Poems on Several Occasions With Imitations from Horace, Ovid, Martial, Theocritus, Bachylides, Anacreon, &c. To which is prefix'd A Discourse on Criticism, and the Liberty of Writing. In a letter to a Friend. By Samuel Cobb ... The Third Edition. To which is added, Poems on the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, the Electoral Prince of Hannover, with other Poems. Never before Printed |
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The Power of Beauty.
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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The Power of Beauty.
To SERAPHINA.
Read
Seraphina, what this Paper tells,
How much a Beauty, like your own, excels.
How Man is foil'd, how Love's unerring Dart,
Like Death's, impartial, pierces ev'ry Heart.
How vainly Kings, and conqu'ring Heroes bear
Their Swords and Sceptres, to resist the Fair!
How much a Beauty, like your own, excels.
How Man is foil'd, how Love's unerring Dart,
Like Death's, impartial, pierces ev'ry Heart.
How vainly Kings, and conqu'ring Heroes bear
Their Swords and Sceptres, to resist the Fair!
Yet tho' so large and boundless is your Sway,
Be gentle; Pride forget, and Love repay.
Take, Seraphina, and with Kindness use
This double Present of my Heart and Muse.
I feel the Force of what these Lines rehearse;
Do thou approve my Passion, and my Verse.
Be gentle; Pride forget, and Love repay.
Take, Seraphina, and with Kindness use
This double Present of my Heart and Muse.
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Do thou approve my Passion, and my Verse.
Three sprightly Youths grown eminent in Arts,
Three Questions started, to exert their Parts.
The first appearing in the Grape's Defence,
Affirms that Strongest which subdues the Sense.
The next, that nothing has so just a right,
As Scepter'd Grandeur and Imperial Might.
The last does stronger Arguments prepare
For the Weak Side, and vindicates the Fair.
Three Questions started, to exert their Parts.
The first appearing in the Grape's Defence,
Affirms that Strongest which subdues the Sense.
The next, that nothing has so just a right,
As Scepter'd Grandeur and Imperial Might.
The last does stronger Arguments prepare
For the Weak Side, and vindicates the Fair.
Now high enthron'd the Persian Monarch sate,
In Pompous Scene of Majesty and State.
The Nobles stand around on either side,
To hear the Trial, and the Cause decide.
In Pompous Scene of Majesty and State.
The Nobles stand around on either side,
To hear the Trial, and the Cause decide.
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But when the second Orator had said,
The Court divided, and a Party's made.
Some the exalted Strength of Wine esteem,
The Speaker praise, because they like the Theme,
The flatt'ring Tribe assert the Strongest Thing
Is Man; of Men none equal to the King.
O'er all the Palace diff'rent Murmurs ran,
Till Eloquent Zorobabel began.
The Court divided, and a Party's made.
Some the exalted Strength of Wine esteem,
The Speaker praise, because they like the Theme,
The flatt'ring Tribe assert the Strongest Thing
Is Man; of Men none equal to the King.
O'er all the Palace diff'rent Murmurs ran,
Till Eloquent Zorobabel began.
Hear me, ye Persians, and attend me well;
Nor Man prevails, nor does the King excel
In Sov'reign Pow'r, nor ought we to assign
The Strongest Vertue to the Strongest Wine.
Wine, what it conquers, has not strength to keep,
If still we rise refresh'd, and new from Sleep.
Nor is this Praise due to the mighty Boast
Of valiant Numbers, and a warlike Host.
Monarchs their Length of Empire plead in vain,
If forc'd to bow to a superiour Reign.
WOMEN alone are those inchanting Things,
Which vanquish Armies, and which conquer Kings.
Nor Man prevails, nor does the King excel
In Sov'reign Pow'r, nor ought we to assign
The Strongest Vertue to the Strongest Wine.
Wine, what it conquers, has not strength to keep,
If still we rise refresh'd, and new from Sleep.
Nor is this Praise due to the mighty Boast
Of valiant Numbers, and a warlike Host.
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If forc'd to bow to a superiour Reign.
WOMEN alone are those inchanting Things,
Which vanquish Armies, and which conquer Kings.
From WOMEN sprung all Men whate'er they be;
Lords of the Land and Sov'reigns of the Sea.
The King himself his Birth to WOMAN owes:
To WOMAN they, by whom the Vineyard grows,
They rear'd the blushing Vine, and WOMEN those.
From Silken Webs soft Garments they prepare
To fence the Body from the glowing Air.
Should they refuse their useful Aid to bring,
Man were a helpless melancholy Thing.
Lords of the Land and Sov'reigns of the Sea.
The King himself his Birth to WOMAN owes:
To WOMAN they, by whom the Vineyard grows,
They rear'd the blushing Vine, and WOMEN those.
From Silken Webs soft Garments they prepare
To fence the Body from the glowing Air.
Should they refuse their useful Aid to bring,
Man were a helpless melancholy Thing.
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The greedy Merchant, to augment his Heap
Of Gold and Silver, sails upon the Deep.
Despising Tempests, he undaunted tries
The raging Ocean, and the louring Skies.
And if his Bark has fortunately sped,
He laughs at Thunder grumbling o'er his Head,
But if a Charmer of the Female Race
Dart with her Eyes, and lighten with her Face,
He gapes and gazes on th' alluring Sight,
Pines all the Day, and sighs away the Night.
His Eastern Gems he ceases to prefer,
And Pearls grow worthless if compar'd to Her.
Of Gold and Silver, sails upon the Deep.
Despising Tempests, he undaunted tries
The raging Ocean, and the louring Skies.
And if his Bark has fortunately sped,
He laughs at Thunder grumbling o'er his Head,
But if a Charmer of the Female Race
Dart with her Eyes, and lighten with her Face,
He gapes and gazes on th' alluring Sight,
Pines all the Day, and sighs away the Night.
His Eastern Gems he ceases to prefer,
And Pearls grow worthless if compar'd to Her.
If once a Youth conceive an am'rous Flame,
Fathers are nothing but an empty Name.
Mothers in vain oppose their flowing Tears,
Their Nine Months Labours, and their anxious Fears.
For a soft Bride he will his Country fly,
For which brave Heroes have rejoyc'd to dy.
His Native Clime he willingly forgoes,
Fryes in the Sun; or treads the Mountain Snows.
Combats with all the Miseries of Life,
Pleas'd with his Labour, if he please his Wife.
Fathers are nothing but an empty Name.
Mothers in vain oppose their flowing Tears,
Their Nine Months Labours, and their anxious Fears.
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For which brave Heroes have rejoyc'd to dy.
His Native Clime he willingly forgoes,
Fryes in the Sun; or treads the Mountain Snows.
Combats with all the Miseries of Life,
Pleas'd with his Labour, if he please his Wife.
Whether he ploughs the Deep, or ploughs the Soil,
He smiles on Danger, and delights in Toil.
Brings to the Fair the Product of his Pains,
His Summer Profits, and his Autumn Gains.
To raise her Glory, and maintain her Pride,
He sails on Rivers, dares the boistrous Tide.
And lest his Love should murmur or complain,
Robs on the Land, and Pyrats on the Main.
Such strange Inchantment in a Woman lies!
Such wondrous Magick sparkles in her Eyes.
Should his wrong'd Country or weak Parents call,
For her dear sake he would refuse them all.
If She commands, obedient to her Charms,
He's hoop'd in Iron, and affrights in Arms.
Patrouls in Desarts, and wild Beasts pursues,
Tastes Evening Vapours, and unwholsom Dews.
If a starv'd Lion meet him in the Way,
His Throat he seizes, and bestrides the Prey;
So strong his Love, he will a Monster fight,
Does the vain terrours of thick Darkness slight,
And frowns away the Goblins of the Night.
He smiles on Danger, and delights in Toil.
Brings to the Fair the Product of his Pains,
His Summer Profits, and his Autumn Gains.
To raise her Glory, and maintain her Pride,
He sails on Rivers, dares the boistrous Tide.
And lest his Love should murmur or complain,
Robs on the Land, and Pyrats on the Main.
Such strange Inchantment in a Woman lies!
Such wondrous Magick sparkles in her Eyes.
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For her dear sake he would refuse them all.
If She commands, obedient to her Charms,
He's hoop'd in Iron, and affrights in Arms.
Patrouls in Desarts, and wild Beasts pursues,
Tastes Evening Vapours, and unwholsom Dews.
If a starv'd Lion meet him in the Way,
His Throat he seizes, and bestrides the Prey;
So strong his Love, he will a Monster fight,
Does the vain terrours of thick Darkness slight,
And frowns away the Goblins of the Night.
Some with their Senses have been known to part,
And lost their Reason when they lost their Heart.
Others have warr'd for Woman's sake alone,
Gave the World Freedom, and resign'd their own.
Kings of ten thousand Slaves, have Slaves became,
And scorn'd Dominion for their glorious Flame.
And lost their Reason when they lost their Heart.
Others have warr'd for Woman's sake alone,
Gave the World Freedom, and resign'd their own.
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And scorn'd Dominion for their glorious Flame.
Crimes, Rapines, Murders, Treasons owe their Rise
To a dear Woman's fair bewitching Eyes.
Some, the wide Wounds of slighted Love to heal,
Deep in their Hearts have thrust the fatal Steel.
Or with their Wine, when the Coy She deny'd,
Have mingled Poison, drank, despair'd, and dy'd.
To a dear Woman's fair bewitching Eyes.
Some, the wide Wounds of slighted Love to heal,
Deep in their Hearts have thrust the fatal Steel.
Or with their Wine, when the Coy She deny'd,
Have mingled Poison, drank, despair'd, and dy'd.
Is there a King of more extended Power,
Through the whole Globe, than Persia's Emperor?
Is it not Treason to dispute his Sway?
And Death, if he commands, to disobey?
Dare Monarchs murmur at th' approaching Sound
Of his vast Armies, covering all the Ground?
Indus and Ganges tremble when they hear
Their clattering Armour, and are froze with Fear.
Through the whole Globe, than Persia's Emperor?
Is it not Treason to dispute his Sway?
And Death, if he commands, to disobey?
Dare Monarchs murmur at th' approaching Sound
Of his vast Armies, covering all the Ground?
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Their clattering Armour, and are froze with Fear.
Yet fair APAME, with her Smiles or Frowns,
Rules that Great Head, whose Nod shakes Eastern Crowns.
As at a Banquet, with the King of late,
On his Right Hand the Lovely Charmer sate,
From his Imperial Head she snatch'd the Crown,
And (for I saw her) fix'd it on her own.
I saw her strike him with her snowy Palm,
And yet that awful Brow was wondrous calm.
Th' enamour'd King, to reconcile the Fair,
Tries all Indearments and each gentle Prayer;
To ev'ry Art of Love, for Aid he flies,
Watching each Glance and Motion of her Eyes:
His ev'ry Passion She alone could guide;
If She withdrew her charming Face, He sigh'd,
Smil'd, if She smil'd, but if She frown'd, He dy'd.
Rules that Great Head, whose Nod shakes Eastern Crowns.
As at a Banquet, with the King of late,
On his Right Hand the Lovely Charmer sate,
From his Imperial Head she snatch'd the Crown,
And (for I saw her) fix'd it on her own.
I saw her strike him with her snowy Palm,
And yet that awful Brow was wondrous calm.
Th' enamour'd King, to reconcile the Fair,
Tries all Indearments and each gentle Prayer;
To ev'ry Art of Love, for Aid he flies,
Watching each Glance and Motion of her Eyes:
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If She withdrew her charming Face, He sigh'd,
Smil'd, if She smil'd, but if She frown'd, He dy'd.
Surely, nor Men, nor Monarchs can compare
With Woman if they thus obey the Fair.
With Woman if they thus obey the Fair.
He said; the Court his Eloquence approve,
And Great Darius judg'd the Cause for Love.
And Great Darius judg'd the Cause for Love.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |