But yet not his; to Morrow is behind,
And Love our Fortunes in one Band has join'd:
Two Brothers are our Foes; Ormifda mine,
As much declar'd, as Pafimond is thine:
To Morrow muft their common Vows be ty'd;
With Love to Friend and Fortune for ourGuide,
Let both refolve to die, or each redeem a Bride.
Right I have none, nor haft thou much to plead ;
'Tis Force when done must juftifie the Deed:
Our Task perform'd, we next prepare for Flight;
And let the Losers talk in vain of Right:
We with the Fair will fail before the Wind,
If they are griev'd, I leave the Laws behind.
Speak thy Refolves; If now thy Courage droop,
Despair in Prison and abandon Hope;
But if thou dar'ft in Arms thy Love regain,
(For Liberty without thy Love were vain:)
Then second my Design to seize the Prey, [way.
Or lead to fecond Rape, for well thou know'it the
Said Cymon overjoy'd, Do thou propose
The Means to Fight, and only fhew the Foes;
For from the firft, when Love had fir'd my Mind,
Refolv'd I left the Care of Life behind.
To this the bold Lyfimachus reply'd,'
Let Heav'n be neuter, and the Sword decide:
The Spousals are prepar'd, already play
The Minstrils, and provoke the tardy Day:
By this the Brides are wak'd,their Grooms are
drefs'd;
All Rhodes is fummon'd to the Nuptial Feast,
All but my self the fole unbidden Guest.
Unbidden though I am, I will be there,
And, join'd by thee, intend to joy the Fair.
Now hear the reft; when Day refigns the Light,
And chearful Torches gild the jolly Night,
Be ready at my Call; my chofen few
With Arms administer'd shall aid thy Crew.
Then entring unexpected will we seize
Our deftin'd Prey, from Men diffolv'd in eafe ;
By Wine difabled, unprepar'd for Fight;
And haft ning to the Seas fuborn our Flight:
The Seas are ours, for I command the Fort,
A Ship well man'd expects us in the Port:
If they, or if their Friends, the Prize conteft,
Death fhall attend the Man who dares refift.
It pleas'd! the Pris'ner to his Hold retir'd,
て His Troop with equal Emulation fir'd, [quir'd.
All fix'd to Fight, and all their wonted Work re-
The Sun arofe; the Streets were throng'd around,
The Palace open'd, and the Posts were crown'd:
The double Bridegroom at the Door attends
Th'expected Spouse, and entertains the Friends:
They meet, they lead to Church; the Priests invoke
The Pow'rs, and feed the Flames with fragrant
Smoke:
This done they Feast, and at the close of Night
By kindled Torches vary their Delight,
Thefe lead the lively Dance, and those the brim-
ming Bowls invite.
Now at th' appointed Place and Hour affign'd,
With Souls refolv'd the Ravishers were join'd:
Three Bands are form'd: The firft is fent before
To favour the Retreat, and guard the Shore:
The fecond at the Palace-gate is plac'd,
And up the lofty Stairs afcend the last:
A peaceful Troop they seem with fhining Vefts,
But Coats of Male beneath fecure their Breasts.
Dauntless they enter, Cymon at their Head,
And find the Feast renew'd, the Table spread:
Sweet Voices, mix'd with instrumental Sounds,
Afcend the vaultedRoof,the vaulted Roof rebounds.
When like the Harpies rushing through the Hall
The fudden Troop appears, the Tables fall,
Their fmoaking Load is on the Pavement thrown;
Each Ravisher prepares to seize his own:
The Brides, invaded with a rude Embrace,
Shreek out for Aid, Confufion fills the Place:
Quick to redeem the Prey their plighted Lords
Advance, the Palace gleams with fhining Swords.
But late is all Defence, and Succour vain;
The Rape is made, the Ravishers remain:
Two sturdy Slaves were only fent before.
To bear the purchas'd Prize in Safety to the Shore.
The Troop retires, the Lovers close the Rear,
With forward Faces not confeffing Fear;
Backward they move,but fcorn their Pace to mend;
Then feek the Stairs, and with flow hafte defcend.
Fierce Pafimond, their Paffage to prevent, Thruft full on Cymon's Back in his Defcent,
The Blade return'd unbath'd, and to the Handle bent:
Stout Cymon foon remounts, and cleft in two
His Rival's Head with one defcending Blow:
And as the next in rank Ormifda stood,
He turn'd the Point: The Sword inur'd to Bload, Bor'd his unguarded Breaft, which pour'd a purple Flood,
With vow'd Revenge the gathering Crowd' pursues,
The Ravishers turn Head, the Fight renews; The Hall is heap'd with Corps; the sprinkled Gore Befmears the Walls, and floats the Marble Floor. Dispers'd at length the drunken Squadron flies, The Victors to their Veffel bear the Prize;
And hear behind loud Groans, and lamentable Cries.
TheCrew with merryShouts their Anchors weigh, Then ply their Oars, and brush the buxom Sea, While Troops of gather'dRhodians croud theKey.
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