Pleas'd ev'n to hear her fex's virtues fhewn,

And blind to none's perfections but her own:
Whilft, humble fair! of thefe too few fhe knows,
Yet owns too many for the world's repose :
From wit's wild petulance ferenely free,
Yet bleft in all that nature can decree,

Not like a fire, which, whilft it burns, alarms;
A modest flame, that gently fhines and warms:
Whose mind, in every light, can charms difplay,
With wifdom ferious, and with humour gay;
Just as her eyes in each bright posture warm,
And fiercely ftrike, or languishingly charm:
Such are your honours-mention'd to your coft,
Those least can hear them, who deferve them moft:
Yet ah! forgive-the lefs inventive Muse,

If e'er she fing, a copious theme must chufe.

Written in a FLOWER BOOK of my own Colouring, defigned for Lady PLIMOUTH. 1753-4.

"Debitæ nymphis opifex coronæ.'

BRING, Floara, bring thy treasures here,

The pride of all the blooming year;

And let me, thence, a garland frame,
To crown this fair, this peerless dame!
But ah! fince envious winter lours,
And Hewell meads refign their flowers,
Let art and friendship joint effay
Diffufe their flowerets, in her way.

HOR.

Not

Not nature can herself prepare

A worthy wreath for Lefba's hair,

Whofe temper, like her forehead, smooth,
Whofe thoughts and accents form'd to foothe,
Whofe pleafing mien, and make refin'd,
Whofe artless breaft, and polifh'd mind,

From all the nymphs of plain or grove,
Deferv'd and won my Plymouth's love.

ANACREONTIC. 1738.

TWAS in a cool Aonian glade,

The wanton Cupid, spent with toil,
Had fought refreshment from the fhade;
And ftretch'd him on the moffy foil.

A vagrant Mufe drew nigh, and found
The fubtle traitor fast asleep;

And is it thine to fnore profound,

She faid, yet leave the world to weep

But hush from this aufpicious hour,

?

The world, I ween, may reft in peace;
And, robb'd of darts, and ftript of power,
Thy peevish petulance decrease.

Sleep on, poor child! whilst I withdraw,
And this thy vile artillery hide-

When the Caftalian fount fhe faw,
And plung'd his arrows in the tide.

That

That magic fount-ill-judging maid!
Shall caufe you foon to curfe the day
You dar'd the fhafts of love invade;
And gave his arms redoubled fway.
For in a ftream fo wonderous clear,
When angry Cupid fearches round,
Will not the radiant points appear?

Will not the furtive spoils be found?
Too foon they were; and every dart,
Dipt in the Mufe's myftic fpring,
Acquir'd new force to wound the heart;
And taught at once to love and fing.
Then farewel, ye Pierian quire;

For who will now your altars throng? From love we learn to fwell the lyre; And echo afks no fweeter fong.

O D E.

Written 1739.

HOR.

"Urit spes animi credula mutui.”

די

"TWAS not by beauty's aid alone, That love ufurp'd his airy throne,

His boafted power display'd:

'Tis kindness that fecures his aim,
"Tis hope that feeds the kindling flame,
Which beauty first convey'd.

In Clara's eyes, the lightnings view;
Her lips with all the rose`s hue

Have all its fweets combin'd;

Yet vain the blush, and faint the fire,
Till lips at once, and eyes confpire
Το prove the charmer kind-

Though wit might gild the tempting fnare,
With fofteft accent, fweeteft air,

By envy's felf admir'd;

If Lefbia's wit betray'd her fcorn,

In vain might every Grace adorn
Mufe infpir'd.

What every

Thus airy Strephon tun'd his lyre➡
He fcorn'd the pangs of wild deûre,

Which love-fick fwains endure:

Refolv'd to brave the keeneft dart

Since frowns could never wound his heart;

And fmiles-muft ever cure.

But ah! how false these maxims provė,

How frail fecurity from love,

Experience hourly fhows!

Love can imagin'd smiles fupply,
On every charming lip and eye
Eternal fweets beftows.

In vain we trust the fair-one's eyes;
In vain the fage explores the skies,
To learn from ftars his fate :
Till, led by fancy wide aftray,
He finds no planet mark his way;
Convinc'd and wife-too late.

As

As partial to their words we prove;
Then boldly join the lifts of love,
With towering hopes fupply'd:
See heroes, taught by doubtful fhrines,
Miftook their deity's defigns;
Then took the field-and dy'd.

THE DYING KID.

Optima quæque dies miferis mortalibus ævi "Prima fugit

A Tear bedews

my Delia's eye,

To think yon playful kid must die;

From crystal spring, and flowery mead,
Muft, in his prime of life, recede !

Erewhile, in sportive circles round

She faw him wheel, and frisk, and bound;
From rock to rock purfue his way,

And, on the fearful margin, play.

Pleas'd on his various freaks to dwell,
She faw him climb my ruftic cell;

Thence eye my lawns with verdure bright,
And feem all ravish'd at the fight.

She tells, with what delight he stood,
Ta trace his features in the flood:
Then fkip'd aloof with quaint amaze į
And then drew near again to gaze.

I 2

VIRG.

She