The Grecian Story Being an Historical Poem, in Five Books. To which is Annex'd The Grove: Consisting of Divers Shorter Poems upon several Subjects. By J. H. [i.e. John Harington] |
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Scorn'd Scornfulness.
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 | The Grecian Story |  |
Scorn'd Scornfulness.
I
Know thou, fair Tyrant she, e're longCrack'd may fall
Thy glist'ring Scepter, Crown, and all,
Beauties Commandress-fort, so strong:
When those Eyes, Earth-Stars but late,
Lamps of Day, to dauning turn;
Like twinkling Tapers prove, hard fate!
Glow-worms false Fires more clearly burn.
II
Those Cheeks and Lips, where Spring admir'd(Cloud o'recast)
To Autumn chang'd, December, last;
Thy Pageantry's brave Show expir'd:
When thou shalt the living Tomb
To thine own Beauty's Corps appear;
This Epitaph o're-heard, like Doom,
While tread'st the Streets—[She was howe're.]
III
Then shall those former Slaves of thineKings become,
Who spent, to please, large golden Sum,
Thy churlish Mood, perverse Design;
Seem'd t'endure the Lash, there lay'd
Prostrate all before thy feet.
Expecting Dooms, one Smile display'd
Their morning-Star conceiv'd, so sweet.
IV
One Kiss o'th' Hand, or naked BreastLife-food bestow'd;
Calm, gentler Word their Musick show'd,
Fond Lovers thus in Chains, distrest:
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Nobler they may pity thee;
Or long before perchance (free-born)
Turn wise, renounce Love's Slavery.
V
Court next their Pleasures, ease no less,Looking on
Thy scatter'd Beams, undazeled grown,
Charm-proof 'gainst Frowns, or smiling dress:
Queen of me fair Land, as 'twere,
Leaving thee, for Subjects void,
When thou may'st wish th' hadst used there
Less Scorn, more Love-delights enjoy'd.
| The Grecian Story | |