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Purchafing Riches, with our time and care,
We lose our freedom in a gilded Snare;
And having all, all to our felves, refufe,
Oppreft with Bleffings which we fear to use.
Fame is at best but an inconftant good,
Vain are the boafted Titles of our Blood;
We fooneft lose what we moft highy prize,
And with our Youth our fhort-liv'd Beauty dies.
In vain our Fields and Flocks increase our store,
If our abundance makes us with for more.
How happy is the harmless Country Maid,
Who rich by Nature, fcorns fuperfluous aid!
Whofe modeft Cloaths no wanton eyes invite,
But like her Soul, preferves the Native White;
Whofe little Store, her well taught Mind does
please,

Not pinch'd with want, nor cloy'd with wanton ease,

Who free from Storms, which on the Great Ones Makes but few Wishes and enjoys them all ; (fall,

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No care but Love can discompose her Brea

Love, of all Cares the fweeteft and the be Whil'ft on sweet Grafs her bleating Charg

lie,

Our happy Lover feeds upon her eye; Not one on whom or Gods or Men impof But one whom Love has for this Lover ch Under fome favourite Myrtle's fhady Boug They speak their Paffions in repeated Vow And whilft a Blush confeffes how the burn His faithful heart makes as fincere returns. Thus in the Arms of Love and Peace th And whilst they Live,their flames can nev

T

THE

DUEL

OF THE

STAGS.

Written by the Honourable

Sir ROBERT HOWARD.

I

N Windfor Foreft, before War deftroy'd

The harmless Pleasures which foft Peace

enjoy'd ;

A mighty Stag grew Monarch of the Herd,
By all his Savage Slaves obey'd, and fear'd:

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And while the Troops about their Sovereign fed,

They watch'd the awful nodding of his Head.
Still as he paffeth by, they all remove,

Proud in Dominion, Prouder in his Love:
[And while with Pride and Appetite he fwells; ]
He courts no chofen object, but compels :
No Subject his lov'd Mistress dares deny,
But yields his hopes up to his Tyranny.

Long had this Prince imperiously thus fway'd, By no fet Laws, but by his Will obey'd, His fearful Slaves, to full Obedience grown, Admire his ftrength, and dare not use their own.

One Subje&t moft did his fufpicion move, That fhow'd leaft Fear, and counterfeited Love; In the best Pastures by his fide he fed,

Arm'd with two large Militia's on his head:
As if he practis'd Majesty he walk'd,

And at his Nod, he made not hafte, but ftalk'd.

By

By his large shade, he saw how great he was,
And his vaft Layers on the bended Grafs.
His thoughts as large as his proportion grew,
And judg'd himself, as fit for Empire too.

Thus to Rebellious hopes he fwell'd at length,
Love and Ambition growing with his ftrength.
This hid Ambition his bold Paffion fhows,
And from a Subject to a Rival grows.
Sollicites all his Princes fearful Dames,

And in his fight Courts with rebellious flames.

The Prince fees this with an inflamed Eye,
But looks are only figns of Majefty:

When once a Prince's Will meets a reftraint,
His Power is then efteem'd but his Complaint.

His Head then shakes, at which th' affrighted
Herd

Start to each fide; his Rival not afear'd,

Stands by his Miftrefs fide, and ftirs not thence, But bids her own his Love, and his Defence.

The

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