University of Virginia Library

To my ingenious Friend, Mr. Thomas Forde, on His LOVES LABYRINTH.

Who truly will thy Labyrinth commend,
Shall find it hard, both to begin, and end:
Yet thou hast spun a thred, with which t'untwine
The wandring Lover, though all things combine
To stop his passage: Such a flowing Style
Thou usest too, as did my sense beguile:
For whilest I read, I neither Scæne nor Stage,
“Could think were feign'd: I saw an Active Rage
“Appear in Damocles, which to my eye
“Not Acted seem'd, but real Tyranny.
“Sephestia's love and doom; the better fate
“Of Pleusidippus, not more fortunate:
“For he Loves Labyrinth did also tread,
“And Court incestuously his Mothers Bed.
“And so her father, husband too (none known)
“Yet he by sympathy did claim his own,
“And had a grant, which mov'd the Tyrants spleen,
“(Since he could not enjoy her for his Queen)
“To kill e'm both; their destinies prevent,
“As loth to have destroy'd the innocent.
“Yet at the last each thing succeeds with good:
“Though the foundation seem'd t'be laid in blood.
“And then the harmless shepherds rural sport,
“Whose innocence makes every place a Court.
And all things in so consonanat a dress,
Makes more the seeming, not the being less.
That (credit me) there is not in't a line,
('Tis all so rare) but I could wish were mine.
And as before, so I say now of this,
Thou hast thy skill by Metempsychosis.
Proceed then Worthy Friend, and may thy Fame,
Like Laureat Johnson, ever speak thy Name.