University of Virginia Library

Of Adorissa's Second Marriage with Mr. Grevil.

A sable Mantle Heav'n sometimes does place
Between our Eyes and the Sun's lovely Face;
But long that Gloominess does never stay,
Or if it shou'd, it cannot conquer Day.

172

Thus Sorrow, lately, did attempt to shroud
Fair Adorissa's Glories in a Cloud:
Her Mind, 'tis true, the Tyrant did invade,
But her all-bright'ning Eyes cou'd fear no Shade.
Affliction, while 'twou'd Enviously disarm
Her Looks of Darts, is made it self a Charm.
Beauty, distrest, does open to our View
A Lustre that before we never knew;
First our Concern, does then our Wonder move,
And the next Step's Inevitable Love!
In vain Eclips'd, her Eyes (us'd to subdue)
No sooner look abroad but wound anew.
Around her soon her hopeless Lovers lay,
At once an easie, and a num'rous Prey.
Ah! why ye wretched Rivals? why d'ye run
With such preposte'rous Hast to be undone?
Alas! the happy Man can be but One.
See all the while how easie she appears,
How unconcern'd she their Addresses hears;
Does not, severely, all Approach forbid,
Yet guards her Fame no less than if she did.
While other Ladies, with affected Arts,
Like Fishers, angle for their Lover's Hearts,
Rob their own selves both of Esteem and Ease,
By an Inordinate Desire to please.
She from the Top of Chastity looks down
On all alike, without a Smile or Frown:
Gives no one Hope, yet gives no one Despair,
As if all Passion were beneath her Care.
Mean while her Lovers thus expostulate
(Unable to conceal their Pain) with Fate.
Ah! why? why did you to her Eyes ensure
Such Pow'r to charm, when she disdains to Cure?

173

Once, Mighty Love, she to thy Yoke did bow,
Where are thy Darts, or her Obedience now?
By what strange Magick does she Passion move,
Yet be her self Insensible of Love?
Or because Heav'n snatch'd Damon from her Arms,
Must we all fall a Victim to her Charms?
Or was the Noble Youth depriv'd of Breath.
For us to bear him Company in Death?
Like as of old some dying General,
He has his Thousands to attend his Fall.
O cancel! cancel this severe Decree!
Or have you learnt to be as deaf as she?
This just Complaint at last did reach the Ears
Of Mighty Love, and not in vain he hears:
For now, amidst her Train a Youth she spy'd,
Who without timely Pity must have died:
More Prudent, Brave, and Lovely than the rest,
And sweet as dying Swans his Grief exprest;
Sigh'd out his Cares in such a melting Strain,
That none but he believ'd he lov'd in vain.
Mean while her Eyes, now sick'ning with Desire,
(For Excellence will Excellence admire)
Proclaim'd she cou'd not see the Youth expire:
Tun'd both alike, her Heart with his did move;
And that which was Compassion, now is Love.
Blest be the Look in which she did impart
The Pointed Charm that reach't his Noble Heart;
A Heart that ev'n thus early has its fill
Of all that Wit and Honour can instill.
And blest be she, of Cruelty affraid,
That does repair the Breach her Eyes had made.
Who wou'd not Venture the last Gasp of Breath
To be when just expiring, so redeem'd from Death!

174

Whether she sing, Discourse, or Look, or Move,
Or Smile, or Frown—her ev'ry Action's Love!
She can be nothing that we don't admire!
Yet ev'ry Minute lifts our Wonder highe'r;
Smiles as it comes, and opens to our View
Something that is Resistless, something New.
And as the Sun, in its own Essence bright,
Sends forth his Beams, the Progeny of Light,
Yet never does decrease of Lustre find,
Supply'd from the Eternal Sourse behind;
So flow the Graces from her fairer Face,
And, undiminish't, fresh ones fill the Place.
If we are rapt but gazing on her Charms,
What must he be that has her in his Arms.
Long may he live, the Blessing all his own,
And sickness, Care, and Jealousy unknown.
May his Love last, her Beauties never Fade,
But be at Sarah's Age new Conquests made;
Yet not to kindle an unhallow'd Flame,
But to attest her Charms are still the same.
And as she brought her former Joy and Heir,
Let not the Blessing long be wanting here;
Inspire some Poet that his Birth be sung,
And worthy of the Blood from whence he sprung.
Hail! Hail ye Lovely, Loving, Noble Pair!
And O! accept the Muses humble Prayer:
Tho' Kneeling Kings may oft meet no Regard,
The Poor and Pious certainly are heard.
'Tis done! for see, Tranquility appears,
Nor is it come for Moments, but for Years!