網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

If love be folly, the fevere divine

}

Has felt that folly, though he cenfures mine;
Pollutes the pleasures of a chafte embrace,
Acts what I write, and propagates in grace,
With riotous excefs, a pricftly race.
Suppofe him free, and that I forge th'offence,
He fhew'd the way, perverting first my fenfe;
In malice witty, and with venom fraught,
He makes me fpeak the things I never thought.
Compute the gains of his ungovern'd zeal;
Ill fuits his cloth the praife of railing well.
The world will think that what we loofcly write,
Though now arraign'd, he read with fome delight;
Because he seems to chew the cud again,
When hisbroad comment makes the text too plain;
And teaches more in one explaining page
Than all the double-meanings of the itage.
What needs he paraphrafe on what we mean?
We were at worst but wanton; he's obfcene.
I not my fellows nor myfelf excufe;
But love's the fubject of the comic Mufe;
Nor can we write without it, nor would you
A tale of only dry inftruction view;
Nor love is always of a vicious kind,
But oft too virtuous acts inflames the mind,
Awakes the fleepy vigour of the foul,
And brushing o'er, adds motion to the pool.
Love, ftudious how to pleafe, improves our parts
With polifh'd manners, and adorns with arts.
Love firft invented verfe, and form'd the rhyme,
The motion meafur'd, harmoniz'd the chime;
To lib'ral acts enlarg'd the narrow-foul'd,
Soften'd the fierce, and made the coward bold;
The world, when wafte, he peopled with increase,
And warring nations reconcil'd in peace.
Ormond, the firft, and all the fair
may find
In this one legend, to their fame defign'd,
When beauty fires the blood, how love exalts
the mind!

IN that sweet ifle where Venus keeps her court, And ev'ry grace, and all the loves, refort; Where either fex is form'd of fofter earth, And takes the bent of pleasure from their birth; There liv'd a Cyprian lord, above the reft Wife, wealthy, with a num'rous iffue bleft. But as no gift of fortune is fincere, Was only wanting in a worthy heir; His eldest born, a goodly youth to view, Excell'd the reft in fhape and outward shew: Fair, tall, his limbs, with due proportion join'd, But of a heavy, dull, degen'rate mind. His foul bely'd the features of his face; Beauty was there, but beauty in difgrace. A clownish mien, a voice with ruftic found, And ftupid eyes that ever lov'd the ground. He look'd like nature's error; as the mind And body were not of a piece defign'd, [join'd. But made for two, and by miftake in one were The ruling rod, the father's forming care, Were exercis'd in vain on wit's defpair; The more inform'd, the lefs he understood; And deeper funk by flound'ring in the mud. Now fcorn'd of all, and grown the public fhame, The people from Galefus chang'd his name,

And Cymon call'd, which fignifies a brute;
So well his name did with his nature fuit.
His father, when he found his labour loft,
And care employ'd that anfwer'd not the coft,
Chofe an ungrateful object to remove,

And loath'd to fee what nature made him love;
So to his country farm the fool confin'd;
Rude work well fuited with a ruftic mind.
Thus to the wilds the sturdy Cymon went,
A 'quire among the twains, and pleas'd with ba-
His corn and cattle were his only care; [nishment.
And his fupreme delight a cougary fair.
It happen'd on a fummer's holi ay,
That to the green-wood flade he his way;
For Cymon thunn'd the chu.ch, nd us'd not
much to pray.

His quarter-staff, which he could ne'er forfake,
Hung half before, and half behind his back.
He trudg'd along, unknowing what he fought,
And whiftl'd as he went, for want of thought.

By chance conducted, or by thirst co: ftrain'd,
The deep recefles of the grove he gain d;
Where, in a plain, defended by the wood,
Crept through the matted grafs a crystal flood,
By which an alabafter fountain flood:
And on the margin of the fount was laid
(Attended by her flaves) a sleeping maid:
Like Dian and her nymphs, when tir'd with sport,
Ta reft by cool Eurotas they refort:
The dame herself the godless well expreft,
Not more diftinguith'd by her purple veft,
Than by the charming features of her face,
And even in flumber a fuperior grace:
Her comely limbs compos'd with decent care,
Her body shaded with a flight cymar ;
Her botom to the view was only bare;
Where two beginning paps were fcarcely spy'd,
For yet their places were but fignify'd.
The fanning wind upon her bolom blows,
To meet the fanning wind the bosom rofe;
The fanning wind, and purling ftreams, con-
tinue her repofe.

The fcol of nature stood with ftupid eyes
And gaping mouth, that teftify'd furprize,
Fix'd on her face; nor could remove his fight,
New as he was to love, and novice to delight.
Long mute he stood, and leaning on his staff,
His wonder witnefs'd with an idiot laugh;
Then would have spoke, but by his glimm'ring
fenfe,

First found his want of words, and fear'd offence;
Doubted for what he was he fhould be known,
By his clown accent, and his country tone.
Through the rude chaos thus the running light
Shot the firft ray that pierc'd the native night:
Then day and darknets in the mafs were mix'd,
Till gather'd in a globe the beams were fix'd:
Laft hone the fun, who, radiant in his fphere,
Illumin'd heav'n and earth, and roll'd around the
So reafon in this brutal foul began,
Love made him firft fufpect he was a man ;
Love made him doubt his broad barbarian found;
By love, his want of words and wit he found;
That fenfe of want prepar'd the future way
To knowledge, and difclos'd the promife of a dav.
U 4
What

[year.

What not his father's care, nor tutor's art,
Could plant with pains in his unpolish'd heart,
The best inftructor, love, at once infpir'd,
As barren grounds to fruitfulness are fir'd:
Love taught him fhame; and fhame, with love
Soon taught the fweet civilities of life; [at ftrife,
His grofs material foul at once could find
Somewhat in her excelling all her kind :
Exciting a defire till then unknown,
Somewhat unfound, or found in her alone.
This made the first imprefiion on his mind,
Above, but just above, the brutal kind.
For beafts can like, but not diftinguith too,
Nor their own liking by reflection know;
Nor why they like, or this or t'other face,
Or judge of this or that peculiar grace;
But love in grofs, and ftupidly admire,
As flies, allur'd by light, approach the fire.
Thus our man-beaft, advan ing by degrees,
Firft likes the whole, then fep'rates what he fees;
On fev'ral parts a fev'ral praise bestows,
The ruby lips, the well-proportion'd nofe,
The fnowy fkin, and raven-gloffy hair,
The dimpled check, and forehead rifing fair,
And, ev'n in fleep itself, a smiling air.
From thence his eyes defcending view'd the reft,
Her plump round arms, white hands, and heav-
ing breaft,

Long on the last he dwelt, though ev'ry part
A pointed arrow fped to pierce his heart.

}

Thus in a trice a judge of beauty grown
(A judge erected from a country clown)
He long'd to fee her eyes, in flumber hid,
And wifh'd his own could pierce within the lid:
He would have wak'd her, but reftrain'd his
thought,

And love new-born the first good manners taught:
And awful fear his ardent with withstood,
Nor durft difturb the goddess of the wood.
For fuch the feem'd by her celestial face,
Excelling all the rest of human race.
And things divine, by common sense he knew,
Muft be devoutly feen, at diftant view :
So checking his defire, with trembling heart,
Gazing he ftood, nor would nor could depart;
Fix'd as a pilgrim wilder'd in his way,
Who dares not ftir by night, for fear to ftray,
But ftands with awful eyes to watch the dawn

of day.

At length awaking, Iphigene the fair
(So was the beauty call'd who caus'd his care)
Unclos'd her eyes, and double day reveal'd,
While thofe of all her flaves in fleep were feal'd.
The flav'ring cudden, propp'd upon his ftaff,
Stood ready gaping, with a grinning laugh,
To welcome her awake; nor durft begin
To fpeak, but wifely kept the fool within.
Then the; What makes you, Cymon, here alone?
(For Cymon's name was round the country known,
Becaufe defcended of a noble race,
And for a foul ill forted with his face.)

But ftill the for flood filent with furprize,
With fix'd regard on her new-open'd eyes,
And in his breaft receiv'd th'invenom'd dart;
A tickling pain that pleas'd amid the finart.

But, confcious of her form, with quick distruft
She faw his fparkling eyes, and fear'd his brutal
luft:

This to prevent, the wak'd her fleepy crew,
And, rifing hafty, took a fhort adieu.

Then Cymon firft his ruftic voice effay'd,
With proffer'd fervice to the parting maid,
To fee her fafe. His hand the long deny'd;
But took at length, afham'd of fuch a guide.
So Cymon led her home, and leaving there,
No more would to his country clowns repair,
But fought his father's houfe, with better mind,
Refufing in the farm to be confin'd.

The father wonder'd at the fon's return,
And knew not whether to rejoice or mourn;
But doubtfully receiv'd, expecting ftill
To learn the fecret caufes of his alter'd will.
Nor was he long delay'd: the first request
He made, was like his brothers to be drest,
And, as his birth requir'd, above the rest.

With eafe his fuit was granted by his fire,
Diftinguishing his heir by rich attire:
His body thus adorn'd, he next defign'd
With lib'ral arts to cultivate his mind:
He fought a tutor of his own accord,
And ftudy'd leffons he before abhorr❜d.

Thus the man-child advanc'd, and learn'd
so fast,

That in fhort time his equals he furpafs'd;
His brutal manners from his breaft exil'd,
His inien he fashion'd, and his tongue he fil'd;
In ev'ry exercife of all admir'd,

He feem'd, nor only feem'd, but was infpir'd:
Infpir'd by love, whofe bus'ness is to please;
He rode, he fenc'd, he mov’d with graceful ease;
More fam'd for fenfe, for courtly carriage more,
Than for his brutal folly known before.

[love.

What then of alter'd Cymon fhall we say,
But that the fire which choak'd in afhes lay,
A load too heavy for his foul to move,
Was upward blown below, and brush'd away by
Love made an active progress thro' his mind,
The dufky parts he clear'd, the grofs refin'd,
The drowfy wak'd; and as he went imprefs'd
The Maker's image on the human breast..
Thus was the man amended by defire,
And, tho' he lov'd perhaps with too much fire,
His father all his faults with reafon fcann'd,
And lik'd an error of the better hand;
Excus'd th'excefs of paffion in his mind,
By flames too fierce, perhaps too much refin❜d:
Impetuons lov'd, and would be Cymon ftill;
So Cymon, fince his fire indulg'd his will,
Galefus he difown'd, and chofe to bear [fair.
The name of fool confirm'd, and bishop'd by the
To Cipfeus by his friends his fuit he mov'd;
But he was pre-engag'd by former ties,
Cipfeus, the father of the fair he lov'd:
While Cymon was endeav'ring to be wife ;
And Iphigene, oblig'd by former vows,
Had given her faith to wed a foreign spouse.
Her fire and the to Rhodian Pafimond,
Tho' both repenting, were by promise bound,
Nor could retract; and thus, as fate decreed,
Tho' better lov'd, he spoke too late to speed.

The

[ocr errors]

The doom was paft, the ship, already fent,
Did all his tardy diligence prevent.
Sigh'd to herself the fair unhappy maid,
While ftormy Cymon thus in fecret faid,
The time is come for Iphigene to find
The miracle fhe wrought upon my mind;
Her charms have made me man, her ravifh'd love
- In rank fhall place me with the blefs'd above.
For mine by love, by force the fhall be mine;
Or death, if force thould fail, thall finish my
defign.

Refolv'd he faid; and rigg'd with speedy care
A veffel ftrong, and well equipp'd for war.
The fecret fhip with chofen friends he stor'd;
And, bent to die or conquer, went aboard.
Ambush'd he lay, behind the Cyprian fhore,
Waiting the fail that all his wifhes bore;
Nor long expected; for the following tide
Sent out the hoftile fhip and beauteous bride.
To Rhodes the rival bark directly steer'd,
When Cymon fudden at her back appear'd,
And ftopp'd her flight; then, ftanding on the prow,
Ja haughty terms he thus defy'd the foe;
Or ftrike your fails at fummons, or prepare
To prove the laft extremities of war.
Thus warn'd, the Rhodians for the fight pro--
Already were the veffels fide by fide; [vide;
These obftinate to fave, and those to seize the
bride.

But Cymon foon his crooked grapples cast,
Which with tenacious hold his foes embrac'd,
And, arm'd with fword and shield, amid the

prefs he pafs'd.

For yours I am, he faid, and have deferv'd'
Your love much better, whom fo long I ferv'd,
Than he to whom your formal father ty'd
Your vows, and fold a flave, not fent a bride.
Thus while he fpoke, he feiz'd the willing preg
As Paris bore the Spartan fpoufe away.
Faintly the feream'd, and ev'n her eyes confefs'a
She rather would be thought, than was diftrefs'd.
Who now exults but Cymon in his mind?
Vain hopes and empty joys of human kind,
Proud of the prefent, to the future blind!
Secure of fate, while Cymon plows the sea,
And fteers to Candy with his conquer'd prey,
Scarce the third glafs of meafur'd hours was run,
When, like a fiery meteor funk the fun;
The promise of a storm; the shifting gales.
Forfake by fits, and fill the flagging fails;
Hoarfe murmurs of the main from far were heard,
And night came on, not by degrees prepar'd,
But all at once; at once the winds arife,
The thunders roll, the forky lightning flies.
In vain the mafter iffues out commands,
In vain the trembling failors ply their hands;
The tempeft unforeseen prevents their care,
And from the first they labour in despair.
The giddy fhip, betwixt the winds and tides,
Forc'd back and forwards, in a circle rides,
Stunn'd with the diffrent blows; then fhoots
amain,

Till, counterbuff'd, she stops, and fleeps again.
Not more aghaft the proud archangel fell,
Plung'd from the height of heav'n to deepeft hell,
Than ftood the lover of his love poffefs'd,
Now curs'd the more, the more he had been blefs'd
More anxious for her danger than his own,
Death he defies; but would be loft alone.

Fierce was the fight, but, haft'ning to his prey,
By force the furious lover freed his way:
Himself alone difpers'd the Rhodian crew,
The weak difdain'd, the valiant overthrew;
Cheap conqueft for his following friends remain'd,
He reap'd the field, and they but only glean'd.
His victory confefs'd, the focs retreat,
And caft the weapons at the victor's feet.
Whom thus he cheeer'd: O Rhodian youth, I Are ever prefent, and her crime upbraid.

fought

[ocr errors]

For love alone, nor other booty fought:
Your lives are fafe; your veffel I refign;
Yours be your own, restoring what is mine.
In Iphigene I claim my rightful due,
Robb'd by my rival, and detain'd by you,
Your Pafimond a lawless bargain drove;
The parent could not fell the daughter's love;
Or, if he could, my love difdains the laws,
And, like a king, by conqueft gains his cause.
Where arms take place, all other pleas are vain,
Love taught me force, and force fhall love maintain;
You, what by ftrength you could not keep, releafe,
And at an eafy ranfom buy your peace.

Fear on the conquer'd fide foon fign'd th'accord,
And Iphigene to Cymon was reftor'd:
While to his arms the blufhing bride he took,
To feeming fadness the compos'd her look;
As if by force fubjected to his will,
Tho' pleas'd, diffembling, and a woman still.
And (for the wept) he wip'd her falling tears,
And pray'd her to dilinifs her empty fears;

Sad Iphigene to womanish complaints
Adds pious pray'rs, and wearies all the faints;
Ev'n if the could, her love the would repent;
But, fince the cannot, dreads the punishment:
Her forfeit faith, and Pafimond betray'd,

She blames herself, nor blames her lover lefs,
Augments her anger as her fears increase:
From her own back the burthen would remove,
And lays the load on his ungovern'd love,
Which interpofing durft, in Heav'n's defpite,
Invade, and violate another's right.
The pow'rs incens'd, a while deferr'd his pain,
And made him mafter of his vows in vain;
But foon they punifh'd his prefumptuous pride,
That for his daring enterprife the dy'd,
Who rather not refifted than comply'd.

Then, impotent of mind, with alter'd fenfe,
She hugg'd th'offender, and forgave th'offence
Sex to the laft. Meantime, with fails declin'd,
The wand'ring veffel drove before the wind;
Tofs'd and retcis'd, aloft, and then below,
Nor port they feek, nor certain course they
know,

But ev'ry moment wait the coming blow.
Thus blindly driv'n, by breaking day they
view'ď

The land before thein, and their fears renew'd;
The

The land was welcome, but the tempeft bore The threaten'd fhip against a rocky thore.

A winding bay was near; to this they bent, And juft efcap'd; their force already spent. Secure from ftorms, and panting from the fea, The land unknown at leifure they furvey; And faw (but foon their fickly fight withdrew) The rifing tow'rs of Rhodes at diftant view; And curs'd the hoftile fhore of Pafimond, Sav'd from the feas, and fhipwreck'd on the ground.

The frighted failors try'd their strength in vain
To turn the ftern, and tempt the stormy main;
But the ftiff wind withstood the lab'ring oar,
And forc'd them forward on the fatal fhore!
The crooked keel now bites the Rhodian strand,
And the fhip moor'd constrains the crew to land;
Yet ftill they might be fafe, because unknown;
But, as ill fortune feldom comes alone,
The veffel they difmifs'd was driv'n before,
Already fhelter'd on their native fhore;
Known each, they know; but each with change
of cheer;

The vanquifh'd fide exults, the victors fear;
Not them but theirs; made pris'ners ere they fight,
Defpairing conqueft, and depriv'd of flight.

The country rings around with loud alarms, And raw in fields the rude militia fwarms; Mouths without hands, maintain'd at vaft exIn peace a charge, in war a weak defence: [pence, Stout once a month they march, a bluft'ring And ever, but in times of need, at hand; [band; This was the morn when, iffuing on the guard, Drawn up in rank and file, they food prepar'd Of feeming arms to make a fhort effay, [day. Then haften to be drunk, the bus'nefs of the The cowards would have fled, but that they

knew

Themselves fo many, and their foes fo few: But, crowding on, the laft the first impel, Till overborne with weight the Cyprians fell. Cymon enflav'd, who first the war begun, And Iphigene once more is loft and won.

Deep in a dungeon was the captive caft, Depriv'd of day, and held in fetters faft; His life was only fpar'd at their request, Whom taken he fo nobly had reicas'd; But Iphigenia was the ladies care; Each in their turn addrefs'd to treat the fair; While Pafimondand his the nuptial feaftprepare.

Her fecret foul to Cymon was inclin'd,
But the muft fuffer what her fates affign'd;
So paffive is the church of womankind.
What worte to Cymon could his fortune deal,
Roll'd to the loweft fpoke of all her wheel?
It refted to difmifs the downward weight,
Or raife him upward to his former height;
The latter pleas'd; and love (concern'd the most)
Prepar'd th'amends for what by love he loft.

The fire of Pafimond had left a fon,
Tho' younger, yet for courage early known,
Ormida call'd; to whom, by promife ty'd,
A Rhodian beauty was the deftin'd bride;

Caffandra was her name; above the reft
Renown'd for birth, with fortune amply bleft.
Lyfimachus, who rul'd the Rhodian itate,
Was then by choice their annual magistrate;
He lov'd Callandra too with equal fire,
But fortune had not favour'd his defire;
Crofs'd by her friends, by her not disapprov'd,
Nor yet preferr'd, or like Ormifda lov'd.
So ftood th'affair; fome little hope remain'd,
That, fhould his rival chance to lofe, he gain'd.
Mean time young Pafimond his marriage
prefs'd,

Ordain'd the nuptial day, prepar'd the feast ;
And frugally refolv'd (the charge to fhun,
Which would be double fhould he wed alone)
To join his brother's bridal with his own.

}

Lyfimachus, opprefs'd with mortal grief,
Receiv'd the news, and ftudy'd quick relief;
The fatal day approach'd; if force were us'd,
The magiftrate his public trust abus'd;
To juftice liable, as law requir'd;
For, when his office ceas'd his pow'r expir'd.-
While pow'r remain'd, the means were in his
hand,

By force to feize, and then forfake the land.
Betwixt extremes he knew not how to move;
A flave to fame, but more a flave to love:
Reftraining others, yet himself not free,
Made impotent by pow'r, debas'd by dignity.
Both fides he weigh'd; but after much debate,
The man prevail'd above the magiftrate.

Love never fails to mafter what he finds,
But works a diff'rent way in diff'rent minds,
The fool enlightens, and the wife he blinds.
This youth propofing to poffefs and 'Icape,
Began in murder, to conclude in rape:
Unprais'd by me, tho' Heav'n fometimes may
An impious act with undeferv'd fuccefs;
The great, it feems, are privileg'd alone
To punish all injuftice but their own.
But here I ftop, not daring to proceed,'
Yet blush to flatter an unrighteous deed;
For crimes are but permitted, not decreed.

blefs

Refolv'd on force, his wit the prætor bent, To find the means that might fecure th'event; Nor long he labour'd; for his lucky thought In captive Cymon found the friend he fought; Th'example pleas'd: the cause and crime the An injur'd lover and a ravifh'd dame. How much he durft he knew by what he dar'd, [fame; The lefs he had to lofe, the less he car'd, Το manage loathfome life when love was the reward,

This ponder'd well, and fix'd on his intent, In depth of night he for the pris'ner fent; In fecret fent, the public view to fhun, Then, with a fober fimile, he thus begun : The pow'rs above, who bounteoufly bestow Their gifts and graces on mankind below, Yet prove our merit firft, nor blindly give To fuch as are not worthy to receive; For valour and for virtue they provide Their due reward, but firft they must be try'd, Thefe

These fruitful feeds within your mind they fow'd;
'Twas yours t'improve the talent they beftow'd:
They gave you to be born of noble kind,
They gave you love to lighten up your mind,
And purge the groffer parts; they gave you care
To please, and courage to deferve the fair.
Thus far they try'd you, and by proof they

found

The grain entrusted in a grateful ground;
But ftill the great experiment remain'd;
They fuffer'd you to lofe the prize you gain'd,
That you might learn the gift was theirs alone;
And, when reftor'd, to them the bleffing own.
Reftor'd it foon will be; the means prepar'd,
The difficulty fmooth'd, the danger fhar'd;
Be but yourfelf, the care to me refign,
Then Iphigene is yours, Caffandra mine.
Your rival Pafimond purfues your life,
Impatient to revenge his ravish'd wife:
But yet not his; to-morrow is behind,
And love our fortunes in one band has join'd:
Two brothers are our foes; Ormifda mine,
As much declar'd as Pafimond is thine;
To-morrow muft their common vows be ty'd:
With love to friend, and fortune for our guide,
Let both refolve to die, or each redeem a bride.

Right I have none, nor haft thou much to plead;
'Tis force, when done, muft justify the deed;
Our task perform'd, we next prepare for flight;
And let the lofers talk in vain of right:
We with the fair will fail before the wind;
If they are griev'd, I leave the laws behind.
Speak thy refolves; if now thy courage droop,
Defpair in prifon, and abandon hope:
But if thou dar'ft in arms thy love regain
(For liberty without thy love were vain)
Then fecond my design to feize the prey,
Or lead to fecond rape, for well thou know'ft

the way.

Said Cymon, overjoy'd, do thou propose
The means to fight, and only fhew the foes:
For from the first, when love had fir'd my mind,
Refolv'd I left the care of life behind.

To this the bold Lyfimachus reply'd,
Let Heav'n be neuter, and the fword decide;
The 'fpoufals are prepar'd, already play
The minstrels, and provoke the tardy day :
By this the brides are wak'd, their grooms are
dreft;

It pleas'd! the prifoner to his hold retir'd; His troop with equal emulation fir'd, [quir'd. All fix'd to fight, and all their wonted work reThe fun arofe; the ftreets were throng'd around, The palace open'd, and the pofts were crown'd. The double bridegroom at the door attends Th'expected fpoufe, and entertains the friends; They meet, they lead to church, the priests invoke The pow'rs, and feed the flames with fragrant finoke.

}|

All Rhodes is fummon'd to the nuptial feast,
All but myself, the sole unbidden guest.
Unbidden tho' I am, I will be there,
And, join'd by thee, intend to joy the fair.
Now hear the reft; when day refigns the light,
And cheerful torches gild the jolly night,
Be ready at my call; my chofen few
With arms adininifter'd fhall aid thy crew;
Then, ent'ring unexpected, will we feize
Our deftin'd prey from men diffolv'd in ease;
By wine difabl'd, unprepar'd for fight;
And haft'ning to the feas, fuborn our flight:
The feas are ours, for I command the fort;
A fhip well-mann'd expects us in the port.
If they, or if their friends, the prize conteft,
Death fhall attend the man who dares refift.

This done, they feaft, and at the clofe of night,
By kindled torches vary their delight;
Thefe lead the lively dance, and thofe the
brimming bowls invite.

Now at th'appointed place and hour affign'd,
With fouls refolv d, the ravifhers were join'd;
Three bands are form'd; the firft is fent before.
To favour the retreat and guard the shore;
The fecond at the palace-gate is plac'd;
And up the lofty ftairs afcend the laft;
A peaceful troop they feem with shining vests,
But coats of mail beneath fecure their breafts.

Dauntless they enter, Cymon at their head,
And find the feast renew'd, the table spread;
Sweet voices, mix'd with inftrumental founds,
Afcend the vaulted roof,the vaulted roof rebounds.
When, like the harpies rufhing through the hall,
The fudden troop appears, the tables fall,
Their fimoking load is on the pavement thrown;
Each ravisher prepares to feize his own;
The brides, invaded with a rude embrace,
Shriek out for aid, confufion fills the place.
Quick to redeem the prey their plighted lords
Advance; the palace gleams with fhining fwords.

But late is all defence, and fuccour vain,
The rape is made, the ravishers remain;
Two sturdy flaves were only fent before
To bear the purchas'd prize in fafety to the fhore,
The troop retires, the lovers close the rear,
With forward faces not confeffing fear; [inend
Backward they move, but fcorn their pace to
Then feek the stairs, and with flow hafte defcend.

Fierce Pafimond, their paffage to prevent,
Thruft full on Cymon's back in his defcent,
The blade return'd unbath'd, and to the han-
dle bent.

Stout Cymon foon remounts, and cleft in two
His rival's head with one defcending blow;
And as the next in rank Ormifda flood,
He turn'd the point; the fword inur'd to blood,
Bor'd his unguarded breaft which pour'd a
purple flood.

With vow'd revenge the gath'ring crowd pursues,
The ravishers turn head, the fight renews;
The hall is heap'd with corps; the sprinkled gore
Befmears the walls, and floats the marble floor.
Difpers'd at length the drunken fquadron flies,
The victors to their veffel bear the prize; [cries.
And hear behind loud groans and lamentable
The crew with merry fhouts their anchor weigh,
Then ply their oars, and bruth the buxom fea,
While troops of gather'd Rhodians crowd the

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »