The most abandon'd prostitutes are they, E'en in the happiest choice, where favouring Has equal love and easy fortune given, [Heaven Think not, the husband gain'd, that all is done; The prize of happiness must still be won: And oft, the careless find it to their cost, The lover in the husband may be lost; The Graces might alone his heart allure; They and the Virtues meeting must secure. Let e'en your Prudence wear the pleasing dress Of care for Him, and auxious tenderness. From kind concern about his weal or woe, Let each domestic duty seem to flow. The household sceptre if he bids you bear, Make it your pride his servant to appear: Endearing thus the common acts of life, The mistress still shall charm him in the wife; And wrinkled age shall unobserv'd come on, Before his eye perceives one beauty gone: E'en o'er your cold, your ever-sacred urn, His constant flame shall unextinguish'd burn. Thus I, Belinda, would your charms improve, And form your heart to all the arts of love. The task were harder, to secure my own Against the power of those already known: For well you twist the secret chains that bind With gentle force the captivated mind, Skill'd every soft attraction to employ, Each flattering hope, and each alluring joy ; I own your genius, and from you receive The rules of pleasing, which to you I give. WRITTEN AT MR. POPE'S HOUSE AT TWICKENHAM, Go, Thames, and tell the busy town, Could tempt me from the charms that crown Thy flowery side, where Pope has plac'd The Muses' green retreat, With every smile of Nature grac'd, With every art complete. But now, sweet bard, thy heavenly song Yet still, for beauteous Greville's sake, VIRTUE AND FAME. TO THE COUNTESS OF EGREMONT. VIRTUE and Fame, the other day, Jove bids you always wait on me, The Paphian queen employs your trumpet; Saith Fame, Dear madam, I protest, 'Well, (answer'd Virtue) I allow Whose heart nor envy knows nor spite, Fame smil❜d, and answer'd, 'On my life, 'No, madam, no-you're much mistaken→→ I beg you'll let me set you right"Tis one with every beauty bright; Adorn'd with every polish'd art ADDITION, EXTEMPORE, BY THE EARL OF HARDWICKE, FAME heard with pleasure-straight replied, First on my roll stands Wyndham's bride; My trumpet oft I've rais'd, to sound Her modest praise the world around'; But notes were wanting-Canst thou find A Muse to sing her face, her mind? Believe me, I can name but one, A friend of yours-'tis Lyttelton,' LETTER TO THE EARL OF HARDWICKE: OCCASIONED BY THE FOREGOING VERSES. MY LORD, A THOUSAND thanks to your Lordship for your addition to my verses. If you can write such extempore, it is well for other poets that you chose to be Lord-Chancellor, rather than a Laureat. They explain to me a vision I had the night before. Methought I saw before my feet, With countenance serene and sweet, LETTER TO EARL HARDWICKE. The Muse, who in my youthful days She smil❜d, and said, ' Once more I see Long had I lost you from my bower, 31 |