Ev'n but a Boy, from my flain Foes I gain'd
My ftollen Herd, and a new Name attain'd;
Ev'n then o'ercome by me I cou'd produce
Deiphobus and great Ilioneus.

Nor Hand to Hand more to be fear'd am I,
Then when from far my certain Arrows fly.
You for his Youth can no fuch Actions feign,
Nor can he e'er my envy'd Skill attain.
But could he, Hector's your Security,

And he alone an Army is to me.

You know me not, nor the hid Prowefs find
Of him that Heav'n has for your Bed defign'd.
Either no War from Greece fhall follow thee,
Or if it does, fhall be repell'd by me.
Nor think I fear to fight for fuch a Wife,
That Prize would give the Coward's Courage life.
All After-Ages fhall your Fame admire,
If you alone fet the whole World on fire.
To Sea, to Sea, while all the Gods are kind,
And all I promise, you in Troy shall find,

HELEN

{**********}

HELEN TO PAR I S.

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

The ARGUMENT.

Helen, having receiv'd the foregoing Epiftle from Paris, returns the following Answer: 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 self to be fenfible of the Paffion, which he had express'd for her, tho' fhe much fufpected bis Conftancy; and at laft difcovers her Inclination to be favourable to him. The whole Letter fhewing the extream Artifice of Woman-kind.

W

HEN loofe Epiftles violate chafte Eyes,

She half Confents, who filently Denies:
How dares a Stranger, with Designs so vain,
Marriage and Hospitable 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 deferve 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 just 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?
Becaufe 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 'fcap'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 modest 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 bafe,
Or doubt the blooming Beauties of my Face,

But

But all your Sex is fubject to deceive,

And ours, alas, too willing to believe.

Yet others yield: and Love o'ercomes the best:
But why should I not shine above the Reft?
Fair Leda's Story feems 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 Miftake 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 useless prove
To one that's come her self 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 Trey is pow'rful I confess,

But I have reafon to think ours no lefs.
Your Letter fill'd with Promises of all
That Men can good, and Women pleasant, 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 fo fair a Present I despise;

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 shine.
Sometimes you'd figh, fometimes diforder'd ftand,

And with unusual Ardor prefs my Hand;
Contrive just after me to take the Glass,
Nor wou'd you let the leaft Occafion pafs,
When oft I fear'd, I did not mind alone,
And blufhing fate for Things which you have done :
Then murmur'd to my self, He'll for

my

fake

Do any thing; I hope 'twas no Miftake.
Oft have I read within this pleafing Grove,
Under my Name, those 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.
What you defire is fought by all Mankind:
As you have Eyes, fo others are not Blind.