But now at Abbeville by Lewis met,
I strove the thoughts of Suffolk to forget:
For here my faith was to a monarch vow'd,
And solemn rites my passion disallow'd :
However pure my former flames had been,
Unblemish'd honour made them now a sin.
But scarce my virtue had the conquest gain'd,
And ev'ry wild forbidden wish restrain'd,
When at St. Denis, with imperial state
Invested, on the Gallic throne I sat ; !
The day with noble tournaments was grac'd,
Your name among the British champions plac'd.
Invited by a guilty thirst of fame,

Without regard for my repose you came.
The lists I saw thee ent'ring with surprise,
And felt the dazzling glances of thine eyes..

Ye sacred Powers, (I cried), that rule above,
Defend my breast from this perfidious love.
Ye holy lamps! before whose awful lights
I gave my hand; and ye religious rites!
Assist me too; nor let a thought unchaste,
Or guilty wish my plighted honour blast:
While passion struggling with my pious fears,
Forc'd from my eyes involuntary tears.

Some tender blossom thus, with leaves enlarg'd,
Declines its head, with midnight dew o'ercharg'd:
The passing breezes shake the gentle flow'r,
And scatter all around a pearly show'r,
From this distracting hour I shun'd thy sight,
And gain'd the conquest by a prudent flight.
But human turns and sov'reign destiny,
Have set me now from these engagements free.
The stars propitious to my virgin-love,
My first desires, and early vows approve;
While busy politicians urge in vain,

That public reasons should my choice restrain;
That none but York's or Lancaster's high race,
Or great Plantagenet's, I ought to grace.
Nor Suffolk wants a long illustrious linę,
And worth, that shall in future records shine.

They own'd thy valour, when thy conq'ring lance
Carry'd the prize from all the youth of France.
Thy merit Henry's constant favour shows,
And envy only can my choice oppose.
Thy noble presence, wit, and fine address,
The British and the Gallic court confess.
Alençon's shape, and Vendome's sparkling eye,
Count Paul's gay mien, and Bourbon's majesty,
No longer are admir'd when thou art bye.
There nothing wants to justify my flame,
The statesmen grant, but a poor empty name.
And what's the gaudy title of a King?
What sort of bliss can royal grandeur bring?
When thou art absent, what's the Court to me,
But tiresome state, and dull formality?
This toy, a crown, I would resign. to prove
The peaceful joys of innocence and love.

LETTER XVIII.

Penelope to Ulysses.

From OVID.

DISTRACTED with his stay, yet still the same, True to her ancient vows, and early flame,

Penelope salutes her absent king.

Oh! would himself at last an answer bring!
Proud Troy is fall'n, our Grecian virgins' hate :
Yet not th' unrivall'd riches of her state,
Nor all the glories of her monarch's throne,
Can for the pains thy absence gives atone.
Oh! had the waves that gently wafted o'er
The lustful Phrygian to the Spartan, shore,
Plung'd in the deep the guilty load they bore!
Abandon'd then I should not waste away,
In unavailing moans the lazy day;

Or lost to joy, and widow'd of delight,

}

Curse the dull lagging hours of the more tedious night. Fruitful of doubts, my love still fear'd for you Dangers unknown, and greater than the true.

6

I thought all Troy conspir'd' against thy head,
And Hector's name, but mention'd, struck me dead.
Trembling I heard of false Achilles slain,

And wept to find the bold deceit was vain.
Tlepolemus fell by the Lycian spear,
Tlepolemus renew'd my anxious care.
In short, at ev'ry Grecian hero's fall,"
Through the long war, before the fatal wall,
A thrilling coldness ran through ev'ry part,
Chill'd up my blood, and shudder'd at my heart.
But my chaste passion mov'd the pitying skies;
My lord is safe, and Troy in ashes lies.
With prosp'rous gales the Argive chiefs return,
And to their country-gods barbaric incense burn.
The wives in pious gifts declare their joy,
While their sav'd husbands tell the fate of Troy:
Old men and frighted virgins, fix'd around,

In dumb amazement dwell upon the sound:
The soldiers in gay feasts their cares compose,
And mark in wine the scenes of ancient woes
This in Sigam, here swift Simois flow'd,
There high erect old Priam's palace stood;
Here fierce Pelides urg'd the dreadful war,
There fix'd the bleeding Hector to his car :
There mov'd Ulysses, certain of success,
Greater his conduct, nor his courage less:
'Twas Nestor told us all; he told us too
The arts that Dolon, and the Thracian slew.
Heedless, and too forgetful as you were,
In you, I'm sure, 'twas criminal to dare:
When you, but for one faithful friend alone,
Dealt fate to squadrons, and provok'd your own,
How well your wife and infant left behind,
How well your tender passion fill'd your mind! ·
I fainted as I heard the dreadful tale e;
Scarce your success could o'er my fears prevail.
But what success, what's ruin'd Troy to me,
Or all the savage joys of victory?
If still unbless'd I sink beneath my pain,
And never must enjoy my lord again!

For other wives destroy'd, to me still stands
The wall erected by immortal hands.

Now plenteous harvests grow where Ilium stood,
The soil well fatten'd with the natives' blood.
O'er-run with palaces that reach'd the skies,
Low spires of grass and humble shrubs arise.
Still of the conqu'ror's absence I complain,
Nor know what distant worlds my wand'ring lord
Ulysses I of ev'ry ship require,

[detain.

}

The sailors with repeated questions tire;
Hopeless and half despairing yet I write ;
The cruel pow'rs that envy me delight,
May bring at last my letters to your sight.
To Pylos, ancient Nestor's fruitful reign,
And Sparta's injur'd court, I sent in vain;
For nor from Sparta, nor from Pylos came,
Ought save wild rumours, and uncertain fame.
Again I wish'd Troy's lofty tow'rs might rise,
And curse the thoughtless vows that gain'd the skies.
War's hazards then would be my only care,
And I in common with a thousand fear:
Now all the dangers of the land and seas
Are present to my thoughts, and banish ease;
While you, alas! perhaps with pleasure rove,
And faithless nourish a forbidden love;
Take some deluding harlot to your breast,
And in her arms with lawless transports bless'd,
Make my dull easy constancy your jest.
Ye pow'rs! avert the thought I cannot bear,
And give my vain suspicions to the air,
Whate'er may be the reasons of thy stay,
Oh! may'st thou never willingly delay!
Me to a second choice my sire invites,
Chides my delays, and urges all his rights.
Still let him urge, my love my faith assures,
I am, I must, I will be ever yours:

Yet my warm pray'rs the good old monarch move,
He views my tears, and mourns my hapless love..
But a vile train of thoughtless youths proclaim
With lawless impudence a saucy flame.

}

Hither from Zante and Samos they resort,
And revel unmolested in thy court.

Treasures, the purchase of thy blood, they seize :
Those spoils Eurymachus, Pysander these;
Antinous here with equal rage possess'd,
There greedy Polybus, a constant guest,
Plunder around-And need I name the rest,
Who, in your absence, on your vitals prey,
And waste in costly luxury the day?
The beggar Irus, a detested name,

And base Melanthus last, complete thy shame.
'Gainst these insults what force can I employ !
What thy old father, or thy tender boy?
For his dear life a thousand snares are laid,
And certain ruin aim'd at his unguarded head.
Preserve him, Heav'n! and if we ne'er must join,
Yet may he live to close your eyes and mine.
In vain Laertes does his power oppose,
Unfit for war, against surrounding foes.
Telemachus will soon to fame aspire,
Now his soft years a parent's aid require.
Oh! thou, our only hope and refuge, come,
Dispel our dangers, and avert our doom;
From the young hero in the arts of war,
To rival thee, but with more caution dare.
Haste, and relieve your sire with years oppress'd
Once more he longs to clasp you to his breast,
Then shake off tedious life, and sink to rest.
Oh ! haste to me !A little longer stay;
Will ev'ry grace, each fancy'd charm decay:
Increasing cares, and time's resistless rage,
Will waste thy bloom, and wither it to age;
Yet at thy sight wild joys, and sprightly love,
Shall dying youth recal, and ev'ry charm improve.

SIX