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HELEN TO PARIS.

By the Right Honourable the Earl of MULGRAVE, and Mr. DRYDEN.

The ARGUMEN T.

Helen, having receiv'd the foregoing Epistle from Paris, returns the following Anfwer: Wherein she seems at first to chide him for his Prefumption in writing as he had done, which could only proceed from his low Opinion of her Virtue; then owns her felf to be fenfible of the Paffion, which he had exprefs'd for her, tho' fhe much fufpected his Conftancy; and at laft discovers her Inclination to be favourable to him. The whole Letter fhewing the extream Artifice of Woman-kind.

W

HEN loose Epiftles violate chafte Eyes,

She half Confents, who filently Denies:
How dares a Stranger, with Defigns fo vain,
Marriage and Hofpitable Rights prophane?
Was it for this, your Fleet did shelter find
From fwelling Seas, and ev'ry faithless Wind?
(For tho' a diftant Country brought you forth,
Your Ufage here was equal to your Worth.)
Does this deserve to be rewarded fo?
Did you come here a Stranger, or a Foe?

Your partial Judgment may perhaps complain,
And think me barb'rous for my juft Disdain;
Ill-bred then let me be, but not unchafte,
Nor my clear Fame with any Spot defac'd.
Tho' in my Face there's no affected Frown,
Nor in my Carriage a feign'd Niceness shown,
I keep my Honour ftill without a Stain,
Nor has my Love made any Coxcomb vain.
Your Boldness I with Admiration fee;
What Hope had you to gain a Queen like me?
Because a Hero forc'd me once away,

Am I thought fit to be a fecond Prey?

Had I been won, I had deferv'd your Blame,
But fure my Part was nothing but the Shame :
Yet the bafe Theft to him no Fruit did bear,
I'feap'd unhurt by any thing but Fear.
Rude Force might fome unwilling Kiffes gain,
But that was all he ever cou'd obtain.

You on fuch Terms would ne'er have let me go;
Were he like you, we had not parted fo.
Untouch'd the Youth reftor'd me to my Friends,
And modeft Usage made me some amends.
'Tis Virtue to repent a vicious Deed;

Did he repent, that Paris might fucceed?
Sure 'tis fome Fate that fets me above Wrongs,

Yet ftill exposes me to bufy Tongues.

I'll not complain, for who's difpleas'd with Love,
If it fincere, difcreet, and conftant prove?

But that I fear; not that I think

you base,

Or doubt the blooming Beauties of my Face,

But

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But all your Sex is fubject to deceive,

And ours, alas, too willing to believe.

Yet others yield: and Love o'ercomes the beft:
But why should I not shine above the Reft?
Fair Leda's Story seems at first to be

A fit Example ready found for me;
But she was Cozen'd by a borrow'd Shape,
And under harmless Feathers felt a Rape:
If I should yield, what Reason could I use?
By what Mistake the loving Crime excuse?
Her Fault was in her powerful Lover loft.
But of what Jupiter have I to boast ?

Tho' you to Hero's, and to Kings fucceed,
Our Famous Race does no Addition need,
And great Alliances but ufelefs
prove
To one that's come her felf from mighty Jove,
Go then and boast in some less haughty Place
Your Phrygian Blood, and Priam's ancient Race,
Which I would fhew I valu'd, if I durft;
You are the fifth from Jove, but I the first.
The Crown of Troy is pow'rful I confess,

But I have reafon to think ours no less.
Your Letter fill'd with Promises of all
That Men can good, and Women pleafant, call,
Gives Expectation fuch an ample Field,
As wou'd move Goddeffes themselves to yield.
But if I e'er offend great Juno's Laws,
Your felf shall be the dear, the only Caufe;
Either my Honour I'll to Death maintain,
Or follow you, without mean Thoughts of Gain.

Not that so fair a Prefent I defpife;

We like the Gift, when we the Giver prize.

But 'tis your Love moves me, which made you take
Such Pains, and run fuch Hazards for my fake.
I have perceiv'd (tho' I diffembled too)

A thousand Things that Love has made you do:
Your eager Eyes would almost dazzle mine,

In which (wild Man) your wanton Thoughts wou'd fine.
Sometimes you'd figh, fometimes diforder'd ftand,
And with unufual Ardor prefs my Hand;
Contrive juft after me to take the Glafs,
Nor wou'd you let the leaft Occafion pass,
When oft I fear'd, I did not mind alone,
And blushing fate for Things which you have done :
Then murmur'd to my felf, He'll for my fake
Do any thing; I hope 'twas no Mistake.
Oft have I read within this pleafing Grove,
Under my Name, thofe charming Words, I Love.
I frowning, feem'd not to believe your Flame,
But now, alas, am come to Write the fame.
If I were capable to do amifs,

I could not but be fenfible of this.

For oh! your Face has fuch peculiar Charms,
That who can hold from flying to your Arms!
But what I ne'er can have without Offence,
May fome bleft Maid poffefs with Innocence.
Pleasure may tempt, but Virtue more should move;
O learn of me to want the Thing you Love.
you defire is fought by all Mankind:
have Eyes, fo others are not Blind.

What

As you

Like you they fee, like you my Charms adore,
They wish not lefs, but you dare venture more.
Oh! had you then upon our Coast been brought,
My Virgin Love when thousand Rivals fought,
You had I feen, you should have had my Voice;
Nor cou'd my Husband justly blame my Choice.
For both our Hopes, alas! you come too late;
Another now is Mafter of my Fate.
More to my Wish I cou'd have liv'd with you,
And yet my prefent Lot can undergo.
Ceafe to folicit a weak Woman's Will,
And urge not her you Love, to fo much Ill.
But let me live contented as I may,
And make not my unfpotted Fame your Prey.
Some Right you claim, fince naked to your Eyes
Three Goddeffes difputed Beauty's Prize.
One offer'd Valour, t'other Crowns, but she
Obtain'd her Caufe, who fmiling promis'd me.
But first I am not of Belief fo light,

To think fuch Nymphs wou'd fhew you fuch a Sight.
Yet granting this, the other Part is feign'd;

A Bribe fo mean, your Sentence had not gain'd.
With partial Eyes I fhou'd my felf regard,.
To think that Venus made me her Reward:
I humbly am content with human Praise;
A Goddess's Applaufe wou'd Envy raise:
But be it as you say, for 'tis confest,
The Men, who flatter higheft, please us beft.
That I fufpect it, ought not to displease;
For Miracles are not believ'd with ease.

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