 | The Land of Love |  |
The River of Pretension.
'Tis treacherously smooth, and falsely fair,
Inviting, but undoing to come near;
Against its Force the Houses find no Fence,
But suffer undermining Violence;
Who (whilst they stand) no Palaces do seem,
In all their glorious Grandeur, like to them.
This River's famous for the fatal Wrecks
Of many much renown'd of either Sex;
Who to her Bosom her soft Whispers drew,
Tempting with Smiles, whilst they their Death pursue.
'Tis there so many Courtiers perish'd have,
And, vainly seeking Fame, have found a Grave.
Inviting, but undoing to come near;
Against its Force the Houses find no Fence,
But suffer undermining Violence;
Who (whilst they stand) no Palaces do seem,
In all their glorious Grandeur, like to them.
This River's famous for the fatal Wrecks
Of many much renown'd of either Sex;
Who to her Bosom her soft Whispers drew,
Tempting with Smiles, whilst they their Death pursue.
'Tis there so many Courtiers perish'd have,
And, vainly seeking Fame, have found a Grave.
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'Twas thither I was tempted too, and Love
Presumptuously would needs my Convoy prove.
Hurry'd by the rash Boy, without Delay,
I ran, but met Precaution on my Way;
With him Respect, both to me gravely said,
Pretension is a River you must dread;
Fond Youth, decline thy fatal Resolution,
Here unavoidably thou meet'st Confusion;
Thou fly'st with too much Haste to certain Fate;
Follow good Counsel, and be fortunate.
Presumptuously would needs my Convoy prove.
Hurry'd by the rash Boy, without Delay,
I ran, but met Precaution on my Way;
With him Respect, both to me gravely said,
Pretension is a River you must dread;
Fond Youth, decline thy fatal Resolution,
Here unavoidably thou meet'st Confusion;
Thou fly'st with too much Haste to certain Fate;
Follow good Counsel, and be fortunate.
Asham'd, all blushing, I decline my Eyes,
Bow'd low, and thank'd them both for their Advice.
From the bewitching River strait I fled,
And hurry'd to the City's farthest Side;
Where lives the mighty Princess Hope, to whom
All People, as their Oracle, do come;
Tho' little Truth is found in what she says,
Yet all adore her Voice, and her wise Conduct praise.
Bow'd low, and thank'd them both for their Advice.
From the bewitching River strait I fled,
And hurry'd to the City's farthest Side;
Where lives the mighty Princess Hope, to whom
All People, as their Oracle, do come;
Tho' little Truth is found in what she says,
Yet all adore her Voice, and her wise Conduct praise.
| The Land of Love | |