God of Desire! if all thy votaries

Thou thus repay, succession will grow wise;

No sighs for incense at thy shrine shall smoke,

Thy rites will be despis'd, thy altars broke.

O! or give her my flame to melt that snow

10Which yet unthaw'd does on her bosom grow;

Or make me ice, and with her crystal chains

Bind up all love within my frozen veins.

Tell me, &c.] 6 succession] = 'those who come after us'.