HENRY AND EMMA, A POEM, UPON THE MODEL OF THE NUT-BROWN MAID.* BY MATTHEW PRIOR, ESQ.t TO CLOE. THOU, to whofe eyes I bend; at whofe command 5 Tho' fince her youth three hundred years have roll'd. At thy defire, fhe fhall again be rais'd; II And her reviving charms in lafting verse be prais'd. * See the "POEMS BY UNCERTAIN AUTHORS,” + Born 1664; dyed 1721. 1 No longer man of woman fhall complain, 15 20 25 As beauty's potent queen, with ev'ry grace, That once was Emma's, has adorn'd thy face; And as her fon has to my bofom dealt That conftant flame, which faithful Henry felt; 30 O let the story with thy life agree: 35 Let men once more the bright example see; In times of yore an ancient baron liv'd; Great gifts bestow'd, and great respect receiv'd. When dreadful Edward with fuccessful care Led his free Britons to the Gallic war; From the loud camp retir'd and noisy court, The remnant of his days he fafely past; 45 50 Nor found they lagg'd too flow, nor flew too fast. 55 One child he had, a daughter chaft and fair, His age's comfort, and his fortune's heir. They call'd her Emma; for the beauteous dame, Who gave the virgin birth, had born the name: The name th' indulgent father doubly lov'd; 61 For in the child the mothers charms improv'd. Yet, as when little, round his knees fhe play'd, He call'd her oft, in fport, his Nut-brown Maid: The friends and tenants took the fondling word (As still they please, who imitate their lord); 66 Ufage confirm'd what fancy had begun; The mutual terms around the lands were known; And Emma and the Nut-brown Maid were one. 71 As with her ftature, fill her charms encreas'd; Thro' all the isle her beauty was confefs'd. Oh! what perfections must that virgin share, Who fairest is esteem'd, where all are fair! From diftant shires repair the noble youth, And find report, for once, had leffen'd truth. 75 By wonder first, and then by paffion mov'd, They came; they faw; they marvell'd; and they lov'd. By public praises, and by fecret fighs, 80 Each own'd the gen'ral power of Emma's eyes. Which elfe will never reach the fair-one's heart, art. Great Venus muft prefer the happy one: In Henry's cause her favour must be shown: While these in public to the caftle came, And by their grandeur justify'd their flame; More fecret ways the careful Henry takes ; His fquires, his arms, and equipage forfakes: 95 In borrow'd name and false attire array'd, 100 When Emma hunts in huntsman's habit drest, Henry on foot pursues the bounding beast. In his right hand his beechen pole he bears: And graceful at his fide his horn he wears. Still to the glade, where she has bent her way, With knowing skill he drives the future prey; Bids her decline the hill, and fhun the brake; And shows the path her steed may safest take; 105 Directs her fpear to fix the glorious wound; Pleas'd, in his toils, to have her triumph crown'd; And blows her praises with no common found. 110 A falc'ner Henry is, when Emma hawks: And with the honor'd feather decks her hair. 115 120 A fhepherd now along the plain he roves; And, with his jolly pipe, delights the groves. The neighb'ring fwains around the stranger throng. |