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A serio-comic and admonitory epistle, addressed to a certain priest

With a grave, solemn, and sublime epistle, addressed to certain critics. With an amatory ode to Eliza. To which is prefixed, An address to the reader, Respecting some late Conduct of the Rev. C---- B----, Curate of W----;. By Anthony Pasquin

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ODE TO ELIZA.


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ODE TO ELIZA.

“Me retinent vinctum formosae vincla puellae,
Et sedeo duras janitor ante fores.”
Tibull. Eleg. Lib. 1. El. 1. V. 55.

“Quam juvat immites ventos audire cubantem,
Et dominam tenero continuisse sinu:
Aut, gelidas hibernus aquas cum fuderit auster,
Securum somnos imbre juvante sequi!
Hoc mihi contingat.—”
Ibid. V. 41.

“Cum das Basia, nectaris, Neæra!
Das mî pocula, das dapes Deorum.”
Buchanan.

ODE.
Those eyes , that sweet attractive air,
That face with every charm o'erspread;—
That look!—Eliza, these declare
You was not born to die a maid.
Come then, sweet girl, whilst in thy prime,
Come while the graces round you play;
Indulge in love!—O! seize the time;
Beauty is frail, and will decay .

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O could I but possess those charms,
And on that throbbing bosom lie!
Could I, encircl'd in those arms,
In pleasure and in rapture die!
Such fond ideas in my mind,
And wandering fancy often play;
Oft-times I paint thee soft and kind:—
But these like phantoms pass away.
Come, charming girl, come, realize,
And make these visions prove but true:
Come let me taste substantial joys;—
Such joys as flow from love and you.
Why with such lustre shine those eyes;
And why that face such power display!
Such charms, resistless! why arise,
And thousand graces round you play!
Those hills of snow, of purest white,
That heaving tempt the daring hand;
Ambrosial lips which love invite;—
Ah! these, Eliza, who can stand!

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But there are charms that hidden lie,
Far from the reach of mortal sight;
Where eyes profane must never pry,
Nor view those regions of delight!
Eliza! were I with thee blest;
Were I such treasures but enjoying!—
To clasp thee to this eager breast;
Soft, tender, yielding, melting,—dying!
Ye gods, that in Olympus high,
Indulge in sweets of heavenly love!
I'd envy not your bliss and joy,
Nor want your Venus from above.
More than Elysian bliss I'd share
While you, dear girl, prov'd true and kind;
And, oh! could aught that bliss impair,
While thought meets thought, and mind unites with mind!
With eager warmth those lips I'd press;
With equal warmth the kiss return'd:—

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Of pleasure sure 'twould be the excess:—
Sappho with equal fire ne'er burn'd!
But, oh! my muse give o'er thy lay:
Dull prudes will chide your amorous strains;
Whose souls, unchear'd by passion's ray,
Are held in winter's icy chains.
But you, my girl, who charm each sense,
Forgive the verse inspir'd by you.
My muse would never give offence:—
Eliza, dearest girl, adieu.
FINIS.
 
και γαρ οφθαλμος βαλλει και θορυβει ψυχην, ουκ ο της ακολαστου μονον, αλλα και ο της σωφρονος.”
Chrysostom. De Sacerdotio, lib. vi. p. 250, ed. Hughes
“Interea, dum fata sinunt, jungamus amores.
Jam veniet tenebris mors adoperta caput.
Jam subrepet iners ætas, nec amare decebit,
Dicere nec cano blanditias capite.
Nunc levis est tractanda Venus, dum frangere postes
Non pudet, et rixas inseruisse juvat.”
Tibull: Eleg: Lib 1. El. 1. V. 83.
“Non dat basia, dat Neæra nectar,
Dat rores animæ suave-olentes.”
Johannes Secundus Nicolaius. Basium iv.
“Donce pressiùs incubo labellis,
Et diduco avidus tuæ, puella,
Flosculos animæ suave-olentes;
Unus tum videor mihi deorum,
Seu quid altiùs est beautiùsve.”
Bonefonii Basium xvi.