THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES MISCELLANEOUS gOEMS MRS. J. PJLKINGTON. * VOL. I. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS MRS. J. PILKINGTON, DEDICATED BY PERMISSION, TO HER GRACE THE DUTCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, JUN. AND W. DAVIES, (SUCCESSORS TO MR. CADELL), STRAND. SOLD ALSO BY J.' DEIGHTON AND W. L'UNN, CAMBRIDGE. ~ PR 1796 TO HER GRACE THE DUTCHESS OF MARLBO ROUGH. MADAM, 1 Should not venture to uflier into the world the following Iheets, were they not trifles that will derive value from the prote&ion with which they are honored by your Grace. I am ambitious of the opportunity afforded me of paying my humble tribute to exemplary VOL. I. b DEDICATION. goodnefs, united in one perfon to high rank and great power, and of the honor of fub- fcribing myfelf Your Grace's Moil refpeftful And devoted humble fervant, . PILKINGTON. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. Page AN Addrefs to the Reviewers i On the Mortifications arifing from a Reverfe of Fortune 5 On the Birth-Day of Mrs. H 8 On the Recovery of a young Lady 10 Morning, a Paftoral 13 Noon, a Pafloral 17 Evening, a Paftoral 20 Lines addrefled to Mifs T 24 To a Friend, who had refufed vifiting the Country until Spring 27 The Winter's Walk, by Dr. Johnfon 29 The Spring Walk, in Imitation of Dr. Johnfon 31 A Poetic Epiftle to H E , Efq. on the Subject of Matrimony 33 The Wreath of Friendship, addrefled to Mifs T. 4 1 To a Friend, on an Addition of Fortune . 43 CONTENTS. Page Lines addrefled to G R . Efq. ex- plaining why the Ladies were not adorned with Laurel 46 Upon perufing a Fable by Mr. Loyd 49 On the governing Principle of- Fate, addreffed to Mifs T ' v . 51 An Epiftle to Captain B ^ , fuppofed to, ' be written by Mifs E 53 Lines addreifed to the Authorms's Mother . 57 To a young Lady, who painted beautifully, but was rather vain '*5i 59 On contemplating the Piclure of a Friend ... 61 An Epiftle to a Friend on her Birt^JvDay 63 On the Death of a Parrot 66 Lines addrefled to Mifs C . . *. . '. . . . '.*. '68 A Poetic Epiftle to W P-, ; Efq. . . 70 On the Marriage of an elderly Lady to a very young Man 75 An explanatory Defcription of the Wheel of Fortune 77 Epigrams 79 92 Lines to a Friend, on her Brother's return from the Weft Indies in an ill State of Health 93 CONTENTS. Page Lines accompanying a Minced Pie 96 Lines written upon perufing Mr. Keate's Ac- count of the Pelew Iflands 99 An Addrefs to a Lady, who was continually prfefling Friendfbip 101 Lines addrefled to . Mrs. H , upon the Confolation derived from real Friendfhip ... 103 Satirical Lines addrefled to a Lady who de- ferved them 105 Elegiac Lines during an Illnefs 107 Difappointment ..^ 109 On the Approach of Winter. ..... .... 111 Lines -defer iptive of the Pain attendant on Expectation. 114 On the Birth-Day of a young Lady ^. 116 An Addrefs to'Fortune 119 On the magnanimous Conduft of Captain Riou 122 Edward and Elvira, a Tale. > 12 5 A Reply to a Letter which profefled the Infen- : fibility of the Writer's Heart to all earthly Happinefs 139 Invocation to Sleep ' 142 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. AN ADDRESS TO THE GENTLEMEN REVIEWERS. /JL Suppliant, the humblefl that e'er woo'd the Nine, Submiflive bows down, at the foot of your fhrine ! With a hand, that is half paralytic by fear. And an eye that's fuffufed in timidity's tear ; Expecting a cenfure, (he feels would be juft, Yet placing fome little reliance and truft VOL, I. B 2 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. On thofe, who refine both their judgment and hearts, By perfect acquaintance with all lib'ral arts ! Thus fearful, thus trembling, and fainting with fright, I fcarce know what ftile would be befl to indite ; But, Sirs, with permiffion, I'll try if I'm able. Your wrath to avert by a tale, or a fable.' " Time was, when the tribe of the quadrupede kind, " Devoted their hours to improving their mind ; " And thofe who were deftin'd by nature to fhine <; Above mediocrity's flrait forward line ; ; < Whofe knowledge or judgment illumin'd their way " Like rays, which defcend from the orbit of day, " In council refolv'd to determine the fate " Of all wit and learning that came in their ftate. " The beads who had long been in habit of writing, " Whofe pens had the happiefl knack at inditing, MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 3 " As foon as the league was in public recorded, <: Protefted, the meafure they highly applauded " But thofe, who could boaft of no brilliance of mind, " Moft heartily wifti'd the fociety blind ; " For when they prefented their works for infpeftion, " They knew all the faults would foon meet with detection. " A fpaniel, whom fortune unkindly had fhorn " Of comforts, to which the poor thing had been born ; " Not knowing what other employment to follow, " Attempted to tread in the path of Apollo ; " But when fhe was told that her work muft be feen, " By eyes, which were render'd remarkably keen, " So great was the terror fhe felt at the news, " That her fears, it is thought, check 'd the flights of her Mufe. 4 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. " The critics appriz'd of the ftate of her mind, " Humanely refolv'd to be tender and kind ; " With partial infpeftion, they read o'er her lays, " And fent her a leaf, from their garland of bays." MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ON THE MORTIFICATIONS ARISING FROM A REVERSE OF FORTUNE. I~L A D Fortune on my youthful days, No fmiling influence flied ; Or had the luftre of her rays, Ne'er glitter'd round my head ! Then had I fcap'd the poignant fmart, That agitates this bread ; Then had this too proud feeling heart From poverty been bleft ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Then had this independent mind, With fupple notions fraught, Been taught to bend to every wind With pliancy of thought. But gilded ikies o'erfpread the fcene. And flow'rs beftrew'd the glade ; And ev'ry path was deck'd with green, O'er which my footfteps flray'd ! Thofe pleafures which the heart ne'er knew, Excite no painful figh ; But thofe we once have grajp'd, we view Still with a longing eye ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. The dear ideas which arife, Of pleafures that are fled ; Make the dark clouds which fhade the flues. Hang darker o'er the head ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ON THE B 1 R T H - D A Y OF MRS. H Dec. 19. \VHEN vernal beauties firft unite, And blooming profpefb glad our fight, We hail returning May ; Though fableft of the monthly train, May vernal funs illume the plain On Charlotte's natal day ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. May heart-felt pleafures round her wait, And may it be her annual fate To tafte increafmg joy ; And may no penfive thought moleft The guilelefs manfion of her breafl, Her pleafures to deftroy ! Domeftic comforts are her own, Thofe tender joys to me unknown, Illuminate her way ; And may (he ne'er that light refign, May Hymen's torch effulgent fhine With an increafing ray ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ON THE RECOVERY OF A YOUNG LADY, OF SEVEN YEARS OF AGE, FROM A DANGEROUS INDISPOSITION. H E N the bloffoms of fpring with delight we firft trace, New beauties appear in each flow'r ; And when the fun's luftres again fhew their face, Difperfmg a vapour or fhower, MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 11 We hail their return, with a pleafure more fweet, Than if we had ne'er known the fky O'erfpread by a cloud, that had darken'd our feat, By the deep fable hue of its die ! Now health is returning to Fanny's lov'd face, And rofes her cheeks overfpread ; We think its return adds a more lively grace, Than if they had never once fled ! May the rofeate hue her young cheek long adorn, May pleafure a garland now bring, Of flow'rs that are blooming unmix'd by the thorn, To adorn her fair funfhine of fpring ! 12 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. And when to the fummer of life fhe attains, May the dew then defcend to their flalk ; And cherifh the flow'rs that bedeck the foft plains, O'er which fhe is deftin'd to walk ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 13 MORNING. A PASTORAL. JDURSTING through its fable cov'ring, Morn enlivens all the fky, Glowing beauties round it hov'ring, Prove Aurora's chariot nigh. Perch'd upon an Attic fpray, Chanticleer now founds his horn ; Herald of the blaze of day, Ufher'd by the blufh of morn. 14 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. O'er the heath the fhepherds ftray, Anxious to unpen their fold ; When the eaftern god of day Tips the diftant hills with gold. View the ploughman, how he meafures O'er the glebe an even pace, Whiftling, as the feed he treafures, To fuftain the human race : Brooding o'er the heart-felt pleafure, That attends his humble lot ; . Feeling that his greateft treafure Centres in his little cot ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 15 O'er the verdant meadow {kipping, Cheek all flufh'd with rofeate glow, See the joyous milkmaid tripping, Undiflurb'd by care and woe : Now the cow all docile ftands, Lowing near the beechen rail, While the milkmaid's ruddy hands Amply fill the frofted pail. Now the woodlark foaring high Warbles through the paffing gale, Whilft the ring-dove's plaintive figh Tells its mate a tender tale. l6 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Now the flow'rs frefh fweets exhaling, Nurtur'd by the dew of mom, See the aftive bee regaling, Breakfafts on the bloflbm'd thorn. View the diftant profpeft glowing, With the fun's tranfcendant ray ; Life and health at once bellowing, Every new returning day ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 17 NOON. A PASTORAL. OTRETCH'D beneath the oaken fliade, See the love-fick fhepherd lay ; Diftant from the op'ning glade, That admits the folar ray. Near yon pure tranflucent rill, Hear the fportive lambkins bleat ; Or reclining on a hill Panting with the fervid heat. VOL. I. G l8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Now the fun with radiant pow'r, Sheds his glowing beams of light ; Whilft the thirfty languid flow'r Droops until the dew of night. Not a zephyr's gentle breeze, Whifpers through the flop ing vale Not a motion fhakes the trees, Wafted from a weflern gale. The cattle from the noontide blaze. In the lake or nat'ral bower Seek relief, while Sol's bright rays Dart their fierceft hotteft power. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 19 Now the birds to diftant groves, Perch 'd upon a pendant fpray, Warble forth their tender loves, Shaded from the glare of day. c 2 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EVENING. A PASTORAL. N OW the plaintive bird of night Sweetly warbles o'er the glade ; And the fun's refulgent light Sinks beneath the evening (hade. Still the diflant fcene is glowing, Gilded is the weftern dale ; Now mild Zephyr gently blowing, Wafts us a refrefhing gale. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Now the flow'r-enamel'd bed Blufhes with enliven'd hue ; And the lily rears its head, Water'd by the falling dew. At the foot of yonder hill, Colin's whited cottage peeps ; And a foft pellucid rill | At its margin gently creeps. O'er the meadow now he's pacing, Grateful for domeftic blife ; View his ruddy children racing, Eager for the greeting kifs. Z MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Seated in the verdant bow'r. Now the fhepherd owns his love ; Vows that Cupid's mighty pow'r Shall furpafs the conftant dove ! Blithfome is the village maiden, Dancing on the well-trod lawn : Whilft for her the fwain is laden With the bloflbm of the thorn. Breaking over yonder tower, View the moon's refle&ed beams ; See its rays illume the bower, By its trembling filvery gleams ; MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 23 Now the traveller benighted Hails the luftre of it's light, When no longer he's affrighted By the fable fhade of night. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS T Cynthia's crefted form difplay'd Her kind effialgent light, And filver luftres thro' the glade Had beam'd upon the night ! When fragrant odours fill'd each breeze Which Zephyr wafts along, And when the warblers of the trees Sang forth their evening fong ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 25 Then as the beauteous fcene I view'd, A gentle calmnefs ftole, The rougher paffions were fubdu'd That agitate the foul ! Content, the offspring of the fky, Her kindeft influence fpread, And gratitude ilium 'd my eye, For bleffings on my head ! Then as the various boons I traced Benevolently given, My grateful heart thy friendfhip placed One of the firft from heav'n ! 26 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. For when affliftion's iron pow'r Aflails the troubled breaft, Friendfhip can gild the fable hour, And footh the cares to reft ! And when my bark (hall roughly fail Upon the water's force, Thy friendfhip, like a gentle gale, Shall fweetly fmooth its courfe. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 2J LINES WRITTEN TO A FRIEND, UPON HER REFUSING TO VISIT THE COUNTRY, UNTIL SPRING WAS FARTHER ADVANCED. JM O more in penfive mood I'll pine, Tho' Charlotte has refus'd to dine, And grace her vacant feat ; Can {he prefer the bufy throng, The feftive dance, the jocund fong, To friendihip's calm retreat ? 28 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. When genial funs fhall gild the fcene, And vernal beauties deck the green, She tells me fhe'll retire ; Tho' winter's traces ftill appear, I'd make it fummer all the year. Around a cheerful fire. To me all feafons bring delight ; If Charlotte's prefence glads my fight, I feel myfelf moil bleft ; Not Afric's fun, or Alpine fnow, Could leflen or increafe the glow Of friendfhip in my breaft. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 29 THE WINTER'S WALK. BY DR. JOHNSON. .DEHOLD, my fair, where'er we rove, What dreary profpe&s round us rife ; The naked hill, the leaflefs grove, The hoar}' ground, the frowning fkies ! Not only through the wafted plain Stern Winter is thy force confeft, Still wider fpreads thy horrid reign, I feel thy pow'r ufurp my breaft ! 3 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Enliv'ning hope and fond defire Refign the heart to fpleen and care ; Scarce frighted love maintains his fire, And rapture faddens to defpair ! In groundless hope and caufelefs fear, Unhappy man behold thy doom, Still changing with the changing year, The flave of funfhine and of gloom ! Tir'd with vain joys and falfe alarms, With mental and corporeal flrife, Snatch me, my Stella, to thy arms, And fcreen me from the ills of life ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 3! THE SPRING WALK. IN IMITATION OF DR. JOHNSON, SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY S D ESQ. AND ADDRESSED TO MISS SELIN'A T JJEHOLD, Selina, as we ftray, Enliv'ning profpefts glad our eyes ; The verdant lawn, the blooming May, The genial fun, the azure flues ! And as the vernal fcene I trace, A femblance to thy form I find, The blooming beauties of thy face, Illumin'd by thy cultur'd mind ! 3 2 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Let fmiling hope poflefs thy breaft, And love (hall deck thy path with flow'rs, And fable fpleen fhall ne'er moleft, Nor care corrode thy peaceful hours ! And as I view the changing year, Its revolution aptly proves, That blooming hope and blafted fear By turns imprefs the heart that loves ! Now nature's deck'd in all her charms, And vernal pleafures fill my breaft, Say, will Selina blefs thefe arms, And on this faithful bofom reft ? MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 33 A POETIC EPISTLE Efq. IN REPLY TO ONE, WHEREIN HE STATED THE LITTLE PROBABILITY THERE WAS OF HIS FORMING A MATRI- MONIAL ENGAGEMENT, AS HE SCREWED UP THE LADIES, WITH WHOM HE THEN ASSOCIATED, TO TWO OF THE AUTHORESS'S FRIENDS, WHOM HE THOUGHT MODELS OF PERFECTION. Wife, dear Sir, fhould never be From every imperfeftion free ; So try and grow a little wifer, There never was but one Eliza* Nor e'er expeft at P> - to find, Selina's form, and polifh'd mind ; VOL. I. D 34 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. As well might you expeft a rill, Should nimbly mount a neighboring hill ; And when the rill had gain'd the mount, Become at once a playful fount. Therefore, my friend, difcard the _/c/ert', And take a wife of motley hue. Befides if you fhould wed perfection, Your faults could ne'er efcape detection ; Yet Howard, I muft now fpeak true, And fay I think them very few, But was I once to name the clan Of that fame creature, call'd a man ; Why then I might be led to daft, And give the tribe a little lajh ; For they, in truth, delight to vex Our unprovoking, gentle fex ; MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 35 But moft, when ihey'vejfecured a wife, They then become the plague of life j And fhould the lady not inherit Some portion of true female fpirit* Alas ! fhe'll then be kept fo humble, She'll never dare at fpoufe to grumble. The fubjecl: which is on the table, Reminds me of a canine fable ; And as I have not now a better, I'll give it room within my letter. " A fnarling cur, whofe name was Mizzle, " Was wedded to a patient Grizzle ; " In conftant pleafure he would roam, " Whilft his poor wife was left at home. " With marrow bones {he'd deck the board, " In hopes to pleafe her furly lord ; 36 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS* " But when he came, with favage air " He'd treat his ever gentle fair ; " And never did poor Placid fee " The wagging tail exprefs his glee, " As he approach'd but always growling^ " Or making fuch a difmal howling, " As fill'd her with a thoufand fears, " And made her drop her tail and ears. " A friend whom Placid had not feen " Since fhe a wedded dame had been ; " Refolv'd to tramp it o'er the plain, " And fee her once lov'd friend again. " This friend, if fame's report is true, " Was what the world would call zjhrew ; " And who {hall paint her great furprize, " When Placid's figure met her eyes ! MISCELLANOUS POEMS. 37 " My dear ! faid fhe, you're grown fo thin, " Your perfon's merely bone and fkin ! " Your eyes which formerly were bright, " No longer fhed a radiant light ! " Why droops my lovely Placid's head ? " What ! are your fpirits alfo fled ? " The caufe of what I view confefs ? " And let me fhare my friend's diftrefs ! " Poor Placid heav'd a mournful figh, " And lifted up her languid eye ; " Then told the forrows of her life, " From the firft day fhe was a wife. " The tale had fcarcely gain'd its end, " When thus replied the angry friend ; " Oh ! had I but the monfter here, " I vow I'd lay his cranium bare ! qg MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. " Oh ! that you never had been married, " But in a maiden ftate had tarried ! " Yet, if to council you'll attend, " Your troubles, Placid, all will end. " Next time that Mizzle makes a growling, " Do you fet up a louder howling ; " And Ihould he dare to deal out blows, " Return the cuffs upon his nofe ; " And I'll be bound your future life Will be devoid of rage and ftrife. " Placid approv'd the new expedient, " And promis'd to be quite obedient ; " But Juno fcarcely was departed, " E'er Placid was again faint-hearted ; " Her courage by exertion rallied, " When home the grumbling hero Tallied ; MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 39 " Found fault with all his mate had done, " And at her head difcharg'd a bone, " Then gave her an enormous gripe, " Which Jhe return' d upon his pipe. " The gripe he fancied big with death, " And gafping to regain his breath, " Tried to difguife his great furprize, " And check the tears which fill'd his eyes ; " Then turning to his angry queen, " Apologized for all his j^ken. " Vow'd he would never more be fnarling, " And hencefoith fhe fhould be his darling ! " His promife Mizzle firmly kept, " And Placid neither figh'd or wept." But now, my friend, pray don't fuppofe, I think you'll aft like fnarling beaus j 4O MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Nor yet believe my fable teaches, That ladies can become the breeches : Yet fhould the men prove very acid, I'd have the women copy Placid. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. THE WREATH OF FRIENDSHIP, ADDRESSER TO MISS T WITH SOME ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS. X HO' ebon winter's frigid pow'r Has chang'd the verdant green ; Tho' lifelefs is the blufhing flow'r That late bedeck'd the green ! Yet thefe, Eliza, long {hall bloom, And brave the pow'r of time, Like friendfhip that outlives the tomb, And thrives in ev'ry clime ! 42 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. And may this wreath poflefs the art, Our friendfhip to entwine ; And bloflbm in Eliza's heart, As it hath flower'd in mine ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 43 LINES ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND, FORTUNE, FROM HER HUSBAND HAVING TAKEN A A.GAIN, dear Charlotte, now I find That vacuum you flill leave behind, Once more poflefs my bread ; Yet would you but return again, Soft pleafure fhould fucceed the pain, And I feel truly bleft ! 44 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. But to employ the vacant time, I'll offer you in undreft rhyme, My warm congratulations ; Tho' tedious is a tale told o'er, May you derive from India's ftore, A thoufand fweet fenfations ! The pomp, and pageantry, and Mate, That occupy the little great, Thy mind will ne'er purfue ; 'Tis not the glare of outward art, Can gratify thy gen'rous heart, Or give delight to you ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 45 Whatever pleafures thine may be, Mayft thou enjoy them with a glee, Of pure unmix'd delight ; And when at fome far diftant day, E'en life itfelf muft fade away, Still be the profpeft bright ! 46 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. LINES ADDRESSED TO G R ESQ. UPON HIS ENQUIRING WHY THE LADIES WERE NEVER ADORNED WITH A WREATH OF LAUREL. YOU afk me the reafon, why ladies ne'er wear, The famed wreath of laurel entwined round their hair ? To make this odd circumftance perfectly plain, The ftory of Daphne I beg to explain. " Apollo one day was moft ftrongly inclined, " Fair Daphne in wedlock's foft fetters to bind ; " And pleaded his paflion in lover-like ftrain, " But Daphne was cruel, and fled o'er the plain ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 4-7 ' Yet, grievous to tell, his legs were the longer, " And the weakeft you know, muft give way to the ftronger ; " Poor Daphne beheld him quite clofe to her heels, " And a fad palpitation fhe inftantly feels ; " So great her diflike to becoming his wife, " That (he pray'd to the Gods for an end to her life ! " The Gods, you muft know, make all ladies their care, " And fo they attended to poor Daphne's pray'r, " But thought it was pity to cut off her days, -v " And fo they converted the nymph into bays, > " And Apollo was ftruck with the greatefl amaze ! In fhort had his temper been tinftur'd with forrel, " He'd have been in a rage when he look'd at the laurel, " But no fuch a churl, I affure you, was he, " For he fliew'd a mofl tender regard for the tree : 48 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. " Yet when he reflected, he could not but vex, " At 'being outwitted by one of our fex, " And determin'd to punifh the reft of the fair, " By decreeing that ladies no laurel fhould wear. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 49 LINES WRITTEN UPON PERUSING A FABLE BY Ma. L O Y D. JuOYD likens poets to puff, And critics to z candle-fhuff Hold ! faid a critic pafling by, With fcrutiny in either eye ! Not to zfnuff were we e'er liken'd, But to the fnuffers newly brighten'd. To make the fimile appear To ev'ry comprehenfion clear ; VOL. I. E 50 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Should candles into poets turn, Their rays would ne'er effulgent burn, Unlefs the fnuffers lent their art, To amputate the ufelefs part : For poets are fo fond of writing, They never think that whilft inditing, Alas ! they often fland in need Of being told they ought to read. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 51 ADDRESSED TO MISS T UPON HER HAVING OBSERVED THAT THE EVENTS OF LIFE WERE GOVERNED BY FATE. .H On the fixth of next month, when we mean to be gay. ^ Poor * Cymon, I fear, would be fadly offended, If he was left out, as his manners are mended ; The polifh of camps has, I hope, and I truft, Intirely rub'd off all his clerical ruft. But tell him, no more muft he praftife his jokes, On people who vie with the beft of fine folks. My Lady Pentweezle, our circle now graces, Bedeck 'd out in fafhion exported from braces ; The Duchefs of Dafh, and the Countefs of Crambo, With peers of the realm, and my Lady Fandango. * A jocofc name for the captain's brother, who was a chaplain in the army. 56 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. But as I now feel quite a wonderful paffion, To bring all my friends in the circle of fafhion, Tell Cymon, if he has a wifh for the town, I think I can manage to make him go down ; And as parfons you know are an emblem of ftate, To fit at the table of thofe who are great, If once he can put on a fan&ified face. We'll make him our chaplain, and let him fay grace ; In fhort, my dear captain, I'd much more to tell, But the poftman is rattling that fummons, his bell. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 57 MRS. H- CPO.V DISCOVERING THAT SHE WAS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN SHE HAD FANCIED HERSELF. -LIME, dearefl mother, many fay, With fleeteft fteps purfues his way, O'er meadow, vale, and hill ; But you declare 'tis not the cafe, For time no more can run a race, But, like the fun, ftands ftill ! 8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Long, my dear mother, may you feel, That time has got a leaden heel, Which keeps him in a pound ; And five years hence, ftill may you find, That time and age both lag behind, And neither have gain'd ground. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 59 TO A YOUNG LADY, WHO PAINTED BEAUTIFULLY, BUT APPEARED RATHER. VAIN OF THE ART. J. HE flow'rs, Lucinda, which I trace, Will bear a clofe infpelion, For art to nature gives a grace, And calls the work Perfection ! Tho' much as I admire thy art, I'm rather vex'd to fpy, Afelf-applaufe expand thy heart, And animate thy eye ! 60 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Remember, Ovid tells of old, A lady * was fo callous, As by perfeftion to grow bold, And think fhe outdid Pallas. In fhort the goddefs fhe defied, To weave a web befide her ; Minerva, in a rage replied, Henceforth, become a fpider. You oft declare, I love to preach, And at my preaching grumble ; And now I mean my tale fhould teach Lucinda to be humble. * Arachne. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 6l LINES WRITTEN UPON CONTEMPLATING THE PICTURE OF A FRIEND. A HOU dear refemblance of the face I love, I'll view thee often in the penfive hour ; For peace is emblem'd by the laurePd dove, And thou remind' ft me of that gentle pow'r! Well may I trace her in that placid fmile, That kindly beams affection's fofteft art ; Well may {he feek a breaft untinged by guile, And chufe her manfion in that gen'rous heart ! 62 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Did I poflefs Lavater's matchlefs fkill, My pen with glowing energy would write ; This feature fhould exprefs difgufl at ill, And truth and honor fhould in that unite ! Then fhould I fee pure Friendfhip's gentle pow'r Extraft the arrow from the barbed part ; There fhould it gild affliftion's fable hour, And footh the forrows of a wounded heart ! There fhould I fee foft Charity's bleft mien, With dew-drop falling from her azure eye ; There fhould I view her with a form ferene, As the mild colours of an evening fky ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. A POETIC LETTER TO MISS T ON HER BIRTH-DAY. -l-fLIZA, I hear in thefe high-polifh'd times, The people all fcribble their wifhes in rhymes ; And though I've but little pretence to the art, I'll endeavour to oner this wifli of my heart ; Yet alas ! my dear friend, no one elegant ftrain Was ever the produce of this hum-drum brain ; And the ftronger the wifh on a fubjeft to ftiine, The greater the chance that there's not a good line : 64 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. And I'm fadly afraid I (hall feel like the Man*, Who was afk'd by his friend to enliven a clan, By a fally of wit or an elegant joke Yet when the wit came, alas ! he ne'er fpokc. Tho' language, Eliza, but faintly can fay, The tender fenfation I feel on this day ; Yet ftill would I wifh on this morning to fend Some proof of affeftion to greet my lov'd friend. May the funfhine of joy, long illumine thy breaft, And the faireft of vifions attend on thy reft ; May the daughter of Paeon t, with veft of light blue, Long mantle thy cheek with a rofeate hue ; * Alluding to a paper in the Rambler, defcribing the embar- raffment of a man of abilities, who knowing himfelf invited to be of a party for the purpofe of enlivening them by his flalhes of wit, felt fo fearful of making one dull obfervation, that he was unable to entertain them with one that was bright. f Hygeia, the goddefs of health. MISCELLANOUS POEMS. 65 May the Goddefs of Friendfliip for ever impart A tender fenfation of Wife to thy heart ; And her altar frefh blooming, unfading difclofe A fragrance more fweet than the breath of the rofe. May the wheel of Dame Fortune effulgent long ftiine, And the brighteft of profpefts, Eliza, be thine ! May Hope chufe her manfi.cn within thy lov'd breaft, And fixing her anchor, fink fweetly to reft. VOL. I. 66 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. LINES SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY MRS. H - S, ON THE BACK OF A CASE WHICH CONTAINED HER FAVORITE PARROT. ! cruel tyrant ! has thy art For ever clofed thofe eyes in death ; And has thy pond'rous iron dart Deprived my lovely Poll of breath ! If beauty had the pow'r to fave A viftim from thy cruel rage ; My Poll had now efcap'd the grave, And ftill had chatter'd in her cage ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 67 And when I view the feather 'd throng, To thy lov'd mem'ry I'll be true ; The gayeft plume, the fofteft fong, Shall ever yield the palm to you ! No other fav'rite fhall fupply The vacant corner of my bread ; Still thy dear form fhall meet my eye, And in a cafe thy bones fhall reft ! F 2 68 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. TO MISS C UPON HER. REQUESTING A PROMISE OF UNCEASING REGARD. Y OU afk me, Louifa, a promife to give, To love you with fondnefs, as long as I live ; You draw my affeftion with magnetic art, And fo you may feel quite fecure of my heart. I love you, Louifa, becaufe I can find That Nature has lavifh'd her charms on your mind ; I love you, becaufb I'm convinc'd that your breaft Partakes in the pangs of all creatures diftreft ; MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 69 That Charity there has long taken its feat, And Pity's foft image has found a retreat ; That Truth and Good Humour within it refide, And all its fenfations have fome noble guide. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. TO W P , ESQ. UPON HJS DECLARING HE SHOULD BE FEARFUL OI CONTINUING A CORRESPONDENCE WITH A LADY WHO HAD MOUNTED PEGASUS. JL F you, my dear brother, fhould writing refufe, No longer I'd pay humble court to the Mufe ; No more would I figh for a garland of bays, To bind round the fubjefts I form into lays. I've read, that this poor barren climate ne'er bears, But two fprigs of laurel in twice fifty years ; And alas ! I've no hope that Apollo's famed tree Will adorn fuch a bit of a poet as me ; MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 71 Befides, tho' I fometimes on Pegafus rode, I never yet reach'd the Nine Mufes abode ; For when I arrived at the foot of the hill, My horfe at that inftant flood perfectly ftill. But as I had heard that the famed Grecian fpring, Which teaches a poet in numbers to fmg, Firft rofe from a flroke of Old Peg on the mountain. Which open'd a pafTage, and out fprang the fountain, I tried to provoke him to kick on the ground, But alas ! my dear brother, no fountain I found ! You doubtlefs will alk then, why I fhould expofe My Mufe to the critical eye of my foes ? But Wifdom itfelf no caufe has aflign'd For the blindnefs of man to the pow'rs of his mind. Swift tells us that beafts have a greater pretence To judgment than man, and give more proofs of fenfe; J2 .MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. And illuftrates the faft, by obferving the bear Ne'er attempted a flight through the regions of air. But I need not obferve, that the famed Irifh Dean Evinced in his Poems, a fpice of the fpleen ; He declares that no poet muft e'er hope to find A brother in rhyme, with an eye that is blind. To prove that his Deanfhip is fubjecl to railing, I've juft read a poet devoid of this failing ; For Cooper, when ftriking Apollo's foft lyre, Combines human kindnefs with poetic fire ; He declares that the man, who makes fatire his aim, Should feel its efFeft, by receiving its blame. But at once to defcend from the fubjeft of rhyme, And with poets to take up no more of your time ; I'll turn to the fubjeft contain'd in your letter, I mean where you tell me you broke through a * fetter : * Mrs. P. being from home when a letter arrived, Mr. P. opened, and replied to it. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 73 A fetter ! I think I now hear you exclaim ! For once I'll not quibble with you for a name ; Yet fetters I'm apt to fuppofe might be fafer, As I find there's but little dependance on wafer. The men I now find have a talent at prying, Tho' ladies have only the credit of fpying : But pray, my dear brother, did you ever hear Of a woman, whofe malice invented an * ear, The knowledge of fecrets, by that to obtain, And to have a pretence for inflifting of pain ? Had a lady committed fo fhocking an aft, The whole of the fex had been blam'd for the fatt s. For ftill the poor women are treated with fpleen, As keen as e'er flow'd from the pen of the Dean ! * Alluding to the tyrant Dionyfius, who had a dungeon built in the form of an Ear, that he might overhear the converfation of thofe who were confined in it. 74 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. I firmly believe 'tis a maxim at fchools, To teach all the boys to fuppofe women fools ; Or furely we fhould not fo frequently find, The men taking pains to depreciate their mind ! Now to prove that Dame Malice has never been able, To tinfture my mind with one drop of her fable ; I'll own, that I think Madam Nature was kind, And in forming a Man fhe expanded his mind ^ But yet Education fo ftrongly prevails, That againft our poor fex they'll attend to low tales. If women have fome little faults in their mind, 'Twould furely be noble fometimes to be blind : And now I muft hope that you'll kindly excufe, All the faults which you'll plainly behold in my Mufe ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 75 TO MRS. E WHO, AT THE AGE OF SIXTY-TWO, MARRIED A YOUN6 MAN OF TWENTY-FIVE, AND WHO EXPRESSED MANY FEARS FROM THE SABLE APPEARANCE OF THE ATMO- SPHERE ON HER WEDDING-DAY. OUBDUE, my good lady, thofe fears, and thofe pains, Nor make yourfelf wretched, becaufe a cloud rains ; Reflect for a moment, a torrent of tears Can never add beauty to fixty-two years ; Befides, the young fwain you have chofen to wed, Would be fhock'd, to behold thofe bright orbs edg'd with red ! And do not fuppofe, tho' the thunder fhould roll, And the lightning fhould flafh from the pole to the pole ; 76 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. That the jar in the- elements e'er can portend, A waging of war between you and your friend ! Nor think, when the moon, that is fam'd for its honey, Is over he'll tell you he married for money ! You fay you have heard, when the fun fheds his light, 'Tis a fign that the torch of young Hymen is bright ! Which brightnefs is meant to exprefs, that the love Of thofe who are wedded, is true as the dove ! To prove that fome maxims are founded on error, When Eurydice bound herfelf tight by a tether, The torch of his godfhip emitted no ray, And a thoufand ill omens were feen on that day ! Yet none will be bold enough fure to maintain, That Eurydice was not belov'd by her fwain : But ftill fhould a viper take hold of your toe, -v I will not declare that your Orpheus would go To fetch you again from the regions below ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. AN EXPLANATORY DESCRIPTION OF THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE, ADDRESSED TO MRS. H vVoULD you the reafon know, good folks, Why fortune's wheel is full of fpokes ? 'Tis, that as many people ride, Each with a place may be fupplied ; That all may keep their juft gradation, Nor joftle in each other's ftation. You, Charlotte, mount an Attic perch, Whilft I, alas ! am left in lurch ; 78 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Yet ftill I feel a ftrong defire To mount the wheel, a little higher ; But yet no wifh have I to ride On the fame perch, clofe to your fide ; For as we jog the circling race, With joy I'll yield the upper place ! For you have kindly made me feel, That though you're mounted on the wheel, Still its gradations you'll defcend, To blefs me with the name of friend ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 79 EPIGRAM ON THE ADDITION 1 TO THE FORTUNE OF A FRIEND. A HO' Fortune has often poor merit neglefted, And fhower'd down her gifts upon men unrefpefted; Now Fortune no longer true worth will defpife, For the bandage this day was remov'd from her eyes! 80 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF A PROFILE, WHICH WAS SENT TO A FRIEND TO HAVE FRAMED, WHOSE RESEMBLANCE WAS ALSO MUCH WISHED FOR. O AID Charlotte, one day, I'll endeavour to trace, In Eliza's profile, the fmile of her face ; If fmiling delights you, the profile replied, Give Mary your phiz and we'll fmile fide by fide. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM UPON NOT RECEIVING A LETTER AT THE EXPECTED TIME. JL)EAR Charlotte, I'm turn'd to a bubble at laft, That floats in a zephyr, but falls in a blaft ; Then fay, will you fan me by friendfhip's foft breeze? And then I fhall float, for my heart will know eafe ! VOL. I. 82 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE LETTER. JL HE bubble, dear Charlotte, now floats in the air, And a foft gentle zephyr has blown away care ; The funbeams of friendfliip now gild it with rays, And the bubble effulgent appears from the blaze ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 83 EPIGRAM UPON BEING ADVISED BY A FRIEND TO CONQUER A TOO SUSCEPTIBLE DISPOSITION. OAID Eliza to Mary, that quick feeling fpirit, Which from father or mother I'm fure you inherit, Let friendship advife you to try and fubdue, For conquer but it, or 'twill foon conquer you ! G 2 84 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM. jL\.S oil, dear Eliza, when dropp'd on the ocean, Will check in an inflant the waves' rougheft motion; So the oil that's extracted from friendfhip's foft balm, The mind of thy friend in a moment can calm ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 85 EPIGRAM UPON MISS SELINA T WEARING A WREATH OF BLUE ROSES. Art to Nature, I fuppofe, 'Tis thought the blooming of the rofe, Selina's blufties might outvie, And fo they chang'd the rofes' dye. 86 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ANOTHER ON THE SAME SUBJECT. JL H E rofes that adorn'd the fair, And circled round her flowing hair, Carnation tints had ne'er fupply'd, Nor glowing colours ever dy'd. 'Tis thought the flow'r diflik'd the teft Of vyeing with Selina's breaft. But as a colour always true, Defired to mafquerade in blue. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 87 EPIGRAM, ADDRESSED TO MISS S T UPON OBSERVING THAT THE AUTHORESS WAS CIVIL TO ONE SISTER AT THE EXPENCE OF THE OTHER. OELINA, my dear, never more make a pother About kindnefs to one at expence of another ; Nor ever allow me to fear, or fuppofe, You'll forget the foft things that I faid of the rofe. 88 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM, ADDRESSED TO MISS T I, Eliza, copy thee, From many pangs I fhould be free, That now torment and vex ; Then fay, my friend, the happy art, Of conquering a wayward heart, That trifles mayn't perplex ? MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 89 EPIGRAM. JVLARY, Eliza once petition'd, That fhe, by her, might be tuition 'd How to fubdue her heart ; But I would have it known to Mary, Eliza's never was contrary, Therefore requir'd no art ! 90 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM UPON RECEIVING THE RESEMBLANCE OF A FRIEND, WHICH WAS NOT THOUGHT A FLATTERING LIKENESS. O artift, dear Charlotte, could I ever find, That e'er could depifture the traits of the mind; And as your's maybe view'd in each turn of your face, No wonder the artift has left out fome grace ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. gi EPIGRAMS UPON THE PLEASURE OF BEING RELIEVED FROM ACUTE PAIN. IHOUGH Orator Burke in his* Treatife agrees, That ceflation from pain can only be eafe ; Yet I who have fuffer'd {harp pain without meafure, Declare that I feel it fuptrlative pleafurc ! V>/H, Burke ! had you e'er but for one day been rack'd With the pang of a bone that was recently crack'd, Strong arguments then, I am fure, you'd maintain, To prove 'tis a pleafure to get rid of pain. * Alluding to a paffage of Mr. Burke on the Sublime and Beautiful. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPIGRAM SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY MISS T - UPON THE AUTHORESS'S HAVING VENTURED TO DIFFER IN OPINION FROM A WRITER OF EMINENCE. have I faid you were romantic, But now I think you're grown quite frantic ! Turn'd Critic too ! Well, I declare, The next thing I expeft to hear Is, that you think that head of thine, Might, as an artijt, chance to fhine, And without any more tuition, Send * paintings to the Exhibition ! * An art which the writer had only received a few leffons in. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 93 LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS T UPON HER BROTHER'S RETURN FROM THE WEST INDIES, IN AN ALARMING STATE OF HEALTH. IN O pang, Eliza, e'er can rend Thy gen'rous feeling heart ; But fympathy would teach thy friend To bear an equal part ! In all thy griefs I claim a (hare, Can friendfhip's utmoft pow'r, Thy mind one fenfe of forrow fpare, Or footh affliction's hour ? 94 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. May Hope in radiant fmiles be dreft, And check the rifing fear, That would corrode thy gentle breaft, And tremble in a tear ! The glowing fun in blaze of day Oft bends the rofe's head, When with a vertic fcorching ray, It beams upon its bed ! But nurtur'd by the dews of night. Again its fweets exhale ; The pendant flow'r then ftands upright, And fcents the pafling gale ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 95 May love, with fympathy's bleft pow'r, Then atl like heav'n's foft dew ; And rear again the drooping flow'r To bloffom in your view ! Tranfported to a temp'rate {ky, Where gentle breezes blow, The foft illumine of the eye Shall beam a brighter glow ! But if that breaft is doom'd to fmart; If thou muft fuffer care, May refignation teach thy heart To rife above defpair ! 96 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. TO MRS. H WITH A MINCED PIE ON CHRISTMAS-DAY. JLxEAR mother, I have heard you fay, All fhould eat pies on Chriftmas-day, If they good luck would know ; Then may my pie propitious be, And banifh ill luck far from thee, And ev'ry fenfe of woe ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 97 From each ingredient may'ft thou find Some charm that fhall infpire thy mind, With pleafmg expe&ation ; The plumbs, I hope, will fweeten life, And prove an antidote to ftrife, And every vexation ! The fuet, its component part, May it prove marrow to thy heart, And foften every care ; . And may its acid only fhew, That whilft we're ftation'd here below, We all mud have our fliare ! VOL. I. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. But may the fpirit have the pow'r To animate the focial hour With brilk and gay fenfation ; And may the fpice poflefs the art To add new vigour to thy heart, And lengthen its pulfation ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 99 LINES WRITTEN VPON PERUSING MR. KEATE's ACCOUNT OF THE PELEW ISLANDS. JniUME * fays, was a man who had circled around The globe, to declare, that a race he had found Of mortals, whofe minds were fo very refin'd, That envy herfelf would be forc'd to be blind ; Such wonderful {lories, he drily relates, Would never gain credit in Englifhmen's pates ; * Hume's Effays, Vol. Hi. page 113. H 2 1OO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. As well might he hope, was he once to declare, He had feen a centaur flying fwift through the air, The fabulous tale would be thought to be juft, And that people would take all his {lories on truft. Yet in Willfon's account of Pelew we are told Of men, who were form'd in fo perfeft a mould, That their conduct emitted fo brilliant a light, He fcarcely could credit his orbits of fight : Was Hume now alive he might think the tale fiction, But yet he'd admire Keate's polifh of diftion ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 1Q1 LINES ADDRESSED TO A LADY, HO WAS EVER PRONE TO PROFESS FRIENDSHIP, BUT UTTERLY INCAPABLE OF FEELING THE SENTIMENT. \JH ! Stella, had you ne'er been form'd with a tongue, Or had it not been quite fo broad or fo long, It ne'er had been able to compafs its end, Or make me fuppofe you were form'd for a friend ! Lorenzo, who heard me fo moving complain, Requefted my forrows I'd try to reftrain ; Said he, I muft tell ye that lady's whole race is, Like Janus, adorn'd with a couple of faces ; 1O2 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. With one they exprefe whatfoever is kind, With t'other difcover the turn of your mind ; And if o'er your fecrets they can but prevail, They tell their next neighbour the whole of the tale! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 103 LINES ADDRESSED TO MRS. H 1 H E heart that's weigh'd down by opprefllon and woes, Its forrows can never exprefe ; Yet the fympathy drop, which in unifon flows, Seems to leflen the pang of diftrefs ! Though expreflions of gratitude ne'er can return The debt which your friendfhip can claim ; Yet ftill till this heart is inclos'd in an urn, 'Twill expand at the found of your name ! 104 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. By fortune depriv'd of the blefling to prove, All the grateful fenfations that flow, From abreaft that owes more to your friendfhip and love, Than the mines of Peru could beftow ! Your kindnefs and friendfhip this heart has reliev'd, And has check'd the approach of a figh, E'er it fprang from abreaft which affliftion has griev'd, And arrefted the tear in the eye ! May your breaft in return for the joy you beftow, With forrow's rough gale never heave, Nor the tear of diftrefs from your eyelids e'er flow, Nor your mind have occafion to grieve ! MISCE1LANEOUS POEMS. 105 LINES ADDRESSED TO A LADY, WHO, WITH THE WARMEST PROFESSIONS OF AFFECTION, PRESENTED THE AUTHORESS WITH A LOCK OF HAIR IN A RING, THOUGH SHE WAS AT THE SAME TIME INSIDIOUSLY ENDEAVOURING TO UNDERMINE HER IN THE OPINION OF HER FRIENDS. \^JL D Jupiter once was as fly as a fox, And fhut all the evils tight down in a box ; To Madam Pandora this box then was giv'n, Who pofted to earth from the region of heav'r Another Pandora, I find, has been fent, To praftife her arts with as bad an intent ; 1O6 MISCELLANEOUS POEM3. But inftead of a box fhe chufes to bring Her evils, tight-bound with fome hair in a ring ; The hair, which was nearly allied to the brain, Receiv'd from the union the pow'r to give pain ; And imparted a pang fo fevere to my heart, I was forc'd to apply to that all-healing art Call'd friendfhip, fo fam'd for fubduing of woes, And hufhing the cares of the breaft to repofe ; With fympathy's balm, the kind gentle maid, Attended the fummons, and flew to my aid, She told me Pandora's malevolent pow'r Would fade like the bloflbm that blooms in a flow'r : Said I to the goddefs, compare not her mind To a flow'r that perfumes by its fweetnefs the wind. There's one, faid the goddefs, that blooms in the glade, Which is known by the name of the deadly night/hade. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. IO7 LINES WRITTEN WHILST THE AUTHORESS WAS" LA- BOURING UNDER A VERY PAINFUL ILL- NESS, AND A SEVERE MORTIFICATION. A H E humid vapours that now float in air, The fable curtains that the flues o'erfpread, Seem to invite that chilling fiend, Defpair, And banifh Hope far from this aching head ! Oh foiling Goddefs of the Anchor, fay, Why art thou now an alien to my breaft ? Why am I now depriv'd that glowing ray, That oft has made me in idea bleft ? 1O8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Though I have bath'd in Mis'ry's ebon ftream, Though oft this heart from poignant grief has bled, Yet has thy genial animating gleam Shed its refulgent rays around my head ! But now, alas ! no future profpefts rife, Which flatt'ring fancy decks in gay attire, My hopes of blifs are center'd in the fkies, When weary nature fainting fhall expire ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. DISAPPOINTMENT. No more (hall Hope's delufive aft, With promis'd blifs expand my heart, Or animate my breaft ; Though deck'd in fweet perfuafive fmiles, I'll guard againft her treach'rous wiles. And only wifli for reft ! For Difappointment's frigid pow'r Has nipp'd the bud of Hope's foft flow'r, Nor fuffer'd it to bloom ; 11O MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. From fond expe&ance henceforth free, Now Apathy, I cherifh thee, And Hope's falfe joys entomb ! A ftranger to this anxious breaft, How fhall I woo thee to invert A feat to thee unknown ? Drive from their manfion Hope and Fear, Difcard Afieftion long fmcere, And make the houfe thy own ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Ill LINES WRITTEN ON THE APPROACH OF WINTER. J^ O more is Nature in rich colours dreft, But dreary objects now around appear ; And well the mannon of this troubled breaft Accords in feeling with the waning year ! The clouds fufpended o'er the azure main, Are deeply tinftur'd with a fable hue ; The dreary afpecl: of the leaflets plain Conveys a fombre profpeft to the view ! 112 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. The echoing found which now attends each breeze. Laments the abfence of foft zephyr's breath ; No more its murmurs wave the bending trees, But hollow blafts evince its certain death ! Yet fhall this fcene fo dreary and forlorn, With rip'ning bloflbms and frefh joy appear ; And Spring return to deck the fragrant thorn, In all the beauty of the rifing year ! But fhall a Spring adorn the tranfient fcene Of fable life, with a frefh wreath of flow'rs ? Shall the dark plain be deck'd with vernal green, And pleafure fmile on the fucceeding hours ? MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Yes, vernal profpefts fhall once more arife, And fportive Fancy then adorn the glade ; Illume with brilliance thefe deep-clouded flues, And throw a luftre o'er the gloomy {hade. VOL. I. 114 MISCELLANEOUS POEM3. TO EXPECTATION. WRITTEN UNDER. THE PAINFUL IDEA OF A FRIEND IN IRELAND BEING DANGEROUSLY ILL, AND THE CON STANT EXPECTATION OF RECEIVING LETTERS. X\.H ! Expeftation, child of pain, Eternal foe to reft ; Why with dark phantoms fill my brain, Why agonize my bread ? Why thus envelope all my mind, With a dark fable cloud; Why ev'ry fenfe of pleafure bind, In Fear's deftruftive fhroud ? MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Oh ! Expe&ation, fpeed thy flightj To fome lefs anxious breaft ; For each fucceeding day and night The manfion's more unbleft ! Or if thou art refolv'd to flay, In the forlorn abode ; Bring Hope, with her enliv'ning ray, To cheer the dreary road ! Oh ! bring her, with her fmiles to cheer A mind that droops with dread, And let her check the fenfe of fear, With which it's overfpread ! Il6 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ON THE BIRTH-DAY OF A YOUNG LADY, WHO ENTERED ON HER SIXTEENTH YEAR ON THE THIRD OF MARCH. A H E herald of the Spring appears, In Winter's fable hue ; And fcarce the timid fnow-drop rears Its head to meet the view ! But may thy fpring of life be crown'd, With every vernal joy, And may no chilling blafl be found, Thy pleafures to deftroy J MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. And as on life's tempeftuous fea, My dear Louifa fails, May ev'ry Zephyrus breeze agree, To waft her gentle gales ! May foft Content, with placid eye, And flowing azure veft ; Leave her lov'd manfion in the Iky, And dwell within her breaft ! May Fortune, with a ftore of wealth, A tide of joy befpeak ; And may the rofeate goddefs Health, Long mantle on her cheek ! Il8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. May Friendfhip's animating beams Long fhed a genial ray, And by the radiance of its gleams Illumine all her way ! May Pleafure in her airy round, With flow'rs her path adorn ; And may the rofe for once be found Without its ufual thorn ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. LINES ADDRESSED TO FORTUNE. 1 OSS'D by the adverfe ftorms of Fate, And crufh'd by Fortune's wheel ; The heart that fighs not to be great, Has greatly learnt to feel ! And aj it feels the chilling wind. Beneath its rage it bends, And finds the vigour of the mind On Fortune's fmiles depends ! 12O MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Would (he but deign one fmile to fhed, To cheer the dreary way, And fpread her luftres o'er my head, Or tinge it with her ray; In Lethe's ftream my cares fhould lave, My little bark fhould fail Upon the dear forgetful wave, And I would Fortune hail ! I merely afk a fpot of ground, With humble cottage feat, Where Peace and foft Content are found To grace the calm retreat ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 121 If I've fufficient to fupply The daily wants I need, And power to footh Affliftion's figh, This will be blifs indeed ! That blifs this heart is form'd to feel, For minds oppreis'd by care, If forrow is too deep to heal, By fympathy they fhare ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. LINES ADDRESSED TO CAPTAIN RIOU, UPON HEARING THE ACCOUNT OF HIS MAGNANIMOUS CONDUCT, WHEN COMMANDER OF THE GUARDIAN. AF recording of deeds which tranfcendantly glow, And exceed all the limits of praife, A portion of Fame had the power to beftow, I then might afpire to the bays ; Might expeft from the garland thy temple entwines, To receive a few leaves as a boon ; For the fun's brilliant ray which effulgently fhines. At night may be traced in the moon. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 123 If coolnefs of courage, colle&ion of mind, Deferve to be graced with renown, Thy name in the annals of Fame we fhall find, Attended by Honor's bright crown ! In ages to come thy exploits fhall be told, And Aftonifhment lend them her ear ; For the feats which were praftis'd by heroes of old, When compar'd will but trifling appear ! They'll be told, when Defpair had deprefs'd the whole crew, And Definition had lurk'd in the wave, When Fear's frighten'd form her loud trumpet firft blew, And founded a knell to the grave ! 124 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. That found which appall'd other fpirits with dread, Thy courage feem'd more to infpire ; And the mountains of ice which the ocean o'erfpread. Augmented the glow of thy fire ! They'll be told, that the moon in fucceffion had wan'd, And twice had her horn been fupplied, Ere the danger decreas'd, or the veflel had gain'd An afcendancy over the tide ! They'll be told, that thy conduft was gilded with praife, That applaufe all thy aftions has crown 'd, J * a ' That thy temples are circled by garlands of bays, And thy name amidfl heroes is found ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 125 EDWARD AND ELVIRA. A TALE. \VHERE Avon \yinds its flowing tide, Elvira's beauties grew, And where its waters gently glide, Her earlieft breath ftie drew ! The op'ning beauties of the morn Could not with her compare ; The lily, or the bloflbm'd thorn, Were never half fofair! 126 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. The virtues that in her repos'd, Were more refulgent bright, Than when the Cynthian queen difclos'd The luflres of her light. Near to Elvira's natal feat, A {lately manfion rofe, Alcander own'd the grand retreat, And there would oft repofe. And there he faw the beauteous rofe Adom her father's bower ; He faw and loft his calm repofe, For love ufurp'd a power. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 127 The virtues that improve our race, Alcander never knew ; But ev'ry vice that could difgrace, Within his bofom grew ! Too well he few Alphonfo's heart By av'rice was confin'd ; And fo he chofe by fubtle art, To win his fordid mind ! I know, faid he, the blooming fair My offers will decline ; But if her father's praife I fhare, She muft, (he fliall be mine ! 128 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Now to her father I'll repair, And feed his well-known pride ; And afk him to bellow the fair, To be my blooming bride. " Let not (faid he) thy lovely maid, " With charms I think divine, " Confine thofe beauties to a fhade, " Which ought in courts in fhine ! " No dow'r I afk for fuoh a prize, " But will a fortune give ; " Then let thy daughter blefs thefe eyes. " For her alone I live!" MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 129 Caught in the gilded treach'rous bait, The father thus replied, " To thee I join Elvira's fate, " And fhe fliall be thy bride !" Yet well he knew the gentle bread, Where purity refides, By Edward's image was impreft, Where ev'ry thought it guides. Edward, not born to pomp and ftate, Nor deck'd by Fortune's crown, Poffe&'d a heart that would be great In annals of renown ! VOL. I. K 130 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Said Edward, When this humble name, " My martial deeds fhall raife ; " And when the cheering voice of Fame " Shall deck thefe brows with bays, ' : Then (hall my lov'd Elvira's praife, " More joy than honor give ; " And then my hopes I'll fondly raife, " That flic for me will live." At length the trumpet's founding voice Call'd Edward to depart ; He fought the objed of his choice, And clafp'd her to his heart ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 131 The cheerful trumpet's martial found Call'd forth Elvira's fears, And Edward faw the mourner drown'd In agonizing tears ! Said he, " Elvira, I confefs, " The greateft ills I'd bear, :c To fpare thy breaft the lead diftrefs, " Or fhield thy mind from care ! " But oh ! fubdue the anxious fear, t " Which Fancy's form fupplies ; " Nor let the foft pellucid tear, " Bedew thofe lovely eyes ! 132 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. " Soon, my Elvira, we fliall meet, " Thy Edward crown'd with bays, " Shall lay the laurels at thy feet, " And cheer thy future days !" The filver moon's reflefted light Had thrice illum'd the fkies Since Edward had engag'd in fight To gain the glorious prize, When firft Alcander's well-judg'd art, Young Edward's claim outweigh'd ; And when Alphonfo's iron heart Agreed to fell the maid ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 133 Alphonfo fought the verdant bow'rs, Where Innocence and Truth Had form'd a wreath of laurel flow'rs To crown her fav'rite youth ! " Will not (faid (he) my father {hare " The joy that gilds this breaft ? " The Gods have made True Worth their care, And his Elvira's bleft ! " My abfent Love will foon be here, " And ev'ry care affuage, " My Edward, in his bright career, TheHeaorof this age!" 134 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. " Elvira, I much difapprove " That wreath," Alphonfo cried ; " Alcander now muft be thy love, " And thou his grateful bride ; " Tranfported to a diff'rent fcene, " My child in courts (hall fhine, " Refplendent, as Britannia's queen, {i And ev'ry blifs be thine ; " But as to Edward, fhould bright Fame " With wreaths his temples bind ; " Yet I declare Elvira's name " To his fliall ne'er be join'd !" MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 135 But who Elvira's grief fhall fpeak, Defcribe the rifing figh, Or paint the lily on her cheek, That chafed the rofe's dye ! Then lowly bending on her knee, " If e'er thy child was dear ; " Revoke the fatal dread decree, " That fills her foul with fear ! " The vows which were to Edward giv'n, " My much-lov'd fire approv'd ; " Such vows are regifter'd in Heav'n, " And cannot be abfolv'd !" MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. " Now hear the purpofe of my breaft, " And mark thy father's will, " Before to-moirow's fun fhall reft, " Beneath the rifmg hill, " The Fates that rule Elvira's life, " United fhall confpire, " To fix her as Alcander's wife, " And light the nuptial fire !" He faid, but ah ! the fpeech was vain, And fcarce had reach'd her ear ; When madnefs ftruck her torturd brain, Dreft in the form of Fear ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 137 Inftant fhe rofe, and with a flight, Swift as a courier, flew ; And darting from Alphonfo's fight, Efcap'd his wond'ring view ! Alarm and horror fill'd his breaft, And piercing through a fhade, Elvira's image flood confeft, Upon an open glade ! Stood and contemplated the tide, Which at its margin flow'd ; Then to her Edward fondly figh'd, And then purfued the road : 138 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Scarce had fhe meafur'd half a mile, When with a frantic rave ! " I find," faid fhe, " my Edward's ifle " Lies buried in this wave ! " I come, my love, oh Edward fave !" Then with a fatal leap, Elvira found an early grave, And everlafting deep ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 139 LINES ADDRESSED To MRS. W , REPLY TO A LETTER WHICH PROFESSED THE INSEN- SIBILITY OF HER HEART TO ALL EARTHLY HAPPINESS. V^OULD the oil that's extracted from fympathy's balm, Affuage all the pangs of thy breaft ; Or had it the pow'r all thy forrows to calm, To a gentle fenfation of reft ; The wounds of thy heart with the balm I would clofe, And envelope thy griefs in a fhroud ; Thy breaft fhould become one foft fcene of repofe, And the fun fhould difperfe ev'ry cloud ! 140 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. But alas ! I much fear that foft fympathy's pow'r, No fuch folace is deftin'd to bring ; Yet daily remember December's dark hour Is forgot in the morning of fpring ! Remember, my friend, that the tempefl which blows, And the waves that tremendoufly roar ; f In a few fleeting hours all their fury difclofe, And a zephyr then breathes on the fhore ! '>:?.; ~d The Spring of thy life was one foft gentle gale, Tho' a ftorm has defac'd the fair fcene Of Summer I truft that the face of the vale Will in Autumn be verdantly green ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 14 And thy breaft then become the Jix'd manfion of joy, And J arrow no longer remain, The tender fenfation of blifs to dejlroy, That's been render'd more pcrfeft by pain. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. AN INVOCATION TO SLEEP. 1 HOU fweet afluager of all pain, Extend thy foft compofing reign, And footh this weary head ; Shed thy Lethenean vapour round, And as it rifes from the ground, Each troubled thought o'erfpread ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 143 Corapofe this poignant fenfe of care, And let me breathe a drowfy air, And fink in eafe to reft ; With poppy bands my femples bind, And fo deftroy this feeling mind, And far too anxious breaft ! The Theban balfam hither bring, Point out fome plant or well-known fpring, That can all grief deftroy ; That when the fable gloom of night Shall throw a veil and fhade the light, I then may tafte of joy ! 144 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Then may ideal comforts find, When faireft vifions fill my mind, And Fancy decks each fcene, With garlands made of choiceft flow'rs, That fprang from amaranthine bow'rs. That then adorn each green ! KND OF THE FIRST VOLUME. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS MRS. J. PILKINGTON. VOL. II. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS MRS. J. PILKINGTON, DEDICATED BY PERMISSION, TO HER GRACE THE DUTCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR. T. CADELL, JUN. AND \V. DAV1ES, (SUCCESSORS TO MR. CADELL), STRAND. SOLD ALSO BY J. DEIGHTON AND W. LUNN, CAMBRIDGF. 1796. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. Page ELEGIAC Lineson the Death of Lord H. Spencer i Elegiac Lines on the Death of Mifs Eliza Whitehead 6 An Addrefs to Melpomene on the Death of a Friend 10 Elegiac Lines addreffed to Mrs. M , on the Death of her Daughter 12 Elegiac Lines by R H ', Efq. on the Death of his Friend ,. 16 Verfes by the fame Author, on the Death of a Native of the Sandwich Iflands 22 Sonnets by the fame. 26 28 On the Birth-Day of Mrs. H 30 Lines accompanying a painted Flower, addrefled to Mrs. D 32 To a Gentleman on his Appointment to the Argo 34 CONTENTS. Page A Poetic Epiftle, fuppofed to be written by a Farmer, in Contempt of the Ladies 37 A gallant Reply in their Vindication by his Brother 41 An allegorical Defcription of Gratitude 45 The Doves, a Tale 48 A Supplication to Fortune previous to pur- chafing a Share in the Lottery 51 Lines written upon parting with Children, to whom the Authorefs was attached 53 Lines addrefled to Mrs. M 57 The Power of Attraction, addrefled to Mifs C. 59 Lines addrefled to a Lady, who had formerly been in Habits of Friendfhip with the Au- thorefs 61 A Poetic Epiftle to a Friend 63 Lines addreffed to a Lady, who was a Great Fatalift 67 Lines fuppofed to be written by Mr. A 69 Lines addreffed to a Friend, who had evinced Kindnefs during the Authorefs's Illnefs .... 71 An Invitation into the Country, addrefled to Mrs. M 73 CONTENTS. Page Epigrams 76 77 An Addrefs to Hygeia, on the Indifpofition of a Friend 78 Lines fent with a painted Bafket 81 On the Birth-Day of Mifs C 82 Spontaneous Ideas in a Spring Walk 85 A Defcription of what the Authorefs moft dreaded , 88 A Reply, fuppofed to be written by a Friend 90 A Poetic Epiftle addrefled to Mifs T , . . 93 Lines on the Recovery of a favorite Cat, ad- drefTed to Mrs. D 98 On being requefted by a Friend to write fome Lines upon Hope 101 On the Birth-Day of Mifs H W 104 A burlefque Addrefs to Hymen 106 Lines addrefled to Mrs. H , on a recent Proof of Friendfhip 109 Lines accompanying a Shell, addrefled to Mrs. W 111 The With to difcover the Plant of Forgetful- neis, addrefled to a Lady at W 113 A Poetic Epiftle to a Friend 117 CONTENTS. Page Lines addrefled to Mrs. E , after a Suf- pennon of Intercourfe for many Years .... 122 On Prejudice, addrefled to Mrs. W 125 Burlefque Lines with a Sprig of Laurel 129 The Sigh, addrefled to Mifs C 131 The mournful Wail ings of an unfortunate Afs, addrefled to Mrs. D 133 A Reply to a Friend, who had requefted fome Lines apon Friendfhip 137 Invocation to Hygeia, by R H , Efq. 140 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ELEGIAC LINES ON THE DEATH OF LORD H. SPENCER. JLiONG fhall the annals of applauding Fame Rehearfe the deeds of Spencer, with a tear ; Adorn with laurels his exalted name, And ftrew the cyprefs o'er his early bier ! VOL. II. B 2 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Britannia mourn'd the much-lov'd noble youth, And filent wander'd tow'rds the new-made gravel- Is there, faid fhe, no Guardian Power o'er Truth, The good and valiant from Death's darts to fave ? Or why did Virtue fuch rich grace fupply ? If like the bloflbm of a new-blown flow'r, It fcarcely blufhes, ere it's doom'd to die, And loofe the exhale of its fragrant pow'r ! In the full vigour of fair manhood's pride, Adorn'd by virtues that exalt his name ; Spencer effulgent beam'd then nobly died, Leaving his conduct to record his fame ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 3 When the pale moon illumes the (hade of night, The foften'd image of the fun we find ; The conduft beaming with a radiant light, We trace arifing from a brilliant mind ! s The gen'rous foul the foft attra&ive grace. That ev'ry aftion of his life expreft, Not Lethe's ftream can from my foul efface ! Or footh the throbbing of this troubled breaft. The Mufe, with temples by the cyprefs bound. Who, penfive wandering, oft delights to tread, Where murmuring waters with a hollow found Rufh through the cavern's rugged flinty bed, 4 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. With me fhall journey to fome diflant cell, Where yew-trees caft a fad funereal fhade ; In Blenheim's wood, we'll feek the gloomy dell, Far from a vifla, or an opening glade ! And as our tears in unifon fhall flow, If near the place a ftream fhould chance to glide ; The drops that fall as emblems of our woe, Shall daily add to the pellucid tide ! And on the fpot undeck'd by fculptur'd pride, To my lov'd fon a monument I'll raife, And fay, that Virtue droop'd when Spencer died, And that his deeds furpafs'd the power of Praife ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. EPITAPH. HERE lies interr'd beneath this marble ftone, A form replete with every manly grace ; A mind where Virtue in its radiance fhone, And gave a foft expreflion to the face ! Here refts a heart, which Honor once infpir'd, To deeds of Glory, and immortal Fame ; Here fleep thofe talents which the world admir'd. Here lies a glory to the Spencer name ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ELEGIAC LINES UPON THE MUCH LAMENTED DEATH OF MISS ELIZA WHITEHEAD. JT ALE Cynthia now emits a feeble ray, And objefts fade beneath her trembling light Now to Eliza's grave I'll bend my way, And hide my forrows in the fhade of night ! For modeft grief difdains the vulgar eye, Her hallow'd temple is the feeling breafl ; There fhe infpires the trembling anxious figh, And there fecurely her pale form can reft ! MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 7 And as I forrow for thy early doom, Thou tender fharer of my happier hours ; I'll wander often to thy fatal tomb, And flrew the fpot with choiceft wreathsof flow'rs! That breaft, the manfion of fuperior worth, At Honor's diftates can no longer glow ; And flretch'd beneath a fenfelefs clod of earth Lies her, who felt for ev'ry human woe ! The flow'rs which blufh in all the bloom of pride, Scarce boaft their beauty for a fleeting hour ; And thy bright virtues budded, bloom'd, and died, Like the fair bloflbm of a fragrant flow'r ! 8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. But unavailing is this fond regret, Can it awake from an eternal fleep ? Yet her perfections can this heart forget, Or for their lofs can I e'er ceafe to weep ? Could fenfe, or beauty, a long period claim, Could filial duty, or true friendfhip's love, Could thefe but add to life's expiring flame, She had not fought the blifsful feat above ! Dear facred fpirit of my much-lov'd friend, Wilt thou the name of Guardian Angel bear ? Wilt thouj Eliza, on my fteps attend, And guide me through this labyrinth of care ? MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.