but brittle goods that break like glass, but poison'd sweets, a troubled feast, and pleasures like the winds, that in a moment pass ? thy thoughts to nobler meditations give, and study how to die, not how to live. How frail is beauty? Ah! how vain,

and how short-liv'd those glories are, that vex our nights and days with pain,

and break our hearts with care! in dust we no distinction see, such Helen is, such, Myra, thou must be. How short is life? why will vain courtiers toil, and crowd a vainer monarch, for a smile? what is that monarch, but a mortal man, his crown a pageant, and his life a span? with all his guards and his dominions, he must sicken too, and die as well as we. Those boasted names of conquerors and kings are swallow'd, and become forgotten things: one destin'd period men in common have, the great, the base, the coward, and the brave, all food alike for worms, companions in the grave. The prince and parasite together lie, no fortune can exalt, but death will climb as high.

TO MYRA.
Since truth and constancy are vain,
since neither love nor sense of pain,
nor force of reason can persuade,
then let example be obey'd.

In courts and cities, could you see
how well the wanton fools agree;

were all the curtains drawn, you'd find not one, perhaps, but who is kind,

Minerva, naked from above, with Venus and the wife of Jove, exposing ev'ry beauty bare, descending to the Trojan heir; yet this was she whom poets name goddess of chastity and fame.

Penelope, her lord away,
gave am'rous audiences all day;
now round the bowl the suitors sit,
with wine, provoking mirth and wit,
then down they take the stubborn bow,
their strength, it seems, she needs must know.
Thus twenty cheerful winters past,
she's yet immortaliz'd for chaste.

Smile Myra, then, reward my flame,
and be as much secure of fame;
by all those matchless beauties fir'd,
by my own matchless love inspir'd;
so will I sing, such wonders write,
that when th' astonish'd world shall cite
a nymph of spotless worth and fame,
Myra shall be th' immortal name.

CONTENTS.

Life of Granville, .- page 11 Author by Mrs. Elizabeth Hig. An Imitation of the Second Cho- gins, - - - - - -

rus in the second Act of Sene. Corinna, .. -

ca's Thyestus, - •.·•.3 Meditation on Death, .. Occasioned by Verses sent to the To Myra, · · · · · ·

G. Nicholsun, Stuurport.

Thy forests, Windsor! and thy green retreats, at once the Monarch's and the Muses' seats, invite my lays. Be present, sylvan Maids ! unlock your springs, and open all your shades. Granville commands, your aid, O Muses bring, what muse for Granville can refuse to sing?

The groves of Eden, vanish'd now so long, live in description, and look green in song: these, were my breast inspir'd with equal flame, like them in beauty, should be like in fame. Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, bere earth and water seem to strive again; not chaos-like together crush'd and bruis'd, but, as the world, harmoniously confus'd; where order in variety we see, and where, tho' all things differ, all agree. Here waving groves a chequer'd scene display, and part admit, and part exclude the day; as some coy nymph her lover's warm address, por quite indulges, nor can quite repress. There interspers'd in lawns and op'ning glades, bin trees arise that shun each other's shades, Here in full light the russet plains extend; here wrapt in clouds, the bluish hills ascend, Literary Miscellany, No. 79. 1

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