Yet, to compofe this midnight noise,
Go freely fearch where-e'er you please (The rage, that rais'd, adorn'd her voice)Upon yon' toilet lie my keys.
Her keys he takes; her doors unlocks;
Through wardrobe and through closet bounces; every cheft and box;
Turns all her furbeloes and flounces.
But Dove, depend on't, finds he none;
So to the bed returns again :
And now the maiden, bolder grown,
Begins to treat him with disdain.
XXVII.
I marvel much, she smiling said,
Your poultry cannot yet be found:
Lies he in yonder flipper dead?
Or, may be, in the tea-pot drown'd?
XXVIII.
No, traitor, angry Love replies,
He's hid fomewhere about your breast;
A place nor god nor man denies,
For Venus' Dove the proper neft.
XXIX.
Search then, the faid, put in your hand,
And Cynthia, dear protectrefs, guard me:
As guilty I, or free, may stand,
Do thou or punish or reward me.
But ah! what maid to Love can trust?
He fcorns, and breaks, all legal power:
Into her breaft his hand he thrust;
And in a moment forc'd it lower.
XXXI.
O, whither do those fingers rove,
Cries Cloe, treacherous urchin, whither?
Venus! I fhall find thy Dove,
Says he; for fure I touch his feather.
S Cloe came into the room t' other day,
I peevish began; where fo long could you stay? your life-time you never regarded your hour : You promis'd at two; and (pray look, child) 'tis four. A lady's watch needs neither figures nor wheels; 'Tis enough, that 'tis loaded with baubles and feals. A temper fo heedlefs no mortal can bear
Thus far I went on with a refolute air.
Lord blefs me! faid she; let a body but speak!
Here's an ugly hard rose-bud fallen into my
neck:
It has hurt me, and vext me to fuch a degree
See here for you never believe me; pray fee,
On the left fide my breaft, what a mark it has made
So faying, her bofom she careless display'd.
That feat of delight I with wonder survey'd ;
And forgot every word I defign'd to have faid.
N fullen humour one day Jove
Sent Hermes down to Ida's grove,
Commanding Cupid to deliver
His ftore of darts, his total quiver;
That Hermes fhould the weapons break,
Or throw them into Lethe's lake.
Hermes, you know, must do his errand : He found his man, produc'd his warrant:
There's no contending against power!
How fullen Jupiter, just now,
I think I said: and you'll allow,
That Cupid was as bad as he :
Hear but the youngster's repartee.
Come, kinfman (faid the little god),
Put off your wings, lay by your rod;
Retire with me to yonder bower;
And reft yourself for half an hour:
"Tis far indeed from hence to Heaven;
But you fly faft: and 'tis but feven.
We'll take one cooling cup of nectar ;
And drink to this celeftial Hector.
He break my darts! or hurt my power! He, Leda's fwan, and Danaë's fhower!
Go, bid him his wife
tongue reftrain ;
And mind his thunder, and his rain.-
My darts! O certainly I'll give 'em :
From Cloe's eyes he fhall receive 'em.
There's one, the beft in all my quiver,
Twang through his very heart and liver;
He then fhall pine, and figh, and rave :
Good Lord! what buftle fhall we have!
Neptune muft ftrait be fent to fea;
And Flora fummon'd twice a day :
One must find fhells, and t' other flowers,
For cooling grots, and fragrant bowers,
That Cloe may be ferv'd in ftate :
The Hours muft at her toilet wait :
Whilst all the reasoning fools below
Wonder their watches go too flow.
Lybs must fly fouth, and Eurus east,
For jewels for her hair and breast.
No matter, though their cruel hafte
Sink cities, and lay forefts wafte.
No matter, though this fleet be loft;
Or that lie wind-bound on the coaft.
What whispering in my mother's ear!
What care, that Juno fhould not hear!
What work among you scholar gods!
Phoebus must write him amorous odes.
And thou, poor coufin, muft compofe
His letters in fubmiffive profe:
Whilft haughty Cloe, to fuftain
The honour of my myftic reign,
Shall all his gifts and vows difdain;
And laugh at your old bully's pain.
Dear couz, faid Hermes in a fright,
For Heaven's fake! keep your darts: good night.
ESOLVE me, Cloe, what is this:
Or forfeit me one precious kifs.
'Tis the firft offspring of the Graces; .
Bears different forms in different places;
Acknowledg'd fine, where'er beheld;
Yet fancied finer, when conceal'd.
"Twas Flora's wealth, and Circe's charm;
Pandora's box of good and harm :
"Twas Mars's wifh, Endymion's dream
Apelles' draught, and Ovid's theme.
This guided Thefeus through the maze;
And fent him home with life and praise :
But this undid the Phrygian boy;
And blew the flames that ruin'd Troy.
This fhew'd great kindness to old Greece,
And help'd rich Jafon to the fleece.
This through the Eaft juft vengeance hurl'd,
And loft poor Anthony the world.
Injur'd, though Lucrece found her doom,
This banish'd tyranny from Rome.
Appeas'd, though Lais gain'd her hire;
This fet Perfepolis on fire.
For this Alcides learn'd to fpin:
His club laid down, and lion's skin..
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