Goddess of nocturnal sport,
Always keep thy jocund court
In this loving couple's arms!
(O that my prayers might prove charms!)
Goddess of the marriage feast,
Here approach at our request,
Saturnia ! whose car I saw
A harness'd team of peacocks draw
Fiercely through the fleeting sky,
Wherein sat thy majesty.
On thee did an host attend
Of bright goddesses.—Descend
From that chariot, and bless
Julia's womb with fruitfulness !
Make her, when nine months be run,
Mother of a lovely son;
Let every year the queen of love
Her new-fill'd cradle rock and move.
Mirth and nuptial joys betide
The happy bridegroom and fair bride.

court

APHRA BEHN.

prove charmant

The very curious life of this lady, who was generally and

justly admired for her beauty, her wit, and her accomplishments, is to be found at large in Cibber, Vol. III. and the Biographia Dramatica, where she is mentioned as the writer of no less than 17 plays, besides several novels, poems, &c. The time of her birth is not accurately known, though it was during the reign of Charles I. She died in 1689.

SONG,

Love in fantastic triumph sat,

While bleeding hearts around him flow'd, For whom fresh pains he did create,

And strange tyrannic power he show'd:
From thy bright eyes he took his fire,

Which round about in sport he hurld;
But 'twas from mine he took desire,

Enough t’inflame the amorous world.

From me he took his sighs and tears,

From thee his pride and cruelty,
From me his languishment and fears,

And ev'ry killing dart from thee,

Thus thou and I, the god have arm’d,

And set him up a deity; But my poor heart alone is harm'd, · Whilst thine the victor is, and free. CHARLES COTTON

Was born at Beresford in Staffordshire, 1630. He received

his education at Cambridge, and afterwards travelled : was twice married; had several children ; resided principally at his family seat; and died in 1687. A curious anecdote

is related of him in the Biog. Dramat. This pleasing and elegant author was chiefly distinguished by his“ Virgil Travestie," and other burlesque translations, and in this style of writing was considered as only inferior to Butler. Vide Shiell's (commonly called Cibber’s) Lives of the Poets. His “ Complete Angler,” republished by Sir John Hawkins together with that of Isaac Walton, is also a deservedly popular performance. The following pieces are extracted from his “ Poems on several Occasions,” octavo, 1089.

TO CHLORIS.

[From 58 lines.]

Lord! how you take upon you still!

How you crow and domineer!
How! still expect to have your will,

And carry the dominion clear,
As you were still the same that once you were !

Fie, Chloris, 'tis å gross mistake,

Correct your error, and be wise ;

I kindly still your kindness take,

But yet have learn’d, though love I prize,
Your froward humours to despise,
And now disdain to call them cruelties. .

I was a fool whilst you were fair,

And I had youth ť excuse it;
And all the rest are so that lovers are :

I then myself your vassal sware,
And could be still so (which is rare),

But on condition that you not abuse it,

'Tis beauty that to woman-kind

Gives all the rule and sway; Which once declining, or declin'd,

Men afterwards unwillingly obey.

Yet still you have enough, and more than needs,

To rule a more rebellious heart than mine; For as your eyes still shoot, my heart still bleeds,

And I must be a subject still :

Nor is it much against my will, Though I pretend to wrestle and repine.

Your beauties, sweet, are in their height,

And I must still adore ;