University of Virginia Library

Ex Corn. Galli Eleg. II. (Ad Uxorem.)

Paraphras'd.

Since creeping Age has seiz'd us like a Dream,
Then be our State and Sentiments the same;

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46

If now no more to Love my Form invite;
Reflect you once beheld it with Delight?
And let the Merit of preceding Days
Plead for th' Enjoyment of immediate Ease!
Or fruitless if these vain Persuasions fail,
Let Nature, with Experience join'd, prevail!
The Veteran Colony its Worth sustains,
And tho' the Place decays, the Name remains!
The Soldier once dismiss'd—his Labours done,
Retires to Rest, and shews his Trophies won;
The grateful Farmer feeds the feeble Steer,
Whose faithful Toil produc'd his plenteous Year;
And by the honest Master's Hearth is found,
Compos'd to Sleep, the antiquated Hound!
By these instructed, learn to compromise,
Let past attone for want of present Joys!
Nor yet condemn me as disabled quite,
If I can do no more—you see I write:
Still make our former Loves my pleasing Theme,
And, in default of Passion, give you Fame!