University of Virginia Library

MELISSA.

TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN.

If, friend, a wife you mean to wed,
Worthy of your board and bed,
That she be virtuous, be your care,
Not too rich, and not too fair:
One who nor labours to display
New complexions every day,
Nor, studying artificial grace,
Out of boxes culls a face.
Nor live-long hours for dressing spares,
Placing, to displace, her hairs,
And straight replace; an idle pin
Ten times shifting out and in.
Nor daily varies, vainly nice,
Thrice her silks, and colours thrice:
Fond o'er and o'er her suits to range,
Changing still, and still to change.
Nor gads to pay, with busy air,
Trifling visits here and there;
Long rapping at each door aloud,
Nuisance to a neighbourhood.
If e'er a play she deign to see,
(Very rarely shall it be,)
She likes not wit in lewdness shown,
Jests ill-manner'd for a clown;
But hears, with ignorance or rage,
Double meanings of the stage.
Her spotless mind the lustful tale
Nauseates in the nicest veil.
She ne'er is found in crowds unclean,
Enter'd mysteries obscene;
Nor seeks, in mask and antic dress,
Unconfined lasciviousness:
Nor, pale and angry, gaming high,
Rattles the unlucky die;
Till sun-rise restless vigils keeps,
Light consuming in her sleeps;
Inverting nature, turns with play
Day to night, and night to day.
This round of follies let her choose
Flitting life who likes to lose,
And lets her quickly-ending days
Pass, and perish as they pass.
The time that vulgar maids despise,
Careless, thoughtless, how it flies,
Melissa, wise, esteems, and knows
Well to use it ere it goes.
If e'er Melissa wed my friend,
With her entering shall attend
Virtues and Graces by her side,
Bride-maids fit for such a bride:—
Neat Beauty, without art display'd;
Rosy Health with native red;
With her bright Innocence shall go,
Purer than the falling snow:
Quiet, that far from quarrels flies;
Mirth and Pleasure, Love and Joys:
Firm Faith, that plighted promise keeps,
Silence, watching o'er her lips:
Prudence, that ponders all events,
Wealth-increasing Diligence:
Religion, mindful what is owed
To herself and to her God:
Patient to bear, to pardon free,
Loveliest grace, Humanity,
If erring nature chance to fail,
Feeble, inadvertent, frail;
Who hates low-whisper'd spite conceal'd,
Scandal yet to few reveal'd;
Since envy makes, with rumour'd lies,
Friends and brethren enemies.
Good-breeding shall her handmaid be,
Join'd with chaste-look'd Modesty;
While open heart, and hand, and face,
Hospitality displays.
If e'er Melissa grace your home,
These attendants with her come.
Whate'er can good or ill befall,
Faithful partner she of all:
Whose wisdom, teaching well to bear,
Soothes the bitterness of care;
Whose joy, if prosperous fate you meet,
Adds new sweetness to the sweet.
These ties will nuptial love engage,
Down from youth to hoary age,
If e'er Melissa, lovely spouse!
Life's companion! crown your vows.
Such, such a consort choose to wed,
Worthy of your board and bed.