"Septimius, Claudi, nimirum intelligit unus, Quanti me facias, &c." DEAR Dick, howe'er it comes into his head, Believes as firmly as he does his creed, VOL. II. Richard Shelton Efquire. From From this wild fancy, Sir, there may proceed To fhun this cenfure, I all fhame lay by; To Mr. HARLEY, wounded by GUISCARD, 1711. "Ab ipfo HOR. Ducit opes animumque ferro." I. IN one great now, fuperior to an age, The full extremes of Nature's force we find : How heavenly Virtue can exalt; or Rage Infernal how degrade the human mind. II. While II. While the fierce monk does at his trial ftand; The guilty stroke and torture of the steel Infix'd, our dauntlefs Briton fcarce perceives : The wounds his country from his death muft feel, The Patriot views; for thofe alone he grieves. IV. The barbarous rage that durft attempt thy life, Faithful affertor of thy country's caufe, Britain with tears fhall bathe thy glorious wound She for thy fafety fhall enlarge her laws; And in her ftatutes shall thy worth be found. Yet 'midft her fighs the triumphs, on the hand A ftranger to her altars, and her land: No fon of her's could meditate this blow. VII. Mean time thy pain is gracious Anna's care: VIII. Great as thou art, thou canst demand no more, O breaft bewail'd by earth: preferv'd by Heaven! No higher can aspiring Virtue foar: Enough to thee of grief and fame is given. AN EXTEMPORE INVITATION TO THE Earl of OXFORD, Lord High Treasurer, 1712. MY LORD, OU UR weekly friends to-morrow meet To try for once if they can dine If, weary'd with the great affairs Crown with thy health the fprightly bowl: ERLE |