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.

THE PARALLEL.

AS when proud Lucifer aim'd at the Throne, To have Usurp't it, and made Heav'n his own•• (Blasphemous, damn'd design) but soon he fell, Guarded with dreadfull lightning down to Hell; Or as when Nimrod lofty Babel built, (A Structure as Eternal as his guilt;) Let us, said he, raise the proud Tow'r so high, As may amaze the Gods, and kiss their Sky; He spoke—but the success was diff'rent found; Heav'ns angry Thunder crush't him to the ground; So Lucifer, and so proud Babel fell, And 'tis a cursed fall from Heav'n to Hell. So falls our Courtier now to Pride a prey, And falls too with as much reproach as They•• And justly— That with his nauseous Courtship durst defile The sweetest, choicest Beauty of our Isle:

That he was proud, we knew; but now we see, Like Ianus, looking on Eternity, Both what he was, and what he meant to be. Stern was his Look, and sturdy was his Gate; He walk't, and talk't, and wou'd have kiss'd in state. Disdain and Scorn sate perching on his Brow; But, Presto! where is all that Grandeur now? Why vanish't, fled, dissolv'd to empty Air, Fine Ornaments indeed to cheat the Fair: And which is yet the strangest thing of all, He has not got one Friend to mourn his fall: But 'tis but just that he who has maintain'd Such ill designs, shou'd be by all disdain'd. Had not the lazy Drone been quite as blind, Equally dim both in his Eyes and Mind, He might have plainly seen— For the Example's visible to all, How strangely low ingratefull Pride may fall. Presumptuous Wretch! but that's too kind a Name For one so careless of a Virgins Fame: For as the Serpent did by fraud deceive Th' unwary Soul of the first Virgin Eve;

So he as impudently strove t' inspire The lovely Maid with his delusive fire: But Heav'n be prais'd, now with the same success; For though his pride's as great, his cunning's less.