_’.is wonderous Populous from the excess,_ _Of Persons from all parts that thither press:_ _One side of this magnifick City stands,_ _On a foundation of unfaithful Sands;_ _Which oftentimes the glorious Load destroys,_ _Which long designing was with Pomp and Noise;_ _The other Parts well founded neat and strong,_ _Less Beautiful, less Business, and less Throng._ _’.is built upon a Rivers Bank, who’s clear_ _And Murmuring Glide delights the Eye and Ear._ The River of PRETENSION. _This River’s call’d_ Pretension; _and its source_ _T’ a bordering Mountain owes, from whence with force,_ _It spreads into the Arms of that calm space,_ _Where the proud City dayly sees her face;_ _’.is treacherously smooth and falsly fair,_ _Inviting, but undoing to come near;_ _’.ainst which the Houses there find no defence,_ _But suffer undermining Violence;_ _Who while they stand, no Palaces do seem_ _In all their Glorious Pomp to equal them._ This River’s Famous for the fatal Wrecks, Of Persons most Illustrious of both Sex, Who to her Bosom with soft Whispers drew, Then basely smil’d to see their Ruin too. ‘Tis there so many Monarchs perisht have, And seeking Fame alone have found a Grave. ‘Twas thither I was tempted too, and LOVE Maliciously wou’d needs my Conduct prove; Which Passion now to such a pass had brought, It gave admittance to the weakest thought, And with a full carreer to this false Bay I ran. But met _Precaution_ in my way. With whom _Respect_ was, who thus gravely said, Pretension _is a River you must Dread:_ _Fond Youth, decline thy fatal Resolution,_ _Here unavoidably thou meets Confusion;_ _Thou fly’st with too much hast to certain Fate,_ _Follow my Counsel, and be Fortunate._ Asham’d, all Blushing I decline my Eyes, Yet Bow’d and Thank’d _Respect_ for his advice. From the bewitching River straight I hy’d, And hurried to the Cities farthest side Where lives the Mighty _Princess Hope_, to whom The whole Isle as their ORACLE do come; Tho’ little Truth remains in what she says, Yet all adore her Voice, and her Wise Conduct praise. The Princess HOPE. I.