HELEN TO PARIS.

In my contented state let me be guided,
As both my states and fortunes have provided;
Nor in so vain a quest your spirits toil,
To seek at my hands an unworthy spoil.

But see how soon poor women are deluded,
VENUS herself this covenant hath concluded:
For in the Idean vallies you espy

Three goddesses, stripp'd naked to your eye;
And when the first had promis'd you a crown,
The second fortitude and war's renown;
The third bespake you thus; Crown, nor war's pride,
Will I bequeath, but HELEN to thy bride.

I scarce believe, those high immortal creatures
Would to your eye expose their naked features.
Or say the first part of your tale be pure,
And meet with truth, the second's false I'm sure;
In which poor I was thought the greatest meed,
In such a high cause by the gods decreed.
I have not of my beauty such opinion,
T'imagine it preferr'd before dominion,

Or fortitude; nor can your words persuade me,
The greatest gift of all the goddess made me..
It is enough to me men praise my face,

But from the gods I merit no such grace:

Nor doth the praise, you charge me with, offend me; If VENUS do not enviously commend me.

HELEN TO PARIS.

But lo! I grant you,, and imagine true,
Your free report, claiming your praise as due..
Who would in pleasing things call fame a lyar,
But give that credit which we most desire?

That we have mov'd these doubts, be not you griev'd, The greatest wonders are the least believ'd: Know then, I first am pleas'd that VENUS. ought me Such undeserved grace; next that you thought me The greatest meed. Nor scepter, nor war's fame, Did you prefer before poor HELEN's name. (Hard heart! 'tis time thou shouldst at last come down) Therefore I am your valour, I your crown. Your kindness conquers me, do what I can; I were hard hearted not to love this man. Obdurate I was never, and yet coy To favour him whom I can ne'er enjoy. What profits it the barren sands to plough, And in the furrows our affections sow? In the sweet theft of VENUS I am rude, And know not how my husband to delude. Now I these love-lines write, my pen, I Is a new office taught, not known till now, Happy are they that in this trade have skill; Alas! I am a fool, and shall be still; And having till this hour not stepp'd astray. Fear in these sports lest I should miss my way.

VOW,

HELEN TO PARIS.

The fear (no doubt) is greater than the blame,
I stand confounded, and amaz'd with shame ;
And with the very thought of what you seek,
Think every eye fix'd on my guilty cheek.
Nor are these suppositions merely vain,
The murmuring people whisperingly complain;
And my maid ÆTHRA hath, by list'ning slyly,
Brought me such news, as touch'd mine honour highly.
Wherefore (dear lord) dissemble or desist;

Being over-ey'd, we cannot as we list

Fashion our sports, our love's pure harvest gather;
But why should you desist? Dissemble rather.
Sport, but in secret; sport where none may see:
The greater, but not greatest liberty
Is limited to our lascivious play,
That MENELAUSs is far hence away.
My husband about great affairs is posted,
Leaving his royal guest securely hosted;
His business was important and material,
Being employ'd about a crown imperial.
And as he is now mounted on his steed,
Ready on his long journey to proceed :
Even as he questions to depart or stay,
Sweet-heart (quoth I) Oh! be not long away,
With that he reach'd me a sweet parting kiss,
(How loth he was to leave me, guess by this :)
Farewel, fair wife (saith he) bend all thy cares
To my domestic business, home-affairs;

HELEN TO PARIS.

But as the thing that I affection best, Sweet wife, look well unto my Trojan guest. It was no sooner out, but with much pain My itching spleen from laughter I restrain; Which striving to keep in, and bridle still, At length I rung forth these few words I will. He's on his journey to the isle of Crete, But think not we may therefore safely meet: He is so absent, that as present I Am still within his reach, his ear, his eye; And tho' abroad, his power at home commands, For know you not kings have long-reaching hands? The fame for beauty you besides have given me Into a great exigent hath driven me. The more your commendation fill'd his ear, The more just cause my husband hath to fear; Nor marvel you the king hath left me so, Into remote and foreign climes to go: Much confidence he dares repose in me, My carriage, 'haviour, and my modesty; My beauty he mistrusts, my heart relies in; My face he fears, my chaste life he affies in.

To take time now when time is, you persuade me, And with his apt fit absence you invade me: I would but fear, nor is my mind well set; My will would further what my fear doth let.

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HELEN TO PARIS.

I have no husband here, and you no wife;
I love your shape, your mien, dear as your life.
The nights seem long to such as sleep alone,
Our letters meet to interchange our moan.
You judge me beauteous, I esteem you fair,
Under one roof we lovers lodged are.
And (let me die). but every thing consider,
Each thing persuades us we shall lie together.
Nothing we see molests us, nought we hear,
And yet my forward will is slack thro' fear.
I would to God, that what you ill persuade,
You could as well compel; so I were made
Unwilling willing, pleasingly abus'd,
So my simplicity might be excus'd.

Injury's force is oft-times wond'rous pleasing,
To such as suffer ease in their diseasing;
If what I will, you 'gainst my will should do,
I with such force could be well pleased to..

But whilst our love is young and in the bud, Suffer his infant vigour be withstood: A flame new kindled is as easily quench'd, And sudden sparks in little drops are drench'd. A traveller's love is, like himself, unstay'd And wanders where he walks; it is not laid, On any firmer ground; for when we alone Think him to us, the wind blows fair, he's gone.