University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Mr. Cooke's Original Poems

with Imitations and Translations of Several Select Passages of the Antients, In Four Parts: To which are added Proposals For perfecting the English Language

collapse section 
  
collapse section1. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section2. 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
 17. 
 18. 
 19. 
collapse section 
 1. 
FABLE the First. The Rose and the Lilly.
 2. 
 3. 
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
collapse section3. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
collapse section4. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

FABLE the First. The Rose and the Lilly.

On Thames, where some fair Eden blows,
Betwixt the Lilly and the Rose
Thus the Dispute, from Pride, began,
Which blooms the lovely'st Flow'r to Man.
Vain Rose, the Lilly cry'd, forbear
With mine your Beautys to compare.
The Poet, in his am'rous Strain,
To render his Melissa vain,
Calls her the Lilly of the Vale
More fragrant than an eastern Gale;
The Tears, with which her Eyelids swell,
Are Dewdrops on the Lillybell.
Princes, in their Attire, must yield
To the fair Lilly of the Field;
They shine by Art in Purple dress'd,
I in my native candid Vest:

134

Therefore, presuming Rose, forbear
With mine your Beautys to compare.
The Rose exerted thus her Pow'r,
In Answer to th'insulting Flow'r.
All you have say'd I grant is true,
Now hear what to the Rose is due.
What Poet in the Verse of Praise,
To grace his Mistress, and his Lays,
(Look o'er the Bards of Greece and Rome,)
Bids on the Cheek no Roses bloom?
While Zephyr unregarded blows,
She breathes the Sweetness of the Rose.
The vernal Gales, which round me play,
Fly loaded with my Sweets away.
When were your Leaves, proud Lilly, lay'd
In the soft Bosom of the Maid?
Hence know my Worth, and hence forbear
With mine your Beautys to compare.
Th'enliv'ning Sun his Beams withdrew;
The Rose and Lilly chang'd their Hue:
Fast fell the fatal heavy Show'r,
And lay'd in Dust each haughty Flow'r.

135

Hence lovely Maid, dear Celia, learn,
And Cloe hence this Truth discern;
Ye are but what the Fable shows,
The Lilly one, and one the Rose.
What Beautys in Oblivion ly,
Who charm'd like you the wond'ring Eye!
Helen, a fav'rite Child of Fame,
And Lucreece chast, is but a Name.
Dear Charmers hence your Fate ye see:
Such Celia such must Cloe be.