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When parents threats, and friends persuasions fail, When int'rest and ambition scarce prevail,

To bound that fex when nothing else can move; They'll live referv'd to please the man they love! The spirit then reply'd to all I faid,

d;

She may be kind, but not till thou art dead
Bewail thy memory, bemoan thy fate:
Then fhe will love, when 'tis, alas! too late :
Of all thy pains fhe will no pity have,

Till fad defpair has fent thee to the grave.

Amaz'd, I wak'd in hafte,

All trembling at my doom;
Dreams oft repeat adventures past,
And tell our ills to come,

HELEN TO PARIS,

FROM

O VID.

TRANSLATED BY THE

EARL OF MULGRAVE AND MR. DRYDEN.

WHEN loose epiftles violate chaste eyes,

She half confents, who filently denies:
How dares a stranger, with defigns fo vain,
Marriage and hofpitable rights profane?
Was it for this your fate did shelter find
From fwelling feas, and ev'ry faithlefs 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 unchaste,
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 still 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 fhame:
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 could 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 restor❜d me to my friends,
And modest usage made me fome 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 still 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 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 rest?
Fair LEDA's story seems at first to be
A fit example ready found for me:
But she was couzen'd by a borrow'd shape,
And under harmless feathers felt a rape:

1

IfI fhould yield, what reafon could I ufe?
By what mistake the loving crime excufe?
Her fault was in her pow'rful lover lost ;
But of what JUPITER have I to boast?
Tho' you to heroes, and to kings fucceed,
Our famous race does no addition need;
And great alliances but useless prove

To one that fprings herself from mighty JovE.
Go then and boaft in fome lefs 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 confefs;
But I have reafon to think ours no less.
Your letter, fill'd with promises of all
That men can good, and women pleasant call,
Gives expectation fuch an ample field,
As would move goddeffes themselves to yield.
But if I e'er offend great Juno's laws,
Yourself fhall 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 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, [fhine.
In which (wild man!) your wanton thoughts would
Sometimes you'd figh, fometimes disorder'd stand,
And with unusual ardour press my hand;

H

Contrive just after me to take the glass,

Nor would you let the least occasion pass:
Which oft I fear'd I did not mind alone,
And blufhing fat for things which you have done?
Then murmur'd to myfelf, he'll for my fake
Do any thing; I hope 'twas no mistake.
Oft have I read within this pleasant 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 some bleft maid poffefs with innocence.
Pleasure may tempt, but virtue more should move;
Oh! 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.
Like you they fee, like you my charms adore;
They wish not lefs, but you dare venture more.
Oh! had you then upon our coasts been brought,
My virgin love when thousand rivals fought,
You had I feen, you should have had my voice;
Nor cou'd my husband juftly blame my choice.
For both our hopes, alas! you come too late;
Another now is master of my fate.

More to my wish I cou'd have liv'd with you,
And yet my present lot can undergo.
Ceafe to follicit a weak woman's will,

And urge not her you love, to fo much ill:

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