That friendship which I dearer hold,. And now, farewell!-may ev'ry hour Who filled up* Les Bouts Rimez and defired the AUTHOR to decide which was best. W HEN the wife of old Jove, with the child of his brain, And his daughter so fair, attack'd the young swain; Poor Paris was fadly bewilder'd to find, To which of the fair-ones his heart was inclin'd; Till *Filling up blank rhimes is often a trial of skill among the French; that is, the rhimes, or final words of the different lines, are given, and the remainder is to be filled up fo as to make sense and poetry. Till at length, from his quiver, a mischievous shaft, Little Cupid produc'd-at which the boy laugh'dThen gave it to Venus, who ftraight let it fly, And fudden as light'ning reach'd Paris's eye; For the queen of sweet smiles the fhepherd then fighs, And yields to bright Venus the laurel and prize. Thus Damon was fmitten with rapture and joy When your conteft, fair ladies, his thoughts did employ, The praife of Madona vermilion'd his face With blushes for want of that virtue and grace, Which her good-natur'd pen could so easily paint, Tho' the portrait was bright and original taint. Next Laura, accomplish'd in head and in heart, Fair daughter of Clio produc'd her sweet art, Apollo himself, I fancy, with zeal, Would wish to imprint the poetical feal. The third tuneful lady that makes up the choir, Entranc'd my poor brain, and my heart fet on fireAh, Clara! I fear the arrow of CƯ, Inftead of the mufe's foft weapon you drew; Or why through my breaft do fuch ecftacies roll, And the throbs of fweet paffion beat high in my foul. In In the name of Apollo, a fprig of green bays ANSWER BY LAURA, One of the THREE LADIES above mentioned. I. AIS true that Paris was a beau, But yet was not polite; For he on Ida's top could show To two bright nymphs a flight. II. Three fair ones begg'd him to decide He might have footh'd each lady's pride III. To one he might have given shape, Then had he made a good escape, And fav'd a mighty pother, IV. Minerva |