As once the Macedon, by Jove's decree,
Was taught to dream an herb for Ptolomee:
Or, Heav'n, which had such over-cost bestow'd,
As scarce it could afford to flesh and blood,
So lik'd the frame, he would not work anew,
To save the charges of another you.

Or, by his middle science did he steer,
And saw some great contingent good appear,
Well worth a miracle to keep you here: 141
And for that end, preserv'd the precious mould,
Which all the future Ormonds was to hold;
And meditated, in his better mind,

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,
Such, for Ascanius, fair Elisa wrought.

The soft recesses of your hours improve
The three fair pledges of your happy love;
All other parts of pious duty done,
You owe your Ormond nothing but a son;
To fill, in future times, his father's place,
And wear the garter of his mother's race,

168

IN days of old, there liv'd, of mighty fame,

5

A valiant prince; and Theseus was his name:
A chief who more in feats of arms excell'd,
The rising, nor the setting sun beheld.
Of Athens he was lord; much land he won,
And added foreign countries to his crown.
In Scythia with the warrior queen he strove ;
Whom, first, by force he conquer'd; then, by love;
He brought in triumph back the beauteous dame,
With whom her sister, fair Emilia, came.
With honour, to his home let Theseus ride,
With love to friend, and fortune for his guide;
And his victorious army at his side.

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:
But these, and other things, I must forbear.
The field is spacious I design to sow,
With oxen far unfit to draw the plow:
The remnant of my tale is of a length

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;
As was at first enjoin'd us by mine host:
That he whose tale is best, and pleases most,
Should win his supper, at our common cost.
And therefore where I left, I will pursue
This ancient story, whether false or true,
In hope it may be mended with a new.
The prince I mention'd, full of high renown,
In this array drew near th' Athenian town;
When in his pomp, and utmost of his pride,
Marching, he chanc'd to cast his eye aside,
And saw a quire of mourning dames, who lay,
By two and two, across the common way:
At his approach they rais'd a rueful cry,
And beat their breasts, and held their hands on high,
Creeping, and crying, till they seiz'd at last
His courser's bridle, and his feet embrac'd.

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