For him fine marble in the quarry lies, Which, in due ftatues, to his fame shall rise; 325 TO MR. JOHN DYER, A PAINTER, ADVISING HIM TO DRAW A CERTAIN NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS PERSON; F Occafioned by seeing his PICTURE of the celebrated CLIO*. ORGIVE an artless, an officious friend, Weak, when I judge, but willing to commend; Fall'n as I am, by no kind fortune rais'd, Deprefs'd, obfcur'd, unpity'd, and unprais'd; Yet, when these well-known features I perufe, Some warmth awakes-fome embers of a Muse. Ye Mufes, Graces, and ye Loves, appear! Your Queen, your Venus, and your Clio's here! In fuch pure fires her rifing thoughts refine! Her eyes with fuch commanding fweetness fhine: Such vivid tinctures sure through æther glow, Stain fummer clouds, or gild the watery bow: See Dyer's Poems, 10 If If life Pygmalion's ivory favourite fir'd, Sure fome enamour'd Godt his draught infpir'd! Shade the sweet theft, and mar the beauteous frame ! Ah!-let no pleasing view the loss supply. But still, my friend, ftill the sweet object stays, Now rural fcenes in fimple grandeur rife! 15 20 25 30 35 Vales, hills, dawns, lakes, and vineyards feast our eyes, But if new glories moft our warmth excite; 40 Would Would you in envy'd pomp unrival'd reign, In lineage, titles, wealth, and worth elate! In love, in war, in knowledge, or in state. Thus fhall your colours, like his worth amaze! Thus fhall you charm, enrich'd with Clio's praise ! Clear, and more clear, your golden genius fhines, While my dim lamp of life obfcure declines: Dull'd in damp fhades, it wastes, unfeen, away, While yours, triumphant, grows one blaze of day. 45 50 55 60 VERSES SENT TO AARON HILL, Esq. With the TRAGEDY of SIR THOMAS OVERBURY, expecting him to correct it. A I. S the foul, ftript of mortal clay, And boundless roves the milky way, 11. This hero, clogg'd with droffy lines, As thy correcting hand refines, Bright fcenes around him rife. Thy touch brings the wifh'd ftone to pass, It turns polluted lead or brafs, PRO PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT THE REVIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE's KING HENRY THE SIXTH, At the THEATRE-ROYAL in DRURY-LANE. Printed before the Play from a spurious Copy. TO-night a patient ear, ye Britons lend, 5 And to your great forefathers' deeds attend. Thus when you fee this land by faction toft, K 2 15 20 THE |