Classic Poem

A Hama-Dryad flourish'd in these Days,
Her Name Pomona ; from her Woodland Race.
In Garden Culture none could so excell,
Or form the pliant Souls of Plants so well;
Or to the Fruit more gen'rous Flavours lend,
Or teach the Trees with nobler Loads to bend.
The Nymph frequented not the flatt'ring Stream,
" Nor Meads, the Subject of a Virgin's Dream;
But to such Joys her Nurs'ry did prefer,
Alone to tend her vegetable Care
A Pruning-hook she carry'd in her Hand,
And taught the Straglers to obey Command;
" Lest the licentious, and unthrifty Bough,
" The too indulgent Parent should undo.
" She shows, how Stocks invite to their Embrace
" A Graft, and naturalize a foreign Race
" To mend the Salvage Teint; and in its Stead
" Adopt new Nature, and a nobler Breed.
Now hourly she observes her growing Care,
" And guards their Nonage from the bleaker Air:
Then opes her streaming Sluices, to supply
With flowing Draughts her thirsty Family
Long had she labour'd to continue free
From Chains of Love, and Nuptial Tyranny;
And in her Orchard's smali Extent immur'd,
Her vow'd Virginity she still sccur'd
Oft would loose Pan , and all the lustful Train
Of Satyrs, tempt her Innocence in vain.
Silenus , that old Dotard, own'd a Flame;
And He, that frights the Thieves with Stratagem
Of Sword, and Something else too gross to name
Vertumnus too pursu'd the Maid no less;
But, with his Rivals, shar'd a like Success.
To gain Access a thousand Ways he tries;
Oft, in the Hind, the Lover would disguise.
The heedless Lout comes shambling on, and seems
Just sweating from the Labour of his Teams.
Then, from the Harvest, oft the mimick Swain
Seems bending with a Load of bearded Grain.
Sometimes a Dresser of the Vine he feigns,
And lawless Tendrils to their Bounds restrains.
Sometimes his Sword a Soldier shews; his Rod
An Angler; still so various is the God.
Now, in a Forhead-Cloth, some Crone he seems,
A Staff supplying the Defect of Limbs;
Admittance thus he gains; admires the Store
Of fairest Fruit; the fair Possessor more;
Then greets her with a Kiss: Th'unpractis'd Dame
Admir'd a Grandame kiss'd with such a Flame.
Now, seated by her, he beholds a Vine
Around an Elm in am'rous Foldings twine.
If that fair Elm, he cry'd, alone should stand,
No Grapes would glow with Gold, and tempt the Hand;
Or if that Vine without her Elm should grow,
'Twould creep a poor neglected Shrub below.
Be then, fair Nymph, by these Examples led;
Nor shun, for fancy'd Fears, the Nuptial Bed.
Not she for whom the Lapithites took Arms,
Nor Sparta 's Queen could boast such heav'nly Charms.
And if you would on Woman's Faith rely,
None can your Choice direct so well, as I.
Tho' old, so much Pomona I adore,
Scarce does the bright Vertumnus love her more
'Tis your fair self alone his Breast inspires
With softest Wishes, and unsoyl'd Desires.
Then fly all vulgar Followers, and prove
The God of Seasons only worth your Love.
On my Assurance well you may repose;
Vertumnus scarce Vertumnus better knows
True to his Choice, all looser Flames he flies;
" Nor for new Faces fashionably dies
The Charms of Youth, and ev'ry smiling Grace
Bloom in his Features, and the God confess.
Besides, he puts on ev'ry Shape at Ease;
But those the most, that best Pomona please.
Still to oblige her is her Lover's Aim;
Their Likings, and Aversions are the same.
Nor the fair Fruit your burthen'd Branches bear;
Nor all the youthful Product of the Year,
Could bribe his Choice; your self alone can prove
A fit Reward for so refin'd a Love.
Relent, fair Nymph, and with a kind Regret,
Think 'tis Vertumnus weeping at your Feet.
A Tale attend, thro' Cyprus known, to prove
How Venus once reveng'd neglected Love.