Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/287

COUNTESS OF WINCHILSEA ���In ancient History we meet �A flying Nymph betray'd; Who, had she kept in fruitful Crete, �New Conquest might have made. �And sure, as on the Beach she stood, �To view the parting Sails; She curs'd her self, more than the Flood, �Or the conspiring Gales. �False Theseus, since thy Vows are broke, �May following Nymphs beware : 50 �Methinks I hear how thus she spoke, And will not trust too far. �In Love, in Play, in Trade, in War �They best themselves acquit, Who, tho? their Interests shipwreckt are, �Keep unreprotfd their Wit. ���ADAM POS'D �Cou'd our First Father, at his toilsome Plough, Thorns in his Path, and Labour on his Brow, Cloath'd only in a rude, unpolish'd Skin, Cou'd he a vain Fantastick Nymph have seen, In all her Airs, in all her antick Graces, Her various Fashions, and more various Faces ; How had it pos'd that Skill, which late assign'd Just Appellations to Each several Kind! A right Idea of the Sight to frame ; T'have guest from what New Element she came ; T'have hit the wav'ring Form, or giv'n this Thing a Name. ��� �