Can  we'  .stand  by  unniov'd,  and  see
Our  niothei'  robb'd  and  ravish' d  •'     Can  we  bo

Excus'd,  if  in  her  cause  we  never  stir,
Pleas'd  with  the  strength  and  beauty  of  the  ravisher  ;

Thus  sings  our  bard  with  almost  heat  di\Tne :
'Tis  pity  that  his  thought  was  not  as  strong  as  fine.
AVould  it  more  justly  did  the  case  e.vpress,
Or  that  its  beauty  and  its  grace  were  less.  80

Thus  a  nymph  sometimes  we  see,
Who  so  chamiiug  seems  to  be.
That,  jealous  of  a  soft  suii^rise,
We  scarce  durst  trust  our  eager  eyes.
Such  a  fallacious  ambush  to  escape.
It  were  but  vain  to  plead  a  willing  rape  ;
A  raUant  son  would  be  provok'd  the  more  :
A  force  we  therefore  must  confess,  but  acted  long  before ;
A  maniage  since  did  intervene.
With  all  the  solemn  and  the  sacred  scene ;  90

Loud  was  the  H\inenean  song ;
The  violated  dame  walk'd  smilingly  along.
And  in  thi'  midst  of  the  mo^t  sacred  dance.
As  if  enamour' d  of  liis  sight,
Often  she  cast  a  kind  admiring  glance
.On  the  bold  struggler  for  delight ;
^\^lo  afterwards  appear'd  so  moderate,  and  cool,
As  if  for  public  good  alone  he  so  desii'ed  to  rule.
But  oh,  that  this  were  all  which  we  can  urge

Against  a  Roman  of  so  great  a  soul !  100

And  that  fair  Truth  permitted  us  to  purge
His  fact,  of  what  appears  so  foul  1

Friendship,  that  sacred  and  sublimest  thing  I

The  noblest  quality  and  chiefest  good,
(In  this  dull  age  scarce  understood)
Inspires  us  with  unusual  wamith,  her  injiu''d  rites  to  sing.
