The poets of Great Britain complete from Chaucer to Churchill

"Enjoying, while we live, the present hour, 1096 "And dying in our excellence and flow'r.

“ Then round our death-bed every friend should "And joyous of our conquest early won: [run, "While the malicious world with envious tears "Should grudge our happy end, and wish it

theirs.

1101

Since then our Arcite is with honor dead,
Why should we mourn that he so soon is

freed,

"Or call untimely, what the Gods decreed?
With grief as just, a friend may be deplor'd,
"From a foul prison to free air restor❜d.
"Ought he to thank his kinsmen, or his wife,

1106

Could tears recal him into wretched life? "Their sorrow hurts themselves,; on him is lost;

And, worse than both, offends his happy ghost. q ́ What then remains, but, after past annoy, 1111 "To take the good vicissitude of joy?

"To thank the gracious Gods for what they give,
"Possess our souls, and, while we live, to live?
"Ordain we then two sorrows to combine, 1115
"And in one point, th' extremes of grief to join;
"That thence resulting joy may be renew'd,
"As jarring notes in harmony conclude.
"Then I propose that Palamon shall be

"In marriage join'd with beauteous Emily; 1120
"For which already I have gain'd th' assent
"Of my free people in full parliament.

"Long love to her has borne the faithful knight, "And well deserv'd, had Fortune done him right; " 'Tis time to mend her fault; since Emily, 1125 "By Arcite's death, from former vows is free; "If you, fair sister, ratify th' accord,

"And take him for your husband and your lord. "'Tis no dishonor to confer your grace

1130

"On one descended from a royal race: "And were he less, yet years of service past "From grateful souls exact reward at last : "Pity is Heaven's and yours; nor can she find "A throne so soft as in a woman's mind." 1134 He said she blush'd; and, as o'eraw'd by might, Seem'd to give Theseus, what she gave the knight, Then, turning to the Theban, thus he said; "Small arguments are needful to persuade "Your temper to comply with my command;-" And, speaking thus, he gave Emilia's hand. Smil'd Venus, to behold her own true knight Obtain the conquest, though he lost the fight; And bless'd, with nuptial bliss, the sweet labo-( rious night.

Eros, and Anteros, on either side,

1140

One fir'd the bridegroom, and one warm'd the

bride;

And long-attending Hymen from above,
Shower'd on the bed the whole Idalian grove.

All of a tenor was their after-life,

No day discolour'd with domestic strife;

1146

1150

No jealousy, but mutual truth believ'd,
Secure repose, and kindness undeceiv'd.
Thus Heaven, beyond the compass of his thought,
Sent him the blessing he so dearly bought.

So may the Queen of Love long duty bless,
And all true lovers find the same success.

1155

THE END.