The Works of Hildebrand Jacob ... Containing Poems on Various Subjects, and Occasions; With the Fatal Constancy, a Tragedy; and Several Pieces in Prose. The Greatest Part Never Before Publish'd |
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| I. | EPISTLE I.
To
Syrisca. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
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 | The Works of Hildebrand Jacob |  |
104
EPISTLE I. To Syrisca.
Vice-Gerent of the Queen of Love,
Who with persuasive Arts remove
Coy Maidens Scruples, and inspire
The hardest hearts with soft Desire!
Who with persuasive Arts remove
Coy Maidens Scruples, and inspire
The hardest hearts with soft Desire!
Thy Aid, Syrisca, I implore!
My once lov'd Phillis is no more:
Repair the Injury of Fate!
'Tis sad, to live without a Mate.
The widow'd Bird still hangs its Wings,
No longer sports, no longer sings,
Till the new season brings along
Another Partner in his Song.
O, lure by thy inticing Charms
Some fair Companion to my Arms!
Give me no painted, gaudy Thing,
New dress'd like Flora, in the Spring,
To haunt the Park's licentious Grove,
Trick'd up for adventitious Love,
Noisy, and vain, affecting Wit;
A Nymph admiring Fools might hit,
Or eager Mariners adore,
Just landed hot from Africk's Shore.
My once lov'd Phillis is no more:
Repair the Injury of Fate!
'Tis sad, to live without a Mate.
The widow'd Bird still hangs its Wings,
No longer sports, no longer sings,
Till the new season brings along
Another Partner in his Song.
O, lure by thy inticing Charms
Some fair Companion to my Arms!
105
New dress'd like Flora, in the Spring,
To haunt the Park's licentious Grove,
Trick'd up for adventitious Love,
Noisy, and vain, affecting Wit;
A Nymph admiring Fools might hit,
Or eager Mariners adore,
Just landed hot from Africk's Shore.
Nor let my Chance, Syrisca, be
Some oft-restor'd Virginity,
First bought at an excessive Rate
By some grave Pillar of the State.
Some oft-restor'd Virginity,
First bought at an excessive Rate
By some grave Pillar of the State.
Or fallen Matron in distress,
With awkward Fears, and forc'd Caress;
Reduc'd to what, poor wretched Dame!
Is acted ill in Want, and Shame:
For Love, effeminated Boy,
In Indolence, and Ease must toy,
From Poverty affrighted flys,
Or in the House of Sorrow dyes,
With awkward Fears, and forc'd Caress;
Reduc'd to what, poor wretched Dame!
Is acted ill in Want, and Shame:
For Love, effeminated Boy,
In Indolence, and Ease must toy,
From Poverty affrighted flys,
Or in the House of Sorrow dyes,
106
May she, who shares my softer Hours,
Be fresh, and sweet as vernal Flow'rs,
Still gayly smiling, and excell
In loving, or deceiving well!
Such as, Syrisca, we are told,
Thou to our Fathers wast of old.
Be fresh, and sweet as vernal Flow'rs,
Still gayly smiling, and excell
In loving, or deceiving well!
Such as, Syrisca, we are told,
Thou to our Fathers wast of old.
| The Works of Hildebrand Jacob | |