Poetical recreations consisting of original poems, songs, odes, &c. with several new translations : in two parts / part I, occasionally written by Mrs. Jane Barker, part II, by several gentlemen of the universities, and others.

To my Unkind STREPHON.

WHen last I saw thee, thou did'st seem so kind, Thy Friendship & thy Mirth so unconsin'd; Thy Mind serene, Angelical thy Face, Wit and good humour ev'ry part did grace; That nought unkind appear'd to my dull sence, To cloud the Glories of Love's Excellence. Thus e're the Sun his leave of us he takes, Behind the Trees a glorious Landskip makes; So in thy Mien those Glories did appear, To shew it seems Friendship was setting there: But now't's obscured, whether it descends Into the Ocean of more worthy Friends;

Or that it do's to State or bus'ness move, Those Regions of th' Antipodes of Love, I know not, only it withdraws its light, Exposing of our Microcosm to night: A night all clad in Sorrows, thickest Air, Yet no less cold than those that are most clear: But as when heat by cold contracted is, Grows stronger by its Antiperistasis; So shall my Passion in this frigid state Grow strong in fervent love, or torrid hate; But should I frown, or scorn, or hate, 'twould be But laughter and divertisement to thee: Then be thou still unkind, I am resolv'd I'th' like unkindness ne'er to be involv'd; But those whom Frowns and Anger cannot move, It is but just to persecute with Love, Like good Old Romans, although banish'd I Shall still retain my first integrity. But what should make thee thus to banish me, Who always did do, and will honour thee; Unless thou'rt like those jealous Romans grown, And falsly fear I should erect a Throne Within thy Breast, and absolutely prove My self the mighty Monarch of thy Love:

No sure, thy Iudgment never could be wrought, To think that I should harbour such a thought; Thou could'st not think I aim'd at such a state, Who in thy Breast had no confederate; Nor Worth wherewith the * 1.1 Nobles to engage, Nor Wealth to stifle the Plebeian Rage: Nor had I Troops of Beauties at Command, For Grief long since those Forces did disband: Besides, thou know'st I always did despise, In Love, those Arbitrary tyrannies: Nor do I less abhor the Vulgar croud Of sordid Passions, which can bawl so loud For Liberty, that they thereby may grace Pride, Lust, or Av'rice, with a Tribune's place; But might I chuse, Love's Regiment should be, By Friendship's noble Aristocracy. But now, alas, Love's Powers are all deprest, By th' pow'rfull Anarchy of Interest: But although Hell and Earth therein combin'd, I little thought what now too well I find, That ever Strephon could have been unkind.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The noble and sordid Passions.