'You tell me, I'm handsome, I know not how true! And easy, and chatty, and good-humoured too; That my lips are as red as the rosebud in June, And my voice, like the nightingale's, sweetly in tune: All this has been told me, by twenty before; But he that would win me, must flatter me more!

'If Beauty, from Virtue receive no supply; Or Prattle, from Prudence; how wanting am I! My ease and good humour short raptures will bring; And my voice, like the nightingale's, knows but a Spring!

For charms such as these, then, your praises give o'er! To love me for life, you must love me for more!

'Then, talk to me not of a shape, or an Air ; For CLOE, the wanton, can rival me there! 'Tis Virtue alone, that makes Beauty look gay; And brightens Good Humour, as sunshine the day! For that, if you love me, your flame shall be true; And I, in my turn, may be taught to love too!

How blessed has my time been! what days have I known!
Since wedlock's soft bondage made JESSE my own.
So joyful my heart is; so easy, my chain;
That freedom is tasteless, and roving a pain!

Through walks grown with woodbines, as often we stray,

Around us our boys and girls frolic and play.

How pleasing their sport is, the wanton ones see; And borrow their looks from my JESSE and me.

To try her sweet temper, sometimes am I seen
In Revels all day with the Nymphs of the Green;
Though painful my absence, my doubts she beguiles,
And meets me, at night, with compliance and smiles.

What though on her cheek the rose loses its hue; Her ease and good humour bloom all the year through! TIME still, as he flies, brings increase to her truth; And gives to her mind, what he steals from her youth!

Ye Shepherds so gay, who make love to ensnare ; And cheat, with false vows, the too credulous Fair! In search of true pleasure, how vainly you roam! To hold it for life, you must find it at home!

WHEN SAPPHO tuned the raptured strain;
The list'ning wretch forgot his pain!
With art divine, the lyre she strung;
Like thee, she played! like thee, she sung!

For while she struck the quivering wire,
The eager breast was all on fire!
And when she joined the vocal Lay,
The captive soul was charmed away!

But had she added still to these,
Thy softer, chaster, power to please,
Thy beauteous Air of sprightly youth,
Thy native smiles of artless truth;

She ne'er had pined beneath disdain!
She ne'er had played and sung in vain!
Despair had ne'er her soul possest,
To dash on rocks the tender breast!.

THY fatal shafts unerring move!
I bow before thine altar, LOVE!
I feel thy soft resistless flame
Glide swift through all my vital frame!

For while I gaze, my bosom glows!
My blood, in tides tempestuous flows!
Hope, Fear, and Joy alternate roll;
And floods of transports whelm my soul!

My falt'ring tongue attempts, in vain,
In soothing murmurs to complain!
My tongue, some secret magic ties;
My murmurs sink in broken sighs!

Condemned to nurse eternal care,
And ever drop the silent tear;
Unheard, I mourn! unknown, I sigh!
Unfriended, live! unpitied, die!

LET the Nymph still avoid, and be deaf to the Swain, Who in transports of Passion affects to complain : For his rage, not his love, in that frenzy is shown; And the blast that blows loudest is soon overblown!

But the Shepherd whom CUPID has pierced to the heart,
Will submissive adore, and rejoice in the smart;
Or, in plaintive soft murmurs, his bosom-felt woe,
Like the smooth gliding current of rivers will flow

Though silent his tongue, he will plead with his eyes;
And his heart own your sway, in a tribute of sighs:
But when he accosts you in meadow, or grove,
His tale is all tenderness, rapture, and love!

To fix her! 'Twere a task as vain
To count the April drops of rain!
To sow in Afric's barren soil,
Or tempests hold within a toil!'

'I know it, friend! She 's light as air!
False as the fowler's artful snare!
Inconstant as the passing wind!
As Winter's dreary frost unkind!

'She's such a miser too in love,
Its joys She'll neither share, nor prove;
Though hundreds of Gallants await
From her victorious eyes, their fate!

'Blushing at such inglorious reign,
I sometimes strive to break her chain!
My reason summon to my aid;

Resolved no more to be betrayed!

'Ah! friend! 'Tis but a short-lived trance,
Dispelled by one enchanting glance!
She need but look; and I confess
Those looks completely curse, or bless!

So soft! so elegant! so fair!

Sure, something more than human 's there! I must submit: for strife is vain!

'Twas Destiny that forged the chain!'