A Poem Occasioned by the Sight of the 4th Epistle, etc

Twice in our Solitude has now appear'd Such verse as Rome throng'd with applauders heard, And twice, Her Horace been to us reviv'd As prais'd and pollish'd as to them he liv'd. The Stuff and Workman's skill so nicely shown. We think the Words as well as thoughts his own And Joy to see that by relenting Fate Which Speech confus'd) tis given thus to translate Whilst Babel's scatter'd streames unite again Beneath the conduct of th' industrious Pen But why shou'd such a Muse as can comend And Paralell the Virtues of a Friend Describe from ancient Rules with modern Art His Copious sensce each ornamental part Mistake the softer Buisnesse of his heart Or ask how he the too swift Hours imploys Who late possess'd of so long courted Joys Flyes to some still retreate and shunn's the Citty's noise As He whom Poets fein t'have rul'd above When sway'd himself by more commanding Love Left his Society and Court of Gods To stem the Hellispont and haunt the Woods Nor to Olimpus but some lonely shade With untrac'd steps the beauteous Prize convey'd. Nor be itt thought that Tragedy has place Within the influence of Orania's face Not he who cou'd so well our souls com̄and And toutch each string with a prevailing hand His Belvedera's or Monimia's Fate Cou'd 'ere haue Plotted in so bless'd a State Since 'tis from our own bosome cares that flow The moving scenes we on the World bestow) Yett had he liv'd Orania to have seen His Caracters had sure more perfect been Not such as sullied in his Plays were shown One by anothers guilt one by her own. Tho' for Her Charms Brothers might too contest And the best secret quitt the closest Breast. So bright her form for whom such Numbers strove Till the most worthy fixt her envy'd Love Whilst but to him and her own sex confin'd Are now the soft indearments of her Mind Inspiring Joy still chearfull and att ease For they are allways pleas'd who allways please) Even I who to my Heart just bounds had sett And in my Friendship scorn'd to be coquette Or seem indulgent to each new Adresse Which generall Friends in com̄on terms expresse Now (by so sweet a violence compell'd) The amplest room to kind Orania yield Then is it strange the Youth a while remains Contemplating his Blisse on silent Plaines Lives to Himself and the selected Fair Nor can enough of those lov'd moments spare If rightly I Devine) a debt to pay Of well writt Verse (tho' none more knows the way) Nor hardly will affoard one sprightly Line To crown the Health still wish'd him at the Vine Where he returning shall sustain a part Of heighten'd Witt and of the Critticks Art With Him whose Numbers to our shades extend And Him that stoop'd our Numbers to com̄end Whose well bred Muse found something to allow And tho' they fail'd wou'd to the Woman bow Happy You three! happy the Race of Men! Born to inform or to correct the Pen To proffitts pleasures freedom and command Whilst we beside you but as Cyphers stand T' increase your Numbers and to swell th' account Of your delights which from our charms amount And sadly are by this distinction taught That since the Fall (by our seducement wrought) Ours is the greater losse as ours the greater fault