 | Quae Rara, chara |  |
5
A POEM ON Panthea's Confinement.
As Choicest OAR in deepest Caves is hid,
And Massy Mountains guard it's secret Bed,
To fright Sots from the Purchace, by the Pain,
To move the Rubbish e'er they Gold can gain;
So in the rest of Life we plainly see,
There's nothing good, to which Access is free.
Fortune sets Blessings out of Human reach,
To have our Pray'rs that she the way might teach.
And Gods in spite, their Empire to compleat,
Damn'd poor Mankind to hazard for what's great,
Ne'er to be happy, till he Conquer'd Fate.
To shew, themselves can only uncontroll'd,
Enjoy with Ease, what we with Pain behold.
But worthless things under our Mouths they set,
T'increase Desire for what is hard to get.
With strong-breath'd Poppies barren Feilds abound,
And flow'ry Weeds will grow in untill'd Ground.
Thus Choak herb, Chickweed springs in blooming Loads,
And strong-limb'd Thistles plant themselves in Roads.
But if bright Fancy scorn this vulgar Soil,
And for your Pleasure you'd not grudge the toil,
Quit common Bogs where noisome Trash abounds,
And seek more Fruitful cultivated Grounds.
Retire to Flora's Dressing-room, and view,
Her various Beauties, deck'd with different hue.
Each in its proper place you Planted see,
Dispos'd to Paint a charming Galaxy.
Here bashful Flora's Nosegay you may see,
Which during Life wears her chast Livery,
The blushing Rose, for Beauty and for Smell,
Which does the Garden's courser Garb excel,
'Bout which adore a num'rous beauteous Train
Of Flow'rs inferiour yielding to their Queen;
Where with her Modest Looks, she charms the Eye,
With fragrant Scent, your Smell doth gratifie;
But if her modest Mein and nat'ral Mress,
Compel you by a touch, your Love t'express,
And tempted thus, you offer violence,
Her Guardian-prickles stand in her defence,
To shield her Honour, wage a nimble War,
Which scarce can vanquish'd be without a Scar.
Thus peevish Bees use Weapons to repel
The Ruffian-hands, which rob their sweet-mouth'd Cell.
With nat'ral Ponyards sence their hard-got Spoil,
From various Flow'rs collected with much toil.
And he that dares their rifled Sweets to taste,
Runs a shreud risk of being prick'd at last.
And Massy Mountains guard it's secret Bed,
To fright Sots from the Purchace, by the Pain,
To move the Rubbish e'er they Gold can gain;
6
There's nothing good, to which Access is free.
Fortune sets Blessings out of Human reach,
To have our Pray'rs that she the way might teach.
And Gods in spite, their Empire to compleat,
Damn'd poor Mankind to hazard for what's great,
Ne'er to be happy, till he Conquer'd Fate.
To shew, themselves can only uncontroll'd,
Enjoy with Ease, what we with Pain behold.
But worthless things under our Mouths they set,
T'increase Desire for what is hard to get.
With strong-breath'd Poppies barren Feilds abound,
And flow'ry Weeds will grow in untill'd Ground.
Thus Choak herb, Chickweed springs in blooming Loads,
And strong-limb'd Thistles plant themselves in Roads.
But if bright Fancy scorn this vulgar Soil,
And for your Pleasure you'd not grudge the toil,
7
And seek more Fruitful cultivated Grounds.
Retire to Flora's Dressing-room, and view,
Her various Beauties, deck'd with different hue.
Each in its proper place you Planted see,
Dispos'd to Paint a charming Galaxy.
Here bashful Flora's Nosegay you may see,
Which during Life wears her chast Livery,
The blushing Rose, for Beauty and for Smell,
Which does the Garden's courser Garb excel,
'Bout which adore a num'rous beauteous Train
Of Flow'rs inferiour yielding to their Queen;
Where with her Modest Looks, she charms the Eye,
With fragrant Scent, your Smell doth gratifie;
But if her modest Mein and nat'ral Mress,
Compel you by a touch, your Love t'express,
And tempted thus, you offer violence,
Her Guardian-prickles stand in her defence,
8
Which scarce can vanquish'd be without a Scar.
Thus peevish Bees use Weapons to repel
The Ruffian-hands, which rob their sweet-mouth'd Cell.
With nat'ral Ponyards sence their hard-got Spoil,
From various Flow'rs collected with much toil.
And he that dares their rifled Sweets to taste,
Runs a shreud risk of being prick'd at last.
Well then, if Earth's dull Pleasures move Desire,
And draw Mens Eyes their Beauties to admire.
If in such danger these mean Goods are plac'd,
And Men must venture, e're allow'd to taste.
How can I thik Panthea's heav'nly Charms,
Should want theit watch to keep them from my Arms?
For if that Care dull Mortals should neglect,
She might the guardship of the Gods expect.
Which, like the rest of Blessings they allow
To Man, (since she's the best of all below)
Without great hardship never will bestow.
Rouse then my Courage up, no Danger shun,
With double force 'gainst Opposition run.
The more I'm cross'd, more eager's my Desire,
As adding Fuel but enflames the Fire.
Durst Jason brave the Dangers of the Seas,
Encounter Monsters only Pride to please.
And shall I for a Matron's surly Frown,
Tamely desist, and conquer' thus sit down?
No, wither'd Old Age sha'nt prescribe me Laws,
Nor shall her Weakness my strong Love oppose.
Since Danger doth enhance the Worth of things,
And sweetest Musick's from hard'st pinch't-up Strings;
Honey he merits not, that fears the Stings.
For Paradise through Flaming Swords we get,
But o're base Dung-hills Guards were never set.
I'll scorn the Hardship, Herc'les did sustain,
By how much more my Prize is worth my Pain,
And wish by his example I might Slay,
The Dragon, that to Bliss stops up the Way,
But when my Love sharpens my Fury keen,
Duty to her I love, steps in between.
And draw Mens Eyes their Beauties to admire.
If in such danger these mean Goods are plac'd,
And Men must venture, e're allow'd to taste.
How can I thik Panthea's heav'nly Charms,
Should want theit watch to keep them from my Arms?
9
She might the guardship of the Gods expect.
Which, like the rest of Blessings they allow
To Man, (since she's the best of all below)
Without great hardship never will bestow.
Rouse then my Courage up, no Danger shun,
With double force 'gainst Opposition run.
The more I'm cross'd, more eager's my Desire,
As adding Fuel but enflames the Fire.
Durst Jason brave the Dangers of the Seas,
Encounter Monsters only Pride to please.
And shall I for a Matron's surly Frown,
Tamely desist, and conquer' thus sit down?
No, wither'd Old Age sha'nt prescribe me Laws,
Nor shall her Weakness my strong Love oppose.
10
And sweetest Musick's from hard'st pinch't-up Strings;
Honey he merits not, that fears the Stings.
For Paradise through Flaming Swords we get,
But o're base Dung-hills Guards were never set.
I'll scorn the Hardship, Herc'les did sustain,
By how much more my Prize is worth my Pain,
And wish by his example I might Slay,
The Dragon, that to Bliss stops up the Way,
But when my Love sharpens my Fury keen,
Duty to her I love, steps in between.
Men unconfin'd may view Heav'ns brightest Gem,
And sparkling Stars which wink and peep agen.
But Jealousie o're-guards Panthea still,
As if my Eyes by distant Darts could kill.
Yet tho (as Dogs howl at the Moon) she bark
At our bright Joys, she can't Eclipse them dark.
And sparkling Stars which wink and peep agen.
But Jealousie o're-guards Panthea still,
As if my Eyes by distant Darts could kill.
11
At our bright Joys, she can't Eclipse them dark.
Should Argus's hundred Eyes my Treasure keep
I'll wait the Minute when they're all asleep,
Then the Reward of my past Watchings reap.
But if weak means can't baffle her strong Pow'r,
I'll steal (as Jove did) in a Golden show'r.
I'll sooth her softly, move her with my moan,
(For Flint breaks better on a Bed than Stone.)
And if, like that, she 'scapes the gentler stroak,
I'll to't with Steel, and then she must be broke;
For tho' her Eyes watchful as Eagles are,
Yet mine shall pierce like Lightning through the Air;
I'll charm her Blind, and secretly creep in,
Veil'd by kind Night, inspir'd by Love within;
No prying Spies shall damp my Courage there,
Love fills my Breast, and leaves no room for Fear.
Ill boldly venture, and her Pow'r defie,
(Like Basilisks) of killing with her Eye,
At whose Approach my Charmer warns to flie.
Scar'd with th'ill-'boding Face, I shun the Ghost,
As if she'd brought some News from Pluto's Coast.
For from beneath springs out th'ill-omen'd Shade,
Which like her Master's sooner rais'd than lay'd;
Yet with regret, yielding my trembling Joys,
The Tyrant's Prey, and Victim to her Noise,
I'm heartless forc'd to flie, with troubled Mind,
To leave my better self, a Slave behind.
But now I'll stand the Test, try what she'll prove,
For I've no Guilt, unless 't be too much Love.
Yet 'gainst that Virtue she'll her Force employ,
Condemning what her self must ne'er enjoy.
Rails at Youth's Pleasures, calls 'em childish Toys,
Which once her self esteem'd her greatest Joys.
But burst with Envy, cannot bear the Sight,
That what she's past, should yield us fresh Delight.
Thus Lucifer's least Punishment is Hell,
His greatest plague's to think from whence he fell,
And with a secret Joy, tempts to his Cave,
Men, seeking Joys he never more must have.
Hence 'tis that she with such malicious Eyes,
Into Love's Mysteries so strictly pries,
And would teach Youth, Youth's Pleasures to despise,
With peevish Lectures, lab'ring to destroy
Love, which to Age breeds Envy, to Youth Joy.
And with such Rage, with Mischief pleas'd, in spite,
Thus guards my Bliss, to which she has no right.
Hesperian Fruit was not more safely kept,
Which none durst view, unless the Keeper slept,
For if by stealth, I'm by one Minute blest,
The next brings her, and then my Joy's supprest,
And rob'd of all the Sweets I now possess'd;
For Fortune with her best things lets us play,
Till we are pleas'd, then snatches 'em away.
Thus Tantalus, by Fate condemn'd to Fast,
Is mock'd with Meat, can touch, but must not Taste.
T'encrease his grief, fair Apples bob his Nose,
But shily fleeting, baulk't his eager Jaws.
I'll wait the Minute when they're all asleep,
Then the Reward of my past Watchings reap.
But if weak means can't baffle her strong Pow'r,
I'll steal (as Jove did) in a Golden show'r.
I'll sooth her softly, move her with my moan,
(For Flint breaks better on a Bed than Stone.)
And if, like that, she 'scapes the gentler stroak,
I'll to't with Steel, and then she must be broke;
For tho' her Eyes watchful as Eagles are,
Yet mine shall pierce like Lightning through the Air;
I'll charm her Blind, and secretly creep in,
Veil'd by kind Night, inspir'd by Love within;
No prying Spies shall damp my Courage there,
Love fills my Breast, and leaves no room for Fear.
12
(Like Basilisks) of killing with her Eye,
At whose Approach my Charmer warns to flie.
Scar'd with th'ill-'boding Face, I shun the Ghost,
As if she'd brought some News from Pluto's Coast.
For from beneath springs out th'ill-omen'd Shade,
Which like her Master's sooner rais'd than lay'd;
Yet with regret, yielding my trembling Joys,
The Tyrant's Prey, and Victim to her Noise,
I'm heartless forc'd to flie, with troubled Mind,
To leave my better self, a Slave behind.
But now I'll stand the Test, try what she'll prove,
For I've no Guilt, unless 't be too much Love.
Yet 'gainst that Virtue she'll her Force employ,
Condemning what her self must ne'er enjoy.
Rails at Youth's Pleasures, calls 'em childish Toys,
Which once her self esteem'd her greatest Joys.
13
That what she's past, should yield us fresh Delight.
Thus Lucifer's least Punishment is Hell,
His greatest plague's to think from whence he fell,
And with a secret Joy, tempts to his Cave,
Men, seeking Joys he never more must have.
Hence 'tis that she with such malicious Eyes,
Into Love's Mysteries so strictly pries,
And would teach Youth, Youth's Pleasures to despise,
With peevish Lectures, lab'ring to destroy
Love, which to Age breeds Envy, to Youth Joy.
And with such Rage, with Mischief pleas'd, in spite,
Thus guards my Bliss, to which she has no right.
Hesperian Fruit was not more safely kept,
Which none durst view, unless the Keeper slept,
14
The next brings her, and then my Joy's supprest,
And rob'd of all the Sweets I now possess'd;
For Fortune with her best things lets us play,
Till we are pleas'd, then snatches 'em away.
Thus Tantalus, by Fate condemn'd to Fast,
Is mock'd with Meat, can touch, but must not Taste.
T'encrease his grief, fair Apples bob his Nose,
But shily fleeting, baulk't his eager Jaws.
Hence then base Fear, I'll brazen down my Foes,
Shew glorious Courage, for a glorious Cause,
And for my Joys despise all that Oppose.
If heedless Huntsmen ride in dang'rous Ground,
Charm'd with the Musick of the well-mouth'd Hound,
Ne'er stop to view the perils of each place,
Pleas'd with their Game, and eager in the Chace.
Can I thus unconcern'd, and stupid sit,
Amongst those Charms of Humour, Beauty, Wit?
By their Example taught, I will despise
The weak Defence, that stops the Enterprize,
In spite of Malice, and its quick-ey'd Spies.
I scorn to whine, curse Fortune, or complain,
A precious Purchase pays a toilsome Pain,
Who dreads the Danger, merits not the Gain;
And the more Hazard in my Journey lies,
The more's my Pleasure, when I win my Prize.
Shew glorious Courage, for a glorious Cause,
And for my Joys despise all that Oppose.
If heedless Huntsmen ride in dang'rous Ground,
Charm'd with the Musick of the well-mouth'd Hound,
Ne'er stop to view the perils of each place,
Pleas'd with their Game, and eager in the Chace.
15
Amongst those Charms of Humour, Beauty, Wit?
By their Example taught, I will despise
The weak Defence, that stops the Enterprize,
In spite of Malice, and its quick-ey'd Spies.
I scorn to whine, curse Fortune, or complain,
A precious Purchase pays a toilsome Pain,
Who dreads the Danger, merits not the Gain;
And the more Hazard in my Journey lies,
The more's my Pleasure, when I win my Prize.
FINIS.
| Quae Rara, chara | |