We thank you, and our gratitude 's as great
yours, when you thank'd God for being beat.
THE CHARACTER OF AN HOLY-SISTER.
SHE that can fit three fermons in a day,
And of those three fcarce bear three words away;
She that can rob her husband, to repair
A budget-prieft, that noses a long prayer;
She that with lamp-black purifies her shoes,
And with half-eyes and Bible foftly goes;
She that her pockets with lay-gospel stuffs,
And edifies her looks with little ruffs ;
She that loves fermons as fhe does the reft,
Still standing stiff that longest are the best;
She that will lye, yet swear she hates a lyar,
Except it be the man that will lie by her;
She that at christenings thirfteth for more fack,
And draws the broadeft handkerchief for cake;
She that fings psalms devoutly next the street,
And beats her maid i' th' kitchin, where none fee 't;
She that will fit in fhop for five hours space,
And register the fins of all that país,
Damn at first fight, and proudly dares to fay,
That none can poffibly be fav'd but they
That hang religion in a naked ear,
And judge men's hearts according to their hair;
That could afford to doubt, who wrote beft fenfe,
Mofes, or Dod on the commandements;
She that can figh, and cry "Queen Elizabeth,"
il at the Pope, and scratch-out" sudden death :”
VOL. I.
A a
And for all this can give no reason why :
This is an holy-sister, verily.
Down the mountain flows the stream,
Up afcends the lambent flame;
Smoke and vapour mount the skies;
All preferve their unities;
Nought below, and nought above,
Seems averfe, but prone to Love.
Stop the meteor in its flight,
Or the orient rays of light;
Bid Dan Phoebus not to fhine,
Bid the planets not incline;
"Tis as vain, below, above,
To impede the courfe of Love.
Salamanders live in fire,
Eagles to the skies afpire,
Diamonds in their quarries lie,
Rivers do the sea supply :
Thus appears, below, above,
A propensity to Love.
Metals grow within the mine,
Luscious grapes upon the vine;
Still the needle marks the pole;
Parts are equal to whole :
'Tis a truth as clear, that Love
Quickens all, below, above.
Man is born to live and die,
Snakes to creep, and birds to fly ;
Fishes in the waters swim,
Doves are mild, and lions grim:
Nature thus, below, above,
Pushes all things on to Love.
Does the cedar love the mountain?
Or the thirsty deer the fountain?
Does the fhepherd love his crook ?
Or the willow court the brook?
Thus by Nature all things move,
Like a running ftream, to Love.
Is the valiant hero bold?
Does the mifer doat on gold?
Seek the birds in fpring to pair ?
Breathes the rofe-bud fcented air?
Should you this deny, you 'll prove
Nature is averfe to Love.
As the wencher loves a lafs,
As the toper loves his glafs,
As the friar loves his cowl,
Or the millar loves the toll,
So do all, below, above,
Fly precipitate to Love.
When young maidens courtship shun,
When the moon out-fhines the fun,
When the tigers lambs beget,
When the fnow is black as jet,
When the planets cease to move,
Then fhali Nature cease to Love.
N. B. This is delivered down by tradition as a production of that celebrated poet; and was spoken at the Weftminster-School election, on the following fubject:
"Nullis amor eft medicabilis herbis."
OL Daphne fees, and feeing her admires,
Which adds new flames to his celeftial fires :
Had any remedy for Love been known,
The god of Phyfic, fure, had cur'd his own.
To the Right Worshipful, my very loving Mafter Mr. Lambert Ofbolton, Chief School-Mafter of Westminfter School.
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