Chapter VI (2)

I took my leave with Sighs, and went home extream well pleas’d with this days Adventure. All this Night I slept as well as if no tenderness had toucht my Heart, and though I Lov’d infinitely, it gave me no disturbance; the next morning a thousand pleasant things _Bellinda_ had said to me, came into my mind, and gave me a new inclination to entertain myself with that witty Beauty; and dressing myself in haste with the desire I had to be with her, I went again, the morning being very inviting, to the Garden, where before I had seen her, and was so lucky to encounter her; I found her blush at my approach; which I counted a good Omen of my future happiness; she received me with all the Gayety and Joy good liking and Wit could inspire: Nor was I backward on my part, but addrest myself to her with all imaginable respect, and as much Love in my Eyes as I was able to put on; which, I found, she saw with Pleasure; she had not entertained me half an hour, but I was so absolutely charmed, that I forgot there was a _Bellimante_ in the World.

Thus for several days I lived; every day visiting both these attracting Beauties, and at Night, when I was retired, was not able to inform myself which I liked best: Both were equally beloved, and it was now, that methought I began to tast of true Joy; I found myself in Love without any sort of inquietude; when I was Melancholy, I went to visit _Bellinda_, and she with her Gayety and Wit would inspire me with good Humour; If I were over-prest with good Company, and too much Conversation and Noise, I would visit _Bellimante_, who by a certain softness in her discourse, and a natural Languishment in her Eyes and Manners, charmed and calmed me to a reposed tranquillity; so that to make me fortunate in Love, I could not have fixed my desires better: I had too little Love to be wretched, and enough to make my happiness and Pleasure.

After I had past my time awhile thus in _Coquettre_, this little Love, who was my Guide, carried me to _Declaration_: I thought then upon the time of my first Arrival on the _Isle of Love_; and how _Respect_, that awful hinderer of our Pleasure, prevented me from going to this Place: I urg’d this very argument _Respect_ then made me, to my _Coquet_ Love now, who for answer return’d me nothing but loud Laughter; and when I askt his reason, he replied, that _Respect_ did not forbid any to go to _Declaration_, but those only who knew not how to behave themselves well there, and who were not so well fashion’d and bred as they ought to be, who go thither: And that it was a mere cheat in _Respect_ to conduct people to _Love_ by _Discretion_, that being much the farthest way about, and under favor to Monsieur _Respect_ he is but a troublesome companion to a Lover, who designs to cure those wounds the fair has given him, and, if he have no better counsellor, he may languish all his life without revealing the secret of his soul to the object belov’d, and so never find redress. But this Sir _Formal_, (_Respect_ says _Love_,) is a very great favourite of the Lady’s, who is always in fee with them as a Jilt with a Justice; who manages their Fools just as they wou’d have ‘em; for it is the most agreeable thing in the World to them, and what the most feeds their vanity, to see at their feet a thousand Lovers sigh, burn, and languish; the fair are never angry to find themselves belov’d, nor ever weary of being Ador’d. I was extreamly pleas’d at this frank Humour of my little Love who told me this, and without much scruple or consideration to _Respect_ I followed him towards _Declaration_, and in my way he gave me this Advice.

When you Love, or speak of it,
Make no serious matter on’t,
‘Twill make but subject for her wit
And gain her scorn in lieu of Grant.
Sneeking, whining, dull Grimasses
Pale the Appetite, they’d move;
Only Boys and formal Asses
Thus are Ridicul’d by Love.

While you make a Mystery
Of your Love and awful flame;
Young and tender Hearts will fly,
Frighted at the very name;
Always brisk and gayly court,
Make Love your pleasure not your pain,
‘Tis by wanton play and sport
Heedless Virgins you will gain.

By this time we were arriv’d to _Declaration_, which is a very little Village, since it is only for Passengers to pass thrô, and none live there, the Country is very Perilous, and those that make a false step run a great risque of falling from some precipice: Round about rises a very great mist, and people have much ado to know each other; of these mists there are two sorts: The one on the side of _Denial_, the other on that of _Permission_, the first is very disagreeable and draws a very ill consequence with it; the other directs you to a place of intire divertisement, but I had so good a guide that the entrance gave me no trouble at all. When I came to the Village, I found _Bellimante_, and _Bellinda_, to whom by turns I told all my heart; and discover’d all its passion or its tenderness which was to me much better.

When to the charming _Bellinda_ I came,
With my heart full of Love and desire,
To gain my wisht end I talkt of a flame,
Of sighing, and dying, and fire,
I swore to her charms that my soul did submit,
And the slave was undone by the force of her Wit.

To fair _Bellimante_ the same tale I told,
And I vow’d and I swore her fair Eyes
No Heart-Ravisht mortal cou’d ever behold
But he panting and languishing Dys,
And while I was vowing, the ardour of youth
Made myself even believe what I swore was all Truth.

I confess to you, my dear _Lysander_, that it was a great while before I cou’d make myself be believ’d by _Bellinda_, or gain any credit upon her heart, she had a great deal of Wit and cou’d see farther into the designs of her Lovers than those who had not so much, or had had so many vows pay’d them: I perceiv’d well enough, I was not hated by her, and that she had not a heart wholly insensible; so that I never quitted her till I had gain’d so much upon her to accompany me to _Permission_, where for some time we pass our days very pleasantly; and having so good fortune with _Bellinda_, I had now a great desire to try my power over _Bellimante_: and where indeed, contrary to my expectation, I was not so happy: But she went from me to _Denial_; and I was for that hour oblig’d to return again to _Bellinda_, it was some time I searcht her in vain, but at last found her at a little Village, extreamly agreeable. There are very few Inhabitants, but those that are live in perpetual union, yet do not talk much, for they understand one another with half words: A sign of the Hand, the Head or the Eye, a glance or smile is sufficient to declare a great part of the Inclination. It is here where the Lover takes all freedoms, without controul, and says and does all that soft Love can permit: And every day they take and give a secret Entertainment, speaking a particular Language, which every body does not understand, and none but Lovers can reply to; in effect, there are as many Languages as there are persons.

The Governess of this Village is very charming to those that are acquainted with her; and as disagreeable to those that are not; she is a person of a great deal of Wit, and knows all things. She has a thousand ways to make herself understood, and comprehends all in a moment, that you wou’d or can say to her.

In this place, to divert, we make a thousand pretty sorts of Entertainments; and we have abundance of Artifices, which signify nothing, and yet they serve to make life Agreeable and Pleasant.

’.was thus I liv’d at _Intelligence_; when I understood that _Bellimante_ was retir’d to _Cruelty_. This news afflicted me extreamly, but I was not now of a humour to swell the Floods with my tears, or increase the rude winds with my ruder sighs; to tear my hair and beat my Innocent breast as I us’d in my first Amour to do. However I was so far concern’d that I made it my business not to lose this insensible fair one, but making her a visit in spight of her retreat, I reproacht her with cruelty.

Why, fair Maid, are you uneasy,
When a slave designs to please you;
When he at your feet is lying
Sighing, languishing, and dying?
Why do you preserve your charms
Only for offensive Armes?
What the Lover wou’d possess
You maintain but to oppress.
Cease, fair Maid, your cruel sway,
And let your Lover dy a nobler way.

Who the Devil wou’d not believe me as much in love now as I ever was with _Silvia_: My heart had learnt then all the soft Language of Love which now it cou’d prattle as naturally as its Mother Tongue; and sighing and dying was as ready for my mouth as when it came from my very heart; and cost me nothing to speak; Love being as cheaply made now by me as a barter for a Horse or a Coach; and with as little concern almost: It pleas’d me while I was speaking, and while I believ’d I was gaining the vanity and pleasure of a conquest over an unvanquisht heart. However I cou’d yet perceive no Grist come to my Mill; no heart to my Lure; young as it was, it had a cunning that was harder to deceive than all _Bellinda’s_ Wit: And seeing her persist still in her Resolution I left her with a heart, whose pride more than Passion resented the obdurat’ness of this Maid, I went as well compos’d however as I cou’d to _Intelligence_; and found even some pleasure in the cruelty and charming resistance of _Bellimante_, since I propos’d to myself an infinite happiness in softening a heart so averse to Love, and which I knew I shou’d compel to yield some time or other with very little pains and force.

Oh! what Pleasure ‘tis to find
A coy heart melt by slow degrees;
When to yielding ‘tis inclin’d,
Yet her fear a ruin sees.
When her tears do kindly flow,
And her sighs do come and goe.

Oh! how charming ‘tis, to meet
Soft resistance from the fair;
When her pride and wishes meet
And by turns increase her care,
Oh! how charming ‘tis to know,
She wou’d yield but can’t tell how.

Oh! how pretty is her scorn
When confus’d ‘twixt Love and shame,
Still refusing (though she burn,)
The soft pressures of my Flame.
Her Pride in her denyal lies,
And mine is in my Victories.

I feigned nevertheless abundance of Grief to find her still persist in her rigorous Cruelty; and I made her believe that all my absent hours I abandoned myself to sorrows and despairs; though _Love_ knows I parted with all those things in _Silvia’s_ Arms. But whatever I pretended, to appear at _Cruelty_ and before _Bellimante_; at _Intelligence_ I was all Galliard and never in better Humour in my Life than when I went to visit _Bellinda_: I put on the Gravity of a Lover, and beheld her with a Solemn Languishing Look: In fine, I accustomed myself to counterfeit my Humour, whenever I found it convenient for my Advantage: Tears, Vows, and Sighs cost me nothing, and I knew all the Arts to jilt for Love, and could act the dying Lover, whenever it made for my Satisfaction.

He that wou’d precious time improve.
And husband well his hours,
Let him complain and dye for Love,
And spare no Sighs or Showers.
To second which, let Vows and Oaths
Be ready at your will,
And fittest times and seasons chuse,
To shew your cozening skill.

In fine, after I had sufficiently acted the Languishing Lover, for the accomplishment of all my Wishes, I thought it time to change the Scene, and without having recourse to Pity, I followed all the Counsels of my _Cupid_; who told me, that in stead of dying and whining at her Feet, and damning myself to obtain her Grace, I should affect a Coldness, and an Unconcern; for, _Lycidus_, assure yourself, said he, there is nothing a Woman will not do, rather than lose her Lover either from Vanity or Inclination. I thanked _Love_ for his kind Advice; and to persue it, the next day I drest myself in all the Gayety imaginable: My Eyes, my Air, my Language, were all changed; and thus fortified with all the put-on indifference in the World, I made _Bellimante_ a Visit; and after a thousand things all cold and unconcerned, far from Love or my former Softness, I cried laughing to her;

Cease, cease, that vain and useless scorn,
Or save it for the Slaves that dye;
I in your Flames no longer burn,
No more the whining Fool you fly;
But all your Cruelty defie.

My Heart your Empire now disdains,
And Frown, or Smile, all’s one to me:
The Slave has broke his Servial Chains,
And spight of all your Pride is free
From the Tyrannick Slavery.

Be kind or cruel every day,
Your Eyes may wear what dress they please,
‘Twill not affect me either way,
Now my fond Heart has found its Peace,
And all my Tears and Sighings cease.

I must confess you’re wondrous fair,
And know, to conquer such a Heart;
Is worth an Age of sad despair,
If Lovers Merits were Desert;
But you’re unjust as well as fair,
And Love subsists not with despair,
No more than Lovers by the Air.

I’ve spar’d no Sighs nor Floods of Tears,
Nor any thing to move your Mind,
With sacred Vows I fed your Cares;
But found your rebel Heart unkind,
And Vanity had made you blind.

No more my Knees shall bow before
Those unconcern’d and haughty Eyes,
Nor be so senseless to adore
That Saint, that all my Prayers despise:
No, I contemn your Cruelty
Since in a Humor not do dye.

Having said all this with an Air of Disdain, I, smiling, took my leave, with much less Civility and Respect than I used to do: and hasting to _Intelligence_, I past my time very well with _Bellinda_, to whom I paid all my Visits, and omitted nothing that might make _Bellimante_ know I had forgot her: But at the end of some days by a very happy change, she finding more inclination to Love than to Cruelty, banishing all Obstacles in Favour of a Lover, she came to _Intelligence_; where at first sight she made me some little Reproaches, and that in so soft a manner, that I did not doubt but I had toucht her Heart: I swore a thousand times, that all I had done, was only put on to see if it were possible she could resent it, and force from her Heart some little concern for my supposed loss. At this time I had abundance of Intreagues upon my hands, for it was not with _Bellinda_ and _Bellimante_, with whom I lived in this manner; and indeed it is impossible to remain at _Intelligence_ and to make a Court but to two Persons only, where there are so many of the Fair and Young. I writ every day several Billets; and received every day as many: I had every day two or three Rendezvous; and one ought to manage matters very discreetly, that neither Party might come to the knowledge of the others concern; and one ought to be a Man of great Address and Subtilty to love more than one securely; and though this gave me some pain, it was nevertheless an _Embarrass_ very agreeable, and in which I could have lived a great while; if Envy, which cannot suffer any Body to be happy in _Intelligence_, had not arrived there and told a great many things which discovered my Intreagues; so that _Bellinda_, with whom I had lived there with great Tranquillity a long time, and _Bellimante_, with whom I was but just beginning to be happy, were both obliged to quit this delightful place, where we enjoyed many happy hours; and they retired till the noise was a little over; and with them all those who had afforded me any hope: If any one of these had stayed, I had been contented well enough and one might have consol’d me for the loss of the other, but in one day to lose all that made my happiness, put me in such a Melancholy, I knew not for the present what to do for myself; but _Coquet Love_ conducted me to a Village, that gave me a new Pleasure: The scituation of it is marvellous, the Fields and the Groves all about it the most pleasant in the World; the Meadows enamel’d with Rivulets, which run winding here and there, and lose themselves in the Thickets and the Woods. In going, _Love_ said to me: In absence it is in vain to abandon yourself to sorrow. Alas! What signifies it to sigh night and day; the Absent does not hear us; nor can the most tender Affliction or Complaint render a Lover happy, unless the Fair One were present to hear all his Moans, then perhaps they might avail. There was reason in what he said, and I was pleas’d and calm’d; and we arrived at the same time at this Village: All the Houses were fine, and pleasant, we saw all the Graces there by Fountains and by Flowery Springs, and all the Objects that could be imagined agreeable; and the least amiable ones, we saw, gave us a Joy! All the World that inhabit there contribute to Diversion; and this place is called _Amusement_: _Amusement_ is a young Boy, who stops and gazes at every thing that meets his Eyes, and he makes his Pleasure with every Novelty.

As soon as I arrived at this Village I thought to divert myself, as others did; and to hinder my Thoughts from fixing on the loss of my two Mistresses, and to banish from my mind the Chagrins their Absence gave me; withdrawn from the fair Eyes of _Bellimante_, and the Charming Wit of _Bellinda_, and to give my sighing Heart a little ease; upon a thousand Objects I formed my desires, and took a thousand Pleasures to divert my Melancholy: And all the time I lived at this dear place, I passed my time without any inquietude; for every day afforded me new Objects to give me new Wishes. And I now expected, without much impatience, the return of _Bellinda_ and _Bellimante_; nor did I tire myself with writing to ‘em every day; and when I did write, to save the expence of thought, the same Billet served both; a thousand little tender things I said of course to both: And sometimes, especially while I was writing, I thought I had rather seen them than have lived at _Amusement_, but since it was necessary they should be absent, I bore it with all the Patience I could; sometimes we were in a fit of writing very regularly to one another, but on a sudden I received no Letters at all; the reason of this was, they both understood I lived at _Amusement_, and had retired themselves to the Palace of _Spight_: I no sooner received this News, but I rendered myself there also; it is a place where there is alwaies abundance of Tumult, Outrage, Quarrels and Noise: And _Spight_ is a Person who eternally gives occasion of Discontent and Broil; causing People often to fall out with those they love most, and to caress those they hate: But the Quarrels she occasions us with those we love, last but a very short season, and Love reconciles those differences that _Spight_ obliges us to make: Thô ‘tis sometime pleasant enough to see those we Love extreamly, and violently, fall into the highest rage, and say a thousand things injurious and unreasonable, and to swear all the Oaths that angry Love and Fury can inspire, never to see or converse with one another again, and in a moment after to grow calm, weep, and reunite; to be perjured on both sides, and become more fond than ever they were.

A Lovers Rage and Jealousie
One short moment do’s confess:
How can they long angry be
Whose Hearts are full of tenderness?

In this Place there wou’d be eternal War, but for a person who inhabits there, and is always the Mediator for Peace, ‘tis he that assists to accommodate and bring the Lovers together. This is a very honest person, call’d _Right Understanding_; he brought me to _Bellinda_, whom I found accompani’d with a Man that made her a thousand caresses; at my approach she made as if she knew me not, which I took in such disdain, that I apply’d myself to _Spight_, with a design to be reveng’d on this Haughty scorner. In this humour I made a visit to _Bellimante_ but found her as Implacable as _Bellinda_, whom no excuses, no reason, cou’d reduce to the temper I had once seen her; in a rage, ten times more than I was before, fill’d with disdain and revenge I complain’d of this treatment to my little _Love_, who immediately led me into a Grove, where the Beauties and the Graces us’d to walk, to consult upon what return to make for my affront; from one place to another we past on till we came to a little Thicket, on the other side of which, by a little Rivulet we cou’d hear, but not see, two persons discoursing; they were women, and one seemed in a violent Rage against her Lover, who had newly offended her, whilst the other strove in vain to reconcile her, but she went on, vowing to revenge herself with the next object she shou’d Encounter that had but Wit, Youth, and fortune enough to Justify her Love, and make her conquest glorious; her resolution agreeing so with mine, and her manner of speaking, gave me new hope and pleasure, and a great curiosity to see her face; I found by her Resentment she was young and of Quality, and that alone was enough to make me resolve upon Addressing myself to her, and the other person had no sooner left her, but I advanced towards her, with as good a grace as I you’d put on; she was a little surprised, and blushing at first, but I soon reconcil’d her to my conversation. I found her handsom enough to ingage me, and she was as well pleased with me as I was with her, both having the same design which was that of revenge, and you may Imagine, our business being the same, our entertainment was not at first extraordinary, but as my cause of Anger was more reasonable than hers, I began to find myself to soften into liking of this new fair one, who was called _Cemena_, and who, to spight her former Lover, endeavor’d to be seen with me in all the publick places she cou’d, which gave him Infinite torments of Jealousie. One day as I was walking with this _Cemena_ in a place where the young and the fair frequent, _Bellinda_ and _Bellimante_ often passed by us, and saw us both well pleas’d and in good humour; I cou’d perceive their colour goe and come, and that they were as uneasy at this object, as my heart you’d wish, and by their quitting of the place immediately after, I was assured of all my hope, and believed I had gained my Point; at the end of two or three days, one Morning walking alone in the same place I encountered _Bellimante_, who hap’ned to be attended with her Woman onely; she chang’d colour at my approach, and wou’d have passed me by but I stay’d her by the Robe; and said a thousand things to her that angry Love inspir’d me with, while she on her side did the same, till we had talk’d ourselves by degrees into reason, and good understanding. I found her Resentment to be only the excess of Love, and all those faults are easily forgiven, I immediately threw myself at her Feet, and made her a thousand protestations of my fidelity, and she, in her turn excused herself with all the tenderness imaginable, she made me a thousand new vows and caresses, and forgot nothing that might perswade me that all she did was by Counsel of _Spight_.

Oh! how soft it is to see
The fair one we believe untrue,
Eager and impatient be
To be reconcil’d anew;
When their little cheats of Love
Shall with reasons be excus’d,
Oh! how soft it is to prove.
With what ease we are abus’d!

When we come to understand
How unjust are all our fears;
And to feel the lovely hand
Wiping from our Eyes the tears.
And a thousand Favours pay
For every drop they kiss away,
Oh! how soft it is to yield,
To the Maid just reconcil’d.

I found this accommodement extreamly agreeable, and it was in these transports the Lovely _Bellimante_ detain’d me for some days without quitting her, but I found too much Joy in a new reconciliation not to endeavour to make one also with _Bellinda_; as soon then as _Bellimante_ grew a little off my heart by so long a conversation with one and the same Woman, I, on pretence of some affairs, left her extreamly charm’d and satisfi’d, and hasted to _Bellinda_, who, methought, was now a new Beauty; at least I found her too considerable to lose the Glory of ingaging her intirely; ‘tis possible that both these Ladies, being agitated with as little faith as myself, deceiv’d me with the same design as I did them, to make their pleasure only, and thô this very often came into my thoughts, yet it gave me no great inquietude, they dissembl’d well, and I cou’d not see it; I had the satisfaction and the vanity of ‘em, that was as much as I desir’d from any of the fair since _Silvia_ toucht my heart, they both swore they lov’d and both fear’d to displease, if they were unfaithful they had a thousand stratagems to hide their infidelity, and took a great deal of care to keep me, which shew’d a value in me above all the rest of my Rivals, and I beheld myself with some Pride and esteem for having so much power; when ever they offended me they had all the Arts to mollify me, and who wou’d be so critically in love as not to be willing to be so well abus’d? For my part I will not be so nice, as to penetrate into their thoughts, to find what wou’d but displease me if found; but content myself with all I see and find that looks like Love at least and good humour. Nay even in their worst I found a thousand pleasures, those of their quarrels which sometimes happen twenty times a day, when every reconciliation is like a new Mistress, so well they strive to please and be reconcil’d.

But all these pleasures did not satisfy me, there were greater yet behind which I had not arriv’d to with these fair charmers, and however I liv’d at _Amusement_, making a thousand Amours with a hundred of the most Beautiful, still I had a desire to subdue intirely to my pleasure these two the most hard to gain, but now I was pretty well secur’d of both their hearts and yet neither knew they were each others Rivals in mine. They knew one another, converst, and play’d and walkt together, yet so discreet I was in this Amour that neither was jealous of the other, nor suspected I lov’d both with an equal Ardour; when I hap’ned to be with ‘em both I carried myself so equally Gallant that both commended my conduct and imagin’d I did it to hide the secret passion I had for herself, and so many little Arts my _Coquet Love_ had taught me I cou’d with ease manage abundance of intrigues at one and the same time.

But as I said, this did not suffice, nor cou’d the fires that some more willing Beauties allay’d, hinder me from wishing and burning and persuing those two fair persons with an Ardor that had no appearance of decay from any others goodness to me, but in my daily visits to ’.m I eternally solicited them to suffer me to accompany them to that charming place call’d _Favors_, which is a very Beautiful Castle rais’d in a Vally. I confest to you that my _Coquet Cupid_ advis’d me not to go, for fear of attaching myself too much to a place so extreamly agreeable; the Mountains, that environ this Castle, are very high and full of hollow Rocks, which made the scituation very sullen. The Castle itself was delicately built, and surrounded with tall Trees, so thick that one cou’d hardly see the Edifice, nor cou’d the Sun-beams dart throw the gloomy shade; and eternal Night seem’d to sit there in awful state and pleasure: For the more obscure this place is and secret from all Eyes, the better and more acceptable it is to all that enter there, and thô this Vally have many inhabitants, it appears to have none at all; because they love solitude, and, banishing all Publick society, content themselves only to be but two in company together; if there be more they are receiv’d with a very ill welcome, for a third Person in this place wou’d destroy the Pleasure and the harmony. The Inhabitants of this Castle never shew themselves but to those that are very importune, and then not every day, the Ladies that command there are many Sisters all of the name of the Castle; and all very fair, and still one more fair than the other, and when you visit ‘em you see ‘em not all at once but by degrees and the last you behold is the fairest, and by the pleasure you have in seeing one, you desire to see ‘em all. For there are no limits to be given to desire, and as they are never seen by any body altogether, it happens very often that you see but one, and you must have address and great assiduity, abstinence, and good fortune to obtain one of these _Favors_; but the last will cost you much more trouble than all the rest put together, so very fair, so very nice and coy she is: But when once obtain’d she brings you to the Palace of intire Pleasure; which is neighbouring to the Castle of _Favors_; but I, who wou’d very fain, at once, have brought to this delicate place both _Bellinda_ and _Bellimante_, found myself extream uneasy, because, as I said, only two can be well entertain’d at a time! I found it against my humour and against the advice of _Love_ to abandon all, and retire with one only, for in decency and good manners, those, who go to this Castle of _Favors_, are oblig’d to continue there for some time; and I found, I shou’d be extreamly chagrin after a little with one alone; but both were obstinate and wou’d not suffer a third: and having been so very importune with both, I was asham’d to repent and recant all those things I had said, to persuade them to go, thô in my heart I was very ill satisfi’d I had not persu’d the counsel, _Love_ had given me not to go to _Favors_ at all; he foreseeing an inconvenience in such a retreat, which I, with all my young desires about me and fond of novelty, cou’d not, so well as he, discern; however I had propos’d it with some ardency and wou’d not go back, but resolv’d to make the best advantage of my voyage, and wou’d not declare my regreet till I cou’d no longer hinder it: So that _Bellimante_, yeilding to my Implorings, consented next day to go with me to this retreat of _Favors_.

Accordingly the next morning we set out for this amiable place; where we arrived, and finding myself all alone, without interruption or fear, with this very fair Creature, I advanced to a thousand Freedoms which she, with some resistance, permitted me to take: I was all Joy and Transport at every advance, and still the nearer I approached to the last Favour, the more blest I imagined myself; I grew more resolved, and she more feeble; and at last, I was the Victor and _Bellimante_ the Victim; I remained some days with her, and one would have imagined I should have been intirely happy in this place with one so young and fair: But behold the fickleness of, Youth, and Man’s nature.

Thô my Heart were full of Passion,
And I found the yeilding Maid
Give a loose to inclination
While her Love her Flame betray’d;
Yet thô all she did impart,
Pain and Anguish prest my Heart.

Thô I found her all o’r Charming,
Fond and sighing in my Arms;
Yet my Heart anew was warming
For _Bellinda’s_ unknown Charms;
Thought, if Beauty pleas’d me so,
What must Wit and Beauty too?

And though next day I found myself a hundred times more in Love with _Bellimante_ than before, yet unless I could possess _Bellinda_ too, I thought myself miserable: Yet every time she charmed me anew I was upon the point of renouncing eternally _Bellinda_, and sacrificing her to my Passion for _Bellimante_: But I did not remain long in that Humour, but every day grew more and more unresolved in that point; and as _Bellimante_ grew more fond I grew more cold; not but I had learnt to say so many kind and soft things in the time of my real Passion with _Silvia_, that I found it easie to speak every day such endearing Words as gave her no doubt of my Heart; nor was willing she should see to the bottom of it, where she would most certainly have found _Bellinda_; yet with such a mixture of Passion for herself, that it would have been hard to have distinguished, which had had the ascendant there; only my desire at present was the most considerable for the fair Object I had not yet possest, and whom I long’d to vanquish; perhaps, as much for the Glory as the Pleasure, though my Heart did not at this moment think so.

After some time that I had lived here with _Bellimante_, I made some pretext to leave her for a little while; she, who was extreamly charmed with that Solitude, resolved to wait there my return, so that I had some pain in contriving how I should bring _Bellinda_ to the same Castle as I wished to do; but it had in it many Mansions and Apartments, and, as I said, so retired from one another, that it was difficult to come at any time together or to meet: This consideration made me resolved, and very pressing with _Bellinda_, to go to this place, assuring her of such Diversion as she never met with in any other part of the World: She loved and was not long in persuading, and I had the Glory to conduct her in spight of all her Wit and Gayety, to this retreat of Solitude with me; where, unperceived, I obliged her to render me all that Love could allow, and more than Honour would permit: And I was for some days extreamly happy, and possibly had continued so, (going from one Apartment to another, and, like the Great Sultan, visiting by turns my Beauties,) had not a malicious fate prevented my Grandeur and Pleasure.

It hap’ned one day that I had sued a repetition of Favours from _Bellinda_; she seeming resolved to grant me no more, repenting of those I had taken, and with a charming Sorrow reproaching me, making me a thousand times more pressing than before: At last her force growing weaker, her denials fainter, and my importunities more raging; I found her yeilding, the Lily in her Face gave place to the Roses, and Love and Trembling made her Eyes more fair, and just ready to render me all. We saw approaching us _Bellimante_, who, having heard how I sometimes past my hours, resolved to surprise me in my perfidy; and accordingly found us in a gloomy Arbour with all the Transports of Love in both our Faces, which it was too late to resettle and hide from this too sensible and jealous fair One: In vain I strove with all the Arguments of Love and Tenderness to appease her, or, if by anything I said, I found her inclined to pardon me, on the other side it but served to incense and enrage _Bellinda_, to whom I had made equal Vows (at her coming to that place,) of eternal Fidelity. I am not able to express to you, my dear _Lysander_, what confusion I found myself in, I divided my Heart and my Entreaties between ‘em; and knew not to which I most ardently meant ‘em; I was very sensible, that while I treated both with equal Love and Respect, that I should gain neither, and yet if what I said to both had been addrest to any one of ‘em, it would have prevailed; and I found it easie to have kept either, if I would resolve to quit the other; but my heart not inclining to that, or if it wou’d, not knowing which I shou’d chuse, made me remain between ‘em both the most out-of-countenanced coxcomb, that ever was taken in the cheats of Love, while both were on either side reproaching me with all the malice and noise imaginable, so that not being able longer to endure the clamour, I took my flight from ‘em both, and ran with all the force I cou’d to a Village call’d _Irresolution_; and where _Coquet Love_ abandon’d me saying that place was not proper for him.

The Houses of this Village are for the most part not half built, but all appears very desolate and ruinous: It appertains to a Lady very fantastique of the same name. She makes a Figure pleasant enough, she never dresses herself, because she cannot determin what habit to put on; she is ever tormenting herself, still turning to this side and to that, yet never stirs from the place, because undetermin’d she knows not whither nor which way to go: And having so many in her mind resolves to go to neither; one always sees an Agitation in her Eyes, that keeps them in perpetual motion and fixt on nothing. You see her perpetually perplext with a thousand designs in her head at once, but puts none of them in execution.

I found myself in this place Embarrassed with a thousand confusions and thoughts, for _Bellinda_ and _Bellimante_ had equally shar’d my soul, and I knew not for which I shou’d declare; nor whether the Wit and extream good Humour of the first were more powerful upon my heart, than the Beauty and softness of the last, so that I was wholly unable to determin which I shou’d quit, having the same sentiments for one as the other, and resolv’d to abandon both rather than content myself with one: And the fear of losing one was the occasion of my losing both, in fine I was in the most cruel incertainty in the World. And I cou’d not forbear saying a thousand times to myself,

When _Love_ shall two fair objects mix,
And in the Heart two passions fix:
‘Tis a pleasure too severe,
Cruel Joy we cannot bear,
Too much Love for two I own,
But too little flame for one.

While I was thus perplext betwixt these two violent passions, when no reason cou’d resolve me which to choose, as I was one day meditating what to do in this extremity, a Woman presented herself to me, whose Beauty was infinitely transcending all I had ever beheld; she had a noble and Majestick meen, a most Divine Air, and her charms cast so great a Lustre that I was dazzl’d with Gazing on her; she struck me with so profound a respect at the first sight of her Glory’s, that I cou’d not forbear throwing myself at her feet, imploring I might be eternally permitted to Adore her; and to become her slave. When raising me from the ground, and looking on me with Eyes more Majestick than kind, she said to me in a loud voyce:

Fly, _Lysidus_, this hated Place,
Too long thou’st bin a slave to Love.
Thy youth has yet a nobler Race
In more Illustrious paths to move.
Glory your fonder flame controuls,
Glory, the life of generous Souls.

Once you must Love to learn to live,
‘Tis the first lesson you shou’d learn;
Useful instructions Love will give,
If you avoid too much concern:
Loves flame, thô in appearance bright,
Deceives with false and glittering light.

But, _Lysidus_, the time is come
You must to Beauty bid adieu;
Recal your wandering passions home.
And only be to Glory true;
She is a Mistress that will last
When all Loves fires are gone and past.

Those words, repeated to me with an Air haughty and imperious, toucht me to the very Soul, and made me blush a thousand times with shame to behold myself in that ridiculous state, almost reduc’d to the same tenderness for _Bellinda_ and _Bellimante_ I had before had for _Silvia_; but I soon found my error and in an instant became more in Love with Glory than I had ever been in my life. Insomuch that I resolv’d to leave _Irresolution_ and follow her. I confess at first it gave my heart som little pain to withdraw and dis-ingage it from so long and so fond a custom, and I was more than once forc’d to parley thus with my intractable and stubborn heart.

Oh! fond remembrance! do not bring
False notions to my easy heart.
And make the foolish tender thing
Think, that with Love it cannot part;
Or dy when er’e the charming God
Forsak’s his old and kind abode.

And thou, my heart, be calm and Pleas’d,
For better hours thou now shalt see,
Of all thy Anxious torments eas’d
From all thy toyles and slavery free,
From Beauties Pride and peevish scorns,
From Wits Intregueing false returns.

‘Tis Honour now thou shalt persue,
Her dictates only shalt obey;
Yet Beauty en Passant may view
And be with all loves Pleasures Gay,
Quench when you please resistless fires,
But make no business of desires.

Thus, my dear _Lysander_, following Glory, I soon arriv’d at the extent of the Island of _Love_, and there I incounter’d a thousand Beauties, Attractions, Graces and Agreements; all which endeavor’d anew, but in vain, to engage me. I past by ‘em all without any regard only sight, as I beheld ‘em with the remembrance, how once the meanest of those Beauties wou’d have charm’d me. I lookt back on all those happy shades, who had been conscious of my softest pleasures, and a thousand times I sighing bid ‘em farewell; the Rivers, Springs and Fountains had my wishes that they might still be true and favor Lovers, as they had a thousand times done me. These dear remembrance, you may believe, stay’d some time with me, yet I wou’d not for an Empire have return’d to ‘em again, nor have liv’d that life over anew I had so long and with so much pleasure persu’d.

After this I took a Vessel and put off from that shore, where, thô I had met with many Misfortunes, I had also receiv’d a thousand joys: While it was in view I found myself toucht with some regret, but being sail’d out of sight of it, I sigh’d no more, but bid adieu to fond Love for ever.

All you Beauties and Attractions,
That make so many hearts submit;
Soft inspirers of affection,
Mistresses of dear bought wit;
To whose Empire we resigning
Prove our homage justly due,
After all our sighs and whining
Dear delight we bid adieu.

After all your fond _Caprices_,
All your Arts to seem Divine,
Painting, Patching and your Dresses,
Easy votaryes to incline;
After all your couzening _Billets_,
Sighs and tears, but all untrue,
To your Gilting tricks and quillets,
I for ever bid adieu.

A MISCELLANY OF POEMS.

_On the Honourable Sir_ Francis Fane, _on his Play call’d the_ Sacrifice, _by Mrs._ A. B.

Long have our Priests condemn’d a wicked Age, }
And every little criticks sensless rage }
Damn’d a forsaken self-declining stage: }
Great ‘tis confest and many are our crimes,
And no less profligate the vitious times,
But yet no wonder both prevail so ill,
The Poets fury and the Preachers skill;
While to the World it is so plainly known
They blame our faults with great ones of their own,
Let their dull Pens flow with unlearned spight
And weakly censure what the skilful write;
You, learned Sir, a nobler passion shew,
Our best of rules and best example too.
Precepts and grave instructions dully move,
The brave Performer better do’s improve,
Ver’st in the truest Satyr you excel
And shew how ill we write by writing well.
This noble Piece which well deserves your name
I read with pleasure thô I read with shame.
The tender Laurels which my brows had drest
Flag, like young Flowers, with too much heat opprest.
The generous fire I felt in every line
Shew’d me the cold, the feeble, force of mine.
Henceforth I’le you for imitation chuse
Your nobler flights will wing my Callow Muse;
So the young Eagle is inform’d to fly }
By seeing the Monarch Bird ascend the sky. }
And thô with less success her strength she’l try, }
Spreads her soft plumes and his vast tracks persues
Thô far above the towring Prince she views:
High as she can she’ll bear your deathless fame,
And make my song Immortal by your name.
But where the work is so Divinely wrought,
The rules so just and so sublime each thought,
When with so strict an Art your scenes are plac’d
With wit so new, and so uncommon, grac’d,
In vain, alas! I should’st attempt to tell
Where, or in what, your Muse do’s most excel.
Each character performs its noble part,
And stamps its Image on the Readers heart.
In _Tamerlan_ you a true Hero drest,
A generous conflict wars within his breast,
This there the mightyest passions you have shew’d
By turns confest the Mortal and the God.
When e’re his steps approach the haughty fair
He bows indeed but like a Conqueror,
Compell’d to Love yet scorns his servial chain,
In spight of all you make the Monarch reign.
But who without resistless tears can see
The bright, the innocent, _Irene_ die?
_Axalla’s_ life a noble ransom paid,
In vain to save the much-lov’d charming maid,
Nought surely cou’d but your own flame inspire
Your happy Muse to reach so soft a fire.
Yet with what Art you turn the pow’rful stream
When trecherous _Ragallzan_ is the theam:
You mix our different passions with such skill,
We feel ‘em all and all with pleasure feel.
We love the mischief, thô the harms we grieve,
And for his wit the villain we forgive.
In your _Despina_ all those passions meet,
Which womans frailties perfectly compleat.
Pride and Revenge, Ambition, Love and Rage,
At once her wilful haughty Soul engage;
And while her rigid Honour we esteem,
The dire effects as justly must condemn.
She shews a virtue so severely nice
As has betray’d it to a pitch of vice.
All which confess a God-like pow’r in you
Who cou’d form woman to herself so true.

Live, mighty Sir, to reconcile the Age
To the first glories of the useful Stage.
‘Tis you her rifl’d Empire may restore
And give her power she ne’re cou’d boast before.

_To_ Damon.

_To inquire of him if he cou’d tell me by the Style, who writ me a Copy of Verses that came to me in an unknown Hand, by Mrs._ A. B.

Oh, _Damon_, if thou ever wert
That certain friend thou hast profest,
Relieve the Pantings of my heart,
Restore me to my wonted rest.

Late in the _Silvian_ Grove I sat,
Free as the Air, and calm as that;
For as no winds the boughs opprest,
No storms of Love were in my breast.
A long Adieu I’d bid to that
Ere since _Amintas_ prov’d ingrate.
And with indifference, or disdain,
I lookt around upon the Plain
And worth my favor found no sighing Swain.
But oh, my _Damon_, all in vain
I triumph’d in security,
In vain absented from the Plain.
The wanton God his power to try
In lone recesses makes us yeild,
As well as in the open feild;
For where no human thing was found
My heedless heart receiv’d a wound.
Assist me, Shepherd, or I dye,
Help to unfold this Mystery.

No Swain was by, no flattering Nymph was neer,
Soft tales of Love to whisper in my Ear.
In sleep, no Dream my fancy fir’d
With Images, my waking wish desir’d.
No fond Idea fill’d my mind;
Nor to the faithless sex one thought inclin’d;
I sigh’d for no deceiving youth,
Who forfeited his vows and truth;
I waited no Assigning Swain
Whose disappointment gave me pain.
My fancy did no prospect take
Of Conquest’s I design’d to make.
No snares for Lovers I had laid,
Nor was of any snare afraid.
But calm and innocent I sate, }
Content with my indifferent fate. }
(A Medium, I confess, I hate.) }
For when the mind so cool is grown }
As neither Love nor Hate to own, }
The Life but dully lingers on. }

Thus in the mid’st of careless thought,
A paper to my hand was brought.
What hidden charms were lodg’d within,
To my unwary Eyes unseen,
Alas! no Human thought can guess;
But ho! it robb’d me of my peace.
A Philter ‘twas, that darted pain
Thrô every pleas’d and trembling vein.
A stratagem, to send a Dart
By a new way into the heart,
Th’ Ignoble Policie of Love
By a clandestin means to move.
Which possibly the Instrument }
Did ne’re design to that intent, }
But only form, and complement. }
While Love did the occasion take
And hid beneath his flowres a snake,
O’re every line did Poyson fling,
In every word he lurk’t a sting.
So Matrons are, by _Demons_ charms,
Thô harmless, capable of harms.

The verse was smooth, the thought was fine,
The fancy new, the wit divine.
But fill’d with praises of my face and Eyes,
My verse, and all those usual flatteries
To me as common as the Air;
Nor cou’d my vanity procure my care.
All which as things of course are writ
And less to shew esteem than wit.
But here was some strange somthing more
Than ever flatter’d me before;
My heart was by my Eyes misled:
I blusht and trembl’d as I read.
And every guilty look confest
I was with new surprise opprest.
From every view I felt a pain
And by the Soul, I drew the Swain.
Charming as fancy cou’d create
Fine as his Poem, and as soft as that.
I drew him all the heart cou’d move,
I drew him all that women Love.
And such a dear Idea made
As has my whole repose betray’d.
_Pigmalion_ thus his Image form’d,
And for the charms he made, he sigh’d and burn’d.

Oh thou that know’st each Shepherds Strains }
That Pipes and Sings upon the Plains; }
Inform me where the youth remains. }
The spightful Paper bare no name,
Nor can I guess from whom it came,
Or if at least a guess I found,
‘Twas not t’instruct but to confound.

_To_ Alexis _in Answer to his Poem against Fruition_.

ODE. _by Mrs._ B.

Ah hapless sex! who bear no charms,
But what like lightning flash and are no more,
False fires sent down for baneful harms,
Fires which the fleeting Lover feebly warms
And given like past Beboches o’re,
Like Songs that please (thô bad,) when new,
But learn’d by heart neglected grew.

In vain did Heav’n adorn the shape and face
With Beautyes which by Angels forms it drew:
In vain the mind with brighter Glories Grace,
While all our joys are stinted to the space
Of one betraying enterview,
With one surrender to the eager will
We’re short-liv’d nothing, or a real ill.

Since Man with that inconstancy was born,
To love the absent, and the present scorn,
Why do we deck, why do we dress
For such a short-liv’d happiness?
Why do we put Attraction on,
Since either way ‘tis we must be undon?