 | The Kite |  |
CANTO I.
Dian
knew well to chace the tim'rous Hare,
Or thro' the Woods pursue the flying Deer;
O'er the high Mound Her Courser rag'd secure,
Eager, yet Conscious of the Charge he bore:
While Health auspicious mantled in Her Face,
Glow'd on Her Cheek, and heighten'd ev'ry Grace.
Or if the Clam'rous Echo's of the Field,
To the Gay Dance, and sweeter Musick yield,
Her courtly Motion set the Soul on Fire,
And told us all the Graces of the Lyre.
If DIAN at the Frame display'd Her Power,
And charg'd the Needle with the future Flower,
New Life like some kind Destiny She gives,
And in a nobler Loom the Heroe lives:
Here Ormond's Duke Retir'd from Martial Cares,
The Peaceful Scarlet of a Tulip wears;
There Great Eugene in Azure Robes array'd,
Confess'd his Toils and Dangers well repaid;
Here grew, adorn'd with ev'ry spreading Grace,
The Purple Honours of the Gay BORLACE:
On this fair Stalk the Gallick Monarch shone,
More Powerful on Her Apron, than His Throne.
Or thro' the Woods pursue the flying Deer;
O'er the high Mound Her Courser rag'd secure,
Eager, yet Conscious of the Charge he bore:
While Health auspicious mantled in Her Face,
Glow'd on Her Cheek, and heighten'd ev'ry Grace.
2
To the Gay Dance, and sweeter Musick yield,
Her courtly Motion set the Soul on Fire,
And told us all the Graces of the Lyre.
If DIAN at the Frame display'd Her Power,
And charg'd the Needle with the future Flower,
New Life like some kind Destiny She gives,
And in a nobler Loom the Heroe lives:
Here Ormond's Duke Retir'd from Martial Cares,
The Peaceful Scarlet of a Tulip wears;
There Great Eugene in Azure Robes array'd,
Confess'd his Toils and Dangers well repaid;
Here grew, adorn'd with ev'ry spreading Grace,
The Purple Honours of the Gay BORLACE:
On this fair Stalk the Gallick Monarch shone,
More Powerful on Her Apron, than His Throne.
3
LOVE with a Jealous Eye beheld the Fair,
Number'd Her Conquests, and began to fear,
Watch'd ev'ry Glance that wander'd from her Eye,
And saw with less Success His Arrows fly:
“But must that Empire I Derive from Heaven
“Be given to DIAN all! So cheaply given!
“Nations no more at my dread Altars Bow!
“And these Victorious Shafts lie Useless now!
“Not so the Golden Trophy Venus gain'd,
“'Twas with the Ruins of a Troy She reign'd,
“When Slighted Iuno, raging with Despair,
“Led sternly out Her Booted Greeks to War.
Number'd Her Conquests, and began to fear,
Watch'd ev'ry Glance that wander'd from her Eye,
And saw with less Success His Arrows fly:
“But must that Empire I Derive from Heaven
“Be given to DIAN all! So cheaply given!
“Nations no more at my dread Altars Bow!
“And these Victorious Shafts lie Useless now!
“Not so the Golden Trophy Venus gain'd,
“'Twas with the Ruins of a Troy She reign'd,
“When Slighted Iuno, raging with Despair,
“Led sternly out Her Booted Greeks to War.
So griev'd the God, and stung with Fury fled,
Where Jealous Rage, and Pale Resentment led.
Where Jealous Rage, and Pale Resentment led.
4
Sacred to Secrecy, and sweet Repose,
Rose an Alcove, where rang'd in artful Rows:
(By DIAN wrought) the Drowzy Poppy grows;
The Virgin here, like Sol's declining Ray,
Withdrew her Lustre, and retir'd from Day:
Gay Fancy, ever waking, here retains
Her liveliest Visions, and Her softest Scenes,
While Slumbers round their silent Station take,
And seal those Eyes that keep the World awake:
Where Wedding-Cake, inspiring pleasing Dreams,
The happy Partner of Her Bed proclaims,
While Guardian Loves the merry Dance begin,
And Jolly Hymen leads the Bridegroom in.
In Caskets here unnumber'd Trophies lay,
And loaded Shelves their Mimick Pomp display;
Here Paper-Towns their waving Turrets shew,
And Forests from her Scissars taught to grow;
There the Proud Ship extends its wondrous Frame,
And to the Maid brings Home eternal Fame;
Carnations here the lingring Eye regale,
Here ever blows the Lily of the Vale;
The lavish Rose here wantons all the Year,
So spreads its blooming Leaves, so blushes here.
Rose an Alcove, where rang'd in artful Rows:
(By DIAN wrought) the Drowzy Poppy grows;
The Virgin here, like Sol's declining Ray,
Withdrew her Lustre, and retir'd from Day:
Gay Fancy, ever waking, here retains
Her liveliest Visions, and Her softest Scenes,
While Slumbers round their silent Station take,
And seal those Eyes that keep the World awake:
Where Wedding-Cake, inspiring pleasing Dreams,
The happy Partner of Her Bed proclaims,
While Guardian Loves the merry Dance begin,
And Jolly Hymen leads the Bridegroom in.
In Caskets here unnumber'd Trophies lay,
And loaded Shelves their Mimick Pomp display;
5
And Forests from her Scissars taught to grow;
There the Proud Ship extends its wondrous Frame,
And to the Maid brings Home eternal Fame;
Carnations here the lingring Eye regale,
Here ever blows the Lily of the Vale;
The lavish Rose here wantons all the Year,
So spreads its blooming Leaves, so blushes here.
Here, to repair his Loss, Poor Cupid flies,
And Darts in ev'ry Cask His Restless Eyes.
And Darts in ev'ry Cask His Restless Eyes.
Beneath a gilded Pile of Billetdeuxs,
Cupid at length the Marbled Quarto views,
That taught Her Words a Sable Hue to wear,
And bid 'em Please the Eye, as well as Ear.
In Virgin Order the Coy Letters move,
Nor Modest know the closer Ties of Love;
Yet not the Chief, that boasts a flourish'd Train,
(The Rolling Beauties of a Hasty Pen)
With all His gaudy Ornaments cou'd Please
More than the simple Elegance of These:
Here A, by Himself A, Sirnam'd the Great,
With awful Front o'erlooks the little State,
And like Æneas, with Majestick Pace,
T'Italian Order leads his letter'd Race;
While, next Him, little a with Youthful Pride,
Trips like Iülus by his Father's Side;
Here bending c's disclose half Orbs of Light,
Like the new Honours of the Queen of Night;
There i, like the Fifth Edward, stands display'd,
His Crown for ever hanging o'er his Head:
There o, distinguish'd by his curious Round,
And q by Children in the Corner found.
The s, with arched Neck, and Tail reclin'd,
And the Twin u's in sacred Friendship join'd.
Each Letter thus, by diff'rent Beauties known,
In Order led the gay Succession on.
Cupid at length the Marbled Quarto views,
That taught Her Words a Sable Hue to wear,
And bid 'em Please the Eye, as well as Ear.
6
Nor Modest know the closer Ties of Love;
Yet not the Chief, that boasts a flourish'd Train,
(The Rolling Beauties of a Hasty Pen)
With all His gaudy Ornaments cou'd Please
More than the simple Elegance of These:
Here A, by Himself A, Sirnam'd the Great,
With awful Front o'erlooks the little State,
And like Æneas, with Majestick Pace,
T'Italian Order leads his letter'd Race;
While, next Him, little a with Youthful Pride,
Trips like Iülus by his Father's Side;
Here bending c's disclose half Orbs of Light,
Like the new Honours of the Queen of Night;
There i, like the Fifth Edward, stands display'd,
His Crown for ever hanging o'er his Head:
7
And q by Children in the Corner found.
The s, with arched Neck, and Tail reclin'd,
And the Twin u's in sacred Friendship join'd.
Each Letter thus, by diff'rent Beauties known,
In Order led the gay Succession on.
Trembling with eager Joy, He snatch'd the Prize,
DIAN no more grew Hateful to His Eyes;
And now in Haste His golden Wings He spread,
And, all Impatient, sought the Beauteous Maid.
DIAN no more grew Hateful to His Eyes;
And now in Haste His golden Wings He spread,
And, all Impatient, sought the Beauteous Maid.
Fix'd to the Lyre, He found the tuneful Fair,
The Mystick Numbers well deserv'd his Ear;
She Sung, when Ghosts approach, why Lights burn Blue,
Why Candles shew the future Billetdeux;
Why from the Taper rose the Virgin-Strife,
Why Chastest Breath recalls it into Life;
Why the Young Hylas bids his Father run
T' obey the Summons of a Watry Sun;
And why, to Think, shou'd aid the Huswife's Skill,
And thro' the Joynt conduct the lucky Steel;
What certain Ills succeed, if Crickets call,
Why States, and Saltsellars together fall.
The Mystick Numbers well deserv'd his Ear;
She Sung, when Ghosts approach, why Lights burn Blue,
Why Candles shew the future Billetdeux;
8
Why Chastest Breath recalls it into Life;
Why the Young Hylas bids his Father run
T' obey the Summons of a Watry Sun;
And why, to Think, shou'd aid the Huswife's Skill,
And thro' the Joynt conduct the lucky Steel;
What certain Ills succeed, if Crickets call,
Why States, and Saltsellars together fall.
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