Pleas'd ev'n to hear her fex's virtues fhewn,
And blind to none's perfections but her own:
Whilft, humble fair! of these too few she knows,
Yet owns too many for the world's repofe :
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 shines and warms:
Whose mind, in every light, can charms display,
With wisdom ferious, and with humour gay;
Just as her eyes in each bright posture warm,
And fiercely strike, or languishingly charm:
Such are your honours-mention'd to your cost,
Those least can hear them, who deferve them moft:
Yet ah! forgive-the less inventive Muse,

If e'er fhe fing, a copious theme must chuse.

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

"Debitæ nymphis opifex coronæ.”

BR

RING, 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

Diffuse their flowerets, in her way.

HOR.

Not

Not nature can herself prepare

A worthy wreath for Lesba's hair,

Whofe temper, like her forehead, fmooth,
Whofe thoughts and accents form'd to foothe,
Whofe pleafing mien, and make refin'd,
Whofe artless breaft, and polish'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, fpent with toil,
Had fought refreshment from the shade;
And stretch'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! whilft 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 cause 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 searches 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 mystic spring, 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 asks no fweeter fong.

HOR.

"Urit fpes animi credula mutui.”

"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 rofe's hue

Have all its fweets combin'd;

Yet vain the blush, and faint the fire,
Till lips at once, and eyes conspire

Though wit might gild the tempting finare,
With fofteft accent, sweetest air,

By envy's felf admir'd;

If Lefbia's wit betray'd her scorn,
In vain might every Grace adorn
What every Mufe inspir'd.

Thus airy Strephon tun'd his lyre-
He fcorn'd the pangs of wild defire,
Which love-fick fwains endure:

Refolv'd to brave the keenest dart;
Since frowns could never wound his heart;
And fmiles-muft ever cure.

But ah! how false these maxims prove,
How frail fecurity from love,

Experience hourly shows!

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.

A

As partial to their words we prove ;
Then boldly join the lifts of love,
With towering hopes supply'd:
See heroes, taught by doubtful shrines,
Miftook their deity's defigns;

Then took the field—and dy’d.

THE DYING K I D.

"Optima quæque dies miferis mortalibus ævi

"Prima fugit

A Tear bedews

To think yon playful kid must die ; From crystal spring, and flowery mead, Muft, in his prime of life, recede!

Erewhile, in fportive 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,
To trace his features in the flood:
Then skip'd aloof with quaint amaze;
And then drew near again to gaze,

I 2

VIRG.

She