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The Thirty-fourth Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah.

The Plagues of Egypt..

DAVIDEIS,

THE MISTRESS.

THE REQUEST.

I'AVE often wish'd to love; what shall I do?
Me still the cruel boy does spare;

And I a double task must bear,

First to woo him, and then a mistress too.

Come at last and strike, for shame,

If thou art any thing besides a name;
I'll think thee else no God to be,

But

poets rather Gods, who first created thee.

I ask not one in whom all beauties grow;
Let me but love, whate'er she be,

She cannot seem deform'd to me;
And I would have her seem to others so.
Desire takes wings and straight does fly,
It stays not dully to enquire the Why.
That happy thing, a lover, grown,

I shall not see with others' eyes, scarce with mine

own.

If she be coy, and scorn my noble fire;
If her chill heart I cannot move;
Why I'll enjoy the very love,

And make a mistress of my own desire.

Flames their most vigorous heat do hold, And purest light, if compass'd round with cold: So, when sharp winter means most harm,

The springing plants are by the snow itself kept

warm.

But do not touch my heart, and so be gone;
Strike deep thy burning arrows in!
Lukewarmness I account a sin,

As great in love as in religion.

Come arm'd with flames; for I would prove All the extremities of mighty Love.

Th' excess of heat is but a fable;

We know the torrid zone is now found habitable.

Among the woods and forests thou art found,
There boars and lions thou dost tame;
Is not my heart a nobler game?

Let Venus, men; and beasts, Diana, wound!
Thou dost the birds thy subjects make;
Thy nimble feathers do their wings o'ertake:
Thou all the spring their songs dost hear;
Make me love too, I'll sing to thee all the year!

What service can mute fishes do to thee?

Yet against them thy dart prevails,