Variety we still pursue, In pleasure seek for fomething new; 20 25 30 35 He flies, and leaves the ftars behind; Adores her for the timely aid. OR, fhould a porter make inquiries For Chloe, Sylvia, Phillis, Iris, 40 Be told the lodging, lane, and fign, The bow'rs that hold those nymphs divine ; Fair Chloe would perhaps be found With footmen tippling under ground; The charming Sylvia beating flax, 45 Her fhoulders mark'd with bloody tracks ; Bright Phillis mending ragged fmocks; And radiant Iris in the pox.:. THESE are the goddesses inroll'd In Curl's collection †, new and old,. 50 Whofe fcoundrel fathers would not know 'em, TRUE poets can depress and raise, They are not fcurrilous in fatire, Unjustly poets we afperfe; Truth shines the brighter clad in verse ; Do but infinuate what is true. Now, fhould my praifes owe their trath So Mævius, when he drain'd his fcull His fimiles in order fet, And ev'ry crambo he could get ; Had gone thro' all the common places Worn out by wits. who rhyme on faces: The lovely nymph had loft her nofe. 55 69 75 YOUR virtues fafely I commend ; They on no accidents depend: 80 Let malice look with all her eyes, She dares not say the poet lies. STELLA, when you thefe lines transcribe, Refolv'd to mortify your pride,. YOUR fpirits kindle to a flame, Mov'd with the lighteft touch of blame; To shew you where your error lies, Conviction does but more incense; да Perverseness is your whole defence; Truth, judgment, wit, give place to fpight, Till time hath open'd reason's gate; 95 100 And yet a fault we often find Mix'd in a noble gen'rous mind; And may compare to Ætna's fire, 105 Which, tho' with trembling, all admire; Those who in warmer climes complain YET, when I find your paffions rife, 110 115 120 His valour would no more employ, Which might alone have conquer'd Troy ; But, blinded by refentment, feeks 125 For vengeance on his friends, the Greeks. You think this turbulence of blood STELLA, for once you reafon wrong; 130 From paffion you may then be freed, 135 SAY, Stella, when you copy next, Will you keep ftrictly to the text? Dare you let these reproaches stand, And to your failing fet your hand? 140 Or, if thefe lines your anger fire, Shall they in bafer flames expire ? Whene'er they burn, if burn they muft, They'll prove my accufation juft. STELLA to Dr SWIFT on his birth day, Nov. 30. 1721 †. ST Patrick's Dean, your country's pride, My early and my only guide, This poem fhews the delicacy of Stella's tafte. It is the only remaining performance of that improved and lovely woman that I know of in the poetic train. It was given by Dr Swift to a lady of his acquaintance, who had a great efleem for the virtues and accomplishments of the amiable Stella, altho' fhe never had the leaft intimacy with her. The Doctor affired this lady that it was a piece entirely genuine from the hands of Stella, without any fort of correction whatfoever. Swift-See Bons mets de Stella, in vol. iv.; and her character in Dr Swift's life, prefixed to vol. i. Let me among the reft attend, Your pupil and your humble friend, To celebrate in female flrains The day that paid your mother's pains; In gratitude alone to you. The ogling of a coxcomb's eyes; Shew'd where my judgment was misplac'd; BEHOLD that beauty juft decay'd, 15 Invoking art to nature's aid; For fook by her admiring train, She spreads her tatter'd nets in vain ; STELLA to you, her tutor, owes That she has ne'er refembled those; With half her courfe of years behind. ze 25 30 35 |