Why does the Fair this Task impose

On one, who scarce the Muses knows?

Me for a Poet! I as soon,

On Ganzas' Wings cou'd reach the Moon.

The conj'ring Terms of my dull Art

Will shock your Ear, not please your Heart:

Yet since I must, I'll try my Skill,

To draw your Charms, tho' I paint ill.

 

Can Numbers multiply'd express

Your Beauties, and not make 'em less?

What Plummet can Mechanics find,

To fathom your extensive Mind?

Can the condensing Engine shew,

What Virtues are compriz'd in You?

Or the Thermometer impart

The Warmth, or Coldness of your Heart?

How shall I that Reflection shew,

That makes your Cheek the Rose out-do?

What vivid Colours must unite,

To make your Neck so blooming white?

The Orange Oyl is still beneath

The fragrant Odours which you breath:

Then to express what things you say,

Is past the Pow'r of Algebra.

Vibrations of th'elastick String

Can't imitate the Notes you sing;

And when you dance, such Curves you draw,

As far exceed th'Hyperbola.

 

Like Sol you'll soon attractive prove,

While Planet Lovers round You move;

Yet single turn, and don't advance,

Nor quit your Circle in the Dance.

Your Gravity will still confine

Such as wou'd fly in spiral Line.

Let Mercury no Love inspire;

He shines, 'tis true; but with false Fire.

Let Venus no Way bring You over,

She'd give You to some cast-off Lover;

Enrag'd, that flying from her Arms,

Each Planet courts your brighter Charms.

Let not the Earth, for sordid Pelf,

So far make you forget your self,

To let your Liberty be sold,

And fall a Victim to his Gold.

Shun Mars, if e'er you prize your Life;

A Soldier always beats his Wife.

Comets are Rakes unfit for Love,

As their Excentrick Orbits prove.

Beware of fickle Jove's Addresses,

He ruins all whom he caresses;

So trust him not, be well aware,

See Isis Cow, Calisto Bear.

Accept of Saturn, none but he

To faithful Love will constant be:

'Tis he bestows the shining Ring,

The truest Pledge that Love can bring!

Since he can Days, and Years command,

And carries Ages in his Hand,

May you with him still happy be,

And change but for Eternity.