'Tis art, and knowledge, which draw forth
The hidden feeds of native worth :
They blow those sparks, and make them rise
Into such flames as touch the skies :
To the old Heroes hence was given
A pedigree, which reach'd to heaven:
Of mortal feed they were not held,
Which other mortals so excell'd.
And beauty too, in such excess,
As yours, Zelinda ! claims no less :
Smile but on me, and you shall scorn
Henceforth to be of Princes born.
I can describe the shady grove,
lov'd mother flept with Jove:
And yet excuse the faultless dame,
Caught with her fpouse's shape and name:
Thy matchless form will credit bring
To all the wonders I shall sing.
To my Lady MORTON, on New-YEAR'S-DAY,
at the LOUVRE in PARIS.
MADI
ADAM! new-years may well expect to find
Welcome from you, to whom they are so kind; Still as they pass, they court and smile on you;. And make your beauty, as themselves, seem newa To the fair Villars we Dalkeith prefer ; And faireft Morton now as inuch to her : So like the sun's advance your titles Show, Which, as he rises, does the warmer grow.
But
But thus to style you fair, your fex's praise,
Gives you but myrtle, who may challenge bays ;
From armed foes to bring a Royal prize,
Shews your brave heart victorious as your eyes.
If Judith, marching with the General's head,
Can give us passion when her story 's read;
What
may the living do, which brought away
Though a less bloody, yet a nobler prey ?
Who from our flaming Troy, with a bold hand,
Snatch'd her fair charge, the Princess, like a brand :
A brand! preserv'd to warm fome Prince's heart;
And make whole kingdoms take her + Brother's part,
So Venus, from prevailing Greeks, did Throwd
The I hope of Rome, and sav'd him in a cloud.
This gallant act may cancel all our rage, Begin a better, and absolve this age. Dark shades become the portrait of our time; Here weeps Misfortune, and there triumphs Crime ! Let him that draws it hide the rest in night; This portion only may endure the light, Where the kind Nymph, changing her faultless shape, Becomes unhandsome, handsomely to scape, When through the guards, the river, and the sea, Faith, beauty, wit, and courage, made their way. As the brave eagle does with sorrow fee The forest wasted; and that lofty tree
* Henrietta Maria, youngest Daughter to K. Ch. I. + K. Charles II. I Æneas.
Which holds her nest about to be oe’rthrown,
Before the feathers of her young are grown;
She will not leave them, nor she cannot stay,
But bears them boldly on her wings away:
So Aed the dame, and o'er the ocean bore
Her princely burthen to the Gallic shore.
Born in the storms of this Royal Fair,
Produc'd like lightning in tempestuous air,
Though now she flies her native ifle (less kind,
Less safe for her than either fea or wind!)
Shall, when the blossom of her beauty 's blown,
See her great Brother on the British throne:
Where peace shall smile, and no dispute arise,
But which rules most, his sceptre, or
her
eyes.
TO A FAIR LADY,
Playing with a Snake.
TRANGE! that such horror, and such grace,
Should dwell together in one place;
A Fury's arm, an Angel's face !
'Tis innocence, and youth, which makes
In Chloris' fancy such mistakes,
To start at love, and play with snakes.
By this, and by her coldness, barr'd,
Her servants have a talk too hard:
The tyrant has a double guard !
Thrice happy snake! that in her fleeve
May boldly creep; we dare not give
Our thoughts so unconfin'à a leave.
Contented in that neft of snow
He lies, as he his bliss did know;
And to the wood no more would go.
Take heed, fair Eve! you do not make
Another tempter of this snake :
A marble one, so warm’d, would speak.
THE NIGHT - PIECE,
Or, a Picture drawn in the Dark.
ARKNESS, which fairest nymphs disarms,
Defends us ill from Mira's charms:
Mira can lay her beauty by,
Take no advantage of the eye;
Quit all that Lely's art can take,
And yet a thousand captives make.
Her speech is grac'd with sweeter sound,
Than in another's song is found :
And all her well-plac'd words are darts,
Which need no light to reach our hearts.
As the bright stars, and Milky Way,
Shew'd by the night, ave hid by day :
So we, in that accomplish'd mind,
Help'd by the night, new graces finde
Which by the fplendor of her view,
Dazzled before, we never knew.
While we converse with her, we mark
No want of day, nor think it dark :
Her shining image is a light
Fixt in our hearts, and conquers night.
Like jewels to advantage fet,
Her beauty by the shade does get :
There, blushes, frowns, and cold disdain,
All that our paffion might restrain,
Is hid, and our indulgent mind
Presents the fair idea kind.
Yet, friended by the night, we dare
Only in whispers tell our care :
He that on her his bold hand lays
With Cupid's pointed arrows plays;
They with a touch (they are so keen!)
Wound us unshot, and the unseen.
All near approaches threaten death,
We may be ship-wreck'd by her breath :
Love, favour'd once with that sweet gale,
Doubles his haste, and fills his fail ;
Till he arrive where she must prové
The haven, or the rock, of love.
So, we th’ Arabian coast do know
At distance, when the spices blow;
By the rich odour taught to steer,
Though neither day nor stars appear.
|