A good which none would challenge, few would choof
A fair poffeffion, which mankind refuse.
If we from wealth to poverty descend,
Want gives to know the flatt'rer from the friend.
If I am old, and ugly, well for you,
No loud adult'rer will my love purfue.
Nor jealousy the bane of marry'd life,
Shall haunt you, for a wither'd homely wife:
For age, and ugliness, as all agree,
Are the best guards of female chastity.
Yet fince I fee your mind is worldly bent,
I'll do my best to further your content.
And therefore of two gifts in my difpofe,
Think e'er you fpeak, I grant you leave to chook:
Wou'd you I fhould be still deform'd, and old,
Nauseous to touch, and loathsome to behold;
On this condition, to remain for life
A careful, tender and obedient wife,
In all I can contribute to your case,
And not in deed or word, or thought displease?
Or would you rather have me young and fair,
And take the chance that happens to your share!
Temptations are in beauty, and in youth,
And how can yon depend upon my
Now weigh the danger, with the doubtful blifs,
And thank yourself, if ought should fall amifs.
Sore figh'd the knight, who this long fermon heard,
At length confidering all, his heart be chear'd:
And thus reply'd, my lady, and my wife,
To your wife conduct I resign my life:
future good and ill, on either hand:
if an humble husband may requeft,
ide, and order all things for the beft;
s be the care to profit, and to please:
let your subject fervant take his ease.
hen thus in peace, quoth fhe, concludes the ftrife, I am turn'd the husband, you the wife: matrimonial victory is mine,
ch having fairly gain'd, I will refign;
ive, if I have faid, or done amifs,
feal the bargain with a friendly kifs:
omis'd you but one content to share,
now I will become both good and fair.
nuptial quarrel fhall disturb your ease,
bufinefs of my life shall be to please:
my beauty that, as time shall try; draw the curtain first, and cast your eye. le look'd, and faw a creature heavenly fair, loom of youth, and of a charming air. th joy he turn'd, and feiz'd her iv'ry arm; like Pygmalion found the statue warm. arguments there needed to prevail, torm of kiffes pour'd as thick as hail.
Thus long in mutual blifs they lay embrac'd, d their first love continu'd to the last:
e fun-fhine was their life; no cloud between; or ever was a kinder couple feen.
And fo may all our lives like theirs be led;
leav'n fend the maids young husbands, fresh in bed:
May widows wed as often as they can,
And ever for the better change their man.
And fome devouring plague pursue their lives,
Who will not well be govern'd by their wives.
fourteenth book concludes with the death and deiication of Romulus: the fifteenth begins with the election of Numa to the crown of Rome. On this ccasion, Ovid, following the opinion of some authors, makes Numa the fcholar of Pythagoras: and to have begun his acquaintance with that philofopher at Crotona, a town in Italy; from thence he makes a digreffion to the moral and natural philofophy of Pythagoras; on both which our author enlarges; and which are the most learned and beauti ful parts of the whole Metamorphofes.
King is fought to guide the growing state, One able to fupport the public weight, nd fill the throne where Romulus had fat. Lenown, which oft befpeaks the public voice, dad recommended Numa to their choice:
A peaceful, pious prince; who not content
To know the Sabine rites, his study bent
To cultivate his mind: to learn the laws
Of nature, and explore their hidden cause.
Urg'd by this care, his country he forfook,
And to Crotona thence his journey took.
Arriv'd, he first enquir'd the founder's name,
Of this new colony; and whence he came.
Then thus a fenior of the place replies.
(Well read, and curious of antiquities)
'Tis faid, Alcides hither took his way,
From Spain, and drove along his conquer'd prey;
Then leaving in the fields his grazing cows,
He fought himself some hospitable house:
Good Croton entertain'd his godlike guest;
While he repair'd his weary limbs with reft.
The hero, thence departing,, blefs'd the place;
And here, he faid, in time's revolving race
A riling town hall take his name from thee;
Revolving time fulfill'd the prophecy:
For Myfcelos, the juftest man on earth,
Alemon's fon, at Argos had his birth:
Him. Hercules, arm'd with his club of oak
O'ershadow'd in a dream, and thus bespoke ;
Go, leave thy native foil, and make abode
Where Efaris rolls down his rapid flood;
He faid; and fleep forfook him, and the god.
Trembling he wak'd, and rofe with anxious heart;
His country laws forbade him to depart;
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