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That friendship which I dearer hold,.
Than filver heaps or fhining gold.

And now, farewell!-may ev'ry hour
Fresh happiness on Laura pour-
Whether in facred wedlock join'd,
Or to the Vestal state inclin'd;
May conftant joys before her rife,
Till, for low earth, fhe gains the skies!

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Who filled up* Les Bouts Rimez and defired the AUTHOR to decide which was best.

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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.

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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
I grant to each lady for her witty lays.

ANSWER BY LAURA,

One of the THREE LADIES above mentioned.

I.

AIS true that Paris was a beau,

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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
Which was the greatest beauty-

He might have footh'd each lady's pride
And yet have done his duty.

III.

To one he might have given shape,
And piercing eyes to t'other;

Then had he made a good escape,

And fav'd a mighty pother,

IV. Minerva

IV.

Minerva then had dwelt in peace,
And Juno, without paffion,
Have caus'd a ten years war to cease,
And fav'd old Priam's nation.

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Had one alone obtain❜d the bays,

And wit's bright prize have borne,

The other two, throughout their days,

The willow must have worn.

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