The Shamrock or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. To which are subjoined thoughts on the prevailing system of school education, respecting young ladies as well as gentlemen: with practical proposals for a reformation [by Samuel Whyte] |
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ON Miss M. and Miss H. HERRING. |
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 | The Shamrock |  |
357
ON Miss M. and Miss H. HERRING.
------ Facies non una, duobus;
Nec diversa tamen; qualis decet esse Sororum.
Ovid.
Nec diversa tamen; qualis decet esse Sororum.
Ovid.
If one, who to another owes
His Friendship, Love, and Care,
Durst leave the common Path of Prose,
And sing a foreign Fair,
His Friendship, Love, and Care,
Durst leave the common Path of Prose,
And sing a foreign Fair,
The lovely Sisters soon would claim
The Muses' willing Lay;
For, who could boast a sweeter Theme!
What Theme more Charms display!
The Muses' willing Lay;
For, who could boast a sweeter Theme!
What Theme more Charms display!
Then, Hymen, let me not infringe
Thy ever-sacred Laws,
If, with the Muse, I harmless range
Awhile in Beauty's Cause.
Thy ever-sacred Laws,
If, with the Muse, I harmless range
Awhile in Beauty's Cause.
My Heart is but to one consign'd;
And constant will I prove:
But Friendship, sure, is unconfin'd;
And all is free but Love!
And constant will I prove:
But Friendship, sure, is unconfin'd;
And all is free but Love!
358
For Molly, first, I swell the Reed,
With each bright Charm array'd;
While Half as many Hearts still bleed,
As Eyes survey the Maid:
With each bright Charm array'd;
While Half as many Hearts still bleed,
As Eyes survey the Maid:
Yet, as not conscious of her Charms,
Though by Ten-thousand told,
Whilst, like the Sun, her Beauty warms,
She, like the Snow, is cold.
Though by Ten-thousand told,
Whilst, like the Sun, her Beauty warms,
She, like the Snow, is cold.
The healthy Bloom of rosy Morn
Upon her Cheek is seen;
And, more, their Favourite to adorn,
Each Grace bedecks her Mien:
Upon her Cheek is seen;
And, more, their Favourite to adorn,
Each Grace bedecks her Mien:
Ah! let their fond Endeavours cease,
They act too vain a Part;
Perfection, of itself, must please,
And must contemn all Art.
They act too vain a Part;
Perfection, of itself, must please,
And must contemn all Art.
Let Libertines, and Coxcombs pay
Their Adoration round;
From Fair to Fair still let them stray,
And only deal in Sound;
Their Adoration round;
From Fair to Fair still let them stray,
And only deal in Sound;
But, Men of Sense shall ever join
Their Homage, as thy Due;
And, Molly,—at Love's awful Shrine
Admire its Power in you.
Their Homage, as thy Due;
And, Molly,—at Love's awful Shrine
Admire its Power in you.
Yet, think not, dear, engaging Fair,
That you unrivall'd reign;
Another boasts of Charms as rare,
And shares with you the Plain:
That you unrivall'd reign;
Another boasts of Charms as rare,
And shares with you the Plain:
359
For, long as Molly's Beauties bloom,
And Bards extol her Fame;
Shall lovely Harriot still assume
An ever-equal Claim.
And Bards extol her Fame;
Shall lovely Harriot still assume
An ever-equal Claim.
Grand as the Swan that swims the Thames,
We see sweet Harriot move;
White like the Swan,—cold as those Streams,
Her Breast recoils from Love:
We see sweet Harriot move;
White like the Swan,—cold as those Streams,
Her Breast recoils from Love:
So have I heard the Swains repine,
With many hopeless Sighs,
Alike the beauteous Sisters shine;
Alike they Love despise.
With many hopeless Sighs,
Alike the beauteous Sisters shine;
Alike they Love despise.
Amidst the pleasant Hills and Dales,
Of Surrey's fruitful Coast,
Where Croydon's Spire o'erlooks the Vales,
The Muses value most.
Of Surrey's fruitful Coast,
Where Croydon's Spire o'erlooks the Vales,
The Muses value most.
These peerless Buds of Nature bloom,
Her loveliest Work and Pride;
Ah! what could grace the Drawing-Room,
Why must the Country hide!
Her loveliest Work and Pride;
Ah! what could grace the Drawing-Room,
Why must the Country hide!
Yet, what are all the Charms I sing!
How helpless is their Aid!
We know, the Flowers, that deck the Spring,
Must in the Winter fade!
How helpless is their Aid!
We know, the Flowers, that deck the Spring,
Must in the Winter fade!
But, as the Wood is seen more clear,
When all the Leaves are gone,
Their solid Charms shall most appear,
When those of Youth are flown.
When all the Leaves are gone,
Their solid Charms shall most appear,
When those of Youth are flown.
360
When Molly's Beauties we survey,
And Harriot's graceful Mien,
What was the Mother in her Day,
Is by the Daughters seen:
And Harriot's graceful Mien,
What was the Mother in her Day,
Is by the Daughters seen:
And, in the Mother we may view,
When Youth can please no more,
That Time will feed on Charms—'tis true,
Yet still will add a Store.
When Youth can please no more,
That Time will feed on Charms—'tis true,
Yet still will add a Store.
| The Shamrock | |