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On Florella's Birth-Day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


171

On Florella's Birth-Day.

The Queen of Love, and Pallas once, 'tis said,
Had both agreed to form a finish'd Maid:
Upon a noted Day they flew to Earth,
A Day still noted by Florella's Birth:
Both Deities employ'd their utmost Care,
To make their darling Lady wise and fair:
This gave her Beauty, that a sprightly Wit,
Which render'd Soul and Body justly fit:
But Mercury, that nimble-winged Thief,
Who loves his Joke, as dearly as his Life,
Down from Olympus to his Sisters flew,
When just to Life their little Embryo grew;

172

And pour'd a little Folly in her Breast;
A little Folly leaven'd all the rest:
Hence 'tis, she's sometimes sprightly, sometimes dull;
And sometimes witty, sometimes quite a Fool;
Scarce foolish now, nor witty, sprightly neither;
But sprightly, witty, foolish, all together.