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Einn Buchworth 1782

THE

POEM S

O F

W ALL E R.

[ ]

To my Lady

MADAM,

**

OUR commands for the gathering these sticks

tending to present you with my whole vintage, I stayed till the latest grapes were ripe: for, here your Ladyship has not only all I have done, but all I ever mean to do of this kind. Not but that I may defend the attempt I have made upon Poetry, by the examples (not to trouble you with history) of many wife and worthy perfons of our own times; as Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Francis Bacon, Cardinal Perron (the ableft of his countrymen), and the former Pope; who, they fay, inftead of the triple crown, wore fometimes the Poet's ivy, as an ornament, perhaps, of leffer weight and trouble. But, Madam, thefe Nightingales fung only in the fpring; it was the diverfion of their youth; as Ladies learn to fing, and play, when they are children, what they forget when they are women. resemblance holds further; for as you quit the lute the fooner, because the posture is fufpected to draw the body awry; fo this is not always practifed without fome villany to the mind; wrefting it from prefent occafions; and accuftoming us to a ftyle fomewhat removed from common ufe. But that you may not think his cafe deplorable who had made verfes; we are told, that Tully (the greatest Wit among the Romans) was once fick of this disease; and yet recovered fo well, that of almost as bad a Poet as your fervant,

B

The

he

he became the most perfect Orator in the world. So that, not fo much.to have made verfes, as not to give over in time, leaves a man without excufe: the former prefenting us with an opportunity at least of doing wifely, that is, to conceal those we have made; which I fhall yet do, if my humble request may be of as much force with your Ladyfhip, as your commands have been with me. Madam, I only whisper these in your ear; if you publish them, they are your own: and therefore, as you apprehend the reproach of a Wit and a Poet, caft them into the fire: or, if they come where green boughs are in the chimney, with the help of your fair friends, (for, thus bound, it will be too hard a task for your hands alone) tear them in pieces, wherein you will honour me with the fate of Orpheus; for fo his Poems, whereof we only hear the form, (not his limbs, as the ftory will have it) I fuppofe were scattered by the Thracian dames. Here, Madam, I might take an opportunity to celebrate your virtues, and to inftruct you how unhappy you in that you know not who you are: how much you excel the moft excellent of your own, and how much you amaze the least inclined to wonder of our, fex. But as they will be apt to take your Ladyfhip's for a Roman name, fo would they believe that I endeavoured the character of a perfect Nymph, worshiped an image of my own making, and dedicated this to the Lady of the brain, not of the heart, of

are,

Your Ladyfhip's

moft humble Servant,

EDM. WALLER,

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