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Philomela

Or, Poems By Mrs. Elizabeth Singer, [Now Rowe,] ... The Second Edition
Rowe, Elizabeth Singer (1674-1737)
  
[epigraph]
  
[dedication]

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Verses to the Author, Known only by REPORT, and by Her POEMS.
  
ON REPRINTING Philomela's POEMS,
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POEMS ON Several Occasions.
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A PARAPHRASE ON THE CANTICLES.
  
On CANTICLES. Ch. V. VI. &c.
  
From CANTICLES, Ch. VII, XI.
  
From Job Ch. XIX. V. 26.
  
Pindaric ODE on HABAKKUK.
  
TO THE Author of the foregoing ODE. By the ATHENIANS
  
From MICAH, Ch. VI. 5, 6, 7.
  
From MALACHI, Ch. III. V. 14.
  
PARAPHRASE From John, Ch. III. V. 16.
  
From JOHN, Ch. XXI. V. 17.
  
On the REVELATIONS, Chap. I. from v. 13. to v. 18.
  
Thoughts on DEATH.
  
The REFLECTION.
  
The Vanity of the World, ADDRESSED To the ATHENIANS.
  
ANSWER OF THE ATHENIANS.
  
The RAPTURE.
  
THE EXPOSTULATION.
  
THE WISH. TO THE ATHENIANS.
  
ANSWER OF THE ATHENIANS.
  
A PASTORAL ON THE NATIVITY OF OUR SAVIOUR.
  
THE Fall of PHAETON, Paraphrased.
  
A PASTORAL.
  
A PASTORAL ELEGY.
  
PARTHENIA. AN ELEGY.
  
THE REPLY.
  
PLATONIC LOVE.
  
HUMAN LOVE,
  
REPLY TO HUMAN LOVE.
  
TO A FRIEND WHO Persuades me to leave the Muses.
  
A PINDARIC ODE, TO THE Athenian Society.
  
TO CELINDA.
  
THE FEMALE PASSION.
  
TO STREPHON.
  
TO ORESTES.
  
ANSWER BY THE ATHENIANS.
  
TO A LADY at Court.
  
THE VISION, To Theron.
  
ANOTHER.
  
FLORINDA
  
ON DESPAIR.
  
TO MEMORY.
  
SONG.
  
A Farewel to LOVE.
  
LOVE for LOVE.
  
The WHIM.

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53

THE EXPOSTULATION.

I

How long, great God, a wretched Captive here,
Must I these hated Marks of Bondage wear?
How long shall these uneasy Chains controul
The willing Flights of my impatient Soul?
How long shall her most pure Intelligence
Be strain'd through an Infectious Screen of gross, corrupted Sense?

II

When shall I leave this darksome House of Clay;
And to a brighter Mansion wing away?
54

There's nothing here my Thoughts to entertain,
But one tir'd Revolution o'er again:
The Sun and Stars observe their wonted Round,
The Streams their former Courses keep: No Novelty is found.

III

The same curst Acts of false Fruition o'er,
The same wild Hopes and Wishes as before;
Do men for this so fondly Life caress,
(That airy Puff of splendid Emptiness?)
Unthinking Sots! kind Heav'n, let me be gone,
I'm tir'd, I'm sick of this dull Repetition.
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