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And witness next what Roman authors tell,
How Arria, Porcia, and Lucretia fell.

But since the sacred leaves to all are free,
And men interpret texts, why should not we?
By this no more was meant, than to have shown,
That sov❜reign goodness dwells in him alone, 680
Who only Is, and is but only One.

675

But grant the worst; shall women then be weigh'd
By ev'ry word that Solomon hath said?

What though this king (as ancient story boasts)
Built a fair temple to the Lord of Hosts ;
He ceas'd at last his Maker to adore,
And did as much for idol gods, or more.
Beware what lavish praises you confer
On a rank lecher and idolater;
Whose reign indulgent God, says holy writ,
Did but for David's righteous sake permit ;
David, the Monarch after Heaven's own mind,
Who lov'd our sex, and honour'd all our kind.

685

690

Well, I'm a woman, and as such must speak; Silence would swell me, and my heart would break. Know then, I scorn your dull authorities,

Your idle wits, and all their learned lies.

By Heav'n, those authors are our sex's foes,

Whom, in our right, I must and will oppose.

696

Nay (quoth the King) dear Madam, be not wroth;

I yield it up; but since I gave my oath,

701

That this much-injur'd Knight again should see,
It must be done-I am a king, said he,

And one whose faith has ever sacred been-
And so has mine (she said)-I am a Queen :
Her answer she shall have, I undertake;

And thus an end to all dispute I make.
Try when
shall find, my Lord,
It is not in our sex to break our word.

you list; and you

705

We leave them here in this heroic strain, And to the Knight our story turns again;

710

Who in the garden, with his lovely May,

Sung merrier than the cuckoo or the jay:
This was his song; "Oh kind and constant be,
"Constant and kind I'll ever prove to thee."

715

Thus singing as he went, at last he drew, By easy steps to where the pear-tree grew : The longing dame look'd up, and spy'd her love Full fairly perch'd among the boughs above. 719 She stopp'd, and sighing; Oh good Gods! she cry'd, What pangs, what sudden shoots distend my side; O for that tempting fruit, so fresh, so green; Help, for the love of Heav'n's immortal Queen; Help, dearest Lord, and save at once the life Of thy poor infant, and thy longing wife!

Sore sigh'd the Knight to hear his lady's cry, But could not climb, and had no servant nigh:

725

Old as he was, and void of eye-sight too,
What could, alas! a helpless husband do?
And must I languish then, she said, and die,
Yet view the lovely fruit before my eye?
At least, kind Sir, for Charity's sweet sake,
Vouchsafe the trunk between your arms to take;
Then from your back I might ascend the tree:
Do you but stoop, and leave the rest to me.

With all my soul, he thus reply'd again!
I'd spend my dearest blood to ease thy pain.
With that his back against the trunk he bent!
She seiz❜d a twig, and up the tree she went.
Now prove your patience, gentle ladies all!
Nor let on me your heavy anger
fall:
'Tis truth I tell, tho' not in phrase refin'd;
Tho' blunt my tale, yet honest is my mind.
What feats the lady in the tree might do,
I pass, as gambols never known to you;
But sure it was a merrier fit, she swore,
Than in her life she ever felt before.

In that nice moment, lo! the wond'ring Knight
Look'd out, and stood restor❜d to sudden sight.
Straight on the tree his eager eyes he bent,
As one whose thoughts were on his spouse intent;
But when he saw his bosom wife so dress'd,
His rage was such as cannot be express'd :

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735

740

745

750

760

What ails my Lord? the trembling dame reply'd;
I thought your patience had been better try'd:
Is this your love, ungrateful and unkind,
This my reward for having cur'd the blind?
Why was I taught to make my husband see,
By struggling with a man upon a tree?
Did I for this the pow'r of magic prove?
Unhappy wife, whose crime was too much love! 765
If this be struggling, by this holy light,

"Tis struggling with a vengeance (quoth the Knight ;)
So Heav'n preserve the sight it has restor❜d,
As with these eyes I plainly saw thee whor'd;
Whor'd by my slave-perfidious wretch! may Hell
As surely seize thee, as I saw too well.

771

775

Guard me, good Angels! cry'd the gentle May; Pray Heav'n this magic work the proper way! Alas, my love! 'tis certain, could you see, You ne'er had us'd these killing words to me: So help me, Fates! as 'tis no perfect sight, But some faint glimmʼring of a doubtful light. What I have said [quoth he] I must maintain, For by th' immortal Pow'rs it seem'd too plain

By all those Pow'rs, some frenzy seiz❜d your mind, [Reply'd the dame :] are these the thanks I find? Wretch that I am, that e'er I was so kind! She said, a rising sigh express'd her woe;

The ready tears apace began to flow,

785

And as they fell she wip'd from either eye
The drops; [for women, when they list, can cry.]
The Knight was touch'd; and in his looks appear'd
Signs of remorse, while thus his spouse he cheer'd:
Madam, 'tis past, and my short anger o'er!

796

Come down, and vex your tender heart no more: 790
Excuse me, dear, if aught amiss was said,
For, on my soul, amends shall soon be made :
Let my repentance your forgiveness draw;
By Heav'n, I swore but what I thought I saw.
Ah, my lov'd Lord! 'twas much unkind [she cry'd]
On bare suspicion thus to treat your bride.
But till your sight's establish'd, for a while,
Imperfect objects may your sense beguile.
Thus, when from sleep we first our eyes display,
The balls are wounded with the piercing ray, 800
And dusky vapours rise, and intercept the day:
So just recov❜ring from the shades of night,
Your swimming eyes are drunk with sudden light,
Strange phantoms dance around, and skim before
your sight.

Then, Sir, be cautious, nor too rashly deem ;

805

Heav'n knows how seldom things are what they seem!

Consult your reason, and you soon shall find
'Twas you were jealous, not your wife unkind:
Jove ne'er spoke oracle more true than this;

None judge so wrong as they who think amiss. 810

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