A RA MI N
IN TA.

No

AN ELEGY.

WOW Phoebus role, and with his early beams
Wak'd flumbering Delia from her pleafing dreams

Her wishes by her fancy were fupply'd,

And in her sleep the nuptial knot was ty'd.
With fecret joy fhe faw the morning ray
Chequer the floor, and through the curtains play;
The happy morn that shall her blifs complete,
And all her rivals' envious hopes defeat.
In hafte fhe rose, forgetful of her prayers,
Flew to the glass, and practis'd o'er her airs:
Her new-fet jewels round her robe are plac❜d,
Some in a brilliant buckle bind her waist,
Some round her neck a circling light difplay,
Some in her hair diffuse a trembling ray;
The filver knot o'erlooks the Mechlin lace,
And adds becoming beauties to her face;
Brocaded flowers o'er the gay mantua shine,
And the rich stays her taper shape confine;
Thus all her drefs exerts a graceful pride,
And sporting Loves furround th' expecting bride;
For Daphnis now attends the blushing maid,
Before the priest the folemn vows are paid;
This day, which ends at once all Delia's cares,
Shall fwell a thousand eyes with secret tears.

Ceafe,

Cease, Araminta, 'tis in vain to grieve,

Canft thou from Hymen's bonds the youth retrieve? Difdain his perjuries, and no longer mourn:

Recal my love, and find a fure return.

But ftill the wretched maid no comfort knows,
And with refentment cherishes her woes;

Alone fhe pines, and, in these mournful ftrains,
Of Daphnis' vows, and her own fate complains:
Was it for this I sparkled at the Play,

And loiter'd in the Ring whole hours away ?
When if thy chariot in the circle fhone,
Our mutual paffion by our looks was known :
Through the gay crowd my watchful glances flew,
Where'er I pass, thy grateful eyes pursue.

"Ah, faithless youth! too well you faw my pain; "For eyes the language of the foul explain.'

Think, Daphnis, think that scarce five days are fled, Since (Ofalfetongue!) thofe treacherous things you faid; How did you praise my shape and graceful air! And woman thinks all compliments fincere. Didst thou not then in rapture speak thy flame, And in foft fighs breathe Araminta's name? Didft thou not then with oaths thy paffion prove, And with an awful trembling, fay-I love?

"Ah, faithless youth! too well you faw my pain; "For eyes the language of the foul explain.” How could'st thou thus, ungrateful youth, deceive? How could I thus, unguarded maid, believe? Sure thou canst well recal that fatal night, When subtle love first enter'd at my fight:

When

2

When in the dance I was thy partner chofe,
Gods! what a rapture in my bosom rofe!
My trembling hand my fudden joy confefs'd,
My glowing cheeks a wounded heart exprefs'd;
My looks spoke love; while you, with answering eyes,
In killing glances made as kind replies.

Think, Daphnis, think what tender things you faid,
Think what confufion all my foul betray'd.

You call'd my graceful prefence Cynthia's air;
And, when I fung, the Syrens charm'd your ear:
My flame, blown up by flattery, ftronger grew;
A gale of love in every whisper flew.

"Ah, faithlefs youth! too well you saw my pain;
For eyes the language of the foul explain.”
Whene'er I drefs'd, my maid, who knew my flame,
'Cherish'd my paffion with thy lovely name;
Thy picture in her talk fo lively grew,

That thy dear image rofe before my view;

She dwelt whole hours upon thy shape and mien,
And wounded Delia's fame, to footh my spleen :
When the beheld me at the name grow pale,
Strait to thy charms fhe chang'd her artful tale;
And, when thy matchlefs charms were quite run o'er,
I bid her tell the pleafing tale once more.

Oh, Daphnis! from thy Araminta fled!

Oh, to my love for ever, ever dead!

Like death, his nuptials all my hope remove,
And ever part me from the man I love.

"Ah, faithlefs youth! too well you faw my pain; "For eyes the language of the foul explain."

O might