Poems on Several Occasions | ||
On OPHELIA.
I
In Praise of Women, we proclaimThe Breasts of One, Another's Face,
Here Eyes for ever roll in Fame,
And there immortal lives a Grace.
225
II
But, when Ophelia's Charms we sing,Not This, nor t'other Part, we praise,
Nor need we borrow'd Beauties bring,
A perfect Character to raise.
III
As Heav'ns Epitome design'd,The Whole of Her our Wonder draws,
We worship and adore her Mind,
At once her Person charms and awes.
IV
What finish'd Pieces have been shown?Have we not seen a Thousand more?
But when the fair Ophelia's gone,
Exhausted will be Beauty's Store.
226
V
Posterity shall, sorrowing, say,“Our Fathers saw superior Worth,
“The perfect Mold was cast away,
“When Nature brought Ophelia forth.
Poems on Several Occasions | ||