From These their coftly Arms the Spoilers rent,
And foftly both convey'd to Thefeus? Tent;
Whom known of Creon's Line,and cur'd with care,
He to his City fent as Pris'ners of the War,
Hopeless of Ranfom, and condemn'd to lie
In Durance, doom'd a lingring Death to die.
This done,he march'd away with warlikeSound,
And to his Athens turn'd with Laurels crown'd,
Where happy long he liv'd, much lov'd, and
more renown'd.
Each gentle Breast with kindly Warmth she moves;
Inspires new Flames, revives extinguish'd Loves;
In this Remembrance Emily ere Day
Arofe, and drefs'd her felf in rich Array;
Fresh as the Month, and as the Morning fair:
Adown her Shoulders fell her length of Hair:
A Ribband did the braided Treffes bind,
The reft was loofe, and wanton'd in the Wind:
Aurora had but newly chas'd the Night,
And purpled o'er the Sky with blushing Light,
When to the Garden-walk fhe took her way,
To sport and trip along in Cool of Day,
And offer Maiden Vows in Honour of the May.
At ev'ry Turn, she made a little Stand, And thrust among the Thorns her Lilly Hand To draw the Rofe, and ev'ry Rofe fhe drew She fhook the Stalk, and brush'd away the Dew: Then party-colour'd Flow'rs of white and red She wove, to make a Garland for her Head: This done, the fung and caroll'd out fo clear, That Men and Angels might rejoice to hear. Ev'n wondring Philomel forgot to fing;
And learn'd from Her to welcome in the Spring.
The Tow'r, of which before was mention made,
Within whofe Keep the Captive Knights were laid,
Built of a large Extent, and strong withal,
Was one Partition of the Palace Wall:
The Garden was enclos'd within the Square
Where young Emilia took the Morning-Air.
It happen'd Palamon the Pris'ner Knight,
Restless for Woe, arofe before the Light,
And with his Jaylor's leave defir'd to breathe
An Air more wholesom than the Damps beneath,
This granted, to the Tow'r he took his Way,
Cheer'd with the Promife of a glorious Day:
Then caft a languishing Regard around,
And faw with hateful Eyes the Temples crown'd
With golden Spires, and all the Hoftile Ground.
He figh'd, and turn'd his Eyes, because he knew
'Twas but a larger Jayl he had in view:
Then look'd below, and from the Castle's height
Beheld a nearer and more pleasing Sight:
The Garden, which before he had not feen,
In Spring's new Livery clad of White and Green,
Fresh Flow'rs in wide Parterres, and fhady
Walks between.
This view'd, but not enjoy'd, with Arms across
He flood, reflecting on his Country's Lofs;
Himself an Object of the Publick Scorn, o i
And often wifh'd he never had been born. ) V
At laft (for fo his Destiny requir'd) r
With walking giddy, and with thinking tir'd,
He thro' a little Window caft his Sight, l
Tho' thick of Bars, that gave a scanty Light:
But ev'n that Glimmering ferv'd him to defcry
Th' inevitable Charms of Emily,
Scarce had he feen, but feiz'd with fudden Smart, Stung to the Quick, he felt it at his Heart; Struck blind with overpow'ring Light he stood, Then started back amaz'd, and cry'd aloud.
Young Arcite heard, and up he ran with haste, To help his Friend, and in his Arms embrac'd; And ask'd him why he look'd fo deadly wan, And whence, and how his change of Cheer began? Or who had done th' Offence? But if, faid he, Your Grief alone is hard Captivity;
For Love of Heav'n, with Patience undergo
A cureless Ill, fince Fate will have it so:
So flood our Horofcope in Chains to lie,
And Saturn in the Dungeon of the Sky,
Or other baleful Afpect, rul'd our Birth,
When all the friendly Stars were under Earth:
Whate'er betides, by Destiny 'tis done;
And better bear like Men, than vainly seek to shun.
Nor of my Bonds, faid Palamon again,
Nor of unhappy Planets I complain;
But when my mortal Anguifh caus'd my Cry,
That Moment I was hurt thro' either Eye;
Pierc'd with a Random-fhaft, I faint away,
And perish with insensible Decay:
A Glance of fome new Goddefs gave the Wound,
Whom, like Acteon, unaware I found.
Look how the walks along yon fhady Space,
Not Juno moves with more Majestick Grace:
And all the Cyprian Queen is in her Face.
If thou art Venus, (for thy Charms confefs
That Face was form'd in Heav'n) nor art thou lefs;
Difguis'd in Habit, undisguis'd in Shape,
O help us Captives from our Chains to 'scape;
But if our Doom be past in Bonds to lie.
For Life, and in a loathfom Dungeon die;
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