As once the Macedon, by Jove's decree, Or, by his middle science did he steer, An heir from you, who may redeem the failing kind. Blest be the power which has at once restor❜d The hopes of lost succession to your lord! Joy to the first and and last of each degree; Virtue, to courts; and, (what I long'd to see,) Το you, the Graces; and the Muse, to me. 150) O Daughter of the Rose! whose cheeks unite The differing titles of the red and white ; Who heav'n's alternate beauty well display, The blush of morning, and the milky way; Whose face is paradise, but fenc'd from sin; For God in either eye has plac'd a cherubin. All is your lord's alone; e'en absent, he Employs the care of chaste Penelope. 158 For him you waste in tears your widow'd hours, For him your curious needle paints the flowers; Such works, of old, Imperial dames were taught, The soft recesses of your hours improve 168 IN days of old, there liv'd, of mighty fame, 5 A valiant prince; and Theseus was his name: I pass their warlike pomp, their proud array, 10 Their shouts, their songs, their welcome on the way: But, were it not too long, I would recite The feats of Amazons, the fatal fight Betwixt the hardy queen and hero knight; The town besieg'd, and how much blood it cost The female army and th' Athenian host; The spousals of Hippolita the queen ; What tilts and tourneys at the feast were seen; 15 20 The storm at their return, the ladies fear: 25 To tire your patience, and to waste my strength; And trivial accidents shall be forborn, 35 30 That others may have time to take their turn; 40 45 "Tell me," said Theseus," what and whence you are, And why this funeral pageant you prepare ? Is this the welcome of my worthy deeds, "To meet my triumph in ill-omen'd weeds? 50 “ Or envy you my praise, and would destroy "With grief my pleasures, and pollute my joy? "Or are you injur’d, and demand relief? 61 "Name your request, and I will ease your grief.” The most in years of all the mourning train 55 Began (but swooned first away for pain); Then, scarce recover'd, spoke: “Nor envy we "Thy great renown, nor grudge thy victory; “ 'Tis thine, O king, th' afflicted to redress, "And fame has fill'd the world with thy success: "We wretched women sue for that alone "Which of thy goodness is refus'd to none; "Let fall some drops of pity on our grief, "If what we beg be just, and we deserve relief: "For none of us, who now thy grace implore, 65 "But held the rank of sovereign queen before; ""Till, thanks to giddy chance, which never bears, "That mortal bliss should last for length of years, "She cast us headlong from our high estate; "And here in hope of thy return we wait; 70 "And long have waited in the temple nigh, "Built to the gracious goddess Clemency. "But reverence thou the power whose name it bears, 75 "Relieve th' oppress'd, and wipe the widow's tears, I, wretched I, have other fortune seen, "The wife of Capaneus, and once a queen: "At Thebes he fell; curst be the fatal day! "And all the rest thou seest, in this array |