The more difmay'd, for when the guests withdrew, Their courteous hoft, faluting all the crew,

Regardless pass'd her o'er; nor grac'd with kind adieu.

} }

That fting infix'd within her haughty mind,
The downfall of her empire fhe divin'd;
And her proud heart with secret sorrow pin'd.
Home as they went, the fad difcourfe renew'd,
Of the relentless dame to death purfu'd,
And of the fight obfcene fo lately view'd.
None durft arraign the righteous doom she bore,
Ev'n they who pity'd most, yet blam'd her more :
The parallel they needed not to name,

But in the dead they damn'd the living dame.

At ev'ry little noise fhe look'd behind,

For ftill the knight was present to her mind: 360 And anxious oft she started on the way,

And thought the horseman-ghost came thund'ring for his prey.

}

Return'd, she took her bed with little reft,
But in fhort flumbers dreamt the fun'ral feast:
Awak'd, fhe turn'd her fide, and slept again;
The fame black vapors mounted in her brain,
And the fame dreams return'd with double pain.
Now forc'd to wake, because afraid to fleep,
Her blood all fever'd, with a furious leap
She sprang from bed, distracted in her mind, 370
And fear'd, at every ftep, a twitching fpright behind,

Darkling and defperate, with a ftagg'ring pace,
Of death afraid, and confcious of disgrace;
Fear, pride, remorse, at once her heart affail'd,
Pride put remorfe to flight, but fear prevail'd.
Friday the fatal day, when next it came,
Her foul forethought the fiend would change his

game,

And her pursue, or Theodore be slain,

376

And two ghofts join their packs to hunt her o'er the plain.

This dreadful image fo poffefs'd her mind, 380 That desperate any fuccour else to find,

She ceas'd all farther hope; and now began

To make reflexion on th' unhappy man.

Rich, brave, and young, who past expreffion lov'd,

Proof to disdain, and not to be remov'd:

385

Of all the men respected and admir'd,

Of all the dames, except herself, defir'd:

Why not of her? preferr'd above the reft

By him with knightly deeds, and open love profefs'd?

So had another been, where he his vows addrefs'd.-
This quell'd her pride, yet other doubts remain❜d,
That, once difdaining, fhe might be disdain'd.
The fear was juft, but greater fear prevail'd,
Fear of her life by hellish hounds affail'd:

He took a low'ring leave; but who can tell 395
What outward hate might inward love conceal?

Her fex's arts fhe knew; and why not, then,
Might deep diffembling have a place in men?
Here hope began to dawn; refolv'd to try,
She fix'd on this her utmost remedy:
Death was behind, but hard it was to die.
'Twas time enough at last on death to call,
The precipice in fight: a fhrub was all,
That kindly flood betwixt to break the fatal fall.

One maid she had, belov'd above the rest: 405
Secure of her, the fecret fhe confefs'd;
And now the chearful light her fears dispell'd,
She with no winding turns the truth conceal'd,
But put the woman off, and stood reveal'd:
With faults confefs'd commiffion'd her to go, 410
If pity yet had place, and reconcile her foe;
The welcome message made, was soon receiv'd;
'Twas to be wish'd, and hop'd, but scarce believ'd;
Fate feem'd a fair occafion to present;

He knew the fex, and fear'd fhe might repent,
Should he delay the moment of consent.
There yet remain'd to gain her friends (a care
The modesty of maidens well might spare);
But she with such a zeal the cause embrac'd,
(As women, where they will, are all in hafte)
The father, mother, and the kin befide,

Were overborn by fury of the tide ;

With full confent of all she chang'd her state;
Refiftless in her love, as in her hate.

}

421

By her example warn'd, the reft beware;
More easy, lefs imperious, were the fair;
And that one hunting, which the devil defign'd
For one fair female, loft him half the kind.

"T

ALEXANDERS FEAST;

OR

THE POWER OF MUSIC;

AN ODE,

IN HONOUR OF ST. CECILIA'S DAY.

BY THE SAME.

I.

WAS at the royal feast, for Perfia won,

By Philips warlike fon:

Aloft in awful state

The godlike hero fate

On his imperial throne:

His valiant peers were plac'd around;

Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound:

(So fhould defert in arms be crown'd)

The lovely Thais, by his fide,

Sate like a blooming Eastern bride,
In flower of youth and beauty's pride.

5

10

Happy, happy, happy pair!

None but the brave,

None but the brave,

None but the brave deserves the fair. 15

CHORUS.

Happy, happy, happy pair!

None but the brave,

None but the brave,

None but the brave deferves the fair.

With flying fingers touch'd the lyre;

The trembling notes ascend the sky,
And heavenly joys inspire.

The fong began from Jove,

25

Who left his blissful feats above,

(Such is the power of mighty love)

A dragons fiery form bely'd the god :
Sublime on radiant fpires he rode,

When he to fair Olympia prefs'd:

39

And while he fought her fnowy breaft: Then, round her slender waist he curl'd,

And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovʼreign of

the world.

The lift'ning crowd admire the lofty found,
A prefent deity, they shout around:

A present deity the vaulted roofs rebound;

35