But vanity so much prevails,
She begs what none else would deny her, Makes such advances with her eyes,
The hope she gives prevents desire : Catches at every trifling heart,
Grows warm with every glimm'ring flame; The common prey so deads her dart, It scarce can pierce a noble game.
I could lie ages at her feet,
Adore her, careless of my pain,
With tender vows her rigours meet,
Despair, love on, and not complain;
My passion from all change secure
No favours raise, no frown controls;
I any torment can endure
But hoping with a crowd of fools.
YES, Fulvia is like Venus fair,
Has all her bloom, and shape, and air;
But still, to perfect every grace,
She wants the smile upon her face.
The crown majestic Juno wore,
And Cynthia's brow the crescent bore,
A helmet mark'd Minerva's mien;
But smiles distinguish'd beauty's Queen.
Her train was form'd of Smiles and Loves,
Her chariot drawn by gentlest doves,
And from her zone the nymph may find
'Tis beauty's province to be kind.
Then smile, my fair; and all whose aim
Aspires to paint the Cyprian dame,
Or bid her breathe in living stone,
Shall take their forms from you alone.
I TELL thee, Charmion, could I time retrieve,
And could again begin to love and live,
To you I should my earliest off'ring give ;
I know my eyes would lead my heart to you,
And I should all my oaths and vows renew,
But, to be plain, I never would be true.
For by our weak and weary truth, I find,
Love hates to centre in a point assign'd,
But runs with joy the circle of the mind:
Then let us never chain what should be free,
But for relief of either sex agree;
Since women love to change, and so do we.
DAMON, if you will believe me,
'Tis not sighing on the plain,
Song nor sonnet can relieve ye;
Faint attempts in love are vain.
Urge but home the fair occasion,
And be master of the field;
To a powerful kind invasion
'Twere a madness not to yield.
Love gives out a large commission,
Still indulgent to the brave;
But one sin of base omission
Never woman yet forgave.
Tho' she vows she'll ne'er permit ye, Cries you're rude and much to blame, And with tears implores your pity;
Be not merciful, for shame.
When the fierce assault is over,
Chloris time enough will find
This her cruel furious lover
Much more gentle, not so kind.
WHAT! put off with one denial,
And not make a second trial?
You might see my eyes consenting,
All about me was relenting;
Women, oblig'd to dwell in forms,
Forgive the youth that boldly storms.
Lovers, when you sigh and languish,
When you tell us of your anguish,
To the nymph you'll be more pleasing
When those sorrows you are easing :
We love to try how far men dare,
And never wish the foe should spare.
LET not Love on me bestow
Soft distress and tender woe;
I know none but substantial blisses,
Eager glances, solid kisses.
I know not what the lovers feign
Of finer pleasure mix'd with pain
Then pr'ythee give me, gentle boy,
None of thy grief, but all thy joy.
WHY we love, and why we hate,
Is not granted us to know;
Random chance, or wilful fate
Guides the shaft from Cupid's bow.
If on me Zelinda frown,
Madness 'tis all in me to grieve; Since her will is not her own,
Why should I uneasy live.
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