By this no more was meant, than to have shown, That fov'reign goodness dwells in him alone Who only Is, and is but only One. 680 But grant the worft; fhall women then be weigh'd By ev'ry word that Solomon has faid? 685 Whofe reign indulgent God, fays Holy Writ, Did but for David's righteous fake permit; 690 David, the monarch after heav'n's own mind, Who lov'd our fex, and honour'd all our kind. Well, I'm a Woman, and as fuch must speak; Silence would fwell me, and my heart would break. Know then, I fcorn your dull authorities, 695 Your idle wits, and all their learned lyes. By heav'n, thofe authors are our sex's foes, Whom, in our right, I muft and will oppofe. Nay (quoth the King) dear Madam, be not wroth: I yield it up; but fince I gave my oath, 700 That this much-injur❜d Knight again should see And fo has mine (fhe faid)---I am a Queen : Her answer she shall have, I undertake; And thus an end of all dispute I make. 705 lift; and you shall find, my Lord, It is not in our fex to break our word. 710 We leave them here in this heroic ftrain, And to the Knight our story turns again; Who in the garden, with his lovely May, Sung merrier than the Cuckow or the Jay: This was his fong; "Oh kind and constant be, "Conftant and kind I'll ever prove to thee." Thus finging as he went, at last he drew 715 What pangs, what sudden shoots diftend my fide? Sore figh'd the Knight to hear his Lady's cry, 725 But could not climb, and had no fervant nigh: Do you 730 With all my foul, he thus reply'd again, 735 I'd spend my dearest blood to ease thy pain. With that, his back against the trunk he bent, She seiz'd a twig, and up the tree she went. Now prove your patience, gentle Ladies all! Nor let on me your heavy anger fall: 'Tis truth I tell, tho' not in phrase refin'd; 740 745 In that nice moment, lo! the wond'ring knight Look'd out, and stood restor❜d to sudden fight. Strait on the tree his eager eyes he bent, As one whofe thoughts were on his spouse in tent; 750 But when he saw his bofom-wife so dress'd, His rage was such as cannot be express'd: Not frantic mothers when their infants die, With louder clamours rend the vaulted sky: 754 He cry'd, he roar'd, he storm'd, he tore his hair; Death! hell! and furies! what doft thou do there! What ails my Lord? the trembling dame re ply'd; I thought your patience had been better try'd: This my reward for having cur'd the blind? 760 So heav'n preferve the fight it has restor❜d, Whor'd by my flave----perfidious wretch! may hell As furely feize thee, as I faw too well. 770 Guard me, good angels! cry'd the gentle May, Pray heav'n, this magic work the proper way! Alas, my love! 'tis certain, could you fee, You ne'er had us'd these killing words to me: So help me, fates, as 'tis no perfect fight, 775 But fome faint glimm'ring of a doubtful light. What I have faid (quoth he) I must maintain, For by th' immortal pow'rs it feem'd too plain-- By all thofe pow'rs, fome frenzy feiz'd your mind, 779€ (Reply'd the dame) are these the thanks I find ? Wretch that I am, that e'er I was fo kind! She faid; a rifing figh exprefs'd her woe, The ready tears apace began to flow, And as they fell she wip'd from either eye 784 The drops (for women, when they lift, can cry.) The Knight was touch'd; and in his looks appear'd Signs of remorse, while thus his spouse he chear'd: Madam, 'tis paft, and my fhort anger o'er! Come down, and vex your tender heart no more; |