To cut th' opposing waves we strive in vain,
But if we rife with them and fall again
The wifh'd-for land with ease we may attain.
Such complaifance will a rough humour bend, 991
And yielding to one failure fave a friend.
Mildnefs and temper have a force divine
To make ev'n passion with their nature join.
The hawk we hate as living still in arms,
And wolves affiduous in the fhepherds' harms.
The fociable swallow has no fears,
Upon our tow'rs the dove her neft prepares,
And both of them live free from human fnares.
Far from loud rage and echoing noise of fights 1000
The fofteft Love in gentle found delights.
Smooth mirth, bright fmiles, calm peace, and flowing
Are the companions of the Paphian boy; [joy,
Such as when Hymen first his mantle fpread 1004
All o'er the facred down which made the bridal bed.
'These blandishments keep Love upon the wing,
His prefence fresh, and always in the spring:
This makes a profpect endless to the view,
With light that rises still and still is new;
At your approach find ev'ry thing ferene,
Like Paphos honour'd by the Cyprian queen,
Who brings along her daughter Harmony,
With Mufes fprung from Jove and Graces three.
Birds fhot by you, fish by your angle caught,
The Golden Apples from Hefperia brought, Iors
The blushing peach, the fragrant nectarines,
Laid in fresh beds of flow'rs and fcented greens,
Fair lilies ftrew'd with bloody mulberries,
Or grapes whofe juice made Bacchus reach the skies,
May oftentimes a grateful prefent make,
Not for the value but the giver's fake.
Perhaps the may at vacant hours peruse
The happy product of your easy Muse.
Far from intrigue and scandal be your verse,
But praise of virgin modefty rehearse,
Maufolus by his confort deify'd,
How for Admetus bleft Alceftis dy'd.
Since Overbury's Wife no poets seem
T'have chofe a wifer or a nobler theme.
You'd help a neighbour, would a friend prefer, Pardon a fervant; let all come from her.
Thus what you grant if she must recommend
"Twill make a mutual gift and double friend. So when pale Want is craving at the door
We fend our fav'rite fon to help the poor;
Pleas'd with their grateful pray'rs that he may live,
And find what heav'nly pleasure it is to give.
Praise all her actions, think her dress is fine; Embroideries with gold, pearl, diamonds, join: Your wealth does beft when plac'd on Beauty fhine..
*This poem, fuppofed to have been written for the Earl of Somerfet, is the character of a good woman, just the reverfe of the lady that his friend married. It is printed with his Characters, &c. and had gone through fixteen editions în 1638.
If the in tabby waves encircled be,
Think Amphitrite rises from the sea.
If by her the purpureal velvet is worn,
Think that the rifes like the blush of Morn:
And when her filks afar from Indus come,
Wrought in Chinese or in the Perfian loom,
Think that the then like Pallas is array'd,
By whofe myfterious art the wheel was made.
Each day admire her diff'rent graceful air
In which the winds her bright and flowing hair. 1050
With her when dancing let your genius fly;
When in her fong the note expires then die.
If in the autumn when the wafting year
Its plenty fhews that foon must disappear,
When fwelling grape, and peach with lovely hue, 1055
And pear and apple fresh with fragrant dew,
By tempting look and tafte perhaps invite
That which we feldom rule, our appetite;
When noxious heat and fudden cold divides
The time o'er which bale influence prefides, 1060
Her fev'rifh blood should pulse unusual find,
Or vap'rous damps of fpleen fhould fink her mind,
Then is the time to fhew a lover's cares;
Sometimes enlarge her hopes, contra&t her fears;
Give the falubrious draughts with your own hand:
Perfuafion has the force of a command.
Watch and attend; then your reward will prove
When the recovers full increase of Love.
Far from this Love is haughty pride,
Which ancient fables beft deride;
Women imperious, void of fhame,
And careless of their lovers' fame,
Who of tyrannick follies boast,
Tormenting him that loves them most.
When Hercules by labours done
Had prov'd himself to be Jove's fon,
By peace which he to earth had giv'n
Deferv'd to have his reft in heav'n,
Envy, that strives to be unjust,
Refolv'd to mortify him first,
"Come, quickly, Sir! off with my fkin;
"What should you do with all those arrows?
"Let me be rightly understood; "What I intend is for your good. "In boddice I defign to lace ye,
"And fo among my maids I 'll place ye.
"When you 're genteeler grown and thinner "May be I'll call you up to dinner.
"With arms fo brawny, fifls fo red,
"You'll fcrub the rooms or make the bed.
"You cann't flick pins or frizle my hair.
"Blefs me! you've nothing of an air.
"You'll ne'er come up to working point;
"Your fingers all feem out of joint.
"Then befides, Heccy, I muft tell ye
"An idle hand has empty belly;
"Therefore this morning I 'll begin
Try how your clumfinefs will fpin.
"You are my fhadow, do you fee:
"Your hope, your thought, your wish, all be
"Invented and controll'd by me.
"Look up whene'er I laugh; look down
"With trembling horrour if I frown.
"Say as I fay: fervants cann't lie ;
"Your truth is my propriety.
"Nay, you should be to torture brought
"Were I but jealous you tranfgreft in thought; "Or if from Jove your fingle wish should crave "The fate of not continuing still
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