Therefore, Melissa, Guard thee from surprize;
Let none of these betray thee, if thou'rt Wise;
Let not their Songs, nor Sighs, thy Soul Entice.
But if thou wou'dst be happy in thy Choice,
Above 'em all, a Gentleman prefer;
One free from Bus'ness, undisturb'd with Care;
Yet in the Publick Good (without Vile ends)
To serve his Country, and his Countries Friends:
Travel his Understanding shou'd improve;
For as it helps his Knowledge, 'twould his Love.
As to his Person, 'tis not to advise;
All Women see not with the self-same Eyes.
In that you might your own Opinion use,
Your Heart wou'd teach you; but were I to chuse,
He shou'd not be Effeminate or Proud,
(I hate the Man that is by Pride subdu'd).
In us I Grant a little Pride may be,
Much less a Crime (and may with Sense agree)
A Gift alone for our own Sex design'd,
To awe the loose Opinions of Mankind;
Who quickly else more Insolent wou'd grow:
'Tis Vertue's Guard, and Aids our Beauties too.
A Gay Appearance shou'd not make me err;
I wou'd the Beauties of the Mind prefer.
Among the Few, I'd have a Man of Sense,
Endu'd with Modesty and Temperance;
Not with a great, and yet a good Estate;
Not too much Learning, nor Illiterate,
And yet he shou'd (avoiding each extream)
Know more of Man, than Man shou'd know of him.
Be Gen'rous and Well-bred, but not Profuse;
Not giv'n to Flattery, nor to take th' Abuse:
Gentile his Carriage, and his Humour such,
Shou'd speak him Sociable, but no Debauch.
A Lover of his Country, and a Friend to Wit
Read Poetry he shou'd, but shou'd not write;
His Temper Lively, not to Wildness bent,
His Talk Diverting, and yet Innocent;
Not Unreserv'd, nor yet too Nicely Wise,
Apter to Bear, than Offer Injuries;
Courage enough his Honour to defend,
But Constant in his Love, and Faithful to his Friend.
This is the Man I'd to my Heart prefer; }
Such Men, Melissa, well deserve our Care; }
You'll say they're Scarce, and I must grant they are. }
Yet I resolve by such a Man, or none,
(Unless by Love betray'd) I will be won.
But were I Woo'd by the Embellish'd Youth;
His Soul susceptible of Love and Truth:
By easie steps he shou'd attain my Heart,
By all the Proofs of Breeding, Wit, and Art.
Then like some Town, by War-like Numbers sought,
That long against its Enemies has fought,
And oft with Courage brav'd the shining Field, }
Yet in the end by Want or Force compell'd, }
It does with Honour to the Conqueror Yield. }
So to my Lover I'd my Heart resign,
The Conquest his, the Glory should be mine.
With mutual Love my Nuptials shou'd be Blest, }
Then to my Arms I'd call the Welcome Guest, }
And Celebrate with Joy great Hymen's Feast. }
Marriage is Bondage, but where Cupid Reigns,
The Yoke is easie; Glorious are the Chains:
His Fetters please, nor wish we to be Free,
But Glory in the Loss of Liberty:
And yet but half our Thanks we owe the Boy,
He gives us Love, 'tis Hymen gives us Joy;
Well might the Poets feign those Gods a-kin,
For we are only Happy where they join.
As when Aurora does the Bridal Morn,
With an uncommon Gayety Adorn
From its Illustrious Pride with ease we may
Foretel the Brightness of the coming Day:
So when true Love the Sacred Tye precedes,
Secure of Happiness that Couple weds;
No Threat'ning Storms do e'er Molest their Joy,
Nor Anxious Quarrels do their Peace destroy;
Their days slide on in the securest ease,
And Circle in Eternal Rounds of Bliss.
Blest in my Wish thus far, my next should be,
(For I Melissa, wou'd live far and free
From the vile Tumults of this viler Town)
To have some little Cottage of my own;
No Spacious, but a Pleasant Country Seat,
Where the Gay Spring shou'd smile on our Retreat;
Delightful Gardens shou'd the Structure Bound,
All Love within, and Innocence around;
Adorn'd with Fruit-Trees curious to the Eye,
With streaming Fountains, and a River nigh;
Where, low-grown Willows do recline their head,
And o'er its fall their Meeting Branches spread,
As tho' they were by careful Nature hung, }
To listen and regard its Murm'ring Song, }
Whose Silver current as it glides along; }
Does wash the Bank of some Delightful Grove,
Fragrant beneath, and shaded all above;
Where the fresh Seasons breathe their vital Air,
And pretty Birds with untaught Songs repair;
Where spreading Pines, and taller Poplars grow,
Young Elms that do a pleasing Prospect show.
Where Bow'rs of Yew, and twisted Hazles stand,
With cluster'd Filberts to invite the hand;
A Place by Nature fram'd to feast the Mind,
By Art for Solitude and Love design'd;
Where we wou'd walk, and waste our idler hours,
Gather the luscious Fruits and various Flowers,
Crop from their stalks the Columbine and Rose, }
And from its Branch, the juicy Peach unlose, }
And ev'ry Sweet of Nature should it self disclose. }
So the first Pair, of Innocence possest,
Were in their Native EDEN truly Blest;
At large they rang'd o'er all the flow'ry Land,
And pluck'd their Food from Nature's lib'ral Hand:
Tripp'd o'er the Soil, and to the Fountains ran.
The Happy Woman She, and He the Happy Man.
Next in my Family I'd employ my Care,
My Attendance few, but honest and sincere;
I wou'd not have our happier Delights,
Destroy'd by Gaming Days, or Drinking Nights.
Nor yet look shye upon those Friends he brought,
I wou'd seem Pleasant, tho' I lik'd them not:
Courteous to all, and Lib'ral to the Poor,
They still shou'd chant their Blessings at my Door;
From whence dissatisfy'd they shou'd not go,
Lest Heaven shou'd retrench its Bounty too;
No Jars among my Servants shou'd be found,
But Chains of lasting Peace shou'd still run round.
Thus we'd the Innocence of Life enjoy,
For Love's a Beauty which does seldom cloy.
As Peaceful Monarchs do their Kingdoms Sway,
He shou'd my Heart, and I'd in Love obey,
No change of Fortune shou'd pervert our flame,
But with the good or bad, be still the same.