University of Virginia Library

Imagination, in the flight
Of young desire and gay delight,
Began to think upon a mate;
As weary of a single state;
For sick of change, as left at will,
And cloy'd with entertainment still,
She thought it better to be grave
To settle, to take up, and save.
She therefore to her chamber sped,
And thus at first attir'd her head.
Upon her hair, with brilliants grac'd,
Her tow'r of beamy gold she plac'd;
Her ears with pendant jewels glow'd
Of various water, curious mode,
As nature sports the wintry ice,
In many a whimsical device.
Her eye-brows arch'd upon the stream
Of rays, beyond the piercing beam;
Her cheeks in matchless colour high,
She veil'd to fix the gazer's eye;
Her paps, as white as Fancy draws,
She cover'd with a crimson gauze;
And on her wings she threw perfume
From buds of everlasting bloom.
Her zone, ungirded from her vest,
She were across her swelling breast;
On which, in gems, this verse was wrought,
“I make and shift the scenes of Thought.”
In her right hand a wand she held,
Which Magick's utmost pow'r excell'd;
And in her left retain'd a Chart,
With figures far surpassing art,
Of other natures, suns and moons,
Of other moves to higher tunes.
The Sylphs and Sylphids, fleet as light,
The Fairies of the gamesome night,
The Muses, Graces, all attend
Her service, to her journey's end:
And Fortune, sometimes at her hand,
Is now the fav'rite of her band,
Dispatch'd before the news to bear,
And all th'adventure to prepare.

Beneath an Holm-tree's friendly shade,
Was Reason's little cottage made;
Before, a river deep and still;
Behind, a rocky soaring hill.
Himself, adorn'd in seemly plight,
Was reading to the Eastern light;
And ever, as he meekly knelt,
Upon the Book of Wisdom dwelt.
The Spirit of the shifting wheel,
Thus first essay'd his pulse to feel.—
“The Nymph supreme o'er works of wit,
“O'er labour'd plan, and lucky hit,
“Is coming to your homely cot,
“To call you to a nobler lot;
“I, Fortune, promise wealth and pow'r,
“By way of matrimonial dow'r:
“Preferment crowns the golden day,
“When fair Occasion leads the way.”
Thus spake the frail, capricious dame,
When she that sent the message came.—

“From first Invention's highest sphere,
“I, Queen of Imag'ry, appear;
“And throw myself at Reason's feet,
“Upon a weighty point to treat.
“You dwell alone, and are too grave;
“You make yourself too much a slave;
“Your shrewd deductions run a length,
“'Till all your spirits waste their strength:
“Your fav'rite logick is full close;
“Your morals are to much a dose;
“You ply your studies 'till you risk
“Your senses—you should be more brisk—
“The Doctors soon will find a flaw,
“And lock you up in chains and straw.
“But, if you are inclin'd to take
“The gen'rous offer, which I make,
“I'll lead you from this hole and ditch,
“To gay Conception's top-most pitch;
“To those bright plains, where crowd in swarms
“The spirits of fantastic forms;
“To planets populous with elves;
“To natures still above themselves,
“By soaring to the wond'rous height
“Of notions, which they still create;
“I'll bring you to the pearly cars,
“By dragons drawn, above the stars;
“To colours of Arabian glow;
“And to the heart-dilating show
“Of paintings, which surmount the life:
“At once your tut'ress, and your wife.”—
“—Soft, soft, (says Reason) lovely friend;
“Tho' to a parley I attend,
“I cannot take thee for a mate;
“I'm lost, if e'er I change my state.
“But whensoe'er your raptures rise,
“I'll try to come with my supplies;
“To muster up my sober aid,
“What time your lively powr's invade;
“To act conjointly in the war
“On Dullness, whom we both abhor;
“And ev'ry sally that you make,
“I must be there, for conduct's sake;
“Thy correspondent, thine ally;
“Or any thing, but bind and tye—
“But, e'er this treaty be agreed,
“Give me thy wand and winged steed:
“Take thou this compass and this rule,
“That Wit may cease to play the fool;
“And that thy vot'ries who are born
“For praise, may never sink to scorn.”