Thus to the Wilds the sturdy Cymon went,
A 'Squire among the Swains, and pleas'd with
His Corn, and Cattle, were his only Care,
And his fupream Delight a Country-Fair.
It happen'd on a Summer's Holiday,
That to the Greenwood-fhade he took his way; For Cymon fhun'd the Church, and us'd not much to Pray.
His Quarter-Staff, which he cou'd ne'er forsake,
Hung half before, and half behind his Back.
He trudg'd along unknowing what he fought,
And whistled as he went, for want of Thought,
By Chance conducted, or by Thirst constrain'd,
The deep Receffes of the Grove he gain'd;
Where in a Plain, defended by the Wood,
Crept through the matted Grass a Chrystal Flood,
By which an Alablaster Fountain stood:
And on the Margin of the Fount was laid
(Attended by her Slaves) a fleeping Maid.
Like Dian, and her Nymphs,when tir'd withSport,
To reft by cool Eurotas they refort:
The Dame herself the Goddess well express'd,
Not more distinguish'd by her Purple Vest,
Than by the charming Features of her Face,
And ev'n in Slumber a fuperior Grace:
Her comely Limbs compos'd with decent Care,
Her Body shaded with a flight Cymarr;
Her Bofom to the View was only bare:
Where two beginning Paps were fcarcely fpy'd,
For yet their Places were but fignify'd:
The fanning Wind upon her Bofom Blows,
To meet the fanning Wind the Bofom rose;
The fanning Wind, and purling Streams, continue her Repose.
The Fool of Nature, ftood with stupid Eyes And gaping Mouth, that teftify'd Surprize, Fix'd on her Face, nor cou'd remove his Sight, New as he was to Love, and Novice in Delight: Long mute he stood, and leaning on his Staff, His Wonder witnefs'd with an Ideot laugh; Then would have fpoke, but by his glimmering Senfe
First found his want of Words, and fear'd Offence:
Doubted for what he was he should be known,
By his Clown-Accent, and his Country-Tone.
Through the rude Chaos thus the running Light
Shot the first Ray that pierc'd the Native Night:
Then Day and Darkness in the Mass were mix'd,
Till gather'd in a Globe, the Beams were fix'd :
Last shone the Sun, who radiant in his Sphere
Illumin'd Heav'n, and Earth, and rowl'd around
So Reason in this Brutal Soul began: [the Year.
Love made him first suspect he was a Man;
Love made him doubt his broad Barbarian Sound,
By Love his want of Words, and Wit, he found:
That sense of Want prepar'd the future way
To Knowledge, and disclos'd the promise of a Day.
What not his Father's Care, nor Tutor's Art
Cou'd plant with Pains in his unpolish'd Heart,
The best Instructor, Love, at once infpir'd,
As barren Grounds to Fruitfulness are fir'd:
Love taught him Shame, and Shame with Love
Soon taught the sweet Civilities of Life; [at Strife
His grofs material Soul at once could find
Somewhat in her excelling all her Kind:
Exciting a Defire till then unknown,
Somewhat unfound, or found in her alone.
This made the firft Impreffion in his Mind,
Above, but just above, the Brutal Kind..
For Beasts can like, but not distinguish too,
Nor their own liking by Reflection know;
Nor why they like or this, or t'other Face,
Or judge of this or that peculiar Grace,
But love in grofs, and ftupidly admire;
As Flies allur'd by Light, approach the Fire.
Thus our Man-Beast advancing by degrees,
Firft likes the whole, than fep'rates what he fees;
On fev'ral Parts a fev'ral Praise bestows,
The ruby Lips, the well-proportion'd Nose,
The fnowy Skin, the Raven-gloffy Hair,
The dimpled Cheek, the Foreheaad rifing fair,
And ev❜n in Sleep it self a smiling Air.
From thence his Eyes defcending view'd the reft,
Her plump round Arms, white Hands, and heav-
ing Breast.
Long on the last he dwelt, though ev'ry Part
A pointed Arrow sped to pierce his Heart.
Thus in a trice a Judge of Beauty grown, (A Judge erected from Country-Clown) He long'd to see her Eyes in Slumber hid; And wifh'd his own cou'd pierce within the Lid: He wou'd have wak'd her, but reftrain'd his Thought. And Love new-born the firft good Manners taught. An awful Fear his ardent Wish withstood, Nor durft difturb the Goddess of the Wood
For fuch fhe feem'd by her celestial Face,
Excelling all the reft of human Race:
And Things divine, by common Sense he knew;
Must be devoutly feen at diftant View:
So checking his Defire, with trembling Heart,
Gazing he stööd, nor would, nor could depart;
Fix'd as a Pilgrim wilder'd in his Way,
Who dares not ftir by Night for fear to stray,[Day.
But ftands with awful Eyes to watch the dawn of)
At length awaking, Iphigene the Fair
(So was the Beauty call'd who caus'd his Care) Unclos'd her Eyes, and double Day reveal'd, While those of all her Slaves in Sleep were feal'd.
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