moment of joy I
If not—then with confidence use, ■
What by using yon cannot destroy.
Come, come, bid cur transports begin,
Ere we lose both our youth and our leisure;
Come, 'tis better repenting a sin,
Than regretting the loss of a pleasure,
CELIA VANQUISHED.
IpELIA ! you kill me, by the lord 1
You know I've-suffered like a martyr; ■
Nor have I yet bad one kind word,
Nor seen an inch above your garter.
Can you forget, ungrateful maid,
How long my constant flame has lasted ?
What nonsense have I sung and said.
What ink and paper have I wasted ?
Ah, cruel nymph ! you know full well,
With what a pure,■beooming zeal,
J 'ye beeg'd your snowy bosom's swell,
Ami cv'ry other swell to feel!                                And j

i 111 ]
And round your taper waist to twine,
"Each inlet of delight to prove I
Our hearts, our lips, our souls to join ■
And can you still, still doubt my love ?
What, unconvinc'd ? the Devil's in it!
Wei! then, this proof shall calm your fears,
And if one warm expressive minute,
Speak not more love than days of tears;
Unless each palpitating nerve,
Each kindling vein confess me true.,
Treat me at length as I deserve,
And banish me from joy and you!
ANSWER. ■'
IDE quiet, Sir! be gone, I say !
Lord bless us ! how you romp and tear !
There!
I swear!
' Now you have left my bosom bare !
I do not like such boisterous play,
So take that saucy hand away.-:------
Why now, you're ruder than before !
Nay, I'll be hang'd.if I comply.------
Fie!
I'll cry !
Oh—I can't bear it---------I shall die--——-
I vow I'll never see you morel
JBut—«—•——are you sure you've shut the door? .
MABLa

MARIA.
A SONG. BY G. A. STEVENS.
Tune;—latiihe the lovely, the joy of the plain,
/"jNE day, by appointment, Maria I met,
That day of delight! I remember it yet:
■ As the meadow we ercss'd to avoid the town's crowd, '
Tiie sun seem'd eelips'd by a black spreading cloud;
Escaping the shower, to the barn we last fled,
There safe heard the pattering rain over head.
Some moments I suifer'd my fair to take breath;
Then, sighing, she cried, " Lord! I *m frightenM to
death ;
" Suppose, nay, now, by any one 1 should be seen ? ; "'-*]
4( Nay, nay, now,—nay, pray now—dear—what do you
ii mean ?
*' Had I thought you won 'd be half so rude—-fie! for
i$ shame ! -
i( I wish I *d been wet to the skin ere I came.
" You will have a kiss, then I—-why, take one or
(i two !
li I beg you won \ tease me !—-Lord 1 what wou'd
"_ you do ?
" You '11 tear all one's things—I ne'er saw such a
" man 1
&i 1 will hold your hands though!—Aye, do, if you can :■
" Is this your love for me ?~—Is this ail your care ?
u I Ml never come near you again,—now, I swear !" . -J
As '

As she push'd me away, love explained by her eycs5
Besistance was only to ■heighten the prize !
Her face chang'd alternate, from scarlet to snow,
Her neck rose and fell fast, her language was low;
Such beauty ! but more of that scene was not shown-—-
For decency here bid her curtain drop down.
The storm being over, all sunshine the air,
When instant rose up the yet love-looking fair,
Crying, "Hark! there's one listens—do look out, my
dear,
u I must be bewitched, I. am sure, to come here :
. il My things how they're rumpled!—Lord! let me he
" gone;
* *' What have you been doing ? and what have I done |
" Into this fatal place, I most solemnly vow*,
" I innocent enter'tl—but am I so now ?
*{ I 'rn ruin'd,—-I never myself can forgive—
" I '11 leap in the brook,-—for I "m sure I can't live !—
I K If I do, my whole, life will be wasted in grief,
" Unless here to-morrow you '11 give me relief." >
CHASTITY.
A SONG BY G. A. STEVENS.
. Tune;—Good people, I'll tell you no rodomontade.
I" WONDER, quoth dame, as her spouse she embraces^
How strumpets can look, how tjjey dare show their
faces ?
A h'd ■

[ u» l
Aritl those wicked wives, who from ■ husbands' arms
fly.
Lord! where do they think they must go when they
die?
Bat next day, by husband, with 'prentice boy ]
eaught;
When she from the bed was to toilet-glass brought,
Her head he held up, with this gentle rebuke—
•My-dear! you was wishing to know how whores
Turn your eyes to that table, at once you?will see.
What faces jades wear; then, nay dear, behold me *.
Your features confess the adulteress clear,
My visage exhibits how cuckolds appear.
You ask'd where had wives go ? why, really, ray'
chick,
You must, with the rest of them, go to Old Nick!
If Beelzebub don't such damn'd tenants disown,
For bad wives, he knows, make a hell of their own.
AH the world would be wed, if the clergy couM 1
show
Any rule in the service to change I for O:
How happy the union of marriage wou'd prove,
Wot long as we live join'd, but long as we love.
.At his feet she sunk down, sorrow lent her sucb I
moans,               *
That resentment was gagged by her tears and her
tones*
What

[ 1» ]
' What cou'd Hubby do then ? what cou'd then Hubby do?
But sympathy-struck, as she cry'd, he cry'd too.
Oh, Corregio! cou'd I Sigismunda design,
Or exhibit a Magdalen, Guido, like thine,
I wou'd paint the fond look which "the penitent stole,
That piere'd her soft partner, and sunk to his soul.
Transported to doting ! lie rais'd the distrest,
And tenderly held her long time to his breast;
. On the bed gently laid her, by her gently laid,
And the breach there was clos'd the same way it was
made.
KISS OF NEiERA.
• FROM SECUNDUS. BY THE D— OF Q,------—.
TyHILE you, Nesera, close entwine, .
In frequent folds, your frame with mine j
And hanging o'er, to view confest,
'■; Your neck, and gently-heaving breast;
Down on my shoulders soft decline
Your beauties, more than half divine ;
With vvand'ring loo&s that o'er me rove,
■ And fire .the melting soul with love.
While you, Nesera, fondly join
Your little pouting lips with mine;
And frolic bite your am'rous swain,

[ 116 ]
And swcetly-murm'ring pour along
The trembling accents of your tongue !
Your tongue! now here now there that strays,
Now here now there delighted plays $
TI iat now rnv humid kisses sips.
Now wanton darts between my lips:
And on my bosom raptur'd lie,
Venting the gently-whisper'd sigh ;
A sigh that kindles warm desires,
And kindly fans life's drooping fires j
Soft as the zephyr's breezy wing,
And balmy as the breath of spring.
While you, sweet nymph ! with am'rous play,
In kisses suck my breath away ;
My breath 1 with wasting warmth replete*
' Parch'd by my breast's contagious heat 5
Till, breathing soft, you pour again
Returning life through ev'ry vein ;
, And thus elude my passion's rage.
Love's burning fever thus assuage.
Sweet nymph! whose sweets can best allay
Those fires that on my bosom prey,
Sweet! as the cool refreshing gale,
That blows when scorching heats prevail.
Then 9 more than blest, I fondly swear,
" No pOw'r can with love's pow'r compare!
" None in the starry court of Jove
** Is greater than the God of Love!
€i If any can yet greater be,
" Yes, my Neaera! yes, 'tis thee I"
THE

E ttr ]
THE EPITHALAMIUM OF ACHILLES AND4
DEIDAMIA. .
FROM BION. BY FAWKES,
MYRSON.
CAY, wilt thou, Lycidas, sweet shepherd-swain,
Begin some soothing, soft. Sicilian strain,
L Such as the Cyclops, on a rock reelin'd,
. Sung to the sea-nymph, to compose his mind,
And sent it in the whispers of the wind?
LYCIDAS.
What can I sing that Myrson will commend ?
With pleasure I would gratify my friend.
MYKSON.
Repeat the song which most my taste approves,
Achilles' stol'n embrace, and hidden loves;
How the bold hero laid his arms aside,
A woman's robe the manly sex belied,
And Deidamia soon became his bride.
LYCIDAS.
When with fair Helen Paris cross'd the deepf
Brought her to Troy, and made Oenone weep j
The injur'd states of Greece were all alarm'd,
Spartans, Mycenians, and Laconians arm'd;
The treachery stung their souls, and bloody vengeance
warm'd:
' In dose disguise his life Achilles led
Among the daughters of King by corned ;
Instead -

[ us ]
Instead of arms, the hero learn'd to cull
The snowy fleece, and weave the twisted wool.
Like theirs, his cheeks a rosy bloom display'd?
Like them he seem'd a fair and lovely maid j
As soft his air, as delicate his tread,
Like them he cover*d "with a veil his head t
But in his veins the tides of courage flpw'd,
Arsd love's soft passion in his bosom glov/dj
By Deidamla's side, from morn to night,
He sat, and with ineffable delight
Oft kiss'd her snoiv-white hand, or gently press'd
The blooming virgin to his glowing breast.
His soul was all enraptured with her charms,
Ardent he loog'd to clasp her in his arms j '
Oft in her ear these words enamouv'd said,
Si By pairs your sisters press the downy bed;
€i But wes two maids of equal age and bloom,
u Still sleep divided in a separate room.
€i Why should the night, more cruel than the day* ■
4£ Steal the sweet virgin, whom I love, away ?
THE ECONOMY OF LOVE.
BY- DR. -ARMSTRONG.
HpMY bomitfes, Love, in thy soft raptures when
Timeliest the melting pair indulge, and how '
Best to improve the genial joy, how shun
The snakes that under Uow'ry pleasure lurk.
I sing;

[ m J
falsing; if thou, fair Cytherea, deign
■ Gracious to smile'on my attempt. Though thou
' None of the Muses nine, yet oft on thee
I The Muses wait, oft gambol in thy train,
[ Though virgins. Come,tnor leave thy boy behind,
r Blind, hut unerring archer. Hymen raise '/
Aloft thy sacred torch. Your gifts I sing.
'Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood
I Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now
I The loves invite ; now to new rapture wakes
t The finish'd sense: while stung with keen desire
I The macld'mng boy his bashful fetters.bursts;
I And, urg'd with secret flames, the riper maid,
■Conscious and shy, betrays her smarting breast.
Yet nature not in all her sons maintains
i An equal progress. This with kindly warmth
I Concocts to; manly vigour straight^ while that - .
Bines, crude and chill, and scarce at last attains
f Imperfect'life. Some slight their varnish'd steed,
i And (wondrous instinct!) bent on manlier sport,
r.Cope with the maids. ' Ale'ides thus, they say,
I Rose brawny from his cradle, while the snakes
Hung hissing round him, horrible and k]\,
Sent by enrag'd SaMrnia to destroy
Her rival's hope: the mighty infant grasp'd
I His speckled foes, and, smiling, dash'd them down
t To hell, their native clime ; the spumy gore
Blotted the frighted pavement. Early thus
'Was.'fnture chivalry presag'd.—Meantime
Others slow ripen: men there are who scarce
Feel

[ I gO ]
Feel the soft thrillings of untaught desire,
While pallid maids scarce ruminate on man
Till twenty ; well if then. It boots thee much
To study the complexion, much the clime,
And habitudes of life. Meanwhile with me
Credit these signs. The boy may wrestle, when
Night-working fancy steals him to the arms
Of nymph oft wish'd awake, and, 'mid the rage
Of the soft tumult, every turgid cell
Spontaneous disembogues its lucid store,
Bland and of: azure tinct. Nor envy thou
Waking fruition^ while such happy dreams              , M
Visit thy slumbers ; liveliest then the touch
Thrills to the brain, with all sensations else
Unshaken, unsedue'd. The maid demands
The dues of Venus, when the parting breasts
Wanton exuberant and tempt the touch,
Plump'd with rich moisture from the finish'd growth
Redundant now; for late the shooting tubes
Drank all the blood the tolling heart could pour,
Insatiate; now full grown, they crave no more
Than what repairs their daily waste. But still
There must be loss, nov does the superplus
Turn all to thrift. For from love's grotto now
Oozes the sanguine stream through many a rill,
Startling the simple lass, that anxious glows
Inward, till hold necessity overcomes
Her fond reluctant blushes, to consult
Her nurse, well vers'd in mysiic cases deep,
At christenings oft discuss'd: when warm'd with wine
Tb«

[ m i
. The mellow matrons, by the midnight fire
Lewd orgies hold j while naked roams around*
His torch high-flaming from the spicy bowl,
Lust full of glee, and through each laboring breast
His sacred fury pours. The sibyl solves
Sagely tlis alarming ease.—The rising down
Then too begins to skirt the hallow'd bounds
Of Venus' blest domain. In either sex:
This sign obtains. For nature provident,
Now when both sides staud_ equal for the fray,
' This graceful armour spreads; and, but for this,
Excoriate oft the tender parts would rae
The close encounter j now they fight gecure?
Thus barfiess'd, and sustain the mutual shock
Of mt$ unhurt, for many a well-fought day*
But If to progeny thy views extend
Paternal, :and the name of sire invites ;
Wouldrt"thou behold a thriving race surround              , -
Thy spacious table; slum the soft embrace
Emasculent, till twice tea years and more
Have steel'd thy nervess and let the holy rite
License the bliss-. Nor would I urge, precise^
A total abstinence; this might unman
The genial organs, unemployed so long*
And quite extinguish the prolific flame*
Refrigerant* But riot oft unblam'd
On kisses, sweet repast! ambrosial joy !
Now press with gentle band the gentle banc^
Aftd, sighing, now the breasts, that to the touch
Heave amorous* Nor thou, fair snaid^ refuse
G                          Indttlgejif'^

[ m i
Indulgence, while thy paramour discreel
Aspires no farther: thus thou mayst expect
Treasure hereafter, when the bridegroom, warm,
Trembling with keen desire, profusely pours
The rich collection of cnamour'd years,
Exhaustless, blessing all thy nuptial nights.
But, O my son, whether the generous care
Of propagation, and domestic charge,
Or soft encounter more attract, renounce
The vice of monks recluse, the early bane
Of rising manhood. Banish from thy shades
TV ungenerous, selfish, solitary joy.
Hold, Saticide, thy hand 5 for thee alone
Pid nature form thee? for thy narrow self
Grant ihee the means of pleasure ? dream'st thou so? !i
That very self mistakes its wiser aim j
Its finer sense ungratify'd, impleas'd,
But when from active soul to soul rebounds
The swelling mingling tumult of delight.
Hold yet again 1 ere idle callus wrap
In,sullen indolence th* astonish* d nerves;
When thou mayst fret and tease thy sense in vairs?
And curse, too late, th' unwisely-wanton hours.
Impious, forbear ! thus the first general hail
To disappoint, il increase and multiply !'*
To shed thy blossoms through the desert air,
And sow thy perish'd offspring in the winds,
Unhallow'd pastime !—though the factious chief
Oft brew hot insurrection, rather hie
To bagnio lewd, or tavern, nightly where
"Venereal

[• m 3
Venereal rites are done, from Draco's ke**
Remote, and light of heaven (as erst retir'd
The heaving Gallic saints to the kind gloom
Of clift, or cave, or trusted barn, to hold
Forbidden sabbaths) : rather visit thou
Those haunts of public: lewdness, oft though there
Sore ills dismay. Purse, or the golden pride
That decks thy 6nger, gorgeous with the spoils
Of Mexico, Peru, and farthest led,
Or watch, time measuring, oft subtracted sly.
Sink in the dark profound. And oft, to crush
Thy slacken'd manhood, in the mid career
Of puissant deed, untimely rushes in
A forward boist'rous wight, and from thy arms
The passive spouse of all the town demands.
Him, hungering after gold, nor words can chatm,
Nor more persuasive wine : thy gold must pay
The violation of the public bed ?
Or braver steel must prove thy manly arm,
In dubious fight. Yet well, if here could end
The misery: worse perhaps ensues ; a train
Of ills of tedious count and horrid name,
Such as of old distress'd the man else squarM
To Godfs own heart, hut that Ms wiles deb&ucfr't)
Jerusalem's fair daughters to his flames j
Nor did'he from the holy marriage-bed
Refrain his loose embraces, when the wife
Of wrong'd Urias he seduc'dj nor stopt
Till murder crown'd his lust. Hence him-the wratk
Of righteous Heaven, awaking, long jftusu'd
G 2 \ ^            ■ Willi

With sore disease, and fill'd his loins with pain*
All day he roar'd, and all the tedious night
Bedew'd his couch with tears ; and still his groans
Breathe musical in sacred song. What woes!
What pains he tried! but now this plague attacks
With doable rancour, and severely marks
Modern offenders, slily undermines
The fame and nose, that by unseemly lapse
Awkward deforms the human face divine
With ghastly rains. Though this breach, they say,
Nice Taliacotius" art, with substitute
From porters borrowed, or the callous breech
Of sedentary weaver, oft repaired;
Precarious, for no sooner fate demands
The parent stock, than (pious sympathy !)
Revolts ths adopted nose—'Shall ills attend
Obscene and bought embraces. Wiser thou,
Find some soft nymph, whom tender sympathy            I
Attracts to thee • while alt her captives elses
Aw'd by majestic beauty, mourn aloof
Her charms, to them reserved, alone to thee
Discreetly lavish'd. Sacrifice to her
The precious hours, nor grudge with such a mate
The summer's day to toy, or winter's night.
Now clasp, with dying fondness, in your arras
Her yielding waist; now on her swelling breggtv .,.. ■ I
Recline your cheek, with eager kisses press1* ■■■^»^'y'~>/'<
. Her balmy lips, and drinking from her eyes 7 >u '
Resistless love, the tender flame confess!
Ineffable but by the murmuring voice
Of

[ 1S5 ]
Of genuine joy i then hug, and kiss again,
Stretch'd on the genial couch, while joyful glows
Thy manly pride, and throbbing with desire
Pants furious, felt through all the obstacles
That intervene j but love, whose fervid course
Mountains nor seas oppose, can soon remove
Barriers so slight. Then, when her lovely limbs.
Oft lovely deem'd, far lovelier now beheld,
Through all your trembling joints increase the Hamef
Forthwith discover to her dazzled sight
The stately novelty, and to her hand
Usher the new acquaintance. She,'perhaps,
Averse, will coldly chide, and, half afraid,
Blushing, half pleas'd, the tumid wonder view
With neck retorted, and oblique regard $
Nor quit her curious eye indulging, nor
Refraining quite. Perhaps, when you attempt
.The sweet admission, toyful she resists
With shy reluctance, nathless you pursue
The soft attack, and warmly push the war,
Till, quite o'erpower*d with love, the melting maid
Faintly opposes. On the brink at. last
AmVd of giddy rapture, plunge not in
Precipitant, but spare a virgin's pain j
Ah! spare a gentle virgin! spare yourself!
Lest sanguine war love's tender rites profane
With fierce dilaeeration, and dire pangs,
Reciprocal. Nor droop because the door
'Of bliss seems shut and barricadoed strong;.
Bat triumph rather in this faithful pledge
"-                                                  \i Qf

[ 126 ] -
Of innocence and fair virginity
Inviolate. And hence the subtle weneh,
Her maiden honours torn, in evil hour
Unseemly torn, and shrank her virgin rose ;
Studious how best the guilty wound to heal,
Her shame best palliate with fair outward show,
Inward less strict, with painful hand collects
The sylvan store.. The lover myrtle yields
Her styptic berries, and the horrid thorn
Its prune austere j in vain the cape?" hides
Its wand'ring roots; the mighty oak himself,
Sole tyrant of the shade, that long had Jseap5d
The tanner*s rage, spoil'd of his callous rind.
Stands bleak and bare. These,, and a thousand mor«
Of humbler |rowth and far inferior name,
Bistort, and dock, and that way-faring herb
Plantain, her various forage, boil'd in wine.
Yield their astringent force; a lotion prov'd                    ^
Thrice powerful to contract the shameful breach*
Beware of these, for in our dangerous days
Such counterfeits abound, whom next to know
Concerns. And here expect no dye of wound j .
Ho wound is made ; the corrugated parts,
With*ill-dissembled virtue (though severe.
Not wrinkled into frowns when^g$nuine most)
Eelapse apace, and quit their borrow'd tone.
Yet judge with charity the varied work
Of nature's hand. Perhaps-the purple stream,
Emollient bath, leaves flexible and lax
The parts It lately wasVd. But hapless he,
:; m

[ It* 3
lu nuptial night, on whom a horrid chasm
Yawns dreadful, waste and wild; like that through which
The wand'ring Greek, and Cytherea's son,,
Diving, explor'd hell's adamantine gates:
An unessential void, where neither love
Nor pleasure dwells, where warm creation dies,
Starv'd in th' abortive gulf; the dire effects
Of use too frequent, or for love of gold.
Now hear me, lovers! ye whose roving hearts
No sacred nuptial chains have yet confm'd|
Attentive hear, and daily, nightly, weigh
The counsels sage, which through my raptur'd breast,
To you th' auspicious heavenly muse conveys j
The muse, no soothing minister of vicej
' Though now in sportive vein in youthful ears        . >
She tunes her song, to give instruction grace.
Attend, \ e wise! no frantic Bacchanal^
No shameless bard, of the licentious rout
Of flush'd Silenus, sings,—-What nature bids
Is good, is wise; and faultless we obey.
We must obey; howe'er hard stoic dreams
Of apathy, much vaunted, seldom prov'dj
For oft beneath the philosophic gloom
Sly lewdness lurks, and oftner mazy guile,
That with well-raimick'd love th* unwary heart
Lures to its fate, and hails while it betrays!
There bloated pride too dwells, and baneful hate,
And dark revenge, than which a deadlier fiend
Ne'er pour'd its venom through a human breast;
Far hence be these! we know great Nature's pow'.r,

[ it* 1
Mother of things, whose vast unbounded sway
F?om the deep centre all around extends ■
Wide to the flaming barriers of the world*
We feel her power $ we strive not to repress
(Vainly repress^ or to deformity)
Her lawful growths ours be the task alone3
To cheek her rude excreiceneeft j to prune
Her wanton overgrowth-g and where she sports
In shades too wild, to lead he' gently tkck$
With prudent handa to better form and us€«
For wisest ends this universal power
Gave appetites t from whose quick impulse life -
Subsists} by which we* only live | all life
Insipid else, unsrctive^ utienjoy^cL
Heftce too this peopled earth $ which) that extinct?
That flams for propagation soon would roll
A lifeless m&ss, and vainly cumber heaven.
Then love of pleasure sways each hearty and t*e .
from that .no more than from ourselves can fly.
Blameless when governed well. But where it err§j
Extravagant, and wildly leads to ill,
•Public or private | there its curbing power
Cool reason must exert.-—This lesson weigh*
Ye tender pairs* Indulge your gentle ftarnegs
Each fondest wish, and bathe your souls in love.
But let discretion guard the hour of bliss*
Virtuous in pleasure, So you shall enjoy
Pleasure unmixjd, and without thorn the rose*
This caution scorn'd* beware the event perversej
Expect, for pleasure? pain and sharp remorse j
■                    .                           lor

[ iw 3
For love, aversion, and each broken vow.
The jest of fools, the pity of the wise.
Be secret lovers. Let no dangerous spy
Catch your soft glances; as oblique they deal
Mutual contagion, darting all the soul
In missive love, nor hear your laboring sighs \
But chiefly, when the high-wrought rapture calls..
Impatient, to soft deeds, then, then retire
From every mortal ken. The Sapient King
(Whose loves who could defame ?) in the mild gloom,
Deep in the centre of his gardens, hid,
Held dalliance with fair Egyptian spouse.
Find then some soft obscure retreat, untrod -
. .By mortals else, where thick-embowering shades
Condense"to darkness and embrown the day j
There, sale from ail profane access, pursue
Love's bashful rights. For oft the curious eye
Of prying childhood,'and th5 aspect maligm
. Waning'and wan, of virgin stale in years,
Shed baneful influence on the rites of love.
And thou, my son, when floods of mellowing wine
And social joys have loosen'd all thy breast ;
. When every secret gushes ; this at least,
This one.reserve, of love and bounteous charms
Of trusting beauty, venturing all for ihee,
For thy delight her fortune and her fame ;
For her thou nothing. Hold! ingmtefui, hold
Thy wanton tongue I leave to the last of fools* .
Of villains! that ungenerous vanity,
mud arid base, to vaunt of secret joys;
Go ' '                     m

[ ISO j
Ofjoys on tliee, so Vaunting, ill-bestowM.
O dare not thus with mortal sting to wound
The tender helpless sex! Does thy vile breath
So blast my sister's or my daughter's fame—-
By Heav'n thou diest! thy treacherous blood alone
Can wash my honour clear! Prudent, meantime,
\e generous maids, revenge your sex's wrong ;
Let not the mean destroyer e'er approach
Your sacred charms. Now muster all your pride,
Contempt, and scorn, that, shot from beauty's eye,
Confounds the mighty impudent, and smites
The front unknown to shame. Trust not his vows,
His laboured sighs, and well-dissembled tears,
'Nor swell the triumph of known perjury.
" Meanwhile, my son, if angry fate, or love
Grown indiscreet, or loud Lrscina, tell
Tli' important secret: is thy mate well form'd,
Virtuous, and equal for thy lawful bed ?
Save her, I charge thee, from foul infamy,
And lonely shame : let wedlock's holy tie
Legitimate th* indissoluble flames.
If abject birth, dishonourable, and mind
Incultivate or vicious, to that height
Forbid her hopes to climb.; at least secure
From penury her humble state, by thee
Else humbled more, and to necessity,
Stern foe to virtue, fame, and life betray'd,
A helpless prey. O ! let no parent's woe,
No plaints of trusting innocence, nor tears           , ;.
Of pining beauty, blast thy guilty ]oyss                ^-.,

^ Shall

I T31 ]
Shall she, so laic the softener of thy life,
Thy chief delight, whose racking essence off
Lay with thy melting essence kindly mix'd
(As far as bodies and embodied souls
; Cao mingle); she who deem'd thy vows sincere.
Thy passion more than selfish, and thy love
To her devoted, as was her's to thee ;
Shall she, (0! cruel perfidy!) at last,
When with her tainted name the wind grows sick/
When envious prudery chides, affecting scorn
Of natural joys, and they of public fame,
Insulting, hail her sister; while each friend
Disgusted flies; shall she not find in thee
Unshaken amity ? when to thy arms,
Well-known, with wonted confidence she flies.
To pour her sorrows forth, and soothe her cares|
Shall she then find thy faithless heart from home,
From her estranged ? at that disastrous hour
Wilt thou ungently spurn her from thy love ?
To waste in sickly grief her once-prizM charms.
Forlorn to languish out her life, to lead
Despis'd, unwedded, her dishonour'd days ?
Or, if her barren fortune, hard like thee,
Scowls meagre Want (whose iron empire Pride,
Reluctant, and her offspring ModestVj
Blushing at last obey), unskili'd in arts
Of mercenary Venus, to increase
The rorapish band, that, without' pleasure lewd.
With deep-felt sorrow gay, through Trivia's reign-
Nightly solicit lovers ,° oft repuls'd;

C 1^2 ]
Oft, when invited to the barren toil*
Thankless deserted by their slippery loves !
Or to the salt of years, where tedious lust
Uncouth and monstrous creep through freezing lotnij
Patient submitted ! to the boisterous will
Of midnighr ruffians i to abhorr'd disease
Hourly expos'dj and Praco's fiercer rage !
Spare, mighty Draco! spare a hapless race^
By their own sex to wretchedness betrayM! /
A woman bore thee, by each tender name
Of wmnari spare! hast thdu or daughter fair,
Or sister ? they, but for a happier birth.
The gift of fate, and honour's guardian, pride
Early inspir'd, had swell'd the common stream*
While she, whom now thy awful name dismays,
Portentous heard from far, with fortune's smiles
And fair example, might have grac'd thy bed*
#A virtuous mate, in eVry charm complete.
; A pious duty next, neglected oft,
'.Demands my song. If from thy secret bee!
Of Itmiryjitnbiddett offspring r!se5
Let them be kindly welcomM to the day*
'Tis nature bids i to nature's sacred voice
Attend; and from the monster-breeding deep?
The ravag'd air, and howling wilderness,
Learn parent virtues. Shall the growling beat5
Be more a sire than thou? an infant ©rice,
Helpless and weak, but for paternal care^
Thou hadst not llv'd to propagate a race
To misery, to resign to step^dame .Fate

t 133 J
Perhaps a worthier offspring than thy sirs
Tenderly rear'd. For from the stol'n embrace* .
Untir'd with worn acquaintance, keenly tirg'dj
Elate with genh-ous rapture, likeliest springs
The noblest breed* most animated, best/
What heroes hence have issuM! what farn'd chiefs !
And demigods, of old ! The stealth of love
Gave Greece .her Hercules, and mighty Rome
First rose beneath a random son of Mars.
Thy vigour too, the blossom of thy strength^
Reckless and wild profusM, in dangerous days,
Or in the senate wise, and nobly warm
To public good, may save the rushing state';'
Or, bold in arms, may roll her thunders forth
To shatter distant skies j and, rous'd to blood,
Usher the British Hon to the field.
Thy country claims thy care j nurse well her hope%
And thine j nor thou her church's hungry wolves*
.Hight-Overseers, with thy own children^ gore
Satiate, if rapine know satiety.
For., bred to death, and of sagacious nose,
A prowling herd, lur*d with the recent smell
. Of secret birth, their carnage sweet, or led
By infant wailings, querulous and shrill,
Beset thy frighted gates. These timely thou
Prevent, or mourn too late thy ravish'd gold
And captive son ; to the street-dunning tribe
Of mendicants let out, fictitious badge
Off low-distress 5 there to what life of pain
■'led up who knows ? to what disgraceful fate,;
What .

I 154 ]
What gibbet bred ? or from his parent's mm,
With nurse unpitying, unhenign, cxilM
To squalid lodge, to find in Famine's cave
A lingering death : or by a deadlier hag
Than her that rides the lab'ring night, oppress'd,
Untimely sink beneath a heavier fate.
While they, the sons of licens'd rapine, screened
Under the altar of the God of love,
With murder stain'd ! on what should raise thy son
Nightly regale, carnivorous ; for them
The heifer bleeds, or for her slaughtered young
Roams wild the woodland bounds j and what should
now
To thy young hopes run soft in balmy rills
Laeteous, to them in deep Oporto flows,
Or hot Madeira Thus the sanguine feast
They crown, nor dread the cry of infant blood.
These precepts wisely keep j by these direct
Thy steps through pleasure's lahyrinth. Unhurt
And unoffending, thus thy tutor'd feet
May tread the wilds of else delusive joy.
So shall no sorrows wound, no ruder cares
Disturb thy pleasures ; nor remorseful tears
Attend thy gay delight; nor sighs make way ;
But such as heave the pleasure-burthen'd breast,
As utter love, with speechless eloquence
Well understood ; and breathe from soul to soul
The soft infection, fondly still recei/d.
Almighty Love! O unexhausted source
Of universal joy ! first principle
Of

■ [ 135 ]
Of nature! all-creating harmony,
By which her mighty movements all are mfd I
Soft tyrant of each element, whose sway
Resistless through the wilds of air is felt,
Through earth, and the deep empire of the main !
Thy willing slaves, we own thy gentle power,
In us supreme, with kind endearments rais'd
Above the merely sensual touch of brutes.
By thy soft charm the savage breast is tarn'd,
The genius rais'd. Thy heavenly warmth inspires
Whatever is -noble, generous, or humane,
Or elegant; whate'er adorns the mind,
Graces or sweetens life ; and without thee,
Nothing or gay or amiable appears.
Yet not to Love (thus polishing the soul,
Thus charming ; though of every finer breast
The sovereign joy), yet not to Love alone
Yield languid all your hours. The self-same cate?
Still offer'd, soon the appetite offend ;
The most delicious soonest. Other joys,
Other pursuits, their equal share demand
Of cultivation These, with kindly change,
Will cheer your sweetly-varied days;, from these
With quicker sense you shall and firmer nerves
Return to love, when, love again invites.
Be those the least neglected which inform
With virtue, sense, and elegance, the mind 5
Those what before was amiable improve,
And lend to love ne.w grace and dignity.
Life too has serious cares* which madly scorn*d,
The

r is6 j
The means of pleasure melt.—And age will cpine,
When love, alas! the., flower of human joys,
Must shrink in horrid frost, O hapless he !
Thrice hapless then ! whose only joy was that t
Whose young desires tumultuous still engage
To wield a load of unobedient limbs,
With vain attempt. Him the inclement power
Of craving impotence, to fonder toys
Than other dotage knows? or easy-dup'd
Credulity can well believe, incites,
Him all the nymphs despise, and the young loves
With leering scorn behold ; while vigorous heat
Has fled his shaken limbs, surviving still
In his green fancy, Thence what desperate toll
By flagellation, and the rage of blows,
To rouse the Venus loitering in his veins 1
Fruitless, for Venus unsolicited
The kindest smiles, abhorring painful jrites;
Cease, reverend fathers ! from those youthful sports
Retire, before unfinished feats betray
Your slackened nerves. The hoary years, designed
For wisdom, for sedate philosophy,
And contemplation, ill agree with love.
Cheerful retire j nor grudge in peevish saws,
Like envious monitors, the sprightly joys
Of lusty youth. You hud your genial time
Of pleasure ; ours is on the rapid wing!
And you whose youthful blood impetuous rolls,
With generous spirits fraught and kindly balm,
Hi<«.h.i»yl \vnt u£o«r wU; if aught or health,
Or

[ 1ST ]
Qt offspring numerous, beautiful and strong,
Or pleasure weigh. For from the trite embrace
Follow faint relaxation, strength impaired-,
Disgust, a?>d mutual apathy, love's bane.
Some boast, I know, their vigour to renew.
And keen desire, by food restorative,
Or pharmacy more noxious* Orchis hence,
Lascivious bulb, satyrion better nam5d $
And that maritime, which the sea-bora queen
Feeds with her native spume, eryngo, mild j
Boletus, fanrd among the fungous tribe j
Aad fell cantharides') in various forms
Are us'd. But what ensues ? diseases more
Than ever buithen'd Auster's drooping wings t
Cold tremors, spasms, and cephalseas dlre$
Eternal flux of nature's balmy dew,
Tabes, and gaunt marasmus, hideous loss
Of godlike reason, and th' imprisoned rage
Of fierce Jipyria, whose collected fires
The vitals- only seize* Or if the sons
Of jaded luxury those plagues escape,
They waste their melting youth, and bring gray hairs
Before their time, gray hairs and idle years.
Leave nature to herself, nor covet more
Than nature gives, that but 10 real wants
Each well-conducted appetite provokes.
But chiefly thee, fair nymph, behoves to know
That love and joy, when in their prime, must fear
Decay, the fate of all-created things,.
Be frugal then ; the coyly-yielded kis$
Charms

[ 138 ]
Charms most, and gives the most sincere delight.
Cheapness offends ; hence on the harlot's lip
Ho rapture hangs, however fair she ceem,
However forrn'd for love and amorous play.
Hail modesty! fair female febfitrtftf, hail !
Beauty's chief ornament, without whose charm
Beauty disgusts; or givei but vulgar joys.
Thou giv'st the smile its grace; the iieighten'd kiss
Its balmy essence sweet! and, hut for thee,
The very raptures of the lawful bed
Were outrage and foul riot, riles -obscene !
Celestial maid j be it lawful that with lips
Profane I name thee, and in wanton song.
But in these vicious days great nature's laws
Are spurn'd *. eternal virtue, which nor time
Nor place can change, nor custom changing all,
Is mock'd to scorn; and lewd abuse instead.
Daughter of night, her shameless revels holds
O'er half the globe, while the chaste face of day
Eclipses at her rites. For man with man,
And man with woman, (monstrous to relate !)
Leaving the natural road, themselves debase
With deeds unseemly, and dishonour foul.
Britons, for shame! be male and female still.
Banish this foreign vice * it grows not here;
It dies neglected: and in clime so chaste
Cannot but by fore'd cultivation thrive.
So cultivated swells the more our shame,
The more our guilt. And shall not greater guilt
Meet greater punishment and heavier doom :
;                           Not

[ 139 ]
[ Not lighter for delay. Did justice spare
The men of Sodom erst? like us they s'mn*d,
["' Like us they sought the paths of monstrous joy j
Till, urg'd to wrath at last, all-patient Heaven
Descending wrapt them in sulphureous storm |
And where proud palaces appeared, the haunts
Of luxury, now sleeps a sullen pool i
Vengeful memorial of Almighty ire.
Against the sons of lewdness exercis'd !
ANACREON OK HIS MISTRESS'S PICTURE*
FROM THE GREEK.
T>EST and happiest artisan,
Best of painters,, if you can,
With your many-colourM art,
• Paint the mistress of my heart.
Describe the charms you hear from me,
(Her charms you could not paint and see)
And make the absent nymph appear
As if her lovely self were here.
First draw, her easy flowing hair,
As soft and black as she is fair,
And, if your art can rise so high,
Let breathing odours round her fly*
Beneath the shade of flowing jet,
The ivory forehead smoothly set,
With care the sable brows extend.
And in two arches nicely bend j
That

[ 140 ]
That the fair space, which lies .between*
The meeting shade, may scarce he seen.
The eye must be uncommon Bres
Sparkle, languish,, and desire j
The flames, unseen, must yet be felt,
Like Pallas kill, like Venus melt.
The rosy cheeks must seem to glow
.Amidst the white of"new-fall*n snow.
Let her lips persuasion wear,
In silence elegantly fair j
As if the blushing rivals, .strove^
Breathing and inviting love.
Below her chin be sure to deck
With every grace her polish'd neck j
While all that '§ pretty, soft, and sweet,
in the swelling bosom meet.
The rest in purple garments veil,
Her body, not her shape-conceal.
Enough '.—the lovely work is done,
The breathing paint will speak anon,
THE ADIEU AID RECALL TO LOVE*-
BY MR. P ■ '--gy*
C~0, idle boy ! 1 quit thy pow'r 5
Thy. couch of many a thorn and flow'r 1
,Thy twanging bo*, thine arrow keen,
Deceitful beauty's timid mien 5
The

I 141 ]
The feign*d surprises the roguish leer?
The tender smile, the thrilling tear,
Have now no pangs, no joys for me*
So fare thee well, for I am free!
Then flutter hence on wanton wing.
Or lave thee In yon lucid spring*
Or take thy bev'rage from the rose5
Or on Louisa's breast repose :
I wish thee well for pleasures past5
Yet. bless the hour I *m free at last,
But sures methinks, the alter'd day
Scatters around a mournful rajj
And chilling ev'ry zephyr blows,
And ev'ry stream untunefuj flows;
No rapture swells the linnet's voice,
No more the vocal groves rejoice j
And e'en-thy song, sweet bird of eve !
With whom I lovM so oft to grieve,
Now scarce regarded meets my ear,
Unansiver'd by a sigh or tear,
No more-with devious steps I choose
To brush the mountain's morning dews |
To drink the spirit of the breeze*
Or wander midst o'er-arching trees j
Or woo, with undisturb'd delight.
The paie-cheek'd virgin of the night*
That, piercing through the leafy bowsr>
Throws on the ground a silv'ry show'r,
Alas! is all this h©asted ease,
To lose each warm desire to please^
No

[ m j
No sweet solicitude to know
For others' bliss, for others9 woe,
A frozen apathy to find,
A sad vacuity of mind ?
O hasten back, then, idle boy,
Arid with thine anguish bring thy joy!
Return with all thy torments here,
And let me hope, and doubt, and fear.
O rend my heart with ev'ry pain !
But let me, let me, love again.
Jn Imiiaiim of the Tenth Elegy pf the Second Book of
the. Amours of that meretricious, poliie} Roman Gen*
tieman,                               : '
PUBLIUS NASO OVID, ;
BY DR. W——.
TJEMEMBER, George, with warmth 'twas said by
you,
No man, at once, could be in love with two.
Deceived by you; unarra'd—I had no fears ;
"But now, in love with two o*er head and ears.
They both are handsome ; and they both dress well j
But which I cannot say doth most excel.
My heart for this, then that, alternate burns,
.By heav'n I love these angels in their turns.
Thus like a ship, the sport of wind and tides
My heart divided beats from side to side.
Why i

[ .143 ]
Why would you, Love, redouble this my smart ?
One pretty girl's enough to teaze one heart.
Love brought to me—is bringing leaves to trees,
£ Stars to the skies, and waters to the seas;
I 'm full; 'tis better than to've none at all j
Let that damnM curse my enemies befal.
This curse attend my foe (if I have one)
To deeply love, and yet to lie alone.
Love from my senses every slumber move,
0 ! make me active on the bed of love ?
If one sweet girl my manhood can subdue,
Let her—-if not—then bring me sweeter two*
Fine slender limbs with me and love suffice,
1 want no vigour, but I may want size.
Desire still fans the flame, if strength does fade,
No beauty slept with* me and rose a maid.
Oft have I spent in love a luscious night,
And rose next morning eager for the fight:
Blest are those lives which mutual raptures spends
Give me, ye gods ! so wish'd, so sweet an end !
Let the tough soldier glory in his scars,
And search for honour in the field of Mars :
Let him who thirsts for riches cruise the main,
Let him when shipwreck'd, sink and drink his gairij,
Let me in love's soft battles fall a slave,
And dig with rapture there my own soft grave«
Some feeling fair shall at my exit cry,
" Thus did he live, thus did my Naso die!"
THE

[. m ]
THE WARMING PAN,
BY CAPTAIN THOMPSON.
"THE coacii anlv'd,' impatient all
For difPreni things begin to call!
But I, who have no trade
But love,, for sxveeter morsels try j
I search and fix an am'rous eye
Upon the chambermaid* .
1 wait, and catch her as she flies
From room to room, with eager eyes j
u My dear, permit my aid !'*
I seize her, and she cries-—A-done i
I kiss her quick, and let her run ;
The pretty Chambermaid.
The supper comes, and Betty Grove,
*Tis Hebe waiting upon Jove ;
The reck'ning next is paid;
Yawning the passengers retire,
J, burning like the kitchen fire,
For Betty Chambermaid.
Kneeling, my bed the beauty warms,
When furious 1 attack her charms;
'a Get out, you naughty man I"
• The port is gain'd by quick surprise}
I kiss, she kicks, and faintly cries,
*< O! move the warming-pan I"

[ 145 ]
There—there, again—the bed—it bums,
I move—she moves—we move by turns,,
"What are you at, dear man ?"
Hush! there's a noise—the bed—the joy^
Hark! hark! how sweet my amorous boy^
Hold there—the warming-pan.
Whene'er I pass the high North-road,
I knock at Betty's soft abode,
Where happy I am laid :
The neatest inn, the softest thatch,
And tell me, where a place can match
• My pretty chambermaid,
EPIGRAM
BY MON$. VOLTAIRE, ON MADAME POMPADOUR
BEING MADE MISTRESS TO LEWIS THE
FIFTEENTH.
TN early youth this lovely maid,
By art and nature form'd to please,
In brothel, cot, or masquerade,
And captivate each heart with oasei
Whom her mamma, discreet and wise,
Intended for a farmer's bed,
But love, a better judge of eyes,
Gave to a king her maidenhead.
H                       .              the

[ i46 j
THE JUDGMENT REVERSED,, OR CHLOE
TRIUMPHANT./
BY SIR JAMES 3-----—.
{"\FT had I talk'd of the Idalian grove,
And fancied beauties of the queen of love.
When Paris, slighting all of grand, or wise,
Decreed to Paphiau shafts the golden prize %
Till Chloe, fixt the tedious tale to end,
And eager with a goddess to contend,
In wanton whispers nam'd the blissful hour,
When yielding Venus should confess her pow'r j
—Myself the Paris to decide the dow'r.
The hour arriv'd; th* ecstatic summons came—
While all my bosom quicken'd into flame.
.—-Darkness around her sable mantle threw !
—At once the envious shutters open flew !
Gods, what a scene 1—In all her charms she lay,
On a black velvet couch, expos'd to day.;
The room with spacious mirrors hung around j
That at each view her lovely form was found j
No niggard veil between disturbed the sight,
But the sense ach'd with overcharged delight.
One polish'd arm her beauteous head sustain'd \
(An arm of Parian marble richly vein*d;)
The other, negligently thrown below, '
Seem'd meant to hide, what more it serVd to show.
Less bright the tints the dazzling prism displays,
When fiU'd, refulgent, with meridian rays,
Than

[ 147 ]
Than beam'd, in wild exuberance of grace*
j The roseate wonders of her matchless face*,
Her eyes shot flames of ever-living fire,
That kindled all th' enthusiasm of desire;
—Yet seem'd, in melting mercy to mankind,
To pity most and gentle love inclin'd—
The taper'd brow, high-arching, lightly stood
A magic bridge to pass th' enchanted flood.
Her lips, delicious contrast to her teeth,
Sigh'd softly all Arabia's balmy breath,
But oh! what image aptly can declare.
The wavy glories of her wanton hair !
—Defects and charms meet nearer than they seem—
•—Nature here verg'd to beauty's grand extreme—
The pow'rful auburn struck the chesnut dead;
—Another tinge had wander'd into red.-—-
In glossy curls th* enamour'd tendrils prest,
To shade the ripening clusters of her breast;
Her breast* as Hecla cold, as ./Etna warm;
And form'd in each vicissitude to charm*
-'-Nor ttieak each fairy mound the semblance
shows j
*—Its summits glowing through surrounding snows—
The proudest tint that Titian ever drew,
Was pale, was languid to their vivid hue;
Like rival beauties, that with envy burn,
With looks averted, various ways they turn ;
Yet each—as if itself alone were fair—
Swell'd, conscious,' to the touch, and courted ell trior
care.
H i                        ; %

[ m ]
.In warm transparence exquisitely thin,
Shone the rich polish of her fragrant skin i
Of purest white; yet through, reflected high,
Streatn'd the mild twilight of a summer's sky.
'Twas firmness' self; but not the rude rebuff
Of aught abrupt, irregular or rough;
*Twas the mole's satin into marble grown;
The swan's soft plumage, and the ermine's down,
"—In Leda's luxury the hand might glide
Adown the sleeky surface of her side.—
Her stature such, as with a perfect whole
Seern'd well imagm'd just to fill the soulj
In nice approaches verging to the tall;
—The least dimimsh'd, had defin'd her-—small.
Her limbs—if all the dulcet ilow of ease
Soft-trae'd to strictest harmony could' please;
Her limbs—-but check the sacrilegious tale;
Nor draw, like Pompey, the all-hallow'd veil;
Suffice—that all which Ovid ever sung,
Or wanton'd on Petronius' honied tongue ;
That Guide's hand in happiest hour essay'd,
Or Rubens lavished on his darling maid,
In blest assemblage here its force display'd*
The wandYmg eye in wild amaze was lost 5
—Her very foot had thaw'd a hermit's-frost,
Entranc'd I stood—'twas nature's true sublime-
Idolatry was here at least no crime-
In trembling sounds my faltYmg praises broke;
But Chloe's conquest all my frame bespoke.
Swift o'er her cheek the blush of triumph stole^
And fla.ili'd a tenfold luitre on my soul.                    Take

[ 149 ]
Take then, she cried, the prize, too happy boy,
—A Helen, guiltless of the fate of Troy—
So saying, wide her circling arms she threw.
While all Elysium open'd to my view !
Heav'ns, what a sound!—'twas lightning pierc'd my
breast—
—Let bards of richer fancy paint the rest.
THE .LOVE DRAUGHT,/'
FROM ANACREON. BY FAWKES.
A S late of flow'rets, fresh and fair,
1 wove a cnapiet for my nair;
Beneath a rose5 gay summer's pride.,
The wanton God of Love I spy'd;
I seiz'd him, resolute of sou!,
And plung'd him in my flowing howl.,
Resolv'd to ha?e a draught divine,
And fairly swallow'd him in wine:
E'er since his fluttering wings impart
Strange titillations to my heart.
trs^r.:,"1;,..:: -, ... .....„. ■■, --rrrn ..■,-:: ...,......:.rrrrTrrrrrr=rass£-'-~.-
. PRAYER TO VENUS,, ■
BY W. S--------, ESQ.
1/IND Venus, hear thy suppliant's prayer,
- Hear, and indulgent grant;
For love I ask—you well may spare
Tke little I shall want.                                             &

§ i&* 1
No storms of passion I desire,
No boundless transports claim ^
Give me the gentle, doubtful fire, ,
Which feeds a sportive flame.
For oh! I sve known the soft delights
That warm the breast sincere;
The anxious days, and sleepless nights
That nurse the tender fear.
Have shared the fond endearing kiss,
Which mutual ardour fires.
And tasted oft that genial bliss,
Which mutual truth inspires.
I Ve felt the fierce extreme of love,
Which utterance would destroy j
When speechless raptures silent prove
The soul's sublimest joy.
But then its bitterest pangs I Ve borne?
Deprest with tenfold care ;
And many an hour, with anguish torn.,
Sat brooding o'er despair.
Whelm'd with such violence of woe .
Would melt a heart of steel*
Which only those who love can know*
Who love can only feel.
Hence, let me calmly view the sex,
Contented to enjoy
That bliss, which absence cannot vex*
Qr perfidy destroy,..
O Venus!

L 151 ]
0 Ventis S let me favour win,
Secure from Cupid's dart,
Still let it gently pierce my skin,
But never probe my heart I
PALLAS AND VENUS.
BY THE COUNTESS OF H——•„
PFHE Trojan swain had judg'd the great dispute,,
And beauty's powYohtain'd the golden fruit-j
When Venus, loose in ail her naked charms,
Met Jove's great daughter clad in shining arms ?
The canton goddess view'd the warlike maid
From head to foot, and tauntingly she said,
Yield, sister \ rival, yield ; naked, you see
I vanquish; guess how potent I should be,
If to the field I came in armour drest,
Dreadful, like thine, my shield, and terrible my crest, . ,
The warrior-goddess, with disdain, reply'd,.
Thy folly, child, is equal to thy pride :
' " Let a brave enemy for once advise,
And Venus (if'tis possible), be wise.
Thou, to- be strong, must put off every dress j
Thy only armour is thy nakedness :
And more than once (or thou art much bely*d)s
By Mars himself that armour has been try'd.

THE HUSBAND. <'
BY A LADY.
npHE poets sing, of old, that
In various shapes perform'd the feat of love J
Changed to a swan, he rilled Leda's charms,
And, with a rival whiteness, fill'd her arms*
On Banae's lap he fell a golden shower
(Gold is the surest friend in an amour).:
Now in a bull's, or satyr's grisly shape,
He on some beauty makes a welcome rape.
Nor think it strange, that Jove's almighty power, •
Through these base forms, taught females to adore,
A likeness less agreeable he try'd,
He came a husband to Amphytrion's bride;
And* in a husband's shape, could welcome prove—
Who must not own th' omnipotence of Jove.
EPIGRAM.- ' •
The Marriage of Margaret and Moses,
1/1 ARG'RET to Moses wed, and pray'd to God,
Hef spouse might have both Aaron's beard and rod.
EPITAPH.

■ a 15$ ]
EPITAPH.
The following was pinned to a £ady's Bed Curtains Upon
m her Wedding Night,
BY THE E~— OF S—.
' Hie jacit Stella,
T'-MTA spe earn is resurrectionis;
Eximise puella pulchritudinis,
Mirae sua vitatis, comitatisque j
Nulla venustas animo deficit,
Nullus corpori decor,-—araoreiu
In omni ciebat pec tore,
Egregia sua sibi soli
Latuere merita.
Tandem in illius senum recepta,
Quern maxime concupiverat:
- Lubeuter nature persolvens debitum,
Placide obdormit.
• -                 ENGLISHED.
Here 1'unh Stella.,
In-the joyful hope of the resurrection of the Sesh £
A virgin of surpassing beauty,
No charm was wanting to complete her mind.
No ornament her body,
The iire of love she stirr'd in every breast:
Yet. to herself was al! this worth unknown.
Folded at last within the arms of him
• .                        She most desir'd,
.Nature she joyfully repaid,
And pleasing sunk to-rest.-
H5                         EOCFk

[ 1«4 • ]
ROGER AND MOLLY.
"OENEATH a weeping willow's shade,
Mehing with love,.fair Molly 1aid>
IJereows were feeding by.;
iy turns she knit, by turns she sung,
While eyer flow'd from Molly's tongue*
** How deep in love am 11"
Young Roger chanc'd to: stroll alongs
And hearing Molly's am'rous songj
■ .Aiid now and then a sigh j
Straight o'er the hedge he made his way^
And joln'd with Molly in her jay j
** H&w deep in love am 1 li}
The quick surprise made Molly blush,
" How rude," she cried ; €i now pray'be hush!'1'
Yet showed a yielding eye j
? My needle's bent, my worsted's bfoke,
** Roger, I only meant in joke,
" How deep in loye am I i"
u You 're rude—get out—-I won't be Uss'd,<
*' Fray don't—-yes, do!—be gone—persist!
u Roger, ! vow I '11 cry!
u What are you at—-you roguish swain ?w
He answer'd, in a dying strain,
u How deep in love am 11"' •
A RED-

A RIDDLE*
EYL- W~ R——-v
|N infancy I knew a spot.
Where flowers ne'er had'blown,
Where creeping moss had never got2
Where seed was never sown ;
But when to years matnrer grown,
The spot was decked with flowers^
Seed flourish'd whensoever sown.
And lik'd reviving showers.
Within this little snug retreat,
A cooling fountain plays j
Here Venus did Narcissus treat,
And spent their youthful days.
The stream, they nam'd the Milky Wajs •
'Cause of its cooling pow'r ;
Here Titus sigh'd to lose a Am !
And I to lose an hour.
Around this fount a shady grove,
To lovely Venus dear ;
Where all the Loves and Graces rove,
And wanton all the year.
The only grove where Ida's dove
Is known to build her nest j
Wherein the little god of love
Creeps from his mother's breast,
•A smooths

[ ise ]
A smoother.plain beyond the fount
Extends than Tempe sweet,
Whereon appears a little mount,
Which Cupid makes his seat j
Two snowy mountains rise above,
Fairest beneath the skies ;
Which Venus nam'd the hills of love,
Because, when prest they rise.
LYDY, CHURNING.
gRIMFULL of love fat hy&y sat,
Cheeks like a blooming plum;
Sweating, with all a maiden's strength,
To make the butter come.
I n vain she churn'd, in vain she try'd; .-
O, would our Roger come !
For nothing but a Roger's strength
Can make.my butter come.
Within the pantry Roger skulk'd.
And heard this am'rous hum $
Then fixing fast on Lydy's churn,
He made her butter come.
Lydy cried out—0 Roger—oh™
That day may I be dumb,
If once I toil—when you so soon
Can make my butter come,
.                       SONNET-3

[ m 3
SONNET TO MELISSA'S LIPS,
BY DR. W~~——-.
TYEAR balmy lips of her who holds my heart
In the soft bondage of a love sincere!———
Dear balmy lips ! your cherub smiles impart
To your adoring suppliant's earnest prayer.
Not the fresh rose-bud, charg'd with vernal dew,
Nor the warm crimson of the blushing morn,
Nor the gay blossoms of the summer thorn,
Are half so glowing, or so sweet as you !
Dear lips I—permit my trembling lips to press
Your ripen'd softness, in a tender kiss :
And, while my throbbing heart avows the bliss,
Will you—(dear lips 1) the eager strangers bless ?
" Ah, fond request 1"—the beauteous owner cries,
*s Gease, wayward youth !■——-whoever touches—dies 1"
SONNET TO MELISSA,
BY DR. W——-—-.
OER dark-brown tresses negligently flow,
In curls luxuriant, to her bending waist;
Her darker brows, in perfect order plac'd,
■; Guard her bright eyes, that mildly beam below \
The Roman elegance her nose displays—--—
Mer cheeks—ssoft-bJushing, emulate the rose,
Her witching smiles, the orient pearls disclose :
'tm! o'er her lips the dew of Hybla strays.                 Her

[ 1M ]
Her lib'ral mind, the gentler virtues own ;
Her chastenM wit, instructive lore impart;
Her lovely breast is soft, compassion's throne,
And honour's temple is her glowing heart.
But I, like patriarch Moses, praise and bless
The Canaan which I never shall possess !
EPITHALAMXUM ON THE MARRIAGE OF
STRATOCLES AND MYRXLLA.
FROM ANACREON. BY FAWKES.
"l^EMUS, fair queen of gods above,
Cupid, thou mighty power of love,
And Hymen bland, by Heav*n design'd
"Hie fruitful source of human-kind;
To you, as to the lyre I sing,
Flows honour from the sounding string j
Propitious to the numbers prove,
O Venus, Hymen, God of love!:
View, gentle youth, with rapture view
This blooming bride, ordahVd for you;
Blse quick, and feast on all her charms,
Lest, like a bird, she fly your arms.
O happy youth, by Venus blest,
But happier on MyrihVs breast-: .
u See how the fair-one, sweetly coy,
*( All soft confusion, mee.ts the joy,
** Blooming as healths fresh as May flowers,
€i And bright as radiant noon-tide hours,"
Of

[ 159 ]
Of all the flowers upon the plains,
The rose unmatched in beauty reigns j
Myrilla thus in charms excel Is,
She shines the rose among the belles,
0 may, blest youth, the god of day
The pleasing toils of love survey;
And may a beauteous blooming boy
Crown your soft vows with lasting joy!
—_                                                    ""'"-'■":
WELL JUDGED.
A TALE, BY MR, T—L.
AN alderman, a wealthy cit,
One morning met a man of wit;
Dear Dick, said he, I like your why,
You're always cheerful, ever gay j
Yet, jf what I have heard be true,
Fortune has been unkind to you,
And has denied the only blessing
We citizens think worth possessing;
Tis wealth I mean,—-and that your sense
Is oft more current than your pence.
Good faith, replied our merry spark,
My worthy friend, you *ve hit the mark,
1 very often know the curse
Of being with an empty purse j
- A sad disease, and, I am sure,
I gladly would find out a cure %

[ 3 60 j
For, since the truth must be confcst,
It very often breaks my restj
It blunts my humour, dulls my wit.
*Tis very well, replied the cit,
The sickness known, the cure is easy,
And I shall do my best to please ye;
What think you of a wealthy wife?
Could you endure the married life ?
A woman with ten thousand pound,
Young, blooming, cheerful, fair, and sound,
May soon be had, if you incline;
What answer give you, friend of mine ?
The merry spark a while" was dumb,
He scratch*d his head, and bit his thumb,
Look'd very wise and very grave,
Then to. the cit this answer gave ;*—
My friend, I am not such a sot,
(If such a marriage could he got,)
As to refuse to tie the knot;
Btit/I 'm afraid, you'll scarcely find
A fortune of that generous mind,
"Who will her hopes of greatness quit.
And wed a poor man for his wit;
Nay, I for ever must despair
To get a wife both rich and fair,'
The alderman replied, I see
Your want of faith and trust to me j
But, ere to-morrow come, I may.
Shew you a proof of what I say;
Come, dine with m.e,j I know what's what,
I have 'l;^ 'jhls—but mum fov that j

[ 161 3
You '11 have for dinner beef and fish,
And wine as good as you can wish.
My girls can dance, can sing, and play.
And are, like you, for ever gay.
My wife, you know, is dead long since.,
And I live merry like a prince j
You know enougli 's as good *s a feast.,
And you shall be a welcome guest.
I thank you, Sir, with all my heart.,
Said Dick, you act a friendly part 5
Would I could shew my gratitude,
To one so very kind and good;
But what *s within ray power I '11 do,,
And be obedient still to you,
The alderman, with great content,
Home to his house with Richard went;
Who, though he there had often been,,
Yet never had the daughters seen ;
But now the father meant that he
Should.have a sight of all the three.
Down stairs they came ; and Richard swore,
He ne'er beheld such charms before;
Beauty and youth, and ev'ry grace,
Alike adorn'd each smiling face;
And sprightliness in all appeared,
And ev'ry look his bosom cheer'd j
His soul was ravish'd with delight,
Andflutter'd at the joyous sight.
- And now they all at dinner sat,
And pass'd their time in merry chat,
. jBut-

[ 162 ]
But love had rilled Richard's quiets
And nia.de him quite neglect his diet 5
By turns the sisters he survey'd.
And thus at length his wit disp!ay'd„
The haughty wife of thundering Jove^
Minerva, and the queen of love,
Three goddesses (as we are told)
From heav'n came down, in days of old j
The prize of beauty was the end
That made these goddesses descend^
Since Discord had an apple giy'n,
That much disturbed the peace of heav*n,|
For shes fill then, had been a guest
At ev'ry marriage, ev'ry feast;
But, with her endless malice tir'd,
Her presence they no more desir'd.
This go enrag'd the spiteful dame,
That she to high Olympus came,
And 'mongst the goddesses she threw
A golden apple, then withdrew;
And, grinning, said, Let.this be giv'n
To her that fairest is in heav'n.
Each goddess strove to seize the fruit,
And rais'd in heav'n a great dispute:
But when the three that I have nam'd,
Each for herself the apple elaim'd*
The lesser goddesses were mute.
And left with grief the golden fruit;
Yet would no god in heav'n decree
Who had th' advantage of the three.
At

[ 363 ]
At last the gods desir'd that they
' To Ida's mount would take their way,
And tKere find out some shepherd youthj
Whose untaught soul knew only truth,
Free from ambition and from pride,
Who only could the cause deckle.
0 happy Paris S it was you
Three naked goddesses did view,
And to love's queen gave up the prize 5°
But, spite of sense, and spite of eyes,
If you had these bright sisters seen,
The choice had not so easy been j
You ne'er had ended the dispute,
Nor known to whom to give the fruit
Dick's flatt'ry all the sisters pleas'd,
While raptures on the father seiz'd ;-—
Bear Dick> he cried, to tell the truth,
Thou art a most bewitching youth ;
Whate'er you do with ease is done,
I wish I had you for a son j
And now, my friend, and daughters deary
To what I say, pray lend an ear.
1 wish, dear Richard, you'd agree
To take a wife out of the three;
Ten thousand pounds to each I '11 give,
And make it better if I live 5
And she on whom my Dicky pitches,
Shall ne'er complain for want of riches.
; Dick, at this strange discourse amaz'd,,
Upon the blushing sisters gaz'd j
He

[ 164 ]
He fear*d it was tli? effect of drink,
And knew not what to say or think j
No wealth, no money, had he got,
Nor was he worth a single groat.
But th' alderman began again.
And did his former speech explain :
Dear daughters, I of wealth have store5
Nor do I ask or wish for more; 1
Dick is my friend, but "Dick, you know,
No kind of jointure can bestow ;
But Dick has sense, and Dick has wit,
And Dick for ev'ry thing is fit,
While elder brothers, as you know,
Are good for nothing but for showj
. I ne'er could bear these gaudy boys,
Oi all mankind Dick is my choice.
The smiling sisters own'd for truth,
They had no quarrel to the youth ;
But yet they thought it was but fair
That Richard should his mind declare.
On this the charming maids withdrew,
And left poor Dick, I know not how.
The alderman, his daughters gone,
And he and Richard left alone,
A bumper filPdj—Why Dick, said he,
Here's a health to all the three ;
Take which of them best pleases thee.
Dear Sir, said Dick, I cannot tell,
I love them all so very well;
They ail of them such charms possess,
That I am puzzled, I confess j                                  Had

■ . [ 165 j
Had I but one bright beauty view'd,
With ease she had my heart subdu'd j
But when that three, with equal charms,
A heart like mine at once alarms.
Each form'd alike for heav'nly joys,
I know not how to make a choice,
Paris, as I have lately told,
(But that was in the days of old)
When three bright ladies of the sky
To him, as umpire, did apply,
Made them their heav'nly robes unpin,
And stripp'd each goddess to the skin.
But now such freedoms will not pass.
Though we with ease may find a lass,
Who will all night lie by our side,
Yet such is now the sex's pride,
That though we flatter, fawn and beg,
The saucy thing won't show her leg.
Your daughters, Sir, are heav'nly fair,
But when their beauties I compare,
I freely own I can't discover
To which of them i'm most a lover $
But, if their wit you '11 let me try,
I '11 soon find out the mystery.
Yet let each maid keep on her mask.
Till I one single question ask ;
For I must honestly confess,
It savours much of wantonness,
Arid on their cheeks may raise a blush;
And that, I swear, I do not wish j
But

[ 166 ]
But since I am to choose a wife,
And that the comfort of my life
Depends upon the lucky chance.
Forgive me this extravagance*
The alderman was well content,
And for his charming daughters sent,
To whom he told what Dick had said j
Aud hop'd they would not be afraid,
Since sure it would be no hard task,
To answer what his friend would ask,
And begg'd, since one must be a bride,
They'd lay all bashfulness aside.
The maids consent, and Dick, on tbis5
Of each fair sister took a kiss ;
These kisses set his heart on fire,
And in him rais'd such strong desire,
That he stood trembling and amaz'd,
And on each lovely charmer gaz'd.
The masks were nVd, and Dick begun i
1 wish, dear ladies, f could shun
The'asking questions; but I find
I am so much to all inclined,
That, in my soul, I can't agree,
Who is the dearest of the three;
Whoe'er I get, I 'm sure of joy$,
Yet I 'm confounded in my choice j
But since you gen'rously submit
To make a trial of your wit,
Forgive me, fair ones, then, if I
Your knowledge by a question try ;
And

[ 167 ]
And pardon me, if to your ears,
The question something odd appears:—*
Whether the mouth that's in your face^
Or that in a more hidden place,
The eldest is? Who answers best
Shall triumph in my happy breast,
If with that breath the fair one gives
A reason why she so believes.
The masks their rosy cheeks cbnceal'd,
While blushing necks their shame reveaiM.
The first-born daughter said, In truth
I think the eldest is my mouth,
Since in it there are teeth of bone.
In that below, I 'm sure, are none.
The second said, The seat of love
Is eldest; for the mouth above,,
Upon its lips no hair can show,
But I have got a beard below;
And added, with a kind of rage,
Is not a beard a sign of age ?
The youngest sister, smiling, said,
I'm but a young and silly maid ;
But yet I think the mouth above
Is elder than the seat of love 3
And what I say, I thus evince 5
My upper mouth was wean'd'long since,
And flesh, and fish, and bones can eat,
But mouth below longs for the teat.
* Richard, on this, embraced the fair5
And for the youngest did declare 3
■ '                                                              He

[ 16H J
He married her with great content.
And never did his choice repent.
EPITAPH
-ON A MAID.
~D ENEATH these stones a lovely maid's repos'd,
Who, while alive, a secret ne'er disclos'd;
She on her back is still supinely laid,
The pious posture of a dying maid,
EPIGRAM.
CAYS Sir John to my lady, as together they sat,
My dear, shall we sup first, or do—you know what ?
Withr^n innocent smile, replied the good lady,
Sir John, what you please-—but supper *s not ready.
ON A. FAMOUS TOAST.
"DELINDA has such wondrous charms,
'Tis heav'n to lie within her arms :
And she '& so charitably, giv'n,
She wishes all mankind in heav'n,
A LOVER'S I

C m 3
A LOVER'S ANGER.
BY THE D—- OF M—.
\ AS.Chloe came into the room t'other day,
I, peevish, began, Where so long could you stay?
F In your life-time you never regarded your hour;
You promis'd at two, and pray look, child, 'tis four j
A lady's watch needs neither figures nor wheels,
. Tis enough that 'tis loaded with baubles and seals :
| A temper so.heedless no mortal can bear——
Thus far I went on with a resolute air.
1 Lord bless me! cried she, let a body but speak j
Here's an ugly hard rose-bud fell into my neck,
It lias hurt me, and vex'd me to such a degree,
But I know you would never believe one, pray see,
On the left side my breast/what a mark it has made : —
- So saying, her bosom she careless display'd |
I The seat of delight I with wonder stirvey'd,
I And forgot ev*ry word I designed to have saida
ON LADY T—RC------L'S RING,
BY .MR. S——-,
yOUR husband gave to you a ring, ,'
Set round with jewels rare;
; Yon'gave to him abetter thing —
A ring set round with hair.                            ;;,
I                                   * m

[ 170 j
TH« RAMBLERS }'OR, AN IMITATION OF THE 1
FIRST LOVE SCENE IN. OPEN AIR}
A TALE.
So pass'd they naked on-——----*
MILTON. ' i
BY L—• J— R———•
/"V'NCE on a day, when summer dress'd the green, , f
And nought around but fragrant fiow'rs were seen,
When golden Phoebus shot a gentle ray,
Olympus smii'd, and all the fields were gay;
Athwart the meads advanc'd a lovely pair,
Daphnis the young, and Rosalind the fair ;
Of equal fortune both, of equal years,
Both warm in youth, and both devoid of cares,
With mutual ardour fir'd j as on they went,
The pleasing hours in am'rous talk they spent.
The youth, industrious to allure his love,
Brought ev'ry flow'r that bloom'd in mead or grove.
He cull'd the fairest to adorn her breast,
. And fondly wish'd to be as closely press'd.
Now they arrive at the long-wish'd-for place,
Kind nature deck'd with a peculiar grace;
There cooling zephyrs fann'd the op'ning glade,
There flow'd a gentle stream, there rose an ambtenJ'M
shade.
As here they sat, protected from the sun,
With a fond smile the loving youth begun :
<<Behold|I

[ 171 3
il Behold, fair maid, how bounteous nature rouad
With flow'ry gems bespangles all the ground;
Their birth to know, makes reas'ning blockheads pause j
0, blind to truth—productive love's the cause.
When the soft cloud descends in kindly show'rs,
And through the earth its genial moisture pours,
The juice prolific makes each bud appear,
And thence arise the glories of the year.
" The. feather'd wooers in the shady grove,
Loudly proclaim the energy of love;
The purling stream that flows beneath our feet,
Murmurs its love in melody so sweet.
Since then all things kind Venus' transports know,
I Ah, why shou'd we the pleasing task forego ?
I 0, let us now the precious time employ,
While whisp'ring nature prompts us on to joy.'*
Thus spoke the youth, and with a kiss mstill'dL
Th' inciting passion—the warm virgin thrill'd
I In ev'ry vein—the ardour gains her heart;
[ But Miss must play the coy coquettish part.
I Her heaving breasts with indignation swell j
[ She calls him villain, reprobate most fell.
[ The phantom honour starts before her eyes,—-
I Rapid as lightning from the youth she flies.
He, not to lose the conquest of the day,
r Pursues the fair through ev'ry winding way.
At length she turns, to make this stern reply: #
1. " From whence, bold youth, take you this liberty ?
I Lost is my fame, should we be seen alone,"
W0 fame she talks, and in a haughty tone.
12                                 The

[ %n ]
The. youth persists his fair one to implore ^
She still denies, but he still urges more;
Cupid, by chance, lit near them in the grove,
And saw the fond contention of their love.
The partial god to Daphnis' succour flies,
Plies quick his bow, " Yield, yield, fair maid,'* he
cries.
Stricken, she feels Jove's sharp resistless dart,
Sighs, falls; to Paphnis yields a willing heart.
Of conquest sure, the eharm'd, impatient boy,
Rushes impetuous to inviting joy.
Cupid around them draws a fragrant veil,
From prying eyes their raptures to conceal.
Soon as th* endearments of their love were o*er?
And the god wafted to Idaiia's shore,
Expos'd to sight shone Rosalinda's charms ;
The raptur'd youth lay panting in her arms.
Amaz'd, they started, as they heard me near:
He fled for shame, she cried, " Good Sir, what
cheer ?
Pray make no noise, for this is sacred ground,
I and my cousin have a bird's nest found.
Didst meet him, Sir ? he's just about my age*.
The bird belongs to him, but mine the cage."
Smiling I heard, and smiling went away9
Pleas'd at tlr* adventure of the sportful day.
EPIGRAM. \

I m ]
EPIGRAM.
VOUNG Strephon, ravish'd by a smile
From Chlce, in a public place,
Exclaim'd, in a tlieatric style—
" Nature ne'er form'd so fair a face !"
By chance the fool was in the right:
—'Twas patches! paint 1 and candle-light.
ROYAL ASSIGNATION.
'TWAS midnight, and the silver moon,
Refulgent at her highest noon,
t Shed her mild radiance from above,
To gratulate the hour of love.
In a recess, where art had play,
With gold and sculpture richly gay;
. Where shade had just enough of room
I From am'rous thefts to form a gloom;
The holland and the down disclose
Their provocations to repose;
Wrhose pow'r the languid fair confest,
Number'd her beads, and sunk to rest.
From this delightful" scene not far,
J A door commodious lay a-jar,
■ Which Afce, her maid, experienc'd slut I
I On purpose had forgot to shut.
Ye lovers, 'tis for you to guess,
: What I, what language can't express,
i0:\

[ 174 3
(For you ate judges of the matter)
The Prince's longings to be at her j
His hair in careless tresses bound,
Arabia breathing ail around;
Whilst on the brink of joy he stood.
And all but plung'd into the flood :
But see, to take the leapht ventures,
- The bed-chamber, the-—bed—he enters*
The sequel must not be exprest—
The reader's thoughts wi tell the rest,
THE NINEVITE.
A TALE.
'WHOE'ER believes that want of setsM
Can be to virtue a defence.
And keep a maid from doing ill,
May, if he pleases, think so still j
For me, of two tilings I am sure,
That honour cannot be secure*
And virtue may be soon ensnared,
-When folly is its only guard.
To prove the truth of what I've said,—-*
In Durham liv'd a charming maid,
A prebend's daughter, young and fair,
Her father's darling, mother's care$
Never was finer figure seenj
But ah I she was a mere machine.
Fro,,

[ m J
From wit, from sense, from knowledge free,
She wonder'd one and two made three;
Yet her hn , t .3yp3 threw darts around,
[ And Sally many lovers found.
Achilles' spear, the poets say,
Could wound, and pains of wounds allay :
' So Sally's tongue brought quick relief                           (
■ To those who suffer'd amorous grief.
Her parents, conscious how she charm'd,
With constant fears the fair alarm'd,
.- And begg'd their daughter to beware
Of men who would her heart ensnare;
And that she would her honour mind,
And keep at distance from mankind,
Who still would make attempts upon her.
And strive to rob her of her honour.
But such was Sally's ignorance.
That it was only by a chance,
' (As with a girl she talk'd one day)
She learn'd the place where honour lay;
Till then it was to her a riddle,
|, If'twas in head, in feet, or middle :
But, now she knew its situation,
She shew'd her virtue and discretion ;
•And to secure it night and day,
Upon.her honour sat or lay;
On this position she rely'd,
And honour's enemies c'efy'd;
Asleep or waking, 'twas the same*
And, when into a room she came*

[ 176 ]
Still mindful of the main affair?
Secur'dher honour on a chair.
Her silly parents were amaz'd,
And in their hearts her conduct praised;
They saw she minded what they said,
Nor fear'd she now could be betray'd j
And, therefore, beggJd that she would go
To ev'ry ball and ev'ry show.
Her parents she in this ohey'd j
But yet the ninny was afraid,
And never could be brought to dance,
Lest site should meet with some mischance j
But to her cousin, Tom, declared
Her love to honour and its guard;
That, when she sat on % she was sure
Her dear-lov'd honour was secure j
But if she dauc'd or juxnp'd about?
She fear'd her honour might drop out*
The lewd young dog, o'erjoy'd at this-,
To Sally said. My pretty miss,
What you, my dear, have said is true,
But I will tell you what I'll do:
Pray come to me before you sup,
And close I '11 stitch your honour up,                              i
That without other guard you nia^
Be free from fear by night: or day*                                   |
See how a fool may be deceived!
This foolish girl the boy believ'd;
And, stealing out, ask'd of the spark,
If he could stitch her in the dark ?
1

[ 177 J
Yes, yes, said Tom. But Sally said,-
*Twill hurt my honour, I 'm afraid: .
The first stitch only, said the rajse,
Perhaps may make your honour ake.
Tom stitch'd and sthch'd as long's he cou?d.
And swore his workmanship was good;
Bat when lie meant to go away,
Wise Sally cried, Dear Tommy, stay;
You have not stitch'd me half, I fear.
Feel, Tommy, what a gash is here ?
Tom, sighing, said, That's true, indeed,
But now I am run out of thread :
And going off, the fair one cries,
Dear Tommy, you are telling liess
And only make a false excuse,
You still have left two swingeing clews,
Which Will shall stitch, if you refuse.
E-* '•                       -' '*""-': ' ' * " * " ^"^
IDYLL1UM L
OF MOSCHUS. BY FAWKES.

^ |N search of her son, to the listening crowd,
T'other day lovely Venus thus cried him aloud :
*Whoever may chance a stray Cupid to meet,
figabond boy, as he strolls in the street,
-vill bring me the news, his reward shall be this,,
nay free/y demand of fair Venus a kiss j
I 5                                « Bat

t iff ]
* But if to my arms lie the boy can restore,
s He 's welcome to kisses, and something still more.
s His marks arc so plain^and so many* you '11 own
* That among twenty others he 's easily known.
* His skin is not white, hut the colour of flame;
*  His eyes are most cruel, his heart is the same;
* His delicate lips with persuasion are hung ;
i But ah! how they differ, his mind and hit
€ tongue:
4 .'His voice sweet as honey; but nought can con-
6 trol,
*  Whene'er he ss provok'd, his implacable soul.
f He never speaks truth, full of fraud is the boy;
*  And woe is his pastime, and sorrow his joy.
f His head is embellished with bright curling hair;
* He has confident looks, and an insolent air.
*  Though his hands are but little, yet darts they can
' sling
J To the regions below, and their terrible king.
*  His body quite naked to view is reveal'd,
* But he covers his mind, and his thoughts are j
* conceal'd.
4 Like a bird of light feathers, the branches among,
< He skips here and there, to the old, to the I
f young,
*  From the men to the maid on a sudden he strays,
*  And, hid in their hearts, on their vitals he preys:
*  The bow which he carries Is little and light,
1 On the nerve is an arrow, wing'd ready for flight,
4 A Bill* 1

[ t?9 ]
f A little short arrow, yet swiftly it files
'Through regions of aether, and pierces the sMei-,
' A quiver of gold on his shoulders is bound,
( Stor'd with darts, that alike friends &i\d enemies
* wounds
' Ev'n I, his own mother, in vain strive to si inn
1 His arrows—so fell and so cruel my son.
{His torch is but small, yet so ardent its ray,
* It scorches the sun, and extinguishes day,
' Oyou, who perchance may the fugitive fmdu
' ' Secure first his hands, and with manacles hind,
' Shew the rogue no compassion, though oft !'£
' appears
' To weep—his are all hypocritical tears,
' With caution conduct him, nor lei him beguile
\ (Your vigilant care with a treacherous smile
' Perhaps with a laugh kisses sweet he will proffer 5
(His kisses are poison, ah! shun the vile offer.
'Perhaps he '11 say, sobbing: u No mischief I
" know;
"Here, take all my arrows, my darts, and. my
" bow 1"
\ { Ah, beware! touch them not—-deceitful his aim 1
( His darts and his arrows are all tipt with flame.*

[ JBO j
THE EGGS,
A TALE.
Filles, fuiez, fuiez, la piqure,
Qui vous mettrat aux abbois,
Car cela produit un enflure
Qui ne ce guerit qu'en neuf mob,
BY L— W— R«~—B
*!Uf EN who are set on doing evil,
Have no regard to God or devil.
But impiously pursue their course,
Without reflection or remorse ;
And, to accomplish their intent,
Ten thousand wicked tricks invent,
And make the cheating maids and wives
The joy and bus'ness of their lives j
For, when they have a wife betray'd,
Or stole the honour from a maid,
They pride themselves in what they 've done,
And boast the conquest they have won.
To prove the truth of what I *ve said,—•
Not long ago a handsome maid,
• Bred in the country, innocent,
To London to a sister went,
A virtuous woman, and discreet,
Who lodgings let in Suffolk-street,
O'erjoy'd she was to'see her sister,
And, running to her, kindly kiss'd her :
Then, soon as they had sat them down,
Said gravely to her,-—Nanny Brown,
Since I have brought you up to town,

[ 181 ]
I hope you will be rul'd by me,
Who always have been fond of thee 5
I see, dear child, you 're very fair,
But of thy beauty have a care;
Believe me, in this wicked place*
A handsome shape, a lovely face.
Brings many women, to. disgrace :
Beware, dear Nanny, what you do*
And let the men in vain pursue,
Nanny a country court'sey dropp'd,
And, blushing, answer'd, that she hop'd
To be observing of her duty,
But she was sure she had no beauty 1
She said, The beauties all are fair,
Have light blue eyes, and flaxen hair;
But mine.is like the down of crows,
And eyes are black as any sloes.
No man will think me worth his while 3—*
Her sister answer'd, with a smile,
Trust not to that, but have a care,
Though you are black, they '11 think you fair 5
Never believe a word they say,
For all they mean is to betray.
The men are all in morals loose j
And I 've a lodger in the house,
Who, though he seems exceeding young,
Has cunning and a flatt'ring tongue j
And, though I 'm something past my prime*
Has tried my virtue many a time j
And, Nanny, to confess the truth,
He is a most bewitching youth,                                  But-

[ 182 j
But I have all his wiles defy'd,
And to this hour his suit deny'd j
Yet, as I freely own, I doubt
If I can hold much longer out j
■But 15il call pride to my assistance,
And, if I can, still make resistance.
Yet, dearest Nanny, should I grant
Those favours that he seems to want,
And yield him all, I am secure,
I cannot any harm endure,
For 1 an honest husband have.
And marriage will my honour save j
Nay, though my spouse &hould be begiul'd,
He never will suspect the child.
, On th' oilier hand, my dear, if you^
A thing like what 1 speak of do,
'Twould be your ruin and disgrace,
Nor could you e'er hold up your face;
If you should lay your legs aside,
Or make your virgin passage wide,
Till you in church are made a bride.
Dear Nanny Brown, if you have sense*
Till then preserve your innocence ;
For, if your maidenhead you touch,
The nature of the thing is such,
'Twill slip away, and you, in vain,
Shall wish to have it back again ;
And, if your belly chance to grow,
As what may happen none can know;
Then all the men will from you rum
'""........' "f

[ IBS ]
But, above all things, see that you
With my young lodger nothing go 5
Speak aot to him, for he has sense.
And will corrupt your innocence;
But I, your ruin to prevent,
Will rather to his wish consent,
Since it no harm can do to me,
But it would surely ruin thee.
My husband is gone down to York,
And I 'm depriv'd of nightly work ;
Since then my spouse is out of sight,
I think I '11 do 't this very night.
Poor simple Nanny, for her part,
Return'd her thanks with all her heart.
And said, I '11 carefully obey
I All your commands by night and day j
K Nay, I so close my legs will keep,
That, whether waking, or asleep,
I It shall not be an easy matter,
1 For the most rampant fornicator,
I Though he should slip within my bed,
I To rob me of my maidenhead.
As thus these prudent sisters ialk'd,
f Into the room the lodger walk'd ;
BLAiid Nanny, who had got her cue,
B'. Acourt'sey made, and then withdrew,                         .
The spark, who had not seen her face, -
I Was glad that she had left the place;
I And sitting down just by her sister,
I First felt her breast, then warmly kiss'd her,
Good"

[ 181 j
Qeod Mistress Jones (that was her name)
Told him it was a burning shame
Stiil to be kissing at that rate
A woman he thought out of date.
What! out of date ! with great surprise
The lover said, By those deer eyes,
By all that's holy, all that's dear
To me you handsomer appear,
Than any maid in bloom of youth i
Believe, me, fair one, that is truth.
Again he hugg'd, again he kiss'd, ■
Till she, unable to resist,
(As the young rake did oft avouch)
Fell backwards on a velvet couch,
On which they did solace awhile,
And in sweet love the time beguiles
Nay more, to shew his love sincere,
From thence adjourn'd to elbow chair.
The yielding dame, brimful of joy, .
With rapture kiss'd the amorous boy,
And begg'd when all were fast asleep.
He 'd softly to her chamber creep,
Where he might pass the happy night,
Within her arms, in soft delight;
For though she had oppos'd bis will,
She now would let him take his fill.
The kindly summons he obey'd,
And in her room till morning stay'd j
Where he so oft embrae'd the fair,
That he? fond heart was void of carej-~

[ 185 ]
Nor fear'd she that her sister's charmi
Could draw her lover from her arms.
Alas! said she, what fool was I,
That did this charming youth deny ?
No man alive can give the joy
I 've met with from this heardless boy.
Though I have known my spouse in trim>
He's but a jest comparM to him j
Happy, thrice happy, shall 1 be,
If he continues true to me ;
And sure I need not doubt the youth,
He is all love, he is all truth,
He is all goodness; and I see.
That he will slight the world for me,
I I know he 5s ravish'd with my charms,
I And I'll so fold him in my arms,
That, while with me he nightly lies^
I I'll make him useless ere he rise}
Thus i '11 secure the lovely elf,
And keep him wholly to myself.
Bat Mistress Jones mistook in this,
And made the boy so often kiss,
I That he was surfeited with bliss.
Tis certain there is not in nature,
Such an inconstant, fickle creature
As man, who cannot be_at rest
When love once gets within his breast •
But when he has the fair enjoy'd, -
The faithless monster soon is cioyVL
jjjl* Our spark had now seen Nanny Brown j
And though clad in her country gown, _                     And

[ 186 j
And tliat iiis skin stuck to his bones,
Through his fatigues with Mistress Jones j
Yet seeing such a beauteous figure,
Restor'd him to his wont eel vigour.
But yet he durst not own his flame,
Lest it should vex the eider dame;
With whom he still pass'd ev'ry night,
To her g;eat comfort and delight;
Till her fond heart was wholly free
From any kind of jealousy;
For he to Nanny never spoke,
But only by the way of joke,
As long as Mistress Jones was by,
And she, poor soul, still answer'd, Fie !
Bat when her sister's back was turn'd,
He tdd the idiot how he burn'd;
How for her love he sufTer'd pain :
But all his speeches were in vain;
"v?he did not understand his language,
Nor knew she what he meant by anguish;
Besides, she thought it would be sin.
Did she her sister's lover win,
Since 'twas to save her maidenhead,
She took the lodger to her bed;
iFor I must give the maid her due.
Young Nanny was a virgin true,
And neither love nor loving knew ;                                    I
But, mindful of the sage advice
Her sister gave, was always nice,
And always seem'd to be afraid
To .hear a word the lodger said                                Wiia j

[ 187 ]
Who finding all he said was vain,
That wit and love could nothing gain j
He soon bethought him of a \vay,
That would the thoughtless fool betray.
No more he talk'd of flames and darts,
Of piercing eyes, or wounded hearts;
But did at greater distance keep,
Till he had luli'd her fears asleep.
The rake at last found out a time
I Was lit to execute his crime;
j For Master Jones from York return'd,
i Whose coming, faithful madam mourn'd;
For in her bed he nightly lay,
And scarcely left her in the day.
The lodger now resolv'd to try
k This happy opportunity;
I And sitting one day by the maid,
I He gravely thus to Nanny said :
i I My charming creature, I declare
; 1 I never saw a maid so fair
■ As what you were; but I have skill,
I And see that you are growing ill;
Your eyes, that you might justly boast,
I Have now much of their lustre lost;
I The rose and lilies on your cheek,
I Are faded much within this week,
I Alas! said Nancy, what's the matter ?
■   In all my life I ne'er was better.
I You may, said he, think what you please* ;
I But that Va sign of your disease;
i                                                                                                                                          v' ii£ '11 ...

[ 188 ]
You *\\ soon find out your sad mistake.
When ev'ry limb begins to ake;
Would Heav'n these eggs bad all been addle,
With which your sister mix'd your caudle :
For now the sad effects are seen.—
What do you by a caudle mean ?
Poor Nanny cries, in dreadful fright|
I still took caudle ev'ry night,
And never thought it did me harm,
For it was always sweet and warm.
5Tis true, said he ; but yet the dregs
Have filPd your belly full of eggs j
And, dearest Nanny, I 'm in fear
A brood of chickens soon appear;
I know, my dear, 'twill be your case.
On this the tears ran down her face.
ika? Sir, she cried, oppress'd with grief,
Am I then lost past all relief?
*«£), how the shame my sorrow quickens j
P i I a roother be of chickens ?
I see yen are a skilful man,
For Heav'n's sake help me if you can.
Is there no cure ? Yes, yes, said he,
If you will come this night to me,'
I 'I! do my best, I do assure you,
To save \uur honour, and to cure you :
Mean lime, if you desire to know,
If I have told the truth or no,
. Put in your finger 'twixt your legs?
And try if you can reach the eggs.

[ *89 -]
His wicked orders she obey'd,
And to the place her hand eonvey'd $
Then said, Although my finger's smal!?
' Yet I can make no way at all,
The passage is so very strait.
My dear, said he, till midnight waitj
If then you '11 to my chamber creep,
I J 'II break three eggs before I sleep!
| The rest I '11 la the morning break;
I But see, my dear, you do not speak
I A single word of what I 've said.
• Trust me for that, replied the maid.
Night came, the people were asleep,
I When Nanny from her bed did creep,
I And to her longing lover went,
Who waking lay in great contents
I Her taper legs by far excell'd
I All that was ever yet beheld,
i , Nor could the statues of old Greece
■jShew such a fair and finish'd piece.
This charming sight inspir'd the boy
I With love and longing after joy ;
1 While little Nanny play'd her part,
I And gave him thanks with all her hearts
i And, fondly kissing, said, My dear,
I Should any signs of eggs appear,
I Will you, to free me from my grief,
I Afford poor Nanny such relief?
I He swore he would. She swiftly rose^
I Asd in a hurry pinn'd her clothes |

[ 190 ]
But, stealing gently to her bed,
Her sister knew poor Nanny's tread;
This brought strange fancies in her head $
For guilty minds are never free                                         j
From fears, and doubts, and jealousy.
So silly slipping on hei gown,
Up stairs she came to Nanny Brown 5
And, coming suddenly upon her,
Where have you been, my dame of honour ?
Said Mistress Jones; Come, tell me, sister.
Poor witless Nanny ran and kiss*d her.
My dear, said she, since all is over,
■ j I think I may the truth discover,
The' candles I have lately taken
(Would th' eggs had all been eat with bacon)
Had sad effects , for let me tell ye,
3 -They fiil'd with eggs my virgin belly;
Your lodger, blessings on his face!
^T@'as he who first found out my case,
'■-\ Miid told me what a sad disgrace
- It would be, were it understood                                      ,
That J of chickens had a brood,                 >                   \
This fill'ci my tender heart with grief,
But he, kind youth, brought quick relief 5
And said, if 1 M come to his room,                                 1.
• He would .restore me to my bloom.                                j
I went; he strippM me to the skin,                           j
He laid me down, thrust something in                          J
Just here, good sister, 'twixt ray legs,                           j
..-..... And in an instant crush'd the eggs,                          . I

[ 191 j
SONG.
Tune \>-—Wq 's my heart that we should sunder.
TS Hamilla then my own !
0! the dear, the charming treasure j
Fortune now in vain shall frown ;
All my future life is pleasure.
r See how rich with youthful grace,
Beauty warms her ev'ry feature :
Smiling heav'n is in her face,
All is gay, and all is nature.
See what mingling charms arise,
Rosy smiles, and kindling blushes I
I • Love sits laughing in her eyes,
And betrays her secret wishes.
f Haste then from th' Idalian grove,
Infant smiles, and sports, and graces;
I Spread the downy couch for love.
And lull us in your sweet embraces.
■ Softest raptures, pure from noise,
t. This fair happy night surround us5
1 While a thousand sprightly joys
Silent flutter all around us.
I Thus unsourM with care or strife,
Heav'n still guard this dearest blessing ■
I While we tread the path of life,
j E: k°v*ng still, and still possessing.
THE .

e im \
THE 'SQUIRE.
A TALE BY MYSELF.
Chers amis, fuyons le mariage,
II n'est pas sage qui s'engage
Pour plus qu'un jour.
TSJ0T long ago, in Lincolnshire,
There dwelt a rich and errant 'Squire^
Who only lov'd a country life,
And with all foxes was at strife *
Nor could a single hare have peace,
The 'Squire so much admir'd the chase j
And it was still his Worship's way,
To wind his horn at break of day;
| The huntsman answer'd note for note,
And ev'ry beagle strain'd his throat,
From Rowzer down to little Lady,
Impatient till the 'Squire was ready;
- Who dress'd as fast as he was able,
• Then call'd the butler to the stable :
~"^r.d said, Pray, Harry, have a care,
S That we fhis day have noble fare ;
The hunting-club must dine with me,
Some twenty-two or twenty-three :
Let's have enough, be sure of that,
ITuiow the brindled ox was fat:
Itoast you a sirloin, boil a rump,
My geese and turkeys are all plump;
And, if I am not much mistaken,
•You still may get us beans and bacon;
The

[ t93 ]
I The mutton now is very good,
[ Pray roast a shoulder in the blood;
[ My sucking-pigs are in their prime,
I Stuff them with spearmint, chives, and thyme;
| And draw the ponds, and get a dish
[ Of carp and tench, and other fish.
13ut, pox confound me for a sot,
I The venison J had forgot,
I Which seems to me exceeding oddj
I Give us a pasty deep and broad,
i And see the crust be seasoned high,
1 'Twill make my honest neighbours dry-;
I And still the more my neighbours drink,
f The more they '11 of thy master think.,
My pork is good, and strong my beer,                »
t Pray, Harry, let no want appear;
I You know they come but thrice a year.
|. But now I fear lest I be late :
I Come, Roger, bring me creeping Kate,
I Let Richard ride on wanton Willy,
I And Tom upon the Yorkshire filly j
Let huntsman Dick, and little Sloan,
i Ride on old Crop, and trusty Roan ;
! And mounted thus, I might defy
i The king (God bless him) was he by *■■■■
| For'tis well known, I never wait
The opening of a five-bar gate j
< But jump the gate, the hedge, or ditch*
Nor give a six-pence which is which |
; Pray, Harry, see that all be ready,
[ Hoist Ruler, Rover, Bonny Lady!
K J                          km?

v ^M1 ]
Away he rode, the day was fair;
They only meant to chase a hare,
. But riding near some bushy rocks,
The 'Squire rous'd up a swingeing fox j
He hoop'd the dogs, they got a view,
The hunters eagerly pursue j
, .Though over hill and dale they ran,                          5"U
The 'Squire was still the foremost man j
He stopp'd at nothing in his way,
But followed close the stinking prey;
He saw his neighbours far behind,
This fill'd with joy is booby mind j
Their laziness he did despise,
While triumph sparkled in his eyes j
Then to his mare this speech addressed;
x Ah ! Kate, of hunters far the best,
What honour have we got this day ?
There Jowler, Tickler, there the way j
.See, Kate, our dogs are foremost too,
A joyful sight, A view ! a view 1
- Kate seem'd to know her master's mind?
Aitd 4eft the very dogs behind ;
:/ And, riding up, they turn a the fox,
When he had almost reach'd the rocks;
Never was heard a sweeter sound,
The 'Squire cheer'd up each breathless hound,
'-.. And echo answer'd all around.
Poor Renard saw the dogs appear,
■ And knew his death was drawing near,
■ Yet shed not one untimely tear5

[ 195 ]
And, though all hopes of life were past*
f Resolv'd to fight it to the last.
The dogs came up, and stately Toper,
A hound the 'Squire had got from Roper,.
I: Went boldly in ; but Renard rose,
And bit the fav'rite by the nose;
His howling cries declare his smart,
And pierc'd his master to the heart.
Lady came in to help her brother,
Her sire the same, the same her mother,*.
Bat Renard let the dog escape,
And, never minding Lady's shape,
Scratch'd all her face, and tore her ear?
That to this day the scars appear;
Poor Lady fiil'd the air with cries,
And tears ran from her master's eyes ; ■
He saw his clearest friends in pain,
■■ And curs'd, but curses were in vain,
But Rowzer, though his teeth were goney
And useless now to gnaw a bone y
Came angry up to her assistance,
. And shew'd the folly of resistance;                                     ,
For by the reins he seiz'd the fox,
(The murderer of hens and cocks)
And, throwing him upon his back,
Blade every nerve and sinew crack.
While Renard thus expiring lay,
' The dastard hounds that stood at bay.
Now valiantly rush on the prey;
The danger over, all grow stout,
And toss and draw the fox about,
' K 2                                 "fiivr-, '

[ -t#6 J
Thus have I often seen of late,
A .haughty minister of state.
With insolence bear all before him,
While sycophants and knaves adore hi-r&j
Till, one aspiring to be greater,
Impeach'd the statesman for a traitor.
A while he makes a brave defence,
Insisting on his innocence ;
But when they make a home attack,
And once have thrown him on his backs
The little yelping curs come in
And tear and strip him to the skin.
JButj laying similes aside,
The happy 'Squire did homewards ride,
The stinking vermin at his belt;
How powerful the booby smelt I
With grief he view'd poor Lady's ears,
And Toper's bloody nose with tears!
His heart was sore to see their pain,
p. But hoping they'd be well again,
And having honour got that day,
Hade cheerfully upon the way.
Till meeting with the hunting crew,
He from his side dead Renard threw j.
His eyes their laziness upbraid,
And to them thus insulting said •
See what I Ve got by being keen !
, Such sport I 'm sure was never seen.
Then half an hour in nonsense spent^
To tell the way that Renard went j
And' ]

[ isr ]
And brought his story to a close,
By shewing Toper's bloody nose.
While thus the 'Squire rehears'd the chase.
Envy appear'd in ev'ry face ;
They grinn'd at Kate that ran so fast,
And curs'd the 'Squire himself at last;
Bat he, ne'er angry at the matter,
Declar'd that Crop still gallop'd better j
And leap'd o'er all came in his way, '
As he could shew them any day;
But now he by his stomach knew,
That it was drawing near to two.
Come, let's away to Booby-.Hall,
We'll get enough to serve us all.
They went, and had a plenteous meal j
But it would quite debase my tale,
Should I repeat their rustic sayings,
Or mirth more loud than asses' brayings j
But, after four hours pass'd at dinner,
The company grew something thinner j
For all went off but eight or nine,
Who meant to sup as well as dine.
The 'Squire, who lov'd to toss the can,
Now thought himself a happy man;
He kiss'd his friends ; and rang for Hal,
And hade him go to cook-maid Mall,,
And, as she hopes to be a bride,
Tell her this moment to provide
A supper, that is good and right, ,
To please the taste as well as sight.
Meantime

I % ]
Meantime lie drove the glass about,
Some swallow'd port, and others stout;
And gravely all their stories told,
And feats of hunting new and old.
When a young Knight, an artful man.,
To talk of womankind began-;
But first a bawdy catch he sung.
My friends, said he,j you all are youngs
And in the chase your time employ ;
But, if you once would taste the joy,
The rapture, and the vast delight,
That women can afford at night,
You soon would slight this toilsome life,
And each of you would take a wife j
If you would only take the leisure,
To think upon the nightly pleasure
That it would be, when, after sport.
You weary to your homes resort,
To find a young and handsome lady,
That's ever willing, ever ready,
To fold you in her snowy arms,
And let you taste much sweeter charms
Than e'er you dreamt of in your life j
O ! the dear comfort of a wife !
The 'Squire, who had at'London been.
And had the toasts and beauties seen,
Burst out a-laughing at the tale,
And said. May thunder sour my ales
If I would give a truss of straw
For any woman e'er 1 saw
*:?f P" .:^ b:'.-                    At'

[ 199 j
At Loudon, for I have been there ;
I saw a woman they call'd fair,
But, when compar'd with little Tipsy,
The London lady is a gipsy,
And may I never want the itch,
If I'd not sooner kiss that bitch.
Than any woman e'er I knew j
Believe me, friends, I tell you true.,
The Knight replied, 'tis very well 5
Strange stories of yourself you tell j
But pray, good 'Squire, have ever you
With womankind had aught to do ?
Not I, good faith, replied the''Squire,
Nor ever had the least desire;
Nor did I e'er my mind perplex.
To know the difFrence of the sex.
My cook-maid brews me ale and beer.
Can roast and boil, and make good cheer 1
My maids can wash and darn my linen.
While others are employ5 d in spinning §
I have a dairy-maid beside,
Who Sunday next will be a bride j
Farther than that, upon my life,
I nothing know of maid or wife ;
But I have talk'd with those who had,
Who swore they all were bitter bad.
They told you so, the Knight reply'd }
Belieye me, 'Squire, the villains Jy'd,
As you will own, if you but try
A maid I '11 shew you by and by,

[ 208 ]
With whom I meant to pass the night;
The girl is handsome, young and tight:
Ah* friend! if )0u but knew the pleasure^
You'd dote upon it out of measure;
No more you'd on fox-hunting think,
Nay, for a woman, leave your drink.
At this the booby shook his head,
And smiling said, 'Od strike rae dead.
If I believe that I shall find
Such mighty joys in womankind
As what you speak of I Let me dle^
Did I with twenty women lie,
If 1 should like, or Nan, or Joan,
By half so well as Crop or Roan;
Yet faith, my friend, I can't deny
But that I have a mind to try;
And, if what you have said is true,
I '11 own myself oblig'd to you t
But you must put me on the way,
To get a girl that's frank and gay,
Who will no scruple make to shew
A learner what he ought to do.
The Knight on this grew wond'rous merry,
And, Mgiling said, you 've seen young Cherry,
The daughter of the parish clerk,
This night will meet me in the dark j
There *s not a lass in Lincolnshire
Has half her beauty, half her fire.
Biack-ey'd and wanton, young and fah'j
I 'm sure she'll fit you t© a-hair)
I'll.. J

[ 201 ]
| I'll try to fetch her to your bed,
She well deserves your maidenhead;
Such is the love I bear to you,
: That this, or any thing I '11 do$
That can afford you any pleasure,
, For, faith, I love you out of measure.
When Cherry comes, I '11 to her go,
! And let the little charmer know,
That I desire that she, this night,
; May entertain you with delight j
She shall consent, and you will find
What joys are found in womankind.
The 'Squire was overjoy'd at this.
And gave the Knight a hearty kiss.
The pimp went out to meet the punk,
I The supper came, the 'Squires got drunk
With Bar-a-Bar, and old October j
I Our 'Squire alone continued sober,
| 'For on his new adventure thinking,
Had ta'en away the thoughts of drinking.
Meantime his friend, the pimping sparky
- Had met the daughter of the ,clerky
, To whom he all the story told.
| Cherry at first began to scold 5
r But when he argu'd on the matter^
[ She came to like the project better.
Cherry, said he, there 's none can tell
But what we 've done may make you swell |
[ If so, my dear, had you not rather
Choose for your child a richer father?
K 5                                 F^>r -.-■

c m j
Vox though I am a Knight, yet he
Has greater wealth by far than me,
And may maintain both it and you.
Good faith, said Cherry, that is true,
And I shall do what you desire ;
But, ere you bring me to the 'Squire,
I beg, sweet Sir (and here she stopp'd,
And a low country cun'sy dropp'd),
You'd mind the cause that brought me here '
No doubt of that, said he, my dear.
Then kissing the kind-hearted lass,
Did lay her gently on the grass,
And there so well young Cherry pleas'd,
l That she confest her heart was eas'd ;
And, springing up, when all was over,
I3egg'd he would lead her to her lover.
S He told her, as they walk'd along,
That though the 'Squire was young and strong,          \
Had store of health, was never ill,
Yet that he was a virgin still;
And hegg'd that she would play her part.
She, laughing said, With all my heart.
A virgin 'Squire ! I 'm glad of that,
I soon shall teach him what is what.
That's all I ask, replied the Knight;
But I '11 go see if all be right.
Away lie went; in haste came hack,
The 'Squire said he, is on the rack,
Has made his bed in his best room,                     Hm
And has this half hour burnt .perfume ;■

[ SOS j
Brest In his night-gown, and in linen*
He swears is of his grammm's spinning.
The guests and servants-are asleep?
And in the house such snoring keep,
A drum can't wake them ; let's away.
You must not make his honour stay.
Then leading Cherry to the 'Squire.,
Her beauty set his soul on fire ;
Dear Knight, he cried, what charms are there*
' Confound me, hut she's very fair I
Dare I adventure on a kiss ?
Art sure she will not take't amiss ?
Amiss! said Cherry, not at all j
What brought me here to Booby-Hall!
I mean to lie with you all night,
And to instruct you in delight.
By Jove, he cried, 'tis kindly said!                 ;
And, blushing, kiss'd the wanton maid,
■ Cherry repays the kiss, and slips
Her tongue between his honour's lips ;
t This to the 'Squire was wholly new:
j Dear Knight, he cried, you've told me true;
I- I never felt the like of this,
Can there he yet a greater bliss ?
Yes, to he sure, replied the Knight,
I And you shall know it all to-night.
Come, Cherry, my dear wanton elf,
I Come quickly and undress yourself5
The girl was in a merry mood,
! And in a moment naked stood;

L ^04 ]
The 'Squire ail trembling and amaz'd,
Upon the wanton harlot gaz'd:
But soon the Knight the sheets laid down,
And made the 'Squire throw off his gown ;
And said. To bed. They both obey;
But \et the 'Squire at distance lay,
Till Cherry, turning to the Knight,
Tipp'd him the wink, and said, Good-night j
*Tis riow high time that you retire,
And leave me with the modest 'Squire.
The Knight withdrew, the candles burn'd,
When Cherry to the booby turn'd j
And, not designing to be nice,
Down went the bed-clothes in a trice;
She shew'd her shapes, the gazing 'Squire
Was overcome with strong desire ;
A fever seiz'd on ev'ry part,
• The blood went mantling to his hearty
His bosom heav'd, his eyes grew dim,
And quiv'ring nerves shook ev'ry limb ;
While Cherry, who his transports saw,
Did nearer to his worship draw j
Nature, she saw, had done her part,
The booby only wanted art:
And, fearing he'd let.go his fire.
She twin'd her arms about the 'Squire,
And, turning him upon her breast.
She made him ;—you may guess the rest,
Quite ravish'd with th* ecstatic blessing,
Unutterable, past expressing,

[ 205 j
The hippy 'Squire transported lay,
And breath'd in sighs his soul away ;
But coming to himself at last,
And thinking on the pleasure past,
He laid all bashful ness aside,
• And warmly hugg'd his loving guidej
| No longer trembling, nor afraid,
He view'd, with joy, the panting maid;
He saw her lovely bosom hare,
Her strawberry nipples made him stare;
But as he thus her beauties ey'd,
Cherry all farther sight deny'd ;
And, giving him a dove-like kiss,
Proyok'd him to renew the bliss.
Such dove-like kisses never fail
To raise the spirits of the male ;
For lips to lips, and tongue to tongue>
Will make .a man of sixty young;
No wonder then our youthful-'Squire
Willi such a kiss was set on fire?
That, without any more delay, .
He vigorously renevv'd the play.
I This rapture far excell'd the first,                                 ^
And only did increase his thirst;                    N
Cherry was pleas'd' with what he did3
Nor from him any secret hid;
The 'Squire now lower turn'd his eyes,
And view'd her belly with surprise ;
ft was so round, so smooth, so white,
That, overcome with new delight^

[ 206 ]
He needed now no dove-like kiss
To prompt him on to farther bliss.
This joy excell'd- the other two.,
And ev'ry kiss still sweeter grew,
That now he meant to please his sight,
And view the seat of soft delight.
Cherry, who was content that he
Should every .thing about her see,
Without a blush upon her face,
Pull'd up her smock, and shew'd the place j
But, when he saw it look'd so grim,
A tremhli ng seiz'd on ev'ry limb 5
Alas! lie cried, What's that I see!
I am bewitch'd, it cannot be;
Have you, he said, no other toy ?
For that could never give me joy.
No, faith, replied the laughing dame?
I have no play-thing but the same |
But if, my dear, you think I lie,
5Tis only getting up to try.
Yes, marry will I, said the 'Squire,
I find I am again a-fire.;
^ Then laying her fair legs aside,
"No more would trust it with a guide;
For it seem'd very strange to him,
A thing so hairy, and so grim,
And what might stoutest hearts affright.
Should yield such pleasure and delight-
Kind Cherry let him take his way,
- .. And would not interrupt his play,

[ SOT" ]
But, soon as lie had bit the place,
Inclos'd him in a strict embrace ;
Her pliant limbs were round him tvvin'd ;
And, while in am'rous folds confin'd,
His eyes and lips with fervour kiss'd,
And almost made him more than bless'd,
While in his mouth her nimble tongue,
To love the last alarum rung;
The joyous summons both obey,
And in soft raptures melt away;
Of speech and breath at once depriv'd
They lay, when their kind pimp arriv'd,
Who, by their looks, perceiv'd that they
His coming curs'd, and that of day,
. Good 'Squire, said lie, I hope yon *re merry.
What think you of your little Cherry ?
Have I told lies, or spoke the truth ?
By Jove, replied the panting youth,
No tongue can speak, no pen can write,
; The pleasure and the vast delight
■ I have enjoy'd this happy night!
[ I ne'er can weary of this sport,
. And think the night has been too short ;
I Indeed, my friend, you rre come too soon,
[ Would it had not been day till noon ;
l* 'Tis true, I have not shut my eyes,
I But sleep 's a trifle I despise,
I Nor can I let dear Cherry rise.
IrAh, friend ! can we not find a way,
1; To keep the charmer all the day ?
7 team

[ SOS ]
I scorn my bounds, despise the chase.
While thus the fair one I embrace :
The fields no more can give delight.
'Tis very well, replied the Knight;
I told you, if you 'd try the bliss,
You would no more the beagles kiss ;
And now you see I 've told you true j                         ll
But what shall we with Cherry .do.
If she consent to stay with you ?
Your friends and servants all will stare*
For that, said he, I do not care,
Since I can order matters so.
They never shall the secret know.
Yet, why should I my pleasure steal ?
Or be at trouble to conceal
The rapture, and the vast delight,
That Cherry gives me in the night ?
My servants cheerfully obey,
And shall to Cherry homage pay;
Tell me, dear child, do you agree
To stay for good and all with me ?
She hugg'd him close, and stopp'd his breath,
Then said, My dear, I '11 stay till death j
And to the Knight, said with a smile,
I beg your absence for a while.
The pimping Knight on that withdrew,
And staid away an hour or two;
When he was gone, she kiss'd the 'Squire,
Arid fondly said, If you de*ire                                           j
Ti

[ 209 ]
I To keep me here, 1 'II gladly stay,
| And serve you both by night and day,
I In ev'ry thing, and ev'ry way ;
I'll stitch and sing, while it is light,
; And to your bed dance ev*ry night;
New joys I shall each hour afford,
; And wanton be at bed and board.
Last night, when to your bed I came,
[ You were a novice at the game ;
I I Ve taught you now a little skill,
f But I have more to teach you still.
• Lie thus, dear Sir, I '11 get above,
; And teach you a new feat of love j
\ When I have got you once below me,
Kick as you will, you shall not throw me j
For though I ne'er a hunting rid,
I'll sit as fast as if I did ;
j Nor do I any stirrup need,
To help me up upon my steed.
This said, her legs she open'd wide,
And on her lover got astride,
i And, being in her saddle plac'd,
Most lovingly the 'Squire embrac'd,
[ Who view'd the wanton fair with wonder,
Andsmtt'd to see her keep him under;
While she, to shew she would not tire,
.Spurr'd like a fury on the 'Squire,
[.And though she ne'er had rid in France,
■She made him caper, curvet, dance,
pill both of them fell in a trance.
* rwe..&

[ 210 ]
'Twas long ere either did recover,
At last she kiss'd her panting lover,
And, sweetly smiling in his face,
She ask'd him how he Iik*ci that chase ?
He scarce could speak, his breath was shorty
But, sighing1, answered, N^ble sport!
I 'd give the best horse in my stable,
That either you or I were able
To ride another, for I own
There never was such pastime known.
This answer pleas'd the frolic maid*
She suck'd his breath, and, laughing", said,
If you, good Sis;, resolve to try -
Another gallop, here am I,
Heady to answer your desire,
Nor will you find me apt to tire
In such a chase | I '11 lay a crown,
Start .you the game, I '11 run it down.
The 'Squire o'erjoy'd at what she said,
Hugg'd to his breast the sprightly maid,
For he was young and full of vigour,
And Cherry was a lovely figure \
Was ever cheerful, brisk, and gay.
And had a most enticing way j
She kiss'd his eyes, she bit his breast,
Nor did her nimble fi tigers rest,
Till he had all his toil forgot,
And found his blood was boiling hot.
While Cherry, who. was in her prime,                           «
Still knew, and always nick'd her time;
■           ' Bertfl

I 211 ]
I Beslrid the am'rous 'Squire once more,
I And gallop'd faster than before j
I Fearing the Knight might interrupt her,
I She toss'd and twirl'd upon her crupper j
I Nor did she let her tongue lie idle,
I But thrust it in by way of bridle,
I And, giving him a close embrace,
| Did finish the delightful chase.
I The Knight came in, and found them lying
j Quite breathless, speechless, fainting, dying j
[ Depriv'd of sense, depriv'd of sight,
[ Absorbed in bliss, and fond delight.
I jDear 'Squire, he said, get up, for shame,
r-Are you not weary'd with the game ?
I Your guests are dressM, and in the hall,
I, And for strong beer and nutmeg call j
I They ask for you j get up, 1 pray,
Else all of them will go away.
m The 'Sqaire lookM up, and with a groan,
I Said, Would to heav'n they all were gone I
[ Sure you may see it by'my eyes,
That I have little heart to rise;
I Then kissing Cherry, said, Dear Knight, ;
This girl has giv'n me more delight
I Than in my life I ever knew,
[Believe me, faith, I* tell you true,
l:And, while I live, I still shall own,
j That all the joys that I have known,
K owe to you, and you alone ;
I Twas you brought Cherry to my arms,
Pud made me know ten thousand charms.               iyt l;gt

t a* ]
What though my way and speech be rude,
My soul is full ofgratnude;
Heyy'n grant that I may find a way,
\our matchless favours 10 repay.
Hold, cried the Knight, tot) much you 've said,
I 'm glad you like the pretty maid;
I own, dear 'Squire, it gave me pain,
To see you waste your time in vaiw,
Pursuing foxes, hares, and deer,
And swallowing floods of ale and beer 5
White you would never take the leisure,
To think on love, the greatest pleasure j
1 wanted you should taste the bliss,
. But since you know what loving is,
jj I hope you'll now on woman think,
And value beauty more than drink ^
I And now, I think, since you approve
The maid who taught you first to love,
You'd better keep her to yourself:
1 '11 answer for the smiling elf,
' She 's young and handsome, frank and kind,
And to no wickedness inclin'd;
Though I, quite ravish'd with her charms, >
Decoy'd her to my longing arms;
Yet I dare pawn my soul, that she,
Ne'er knew another man but me,
Until last night I brought her here.------                       1
Speak boldly, Cherry; do, my dear.                                 \
The fair one blush'd, and smiling said,
I own the Knight my youth betray'd j
\

[ 213 ]
I I'm very young, have little seen,
Till May-day I am not sixteen ;
The Knight is handsome, young, and gay,
I And made my thoughtless heart his prey;
I When that was gone, you may believe,
I gave him all I had to give ;
But may I ever be accurs'd
I If, from the day I saw him first,
I If any other man but he
I Had any thing to say to me; -
And little did I think last night,
1 To meet with any but the Knight;
[ I lov'd him; nay, I love him still,
I And he can tell, I took it ill
I When he desir'd I 'd come to youj
[ Indeed, Sir, \vhat I say is true;
[ I wept, I scolded, and look'd sour;
[ But over me he had such pow'r/
I That I no longer could resist.
I This said, the list'ning 'Squire she kiss'd,
J And said, I never shaU'repent
f That to his will I gave consent j
I For, let him take it ill or well,
[ The truth, and nothing else I '11 tell,
I That he in this one happy night,
I Has let me know much more delight
I Than e'er you gave me in a week,
j And you may, by his blushing cheek,
[ Perceive that I have told the truth;
E&nd now, my dear, my charming youth,
1)0' -

[ 214 J
j5o with poor Cherry what you will-,
And let me go, or keep me still;
Yet it will break my tender heart,
If you and Cherry ever part.
On this the loving creature cried.
No fear of that, the 'Squire replied;,
Dry up your tears, from grief be free,
I ne'er intend to part with thee;
I 've wealth enough ; I *11 keep thee high i
I 'm young enough; then why should %
Now that I know what pleasure is,
Deny myself in any bliss ?
But now, dear Cherry, I must rise ;
" And, since you have not shut your eyes,
Come, try to sleep; and when my guests.
Those noisy, hunting, drunken beasts
Are gone, 111 come to bed, and try
If I can sleep when you are by:
And now, dear Knight, to whom I owe
f...Those joys, those raptures that I know;.
With me, and mine, do what you will,
WA-slmll be at your service still.
. He kiss'd the nymph, put on'liis gown,
And to the hall in haste went -down ;
Meantime the Knight with Cherry staid-, •"
And ask'd if all was true she said
About the 'Squire. She said, .so true, <
That, if he thus his love pursue,
1 '11 be too weak; for I discover
Such actions in this youthful lever,
rim,

[ 215 1
I That, if he nightly thus performs,
I I'll die love's martyr in his arms ;
I For I with toll am quite oppress'd,
I And beg you'd leave me to my rest;
I Deir Sir, farewel : The pimp retir'd,
I And lock'd the door, as was desir'd.
I He found the 'Squire amongst his guests,
I Whotalk'd of hunting, and of feasts ;
I The 'Squire confess'd, that for his part,
I He lov'd fox-hunting in his heart;
I But I 've, said he, somewhat to do,
I That will take up a week or two ;
IA fortnight hence you may command me.—*
I Here, Harry, hring the orange-brandy I
I Before we part, let's have a dram.
I The butler and the bottle came;
Hley drank it out, on horseback got,
■And homewards to their dinners trot.
I The pimping Knight still with him staid,
Bnd told him how he left the maid,
■jjtigu'd and weary, fast asleep;
I And now, if you 're resolv'd to keep
Hlie charming creature for your use,
pis fit the folks about your house
■Should every one receive their cue,
lAnd pay your mistress what *s her due.
I Leave that to me, replied the 'Squire;
But I 've a favour to desire,
feet I'm afraid you'll take it ill* ,i
fcptl, said he, be what it will.;
I shall

[ 216 1
I shall not, l>y this friendly kiss,
Take any thing you ask amiss j
Nay, any thing I '11 undertake,
For you, or your dear Cherry's sake.
Dear friend, I thank you, said the 'Squire >j
The favour that I would desire
Is, that you 'd take my coach and go
To Lincoln straight, and there bestow
Two hundred pounds; for I design
To make the charming ceature shine
In ev'ry' thing that. 's rich and fine ;
1 'd go myself, but that, I swear,
I do not know what women wear,
Nor know I any one can do
A thing like that so well as you ;
And now, dear Knight, do yom agree
To he at all this toil for me ?
Yes, said the Knight, with great content.
The coach was got, away he went.
Meantime the 'Squire bid Harry call
The other servants to the hall.
They came, and thus his worship spoke;
Although I hate the marriage yoke.
Yet I have got a friend above,
Whom better than a wife I love j
And here I tell you, I expect
" You *11 treat my mistress with respect.
The butler answer'd for the rest,
And bowing, said, they \\ do their best,
'Tis very well, replied the 'Squire,
And you may for this time retire j                            But, I

But, as they went, he caii'd to Harry,
And bid him brew some old Canary^
With sugar, eggs, and cinnamon*
And bring it to his room anon i
I The damask room, for there I lie,
Perhaps my mistress may foe dry.
The servants, who their master lov'd,
| And ev'ry thing he did approv'd,
To shew their zeal for their new lady,
| Made haste to get the caudle ready.
The 'Squire had got to bed by this,,
| And wak'd his dear one with a kiss :
My life, said he, the guests are gone*
And you end I are left alone j
The Knight is likewise gone to Lincoln,
! To do what you but little think on;
I I've call'd the servants to the hall,
And there have told them, one and all,
I That from this hour, I did expect
t That they would treat you with respect j
For, though I did not mean to wed,
Yet I had got a friend in bed,
That I would keep while I had life,
And love far better than a wife:
They all were glad, and swore that they
Would cheerfully your will obey •
And trusty Hall, and my nurse Mary,                 *
Are bringing up some warm Canary,
Mix'd with, sugar, eggs, and spices;
For nurse is good at these devices,
• L                                        As

[ aw J
As thus he spoke, they both came up;
The nurse brought in the caudle-cup,
While Harry, who was half a quack.,                                   I
To fortify his master's back,
Brought slily up, upon two plates,
Eringo roots and strengthening dates.
The nurse fell clown upon her knees,
And did the fair one's finger seize;
A thousand times her hand she kiss'd,
And said, Be thou for ever bless'd j                                    j
This sight is what I long'd to see,                                      j
Ten thousand blessings light on theej
These many years I 've been afraid,                                   [
He never would have kiss'd a maid |
But now my heart o'erflows with joy,
To see this spirit in the boy :
Bear creature, grant me one request,
Hug my dear fondling to your breast.
Cherry obey'd the nurse in this,
And gave the 'Squire a glowing kiss ;
This he with zeal did soon repay,
And almost suck'd her breath away.
Nurse wept for joy, and call'd to Harry,
I see it is no time to tarry ;
I Jll leave the cup, leave you the plate,                              i
When they are hungry let them eat;                                $
. But now, for all this world's vast treasure,                        j
I would not interrupt their pleasure,                                 |
Down stairs the nurse and Harry ran,                           j
While Cherry and the 'Squire began                                i
Their-:!

[■ 219 1
Their loves, till both, with joy oppressM,
f Sunk down at once to pleasing rest.
Mean time their pimp, with great content,
In coach and six to Lincoln went.
Where he did ev'ry thing provide,
f That might become the gayest bride;
r Her gowns of silver were and silk,
I Her Flanders lace was white as milk i
I Of finest Holland were her smocks,
I Her stockings white, with silver clocks;
I Gloves, shoes, and ribbons, all things fit,
| Nor did he the large hoop omit:
I All these he saw pack'd up with care,
Hpbd did not any labour spare
L To serve his friend : but, ah! who can
| Find out the treachery of man ?
For, though the Knight appear'd so kind,
; He was a traitor in his mind j
He never knew what friendship was,
But meant to make the 'Squire an ass j
1 He saw him careless, young, and rich,
j And thought, if once he could bewitch
His soul with joys, till then unknown,
He might secure him as his own j
i 'Twas for this end that he betray'd
Fair Cherry, fond believing maid,'
Hoping her beauty would inspire
The thoughtless youth with warm desire |
And, when he had his passion eas'd,
He 'd make him change her when he pleas'd.
L2                                      vlie

[ -20 ]
He had a sister of his own,
The fairest creature e'er was known 5
At London bred, a flaming toast,
But lately had her honour lost;
For she, from shame and virtue free..
Gave up herself to that degree,
That, notwithstanding all her charms,
The youngest men forsook her arms,
Thus It was when an honest tar,.
A captain of a man of war,
Retuvn'd from sea, beheld the saauf*
And, by her matchless charms betray'd,
Wedded the dame ; but he next day
His orders got, and sail'd away;
And such his haste to get the tide,
He wanted time to see his bride j
Who now had scarce left any thing,
Except her clothes and wedding-ring.
And now, not knowing what to do.
No.lover left her, old or new,
She in the coach secur'd a place,
And to her brother wrote her case ;
He in the country pass'd his days,
And ne*er had heard of Fanny's ways }
So, when the doleful letter came,
He mourn'd the ill-conducted dame;
He went to Grantham, met her there.
She cried and sobb'd; he said, Forbear 5
Forbear, dear Fanny, cease to grieve,
We cannot what is past retrieve 3
'Take '

. [ m j
Take comfort, child, and live with me,
The wicked wretch that ruin'd thee
Ere this lies buried in the sea:
The country ladies will be "glad,
That any one In London bred
Comes down, to shew them something new,
And they will all be fond of you.
This said, she with her brother went,
I And by the way shew'tl discontent ,•
And did, by thoughtless hints discover.
The tar was not her only lover.
Fanny, said he, I pray be plain,
[ Since all evasions are in vain;
Tell me, if you have been too free ?
1 fear the worst j confess to me :
, Your by-past faults I will conceal,
And serve you with a brother's zeal 5
r I never lik'd your London breeding;
Tel! me the life you have been leading,
\ Brother, said she, I must confess,
I've past ray time in wickedness;
In ev'ry thing I 've been to blame,
But why should I repeat my shame ?
Think what you will, but God forbid,
That I should tell you what I did.
i;But yet I meant to change my life,
And so became the captain's wife j
But he, base monster, soon, at morn
Left me distracted and forlorn.
■ i)n

[ <m ]
0n this whole floods ran from her eyes;
She kiieei'd, her brother bid her risej
And said, Poor Fanny, I am sorry
To hear your melancholy story j
You cannot what is past repair.
Hut for the future have a care j
Lay all your wanton airs aside,
Let virtue seem your only guide,
Your loose desires with care control,
Nor let your eyes betray your soul;
Seem innocent, exceeding nice,
Appear a foe to ev'ry vice;                                                ,
If thus you cautiously behaye,
We may, perhaps, your credit save.
Poor Fanny kiss'd his hand, and said,
He should in all things be obey'd;
Each thing that's ill with care I 'II shn®,
But can yon pardon what I've done ?
Yes, by this kiss, the Knight reply'd^
But, Fanny, let your eyes be dry'dj
If any understand your grief.
Then you are min'd, past relief 5
J .Let no fond look your guilt betray,,
You may be innocent and gay.
If thus you will be rul'd by me,
1. hope I shall poor Fanny sec,
-, In marriage joined to a young 'Squire,
The richest in all Lincolnshire.
'Twas thus they talk'tl, and long ere night
They reach'd the dwelling of rhe Knight,
Miss I

[ £23 ]
Bliss Fanny put on decent airs,
And manag'd all the Knight's affairs j
Liv'd very modest, yet look'd gay,
And quite had chang'd her London way;
Her neighbours prais'd the virtuous dame,
And fill'd the country with her fame.
The Knight, who was from honour free,
Long thought upon a way how he
! Might fodder up poor Fanny's fame,
I And get a husband for the dame j
Who, smitten by her pow'rful charms,
Might blindly take her to his arms;
Riches was what he did desire,
This made him pitch upon the 'Squire;
Besides, he saw he little knew,
i And only did his sport pursue,
Resolv'd that he should be the man,
The Knight roost artfully began
To flatter.the unthinking 'Squire,
And doing what he did desire.
With him lie would the fox pursue,
Yet keep his sister in his view;
And'midst of all their noisy drinking,
Was still upon lost Fanny thinking;
Yet one thing did his heart perplex,
He saw the 'Squire despis'd the sex j
Yet thought, if he could find a way
To make him try the am'rous play,
He then might bring the easy 'Squire
To do whate'er he did desire.

C {ft** J
This made him, like a hellish imp,
Debauch young Cherry, then turn pimpj
And it was for his sister's sake
He did his shameful journey make;
And run about from door to door.
To buy new rigging for a whore;
But, when a man's from morals free^
He soon forgets his pedigree,
And may do things more si lister,
Than pimping for a friend or sister.
But, to return where I digress'd,
The crafty Knight such zc 1 express'tl.,
That he of each thing got the best,
That by a duchess might be wore 5
All this into an inn he bore,
Then brought a trunk, and packM up all,
And drove away to Booby-Hall,
■3Twas sis at night ere he got there,
And found the nurse at mighty care,
That not so much as cat or mouse,
Should make disturbance in the house.
« Dear Sir, said she, but whisper*d low?
While'her old eyes with pleasure glow?
Our 'Squire has got a maid a-bed,
Whose face is purest white and red,
Had you but seen their close embraces,
Their mixing legs, their joining faces,
It would have made you mad with joy—
O the sweet girl, and dearer boy 1
They have not stirr'd j I won't say that,
^Since you may guess what they've been at ;              But

[ 225 ]
But yet they have not call'd this day^
Since your good worship went away j
All day I 've kept the house in quiet,
While Harry is preparing dier.
Such as was ne'er in Booby-Hall
And will be ready at a call.
I The Knight reply'd, 'Tis very well;
But, nurse, I must a secret tell:
He pass'd the night in wanton play,
And if he likewise adds the day,
The tender youth may be the worse j
But, hark! they call. Up went the nurse,
And running in, Dear Sir, she said,
The Knight's below, and is afraid
That you and she, dear lovely elves,
Have over-toil'd and kill'd yourselves.
I The 'Squire reply'd, His fears are vain;
Though we have fought, we are not slain.
Said Cherry, Bid the Knight come up;
But reach me first the caudle-cup.
The nurse with cheerfulness obey'd j
The Knight, who heard each word she said,
In his own arms brought up the trunk,
When Cherry, smiling to him, drunk.
Fledge me, dear Knight, 'tis to the 'Squire,
My heart's delight, my soul's desire ;
I/)t!g may he live, and still employ
His days in mirth, his nights in joy,
pd may his pleasures never cloy.

i 22a 3
God^s blessings on your heart, my fair,
Said nurse; 1 thank you for that prayer,
And may he dangle on a tree,
Whoever wishes harm to thee;
There let him hang, there let-him rot,
And be his memory forgot.
Well pray'd on both sides, said the Knight,
But now 'tis weaving towaids night j
' Had you not better rise a while,
And with good cheer the hours beguile ?
Supper was ready ere I came ;
Get up, good 'Squire : for you, my dame,
Since you belong unto the 'Squire,
sTis fit you change your coarse attire;
f \e brought you clean and dainty linen,
Much finer than this country's spinning;
The nurse will shift you, I presume,
Till then 'tis fit to leave the room j
When that is over,! desire
To dress you in your new attire.
This said, he took the caudle-cup,
While Cherry and the 'Squire got up|
. But who can Cherry's joys express.
When she beheld the charming dress ?
In all her life she ne'er had seen,
Linen by half so sweet or clean ;■
Her stockings gave her vast delight,
And in her heart she bless'd the Knight;
Her under petticoat was stitch'd,
And with a $ilrer luce enrich*d 3
Bat, I

I 22? J
But, when the Knight put on the rest,
Her wonder could not be express'd j
She. lopk'd on all things- with surprise*,
And pleasure sparkled in her eyes.
At last, from head to foot equipp'd*
She to the mirror nimbly tripp'd; ^
I . But, missing the plain country lass,
She saw a lady in the glass 5
So richly dress'd, so red, so white.,
She was astonish'd with delight;
But when she knew her image there,
I Strange rapture seiz'd the wond'ring fair?
L Her soul was'fill'd with vast content,
I Y.et to. the hall she trembling went.
The 'Squire, with joy, beheld her charms,
ft And clasp'd her in his loving arms;
Welcome, he said, my charming fair.
However chang'd in dress and air \
Let other women value dress,
Who to the shops owe their success,
I Each thing you wear a charm conceals,
I And from my eyes a beauty steals ;
'Tis you, my dear, alone can boast,
[ That naked you can charm the most.
As thus they talked, the slipper came;
I The servants all admir'd the 'dame ;
They made good cheer; and, while they sat,
I Did pass the time in merry chat;
I The 'Squire and Cherry prais'd the Knight,
■LAnd wish'd to Heav'n they could requite
'

[ 228 ]
His favours to them, for they swore,
They ne'er had known such joys before.
The Knight upon his soul declar'd,
He scorn'(3 the thoughts of all reward,
And said, i had no other end, -
But to oblige and serve my friend ;
And if I could do any thing
That to the 'Squire would pleasure bring,
i would be happy $ for in truth,
1 long have lov'd the hopeful youth. -
'Twas thus they talk'd, when careful nurse.
Fearing the 'Squire should be the worse
With sitting up, came smiling in.
And Cherry chuck'd beneath the chin,
And said, My dear, and pretty lady,
Your chamber and the posset's ready j
*Tis wearing late, the nights are raw,
I wish you would to bed withdraw.
Last night, my little wanton elves,
You stole to bed quite by yourselves j
But now 1 hope to tuck you in,
And, ere your gambols you begin,
I hope you will my posset try ;
You '11 break my heart, if you deny,
To bed they went, and there they past
That night as they had done the last :
Such happy nights they long enjoy'd,
Nor was the 'Squire nor Cherry cloy'dj
For he was constant, she was true,
Aud fonder, by enjoyment, grew, ■
'But, )

[ *2W ]
But, while they bill'd like turtle-doves,
The Knight grew weary of their loves ;
He saw the 'Squire so lov'd the maid.
That he began to be afraid
His sister, spite of all her charms,
Would scarcely gain him to her arms.
I. This made him all his wit employ,
[ In thinking how he might destroy
The peace of these two happy lovers •
But yet his fraud with friendship covers*
One day, while in the house lie staid^
He slily did the 'Squire upbraid.
Dear friend, said he, I wonder you
I No more the fox nor hare pursue j
I Your jolly neighbours rise ere day,
I And chase, till noon, the trembling prey,
Then, o'er their cups, insulting say,
■ Where is the 'Squire, so fam'd of late ?
Or where is Roan, or Creeping Kate ?
No more he hunt'?, no more makes merry,
But stays at home and toys with Cherry.
j E'en let them laugh, the 'Squire reply *d,
I laugh'd at love before I try'd ;
But, since I know what loving is,
In it I've center'd all my bliss,
Tis very true, reply'd the Knight,
Pear Sir, I think you in the right *
Yet you have time for Ie ve and sport,
For now the nights are not so short,
[ But, though you ride about all day,
t You'll find them long enough for play j                  ' Jfo. »

[ 230 1
Beside, dear friend, if you pursue
Your pleasure at the rate you do.
Of love you '11 lose the relish quite,
And get a surfeit of delight;
But if that, twice or thrice, a week,
You'd in the fields your pleasure seek,
And meet your friends by break of day,
Hunt hare and fox, be brisk and gay,
Dine where they dine, and never shrink,
And, like yourself, pull off your drink;
At. night in Cherry's arms embrac'd,
You 'it find each kiss much sweeter taste ;
Believe me, friend, 'tis truth I say;
Besides you know, next hunting-day
It is my turn to entertain
The sportsmen and their jolly train;
But if, dear friend, you do not eome,
Their presence will be troublesome:
Though I might ask this boon of you,
As what is to my friendship due,
Yet I sHall make it my request, •
That you may come and be my guest.
The 'Squire, though now he scorn'd the chase,
Yet gave his friend a strict embrace ;
And, looking on him, smiling, said,
Dear friend, how could you be afraid
That I 'd refuse what you desir'd,
* Though you a greater thing requir'd ?
. No, lam thine to that degree,
' That through the world I 'd go with thee;
Tkn

[ '231 ]
Then seal'd his promise with a kiss.
The Knight was overjoy'd at. this,
, And told him that the 'squires had fixM
To dine with him on Tuesday next;
That now he must go home to see
That ev'ry thing in order be.
He took his leave, and homewards went;
But, on his neighbour's ruin bent.
Thought how. he might his heart betray,
By throwing Fanny in his way.
The wish'd-for day at last appear'd,
And nought but hounds and horns were heard:
The 'Squire abruptly left his joys,
While Cherry trembled at the noise j
Her lovely cheeks were bath'd with tears,
Yet knew no reason for her fears,
The hunters met; they rous'd a deer ;
The 'Squire at first lagg'd in the rear j
But, fearing he might lose his fame, -
Or Roan or Cherry get the blame,
Spurr'd up, and to the foremost came j
Then rode so fast, that all did yield
To him the honour of the field.
The 'Squire, with his just praises proud,
Smil'd inwardly, but spoke aloud :
You see, my friends, though I of late
Have neither rode on Roan or Kate,
Yet we can shew, when there is need,
That none of us have lost our speed.
Spoke like a young man in his prime,
The Knight reply'd; but now'tis time                      We

[ 232 ]
We go and eat. They all consent,
And with the Knight to dinner went, *
Who kindly welcom'd ev'ry guest,
But hugg'd our 'Squire close to his,breast.
The dinner and Miss Fanny came,
All eyes were fix'd upon the dame;
The country 'squires were all amaa'd,
And on the fair with wonder gaz'd ;
In all their lives they ne'er had seen
Such beauty, nor so free a mien f
So sweet a face, so fine an air,
He,r smiling mouth, her coal-black hair,
Her rising breast, her sparkling eyes,
Fill'd ev'ry booby with surprise ;
That, quite confounded with the sight,
They stood astonished, till the Knight
Told them it was his only sister;
On which they all went up and kiss'd her;
And, while her praises they proelaim'd.
Poor modest Fanny seem'd asham'd.
They took their places at the last,
But still their eyes on Fanny cast,
Who carv'd, and gave about the meat.
As long as any guest could eat j
Yet seem'd to be at greater care
To serve the 'Squire than any therej
Who in a bumper drank her health,
And took a look or two by stealth.
But, wheathe cloth was ta'en away}
Fair madam would no longer stay;
But making court'sies to them all,
Most decently forsook the hall,                               With

[ r33 3
With sportsmen* soon as they have din'd,
I 'T lias been the way, time out of mind,
': To tell the feats at hunting done,
| And how their dogs and horses run;
But now they nam'd nor dog nor horse,,
I But chang'd the subject of discourse :
| They only talk'd how Fanny charm'd,
I How ev'ry look their bosom warm'd;
? That he'd be?more than mortal bless'd.
Who such a charming wife possessed.
Pugh! said the Knight, let's mind our drink,
f Of such a bauble never think,                                      *.
I A thousand fairer may be found;
I Come, let the cheei fuPglass go round.
The 'Squire reply'd, May I be cars'd,
I If I had seen your sister first,
; (Although I hate a slavish life)
| But I had ask'd her for a wife ;
f And yet I wish, as I 'in a sinner,
That I had staid at home to dinner;
But J '11 go home, forget her charms,
In little Cherry's wanton arms.
A friend, acquainted with the cheat,
r Reply'd, A very good receipt,
If you was sure that it would do ;
But when you 've ta'en a kiss or two.,
r You'll weary of your Cherry's arms,
And think on Miss's brighter charms j
■' Mean time, she may her heart bestow
LUpon another ere you knowj
You

[ 234 ]
You then will think your time mis-spent,
And, when it is too late, repent ;
The Knight "s your friend, you.know.he is^
Perhaps he may agree to this,                     i
And Fanny's will depends on his.               J
Besides, I think, I Ve heard it said,
Your handsome Cherry was no maid,
When first you took her to your bed ;-—
Think, think upon a maidenhead.
The 'Squire was young, and much in drink,
Nor was he very apt to think,
But said, he *d the proposal make,
If it were not for Cherry's sake.
The other answer'd, Never fettr*
Settle a hundred pounds a year
Upon the little girl for life.
And ask this virgin for a wife;
I hope the Knight will not deny you,
And our fat parson fast shall tie you.
The 'Squire a little while withdrew,
To think on what he had to do;
But 'twas in yam; for crafty Fanny,.
Who silly listened at a cranny,
And heard and saw each thing was done,
Snateh'd up a china jar, and run
Just by the door; the 'Squire amaz'd,
Stood still, and on the charmer gaz'd,
And, Cherry's love forgetting quite,
View'd the false virgin with delight;
Then, falling down upon his knees,
Did trembling on her fingers seize,                        And, I

II 235 ]
I And, sighing, said, I have no art,
I Yet, fair one, you have won my heart 5
I 'in rich and young, nay, honest too,
■  But in my life could never woo :
[ If you agree, I'll tell the Knight,
■  And make you mine this very night.
i I ■ Good Sir, said she, I pray forbear,
I I would not any one should hear
■  What you have said; they *d surely think
I That you were very much in drink,
BOr that I did a husband need,
I If I should marry with such speed :
I I love my brother, and I still
■   Shall be obedient to his will,
m And, if you find that he 's content,
, I You shall not fail of my consent:
I Nay, farther, I '11 confess this truth*
•■ 1 think you a bewitching youth j
m But if you mean not what you say,
jForheavVs sake come no more this way;
I Then} stooping down, she kiss'd the 'Squire, ,
And set his bosom all on fire.
t He paid the kiss, and glowing, said,
Believe me, fair and gentle maid,
That it shall be no fault of mine,
ff I this moment am not thine;
[11 go, and to the Knight discover,
pit I'm your true and faithful lover,
j Again she kiss'd him, then withdrew.
The 'Squire, who now had got his cue,

[ Z36 ]
Went straightway back into the hali,
And told his mind before hem all,
Begging the Knight to hear his prayV,
And give him the enchanting fair ;
You still have been my friend, he said>
Deny me not the charming maid.
The faithless Knight embrac'd with joy
The offer, and the ani'rous boy;
And smiling, said, My much-lov'd 'Squire*
I grant you all you can desire,
So far as in my power lies,
But I with Fanny must advise j                                        j
*Tis fit I ask if she consent.                                             j
Then straightway to his sister went,                                 f
Who told him all the 'Squire had said$
And begg'd it might not be deiay'd;                                |
It is not fit that he should cool;                                       j
The 'Squire, said she, is no such fool,                              \
But that he may our tricks discover,                                 i
And then farewell my Healthy lover|
If so, I am undone for ever,                                             \
The very thought on 't makes me shiver ;                        I
Make haste, I pray. Away he went,                               j
And for a scriv'ner quickly sent;                                      j
He knew the parson was at hand,                                     j
And still would be at his command.                                  \
When-this was o'er, the Knight came back,                 |
And found the 'Squire upon the rack,                              I
Impatient of the long delay,                                             f
Butj coming in, did smiling say,
Peas I

It 23? ]
i Bear brother, so I call you now,
My sister doth your suit allow,
f And, if you are resolv'd to wed,
■  This night will take you to her bed %
§ The time is short, I can't provide
I What things are proper for a bride*
■ But, if you rather would delay,
HA week or two, your wedding day——«•
1 The 'Squire did interrupt him here,
I And pressing him, replied, My dear^
For heav'n's sake talk not at that rate,
And make your friend unfortunate;
Upon my knees I beg, dear Knight?
lou '11 let our marriage be to-night.
The company join'd with the 'Squire,,
The Knight complied with their desire;
Hie deeds were drawn, the parson came*
And tied the 'Squire and lovely dame;
& bridegroom mighty joy express'd,
Hie bride went off to be undress'd;
Who knowing something was more wide
fhan what beseem'd a virgin-bride,
Thrust in (to make the way less patent)
In Apple-John in road adjacent!
|nd surely none could Fanny blame,
[f thus she could conceal her shame.
| file eager 'Squire jump'd into bed,
[a hopes to gain the maidenhead,
pough what it was he never knew)
pd friends with decency withdrew.

•[ 238 ]
The 'Squire proposed a deal of pleasure,
In breaking up the virgin treasure ;
But when he tried the bold adventure,-.                           :
It was in vain—he could not enter ;                               j
Again he kiss'd, again he tried,
But all admittance was deny'd;
Fanny, mean while, cried out with pain,                        i
And fear'd no less than being slain ;                              j
But when she long enough had griev'd,
The apple and the 'Squire reliev'd.
And now the youth, of joy possess'd,
Gave Fanny very little rest,
But with his labour thirsty grown,
Look'd for a drink, but finding none.
Complain'd to Fanny of his grief;.
My dear, said she, there 's some relief,
Holding the apple in her hand,
You may, whate'er is mine, command.
Ten thousand thanks,-my dear, my life.
My joy, my fair obliging wife,
The ''Squire replied, and ate m haste,                          j
But by no means admi/d the taste;'
Though he for njceness little car'd,
But wish'd the apple had been par'd.           .                [
Yet, thus refresh'd, in great delight
Made Fanny pass away the night;
At morn they rose, both fresh and gay,                       j
Nor seem'd fatigu'd with wanton play.                         !
But yet the 'Squire, when left alone,                      I
Did Cherry's wretched state bemoan,
,|

[ 239 j
I And in soliloquy thus spoke :
I Why was I tempted by a joke ?
I I left ray Cherry's snowy arras.,
I To dote upon another's charms-,
I Who may, for any thing I know,
BNo better be than just so} so;
Blor I declare (as God shall save me)
I That Cherry greater pleasure gave me t
I At first I was oblig'd to wait,
I I found my wife so very strait;
I But afterwards I found the bride,
■ Than my dear Cherry twice as wide ;
B wish that ev'ry thing be right,
I I've some suspicions of the Knight;
I But now I am tied up for life,
■  And have (God bless me !) got a wife,
I And must no more on Cherry think;
^HCurse on hunting and on drink !
■  Butl must shew myself a man,
I And bear it now the best I can.
I This said, his friends about him came,
[ And ask'd him how he lik'd the dame ?
■Bo very we!!, he smiling said,
■•I wish that each had such a maid ;
Bou then would know the joys of life,
Kn having such a charming wife.
f The Knight, on this discourse, grew pale,
■And scarcely could his fears conceal;
But, when he found he said no more,
Became as easy as before,
; ' And
j

[ 240 ]
And was as merry as the rest,
Until the time the bride was dress'd.
The 'Squire went up, ind saw the fall-
Before the glass, her bosom bare,
Her hair so black, her skin so white,
'That he no more could bear the sight.
But, thrusting out the officious maid.
Upon a couch the fair one laid ;
While she, who knew the whole affair,
And oft had tried both couch and chair^
Brought him as good as he could bring,
Nor did she fail in any thing.
When this was done, he call'd the maid,
And panting, by the fair one staid;
Who did such matchless charms discover.
That he again became her lover,                                     |
And to his heart his Fanny press'd,                                j
Who begg'd ke'd leave her till she dress'd;
But he, not minding what she said,
Still with her wanton bosom play'd,
Until his blood was all on fire,
Then bid the maid again retire,                                       ,
My life, said he, though I last night,
Found joys, and raptures, and delight,                            >
Yet all I did was out of sight,                                        j
But now I mean to view your charms,.                           j
And take you naked to my arms.
Dear Sir, said she, I beg that you                              j
Wowld nothing so indecent do;                                      f
For me, my dear, I *d die for shame;                            I
—'— - 1

[ nt ]
I   At night 111 do whate'er you please^
I   To give you joy, or give you ease j
I   I'm almost dead with what you've done$
I   And would your kind embraces shun;
I   Yet do not think, my dearest 'Squire^
I  That I '11 refuse what you require ^
I   And due regard to you I 'II pay,
I   And, as in duty bound, obey.
The 'Squire laid all her dress asidef
I   And in a moment stripp'd the bride;
I   And sure there never was a sight
I  That could afford so much delight •
I   Her hair, that was as raven black?
II   Hung o'er her shoulders and her backj
|    Her breasts were like the driven snow,
I  On which her nipples warmly glow;
I. Her arms, her .waist, her legs, her thighs,
I The 'Squire beheld with wondering eyes,
I Till love could brook no more delay,
I But seizing on the charming prey,
I In height of rapture died away,
! t But short and transient are our joys,
H Our bliss, our very bliss destroys,
■ And) let our joys be ne'er so strong,
I We're sure tney can't continue long,
■■As Fanny and the 'Squire confess'd,
I Who left the room till she got dressed.
tl I The friends came up, the bride was kiss'd.
They shook the bridegroom by the • fist j
\The jests went round, and Fanny smiPd$
Yet look'd as harmless as a child $
M                            '®k

[ Aft J
The merry bridegroom, too, was baitec!>
Until they heard that dinner waked,
Down stairs they march'd, and in the hall
. They saw a sight surprised them all;
A, gentleman in scarlet dress'd,
That through the crowd of servants pfessM,
And, running up, embrac'd the bride,
'Who could not her amazement hide •
She struggled, but he held her fast,
And kissing, said, Have I at last
Found out my dear, my joy, my life3
My better part, my soul, my wife ?
With grief I left thy snowy arras,
And thy, almost, untasted charms }
I curs'd the wind, I curs'd the sea,
And ev'ry kind of thing but thee ;
Since then 1 have both Indies seenj.
And in a thousand dangers been :
1 met a pirate, whom T fought,
And all his wealth to England brought:
But when I set my foot on shove,
I from my heart sincerely swore,
Never to 'tempt the ocean more;
But. live at home in wealth with the%
Who dearer art than life to me j
I went to London, hoping there
„ To find the object of my care;
But for a quarter of a year,
. I could no tale nor tidings hearf
Till^ coming to thy brother's house,
I found at last my charming spouse,                     Fanny, I

[ 243 j
Fanny, who had both wit and sease,
I Spoke with becoming eloquence f
I My charming Captain, it is true,
I That I was married once to you?
I But yet, next morn, you left me quite
I Forlorn, and lost to all delight;
I Long time I did your absence mourn,
R.And wish'd in vain for your return?
I But when I heard my dear was slain*
K'Who can enpress the dreadful pain
I That I endur'd ? I tore my hair,
I And long I liv'd in. deep despair |
I My brother, there, came up to town,
I, And in his chariot brought me down ;
1 Since then I 've in this castle staid,
I And still have been befiev'd a maid*
I This gentleman, a worthy 'Squire,
I I know not how, was set on fire,
I And ask'd to make a wife of me,
I To which my brother did agree ;
■ And I, since you had lost your life,
I Did condescend to be his wife ;
I But, heav'n be prais'd- you Ve come in time           : .
■fo save my soul from such a crime;
I This day we slwmld have married been, '
■ Twas that made all these folks convene,
I The honest 'Squire soon took the hint>
I And smiling, said, The devil 's in %
I 1 thought (deluded by the Knight)
fre had a maidenhead to-night;
Ms                         Sfe

[ iu j
But since Miss Fanny Is your wife,
1 '11 live a bach'Jor all my life;
The will of heav'n I can't control,
But wish you joy with all my soul;
And here, before you all, declare,
If e'er the noble captain, there,
At any time will grace my house,
And with him bring his lovely spouse,                           jk
1'11 think myself a happy man,
And make them welcome, if I can;
Farewell, fair lady, I '11 begone,
And find at home an Apple John :
- For you, sweet Knight, pray keep you merry>
I thank you for your present, Cherry;
And, whispering said, Though you have kiss'd her, \
She *s as much virgin as your sister;
And now I bid farewell to all,
I '11 homewards ride to Booby-Hall;
And though P ve miss'd that lady bright,
I shall not lie alone to-night.
Away he spurr'd, to Cherry came,                              J
And long liv'd happy with the dame,
SONG,
Tune j— Ijix'd my fancy on her,                 _
]DRIGHT Cynthia's power, divinely greaV
What heart is not obeying?
A thousand Cupids on her wait,
And in her eyes are playing,

I 2-15 |
She seems the queen of love to reign j
For she alone dispenses
Such sweets, as best can entertain
The gust of all the senses.
Her face a charming prospect brings.
Her breath gives balmy blisses j
I hear an angel when she sings,
And taste of heaven in kisses.
Four senses thus she feasts with joy,
From nature's richest treasure |
Let me the other sense employ,
And I shall die with pleasure
SONG.
. (Written at an early age)
BY THE D-— OF D———,
T ONG time I've enjoy'd the soft transports oflove^ .
I've bill'd like a sparrow, and coo'd like a dove j
In woodbine alcove, or in jessamin bow'r,
To many fond shepherds I Ve Jisten'd an hour ;
But now for such pleasures I care not a rush,
No bird's in the hand, but one in the bush.
Young Colin's caresses inspir'd me with joy.
And Damon's soft vows I thought never could cloyi
Iftlh each I have sat in the fav'rite retreat,
And beheld with delight each fond swain at my feet :■
But

I 246 ]
But now for such pleasures I care not a rush,
No bird 's in the hand, but one in the bush.
Gay Strephon declares I 'm the girl to his mind;
If he proves sincere, I '11 be constant and kind;
He vows that to-morrow he '11 make me his wife,
I '11 fondly endeavour to biess him for life ;
For all other swains now 1 care not a rush,
No bird's in the hand, but one in the bush.
THE
LOVES
OF
HERO AND LEANDER*
FROM MUSffiUS. BY FAWKES.
Oft, by the covert of night's shade,
X,eander woo'd the Thracian maid ;
Through foaming seas his passion bore,
Nor fear'd the ocean's thundering roar :
The conscious virgin, from the sea-girt tower,
Hung out her faithful torch to guide him to her bower,. J
Dodsley't Miscell. Vol. IV. p. 308. 1
ClNG, muse! the conscious torch, whose nightly
ray
Led the bold lover through the watry way.
To share those joys which mutual faith had seal'd,
Joys to divine Aurora unreveal'd.
Abydos, I

C ^7 3
, Abydos, Sestos^ ancient towns, proclaim,
Where gentlest bosoms glow?d with purest flame,
I hear Learsder dash the foaming tide t
I Fix'cl high in air, I see the glimmering guide !
The genial flame, the-love-enkindling light*
Signal of joy, that burn'd serenely bright;
Whose beams, in fair efFulgency display'd*
Adorn'd the nuptials of the Sestian maid j
Which Jove, its friendly office to repay,
Should plant, all-glorious, in the realms of day5
To blaze for ever 'midst the stars above,
> And style it gentle harbinger of love ;
f For sure on earth it shone supremely kind,
I To soothe the anguish of the love-sick mind;
Till cloth'd in terrors rose the wintry blast,
I Impetuous howling o'er the watry waste j
And,, 0 inspire me, goddess ! to resound
i The torch extinguished, and the lover drownM*
Against Abydos, sea-beat Sestos stood,
ITwo neighbouring towns, divided by the Hood $
f' Here Cupid prov'd his bow's unerring art,
f Andgain'd two conquests with a single dart;
I On two fond hearts the sweet infection prey'd*
I A youth engaging, and a beauteous maid j
Of Sestos she, fair Hero was her name;
; The youth, Leander* from Abydos came*
Their forms divine a bright resemblance bore,
Each was the radiant star of either shore.
Thou, whom the Fates commission here to stray*
A while the turret's eminence surveys
Thence

I 248 ]
Thence Hero held tlie blazing torch, to guide
Her lover rolling on the boisterous tide j
The roaring Hellespont, whose wave-worn strait
Still in loud murmurs mourns Leanderss fate.
Say, heav'nly muse, had Hero charms to move.
And melt the Abydinian into love ?
Say, with what wiles the amorous youth inspir*«L>
Obtain'd the virgin whom his soul admir'd ?
Fair Hero, priestess of th* Idalian queen^
Of birth illustrious, as of graceful mien,
Dwelt on a high sequester d tower, that stood
Firm on the ramparts, and o'erlook'd the flood ;
Chaste, and unconscious of love's pleasing pain.,
She seem'd a new-born Venus of the main;
But, nice of conduct, prudently withdrew
Far from the follies of the female crew |
Blest in retreat, she shunn'd the vain delight
Of daily visits, and the dance at night,
Content in sweet tranquillity to screen
Her blooming beauty from malignant spleen 5
For where superior beauty shines confest,
It kindles envy in each female breast.
To soften Venus oft with prayer she strove^
Oft pour'd libations to the God of Love •
Taught by th* example of the heavenly dame,
To dread those arrows that were tipp'd with name.
Vain all her caution, fruitless prov'd her pray'rj
Love gains an easy conquest o'er the fair.
For now the sacred festival appear'dj,
By pious Sestians annually rever'd,
v