Teach him, when first his Infant Voice shall frame
Imperfect words and lisp his Mother's Name,
To hail this Tree, and say with weeping Eyes,
Within this Plant my hapless Parent lies;
And when in Youth he seeks the shady Woods,
Oh! let him fly the chrystal Lakes and Floods,
Nor touch the fatal Flow'rs; but warn'd by me,
Believe a Goddess shrin'd in ev'y Tree.
My Sire my Sister and my Spouse farewel!
If in your Breasts or Love or Pity, dwell,
Protect your Plant, nor let my Branches feel
The browsing Cattle, or the piercing Steel.
Farewel! and since I cannot bend to joyn
My Lips to yours, advance at least to mine.
My Son thy Mother's parting Kiss receive,
While yet thy Mother's parting Kiss to give.
I can no more; the creeping Rind invades
My closing Lips, and hides my Head in Shades:
Remove your Hands; the Bark shall soon suffice,
Without their Aid, to seal these dying Eyes.
She ceas'd at once to speak, and ceas'd to be;
And all the Nymph was lost within the Tree:
Yet latent Life thro' her new Branches reign'd,
And long the Plant a human Heat retain'd.
Continu'd by Mr. Gay.
Iolaus restor'd to Youth.
While Iolè the fatal Change declares,
Alcmena's pitying Hand oft wip'd her Tears.
Grief too stream'd down her Cheeks; soon Sorrow flies,
And rising Joy the trickling Moisture dries,
Lo Iolaus stands before their Eyes.
A Youth he stood; and the soft Down began
O'er his smooth Chin to spread, and promise Man.
