Amidst so many dang❜rous Foes

How weak the wifeft prove!

Reason itself would scarce oppose,
And seems agreed with Love.

If from the glorious Height he falls,

He greatly daring dies ;

Or mounting where bright Beauty calls,
An Empire is the Prize.

VOL. I.

F

The

The SURPRIZE.

Afely perhaps dull Crowds admire ;

Safely

But I, alas, am all on fire.

Like him who thought in Childhood paft
That dire Difeafe which kill'd at laft,

I durft have fworn I lov'd before,
And fancy'd all the danger o'cr;
Had felt the Pangs of jealous Pain,
And born the Blafts of cold Difdain;
Then reap'd at length the mighty Gains,
That full Reward of all our Pains!

But what was all fuch Grief or Joy,
That did my heedlefs Years employ?
Mere Dreams of feign'd fantastick Pow'rs,
But the Difcafe of idle Hours;

Amusement,

Amusement, Humour, Affectation, Compar'd with this fublimer Paffion, Whofe Raptures, bright as thofe above, Outfhine the Flames of Zeal, or Love.

Yet think not, Fairest, what I fing,

Can from a Love Platonick spring;
That formal Softnefs (falfe and vain)
Not of the Heart, but of the Brain..
Thou art indeed above all Nature;
But I, a wretched human Creature,
Wanting thy gentle, gen'rous Aid,
Of Husband, Rivals, Friends afraid!
Amidft all this Seraphic Fire,

Am almost dying with Defire,

With eager Wishes, ardent Thoughts,

Prone to commit Love's wildest Faults!

And (as we are on Sundays told

The lufty Patriarch did of old)

Would force a Bleffing from thofe Charms,

And grafp an Angel in my Arms.

A Dialogue fung on the Stage between an elderly Shepherd, and a very young Nymph.

Skep. BRight and blooming as the Spring,

Universal Love inspiring!

All our Swains thy Praises fing,
Ever gazing, and admiring.

Nym. Praifes in fo high a Strain,

And by fuch a Shepherd fung,

Are enough to make me vain,
Yet fo harmless and fo young.

Shep.

Shep. Ifhould have despair'd among
Rivals that appear fo gayly:

But your Eyes have made me young,
By their smiling on me dayly.

Nym. Idle Boys admire us blindly,

Are inconftant, wild, and bold;
And your ufing me fo kindly,

Is a Proof you are not old.

Shep. With thy pleafing Voice and Fashion,
With thy Humour and thy Youth,

Chear my Soul, and crown my Passion,
Oh! reward my Love and Truth.

Nym. With thy careful Arts to cover

That which Fools will count a Fault,

Trucft Friend as well as Lover,

Oh! deferve fo kind a Thought.