Still turns her beauties from th' invading beam, WEEPING. WHILE Celia's tears make sorrow bright, These silver drops, like morning dew, So from one cloud soft showers we view, The stars that fall from Celia's eye The baby in that sunny sphere That heaven, the threaten'd world to spare, EARL OF ROCHESTER, ON SILENCE. SILENCE! coeval with eternity; Thou wert ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vast nothing all, and all slept fast in thee. Thine was the sway ere heaven was form'd, or earth, Ere fruitful thought conceiv'd creation's birth, Or midwife word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth. Then various elements against thee join'd, And fram'd the clamorous race of busy umankind. The tongue mov'd gently first, and speech was low, But rebel wit deserts thee oft in vain ; And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign. Afflicted sense thou kindly dost set free, And routed reason finds a safe retreat in thee. With thee in private modest dulness lies, And in thy bosom lurks in thought's disguise; Thou varnisher of fools, and cheat of all the wise' Yet thy indulgence is by both confest; Folly by thee lies sleeping in the breast, And 'tis in thee at last that wisdom seeks for rest. Silence the knave's repute, the whore's good name, But couldst thou seize some tongues that now How church and state should be oblig'd to thee! At senate and at bar how welcome wouldst thou be! Yet speech, e'en there, submissively withdraws From rights of subjects, and the poor man's cause: Then pompous silence reigns, and stills the noisy laws. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, The country wit, religion of the town, The parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, EARL OF DORSET. ARTEMISIA. THOUGH Artemisia1 talks by fits Haughty and huge as High Dutch bride, On her large squab you find her spread, That lies and stinks in state. She wears no colours (sign of grace) All white and black beside: And masculine her stride. So have I seen, in black and white, 1 Intended, it is said, for Queen Caroline. Majestically stalk; A stately worthless animal, That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, All flutter, pride, and talk. PHRYNE. PHRYNE had talents for mankind; Her learning and good breeding such, Whether th' Italian or the Dutch, Spaniards or French, came to her; To all obliging she'd appear; 'Twas Si Signior, 'twas Yaw Mynheer, 'Twas S'il vous plaist, Monsieur. Obscure by birth, renown'd by crimes, Still changing names, religions, climes, At length she turns a bride: In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, She shines the first of batter'd jades, And flutters in her pride. |