To form the nymph, a vulgar wit must join,
As coarfer foils will moft the flower refine.
Ophelia's beauties let the Jasmine paint,
Too faintly foft, too nicely elegant.
Around with feeming fanctity endued,
The Paffion-flower may best exprefs the Prude.
Like the gay Rose, too rigid Silvia shines,
While, like its guardian thorn, her virtue joins
Happy the nymph! from all their failures free,
Happy the nymph! in whom their charms agree.
Faint thefe productions, till you bid difclofe,
The Pink new splendors, and fresh tints the Rofe :
And yet condemn not trivial draughts like these,
Form'd to improve, and make ev'n trifles pleafe.
A power like yours minuter beauties warms,
And yet can blast the most aspiring charms :
Thus, at the rays whence other objects shine,
The taper fickens, and its flames decline.
When by your art the purple Violet lives,
And the pale Lily fprightlier charms receives:
Garters to me shall glow inferior far,
And with lefs pleasing luftre shine the star.

Let ferious triflers, fond of wealth or fame,
On toils like thefe beftow too foft a name;
Each gentler art with wise indifference view,
And fcorn one trifle, millions to pursue:
More artful I, their fpecious fchemes deride,
Fond to please you, by you in these employ'd;
A nobler task, or more fublime defire,
Ambition ne'er could form, nor pride inspire :

The

The sweets of tranquil life and rural ease
Amuse fecurely, nor lefs juftly please.
Where gentle pleasure shews her milder power,
Or blooms in fruit, or sparkles in the flower;
Smiles in the groves, the raptur'd poet's theme;
Flows in the brook, his Naiad of the ftream;
Dawns, with each happier ftroke the pencil gives,
And, in each livelier image, fmiling lives;

Is heard, when Silvia ftrikes the warbling ftrings,
Selinda fpeaks, or Philomela fings:
Breathes with the morn; attends, propitious maid,
The evening ramble, and the noon-day glade;
Some visionary fair she cheats our view,
Then only vigorous, when the 's feen like you.
Yet nature fome for fprightlier joys defign'd,
For brighter fcenes, with nicer care, refin’d.
When the gay jewel radiant ftreams supplies,
And vivid brilliants meet your brighter eyes;
When drefs and pomp around the fancy play,
By fortune's dazzling beauties borne away:
When theatres for you the scenes forego,
And the box bows, obfequiously low:
How dull the plan which indolence has drawn,
The moffy grotto, or the flowery lawn!
Though rofeate fcents in every wind exhale,
And fylvan warblers charm in every gale.

Of these be her's the choice, whom all approve;
And whom, but thofe who envy, all must love :
By nature model'd, by experience taught,

To know and pity every female fault:

Pleas'd ev'n to hear her fex's virtues fhewn,

And blind to none's perfections but her own:
Whilft, humble fair! of thefe too few fhe 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 fhines and warms:
Whofe mind, in every light, can charms difplay,
With wisdom ferious, and with humour gay;
Juft as her eyes in each bright posture warm,
And fiercely strike, or languishingly charm:
Such are your honours-mention'd to your coft,
Those least can hear them, who deferve them moft:
Yet ah! forgive-the less inventive Mufe,

If e'er she 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."

BRING, Floara, bring thy treafures 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 essay
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, smooth,
Whofe thoughts and accents form'd to soothe,
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. 173S.

"TWAS in a cool Aonian glade,

The wanton Cupid, fpent with toil,
Had fought refreshment from the shade;
And ftretch'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 hufh

from this aufpicious hour,

The world, I ween, may reft in peace; ›
And, robb'd of darts, and stript of power,
Thy peevish petulance decrease.

Sleep on, poor child! whilst I withdraw,
And this thy vile artillery hide-

When the Caftalian fount she saw,
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 stream fo wonderous clear,

When angry Cupid fearches round,
Will not the radiant points appear?

Will not the furtive spoils be found ? Too foon they were; and every dart, Dipt in the Muse's mystic spring, Acquir'd new force to wound the heart; And taught at once to love and sing. 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.

O D E.

Written 1739%

HOR.

"Urit fpes animi credula mutui."

Tי

WAS not by beauty's aid alone,
That love ufurp'd his airy throne,

His boasted 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