Of a LADY singing to her LUTE.
AIR Charmer, cease, nor make your voice's prize A heart resign'd the conquest of your eyes: Well might, alas! that threatned vessel fail, Which winds and lightning both at once affail. We were too blest with these inchanting lays, 5 Which must be heav'nly when an Angel plays: But killing charms your lover's death contrive, Lest heav'nly music should be heard alive. Orpheus could charm the trees, but thus a tree, Taught by your hand, can charm no less than he: A poet made the filent wood pursue,
This vocal wood had drawn the Poet too.
On a FAN of the Author's design, in which was painted the story of CEPHALUS and PROCRIS, with the Motto, AURA VENI.
NOME, gentle Air! th' Æolian shepherd faid,
While Procris panted in the secret shade;
Come, gentle Air, the fairer Delia cries,
While at her feet her swain expiring lies.
Lo the glad gales o'er all her beauties stray,
Breathe on her lips, and in her bosom play !
In Delia's hand this toy is fatal found,
Nor could that fabled dart more furely wound:
Both gifts deftructive to the givers prove;
Alike both lovers fall by those they love.
Yet guiltless too this bright destroyer lives,
At random wounds, nor knows the wounds the
She views the story with attentive eyes,
And pities Procris, while her lover dies.
COWLEY.
The GARDEN.
FAIN would my Muse the flow'ry Treafures
And humble glories of the youthful Spring;
Where opening Roses breathing sweets diffuse,
And foft Carnations show'r their balmy dews;
Where Lilies smile in virgin robes of white, 5
The thin undress of superficial Light,
And vary'd Tulips show so dazling gay,
Blushing in bright diversities of day.
Each painted flouret in the lake below
Surveys its beauties, whence its beauties grow; 10
And pale Narcissus on the bank, in vain
Transformed, gazes on himself again.
Here aged trees Cathedral Walks compose,
And mount the hill in venerable rows;
There the green Infants in their beds are laid, 15
The Garden's Hope, and its expected shade.
Here Orange-trees with blooms and pendants shine,
And vernal honours to their autumn join;
Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store,
Yet in the rifing blossom promise more.
There in bright drops the crystal Fountains play,
By Laurels shielded from the piercing day:
Where Daphne, now a tree as once a maid,
Still from Apollo vindicates her shade,
Still turns her beauties from th' invading beam, 25
Nor seeks in vain for fuccour to the stream,
The stream at once preserves her virgin leaves,
At once a shelter from her boughs receives,
Where Summer's beauty midst of Winter stays,
And Winter's Coolness spite of Summer's rays. 30
HILE Celia's Tears make forrow bright,
Proud grief fits swelling in her eyes;
The Sun, next those the faireft light,
Thus from the Ocean first did rife :
And thus thro' Mists we fee the Sun,
Which else we durst not gaze upon.
These filver drops, like morning dew,
Foretell the fervour of the day :
So from one cloud soft show'rs we view,
And blasting lightnings burst away.
The Stars that fall from Celia's eye,
Declare our Doom in drawing nigh.
The Baby in that funny Sphere
So like a Phaëton appears,
That Heav'n, the threaten'd World to spare, 45
Thought fit to drown him in her Tears :
Else might th' ambitious Nymph aspire,
To fet, like him, Heav'n too on fire.
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