[_The Enjoyment._] _La Jouissance_, one of Saint-Amant's early lyric pieces, which is here translated, was not so famous as his _Solitude_, which will be found (Englished by the matchless Orinda a little after Stanley's time) in vol. i, p. 601, of this collection; but it was popular and much imitated. Stanley has cut it down considerably, for the original has nineteen stanzas--some of them, I suppose, too 'warm' for the translator's modest muse.] [Line: 59 Brydges misprints '_k_ind'] _To Celia Pleading Want of Merit._ Dear, urge no more that killing cause Of our divorce; Love is not fetter'd by such laws, Nor bows to any force: Though thou deniest I should be thine, Yet say not thou deserv'st not to be mine. Oh rather frown away my breath With thy disdain, Or flatter me with smiles to death; By joy or sorrow slain, 10 'Tis less crime to be kill'd by thee, Than I thus cause of mine own death should be. Thyself of beauty to divest, And me of love, Or from the worth of thine own breast Thus to detract, would prove In us a blindness, and in thee At best a sacrilegious modesty. But, Celia, if thou wilt despise What all admire, 20 Nor rate thyself at the just price Of beauty or desire, Yet meet my flames, and thou shalt see That equal love knows no disparity. [_To Celia Pleading, &c._] _1647_ has in title 'To _One that Pleaded her own_', and 'Dearest' for 'Celia' in l. 19.] _Love's Innocence._ See how this Ivy strives to twine Her wanton arms about the Vine, And her coy lover thus restrains, Entangled in her amorous chains; See how these neighb'ring Palms do bend Their heads, and mutual murmurs send, As whispering with a jealous fear Their loves, into each other's ear. Then blush not such a flame to own, As like thyself no crime hath known; 10 Led by these harmless guides, we may Embrace and kiss as well as they. And like those blesséd souls above, Whose life is harmony and love, Let us our mutual thoughts betray, And in our wills our minds display; This silent speech is swifter far Than the ears' lazy species are; And the expression it affords, As our desires, 'bove reach of words. 20 Thus we, my dear, of these may learn A passion others not discern; Nor can it shame or blushes move, Like plants to live, like Angels love: Since all excuse with equal innocence, What above reason is, or beneath sense.