Thus whilst we did this grateful story learn,
We came so near the Shoar, as to discern
The Place and Objects, which did still appear
More Ravishing, approaching 'em more near.
There the vast Sea, with a smooth calmness flows
As are the Smiles on happy Lovers Brows:
As peaceably as Rivulets it glides,
Imbracing still the shaded Islands sides;
And with soft Murmurs on the Margent flows,
As if to Nature it design'd Repose;
Whose Musick still is answer'd by the Breeze,
That gently plays with the soft rufl'd Trees.
Fragrant and Flowry all the Banks appear }
Whose mixt disorders more delightful were, }
Then if they had been plac'd with Artful care, }
The Cowslip, Lilly, Rose and Jesamine,
The Daffodil, the Pink and Eglintine,
Whose gawdy store continues all the year,
Makes but the meanest of the Wonders here.
Here the young Charmers walk the Banks along,
Here all the Graces and the Beauties throng.
But what did most my Admiration draw,
Was that the Old and Ugly there I saw,
Who with their Apish Postures, void of shame
Still practice Youth, and talk of Darts and Flame.
I laught to see a Lady out of date, }
A worn out Beauty, once of the first rate; }
With youthful Dress, and more fantastick Prate, }
Setting her wither'd Face in thousand forms,
And thinks the while she Dresses it in charms;
Disturbing with her Court: the busier throng
Ever Addressing to the Gay and Young;
There an old Batter'd Fop, you might behold,
Lavish his Love, Discretion, and his Gold
On a fair she, that has a Trick in Art,
To cheat him of his Politicks and Heart;
Whilst he that Jilts the Nation ore and ore,
Wants sense to find it in the subtiller W—re.
The Man that on this Isle before had been,
Finding me so admire at what I'd seen;
Thus said to me.—

LOVE's Power.

Love when he Shoots abroad his Darts,
Regards not where they light:
The Aged to the Youthful Hearts,
At random they unite.
The soft un-bearded Youth, who never found
The Charms in any Blooming Face,
From one of Fifty takes the Wound;
And eagerly persues the cunning Chase:
While she an Arted Youth puts on;
Softens her Voice, and languishes her Eyes;
Affects the Dress, the Mean, the Tone,
Assumes the noysy Wit, and ceases to be Wise;
The tender Maid to the Rough Warrior yields;
Unfrighted at his Wounds and Scars,
Pursues him through the Camps and Fields,
And Courts the story of his dangerous Wars,
With Pleasure hears his Scapes, and does not fail
To pay him with a Joy for every Tale.

The fair young Bigot, full of Love and Prayer,
Doats on the lewd and careless Libertine;
The thinking States-man fumbles with the Player,
And dearly buys the (barely wishing) Sin.
The Peer with some mean Damsel of the trade, }
Expensive, common, ugly and decay'd: }
The gay young Squire, on the blouz'd Landry Maid. }
All things in Heaven, in Earth, and Sea,
Love gives his Laws unto;
Tho' under different Objects, they
Alike obey, and bow;
Sometimes to be reveng'd on those,
Whose Beauty makes 'em proudly nice,
He does a Flame on them impose,
To some unworthy choice.
Thus rarely equal Hearts in Love you'll find,
Which makes 'em still present the God as Blind.

Whilst thus he spake, my wondering Eyes were staid
With a profound attention on a Maid!
Upon whose Smiles the Graces did await,
And all the Beauties round about her sate;
Officious Cupid's do her Eyes obey,
Sharpning their Darts from every Conquering Ray:
Some from her Smiles they point with soft desires,
Whilst others from her Motion take their Fires:
Some the Imbroider'd Vail and Train do bear,
And some around her fan the gentle Air,
Whilst others flying, scatter fragrant Show'rs, }
And strow the paths she treads with painted flow'rs, }
The rest are all imploy'd to dress her Bow'rs; }
While she does all, the smiling Gods carress,
And they new Attributes receive from each Address.

The CHARACTER.

Such Charms of Youth, such Ravishment
Through all her Form appear'd,
As if in her Creation Nature meant,
She shou'd alone be ador'd and fear'd:
Her Eyes all sweet, and languishingly move, }
Yet so, as if with pity Beauty strove, }
This to decline, and that to charm with Love. }
A chearful Modesty adorn'd her Face,
And bashful Blushes spread her smiling Cheeks;
Witty her Air; soft every Grace,
And 'tis eternal Musick when she speaks,
From which young listening Gods the Accents take }
And when they wou'd a perfect Conquest make, }
Teach their young favourite Lover so to speak. }

2.

Her Neck, on which all careless fell her Hair, }
Her half discover'd rising Bosome bare, }
Were beyond Nature formed; all Heavenly fair. }
Tempting her dress, loose with the Wind it flew,
Discovering Charms that wou'd alone subdue;
Her soft white slender Hands whose touches wou'd
Beget desire even in an awful God;
Long Winter'd Age to tenderness wou'd move,
And in his Frozen Blood, bloom a new spring of Love.

All these at once my Ravisht Senses charm'd,
And with unusual Fires my Bosome warm'd.
Thus my fixt Eyes pursu'd the lovely Maid,
Till they had lost her in the envied Glade;
Yet still I gaz'd, as if I still had view'd
The Object, which my new desires pursu'd.
Lost while I stood; against my Will, my sight
Conducted me unto a new delight.
Twelve little Boats were from the Banks unty'd,
And towards our Vessel sail'd with wondrous Pride,
With wreathes of Flowers and Garlands they were drest,
Their Cordage all of Silk and Gold consist,
Their Sails of silver'd Lawn, and Tinsel were,
Which wantonly were ruffled in the Air.
As many little Cupids gayly clad,
Did Row each Boat, nor other guides they had.
A thousand Zephires Fann'd the moving Fleet,
Which mixing with the Flow'rs became more sweet,
And by repeated Kisses did assume
From them a scent that did the Air perfume.
So near us this delightful Fleet was come,
We cou'd distinguish what the Cupid's sung,
Which oft with charming Notes they did repeat,
With Voices such as I shall ne're forget.