The gaping hag in fix'd attention ftood,
And at the clofe of ev'ry tale cried-good,
Bleffing with outstretch'd arms each darling fon,
In due proportion to the mischief done.
And where, said fhe, does little Zephyr stray?
Know ye, my fons, your brother's rout to-day?
In what bold deeds does he his hours employ?
Grant heav'n no evil has befall'n my boy!
Ne'er was he known to linger thus before.
Scarce had the fpoke, when at the cavern door
Came lightly tripping in a form more fair
Than the young poet's fond ideas are,
When fir'd with love, he tries his utmost art
To paint the beauteous tyrant of his heart.
A fatin veft his flender shape confin'd,
Embroider'd o'er with flow'rs of ev'ry kind,
Flora's own work, when firft the goddess ftrove
To win the little wanderer to her love.
Of burnish'd filver were his fandals made,
Silver his buskins, and with gems o'erlaid
A faffron-colour'd robe behind him flow'd,
And added grace and grandeur as he trod.
His wings than lillies whiter to behold,
Sprinkled with azure spots, and streak'd with gold;
So thin their form, and of fo light a kind,
That they for ever danc'd, and flutter'd in the wind.
Around his temples with becoming air,
In wanton ringlets curl'd hi auburn hair,
And o'er his fhoulders negligently spread;
A wreath of fragrant rofes crown'd his head.
Such his attire, but O! no pen can trace,
No words can fhew the beauties of his face;
So kind! fo winning! fo divinely fair!
Eternal youth and pleasure flourish there;
There all the little loves and graces meet,
And ev'ry thing that's foft, and ev'ry thing that's sweet.
Thou vagrant, cried the dame in angry tone,
Where could't thou loiter thus fo long alone?
Little thou car'ft what anxious thoughts moleft,
What pangs are lab'ring in a mother's breast.,
Well do you fhew your duty by your hafte,
For thou of all my fons are always last ;
A child lefs fondled wou'd have fled more fast.
Sure 'tis a curfe on mothers, doom'd to mourn,
Where beft they love, the leaft and worst return.
My dear mamma, the gentle youth replied,
And made a low obeisance, cease to chide,
Nor wound me with your words, for well
Your Zephyr bears a part in all your woe;
How great must be his forrow then to learn
That he himself's the caufe of your concern!
Nor had I loiter'd thus had I been free,
But the fair princefs of Felicity,
Intreated me to make fome fhort delay,
And afk'd by her who cou'd refuse to stay?
Surrounded by the damfels of her court
She fought the fhady grove, her lov'd refort;
Fresh rose the grass, the flow'rs were mix'd between,
Like rich embroid'ry on a ground of green,
And in the midst, protected by the fhade,
A crystal stream in wild meanders play'd;
While in its banks, the trembling leaves among,
A thousand little birds in concert fung.
Clofe by a mount with fragrant fhrubs o'ergrown,
On a cool moffy couch the laid her down ;
Her air, her pofture, all confpir'd to please;
Her head, upon her fnowy arm at ease
Reclin'd, a ftudied careleffnefs express'd;
Loofe lay her robe, and naked heav'd her breast.
Eager I flew to that delightful place,
And pour'd a fhow'r of kisses on her face;
Now hover'd o'er her neck, her breaft, her arms,
Like bees o'er flow'rs, and tasted all her charms;
And then her lips, and then her cheeks I tried,
And fann'd, and wantón'd round on ev'ry fide.
O Zephyr, cried the fair, thou charming boy,
Thy prefence only can create me joy;
To me thou art beyond expreffion dear,
Nor can I quit the place while thou art here.
Excufe my weakness, madam, when I swear
Such gentle words join'd with fo foft an air,
Pronounc'd fo fweetly from a mouth so fair,
Quite ravish'd all my fenfe, nor did I know
How long I ftaid; or when, or where to go.
Mean while the damfels debonnair and gay,
Prattled around, and laugh'd the time away :
Thefe in foft notes address'd the ravish'd ear,
And warbled out so sweet, 'twas heav'n to hear;
And thofe in rings, beneath the greenwood shade,
Danc'd to the melody their fellows made.
Some studious of them felves, employ'd their care
In weaving flow'ry wreaths to deck their hair;
While others to fome fav'rite plant convey'd
Refreshing show'rs, and cheer'd its drooping head.
A joy fo general spread thro' all the place,
Such fatisfaction dwelt on ev'ry face,
The nymphs fo kind, fo lovely look'd the queen,
That never eye beheld a fweeter scene.
Porfenna, like a ftatue fix'd appear'd,
And, wrapp'd in filent wonder, gaz'd and heard ;
Much he admir'd the fpeech, the speaker more,
And dwelt on ev'ry word, and griev'd to find it o'er.
O gentle youth, he cried, proceed to tell,
In what fair country does this princefs dwell;
What regions unexplor'd, what hidden coaft
Can fo much goodness, so much beauty boast?
To whom the winged god with gracious look,
Numberless sweets diffufing while he spoke,
Thus anfwer'd kind-Thefe happy gardens lie
Far hence remov'd, beneath a milder fky;
Their name-The kingdom of Felicity.
Sweet scenes of endless blifs, enchanted ground,
A foil for ever fought, but feldom found;
Tho' in the fearch all human kind in vain
Weary their wits, and waste their lives in pain.
In diff'rent parties, diff'rent paths they tread,
As reafon guides them, or as follies lead ;
These wrangling for the place they ne'er shall see,
Debating thofe, if fuch a place there be;
But not the wifeft, nor the best can fay
Where lies the point, or mark the certain way.
Some few, by Fortune favour'd for her sport,
Have fail'd in fight of this delightful port;
In thought already feiz'd the blefs'd abodes,
And in their fond delirium rank'd with gods.
Fruitless attempt! all avenues are kept
By dreadful foes, fentry that never flept.
Here fell Detraction darts her pois'nous breath
Fraught with a thousand stings, and scatters death;
Sharp-fighted Envy there maintains her post,
And shakes her flaming brand, and stalks around the coast.
Thefe on the helpless bark their fury pour,
Plunge in the waves, or dash against the shore;
Teach wretched mortals they were doom'd to mourn,
And ne'er muft reft but in the filent urn.
But fay, young monarch, for what name you bear
Your mien, your dress, your perfon, all declare ;
And tho' I feldom fan the frozen north,
Yet I have heard of brave Porfenna's worth.
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