HENRY. Vainly thou talk'st of loving me alone: 546 } By nature prompted, and for empire made, Alike by strength or cunning we invade : When, arm'd with rage, we march against the foe, We lift the battel-ax, and draw the bow: When, fir'd with paffion, we attack the fair, 555 Delufive fighs and brittle vows we bear: Our falfhood and our arms have equal ufe; As they our conquest, or delight produce. The foolish heart thou gav'ft, again receive, The only boon departing love can give. 560 What strives to fly thee, why should'st thou pursue? Ask for his vow; but hope not for his truth. 565 Why should'st thou weep? let Nature judge our case ; I saw thee young and fair; pursu’d the chase 575 This younger fairer pleads her rightful charms; With present power compels me to her arms. 581 And much I fear, from my fubjected mind (If beauty's force to conftant love can bind), That years may roll, ere in her turn the maid Shall weep the fury of my love decay'd; And weeping follow me, as thou dost now, With idle clamours of a broken vow. 585 Nor can the wildness of thy wishes err So wide, to hope that thou may'ft live with her. Love, well thou know'ft, no partnership allows : Cupid averse rejects divided vows: 591 Then from thy foolish heart, vain maid, remove to rove. EMMA. Are we in life through one great error led? Is each man perjur'd, and each nymph betray'dè Of the fuperior fex art thou the worst? This potent beauty, this triumphant fair, A fervant: (fhe may fcorn the name of friend.) } 616 Yet, when increafing grief brings flow disease; And ebbing life, on terms severe as these, Will have its little lamp no longer fed; When Henry's mistress shows him Emma dead; Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect : With virgin honours let my hearse be deckt, And decent emblem; and at least perfuade This happy nymph, that Emma may be laid Where thou, dear author of my death, where she, With frequent eye my fepulchre may fee. The nymph amidft her joys may haply breath One pious figh, reflecting on my death, And the fad fate which she may one day prove, Who hopes from Henry's vows eternal love. 625 621 And thou forfworn, thou cruel, as thou art, Thou fure must give one thought, and drop one tear, To her, who, dying, on the wounded stone } HENRY. Hear, folemn Jove; and conscious Venus, hear; And thou, bright maid, believe me, whilst I swear; No time, no change, no future flame, shall move The well-plac'd basis of my lasting love. O powerful virtue! O victorious fair! At least excufe a tryal too severe : Receive the triumph, and forget the war. 636 } No banish'd man, condemn'd in woods to rove, As thou may'st wish, fhall all his life imploy, In me behold the potent Edgar's heir, 645 Let Loyre confefs; for she has felt his sword, 650 And trembling fled before the British lord. Him great in peace and wealth fair Deva knows ; And thou, my fair, my dove, fhalt raise thy thought To greatness next to empire; fhalt be brought } Friendship shall still thy evening feasts adorn; And blooming peace shall ever bless thy morn. Succeeding years their happy race shall run; 665 And Age unheeded by delight come on; While yet fuperior Love shall mock his pow'r; And when old Time fhall turn the fated hour, Which only can our well-ty'd knot unfold; What refts of both, one fepulchre fhall hold. 670 Hence then for ever from my Emma's breast (That heav'n of foftnefs, and that feat of reft) Ye doubts and fears, and all that know to move Tormenting grief, and all that trouble love, Scatter'd by winds recede, and wild in forefts rove. |