Celia Sleeping

Where yonder shades exclude the skies, The fairest of her sex was seen; While Morpheus seal'd her radiant eyes, And half eclips'd her lovely mien:

Th' unerring archer by her side, In idle slumbers press'd the ground; The feather'd shafts in crimson dy'd, Were innocently spread around.

'Twas then the youthful pleasures came, By their transparent cincture known; They danc'd around the beauteous dame, And jocund stole her sacred zone.

The kind occasion cried—be bolds! But Celia thou had'st nought to fear: The youth is by respect control'd, Whose bosom owns a love sincere.

Alarm'd, the little God I sought, And seiz'd his brow-encircling band; (By Venus' rosy singers wrought) And veil'd thy charms with trembling hand.

The godhead starting from his dream, Straight gather'd every idle dart; And then vindictive took his aim, While many an arrow reach'd my heart.

Nor yet content the godhead swore, If thou woud'st not the band deliver; He wou'd on me exhaust his store, Nor leave a dart within his quiver.

Let then my life, by thee secur'd, O'er Cupid's spight at length prevail: Ah! cure the wounds for thee endur'd, And throw away the hateful veil.