When loose epistles violate chaste eyes, She half consents, who silently denies. How dares a stranger, with designs so vain, Marriage and hospitable rights prophane? Was it for this, your fleet did shelter find From swelling seas, and every faithless wind? For though a distant country brought you forth, Your usage here was equal to your worth. Does this deserve to be rewarded so? Did you come here a stranger, or a foe? Your partial judgment may perhaps complain, And think me barbarous for my just disdain; Ill-bred then let me be, but not unchaste, Nor my clear fame with any spot defaced. Though in my face there's no affected frown, Nor in my carriage a feigned niceness shown, I keep my honour still without a stain, Nor has my love made any coxcomb vain. Your boldness I with admiration see; What hope had you to gain a queen like me? Because a hero forced me once away, Am I thought fit to be a second prey? Had I been won, I had deserved your blame, But sure my part was nothing but the shame. Yet the base theft to him no fruit did bear, I 'scaped unhurt by any thing but fear. Rude force might some unwilling kisses gain; But that was all he ever could obtain. You on such terms would ne'er have let me go; Were he like you, we had not parted so. Untouched the youth restored me to my friends, And modest usage made me some amends. 'Tis virtue to repent a vicious deed; Did he repent, that Paris might succeed? Sure 'tis some fate that sets me above wrongs, Yet still exposes me to busy tongues. I'll not complain; for who's displeased with love, If it sincere, discreet, and constant prove? But that I fear; not that I think you base, Or doubt the blooming beauties of my face; But all your sex is subject to deceive, And ours, alas! too willing to believe. Yet others yield; and love o'ercomes the best; But why should I not shine above the rest? Fair Leda's story seems at first to be A fit example, ready formed for me. But she was cozened by a borrowed shape, And under harmless feathers felt a rape. If I should yield, what reason could I use? By what mistake the loving crime excuse? Her fault was in her powerful lover lost; But of what Jupiter have I to boast? Though you to heroes and to kings succeed, Our famous race does no addition need; And great alliances but useless prove, To one that comes herself from mighty Jove. Go then, and boast, in some less haughty place, Your Phrygian blood, and Priam's ancient race; Which I would shew I valued, if I durst; You are the fifth from Jove, but I the first. The crown of Troy is powerful, I confess; But I have reason to think ours no less. Your letter, filled with promises of all That men can good, and women pleasant call,