376

Hither, they cry'd, direct your eyes, and fee 380
The men of pleafure, drefs, and gallantry;
Ours is the place at banquets, balls, and plays;
sprightly our night, polite are all our days;
Courts we frequent, where 'tis our pleating care
To pay due vitts, and addrefs the fair: 325
In fact, 'tis true, no nymph we could perfuade,
But fill in fancy vanquifh'd every maid;
Of unknown Ducheffes lewd tales we tell,
Yet, would the world believe us, all were well.
The joy let others have, and we the name,
And what we want in pleasure, grant in fame.
The Queen affents, the trumpet rends the kies,
And at each blaft a Lady's honour dies.

399

Pleas'd with the frange fuccefs, vaft numbers
preft

Around the farine, and made the fame requeft:
What you (fhe cry'd), unlearn'd in arts to pleafe,
Saves to yourfelves, and ev'n fatigued with eafe,
Who lofe a length of undeferving days,
Would you ufurp the lover's dear-bought praife?
To juft contempt, ye vain pretenders, fall, 408
The people's fable, and the fcorn of all.
Straight the black clarion fends a horrid found,
Food laughs burst out, and bitter feoffs fly round,
Whispers are beard, with taunt reviling loud,
And foornful hiffes run through all the crowd.
Laft, thofe who boaft of mighty mifchiefs done,
En flave their country, or ufurp a throne;
Or who their glory's dire foundation lay'd
On fovereigns ruin'd, or on friends betray'd;
Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix,
Of crooked counfels and dark politics;
Of thefe a gloomy tribe furround the throne,
And beg to malé th' immortal treasons known.
The trumpet roars, long flaky fames expire,
With parks that feem'd to fet the world on fire.
At the dread found, pale mortals stood aghaft,
And farted nature trembled with the blast.

411

This having heard and feen, fome power un

|

All various founds from earth, and feas, and skies,
Cr spoke aloud, or whisper'd in the car;
Nor ever 1lence, reft, or peace,, is here..
435
As on the fmooth expanfe of cryftal lakes
The finking flone at firtt a circle makes;
The trembling furface, by the motion ftirr'd,
Spreads in a fecond circle, then a third;.
Wide, and more wide, the floating rings advanes,
Fill all the watery plain, and to the margin dance:
Thus every voice and found, when first they break,
On neighbouring air a toft impression make;
Another ambient circle then they move;
That, in its turn, impels the next above; 445
Through undulating air the founds are fent,
And spread o'er all the fluid clement.

There various news I heard of love and ftrife, Of peace and war, health, ficknefs, death, and life,

466

Above, below, without, within, around, Conius'd, unnumber'd multitudes are found, Who pafs, repafs, advance, and glide away; 460 Hoits rais'd by fear, and phantoms-of a day : Aftrologers, that future lates forefhew, Projectors, quacis, and lawyers not a few; And prieits, and party zealots, numerous bands With home-bern lies, or tales from for gn lands; Fach talked aloud, or in fome fecret place, And wild impatience ftar'd in every face. The flying rumours gather'd as they roll'à, Scarce any tale was fooner heard than told;" And all who told it added fomething new, 470 And all who heard it made enlargements too, In every ear it spread, on every tongue it grew., Thus fying calt and weit, and north a. d fcuth, News travell'd with in creafe from mouth to mouth, So from a pack, that kindled fril by chance, 475 With gathering force the quickening flames ad

'Vance;

Till to the clouds their curling heads afpire,
And towers and temples fink in floods of fire.

When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung, Full-grown, and fit to grace a mortal torgue, 496 Through thousand vents, impatient, forth they flow,

And rush in millions on the world below,
Fante fits alott, and points them out their course,
Theirdate determines, and preferibes their force:

Abufive Nabal ow'd his forfeit life

To the wife co. duct of a prudent wife :
Heroic judith, as old Hebrews fhow.
Prefervid the jews and ew the Affyrian foe:
At Hefter's fuit, the perfecuting fword
75
Was fheath'd, and Ifrael liv'd to blefs the Lord.
Thefe weighty motives, january the fage
Maturely ponder'd in his riper age;

And, charm'd with virtuous joys and fober life,
Would try that Chriftian comfort, call'd a wife.
His friends were fummo..'d on a point so nice,
To pass their judgment, and to give advice;
But fix'd before, and well refolv'd was he;
(As men that afk advice are wont to be.)

90

My friends, he cry'd (aid cait a mournful look Around the room, and figh'd before he spoke): Beneath the weigh of three core years I bend, And worn with cares, and hatteni. g to my end; How I have liv d, alas! you now too well, In worldly follies, which I blush to tell; But gracious heaven has ope'd my eyes at last, With due regret I view my vices past, And, as the precept of the Church decrees, Will take a wife, and live in holy ease. But, fince by counsel all things should be done, And many heads are wifer ill than one; Chufe you for me, who best fall be content When my defre's approv'd by your confent.

One caution yet is needful to be told,

104

115

To guide your choice; this wife muft not be old:
There goes a faying, and 'twas fhrewdly said,
Old fish at table but young fiefh in bed.
My foul abhors the tastelefs, dry embrace
Of a tale virgia with a winter face:
In that cold feafon Love but treats his gueft
With bean-ftraw, and tough forage at the best
No crafty widows fhall approach my bed;
Thefe are too wife for bachelors to wed;
As fubtle clerks by many fchools are made,
Twice marry'd dames are mistreffes o' th' trade:
But young and tender virgins, rul'd with ease,
We form like wax, and mould them as we pleafe.
Conceive me, Sirs, nor take my fenfe amifs;
Tis what concerns my foul's eter al bliss:
Since if I found no pleasure in my poufe,
As efh is frail, and who (God help me) knows?
Then If ould live in lewd adultery,
And fink downright to Satan when I die?
Or were I curs'd with an unfruitful bed,
The righteous end were loft, for which I wed;
To raife up feed to blefs the powers above,
And not for pleafure only, or for love.
Think not I doat; 'tis time to take a wife,
When vigorous blood forbids a chafter life:
Thofe that are bleft with ftore of grace divine, 125
May live like faints, by heaven's content and mine.
And fince I speak of wedlock, let me fay,
(As, thank iny stars, in modeft truth I may)
My limbs are active, ftill I'm found at heart,
And a new vigour springs in every part
Think not my virtue loft, though time has fhed
These reverend honours on my hoary head;
Thus trees are crown'd with blooms white as
fnow,

The vital fap then rifing from below:

121

130

Till, what with proofs, objections, and replies, Each wondrous positive, aud wondrous wife, There fell between his brothers a debate; Placebo this was call'd and juftin that.

145

Firit to the Knight Placebo thus begun (Mild were his looks, and pleating was his tone); Such prudence, Sir, in all your words appears, As plainly proves, experience dwells with years! Yet you purfue fage Solomon's advice, To work by counfel when attairs are nice: But with the Wife Man's leave, I muft proteft, So may my foul arrive at eafe and reft As till I hold your own advice the beft. Sir, I have liv'd a (ourtier all my days, And ftudy'd men, their manners, and their ways; And have obferv'd this ufeful maxim ftill, To let my betters always have their will. Nay, if my Lord affirm'd that black was white, My word was this, Your bonour's in the right. Th' affuming Wit, who deems himself fo wife, As his mifta en patron to advise,

155

Let him not dare to vent his dangerous thought, A noble fool was never in a fault. 165

171

This, Sir, affe&is not you, whofe every word
Is weigh'd with judgment, and befits a Lord:
Your will is mine; and is (I will maintain)
Pleafing to God, and fhould be fo to man!
At least, your courage all the world muft praife,
Who dare to wed in your declining days.
Indulge the vigour of your mounting blood,
And let grey fools be indolently good,
Who paft all pleafure, damn the joys f fenfe,
With reverend dulnefs, and grave impotence. 175
Jutin, who flent fat, and heard the man,
Thus, with a philofophic frown, began.
heathen author of the frit degree,
(Who, though not Faith, had Senfe as well as we)
Bids us be certain our concerns to trust
180
To thofe of generous principles, and juft.
The venture's greater, I'll presume to say,
To give your perfon, than your goods away:
And therefore, Sir, as you regard your reft,
Firft learn your lady's qualities at least: 185
Whether the 's chafte or rampant, proud or civil,
Meck as a faint, or haughty as the devil;
Whether an eafy, fond, familiar fool,
Or fuch a wit as no man e'er can rule.
'Tis true, perfection none must hope to find 190
In all this world, much lefs in womankind;
But, if her virtues prove the larger share,
Blefs the kind fates, and think your fortune rare.
Ah, gentle Sir, take warning of a friend,
Who knows too well the ftate you thus commend
And, fpite of all his praifes, muft declare, 196
All he can find is bondage, coft, and care.

201

205

Heaven knows, I fhed full many a private tear,
And figh in filence, left the world fould hear!
While all my friends applaud my blissful life,
And fwear no mortal 's happier in a wife;
Demure and chafte as any veftal Nun,
The meekeft creature that beholds the fun!
But, by the immortal powers, I feel the pain,
And he that fmarts has reafon to complain.
Do what you lift, for me; you must be fage,
And cautions fure; for wifdom is in age:
but at thefe years, to venture on the air;
By him who made the ocean, earth, and air,
To pleafe a wife, when her occafions call,
Would bufy the most vigorous of us all.
And truft me, Sir, the chafteft you can chufe
Will af obfervance, and exact her dues,
If what I fpeak my noble Lord offend,
My tedious fermon here is at an end.

210

215

Tis well, 'tis wondrous well, the Knight replies,

Moft worthy kinfman, faith you 're mighty wife!
We, Sir, are fools, and muft refign the caufe
To heathenish authors, proverbs, and old faws.
He spoke with fcorn, and turn'd another way :-
What does my friend, my dear Placebo, fay?
Ifay, quoth he, by heaven the man 's to blame,
To flander wives, and wedlock's holy name.
At this the council rofe, without delay;
Each, in his own opinion, went his way;
With full confent, that, all disputes appea 'd,
The knight should marry, when and where hé
pleas'd.

225

Who now but January exults with joy? The charms of wedlock all his foul employ; Each nymph by turns his wavering mind poffeft, And reign'd the fhort-liv'd tyrant of his breaft; While fancy pictur'd every lively part, And each bright image wander'd o'er his heart. Thus, in fome public Forum fix'd on high, A Mirrour fhows the figures moving by ; Still one by one, in fwilt fucceffion, pafs The gliding fhadows o'er the polish'd glass. This Lady's charms the niceft could not blame, But vile fufpicions had afpers'd her fame;

235

That was with fenfe, but not with virtue, bleft;
Aud one had grace, that wanted all the rest, 241
Thus doubting long what nymph he fhould obey,
He fix'd at laft upon the youthful May.
Her faults he knew not, Love is always blind,
But every charm revolv'd within his mind: 245
Her tender age, her form divinely fair,
Her eafy motion, her attractive air,
Her fweet behaviour, her enchanting face,
Her moving foftnefs, and majestic grace.

Much in his prudence did our knight rejoice,
And thought no mortal could difpute his choice:
Once more in hafte he fummon'd every friend,
And told them all, their pains were at an end.
Heaven, that (faid he) infpir'd me first to wed,
Provides a confort worthy of my hed:
Let none oppofe th' election, fince on this
Depends my quiet, and my future blifs.

.. 255

A dame there is, the darling of my eyes, Young, beauteous, artlefs, innocent, and wife;

Of honeft parents, and may ferve my turn.
Her wil I wed, if gracious Heaven so please,
To pafs my age in fanctity and eafe;
And than the powers, I may poffeí's alone
The lovely prize, and fare my blifs with none !
If you, my friends, this virgin can procure,
My joys are full, my happiness is fure.

One only doubt remains: Full oft I 've heard,
By cafuifts grave, and deep divines averr'd,
That 'tis too much for human race to know 270
The blifs of heaven above, and earth below.
Now fhould the nuptial pleasures prove fo great,
To match the bleffings of the future state,
Thofe endless joys were ill-exchang'd for thefe;
Then clear this doubt, ard fet my mind at eafe.

This Juftin heard, nor could his fpleen control, Touch'd to the quick, and tic' led at the oul. Sir Knight, he cry'd, if this be all you dread, Heaven put it paft your doubt, whene'er you wed;

280

And to my fervent prayers fo far confent,
That, ere the rites are o'er, you may repent!
Good Heaven, no doubt, the nuptial ftate ap
proves,

Since it chaftifes ftill what beft it loves.
Then be not, Sir, abandon'd to defpair;
Seek, and perhaps you'll find among the fair,
One that may do your business to a hair;
Not ev'n in with, your happiness delay,
But prove the fcourge to lash you on your way:
Then to the fies your mounting foul fhall go,
Swift as an arrow foaring from the bow!
299
Provided fill, you moderate your joy,
Nor in your pleasures all your might employ,
Let reafon's rule your strong defres alate,
Nor pleafe too lavishly your gentle mate.
Old wives there are, of judgment mot acute,
Who folve thefe queftions beyond all difpute;
Confult with those, and be of better chear;
Marry, do penance, and difmifs your fear.

So faid, they rofe, nor more the work delay'd; The match was offer'd, the propofals made. 300 The parents, you may thin, would foon comply;

The Old have intereft ever in their eye.
Nor was it hard to move the I ady's mind;
When fortune favours, fill the Far are kind.

I país each previous fettlement and deed, 305
Too long for me to write, or you to read;
Nor will with quaint imperti ence difplay
The pomp, the pageantry, the proud array.
The time approach'd, to Church the parties went
At once with carral and devout intent:
310
Forth came the Prief, and bade th' obedient wife
Like Sarah or Rebecca lead her life;
Then pray'd the powers the fruitful bed to bleis,
Aid made all fure enough with holiness.

Ad now the palace-gates are open'd wide, The guests appear in order, fde by de, Ardplac'dinate the bridegroom and the bride. The breathing Hute's oft notes are beard around, And the frill trumpets mix their filver found;

320

The vaulted roofs with echoing mufic ring,
Thefe touch the vocal ftops, and thofe the trem-
bling firing.

Not thus Amph on tun'd the warbling lyre,
Nor Joab the founding clarion could infpire,
Nor fierce Theodomas, whofe fprightly ftrain
Could fwell the foul to rage, and fire the martial
train.

Bacchus himself, the nuptial feast to grace,
(So Poets fing) was prefent on the place:
And lovely Venus, Goddefs of delight,
Shook high her flaming torch in open fight,
And danc'd around, and fail'd on every Knight:
Pleas'd her beft fervant would his courage try,
No lefs in wedlock than in liberty.
Full many an age old Hymen had not fpy'd
So kind a bridegroom, or fo bright a bride.
Ye bards! renown'd among the tuneful throng
For gentle lays, and joyous nuptial fong;
Think not your forteft numbers can display
The matchlefs glories of this blifsful day;
The joys are fuch as far tranfcend your rage,
When tender youth has wedded stooping age.

336

345

The beauteous dame fat fmiling at the board, And darted amorous glances at her Lord. Not Hefter's felf, whofe charms the Hebrews fing, E'er look'd fo lovely on her Perfian King; Bright as the rifing fan in fummer's day, And fresh and blooming as the month of May! The joyful Knight furvey'd her by his fide, Nor envy'd Paris with the Spartan bride: Still as his mind revolv'd with vaft delight The entrancing raptures of th' approaching night, Reftlefs he fate, invoking every power 351 To fpeed his blifs, and hafte the happy hour. Meantime the vigorous dancers beat the ground, And fongs were fung, and flowing bowls went

2. round.

With odorous fpices they perfum'd the place, 355 And mirth and pleafure fhone in every face.

360

Damian alone of all the menial train, Sad in the midft of triumphs, figh❜d for pain; Damian alone, the Knight's obfequious fquire, Confun'd at heart and fed a fecret fire. His lovely Miftrefs all his foul poffefs'd; He look'd, he languifh'd, and could take no rest: His tafik perform'd, he sadly went his way, Fell on his bed, and loath'd the light of day. There let him lie, till his relenting dame Weep in her turn, and wafte in equal flame.

365

The weary fun, as learned Poets write, Forfork th' Horizon, and roll'd down the light; While glittering ftars his abfent beams fupply, And night's dark mantle overfpread the fly. 370 Then rufe the guests; and, as the time requir'd, Each paid his thanks, and decently retir'd.

The foe once gone, our Knight prepar'd t'
urdrefs,

So keen he was, and eager to poffefs:
But fra thought ft the affiance to receive, 375
Which grave Phyfcians fcruple not to give ;
Satyrion near, with het Eringos flood,
Cantharides, to fre his lazy blond,

Whofe ufe old Bards defcribe in lufcious rhymes,
And Critics learn'd explain to modern times,

What next ensued befeems me not to fay; 'Tis fung, he labour'd till the dawning day, Then briskly fprung from bed, with heart fo light,

385

As all were nothing he had done by night;
And fpp'd his cordial as he fat upright.
He kifs'd his balmy spouse with wanton play,
And feebly fung a lufty roundelay:
Then on the couch his weary limbs he caft; 390
For every labour must have rest at last.

But anxious cares the penfive Squire oppreflë,
Sleep fled his eyes, and peace forfook his breaft:
The raging flames that in his bofom dwell,
He wanted art to hide, and means to tell; 375
Yet hoping time the occafion might betray,
Compos'd a fonnet to the lovely May;
Which, writ and folded with the niceft art,
He wrapp'd in flk, and laid upon his heart.
When now the fourth revolving day was run
('Twas June, and Cancer had receiv'd the Sur)
Forth from her chamber came the beauteou
bride;

The good old Knight mov'd flowly by her fide. High mafs was fung: they feafted in the hall : The fervants round ftood ready at their call. 43 The Squire alone was abfent from the board, And much his ficknefs griev'd his worthy Lord,

Who pray'd his fpoufe, attended with her

train,