Ruſtling from ev’ry quarter of the ſky,
North, eaſt, and weſt, in airy ſwiftneſs vie,
One cloud repuls’d, new combatants prepare
To meet as fierce, and form a thund’ring war:110
So when the trumpet ſounding gives the ſign,
The juſtling chiefs in rude rencounter join;
So meet, and ſo renew the dext’rous fight,
Each fair beholder trembling for her knight,
Still as one falls another ruſhes in,115
And all muſt be o’ercome or none can win:
The victor, from the ſhining dame whoſe eyes
Aided his conqu’ring arm, receives a precious prize.
Thus flouriſh’d Love, and Beauty reign’d in ſtate,
Till the proud Spaniard gave theſe glories date:120
Paſt is the gallantry, the fame remains,
Tranſmitted ſafe in Dryden’s lofty ſcenes:
Granada[1] loſt beheld her pomps reſtor’d,
And Almahide[2] once more by kings ador’d.
Love, driven thence, to colder Britain flies,125
And with bright nymphs the diſtant ſun ſupplies;
Romances, which relate the dreadful fights,
The loves and proweſs of advent’rous knights,
To animate their rage, a kiſs record
From Britain’s faireſt nymph was the reward.130
Thus ancient to Love’s empire was the claim
Os Britiſh beauty, and ſo wide the fame,
- ↑ The Conqueſt of Granada. Written by Mr. Dryden.
- ↑ The part of Almahide performed by Mrs. Eleanor Gwyn, miſtreſs to King Charles II.
