the commendations the critics can give him will make but very little amends. All I fhall fay for these trifles is, that I pretend not to vie with any man whatsoever. I doubt not but there are feveral now living who are able to write better on all fubjects than I am upon any one: but I will take the boldness to say, that there is no one man among them all who shall be readier to acknowledge his own faults, or to do juftice to the merits of other people. POEMS O, little book, and to the world impart Go The faithful image of an amorous heart: Those who love's dear deluding pains have known Those who have liv'd from all its torments free, Who with fuch lucky stars begins his love, That his cool judgment does his choice approve. What's built upon efteem can ne'er decay. L ET the dull Merchant curfe his angry fate, And from the winds and waves his fortune wait! Let the loud Lawyer break his brains, and be A flave to wrangling coxcombs, for a fee : Let the rough Soldier fight his prince's foes, And for a livelihood his life expofe : I wage no war, I plead no cause, but Love's; I fear no ftorms but what Celinda moves. And what grave cenfor can my choice defpife? But here, fair charmer, here the difference lies : The Merchant, after all his hazards past, Enjoys the fruit of his long toils at last; The Soldier high in his king's favour stands, And, after having long obey'd, commands; The Lawyer, to reward his tedious care, Roars on the bench, that babbled at the bar : While I take pains to meet a fate more hard, And reap no fruit, no favour, no reward. EPIGRAM. Written in a Lady's Table-Book. WITH ITH what strange raptures would my foul be Were but her book an emblem of her breast! E LE G Y. THE POWER OF VERSE. TO HIS MISTRESS. WHILE thofe bright eyes fubdue where-e'er you will, And, as you please, can either fave or kill; What youth fo bold the conqueft to defign? What wealth fo great to purchase hearts like thine ? None but the Mufe that privilege can claim, And what you give in love, return in fame. Verse can give fame, can fading beauties fave, Their generous breasts warm with a genial fire, * Dido. + Penelope. JEALOUSY. |