Poems upon Several Occasions/27

by George Granville

An Apology for an unseasonable Surprize.

FAirest Zelinda, cease to chide, or grieve,
Nor blush at Joys that only you can give.
Who with bold Eyes survey’d those matchless Charms,
Is punish’d, seeing in another’s Arms.
With greedy Looks he views each naked Part,
Joy feeds his Sight, but Envy tears his Heart.
So caught was Mars, and Mercury aloud
Proclaim’d his Grief, that he was not the God:

So to be caught was ev'ry God's Desire;
Nor less than Venus can Zelinda fire.
Forgive him then, thou more than Heav'nly Fair,
Forgive his Rashness, punish'd by Despair.
All that we know which wretched Mortals feel
In those sad Regions where the Tortur'd dwell,
Is that they see the Raptures of the Blest,
And view the Joys that they must never taste.