Ovids epistles: translated by eminent persons / published by Sir Samuel Garth. In Two Volumes.

  • Ovid
Date:
1795
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ovids epistles: translated by eminent persons / published by Sir Samuel Garth. In Two Volumes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    [ ri4 ] HELEN to PARIS. BY THE RIGHT HON. THE F.ARl OF MULCEAVE, AND MR. DRY-DEN. Argument. HELEN, having received the foregoing epistle from Paris, returns the following answer; wherein she seems at first to chide him for his pre- sumption in writing as he had done, which could only proceed from his low opinion of her virtue; then owns herself to be sensible of the passion which he had expressed for her, though she much suspected his constancy; and at last discovers her inclination to be favourable to him: the whole letter shewing the extreme artifice of woman- kind. When loose epistles violate chaste eyes, She half consents, who silently denies : How dares a stranger, with designs so vain, Marriage and hospitable rites prophane? Was it for this, your fleet did shelter find s From swelling seas, and ev’ry faithless wind ? (For tho’ a distant country brought you forth, Your usage here was equal to your worth) Does this deserve to be rewarded so ? Did you come here a stranger or a foe ? jo Your partial judgments may perhaps complain, And think me barb’rous for my just disdain ;