CAISSA.

O R,

THE GAME AT CHESS.

A POE M.

Written in the year 1763.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE firft idea of the following piece was taken from a Latin poem of Vida, entitled SCACCHIA LUDUS, which was tranflated into Italian by Marino, and inferted in the fifteenth Canto of his Adonis: the author thought it fair to make an acknowledgment in the notes for the paffages which he borrowed from those two poets; but he muft alfo do them the juftice to declare, that moft of the defcriptions, and the whole story of Caïffa, which is written in imitation of Ovid, are his own, and their faults must be imputed to him only. The characters in the poem are no lefs imaginary than those in the episode; in which the invention of Chefs is poetically afcribed to Mars, though it is certain that the game was originally brought from India.

CAISS A.

F armies on the chequer'd field array'd,

And guiltless war in pleafing form display'd;
When two bold kings contend with vain alarms,
In ivory this, and that in ebon arins;
Sing, fportive maids, that haunt the facred hill
Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill.

+ Thou, joy of all below, and all above,
Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love;

IMITATIONS.

* Ludimus effigiem belli, fimulataque veris
Prælia, buxo acies fictas, et ludicra regna:
Ut gemini inter fe reges, albufque nigerque,
Pro laude oppofiti certent bicoloribus armis.
Dicite, Seriades Nymphæ, certamina tanta.
↑ Æneadum genitrix, hominum divûmque voluptas,
Alma Venus! xc.

Vida.

Lucretius.

"

Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose
And many a pink thy blooming train repose:
Affift me, goddefs! fince a lovely pair
Command my fong, like thee divinely fair.

Near yon cool ftream, whofe living waters play,
And rife translucent in the folar ray;

Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower,

Where fpring's foft influence purpled every flower;
Two fmiling nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat,
And envying bloffoms crouded round their seat ;
Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her fide
The sweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride:
Thus fhine two roses, fresh with early bloom,
That from their native stalk dispense perfume;
Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day
Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May.
A band of youths and damfels fat around,
Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound;
Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd,
And gentle Thyrfis, by the muse inspir'd;
With Sylvia, faireft of the mirthful train;
And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain.

Now,

Now, whilft a purer blush o'erfpreads her cheeks,
With foothing accents thus Sirena fpeaks:

"The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, "And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight; "Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile; "What fport, my Delia, fhall the hours beguile ? "Shall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art, "Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? "At distance shall we view the fylvan chace? "Or catch with filken lines the finny race ?"

Then Delia thus: "Or rather, fince we meet "By chance affembled in this cool retreat, "In artful conteft let our warlike train

"Move well-directed o'er the colour'd plain;
"Daphnis, who taught us first, the play shall guide;
"Explain its laws, and o'er the field prefide :

"No prize we need, our ardour to inflame ;
"We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame."

The nymph confents: the maids and youths prepare To view the combat, and the sport to share;

But