ver But she to-morrow will return: And meet thy favourite nymph in state. Kind goddess, to no other powers AMYNTA. MATTHEW PRIOR. Let perjur'd, fair Amynta know But, oh! she scorns to hear or see No, Phillis, no, your heart to move, And to revenge my slighted love, When killed with grief, Amyntas lies; And you to mind shall call The sighs that now unpitied rise, The tears that vainly fall: That welcome hour that ends this smart, Will then begin your pain; For such a faithful tender heart Can never break in vain. [The Songs of the celebrated Lord Rochester, are his only writings free from indecency. Horace Walpole happily characterised his verse as having "much more obscenity than wit, more wit than poetry, more poetry than politeness."] AN IMITATION OF CORNELIUS GALLUS. JOHN WILMOT, LORD. Rochester. My Goddess Lydia, heavenly fair, O let me gaze on those bright eyes, Give me ambrosia in a kiss, That I may rival Jove in bliss; Why draws't thou from the purple flood FROM ANACREON. JOHN WILMOT, LORD ROCHESTER. Vulcan, contrive me such a cup Make it so Up to the swelling brim, large, that, fill'd with sack Vast toasts in the delicious lake, Engrave not battle on his cheek, With war I've nought to do; Let it no name of planets tell, For I am no Sir Sydrophel, But carve thereon a spreading vine, Their limbs in am'rous folds entwine, Cupid and Bacchus my saints are, WHILST ON THOSE LOVELY LOOKS I GAZE. JOHN WILMOT, LORD ROCHESTER. Whilst on those lovely looks I gaze, His fate is too aspiring, Whose heart, broke with a load of love, But if this murder you'd forego, Let me your art of charming know, But whether life or death betide, FROM ALL UNEASY PASSIONS FREE. JOHN SHEFFIELD, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. Born about 1650-Died 1721 From all uneasy passions free, Safe from your eyes, I fear'd no griefs, but then I found no joys. Amidst a thousand kind desires; "Tis worth a life to die within your arms. VOL. 1. K |