Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

In Days of old, when Justice rul'd below
(A golden Æra ended long ago)
When Man to Man was honestly inclin'd,
And Words express'd the Purport of the Mind:
E're Lawyers, Doctors, Priests, a tripple cheat,
Grew fat on spoils, and flourish'd by deceit,
And fasly feigning by a sham pretence
Purloin'd our health, our money, and our sense.

In those blest times the beauteous Hilpa shin'd.
(An angel Form, but with a female Mind.)
Let none severe our present Fair disgrace,
They are but Copies of a former race.
In vain would rude comparisons defame,
For Woman was, and is, and will be still the same.

This beauteous Nymph, the Subject of my Song.
Was soon distinguish'd from the vulgar throng;
Scarce threescore summer suns the Virgin knew,
(Her infant charms but rip'ning to the view)
When far around from every peopled plain
Each Shepherd sought her tender Heart to gain;
Two Rival-Brothers were the chief who strove;
Ah! what is Nature in dispute with Love?
Harpath the first, with countless Wealth was blest,
Of num'rous flocks and fruitful vales possest;
Inferior far was Shalum's little store,
Small was his portion, but his Merit more;
O'er Tirzah's desart Mount he reign'd alone,
The needy monarch of a worthless throne.
Fair Hilpa soon resolv'd to end the strife,
For, what's a Happy to a Wealthy Life?
Proud Harpath gain'd the mercenary bride,
She risqu'd her Welfare to indulge her Pride.
So choose our modern Fair, and so despise,
'Tis almost an Objection to be wise;

On guilded Toys their wanton hearts they fix,
And hug the Coxcomb for the Coach and Six.

Thus glitt'ring Pomp and worthless Pelf prevall'd,
But Wisdom (as it will with Women) fail'd;
The dazled Virgin lent a speedy ear,
An early Wife before her hundredth year.
Short was her Joy, and short the Husband's Pride,
Unripe for fate, in flow'r of Youth he dy'd;
Plung'd in a rapid stream, he breath'd his last,
And fell e'er half five hundred Years he past.

Fair, rich, and young was Hilpa left behind,
(A State the constant Wish of Womankind;)
So sore she mourn'd at first, her Grief so strong,
The force of Nature could not bear it long;
Her Eyes incessant wept her Woes away,
Then soon resum'd their Fire, and all was gay.

Ten little Years were hardly roll'd around,
E're fresh supplies the beauteous Relict found;
For ten short years, such was the custom then,
The Widows liv'd recluse, and unapproach'd by Men.
Tho' thousands sigh'd, yet thousands sigh'd in vain,
Till constant Shalum sought her heart again.
While Harpath liv'd, with Rage and Envy fir'd,
To Rocks and Mountains sullen he retir'd,

There sought by Planting to relieve his grief,
It prov'd his equal Profit and Relief;
For ev'ry plant he knew, and ev'ry ground,
His thrifty forests spread themselves around,
The barren Wild rejoic'd, with shade and verdure crown'd.

Fair Hilpa soon the beauteous Scene beheld,
A scene by Paradise alone excell'd;
For Women's Eyes, to Int'rest always true,
In that one point their ev'ry Lover view,
And while they please themselves, they seem to yield to you.
Up from the Vale she cast her longing eyes,
And saw from far the tow'ring Cedars rise;
The fragrant Mountain breath'd a rich Perfume,
And mingling Branches form'd an awful Gloom:
She mus'd, she sigh'd; and soon to wish began,
For while she lik'd the Wealth she hop'd the Man.
While for her former folly thus she griev'd,
These lines from faithful Shalum she receiv'd:

‘What Pains, what Anguish has not Shalum prov'd
‘Since Zilpa's Daughter first my Rival lov'd?
‘To woods and dreary wilds I took my Flight,
‘And curs'd the sun's uncomfortable light.
‘Full seventy springs have led the youthful year,
‘Since first my wretched residence was here:

‘Here have I mourn'd thy Loss, unseen by day,
‘Nor ceas'd to sigh while Ages roll'd away;
‘But now my realms a fairer Prospect yield,
‘With all the Gifts of lavish Nature fill'd.
‘Here distant Trees project a lengthen'd glade,
‘Here join their peaceful summits in a shade.
‘With Fruits and Flow'rs the wide extent is crown'd,
‘And frequent Fountains murmur all around.
‘Come up, my Fair, if Constancy can move:
‘Come up, my Fair, and give a Loose to Love:
‘Come, let us fill this wide unpeopl'd Place
‘With numerous Offspring, and a lusty Race.
‘Bethink thee, Charmer, what we owe to Time,
‘A transient Life, a momentary Prime:
‘How soon, alas! the utmost date is flown,
‘A thousand scanty years are ours alone:
‘But Beauty flies with more than common haste,
‘(A blessing too extravagant to last)
‘A quick decay the fairest Face must find.
‘Five hundred suns must leave a Mark behind;
‘Remember that, my Fair, and be thou early kind.

This friendly counsel, to the Nymph convey'd,
No small Impression on her Fancy made:
These artless dictates of an honest heart,
Without the modern aid of Flame and Dart,

Yet seem'd so lovely in the Charmer's eye,
She soon indulgent, sent him this reply.

‘Why seek'st thou, Shalum, Hilpa's heart to move
‘With empty offers of dissembled Love?
‘My Flocks, my Herds alone your passion raise,
‘You seek my Riches while my Charms you praise,
‘Say, can my Beauty with my Wealth compare?
‘Or is my Person as my Portion fair?
‘These warm desires my fertile Plains convey,
‘Nor shines their Mistress half so bright as they.
‘I own the Graces of the Woodland scene,
‘The tow'ring Branches, and the waving Green;
‘But these, however, they exceed in Show,
‘Are far inferior to the Vale below.

‘Shalum, I know Thee more than mortal wise,
‘Vers'd in the Earth, the Ocean, and the Skies:
‘Thou know'st the various Virtues of the Soil,
‘And which would mock, and which deserves the toil
‘'Tis thine to view the rolling Orbs on high,
‘And trace the wandring Planets thro' the sky.
‘Thy Thoughts are fix'd sublime, and far above
‘The weak engagements of a Woman's Love.
‘Oh! cease, and leave me to my self alone,
‘Already happy in my Little Own.
‘Why wouldst thou follow with delusive Art,
‘So poor a Conquest as a female heart?

‘Still may thy labours with Success be paid;
‘May Wood to Wood be joyn'd, and Shade to Shade.
‘Great be thy Comfort in thy lov'd recess,
‘But tempt not me to share, and make the Blessing less.

Her Meaning Shalum by her letter guest;
Secure of this, he doubted not the rest,
But soon conjectur'd, as he read it o'er,
She gave so much, but to be prest for more.

Pleas'd with the Thought, he spread a sumptuous Feast,
And ask'd and had the Charmer for his guest.
For two long years he entertain'd the Fair
With all the Luxuries of Earth and Air.
At proper intervals he sigh'd his Flame,
And now regal'd, and now address'd the Dame.
The sweet Vicissitude engag'd her Heart,
But female Pride was urgent to depart;
Yet kindly, to disperse all groundless fears,
She promis'd to resolve in fifty Years.
Down to the Vale the fickle nymph withdrew,
And soon forgot what was no more in view.

Mispach, renown'd of old, confess'd his Flame,
A kind Reception found he from the Dame;
For Women shift their Hearts with wond'rous ease,
The latest Lover shall be sure to please.

Lord of a mighty Town he reign'd sublime,
A structure founded in contempt of Time.
Skill'd in the puny Arts which win the Fair,
The moving Nonsense, and the jaunty Air,
Musick, the greatest friend to love, he sound,
And caper'd nimbly to the sprightly sound;
Then with rich Gifts her venal mind he sought,
For Female favours must be always bought.

Judge, o ye fair, shall Constancy prevail
When Dansing, Musick, nay, when Presents fail?
Full wroth was Shalum at a turn so strange,
Aghast he stood to see his Hilpa change;
Yet musing with himself in manly mood,
Determin'd to forget her, if he cou'd.

Long did the Choice her wand'ring thoughts perplex;
(A Virtue universal in the sex)
Long to resolve in vain she doubtful strove;
'Twas Fate alone could fix a Woman's Love:
A haughty Tower, the pride of Mispach's Town,
Consum'd by Lightning, fell and moulder'd down;
The Flames contagious spread themselves around,
And brought the smoaking City to the ground.
Rob'd of his Wealth, he charm'd the fair no more,
(For what Pretence to Merit have the Poor?)

A willing Bride to Shalum's arms she came,
Indulg'd his Passion, and appeas'd his Flame.
The nuptial Feast it boots not to relate,
The vast profusion, and expensive state;
This only Lesson may my Tale impart,
That Female Falshood is no modern art.
Then cease, ye Beaux, profane the fair no more,
For Chloe's now what Hilpa was before.