His empire thus fecur'd, he flies

To fport amid th' Idalian grove;

Whofe feather'd choirs proclaim'd the joys,
And blefs'd the pleafing power of love.
The god their grateful fongs engage,

To fpread his nets which Venus wrought;
Whilft Hymen held the golden cage,

To keep fecure the game they caught. The warblers, brifk with genial flame, Swift from the myrtle fhades repair; A willing captive cach became,

And fweetlier carol'd in the fnare.

When Hymen had receiv'd the prey,
To Cytherea's fane they flew

;

Regardlefs, while they wing'd their way,
How fullen all the songsters grew.

Alas! no fprightly note is heard,
But each with filent grief confumes;
Though to celeftial food prefer'd,

They pining drop their painted plumes.

Cupid, afflicted at the change,

To beg her aid to Venus run;

She heard the tale, nor thought it strange,
But, fmiling, thus advis'd her fon :

Pleafure grows languid with reftraint,
'Tis Nature's privilege to roam :
If you'd not have your linnets faint,
Leave Hymen with his cage at home.

OLIVIA.

OLIV I A.

I.

OLIVIA's lewd, but looks devout,

And fcripture-proofs she throws about, When first you try to win her:

Baxter by day is her delight:

No chocolate muft come in fight

Before two morning chapters:

But, left the spleen should spoil her quite,
She takes a civil friend at night

To raife her holy raptures.

TO A LADY,

SITTING BEFORE HER GLASS.

I.

Sfmooth and clear the fountain was

In which his face Narciffus spy'd,
When, gazing in that liquid glass,
He for himself despair'd and dy’d:
Nor, Chloris, can you safer see
Your own perfections here than he.

II.

The lark before the mirror plays,
Which fome deceitful fwain has fet;
Pleas'd with herself she fondly stays

To die deluded in the net.

Love may fuch frauds for you prepare,
Yourself the captive, and the fnare.

III.

But, Chloris, whilft you there review
Those graces opening in their bloom,
Think how disease and age pursue,
Your riper glories to confume :

Then fighing you would with your glass
Could fhew to Chloris what she was.

IV.

Let Pride no more give Nature law,

But free the youth your power enslaves : Her form, like yours, bright Cynthia faw Reflected on the crystal waves,

Yet

Love's image has appear'd impreft; But play'd fo lightly on your mind, It left no lafting print behind.

TO THE SAME.

READING THE ART OF LOVE.

WHILST Ovid here reveals the various arts,

Both how to polish, and direct their darts,

Let meaner beauties by his rule improve,
And read thefe lines to gain fuccefs in love:
But heaven alone, that multiplies our race,
Has power t'incrcafe the conquefts of your face.
The Spring, before he paints the rifing flowers,
Receives mild beams, and foft defcending fhowers;
But love blooms ever fresh beneath your charms,
Though neither Pity weeps, nor Kindness warms.
The chiefs who doubt success, affert their claim
By ftratagems, and poorly fteal a name :
The generous *Son of Jove, in open fight,
Made bleeding Vistory proclaim his might:

*Alexander.

Like him refiftlefs, when you take the field

Love founds the fignal, and the world must yield.

“Et gladios aufim. Neque ad hoc tamen ignibus ullis "Aut gladiis opus eft; opus eft mihi crine.—”

OVID. Met. Lib. viii.

WE fage Cartefians, who profess

Ourfelves fworn foes to emptiness,

Affert that fouls a tip-toe ftand
On what we call the Pineal Gland;
As weather-cocks on fpires are plac'd,
To turn the quicker with each blast.

This granted, can you think it strange
We all fhould be fo prone to change;,
Ev'n from the go-cart till we wear

A fattin

cap i' th' elbow chair?
The follies that the child began,
Cuftom makes current in the man;
And firm by livery and feifin
Holds the fee-fimple of his reason.
But ftill the gufts of love we find
Blow ftrongest on a woman's mind;
Nor need I learnedly purfue
The latent caufe, th' effect is true,,