Friday, the fatal Day, when next it came,

Her Soul forethought the Fiend would change his

Game,

And her purfue, or Theodore be flain,

[the Plain. And two Ghosts join their Packs to hunt her o'er

This dreadful Image fo poffefs'd her Mind, That defp'rate any Succour elfe to find, She ceas'd all farther hope; and now began To make reflection on th' unhappy Man. Rich, Brave, and Young, who paft expreffion lov'd, Proof to Difdain; and not to be remov'd: Of all the Men refpected and admir'd, Of all the Dames, except her felf, defir'd. Why not of her? Preferr'd above the rest By him with Knightly Deeds, and open Love profefs'd?

า

[drefs'd. So had another been; where he his Vows ad-j This quell'd her Pride, yet other Doubts remain'd, That once difdaining she might be disdain'd. The Fear was juft, but greater Fear prevail'd, Fear of her Life by Hellish Hounds affail'd: He took a low'ring leave; but who can tell, What outward Hate, might inward Love conceal?

} }

Her Sexes Arts fhe knew, and why not then,
Might deep Diffembling have a Place in Men?
Here Hope began to dawn; refolv'd to try,
She fix'd on this her utmost Remedy;
Death was behind, but hard it was to die.
'Twas time enough at last on Death to call,
The Precipice in fight: A Shrub was all,
That kindly stood betwixt to break the fatal Fall.
One Maid she had, belov'd above the reft,
Secure of her, the Secret fhe confefs'd:
And now the chearful Light her Fears difpell'd,
She with no winding turns the Truth conceal'd,
But put the Woman off, and flood reveal'd:
With Faults confefs'd commiffion'd her to go,
If Pity yet had place, and reconcile her Foe:
The welcome Meffage made, was soon receiv'd;
'Twas what he wish'd, and hop'd, but scarce be-
liev'd;

Fate feem'd a fair Occafion to present,

He knew the Sex, and fear'd fhe might repent,
Should he delay the moment of Consent.
There yet remain'd to gain her Friends (a Care
The Modesty of Maidens well might spare ;)

But fhe with fuch a Zeal the Cause embrac'd,

(As Women, where they will, are all in haste). That Father, Mother, and the Kin befide, Were overborn by fury of the Tide:

With full Confent of all, the chang'd her State, Refistless in her Love, as in her Hate.

By her Example warn'd, the rest beware; More Eafie, lefs Imperious, were the Fair; And that one Hunting which the Devil defign'd, For one fair Female, loft him half the Kind.

Ceyx and Alcyone.

Connection of this Fable with the former. Ceyx, the Son of Lucifer (the Morning Star) and King of Trachin in Theffaly, was married to Alcyone Daughter to Eolus God of the Winds. Both the Husband and the Wife lov'd each other with an entire Affection. Dædalion, the Elder Brother of Ceyx (whom he fucceeded) having been turn'd into a Falcon by Apollo, and Chione, Dædalion's Daughter, flain by Diana, Ceyx prepares a Ship to fail to Claros there to confult the Oracle of Apollo, and (as Ovid feems to intimate) to enquire how the Anger of the Gods might be atton'd.

HESE Prodigies affect the pious
Prince,

But more perplex'd with those that
happen'd fince,

He purposes to seek the Clarian God,
Avoiding Delphos, his more fam'd Abode;
Since Phlegyan Robbers made unsafe the Road.
Yet could he not from her he lov'd fo well
The fatal Voyage, he refolv'd, conceal;
But when she saw her Lord prepar'd to part,
A deadly Cold ran fhiv'ring to her Heart:
Her faded Cheeks are chang'd to Boxen Hue,
And in her Eyes the Tears are ever new:
She thrice effay'd to speak; her Accents hung
And faltring dy'd unfinish'd on her Tongue,
Or vanish'd into Sighs: With long Delay

Her Voice return'd; and found the wonted way.
Tell me, my Lord, fhe faid, what Fault unknown-
Thy once belov'd Alcyone has done?
Whither, ah whither is thy Kindness gone!
Can Ceyx then sustain to leave his Wife,

And unconcern'd forfake the Sweets of Life?