Poems on Several Occasions | ||
201
The Important Question.
As Venus sat mop'd, no Mars to divert her,Her good Man asleep, whom she wished alerter;
“I'll e'en take a Ride, says she, put the Doves to;”
'Tis done, the young Cooers away with her flew,
And gambold the Air, as if proud of her Weight:
“To Vauxhall bend your Course, and wing me there strait;
“Jove bless me! who's this? it is Ceres, I swear,
“Or else Lady Dian by the Shade of her Air;
“Good-morrow, bright Venus! pray, whither so fast?
“Your Ladyship seems to be driving Post Haste;
“I am for Vauxhall, to Pomona the Fair,
“The Queen of the Spring—I'm inform'd, she lives there;
“My Dear! you're quite out, turn your Phaeton round,
“Her Court is at Ranelagh, thither I'm bound;
“Nay prithee, good Ceres! that can't be her home,
“Do you think that she'd live coop'd up in a Dome?
“Believe me, as soon as she'd sit on a Throne,
“Envelop'd all round with the Smoak of yon Town;
“But see! whom have we here, that drive's such a Rate?
“O! Juno, I know by her Peacocks and State;
“Shall she then decide? Yes—hail, Queen of the Sky!
“We've a little Dispute, dear Madam! draw nigh;
“'Tis where Pomona resides? that's the Fracas,
“I say at Vauxhall, she insists Ranelagh.”
At which Juno smil'd, “I thought you and Ceres,
202
“When all the World grants, Kendal-House is the Place,
“Pomona the Queen of the Spring deigns to grace;
“In the Bower you'll find her, or else in the Groves,
“Where Linnets and Nightingales warble their Loves;
“Perhaps near the River's Meander she strays,
“Or by the Canal with Vertumnus she plays;
“Or else you will see her in Dance on the Green,
“With the Graces and Loves who encircle their Queen;
“To your Majesty Thanks! excuse further Stay,
“We'll e'en to her Court, where we'll spend a rich Day.”
Poems on Several Occasions | ||