NOT far from  flaming Mount I came,
From  and CONSTANCE is my Name:
Great Honours and Estates my Sire possess'd,
And, O! too much to make his Daughter bless'd.
I once with Fame and Fortune was supply'd,
Nor envy'd Empresses their Pomp and Pride;
Now, like a Meteor, fallen from its Height,
My Glory's vanish'd, and extinct my Light —
Full twenty Years in Happiness I pass'd,
And ev'ry Year was happier than the last.
Young FELIX then his Love began to show;
(Young FELIX was the Cause of all my Woe)
A beauteous Youth, endow'd with manly Grace;
But far his noble Soul excell'd his Face:
And, tho' his niggard Fate had Wealth deny'd,
The Want of Wealth by Virtue was supply'd.
Two Years to win my doubtful Heart he strove,
Two Years my doubtful Heart declin'd his Love:
Yet still he press'd me with his am'rous Tale,
Nor found at length, 'twas fruitless to assail:
For, by degrees, insensibly I came
To first approve, and then indulge, his Flame;
Nor could his Suit, nor would his Vows reprove;
I heard with Joy, nor thought it Sin to love;
Till in my Breast imperious CUPID reign'd:
Alas! how easy  a Conquest gain'd!
And now my Reason check'd my Will no more;
But fed the Flame, it strove to quench before:
Yet durst not an immodest Thought approve;
rul'd my  but  rul'd my
I scorn'd to stain my Virtue with a King;
As much my Lover scorn'd so  a thing.
What could we do? What cannot  inspire?
The Youth reveals his Passion to my Sire;
And in such melting Accents made it known,
As might have mov'd all Fathers, but my own:
But proudly he my Lover's Suit repell'd;
And, frowning, thus our mutual Ruin seal'd: