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The RELAPSE.

IKE Children in a starry Night,

When I beheld thofe Eyes before, I gaz'd with Wonder and Delight, Infenfible of all their Pow'r.

I play'd about the Flame fo long,
At laft I felt the scorching Fire;
My Hopes were weak, my Paffion strong,
And I lay dying with Defire;

By all the Helps of humane Art,
I juft recover'd so much Sense,
As to avoid, with heavy Heart,

The fair, but fatal Influence.
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But,

But, fince you fhine away Defpair,
And now my Sighs no longer fhun,
No Perfian in his zealous Prayer
So much adores the rifing Sun,

If once again my Vows difpleafe,
There never was fo loft a Lover;
In Love, that languishing Disease,

A fad Relapfe we ne'er recover.

SIghing and languishing I lay,

A Stranger grown to all Delight,

Paffing with tedious Thoughts the Day,

And with unquiet Dreams the Night.

For your dear fake, my only Care
Was how my fatal Love to hide;"
For ever drooping with Despair,
Neglecting all the World befide:

Till, like fome Angel from above,
CORNELIA came to my Relief;
And then I found the Joys of Love

Can make amends for all the Grief.

Those pleafing Hopes I now pursue,

Might fail, if you could prove unjust; But Promises from Heav'n and you, Who is fo impious to mistrust?

Here all my Doubts and Troubles end;
One tender Word my Soul affures;

Nor am I vain, fince I depend

Not on my own Defert, but yours.

The

Too long, alas, have I abus'd

Love's innocent and facred Flame,

And that divineft Pow'r have us'd

To laugh at, as an idle Name,

But fince fo freely I confess

A Crime which may your Scorn produce, Allow me now to make it lefs

By any juft and fair Excuse.

I