Major Pack's Poetical Remains Published from his Original Manuscripts. To which are Added, translations from Catullus, Tibullus, and Ovid. With an Essay on the Roman elegiac poets, &c. [by Richardson Pack] |
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ADVICE TO A Young Gentleman
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 | Major Pack's Poetical Remains |  |
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ADVICE TO A Young Gentleman ,
Who was desired by the Lady I Loved, to Dance with her, at a Ball I was to Give, at Aberdeen, Nov. 4. 1728.
Since to prevent a surly Parent's Frown,
And the vile Malice of a tatling Town,
I must (tho' Love and Prudence are at Strife)
Resign a Partner—dearer than my Life;
And leave the Prize in this invidious Ball
To Thee, or to be scrambled for by All;
'Tis happy Billy, that in you I find
A gentle Soul (the Partner of my Mind)
Who knows the Secret of my fond Distress,
Pity my Cares, and fain too would redress.
To Thee the beauteous Charge I then Commend,
Nice is the Trust—a Mistress to a Friend.
Guard well thy Breast from ev'ry soft Surprize,
And from too curious Search, thy wand'ring Eyes,
For there are Charms in that bewitching Maid
May foil the Wary, and the Firm invade:
Small is the Force of Reason against Sense,
If Honour steps-not-in to our Defense.
And the vile Malice of a tatling Town,
I must (tho' Love and Prudence are at Strife)
Resign a Partner—dearer than my Life;
And leave the Prize in this invidious Ball
To Thee, or to be scrambled for by All;
'Tis happy Billy, that in you I find
A gentle Soul (the Partner of my Mind)
Who knows the Secret of my fond Distress,
Pity my Cares, and fain too would redress.
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Nice is the Trust—a Mistress to a Friend.
Guard well thy Breast from ev'ry soft Surprize,
And from too curious Search, thy wand'ring Eyes,
For there are Charms in that bewitching Maid
May foil the Wary, and the Firm invade:
Small is the Force of Reason against Sense,
If Honour steps-not-in to our Defense.
And now, methinks, I hear the dire Alarms,
Of sprightly Fiddles sounding loud to Arms;
Each Gallant bows obsequious to the Fair,
By Choice, or Chance, thus destin'd to his Care;
Whilst I, in solemn Gravity advance,
With my New Consort to commence the Dance
Another Man might well this Fortune boast,
Dance on till Midnight, and till Morning Toast;
For sweetest Airs the pretty Creature Grace,
Second alone to Matchless Clara's Face;
But I, alas! a double Torment share,
Concern'd not only for Myself but Her,
Who while my Compliment I coldly make,
Must quit a Youthful Bar'net for my Sake,
And sure it would the wisest Lady spite,
For a Plain Gentleman to lose a Knight.
Of sprightly Fiddles sounding loud to Arms;
Each Gallant bows obsequious to the Fair,
By Choice, or Chance, thus destin'd to his Care;
Whilst I, in solemn Gravity advance,
With my New Consort to commence the Dance
Another Man might well this Fortune boast,
Dance on till Midnight, and till Morning Toast;
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Second alone to Matchless Clara's Face;
But I, alas! a double Torment share,
Concern'd not only for Myself but Her,
Who while my Compliment I coldly make,
Must quit a Youthful Bar'net for my Sake,
And sure it would the wisest Lady spite,
For a Plain Gentleman to lose a Knight.
Well! He, and His, the Second Couple stand;
And You the Third, with Clara in your Hand;
Ah, let that Hand not Her's too closely Press,
Reserve for me that Tender warm Excess,
When (as Dan Cupid slily does design)
Turning in Bury-Fair our Hands shall join,
Or when Young Roger urging on my Speed
To Thee, Dear Damsel, I at length succeed.
Thus jealous Fears shall not my Mirth controul,
But, parting from the Darling of my Soul,
In chearful Humour, and with active Grace
I'll tread the Windings of the various Maze.
And You the Third, with Clara in your Hand;
Ah, let that Hand not Her's too closely Press,
Reserve for me that Tender warm Excess,
When (as Dan Cupid slily does design)
Turning in Bury-Fair our Hands shall join,
Or when Young Roger urging on my Speed
To Thee, Dear Damsel, I at length succeed.
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But, parting from the Darling of my Soul,
In chearful Humour, and with active Grace
I'll tread the Windings of the various Maze.
When for Refreshment You a while repose,
And Tête à Tête, the diff'rent Parties Close,
The hardest Tryal then will prove thy Skill
To check those strong Propensions of the Will,
Which, while they make us Friendship's Rights betray,
Persuade us we but Nature's Laws obey.
And Tête à Tête, the diff'rent Parties Close,
The hardest Tryal then will prove thy Skill
To check those strong Propensions of the Will,
Which, while they make us Friendship's Rights betray,
Persuade us we but Nature's Laws obey.
From the pert Coxcomb safe, and him more dull,
The odious Mixture of lewd Rake and Fool;
Rivals of Vulgar Note I little fear,
My Learned Maid would scorn such Sots to Hear;
Good Nature, Wit, and Manners only move
Desire in Women who are worthy Love:
These steal insensibly upon the Mind;
And the Head gain'd, the Heart won't lag behind.
The odious Mixture of lewd Rake and Fool;
Rivals of Vulgar Note I little fear,
My Learned Maid would scorn such Sots to Hear;
Good Nature, Wit, and Manners only move
Desire in Women who are worthy Love:
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And the Head gain'd, the Heart won't lag behind.
No fond Excuses, Youth, for Whispers seek,
Trust not thy Lips too near her tempting Cheek;
Yet if her list'ning Ear invite thy Tongue,
Where soft Persuasion is so aptly hung,
Make Use of that Occasion to inforce
My Am'rous Passion by your kind Discourse;
Instruct her how my constant Suff'rings prove
The Gen'rous Ardour of sincerest Love;
How well I taste her happy Talents show;
And tell her all I feel, and all You know.
Thus tho' she thinks you much resemble Him,
Whose Int'rest in her, lessens her Esteem
Of Me, that fav'rite Notion may succeed
To make her Partial to me, while you Plead.
Charm'd with so just a Conduct too, tho' strange,
She'll ltarn from Your Example not to Change,
And own, perhaps, the Man may well pretend
To such a Mistress, who has such a Friend.
Trust not thy Lips too near her tempting Cheek;
Yet if her list'ning Ear invite thy Tongue,
Where soft Persuasion is so aptly hung,
Make Use of that Occasion to inforce
My Am'rous Passion by your kind Discourse;
Instruct her how my constant Suff'rings prove
The Gen'rous Ardour of sincerest Love;
How well I taste her happy Talents show;
And tell her all I feel, and all You know.
Thus tho' she thinks you much resemble Him,
Whose Int'rest in her, lessens her Esteem
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To make her Partial to me, while you Plead.
Charm'd with so just a Conduct too, tho' strange,
She'll ltarn from Your Example not to Change,
And own, perhaps, the Man may well pretend
To such a Mistress, who has such a Friend.
R. P.
| Major Pack's Poetical Remains | |