Short Poems

Like Alexander, Caelia spreads her Power,
Like Him, She makes the Vassal-World Adore;
But, ah! like Him , to sooth a proud Desire,
First conquers Towns , then sets those Towns on Fire .

Bright, as those glittering Worlds that roll above,
Are Women , when in Virtue's Orb they move;
But then, like Stars , once fall'n, their Light they lose ,
Unheeded fade, and turn to Slime , like those .

Who is most Beautiful, when Angry.
C Ælia , methinks, that sweet contracted Brow,
Resembles angry Cupid 's bended Bow;
Like, That, it aims a Stroke at every Heart,
Whilst either Eye supplies a keener Dart.

Laura , you say, these sable Spots impart,
The seemly Tokens of each Love-burnt Heart;
As conquer'd Trophies grace some sacred Shrine,
So they adorn a Power, as much Divine:
But if, among those Conquests of your Eyes,
My humble Heart can prove a worthy Prize;
O let your Lip the faithful Token wear,
And let me live on endless Kisses there!

If Laura weep for those her Eyes have slain,
Then Smile , my Fair, and we'll revive again.

Don Crassus plum'd with Bacularian Pride,
A Cap , a Gown , and eke a Robe beside;
Pedantically saunters up and down,
To satisfy the misbelieving Town,
Proud of Himself — but prouder of his Gown .
And well he may so; for the dapper Fellow
Is but poor Fustian , tho' his Gown 's Prunello!

From Johannes Secundus .

Good Friend, this Message to my Owner bear,
That Myron stole me, and has fix'd me here.

Oft have I thought thy wonder-working Art,
Could more than Nature's outward Form impart;
But now my Eyes convinc'd the Truth believe,
For lo! the Picture more than seems to live,
Pleas'd to decide mistrusting Reason's Strife,
Breaks thro' the Glass, and startles into Life .

Ye, to whom Heav'n imparts its special Fires,
Whose Breasts the wondrous quick'ning Beam inspires,
That sheds strong Eloquence's melting Rays,
Or scatrers forth the bright Poetick Blaze,
Look here and learn, those Gifts how low and light,
If conscious Dignity not guides their Flight,
How mean when human Pride their Service claims,
And Bacon condescends to flatter Fames .

My lady is not fair, but a clear light
Shines in her eyes from morning until night.

My lady is not learned, but she knows
The way to every heart, — straight there she goes.

Though neither fair nor learned, she is one
To love and love, and never to have done.