The noiſy culverin o’ercharg’d, lets fly,55
And burſt unaiming in the rended ſky.
Such frantic flights are like a madman’s dream,
And Nature ſuffers in the wild extreme.
The captive Cannibal, weigh’d down with chains,
Yet braves his foes, reviles, provokes, diſdains;60
Of nature fierce, untameable, and proud,
He grins defiance at the gaping crowd,
And ſpent at last, and ſpeechleſs as he lies,
With looks ſtill threat’ning, mocks their rage and dies.
This is the utmoſt ſtretch that Nature can,65
And all beyond is fulſome, falſe, and vain.
Beauty ’s the theme; ſome nymph divinely fair
Excites the Muſe: let truth be even there:
As painters flatter ſo may poets too,
But to reſemblance muſt be ever true.70
“The day that ſhe was born the Cyprian Queen
Had like t’ have dy’d thro’ envy and thro’ ſpleen;
The Graces in a hurry left the ſkies
To have the honour to attend her eyes;
And Love, deſpairing in her heart a place,75
Would needs take up his lodging in her face.”[Explanation 1][1]
- ↑ Le jour qu’elle naquit, Venus bien qu’ immortelle,This is a lover’s deſcription of his miſtreſs by the great Corneille; civil; to be ſure, and polite as any thing can be. Let any body turn over Waller, and he will ſee how much more
Penſa mourir de honte, en la voyant ſi belle,
Les Graces a l’envi deſcendireni des cieux
Pour avoir l’honeur d’accompagner ſes yeux;
Et ’Amour, qui ne put entrer dans ſon courage,
Voulut obſtinement loger ſur ſon viſage.
- ↑ Corneille.
