My days have been so wondrous free! The little birds, that fly With careless ease from tree to tree, Were but as blessed as I! Ask gliding waters, If a tear But now my former days retire, An eager hope within my breast Ye nightingales, ye twisting pines, With all of Nature, all of Art, O, teach a young unpractised heart The very thought of Change I hate, And hardly covet to be Great, 'Tis true, the Passion, in my mind, 'WHEN thy beauty appears, As bright as an Angel new dropped from the sky; 'But when, without art, Your kind thoughts you impart; When your love runs in blushes through every vein; When it darts from your eyes, when it pants in your heart; Then I know you're a Woman again!' 'There's a Passion and pride In our Sex,' She replied, And thus (might I gratify both!) I would do! ANACREONTIC. GAY BACCHUS, liking ESTCOURT's wine, And for the guests, that were to dine, The God, near CUPID drew his chair; Thus Wine makes Love forget its care; The more to please the spritely God! Put on some clothes, to come abroad; Then CUPID named, at every Glass, A Lady of the sky; While BACCHUS swore, he'd drink the Lass! And had it bumper-high. Fat COмUS tossed his brimmers o'er, Then called, and drank at every touch; And if the Gods can take too much, [Free jests run all the table round, Gay BACCHUS, little CUPID stung, And CUPID mocked his stammering tongue, And Jocus drolled on Coмus' ways, And tales without a jest; While COMUS called his witty Plays But waggeries at best. Such talk soon set them all at odds; And, had I HOMER'S pen, I'd sing ye, How they drunk, like Gods; And how they fought, like men. To part the fray, the Graces fly; Nay, had the Furies' selves been nigh, BACCHUS appeased, raised CUPID up; JOCUS took CoмUS' rosy crown, And gaily wore the prize: And thrice, in mirth, he pushed him down, As thrice he strove to rise. Then CUPID Sought the myrtle grove, Where VENUS did recline; And, VENUS close embracing Love, And COMUS, loudly cursing Wit, BACCHUS and Jocus still behind, But part in time (whoever hear For though such friendships may be dear, |