Basia Joannis Secundi Nicolai Hagensis or The Kisses of Joannes Secundus Nicolaius of the Hague. In Latin and English Verse. With the Life of Secundus, and a Critic upon his Basia. Adorn'd with a Cut of the Author, and another of his Mistress Julia, engrav'd by the famous Bernard Picart the Roman [by George Ogle] |
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EPIGRAM OF Joannes Secundus,
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 | Basia Joannis Secundi Nicolai Hagensis |  |
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EPIGRAM OF Joannes Secundus,
To the Grammarians, why he writes Wantonly.
Why thus I sport in wanton-measur'd Strains;Why Love, in ev'ry Verse, luxuriant, reigns?
To fright dull Pedants, learnedly-un-bred;
And Scholiasts banish, un-politely-read.
Shou'd I my Voice to mighty Cæsar raise;
Or tempt, of Saint-like Men, the sacred Praise:
What Notes (oppressive Weight!) must I indure?
What Comments, obvious Readings to obscure?
Expos'd, alas! to what un-letter'd Strains?
To Boys the certain Cause of future Pains?
But while on Kisses I imploy my Song;
Kisses! or moist or dry; or short or long:
Me, summon the un-married Youth to Aid!
Me, bent on Joy, the newly-married Maid!
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Wisely-indulging in delicious Ease!
But from these Sports, ye savage Herd, abstain!
These never with un-hallow'd Hands profane!
Nor turn to Grief, what we to Mirth design!
Lest, punish'd for some soft perverted Line,
Wrong'd Innocence, with Tears unjustly shed,
“Wish the cold Earth lie heavy on the Dead!
| Basia Joannis Secundi Nicolai Hagensis | |