An ODE.

An ODE.

I.

While blooming Youth, and gay Delight Sit on thy rosey Cheeks confest; Thou hast, my Dear, undoubted Right To triumph o'er this destin'd Breast. My Reason bends to what thy Eyes ordain; For I was born to Love, and Thou to Reign.

II.

But would You meanly thus rely On Power, You know I must Obey? Exert a Legal Tyranny, And do an Ill; because You may? Still must I Thee, as Atheists Heav'n adore; Not see thy Mercy, and yet dread thy Power?

III.

Take Heed, my Dear: Youth flies apace: As well as Cupid, Time is blind: Soon must those Glories of thy Face The Fate of vulgar Beauty find: The Thousand Loves, that arm thy potent Eye, Must drop their Quivers, flag their Wings, and die.

IV.

Then wilt Thou sigh; when in each Frown A hateful Wrinkle more appears; And putting peevish Humours on, Seems but the sad Effect of Years: Kindness it self too weak a Charm will prove, To raise the feeble Fires of aged Love.

V.

Forc'd Compliments, and formal Bows Will show Thee just above Neglect: The Heat, with which thy Lover glows, Will settle into cold Respect: A talking dull Platonic I shall turn; Learn to be civil, when I cease to burn.

VI.

Then shun the Ill, and know, my Dear, Kindness and Constancy will prove The only Pillars fit to bear So vast a Weight as that of Love. If Thou can'st wish to make My Flames endure; Thine must be very fierce, and very pure.

VII.

Haste, Celia, haste, while Youth invites; Obey kind Cupid's present Voice; Fill ev'ry Sense with soft Delights, And give thy Soul a Loose to Joys: Let Millions of repeated Blisses prove, That Thou all Kindness art, and I all Love.

VIII.

Be Mine, and only Mine: take care Thy Looks, thy Thoughts, thy Dreams to guide To Me alone; nor come so far, As liking any Youth beside: What Men e'er court Thee, fly 'em, and believe, They're Serpents all, and Thou the tempted Eve.

IX.

So shall I court thy dearest Truth; When Beauty ceases to engage: So thinking on thy charming Youth, I'll love it o'er again in Age: So Time it self our Raptures shall improve; While still We wake to Joy, and live to Love.