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175 Three Sons, of nuptial Joys the Pledges dear,
From me their luckless Father have been rent
By Stars adverse: My first and eldest Care,
In Flow'r of Years, on youthful Play intent,
Whilst he his Cave incautious did forego,
180 By stern Grimalkin fell, our never-fated Foe,
bielos
From me their luckless Father have been rent
By Stars adverse: My first and eldest Care,
In Flow'r of Years, on youthful Play intent,
Whilst he his Cave incautious did forego,
180 By stern Grimalkin fell, our never-fated Foe,
bielos
XIX.
The next had liv'd, had not inhuman Man,
With novel Art hatch'd an accurst Device;
The treach'rous Door afforded entrance plain,
Avoidless Ruin to believing Mice,
185 By Men a Mouse-trap nam'd. This Engine dire,
My second Hope from Life and Empire tore;
Heedless he touch'd a latent magick Wire,
Down-fell self-clos'd th' irrevocable Door.
Imprison'd sure, when least suspecting Guile,
190 Dying he found too late th' inhospitable Wile.
The next had liv'd, had not inhuman Man,
With novel Art hatch'd an accurst Device;
The treach'rous Door afforded entrance plain,
Avoidless Ruin to believing Mice,
185 By Men a Mouse-trap nam'd. This Engine dire,
My second Hope from Life and Empire tore;
Heedless he touch'd a latent magick Wire,
Down-fell self-clos'd th' irrevocable Door.
Imprison'd sure, when least suspecting Guile,
190 Dying he found too late th' inhospitable Wile.
XX.
