The Trojan swain had judged the great dispute, And beauty's power obtain'd the golden fruit, When Venus, loose in all her naked charms, Met Jove's great daughter clad in shining arms,...
The sturdy man, if he in love obtains, In open pomp and triumph reigns: The subtle woman, if she should succeed, Disowns the honour of the deed. Though he for all his boast is forced to yield,...
Beyond the fix'd and settl'd Rules Of Vice and Virtue in the Schools, Beyond the Letter of the Law, Which keeps our Men and Maids in Awe, The better Sort should set before 'em...
Ye careful Angels, whom eternal Fate Ordains, on Earth and human Acts to wait; Who turn with secret Pow'r this restless Ball, And bid predestin'd Empires rise and fall:...
Out from the injured canvas, Kneller, strike These lines too faint; the picture is not like. Exalt thy thought, and try thy toil again: Dreadful in arms, on Landen's glorious plain...
The bewailing of man's miseries hath been elegantly and copiously set forth by many, in the writings as well of philosophers as divines; and it is both a pleasant and a profitable contemplation....
Miss Danae, when Fair and Young (As Horace has divinely sung) Could not be kept from Jove's Embrace By Doors of Steel, and Walls of Brass. The Reason of the Thing is clear;...
The circling months begin this day To run their yearly ring, And long-breathed time, which ne'er will stay, Refits his wings and shoots away, It round again to bring. Who feels the force of female eyes...
Be it right or wrong, these men among On women do complayne; Affyrmynge this, how that it is A labour spent in vaine To love them wele; for never a dele...
Prometheus, forming Mr. Day, Carved something like a man in clay: The mortal's work might well miscarry; He that does heaven and earth control Has only power to form a soul;...
Lysander talks extremely well; On any subject let him dwell His tropes and figures will content ye He should possess to all degrees The art of talk; he practises Full fourteen hours in four-and-twenty.
Lie Philo untouch'd, on my peaceable shelf, Nor take it amiss that so little I heed thee; I've no envy to thee, and some love to myself: Then why should I answer since first I must read thee?...
Forgive the muse who, in unhallow'd strains, The saint one moment from his God detains; For sure whate'er you do, where'er you are, 'Tis all but one good work, one constant prayer....