"The charms of beauty I'll no more pursue;
"Delia! farewell; farewell for ever too."
Then we return'd to the delightful grove,
Where Reason still dissuaded me from love.
"You see," she cry'd, "what misery attends 240
"On love, and where too frequently it ends;
"And let not that unwieldy passion sway
"Your soul, which none but whining fools obey.
"The masculine brave spirit scorns to own
"The proud usurper of my sacred throne,
"Nor with idolatrous devotion pays
"To the false god or sacrifice or praise.
"The syren's music charms the sailor's ear,
"But he is ruin'd if he stops to hear;

"And if you listen Love's harmonious voice
"As much delight as certainly destroys.
"Ambrosia mix'd with aconite

grave;

may have "A pleasant taste, but sends you to the "For tho' the latent poison may be still "A while, it very seldom fails to kill. "But who'd partake the food of gods to die "Within a day, or live in misery? "Who'd eat with emperors, if o'er his head "A poniard hung but by a single thread ?* "Love's banquets are extravagantly sweet, "And either kill or surfeit all that eat, "Who, when the sated appetite is tir'd,

245

250

258

260

"Ev'n loath the thoughts of what they once admir'd,

*The feast of Democles.

265

"You've promis'd, Strephon, to forsake the charms "Of Delia, tho' she courts you to her arms; "And sure I may your resolution trust; "You'll never want temptation, but be jușt. "Vows of this nature, Youth! must not be broke; "You're always bound, tho' 'tis a gentle yoke. "Would men be wise, and my advice pursue, 270 "Love's conquests would be small, his triumphs few ; "For nothing can oppose his tyranny

With such a prospect of success as I. "Me he detests, and from my presence flies, "Who know his arts, and stratagems despise, 275 "By which he cancels mighty Wisdom's rules, "To make himself the deity of fools:

"Him dully they adore, him blindly serve; [starve; "Some while they're sots, and others while they "For those who under his wild conduct go, "Either come coxcombs, or he makes 'em so: 281 "His charms deprive, by their strange influence, "The brave of courage, and the wise of sense : "In vain Philosophy would set the mind "At liberty, if once by him confin'd:~ "The scholar's learning and the poet's wit "A while may struggle, but at last submit: "Well-weigh'd results and wise conclusions seem "But empty chat, impertinence, to him : "His opiates seize so strongly on the brain,'

They make all prudent application vain : "If therefore you resolve to live at ease, "To taste the sweetness of internal peace,

285

290

295

"Would not for safety to a battle fly, "Or chuse a shipwreck if afraid to die ; "Far from these pleasurable shades remove, "And leave the fond inglorious toil of Love.” This said, she vanish'd; and methought I found Myself transported to a rising ground, From whence I did a pleasant vale survey; Large was the prospect, beautiful and gay: There I beheld th' apartments of delight, Whose curious forms oblig'd the wond'ring sight; Some in full view upon the champaign plac'd, With lofty walls and cooling streams embrac'd; 305 Others in shady groves retir'd from noise,

The seat of private and exalted joys:

At a great distance I perceiv'd there stood
A stately building in a spacious wood,

300

315

Whose gilded turrets rais'd their beauteous heads 310
High in the air, to view the neighb'ring meads,
Where vulgar lovers spend their happy days
In rustic dancing and delightful plays :
But while I gaz'd with admiration round,
I heard from far celestial music sound;
So soft, so moving, so harmonious, all
The artful charming notes did rise and fall;
My soul, transported with the graceful airs,
Shook off the pressures of its former fears;
I felt afresh the little god begin
To stir himself, and gently move within ;
Then I repented I had vow'd no more
To love, or Delia's beauteous eyes adore.

320

325

"Why am I now condemn'd to banishment,
"And made an exile by my own consent ?"
I sighing cry'd: "Why should I live in pain
"Those fleeting hours which ne'er return again?
"O Delia! what can wretched Strephon do?
"Inhuman to himself, and false to you!

""Tis true, I've promis'd Reason to remove 330 "From these retreats, and quit bright Delia's love : "But is not Reason partially unkind?

335

"Are all her votaries, like me, confin'd? "Must none, that under her dominion live, "To love and beauty veneration give? "Why then did Nature youthful Delia grace "With a majestic mien and charming face ? "Why did she give her that surprising air, "Make her so gay, so witty, and so fair, "Mistress of all that can affection move, "If Reason will not suffer us to love? "But since it must be so, I'll haste away; "'Tis fatal to return, and death to stay. "From you, bless'd Shades! (If I may call Inculpable) with mighty pain I go : 345 "Compell'd from hence, I leave my quiet here; "I may find safety, but I buy it dear."

340

you so

Then, turning round, I saw a beauteous boy, Such as of old were messengers of joy :

"Who art thou, or from whence? If sent," said I, "To me, my haste requires a quick reply." 351 "I come," he cry'd," from yon' celestial grove, "Where stands the temple of the God of Love,

355

"With whose important favour you are grac'd, "And justly in his high protection plac'd. "Be grateful, Strephon, and obey that god, "Whose sceptre ne'er is chang'd into a rod ; "That god, to whom the haughty and the proud, "The bold, the bravest, nay, the best, have bow'd; "That god, whom all the lesser gods adore, 368 "First in existence and the first in pow'r :" "From him I come, on embassy divine, "To tell thee Delia, Delia may be thine; "To whom all beauties rightful tribute pay; "Delia, the young, the lovely, and the gay! "If you dare push your fortune, if you dare "But be resolv'd, and press the yielding fair, "Success and glory will your labours crown, "For Fate does rarely on the valiant frown: "But were you sure to be unkindly us'd,

365

370

Coldly receiv'd, and scornfully refus'd, "He greater glory and more fame obtains "Who loses Delia, than who Phyllis gains. "But to prevent all fears that may arise, "(Tho' fears ne'er move the daring and the wise) 375 "In the dark volumes of eternal doom,

"Where all things past, and present, and to come, "Are writ, I saw these words-" It is decreed "That Strepon's love to Delia shall succeed." 379 "What would you more? While youth and vigour "Love, and be happy; they decline too fast. [last "In youth alone you're capable to prove "The mighty transports of a gen'rous love;