Feels every vanity in fondness loft,
And asks no pow'r, but that of pleasing most:
Her's is the blifs in juft return to prove
The honeft warmth of undiffembled Love;
For her, inconftant man might cease to range,
And Gratitude forbid Defire to change.
But left harsh Care the lover's peace destroy,
And roughly blight the tender buds of joy,
Let Reason teach what Paffion fain would hide,
That Hymen's bands by Prudence should be ty'd.
Venus in vain the wedded pair would crown,
angry Fortune on their union frown:
Soon will the flatt'ring dream of bliss be o'er,
And cloy'd imagination cheat no more.
Then waking to the sense of lasting pain,
With mutual tears the nuptial couch they ftain;
And that fond love, which should afford relief,
Does but increase the anguish of their grief;
While both could eafier their own forrows bear,
Than the fad knowledge of each other's care.
Yet may you rather feel that virtuous pain,
Than fell your violated charms for gain;
Than wed the wretch whom you defpife, or hate,
For the vain glare of useless wealth or state.
The most abandon'd prostitutes are they,
Who not to Love, but Av'rice fall a prey:
Nor aught avails the fpecious name of WIFE;
A maid fo wedded is a WHORE FOR LIFE.
Ev'n in the happiest choice, where fav'ring Heav'n Has equal love, and easy fortune giv❜n,
Think not, the Husband gain'd, that all is done;
The prize of happiness must still be won;
And oft, the careless find it to their coft,
The Lover in the Husband may be lost;
The Graces might alone his heart allure;
They and the Virtues meeting muft fecure.
Let ev'n your Prudence wear the pleasing dress
Of care for him, and anxious tenderness.
From kind concern about his weal or woe,
Let each domeftic duty feem to flow;
The HOUSHOLD SCEPTER if he bids you bear,
Make it your pride his fervant to appear;
Endearing thus the common acts of life,
The Mistress still shall charm him in the Wife;
And wrinkled age fhall unobfery'd come on,
Before his eye perceives one beauty gone :
Ev'n o'er your cold, and ever-facred urn,
His conftant flame shall unextinguish'd burn.
Thus I, Belinda, would your charms improve,
And form your heart to all the arts of Love;
The task were harder to secure my own
Against the pow'r of those already known;
For well you twift the fecret chains that bind
With gentle force the captivated mind,
Skill'd every foft attraction to employ,
Each flatt'ring hope, and each alluring joy;
I own your genius, and from you receive
The rules of Pleafing, which to you I give.
WHEN DELIA on the plain appears,
Aw'd by a thousand tender fears,
I would approach, but dare not move;→→→
Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love.
Whene'er she speaks, my ravish'd ear
No other voice but her's can hear,
No other wit but her's approve ; —
Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love.
III.
If she some other youth commend,
Though I was once his fondest friend,
His inftant enemy I prove; -
Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love.
When she is abfent, I no more
Delight in all that pleas'd before,
The clearest spring, or fhadieft grove;→→→→
Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love.
When fond of pow'r, of beauty vain,
Her nets fhe spread for every fwain,
I ftrove to hate, but vainly ftrove; -
Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love.
Written in the Year 1733. By the Same
HE heavy hours are almost past,
That part my Love and me;
My longing eyes may hope at last,
Their only wish to fee,
|