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"O envy'd ignominy, sweet disgrace,

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"When ev'ry God that saw thee wish'd thy place! "By those dear pleasures, aid my arms in fight, "And make me conquer in my patron's right: "For I am young, a novice in the trade, "The fool of love unpractis'd to persuade : “And want the soothing arts that catch the fair, "But, caught myself, lie struggling in the snare : "And she I love, or laughs at all my pain, "Or knows her worth too well; and pays me with disdain.

For sure I am, unless I win in arms,

"To stand excluded from Emilia's charms: *Nor can my strength avail, unless by thee "Endued by force, I gain the victory ;

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"Then for the fire which warm'd thy generous heart,

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"Pity thy subject's pains, and equal smart. "So be the morrow's sweat and labour mine, "The palm and honour of the conquest thine: "Then shall the war, and stern debate, and strife Immortal, be the business of my life; "And in thy fane, the dusty spoils among, "High on the burnish'd roof, my banner shall be hung,

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"Rank'd with my champion's bucklers; and below, “With arms revers'd, th'atchievements of my foe: "And while these limbs the vital spirit feeds, 345 "While day to night, and night to day succeeds,

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"Thy smoking altar shall be fat with food "Of incense, and the grateful steam of blood; "Burnt-offerings morn and evening shall be thine; "And fires eternal in thy temple shine. 350 "The bush of yellow beard, this length of hair, "Which from my birth inviolate I bear, "Guiltless of steel, and from the razor free, "Shall fall a plenteous crop, reserv'd for thee. "So may my arms with victory be blest, “I ask no more; let fate dispose the rest.” The champion ceas'd; there follow'd in the close A hollow groan: a murmuring wind arose ; The rings of iron, that on the doors were hung, Sent out a jarring sound, and harshly rung: The bolted gates flew open at the blast, The storm rush'd in, and Arcite stood aghast: The flames were blown aside, yet shone they bright, Fann'd by the wind, and gave a ruffled light.

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Then from the ground a scent began to rise, 365 Sweet-smelling, as accepted sacrifice :

This omen pleas'd, and, as the flames aspire,
With odorous incense Arcite heaps the fire:
Nor wanted hymns to Mars, or heathen charms:
At length the nodding statue clash'd his arms, 370
And with a sullen sound and feeble cry,

Half sunk, and half pronounc'd, the word of 'victory.'

For this, with soul devout, he thank'd the God,

And, of success secure, return'd to his abode.

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These vows thus granted, rais'd a strife above, Betwixt the God of War, and Queen of Love. She granting first, had right of time to plead; But he had granted too, nor would recede. Jove was for Venus; but he fear'd his wife, And seem'd unwilling to decide the strife; Till Saturn from his leaden throne arose, And found a way the difference to compose, Tho' sparing of his grace: to mischief bent, He seldom does a good with good intent. Wayward, but wise; by long experience taught, To please both parties, for ill ends, he sought: For this advantage age from youth has won, As not to be outridden, tho' outrun.

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fortune he was now to Venus trin'd, And with stern Mars in Capricorn was join'd: 390 Of him disposing in his own abode,

He sooth'd the Goddess, while he gull'd the God: "Cease, daughter, to complain, and stint the strife; Thy Palamon shall have his promis'd wife : "And Mars, the lord of conquest, in the fight

With palm and laurel shall adorn his knight. "Wide is my course, nor turn I to my place, "Till length of time, and move with tardy pace. "Man feels me, when I press th' etherial plains, "My hand is heavy, and the wound remains. 400 Mine is the shipwreck, in a watʼry sign; “And in an earthy, the dark dungeon mine.

"Cold shiv'ring agues, melancholy care,

"And bitter blasting winds, and poison'd air, "Are mine, and wilful death, resulting from( despair.

"The throtling quinsey 'tis my star appoints, 406 "And rheumatisms I send to rack the joints: "When churls rebel against their native prince, "I arm their hands, and furnish the pretence; "And, housing in the lion's hateful sign,

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Bought senates and deserting troops are mine. "Mine is the privy pois'ning; I command Unkindly seasons, and ungrateful land.

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By me king's palaces are push'd to ground, "And miners, crush'd, beneath their mines are

found.

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'Twas I slew Samson, when the pillar'd hall "Fell down, and crush'd the many with the fall. "My looking is the sire of pestilence,

"That sweeps at once the people and the prince. "Now weep no more; but trust thy grandsire's

art;

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"Mars shall be pleas'd; and thou perform thy

part.

"Tis ill, tho' diff'rent your complexions are, "The family of heav'n, for men, should war.” Th' expedient pleas'd, where neither lost his right; Mars had the day, and Venus had the night. 425 The management they left to Chronos' care; Now turn we to th' effect, and sing the war.

In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play, All proper to the spring, and sprightly May: Which every soul inspir'd with such delight, 430 →Twas jesting all the day, and love at night. Heav'n smil'd, and gladded was the heart of man ; And Venus had the world as when it first began. At length in sleep their bodies they compose, And dreamt the future fight and early rose.

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Now scarce the dawning day began to spring, As at a signal given, the streets with clamours ring: At once the crow'd arose; confus'd and high E'en from the heav'n was heard a shouting cry; For Mars was early up, and rous'd the sky. 440 The Gods came downward to behold the wars, Sharp'ning their sights, and leaning from their stars. The neighing of the gen'rous horse was heard, For battle by the busy groom prepar'd; Rustling of harness; rattling of the shield; Clatt'ring of armour, furbish'd for the field. Crowds, to the castle, mounted up the street, Batt'ring the pavement with their coursers' feet : The greedy sight might, there, devour the gold Of glitt'ring arms, too dazzling to behold: And polish'd steel that cast the view aside, And crested morions, with their plumy pride. Knights, with a long retinue of their squires, In gaudy liv'ries march, and quaint attires. One lac'd the helm, another held the lance: 455 A third the shining buckler did advance.

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