THE RIVAL NYMPHS. A TALE. Charlotte Lennox (née Ramsay) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T139692 K110146.000 Lennox, Charlotte, ca. 1729-1804. Poems on Several Occasions. Written by a Young Lady. London printed for, and sold by S. Paterson 1747 pp. 7-11. [8],88p.; 8⁰.

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THE RIVAL NYMPHS . A TALE . CLarissa blest with ev'ry Grace , A Shape divine , and charming Face , Had triumph'd long o'er many a Swain , And oft' been woo'd , but woo'd in vain ; Not so Amanda , blooming Youth , Soft Innocence , and artless Truth , Were all the Beauties she cou'd boast , Not form'd by Nature for a Toast ; Yet some there were , who in her Mind A thousand nameless Charms cou'd find : She lov'd not Visits , Park , or Play , But mop'd , and read her Time away ; Insensible to a Degree , Her Heart was all her own , and free ; Yet oft of Love's soft pleasing Pains , The Nymph wou'd write in melting Strains . The lambent Flame that warm'd her Breast , Each tender flowing Line confess'd ; Moneses , whose enchanting Form Was one continu'd endless Charm : To whom indulgent Heav'n had join'd , All that cou'd beautify a Mind ; Had often own'd bright Beauty's Power , Had sigh'd and lov'd — for half an Hour . But yet the lovely Youth confess'd , Whoe'er could wound his destin'd Breast , Her Charms must over Time prevail , Her Wit must please when Beauty fail'd ; Yet since he cou'd not hope to find , One blest with all those Charms of Mind ; He thought Clarissa worth his Care , And all the Hours he had to spare ; Soft Vows , and tender speaking Eyes , Pleading Looks , and melting Sighs ; Make the believing Maid approve His false , but well dissembled Love . But while Clarissa's Charms he own'd , He with a secret Passion burn'd . Amanda found the Way to win His Heart , and let her Image in ; His Pain the lovely Youth conceals , All but what his Eyes reveals : His Eyes , that all his Passion tell , And speak the Love he felt so well . Amanda heard the Youth complain , She heard and felt an equal Flame ; But still with native Shyness arm'd , She shuns the lovely Swain she charm'd ; His Looks , his Sighs , his Actions move , And in soft Language plead for Love . Clarissa still exults , and cries , He's yet a Victim to my Eyes ; He neither will , nor can be free ; Me he still love's , and only Me : Ah ! cease to claim my charming Prize ; Amanda , to the Fair replies , Cou'd I , Clarissa , cou'd I boast , The Hearts that to thy Charms are lost , With Joy I wou'd them all resign , To keep my lov'd Moneses mine . In vain the Nymph declares her Flame , Clarissa still asserts her Claim ; And 'till the lov'd Moneses owns , The conqu'ring Maid for whom he burns ; 'Till he'll the happy Fair unfold , The Sequel must remain untold .