325

"Why am I now condemn'd to banishment,
"And made an exile by my own consent?"
I sighing cry'd: "Why should I live in pain
"Those fleeting hours which ne'er return again?
"O Delia! what can wretched Strephon do?
"Inhuman to himself, and false to you!

" 'Tis true, I've promis'd Reason to remove 330 "From these retreats, and quit bright Delia's love: "But is not Reason partially unkind?

grace

"Are all her votaries, like me, confin'd?
"Must none, that under her dominion live,
"To love and beauty veneration give?
"Why then did Nature youthful Delia
"With a majestic mien and charming face?
"Why did she give her that surprising air,
"Make her so gay, so witty, and so fair,
"Mistress of all that can affection move,
"If Reason will not suffer us to love?
"But since it must be so, I'll haste away;

'Tis fatal to return, and death to stay. "From you, bless'd Shades! (If I may "Inculpable) with mighty pain I go:

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call

335

340

you so

Compell'd from hence, I leave my quiet here; "I may find safety, but I buy it dear.”

Then, turning round, I saw a beauteous boy, Such as of old were messengers of joy :

345

"Who art thou, or from whence? If sent," said I, "To me, my haste requires a quick reply.” 351

"I come," he cry'd, " from yon' celestial grove, "Where stands the temple of the God of Love,

355

"With whose important favour you are grac'd, "And justly in his high protection plac'd. "Be grateful, Strephon, and obey that god, "Whose sceptre ne'er is chang'd into a rod; "That god, to whom the haughty and the proud, "The bold, the bravest, nay, the best, have bow'd; "That god, whom all the lesser gods adore, 360 "First in existence and the first in pow'r : "From him I come, on embassy divine, "To tell thee Delia, Delia may be thine; "To whom all beauties rightful tribute pay; "Delia, the young, the lovely, and the gay! "If you dare push your fortune, if you dare. "But be resolv'd, and press the yielding fair, "Success and glory will your labours crown, "For Fate does rarely on the valiant frown: "But were you sure to be unkindly us'd, "Coldly receiv'd, and scornfully refus'd, "He greater glory and more fame obtains "Who loses Delia, than who Phyllis gains. "But to prevent all fears that may arise, "(Tho' fears ne'er move the daring and the wise) 375 "In the dark volumes of eternal doom,

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379

"Where all things past, and present, and to come, "Are writ, I saw these words-"It is decreed

"That Strepon's love to Delia shall succeed.” 379 "What would you more? While youth and vigour "Love, and be happy; they decline too fast. [last "In youth alone you're capable to prove "The mighty transports of a gen'rous love;

"For dull Old Age with fumbling labour cloys "Before the bliss, or gives but wither'd joys. 38 5 "Youth's the best time for action mortals have; "That past, they touch the confines of the grave. "Now, if you hope to lie in Delia's arms,

"To die in raptures, or dissolve in charms,

Quick to the blissful happy mansion fly, "Where all is one continu'd ecstacy;

"Delia impatiently expects you there,
"And sure you will not disappoint the fair:
"None but the impudent or old would stay

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400

"When love invites, and beauty calls-away." 395 "Oh! you convey," said I, "dear charming Boy! "Into my soul a strange disorder'd joy. "I would, but dare not, your advice pursue, "I've promis'd Reason, and I must be true: "Reason's the rightful empress of the soul, "Does all exorbitant desires control, "Checks ev'ry wild excursion of the mind, "By her wise dictates happily confin'd; "And he that will not her commands obey "Leaves a safe convoy in a dang`rous sea. "True, I love Delia to a vast excess, "But I must try to make my passion less ; "Try if I can; if possible I will; "For I have vow'd, and must that vow fufil. "Oh! had I not, with what a vig'rous flight

Could I pursue the quarries of delight! "How could I press fair Delia in these arms, « Till I dissolv'd in love, and she in charms!

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410

"But now no more must I her beauties view, "Yet tremble at the thoughts to leave her too. 415 "What would I give I might my flame allow ! "But 'tis forbid by Reason and a vow, "Two mighty obstacles; tho' love of old "Has broke thro'greater, stronger pow'rs controll'd. "Should I offend, by high example taught, 420 "'Twould not be an inexpiable fault :

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430

"The crimes of malice have found grace above, "And sure kind Heav'n will spare the crimes of love. "Couldst thou, my Angel! but instruct me how "I might be happy and not break my vow, "Or by some subtle art dissolve the chain, "You'd soon revive my dying hopes again. "Reason and Love, I know, could ne'er agree; "Both would command, and both superior be. "Reason's supported by the sin'wy force "Of solid argument and wise discourse; "But Love pretends to use no other arms "Than soft impressions and persuasive charms. "One must be disobey'd; and shall I prove "A rebel to my reason, or to love? "But then, suppose I should my flame pursue, "Delia may be unkind and faithless too, "Reject my passion with a proud disdain, "And scorn the love of such an humble swain': "Then should I labour under mighty grief, 440 "Beyond all hopes or prospect of relief;

“So that, methinks, 'tis safer to obey

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Right Reason, tho' she bears a rugged sway,

435

"Than Love's soft rule, whose subjects undergo, "Early or late, too sad a share of woe.

"Can I so soon forget that wretched crew
"Reason just now expos'd before my view?
"If Delia should be cruel, I must be
"A sad partaker of their misery.

445

"But your encouragements so strongly move, 450 "I'm almost tempted to pursue my love; "For sure no treacherous designs should dwell "In one that argues and persuades so well; "For what could Love by my destruction gain? "Love's an immortal god, and I a swain ; "And sure I may, without suspicion, trust "A god, for gods can never be unjust.”

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"Right you conclude," reply'd the smiling boy; "Love ruins none; 'tis men themselves destroy; "And those vile wretches which you lately saw, 460 · "Transgress'd his rules as well as Reason's law: "They're not Love's subjects, but the slaves of lust; "Nor is their punishment so great as just: "For Love and Lust essentially divide, "Like day and night, humility and pride: "One darkness hides, t'other does always shine "This of infernal make, and that divine. "Reason, no gen'rous passion does oppose; "'Tis Lust (not Love) and Reason that are foes: "She bids you scorn a base inglorious flame, 470 "Black as the gloomy shade from whence it came : "In this her precepts should obedience find, "But your's is not of that ignoble kind.

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