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The Repulse to Alcander.

1 What is't you mean, that I am thus approach'd,
2 Dare you to hope, that I may be debauch'd?
3 For your seducing Words the same implies,
4 In begging Pity with a soft Surprize,
5 For one who loves, and sighs, and almost dies.
6 In ev'ry Word and Action doth appear,
7 Something I hate and blush to see or hear;
8 At first your Love for vast Respect was told,
9 Till your excess of Manners grew too bold,
10 And did your base, designing Thoughts unfold.
11 When a Salute did seem to Custom due,
12 With too much Ardour you'd my Lips pursue;
13 My Hand, with which you play'd, you'd Kiss and Press,
14 Nay ev'ry Look had something of Address.
15 Ye Gods! I cry'd, sure he designs to woo,
16 For thus did amorous Phylaster do.
17 The Youth whose Passion none could disapprove,
18 When Hymen waited to compleat his Love;
19 But now, when sacred Laws and Vows confine
20 Me to another what can you design?
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21 At first, I could not see the lewd Abuse,
22 But fram'd a thousand Things for your Excuse.
23 I knew that Bacchus sometimes did inspire
24 A sudden Transport, tho' not lasting Fire;
25 For he no less than Cupid can make kind,
26 And force a Fondness which was ne'er design'd;
27 Or thought you'd travel'd far, and it might chance,
28 To be the foreign Mode of Complaisance.
29 Till you so oft your amorous Crimes repeat,
30 That to permit you would make mine as great;
31 Nor stopt you here but languishingly spake,
32 That Love which I endeavour'd to mistake:
33 What saw you in me, that could make you vain,
34 Or any thing expect, but just Disdain?
35 I must confess I am not quite so Nice,
36 To Damn all little Gallantries for Vice;
37 (But I see now my Charity's misplac'd,
38 If none but sullen Saints can be thought Chast:)
39 Yet know, Base Man, I scorn your lewd Amours,
40 Hate them from all, not only cause they're yours.
41 Oh sacred Love! let not the World prophane,
42 Thy Transports, thus to Sport, and Entertain;
43 The Beau, with some small Artifice of's own,
44 Can make a Treat, for all the wanton Town:
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45 I thought my self secure, within these Shades,
46 But your rude Love, my Privacy invades,
47 Affronts my Virtue, hazards my just Fame,
48 Why should I suffer, for your lawless Flame?
49 For oft 'tis known, through Vanity and Pride,
50 Men boast those Favours which they are deny'd:
51 Or others Malice, which can soon discern;
52 Perhaps may see in you some kind Concern.
53 So scatter false Suggestions of their own,
54 That I love too: Oh! Stain to my Renown;
55 No, I'le be Wise, avoid your Sight in time,
56 And shun at once the Censure and the Crime.

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Title (in Source Edition): The Repulse to Alcander.
Author: Sarah Fyge Egerton
Themes: sex; love
Genres: heroic couplet

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Egerton, Sarah Fyge, 1668-1723. Poems on Several Occasions, Together with a Pastoral. By Mrs. S. F. [poems only] London: printed, and are to be sold by J. Nutt, near Stationers-Hall, 1703, pp. 25-27. [20],117,[3],15,[1]p.; 8⁰. (ESTC T125148) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [280 e.4058].)

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Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. This ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Other works by Sarah Fyge Egerton