Upon quitting his MISTRESS

I Know, CELINDA, I have borne too long, And by forgiving, have increas'd my Wrong; Yet if there be a Power in Verse to slack Thy Course in Vice, or bring fled Virtue back, I'll undertake the Task; howe'er so hard, A gen'rous Action is its own Reward. O! were thy Virtues equal to thy Charms, I'd fly from Crowns to live within those Arms: But who, O! who, can e'er believe thee just, When such known Falshoods have destroy'd all Trust?

Farewell, false Fair! nor shall I longer stay; Since we must part, why should we thus delay? Your Love alone, was what my Soul could prize, And missing that, can all the rest despise. Yet should I not repent my Follies past, Could you take up, and grow reserv'd at last; 'Twould please me, parted from your fatal Charms, To see you happy in another's Arms. Whatever Threat'nings Fury might extort, O! fear not I should ever do you hurt; For tho my former Passion is remov'd, I would not injure one I once had lov'd. Adieu! while thus I waste my Time in vain, Sure there are Maids I might intirely gain: I'll search for such, and to the first that's true, Resign the Heart so hardly freed from you.