And meekly kneeling, to his modeft hand
They gave the glitt'ring fceptre of command;
Then on fix fmaller thrones they fat reclin'd,
And watch'd the rifing transports of his mind:
When thus the youth a blushing nymph addrefs'd,
And, as he spoke, her hand with rapture press'd,

"Say, gentle damfel, may I afk unblam'd, "How this gay ifle, and fplendid seats are nam'd? "And you, fair queens of beauty and of grace, "Are you of earthly or celeftial race?

"To me the world's bright treasures were unknown,

"Where late I wander'd penfive and alone,

"And, flowly winding on my native shore,

"Saw the vast ocean roll, but faw no more;

"Till from the waves with many a charming fong,

"A barge arofe, and gayly mov'd along;

"The jolly rowers reach'd the yielding fands,
"Allur'd my steps, and wav'd their fhining hands:

❝ I went

"I went, faluted by the vocal train,

"And the fwift pinnace cleav'd the waves again; "When on this ifland ftruck the gilded prow,

"I landed full of joy: the reft you know.

"Short is the ftory of my tender years:

"Now speak, fweet nymph, and charm my lift'ning ears."

"These are the groves, for ever deck'd with flow'rs,

"The maid replied, and these the fragrant bow'rs, "Where love and pleasure hold their airy court,

"The feat of bliss, of sprightliness, and sport;

"And we, dear youth, are nymphs of heav'nly line,

"Our fouls immortal, as our forms divine:

"For Maia, fill'd with Zephyr's warm embrace,

"In caves and forefts cover'd her disgrace;

"At laft fhe refted on this peaceful shore,

"Where in yon grot a lovely boy she bore,

"Whom fresh and wild and frolick from his birth

"She nurs❜d in myrtle bow'rs, and call'd him Mirth,

"He

"He on a fummer's morning chanc'd to rove

"Through the green lab'rinth of fome fhady grove,
"Where by a dimpled riv❜let's verdant fide

"A rifing bank with woodbine edg'd he spied:
"There, veil'd with flow'rets of a thousand hues,
"A nymph lay bath'd in flumber's balmy dews;

(This maid by fome, for fome our race defame, "Was Folly call'd, but Pleasure was her name :) "Her mantle, like the sky in April, blue,

66 Hung on a bloffom'd branch that near her grew ;
"For long difporting in the filver stream

"She shun'd the blazing daystar's fultry beam,
"And ere fhe could conceal her naked charms,
"Sleep caught her trembling in his downy arms :
"Born on the wings of love, he flew, and prefs'd

"Her breathing bofom to his eager breast.

"At his wild theft the rofy morning blush'd,

"The riv❜let fmil'd, and all the woods were hufh'd.

"Of these fair parents on this blissful coast
"(Parents like Mirth and Pleafure who can boaft?)

"I, with

"I, with five fifters, on one happy morn,

"All fair alike, behold us now, were born.

"When they to brighter regions took their way, "By love invited to the realms of day,

"To us they gave this large, this gay domain,

"And faid, departing, Here let beauty reign.
"Then reign, fair prince, in thee all beauties fhine,
"And ah! we know thee of no mortal line."

She faid; the king with rapid ardour glow'd,
And the swift poison through his bosom flow'd:
But while fhe fpoke he caft his eyes around
To view the dazling roof, and fpangled ground;
Then, turning with amaze from fide to fide,

Sev'n golden doors that richly fhone he spied,

Then faid, "Fair nymph, (but let me not be bold)

"What mean those doors that blaze with burnifh'd gold?"

"To fix gay bow'rs, the maid replied, they lead; "Where Spring eternal crowns the glowing mead,

" Six

"Six fountains there, that glitter as they play,

"Rife to the fun with many a colour'd ray."

"But the fev❜nth door, faid he, what beauties grace?" "O, 'tis a cave, a dark and joyless place,

"A fcene of bloody deeds, and magick spells,

"Where day ne'er fhines, and pleasure never dwells:
"No more of that. But come, my royal friend,
"And see what joys thy favour'd steps attend."
She spoke, and pointed to the nearest door :
Swift he defcends; the damfel flies before;
She turns the lock; it opens at command;
The maid and ftripling enter hand in hand.

The wond'ring youth beheld an op'ning glade,
Where in the midst a crystal fountain play'd; *
The filver fands that on its bottom grew

Were ftrown with pearls and gems of varied hue,
The diamond sparkled like the ftar of day,

And the soft topaz shed a golden ray,

* Light.

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