Little thou car'ft what anxious thoughts moleft,
What pangs are lab'ring in a mother's breast.
Well do you fhew your duty by your hafte,
For thou of all my fons art always last;
A child lefs fondled would have fled more fast.
Sure 'tis a curfe on mothers, doom'd to mourn,
Where beft they love, the leaft and worst return.
My dear mamma, the gentle youth replied,
And made a low obeifance, cease to chide,
Nor wound me with your words, for well you know,
Your Zephyr bears a part in all your woe;
How great must be his forrow then to learn
That he himself's the caufe of your concern!
Nor had I loiter'd thus had I been free,
But the fair princess of Felicity,
Intreated me to make fome fhort delay,
And ask'd by her who could refuse to stay?
Surrounded by the damfels of her court
She fought the fhady grove, her lov'd resort;
Fresh rose the grafs, the flow'rs were mix'd between,
Like rich embroid❜ry on a ground of
And in the midft, protected by the fhade,
A crystal stream in wild meanders play'd;
While in its banks, the trembling leaves among,
A thousand little birds in concert fung.
Close by a mount with fragrant fhrubs o'ergrown,
On a cool moffy couch fhe laid her down;
Her air, her pofture, all confpir'd to please;
Her head, upon her fnowy arm at ease
Reclin'd, a studied careleffness exprefs'd;
Loose lay her robe, and naked heav'd her breast.
Eager I flew to that delightful place,
And pour'd a fhow'r of kiffes on her face;
Now hover'd o'er her neck, her breast, her arms,
Like bees o'er flow'rs, and tafted all her charms;
And then her lips, and then her cheeks I tried,
And fann'd, and wanton'd round on every fide.
O Zephyr, cried the fair, thou charming boy,
Thy prefence only can create me joy;
To me thou art beyond expreffion dear,
Nor can I quit the place while thou art here.
Excufe my weakness, madam, when I swear
Such gentle words join'd with so soft an air,
Pronounc'd fo fweetly from a mouth so fair,
Quite ravish'd all my fenfe, nor did I know,
How long I ftaid; or when, or where to go.
Meant while the damfels debonnair and gay,
Prattled around, and laugh'd the time away :
These in foft notes addrefs'd the ravifh'd ear,
And warbled out fo fweet, 'twas heav'n to hear;
And those in rings, beneath the greenwood shade,
Danc'd to the melody their fellows made.
Some ftudious of themselves, employ'd their care
In weaving flow'ry wreaths to deck their hair;
While others to fome fav'rite plant convey'd
Refreshing show'rs, and cheer'd its drooping head.
A joy fo general fpread through all the place,
Such fatisfaction dwelt on every face,
The nymphs fo kind, fo lovely look'd the queen,
That never eye beheld a sweeter scene.
Porfenna, like a ftatue fix'd appear'd,
And, wrapp'd in filent wonder, gaz'd and heard ;
Much he admir'd the speech, the speaker more,
And dwelt on every word, and griev'd to find it o'er.
O gentle youth, he cried, proceed to tell,
In what fair country does this princess dwell;
What region unexplor'd, what hidden coaft
Can fo much goodnefs, fo much beauty boast?
To whom the winged god with gracious look,
Numberless fweets diffufing while he spoke,
Thus anfwer'd kind-These happy gardens lie
Far hence remov'd, beneath a milder sky;
The kingdom of Felicity.
Sweet scenes of endless blifs, enchanted ground,
A foil for ever fought, but seldom found;
Though in the fearch all human kind in vain
Weary their wits, and waste their lives in pain.
In diff'rent parties, diff'rent paths they tread,
As reafon guides them, or as follies lead;
These wrangling for the place they ne'er fhall fee,
Debating those, if fuch a place there be;
But not the wifeft, nor the best can fay
Where lies the point, or mark the certain way.
Some few, by Fortune favour'd for her sport,
Have fail'd in fight of this delightful port;
In thought already feiz'd the bless'd abodes,
And in their fond delirium rank'd with gods.
Fruitless attempt! all avenues are kept
By dreadful foes, fentry that never flept.
Here fell Detraction points her pois'nous breath
Fraught with a thousand stings, and scatters death;
Sharp-fighted Envy there maintains her post,
And shakes her flaming brand, and ftalks around the
These on the helpless bark their fury pour,
Plunge in the waves, or daíh against the shore;
Teach wretched mortals they were doom'd to mourn,
And ne'er must rest but in the filent urn.
But fay, young monarch, for what name you bear
Your mien, your drefs, your perfon, all declare;
And though I seldom fan the frozen north,
Yet I have heard of brave Porfenna's worth.
My brother Boreas through the world has flown,
Swelling his breath to fpread forth your renown;
Say, would you choose to vifit this retreat,
And view the world where all these wonders meet?
Wish you fome friend o'er that tempeftuous fea
To bear you fafe! behold that friend in me.
My active wings fhall all their force employ,
And nimbly waft you to the realms of joy;
As once, to gratify the god of Love,
I bore fair Pfyche to the Cyprian grove;
Or as Jove's bird, defcending from on high,
Snatch'd the young Trojan trembling to the sky.
There perfect bliss thou may'ft for ever share,
'Scap'd from the bufy world, and all its care;
There in the lovely princess thou fhalt find
A mistress ever blooming, ever kind.
|