These gifts, ye powers, from you I hold, By your decree assign'd of old: 'Tis your behests I strive to do,
Then why must I for mercy sue,
At this high court impeach'd, and brought To answer for each lover's fault?
If maids to men inconstant prove, And scorn the sacred laws of Love, Charge not their broken vows to me, But their own horrid perfidy.
Must I be doom'd, if human kind
In love disclose an impious mind? With oaths, and death, and falsehood play, Whilst perjur'd vows the heart betray. If Heav'n's despis'd-if all their aim Be wealth or lust-am I to blame? No, mighty powers! you know too well, In spite of heav'n, in spite of hell, Of slighted love and reason too, And all that pitying Love can do, Men, to indulge their passions prone, Owe to themselves their crimes alone.
Yet, cruel Gods, if you decree To spare mankind and punish me; If I must be their victim made, I am not for myself afraid,
But for the woes my wretched fate Will soon in either world create:
While heaven and earth my And nature my destruction mourns. For what can stand, if Love contemn'd To shades infernal be condemn'd? Yet since your gloomy frowns declare My only refuge is despair,
Not thus to leave you all in woe, Take this last boon before I go; Take it, and feeling Love's sweet pain, Ere you condemn me think again." He spoke, and secret cast his darts,
Snatch'd from his quiver, at their hearts.
Upsprung the Gods, with wounds distress'd; Jove had a dozen in his breast.
Mars lost an eye, and Bacchus two; Hermes, the God of Eloquence, Had his tongue sliced, and ever since All oratory has declin'd
To noise, phrase, figures, words, and wind.
While all with troubled hearts debate,
How the dear rebel they should treat.
Their rage soft pity straight controls,
And wav'ring thoughts distract their souls. This Venus guess'd, and soon begun To hope she might retrieve her son.
While tears roll'd down her crimson'd cheeks, And her swell'd heart with anguish breaks.
"Oh hear, and spare my beauteous son, Or Venus-nay, the world's undone. Alas! I would not, cannot hide
His weakness, rashness, spleen, or pride. I see the faults I can't defend,
Which oft I've fondly strove to mend; And had restor'd his fame and bliss Long since, but that he keeps a Miss, On whom, poor boy, he doats to rage, So much her charms his soul engage.
This nymph, on whom I said he doats, He lov'd when in his petticoats; She's call'd Moria, though you know Folly's her fav'rite name below: The creature's handsome, and, indeed, Has beauties which all praise exceed; And yet this nymph, possess'd of charms To tempt a Phoebus to her arms, Is still so giddy, wild, and weak, Half ideot, half coquet and rake ; Is such a rattle, such a romp, So fond of cards, tea-tattle, pomp, Of feasts, balls, visits, drums, and park, And little frolics in the dark, That as with willing dotage sway'd,
Love's rul'd by this deluding maid;
'Tis plain by her, and her alone, The glory of my son's o'erthrown. She sets him on a world of freaks,
She makes him herd with cheats and rakes; She brings him into brawls and scrapes, And mischief in a thousand shapes; And what's the most perplexing thought, Keeps him from settling as he ought. Till he was led by her, my boy Gave me and every being joy.
Now fool'd by her, he acts a part
That shocks all heav'n, and breaks my heart.
The cause thus shewn of his ill carriage,
Next comes the cure-in short, 'tis marriage. There is a Goddess sitting there,
That might reclaim him by her care; And, with her pardon, I must name Sage Metis, that transcendent dame, Whose aid the Gods sometimes implore, And men by Wisdom's name adore."
Up blush'd good Metis to the eyes, But shew'd more pleasure than surprise : Joy, mix'd with wonder, secret stole Warm to her heart, and fill'd her soul; Some virgin fears about her hung, While modest shame tied up her tongue; Yet silent all her thoughts were seen, And glad went on the Paphian Queen.
"This sweet adviser, thus assign'd,
Will make him wise, and form his mind.
Send, send them with me home; my car
Will hold us all, and 'tis not far: And happy may their nuptials be
To Gods and men, to them and me." She ceas'd
* The relenting senate vow'd Her proffer'd terms should be allow'd, As the best method to reform
Her son, and calm the present storm;
So pitying much her hapless state, Pass'd her petition on debate,
While Love and Wisdom gave their hands, And vow'd to join in Hymen's bands.
Preparations in Cyprus for the marriage of Cupid and Metis; his froward conduct, and relapse into the dominion of Folly.
This Cyprus found: where all the swains
Rejoic'd around her fertile plains, Metis and Love to meet, who came To join true wisdom with his flame : Young girls, old maidens, widows, wives, Were ne'er more jocund in their lives,
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