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JOVE and SEMEL E.

By the Same.

Occafioned by a Lady's faying, that none of the ancient poetical Stories reflected fo much on the Vanity of Women, as that of Phaeton does on the Ambition of Men.

Jov
JV F. for amufconta quest to our faze

OVE for amusement quitted oft his skies,

To vifit earth, contracted to our fize;

And lov'd (however things in heav'n might go)
Exceedingly a game of romps below.

Mifs Semele he pick'd up, as he went,

And thought, he pleas'd her to her heart's content.
But minds afpiring ne'er can be at ease;

Once known a god, as man he ceas'd to please.
In tenderest time, which women know, 'tis faid,
Thus the befpake the loving god in bed.

Thou, who gav'ft Dædalus his mazy art,
And knoweft all things but a woman's heart,
Hear my request, for something yet untry'd,
And fwear by Styx, I shall not be deny'd.

Fond Jove, like men, the better to succeed, Took any oath; then bade the girl proceed. In human guise, great Jove, leave off to rove, Deceiving woman-kind, and pilf'ring love :

What

What are those joys, which as a man you give,
To what a god of thunder can atchieve?
Such weight 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 fplendors round his beamy head
Divinely fhone, and ftruck the mortal dead.

Faint from the course though we awhile retreat,
To cool and breathe before another heat;
The gods can't know, fresh with eternal prime,
Love's ftinted pause, nor want recruits from time;
But must with unabating ardours kiss, ⠀

And bear down nature with excefs of blifs.

Learn hence, each fair one, whom like beauties grace, Poffefs'd of lawless empire by your face,

Not to do what you lift, because you may,
Let cool difcretion warm defires allay ;
And itching curiosity believe,

A lurking taint deriv'd from mother Eye.
Spare then the men, ye fair, and frankly own,
Your fex, like ours, has had its Phaeton.

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HEN I first came to London, I rambled about

From fermonto fermon, took a flice and went out.

Then on me, in divinity batchelor, try'd

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Many priests to obtrude a Levitical bride; bet

And urging their various opinions, intended.
To make me wed fyftems, which they recommended.
Said a letch'rous old fry'r fkulking near Lincoln's-Inn,
(Whose trade's to abfolve, but whofe paftimes's to fin';
Who, fpider-like, feizes weak proteftant flies,CA
Which hung in his fophiftry cobweb he fpies ;) N
Ah pity your foul, for without our church pale,
If you happen to die, to be damn'd you can't fail ;
The bible, you boast, is a wild revelation:
Hear a church that can't err if you hope for falvation.
Said a formal non-con, (whose rich stock of grace
Lies forward expos'd in fhop-window of face,)
Ah! pity your foul: come, be of our fect :
For then you are fafe, and may plead you're elect.
As it stands in the Acts, we can prove ourselves faints,
Being Chrift's little flock ev'ry where spoke against.

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Said a jolly church parfon, (devoted to ease, While penal law dragons guard his golden fleece,) If you pity your foul, I pray liften to neither; The firft is in error, the last a deceiver :

That ours is the true church, the fenfe of our tribe is, And furely in medio tutiffimus ibis.

Said a yea and nay friend with a' ftiff hat and band, (Who while he talk'd gravely would hold forth his hand,) Dominion and wealth are the aim of all three, Tho' about ways and means they may all difagree; Then prithee be wife, go the quakers by-way, 'Tis plain, without turnpikes, fo nothing to pay.

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HESE fheets primæval doctrines yield,
Where revelation is reveal'd:

T frets prime reveal a

Soul-phlegm from literal feeding bred,
Systems lethargick to the headero sam ust
They purge, and yield a diet thin, ablas
That turns to gofpel-chyle within.i
Truth fublimate may here be seen
Extracted from the parts terrene.

In thefe is fhewn, how men obtain J
What of Prometheus poets feign:

Το

To fcripture-plainness dress is brought,
And speech, apparel to the thought.
They hifs from instinct at red coats,
And war, whofe work is cutting throats,
Forbid, and press the law of love :
Breathing the spirit of the dove.
Lucrative doctrines they deteft,
As manufactur'd by the priest;

And throw down turnpikes, where we pay
For ftuff, which never mends the way;
And tythes, a Jewish tax, reduce,

And frank the gospel for our use.
They fable standing armies break;
But the militia ufeful make

:

Since all unhir'd may preach and pray,
Taught by these rules as well as they ;
Rules, which, when truths themselves reveal,
Bid us to follow what we feel.

The world can't hear the small still voice,
Such is its bustle and its noise;

Reason the proclamation reads,

But not one riot paffion heeds.

Wealth, honour, power the graces are,
Which here below our homage share :
They, if one votary they find
To mistress more divine inclin'd,
In truth's pursuit to cause delay
Throw golden apples in his way.

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