Classic Poem

Maid, where's my Lawrel? Oh my rageing Soul!
Maid, where's the Potion? fill the Bason full,
And crown the narrow brim with Purple wool:
That I might charm my false, my perjur'd Swain,
And force him back into my arms again:
For Cruel he these Twelve long days hath fled,
And knows not whether I'me alive or dead:
He hath not broke my Doors these Twelve long days,
Ah me! perhaps his varying Love decays,
Or else he dotes upon another face.
I'le run to morrow to the Fencing house,
And ask him what he means to use me thus:
But now I'le charm him, Moon, shine bright and clear,
To thee I will direct my secret prayer;
To Thee, and Hecate, whom Dogs do dread
When stain'd with gore, she stalks amidst the dead:
Hail frightful Hecate, assist me still
Make mine as great as fam'd Medea's skill:
Fynx restore my false, my perjur'd Swain
And force him back into my Arms again.
First burn the Flowr, then strew the other on,
Strew it. How? where's your sense and duty gone?
Base Thestylis! and am I so forlorn,
And grown so low that I'me become your scorn!
But strew the Salt, and say in angry tones
I scatter Delphids, perjur'd Delphids bones,
Fynx restore my false, my perjur'd Swain
And force him back into my Arms again.


Tell sacred Moon what first did raise my flame
And whence my Pain, and whence my Passion came.
Near Lyco's House break thro the yielding throng,
I saw my Delphis, vigorous, stout, and young,
A Golden Down spread o're his youthful Chin,
His breast, bright Moon, was brighter far than thine:
For spread with glorious Oyl he lately came
From noble Fenceing, and from winning Fame:
Tell sacred Moon what first did raise my flame
And whence my Pain, and whence my Passion came.


At last I told my Maid the naked truth,
Go Thestylis, have pitty on my youth;
Go find some cure to ease my rageing smart;
Young Delphid is the Tyrant of my Heart:
Go to the Fenceing House, ther's his delight,
For there he walks, and there he loves to sit.
Tell sacred Moon what first did raise my flame,
And whence my Pain, and whence my Passion came.
And if alone, give him a gentle Nod,
And softly tell that Samœtha wou'd
(Speak, speak, tho modest fear doth strike thee dumb)
Enjoy him here, and beg him he would come.
She went, she found, and told him what I said,
He Gladly heard, and eagerly obey'd.


Tell sacred Moon what first did raise my flame,
And whence my Pain, and whence my Passion came.
Young tender Maids to unknown Madness drives,
And from warm Husbands Arms it forces Wives:
Thus He, and heedless I believ'd too soon,
He prest My hand in His, and laid me down
On the soft bed, when streight lock't Arm in Arm
In strickt embraces both grew gently warm;
Our breath was hot and short, we panting lay,
We look't, we murmur'd, and we dy'd away:
Our Cheeks did glow, and fainting vertue strove,
At last it yielded to the force of Love:
But what need all this talk? bright sacred Moon,
Both were well pleas'd, and some strange thing was done:
And ever since we lov'd, and liv'd at ease,
No sullen Minutes broke our Happiness;
Till soon this morning e're the Sun could rise,
And drive his Charriot thro the yielding Skies
To fetch the Rosy Morn from waves below,
I heard the fatal news, and knew my woe:
My Maids own Mother, she that lives hard by
An Honest Woman, and she scorns to ly;
She came and askt me, is your Delphid kind?
And have you firm possession of his Mind?
For I am sure, but whether Maid or Boy
I cannot tell, he courts another joy:
For he drinks Healths, and when those Healths are past,
He must be gone, and goes away in hast.
Besides with Garlands all his Rooms are drest,
And he prepares, as for a Marriage Feast;
This as she walkt last night she chanc't to view,
And told it me, and oh, I fear 'tis true!
For He was wont to come twice, thrice a day,
He saw me still as he return'd from play;
But now since he was here twelve nights are past,
Am I forgotten? am I left at last?
Whilst perjur'd he for other Beauty burns,
My Love I'm sure deserv'd more kind returns,
But now I'le Charm, but if he scorns me still
I'le force him down to Hell, by Fate, I will:
Such powerful drugs a Witch did once impart
She taught me such strange Charms, such force of Art:
But now farewel bright Moon, turn lovely Moon
To Waves below, and drive thy Charriot down,
Go lovely Moon, and wake the sleepy Morn:
I'le bear my trouble still, as I have born;
Farewel, and you attending Stars that wheel
Round Nights black Axle-tree, bright Stars, farewel.