"Nor had I loiter'd thus, had I been free,
"But the fair Princess of Felicity

"Intreated me to make some short delay;
"And, ask'd by her, who could refuse to stay?

"Surrounded by the damsels of her court, "She sought the shady grove, her loved resort; "Fresh rose the grass, the flowers were mix'd between, "Like rich embroidery on a ground of

green, "And in the midst, protected by the shade, "A crystal stream in wild meanders play'd ; "While in its banks, the trembling leaves among, "A thousand little birds in concert sung.

"Close by a mount, with fragrant shrubs o'ergrown,
"On a cool mossy couch she laid her down;
"Her air, her posture, all conspired to please;

"Her head, upon her snowy arm at ease
"Reclined, a studied carelessness express'd;

"Loose lay her robe, and naked heaved her breast.

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Eager I flew to that delightful place,

"And pour'd a shower of kisses on her face;
"Now hover'd o'er her neck, her breast, her arms,
"Like bees o'er flowers, and tasted all her charms;
“And then her lips, and then her cheeks I tried,
"And fann'd, and wanton'd round on every side.

O Zephyr,' cried the fair, thou charming boy, Thy presence only can create me joy;

"To me thou art beyond expression dear,

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• Nor can I quit the place while thou art here.'— "Excuse my weakness, madam, when I swear "Such gentle words, join'd with so soft an air, "Pronounced so sweetly from a mouth so fair, "Quite ravish'd all my sense; nor did I know "How long I staid, or when or where to go.

"Meanwhile the damsels, debonnair and gay, "Prattled around, and laugh'd the time away : "These in soft notes address'd the ravish'd ear, "And warbled out so sweet, 'twas heaven to hear; "And those in rings, beneath the greenwood shade, "Danced to the melody their fellows made.

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Some, studious of themselves, employ'd their care "In weaving flowery wreaths to deck their hair "While others to some favourite plant convey'd Refreshing showers, and cheer'd its drooping head. A joy so general spread through all the place, "Such satisfaction dwelt on every face, "The nymphs so kind, so lovely look'd the "That never eye beheld a sweeter scene.".

Porsenna like a statue fix'd appear'd,

queen,

And, wrapp'd in silent wonder, gazed and heard;
Much he admired the speech, the speaker more,

And dwelt on every word, and grieved to find it o'er.

-"Oh gentle youth," he cried," proceed to tell, "In what fair country does this princess dwell; "What regions unxplored, what hidden coast "Can so much goodness, so much beauty boast ?”—

To whom the winged god, with gracious look, Numberless sweets diffusing while he spoke, Thus answer'd kind,-" These happy gardens lie "Far hence removed, beneath a milder sky; "Their name—the Kingdom of Felicity. "Sweet scenes of endless bliss, enchanted ground, "A soil for ever sought, but seldom found;

Though in the search all human kind in vain

Weary their wits, and waste their lives in pain. "In different parties different paths they tread, "As reason guides them, or as follies lead; "These wrangling for the place they ne'er shall see, "Debating those, if such a place there be;

"But not the wisest, nor the best, can say

"Where lies the point, or mark the certain way.
"Some few, by Fortune favour'd for her sport,
“Have sail'd in sight of this delightful port ;
"In thought already seized the bless'd abodes,
"And in their fond delirium rank'd with gods.
"Fruitless attempt! all avenues are kept

"Here fell Detraction darts her pois'nous breath

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Fraught with a thousand stings, and scatters death; "Sharp-sighted Envy there maintains her post,

"And shakes her flaming brand, and stalks around the

coast.

"These on the helpless bark their fury pour,

Plunge in the waves, or dash against the shore;

"Teach wretched mortals they were doom'd to mourn, "And ne'er must rest but in the silent urn.

"But say, young Monarch, for what name you "Your mien, your dress, your person, all declare; "And though I seldom fan the frozen north, "Yet have I heard of brave Porsenna's worth.

My brother Boreas through the world has flown, "Swelling his breath to spread forth your renown;

Say, would you choose to visit this retreat,

bear

"And view the world where all these wonders meet?

"Wish you some friend o'er that tempestuous sea

"To bear you safe, behold that friend in me.

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My active wings shall all their force employ,
"And nimbly waft you to the realms of joy ;
"As once, to gratify the God of Love,

"I bore fair Psyche to the Cyprian grove;
"Or as Jove's bird, descending from on high,
"Snatch'd the young Trojan trembling to the sky.

"There perfect bliss thou may'st for ever share,

'Scaped from the busy world, and all its care;

"There in the lovely princess thou shalt find

"A mistress ever blooming, ever kind.". All ecstasy on air Porsenna trod,

And to his bosom strain'd the little God:

With grateful sentiments his heart o'erflow'd,

And in the warmest words millions of thanks bestow'd.

When Eolus in surly humour broke

Their strict embrace, and thus abruptly spoke :

Enough of compliment; I hate the

sport

"Of meanless words: this is no human court,
"Where plain and honest are discarded quite,
"For the more modish title of polite;
"Where in soft speeches hypocrites impart
"The venom'd ills that lurk beneath the heart;
"In friendship's holy guise their guilt improve,
"And kindly kill with specious shew of love.
"For us,―my subjects are not used to wait,

"And waste their hours to hear a mortal prate;

"And high 'em to the seas: there's mischief to be done.

"Excuse my plainness, Sir, but business stands,

"And we have storms and shipwrecks on our hands.".