Or view the op❜ning lawns, or private woods,
Or distant bluish hills, or filver floods :
Now harmless birds in filken nets infnare,
Now with swift dogs pursue the flying hare;
Dull sports! for oh my CHLOE is not there!
Fatigued at length I willingly retire
To a small study, and a chearful fire,
There o'er fome folio pore; I pore, 'tis true,
But oh my thoughts are fled, and fled to you;
I hear you, fee you, feast upon your eyes,
And clafp with eager arms the lovely prize.
Here for a while I cou'd forget my pain,
Whilft I by dear reflection live again;
But ev❜n these joys are too sublime to last,
And quickly fade, like all the real ones past:
For juft when now beneath fome filent grove
I hear you talk and talk perhaps of love,
Or charm with thrilling notes the lift'ning ear,
Sweeter than angels fing, or angels hear,
My treach❜rous hand its weighty charge lets go,
The book falls thund'ring on the floor below,
The pleafing vision in a moment's gone,
And I once more am wretched and alone.
So when glad ORPHEUS from th' infernal shade
Had juft recall'd his long-lamented maid,
Soon as her charms had reach'd his eager eyes,
Loft in eternal night-again fhe dies.
To the Right Hon. the Lady MARGARET CAVENDISH HARLEY, prefented with a Collection of POEMS.
HE tuneful throng was ever beauty's care,
And verfe a tribute facred to the fair,
Hence in each age the lovelieft nymph has been,
By undisputed right, the Mufes' queen ;
Her fmiles have all poetick bofoms fir'd,
And patronis'd the verse themselves infpir'd:
LESBIA prefided thus in Roman times,
Thus SACHARISSA reign'd o'er British rhymes,
And present bards to MARGARETTA bow,
For, what they were of old, is HARLEY now.
From OXFORD's houfe, in thefe dull bufy days,
Alone we hope for patronage, or praise ;
He to our flighted labours ftill is kind,
Beneath his roof w'are ever fure to find
(Reward fufficient for the world's neglect)
Charms to infpire, and goodness to protect;
Your eyes with rapture animate our lays,
Your fire's kind hand uprears our drooping bays,
Form'd for our glory and support, ye seem,
Our constant patron he, and you our theme.
Where thou'd poetick homage then be pay'd?
Where ev'ry verse, but at your feet be lay'd?
A double right you to this empire bear,
As firft in beauty, and as OXFORD's heir.
Illuftrious maid! in whofe fole perfon join'd
Ev'ry perfection of the fair we find,
Charms that might warrant all her sex's pride,
Without one foible of her fex to hide;
Good nature, artlefs as the bloom that dies
Her cheeks, and wit as piercing as her eyes.
Oh HARLEY! cou'd but you thefe lines approve,
These children fprung from idleness, and love,
Cou'd they (but ah how vain is the defign!)
Hope to amufe your hours, as once they've mine,
Th' ill judging world's applause, and critick's blame
Alike I'd fcorn; your approbation's fame.
OO plain, dear youth, these tell-tale eyes
My heart your own declare,
But for heav'n's fake let it fuffice
You reign triumphant there:
Forbear your utmost pow'r to try,
Nor farther urge your sway;
Prefs not for what I must deny,
For fear I fhou'd obey.
your arts fuccessful prove,
you a maid undo,
Whofe greatest failing is her love,
And that her love for you?
Say, wou'd you use that very pow'r
You from her fondness claim,
To ruin in one fatal hour
A life of fpotlefs fame?
Ah! ceafe, my dear, to do an ill,
Because perhaps you may!
But rather try your utmost skill
To fave me, than betray:
Be you yourself my virtue's guard,
Defend, and not pursue;
Since 'tis a task for me too hard,
To fight with love and you.
To the Right Honourable the EARL of CHESTERFIELD, on his being installed Knight of the GARTER.
THefe trophies, STANHOPE, of the lovely dame,
Once the bright object of a monarch's flame,
Who with fuch juft propriety can wear,
As thou, the darling of the gay and fair?
See ev'ry friend to wit, politenefs, love,
With one confent thy fovereign's choice approve!
And liv'd PLANTAGENET her voice to join,
Herfelf, and GARTER, both were surely thine.
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