She breaks the guiltless pipe, and with difdain
Its fhatter'd ruins flings upon the plain;
With the loud reed no more her cheek fhall fwell,
What! spoil her face! No. Warbling strains, fare.
wel.

Shall arts, shall sciences, employ the fair?
Those trifles are beneath Minerva's care.
From Venus let her learn the married life,
And all the virtuous duties of a wife.
Here on a couch extend the Cyprian dame,
Let her eye sparkle with the glowing flame;
The God of War within her clinging arms
Sinks on her lips, and kindles all her charms.
Paint limping Vulcan with a husband's care,
And let his brow the cuckold's honours wear;
Beneath the net the captive lovers place,
Their limbs entangled in a close embrace.
Let these amours adorn the new machine,
And female nature on the piece be feen;
So fhall the fair, as long as Fans shall last,
Learn from your bright examples to be chafte.

Minerva

51

And, fwift as mortal thought, perform their will;
Straight the propofes, by her art divine,
To bid the paint exprefs her great defign.
Th' affembled powers confent. She now began
And her creating pencil ftain'd the Fan..
O'er the fair field trees fpread, and rivers flow,
Towers rear their heads, and diftant mountains
grow;

20

25

This lifts his fupplicating hands and eyes,
And 'midft his humble adoration dies
As from his thigh this tears the barhed dart,
A furer weapen strikes his throbbing heart:
While that to raise his wounded brother tries,
Death blasts his bloom, and locks his frozen eyes.
The tender fifters, bath'd in grief appear,
With fable garments and difhevel'd hair,
And o'er their gafping brothers weeping stood;
Some with their treffes ftopt the guthing blood;
They ftrive to ftay the feetiug life too late,
And in the pious action fhare their fate

45

50

Now the proud dame, o'ercome by trembling fear, With her wide robe protects her only care;

To fave her only care in vain the tries,

Clofe at her feet the latest victim dies.

55

Down her fair cheek the trickling forrow flows, 65

Like dewy (pangles on the blufhing rofe;

Fix'd in attonithment The weeping flood,

The plain all purple with her children's blood;
She ftiffens with her woes: no more her hair
In eafy ringlets wantons in the air;
Motion for fakes her eyes: her veins are dry'd,
And beat no longer with the fanguine tide;
All life is fied; firm marble now the grows,
Which ftill in tears the mother's anguish shows.
Ye haughty fair, your painted Fans difplay, 75
And the just fate of lofty pride furvey.
Though lovers oft extol your beauty's power,
And in celeftial fimilies adore ;
Though from your features Cupid borrows arms,
And goddeffes confefs inferior charms;
Do not, vain maid, the flattering tale believe,
Alike thy lovers and thy glafs deceive.

Here lively colours Procris' paffion tell,
Who to her jealous fears a victim fell.
Here kneels the trembling hunter o'er his wife,
Who rolls her fickening eyes, and gafps for life;
Her drooping head upon her fhoulder lies,
And purple gore her fnowy bofom dyes.
What guilt, what horror, on his face appears!
See, his red eye-lid feems to fwell with tears; 90
With agony his wringing hands he strains,
And ftrong convulfions ftretch his branching veins.

95

Learn hence, ye wives! bid vain fufpicion ceafe, Lofe not, in fullen difcontent, your peace : For, when fierce love to jealoufy ferments, A thousand doubts and fears the foul invents; No more the days in pleafing converse flow, And nights no more their foft endearments know. There on the piece the Volfcian queen expir'd, The love of fporis her female bofom fir'd. Gay Chloreus' arms attract her longing eyes, And for the painted plume and helm she fighs; Fearlefs the follows, bent on gaudy prey, Till an ill-fated dart obftructs her way; Down drops the martial maid; the bloody ground 105

Floats with a torrent from the purple wound; The mournful nymphs her drooping head fuftain, And try to flop the gufhing life in vain.

Thus the raw maid fome tawdry coat furveys, Where the fop's fancy in embroidery plays; His fnowy feather, edg'd with crimson dyes, And his bright fword-knot, lure her wandering eyes; Fring'd gloves and gold brocade confpire to move, Till the nymph falls a facrifice to love.

120

Here young Narciffus o'er the fountain flood, 115
And view'd his image in the crystal flood;
The crystal flood reflects his lovely charms,
And the pleas'd image ftrives to meet his arms.
No nymph his unexperienc'd breast subdued,
Echo in vain the flying boy purfued,
Himself alone the foolish youth admires,
And with fond look the smiling shade defires:
O'er the smooth lake with fruitless tears he grieves,
His fpreading fingers fhoot in verdant leaves,
Through his pale veins green fap now gently
flows,
125

And in a fhort-liv'd flower his beauty blows.
Let vain Narciffus warn each female breast,
That beauty's but a transient good at best.
Like flowers it withers with th' advancing year;
And age, like w nter, robs the blooming fair.
Oh, Araminta! ceafe thy wonted pride,
Nor longer in thy faithlefs charms confide;
Ev'n while the glafs reflects thy fparkling eyes,
Their lustre and thy rofy colour flics!

130

Thus on the Fan the breathing figures fhine, 135 And all the powers applaud the wife defign.

155

165

170

The Fan fhall flutter in all female hands, And various fashions learn from various lands. For this fhall elephants their ivory shed; And polish'd sticks the waving ergine spread : His clouded mail the tortoife shall refign, And round the rivet pearly circles fhine. On this fhall Indians all their art employ, And with bright colours ftain the gaudy toy; 160 Their paint fhall here in wildeft fancies flow, Their drefs, their cuftoms, their religion, fhow : So fhall the British fair their minds improve, And on the Fan to diftant climates rove. Here China's ladies fhall their pride display, And filver figures gild their loose array; This boafts her little feet and winking eyes; That tunes the fife, or tinkling cymbal plies: Here crofs-legg'd nobles in rich ftate fhall dine; There in bright mail diftorted heroes fhine. The peeping Fan in modern times fhall rife, Through which unfeen the female ogle flies; This fhall in temples the fly maid conceal, And shelter love beneath devotion's veil. Gay France fhall make the Fan her artift's care, 175 * And with the coftly trinket arm the fair. As learned orators, that touch the heart, With various action raife their foothing art, Both head and hand affect the liftening throng, And humour each expreffion of the tongue; So fhall each paffion by the Fan be feen, From noify anger to the fullen fpleen. While Venus fpoke, joy fhone in Strephon's eyes; Proud of the gift, he to Corinna flies : But Cupid (who delights in amorous ill, Wounds hearts, and leaves them to a woman's will) With certain aim a golden arrow drew, Which to Leander's panting bofom flew. Leander lov'd, and to the fprightly dame In gentle figh's reveal'd his growing flame : Sweet fmiles Corinna to his fighs returns, And for the fop in equal paffion barns.

180

185

190

Lo, Strephon comes! and, with a fuppliant bow,

Offers the prefent, and renews his vow.

195

The Cyprian queen the painted gift receives, And with a grateful bow the fynod leaves. To the low world the bends her fteepy way, Where Strephon pafs'd the folitary day. She found him in a melancholy grove, His down-caft eyes betray'd defponding love; The wounded bark confefs'd his flighted flame, And every tree bore falfe Corinna's name : In a cool fhade he lay with folded arms, Curfes his fortune, and upbraids her charms; When Venus to his wondering eyes appears, And with thefe words relieves his amerous cares : Rife! happy youth; this bright machine furvey, Whofe rattling fticks my bufy fingers fway; 150 This prefent fhall thy cruel charmer move, And in her fickle bofom kindle love.

VOL. VII.

145

And knows her Strephon's conftancy fincere.
When on Camilla's fate her eye fhe turns,
No more for fhow and equipage the burns:
She learns Leander's paflion to defpife,
And books on merit with difcerning eyes.

Narciffus' change to the vain virgin shows, Who trufts to beauty, trufts the fading rofe. Youth flies apace, with youth your beauty flies; Love then. ye virgins, ere the bioffum dies.

200

205

213

Thus Pallas taught her. Strephon weds the date; And Hymen's torch diffus'd the brightest dame

3 A

And Blouzelind and Marian bright,
In apron blue or apron white,
Now write my fonnets in a book,
For my good lord of Bolingbroke.

As lads and laffes food around
To hear my boxen hautboy found,
Our clerk came pofting o'er the green
With doleful tidings of the queen ;
That queen, he said, to whom we owe
Sweet peace that maketh riches flow;
That queen, who eas'd our tax of late,
Was dead, alas !—and lay in state.

At this, in tears was Cicely feen,
Buxoma tore her pinners clean,
Indoleful dumps flood every clown,
The parfon rent his band and gown.

For me, when as I heard that death Had fnatch'd queen Anne to Elzabeth, I broke my reed, and, fighing, fwore, I'd weep for Blouzelind no more.

While thus we ftood as in a found,
And wet with tears, like dew, the ground,
Full foon by bonefire and by bell
We learnt our Liege was paffing well.
A fkilful leach (fc God him fpeed)
They faid had wrought this blessed deed.
This leach Arbuthnot was yelept,
Who many a night not once had flept;
But watch'd our gracious Sovereign ftill;
For who could reft when he was ill?
Oh, may'st thou henceforth fweetly fleep!
Sheer, twains, oh fheer your fofteft fheep,
To fwell his couch; for, well I ween,
He fav'd the realm, who fav'd the Queen.
Quoth I, please God, I'll hye with glee
To court, this Arbuthnot to fee.

I fold my sheep and lambkins too,
For filver loops and garment blue;
My boxen hautboy, fweet of found,
For lace that edg'd mine hat around;
For Lightfoot and my ferip, I got
A gorgeous fword, and eke a knot.

So forth I far'd to court with Ipeed,
Of foldier's drum withouten dread;
For peace allays the shepherd's fear
Of wearing cap of grenadier.

There faw I ladies all a-row,
Before their Queen in feemily fhow.
No more I'll fing Buxoma brown,
Like goldfinch in her Sunday gown;
Nor Chumilis Lor Marian bright,
Nor damiti chat Hobnelia hight.
But Landowne, fresh as flower of May,
And Berkeley, lady blithe and gay;

And Anglefea, whofe fpeech exceeds
The voice of pipe, or oaten reeds;
And blooming Hyde, with eyes fo rare;
And Montague beyond compare :
Such ladies fair would I depaint,
In roundelay or fonuet quaint.

There many a worthy wight I've seen,
In ribbon blue and ribbon green :
As Oxford, who a wand doth bear,
Like Mofes, in our bibles fair;
Who for our traffick forms designs,

And gives to Britain Indian mines.
Now, fhepherds, clip your fleecy care;
Ye maids, your fpinning wheels prepare ;
Ye weavers, all your fhuttles throw,
And bid broad-cloths and ferges grow;
5 For trading free fhall thrive again,
Nor leafings lewd affright the fwain.

There faw I St. John, fweet of mien,
Full stedfaft both to church and queen ;
With whofe fair name I'll deck my strain;
10 St. John, right courteous to the fwain.
For thus he told me on a day,
Trim are thy fonnets, gentle Gay;
And, certes, mirth it were to lee
Thy joyous madrigals twice three,

15 With preface meet, and notes profound,
Imprinted fair, and well y-bound.
All fuddenly then home I fped,
And did ev'n as my lord had faid.

Lo, here thou haft mine Eclogues fair,

20 But let not thefe detain thine ear.
Let not th' affairs of flates and kings
Wait, while our Bowzybeus fings.
Rather than verfe of fimple fwain
Should stay the trade of France or Spain ;
Or, for the plaint of Parfon's maid,
Yon' Emperor's packets be delay'd;
In footh, I fwear by holy Paul,

I'd burn book, preface, notes and all.

THE SQUABBLE.

LOBBIN CLOUT, CUDDY, CLODDIPOLE.

T

LOBBIN CLOUT.

HY younglings, Cuddy, are but just awake,
No thruitles fhrill the bramble-buth forfake,
No chirping lark the welkin fheen invokes,
No damfel yet the fwelling udder strokes ;-

40 O'er yonder hill does fcant the dawn appear:
Then why does Cuddy leave his cott fo rear?
CUDDY.
Ah Lobbin Clout' I ween, my plight is guest,
For be that loves, a franger is to reft:

45

50

55

5

Ver. 3. Welkin, the fame as Welken, an old Saxon word fignifying a cloud; by poetical licence it is frequently taken for the element or fey, as may appear by this verfe in the Dream of Chaucer,

"Ne in all the welkin was no cloud." -Sheen or feine, an old word for feining or bright. Ver. 5. Scant, ufed in the ancient British authors for fearce.

Ver. 6. Rear, an expreffion in several counties of England, for early in the morning.

Ver. 7. To ween, derived from the Saxon, to think or conceive.

1

If fwains belye not, thou haft prov'd the smart,
And Blouzelinda's mistress of thy heart.
This rifing rear betokeneth well thy mind,
Thofe arms are folded for thy Blouzelind.
And well, I trow, our piteous plights agree:
Thee Blouzelinda fmites, Buxoma me.
LOBBIN CLOUT.

CUDDY.

Hold, witless Lobbin Clout, I thee advise,
Left blifters fore on thy own tongue arife.
Lo, yonder, Cloddipole, the blithsome swain,
The wifeft lout of all the neighbouring plain!
From Cloddipole we learnt to read the skies,
To know when hail will fall, or winds arife.
He taught us erft the heifer's tail to view,
When fuck aloft, that fhowers would straight
fue :

He first that useful fecret did explain,
That pricking corns foretold the gathering rain.
When fwallows fleet foar high and fport in air,
He told us that the welkin would be clear.
Let Cloddipole then hear us twain rehearse,
And praise his fweetheart in alternate verse.
I'll wager this fame oaken ftaff with thee,
That Cloddipole fhall give the prize to me.
LOBBIN CLOUT.

Eftfoons, O fweetheart kind, my love repay,
And all the year fhall then be holiday.
LOBBIN CLOUT.

As Blouzelinda, in a gamesome mood,
Behind a haycock loudly laughing stood,

I flily ran, and snatch'd a hafty kifs;
She wip'd her lips, nor took it much amifs.
Believe me, Cuddy, while I'm bold to fay,
Her breath was sweeter than the ripen'd hay.
CUDDY.

As my Buxoma, in a morning fair,
With gentle finger ftrok'd her milky care,
I queintly ftole a kiss; at first, 'tis true,
20 She frown'd, yet after granted one or two.
Lobbin, I fwear, believe who will my vows,
Her breath by far excell'd the breathing cows.
LOBLIN CLOUT.

25

30

Sweet is my toil when Bleuzelind is near; Of her bereft, 'tis winter all the year. With her no fultry fummer's heat I know; In winter, when she's nigh, with love I glow. Come, Blouzelinda, cafe thy fwain's defire, My fummer's fhadow, and my winter's fire ! CUDDY.

As with Buxoma once I work'd at hay, Ev'n noon-tide labour feem'd an holiday ; And holidays, it haply the were gone, Like worky-da; s I wish'd would foon be done.

50

༡༠

75

80

Leek to the Welch, to Dutchmen butter's dear, Of Irish fwains potatoe is the chear;

Oats for their feasts the Scottish fhepherds grind, 85
Sweet turnips are the food of Blouzelind.
While fhe loves turnips, butter I'll despise,

Nor leeks, nor oatmeal, nor potatoe, prize.

CUDDY

In good roaft-beef my landlord fticks his knife, The capon fat delights his dainty wife, Pudding our parfon eats, the fquire loves hare, But white-pot thick is my Buxoma's fare. While the loves white-pot, capon ne'er shall be, Nor hare, nor beef, nor pudding, food for me. LOBBIN CLOUT.

90

95

As once I play'd at blindman's buff, it hapt About my eyes the towel thick was wrapt. I mifs'd the fwains, and feiz'd on Blouzelind. True fpeaks that ancient proverb, "Love is blind." CUDDY.

As at hot-cockles once I laid me down, And felt the weighty hand of many a clown; Ic Buxoma gave a gentle tap, and 1

Quick rofe, and read foft mifchief in her eye.

LOBBIN CLOUT.

On two near elms the flacken'd cord I hung, Now high, now low, my Blouzelinda fwung. With the rude wind her rumpled garment rofe, 105 And show'd her taper leg, and fearlet hofe.

CUDDY.

Acrofs the fallen oak the plank I laid, And myself pis'd against the tettering maid. Ver. 25. r, a contraction of ere this; it fignifies fome time ago, or formerly.

Ver. 56. Deft, an old word, fignifying brisk or

nimble.

Ver. 69. Effoons, from eft, an ancient British 55 word, fignifying foon. So that effcons is a doubling of the word foon; which is, as it were, to say twile forn, or very feon.

Ver. 79. Quint has various fignifications in the ancient English authors I have ufed it in this place in the fame fer fe as Chauer hath done in his Mil6 ler's Tale. "As Clerkes being full fubtle "and queint" (by which he means arch or weggifs); ai d not in that obfcene fense wherein he uicth it in the -line immediately following.