1

With humble Words, the wifest I could frame,
And proffer'd Service, I repaid the Dame:
That, of her Grace, fhe gave her Maid to know
The secret Meaning of this moral Show.
And she, to prove what Profit I had made,
Of mystique Truth, in Fables first convey'd,
Demanded, till the next returning May,
Whether the Leaf or Flow'r I would obey?
I chose the Leaf; fhe fmil'd with fober Chear,
And wish'd me fair Adventure for the Year,
And gave me Charms and Sigils, for Defence
Against ill Tongues that scandal Innocence:

But I, faid fhe, my Fellows must pursue,
Already past the Plain, and out of view.
We parted thus; I homeward sped my Way,
Bewilder'd in the Wood till Dawn of Day:

[May And met the merry Crew who danc'd about the Then late refresh'd with Sleep, I rose to write The visionary Vigils of the Night:

Blush, as thou may'ft, my little Book, for Shame,
Nor hope with homely Verse to purchase Fame;
For fuch thy Maker chose; and so design'd
Thy fimple Stile to fute thy lowly Kind.

Bb

Alexander's Feaft;

OR, THE

POWER of MUSICK.

A N

ODE,

In Honour of St. CECILIA's Day.

T

I.

Was at the Royal Feaft, for Perfia won,

By Philip's Warlike Son:

Aloft in awful State

The God-like Heroe fate

On his Imperial Throne:

His valiant Peers were plac'd around;

Their Brows with Rofes and with Myrtles bound. (So fhou'd Defert in Arms be Crown'd:)

The Lovely Thais by his Side,

Sate like a blooming Eastern Bride

In Flow'r of Youth and Beauty's Pride.
Happy, happy, happy Pair!

None but the Brave,

None but the Brave,

None but the Brave deferves the Fair.

CHORUS.

Happy, happy, happy Pair!

None but the Brave,

None but the Brave,

None but the Brave deferves the Fair.

II.

Timotheus plac'd on high

Amid the tuneful Quire,

With flying Fingers touch'd the Lyre:

The trembling Notes afcend the Sky,

And Heav'nly Joys inspire.

The Song began from Jove;

Who left his blissful Seats above,

(Such is the Pow'r of mighty Love.)
A Dragon's fiery Form bely'd the God:
Sublime on Radiant Spires He rode,

When He to fair Olympia prefs'd:

And while He fought her snowy Breast:
Then, round her slender Waist he curl'd, [World.
And ftamp'd an Image of himself, a Sov'reign of the
The lift'ning Crowd admire the lofty Sound,
A present Deity, they shout around:

A present Deity the vaulted Roofs rebound:
With ravish'd Ears

III.

ThePraife of Bacchus then, the fweet Musicianfung;
Of Bacchus ever Fair, and ever Young:
The jolly God in Triumph comes;

Sound the Trumpets; beat the Drums;
Flush'd with a purple Grace

He fhews his honest Face,

[comes.

Now gives the Hautboys breath; He comes, He

Bacchus, ever Fair and Young,

Drinking Joys did first ordain:
Bacchus Bleffings are a Treasure,
Drinking is the Soldier's Pleasure;
Rich the Treasure,

Sweet the Pleasure;

Sweet is Pleasure after Pain.

CHORU S.

Bacchus' Bleffings are a Treasure ;

Drinking is the Soldier's Pleasure;
Rich the Treafure,

Sweet the Pleasure;

Sweet is Pleafure after Pain.