And Tapers, of a pitchy Subftance made,
With Clouds of Smoke increase the difmal Shade.
A Monster void of Reafon and of Sight,
The Goddess is, who fways this Realm of Night:
Her Pow'r extends o'er all things that have Breath,
A cruel Tyrant, and her Name is Death.
The fairest Object of our wond'ring Eyes
Was newly offer'd up her Sacrifice;
Th' adjoining Places where the Altar ftood,
Yet blushing with the fair ALMERIA'S Blood.
When griev'd ORONTES whofe unhappy Flame
Is known to all who e'er converfe with Fame,
His Mind poffefs'd by Fury and Despair,
Within the facred Temple made this Prayer:
Great Deity! Who in thy Hands do'ft bear
That Iron Scepter which poor Mortals fear;
Who wanting Eyes thy self, respectest none,
And neither fpar'ft the Laurel, nor the Crown!
O thou, whom all Mankind in vain withstand,
Each of whose Blood muft one day stain thy Hand!
O thou, who ev'ry Eye that sees the Light,
Closest for ever in the Shades of Night!
Goddess attend, and hearken to my Grief,
To which thy Pow'r alone can give Relief.
Alas, I ask not to defer my Fate,
But wifh my hapless Life a fhorter Date,
And that the Earth would in its Bowels hide
A Wretch, whom Heav'n invades on ev'ry fide:
That from the Sight of Day I could remove,
And might have nothing left me but my Love,
Thou only Comforter of Minds opprefs'd;
The Port where weary'd Spirits are at rcft;
Conductor to Elyfium, take my Life;
My Breaft I offer to thy facred Knife :
So just a Grace refufe not, nor despise
A willing, tho' a worthlefs Sacrifice.
Others, (their frail and mortal State forgot)
Before thy Altars are not to be brought
Without Constraint; the Noife of dying Rage,
Heaps of the flain of ev'ry Sex and Age,
The Blade all reeking in the Gore it fhed,
With fever'd Heads and Arms confus'dly spread;
The rapid Flames of a perpetual Fire,
The Groans of Wretches ready to expire:
This Tragick Scene in Terror makes them live,
Till that is forc'd, which they fhould freely give;
Yielding unwillingly what Heav'n will have,
Their Fears eclipfe the Glory of their Grave:
Before thy Face they make indecent Moan,
And feel a hundred Deaths in fearing one;
Thy Flame becomes unhallow'd in their Breast,
And he a Murderer who was a Pricft.
But against me thy ftrongest Forces call,
And on my Head let all the Tempest fall ;
No mean Retreat shall any Weakness show,
But calmly I'll expect the fatal Blow;
My Limbs not trembling, in my Mind no Fear,
Plaints in my Mouth, nor in my Eyes a Tear.
Think not that Time, our wonted fure Relief,
That universal Cure for ev'ry Grief,
Whose Aid so many Lovers oft have found,
With like Succefs can ever heal my Wound:
Too weak the Pow'r of Nature, or of Art,
Nothing but Death can cafe a broken Heart.
And that thou may'ft behold my helpless State,
Learn the extremeft Rigour of my Fate.
Amidft th' innumerable beauteous Train,
Paris, the Queen of Cities, docs contain,
(The fairest Town, the largest, and the beft,)
The fair ALMERIA fhin'd above the reft.
From her bright Eyes to feel a hopeless Flame,
Was of our Youth the most ambitious Aim;
Her Chains were Marks of Honour to the Brave,
She made a Prince whene'er fhe made a Slave.
Love, under whofe tyrannick Pow'r I groan,
Shew'd me this Beauty e'er 'twas fully blown;
Her tim❜rous Charms, and her unpractis'd Look,
Their firft Affurance from my Conqueft took ;
By wounding me fhe learn'd the fatal Art,
And the first Sigh fhe had was from my Heart:
My Eyes with Tears moift'ning her snowy Arms,
Render'd the Tribute owing to her Charms.
But, as I fooneft of all mortals paid
My Vows, and to her Beauty Altars made;
So, among all thofe Slaves that figh'd in vain,
She thought me only worthy of my Chain.
Love's heavy Burden my fubmiffive Heart
Endur'd not long, before fhe bore her part;
My violent Flame melted her frozen Breast,
And in foft Sighs her Pity fhe exprefs'd;
Her gentle Voice allay'd my raging Pains,
And her fair Hands fuftain'd me in my Chains:
Ev'n Tears of Pity waited on my Moan,
And tender Looks were caft on me alone.
My Hopes and Dangers were lefs mine than hers,
Those fill'd her Soul with Joys, and these with
Our Hearts united had the fame Defires,
And both alike burn'd with impatient Fires.
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