On which ev'n wanton Vice with envy gaz'd,
And ev'ry scheme of bliss our hearts had form'd
With soothing hope for many a future day,
In one sad moment broke!-
Yet, O my Soul! thy rising murmurs stay,
Nor dare th' allwise Disposer to arraign,
Or against his supreme decree
With impious grief complain.
That all thy full-blown joys at once should fade
Was his most righteous will--and be that will obey'd.
XIX.
Would thy fond love his grace to her control,
And in these low abodes of sin and pain
Her pure exalted soul
Unjustly for thy partial good detain?
No-rather strive thy grov'ling mind to raise
Up to that unclouded blaze,
That heav'nly radiance of eternal light,
In which enthron'd she now with pity sees
How frail, how insecure, how slight,
Ev'n Love itself, if rising by degrees
Beyond the bounds of this imperfect state,
Whose fleeting joys so soon must end,
It does not to its sov'reign good ascend.
Rise then, my Soul! with hope elate,
And seek those regions of serene delight
Whose peaceful path and ever open gate
No feet but those of harden'd Guilt shall miss; 290
There Death himself thy Lucy shall restore,
There yield up all his pow'r e'er to divide you more.
NONE without hope e'er lov'd the brightest fair;
But Love can hope where Reason would despair.
TO THE COUNTESS OF EGREMONT.
VIRTUE and Fame the other day
Happen'd to cross each other's way;
Said Virtue," Hark ye, Madame Fame!
"Your Ladyship is much to blame;
"Jove bids you always wait on me,
"And yet your face I seldom see;
"The Paphian queen employs your trumpet,
"And bids it praise some handsome strumpet,
"Or thund'ring thro' the ranks of war,
"Ambition ties you to her car."
Saith Fame, "Dear Madam I protest
"I never find myself so blest
“As when I humbly wait behind you;
"But it is so mighty hard to find you,
"In such obscure retreats you lurk,
"To seek you is an endless work."
"Well," answer'd Virtue, " I allow
"Your plea; but hear, and mark me now.
"I know, (without offence to others)
"I know the best of wives and mothers,
"Who never pass'd an useless day
"In scandal, gossiping, or play,
"Whose modest wit chastis'd by sense
"In lively cheerful innocence,
"Whose heart nor envy knows nor spite,
"Whose duty is her sole delight,
"Nor rul'd by whim nor slave to fashion,
"Her parents' joy, her husband's passion."
Fame smil'd, and answer'd ;
"On my
"This is some country parson's wife
"Who never saw the Court nor Town,
"Whose face is homely as her gown,
"Who banquets upon eggs and bacon—”
"No, Madam, no-you're much mistaken
“I beg you'll let me set you right—
""Tis one with ev'ry beauty bright,
"Adorn'd with ev'ry polish'd art
"That rank or fortune can impart;
""Tis the most celebrated toast
"That Britain's spacious isle can boast:
"'Tis princely Petworth's noble dame,
"'Tis Egremont-Go tell it Fame."
ADDITION EXTEMPORE,
BY EARL HARDWICKE.
FAME heard with pleasure-straight reply'd, "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 your's-it is Lyttelton."
OCCASIONED BY THE FOREGOING VERSES.
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 Laureate. They explain to me a vision I had the night before.
Methought I saw before my feet,
With countenance serene and sweet,
The Muse who in my youthful days
Had oft inspir'd my careless lays;
She smil'd, and said, "Once more I see
"My fugitive returns to me;
"Long had I lost you from my bow'r,
"You scorn'd to own my gentle pow'r;
"With me no more your genius sported,
"The grave historick Muse you courted,
"Or rais'd from earth with straining eyes
"Pursu'd Urania thro' the skies;
"But now to my forsaken track
"Fair Egremont has brought you back :
"Nor blush by her and Virtue led,
“That soft, that pleasing path to tread;
"For there beneath to-morrow's ray
"Ev'n Wisdom's self shall deign to play.
"Lo! to my flow'ry groves and springs
"Her fav'rite son the goddess brings,
"The councils and the senate's guide,
"Law's oracle, the nation's pride;
"He comes, he joys with thee to join
“In singing Wyndham's charms divine;
"To thine he adds his nobler lays,
"Ev'n thee, my Friend! he deigns to praise.
"Enjoy that praise, nor envy Pitt
"His fame with burgess or with cit;
"For sure one line from such a bard
"Virtue would think her best reward."
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