The LADY who offers her LOOKING-GLASS: to VENUS. Taken from an Epigram of PLATO. ENUS, take my votive glass; VENU Since I am not what I was; What from this day I fhall be, Venus, let me never see. CLO E JEALOUS. I. FORBEAR to afk me, why I weep; Vext Cloe to her fhepherd faid; "Tis for my two poor ftraggling fheep, Perhaps, or for my fquirrel dead. II. For mind I what you late have writ? The ways, where changing Cupid flies? III. Your riddle purpos'd to rehearse The general power that beauty has: But why did no peculiar verse Defcribe one charm of Cloe's face? : IV. The glafs, which was at Venus' fhrine, Which fhew'd how youth and beauty fade: Ten thousand trifles light as these Nor can my rage, nor anger, move: She should be humble, who would please And the muft fuffer, who can love. VI. When in my glass I chanc'd to look ; That every grace, which thence I took, Should know to charm my Damon more. Reading thy verfe; who heeds, faid I, Whose heart to me is always true!` My bloom indeed, my little flower Yet car'd I not what might prefage Or withering wreath, or fleeting youth; Love I esteem'd more strong than Age, And Time lefs permanent than Truth. X. Why then I weep, forbear to know: I ever yet conceal'd from thee. XI. The fecret wound with which I bleed Answer to CLOE JEALOUS, in the fame Stile; the AUTHOR fick. I. YES, fairest proof of Beauty's power, Dear idol of my panting heart, Nature points this my fatal hour: While now I take my laft adieu, Left yet my On earth an object worth its care. III. From Jealoufy's tormenting strife Content I haften to the dead. IV. Yet IV. Yet when some better-fated youth Shall with his amorous parly move thee; Who dying thus, perfifts to love thee. A BETTER ANSWER. DEAR Cloc, how blubber'd is that pretty face! Thy cheek all on fire, and thy hair all uncurl'd: Pr'ythee quit this caprice; and (as old Falstaff fays) Let us ev'n talk a little like folks of this world. II. How canft thou prefume, thou haft leave to deftroy The beauties, which Venus but lent to thy keeping? Those looks were defign'd to inspire love and joy : More ordinary eyes may ferve people for weeping. III. To be vext at a trifle or two that I writ, Your judgment at once, and my passion, you wrong: You take that for fact, which will fcarce be found wit: Od's-life! must one fwear to the truth of a fong? IV. What I fpeak, my fair Cloe, and what I write, fhews I court others in verfe; but I love thee in profe: VOL. I. K V. The V. The God of us verse-men (you know, child) the Sun, How after his journeys he fets up his rest : If at morning o'er earth 'tis his fancy to run; At night he declines on his Thetis's breast. VI. So when I am weary'd with wandering all day; Then finish, dear Cloe, this paftoral war; PALLAS AND VENUS. THE AN EPIGRAM. HE Trojan Swain had judg'd the great difpute, And Beauty's power obtain'd the golden fruit; When Venus, loofe in all her naked charms, Met Jove's great daughter clad in shining arms. The wanton goddess view'd the warlike maid From head to foot, and tauntingly she said : Yield, fifter; rival, yield: naked, you I vanquish guess how potent I should be, fee, Dreadful, like thine, my fhield, and terrible my creft! The |