 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
On the Marriage of Captain C.
Inscrib'd to the Bride.
Hail! happy Pair, whose Nuptial Rites demand,
Congratulations from a Stranger's Hand:
Thus then, due Honours to your Names I pay,
And thus my Wishes from afar convey.
Congratulations from a Stranger's Hand:
Thus then, due Honours to your Names I pay,
And thus my Wishes from afar convey.
Touch'd with the Praises of your gen'rous Friend,
Who seems most pleas'd when he can most commend;
I felt my Breast with secret Ardor glow,
Tho much he said, yet more I wish'd to know.
He spoke; he prais'd; I hearken'd with delight,
And found a strong Propensity to write:
Ideal Scenes my list'ning Soul inspire,
And warm my Bosom with poetick Fire.
In Thought I see the young and beauteous Bride,
Modestly blushing by her Lover's side;
Fair in her Form, but more in Virtue bright,
Made to procure and perfect his delight:
Attending Loves fly round in wanton Rings,
And strive to fan her with their am'rous Wings.
He claims by Merit the distinguish'd Fair,
And she is worthy of his fondest Care.
Courage with Beauty is most aptly join'd,
And happy Venus when with Mars combin'd.
Who seems most pleas'd when he can most commend;
I felt my Breast with secret Ardor glow,
Tho much he said, yet more I wish'd to know.
84
And found a strong Propensity to write:
Ideal Scenes my list'ning Soul inspire,
And warm my Bosom with poetick Fire.
In Thought I see the young and beauteous Bride,
Modestly blushing by her Lover's side;
Fair in her Form, but more in Virtue bright,
Made to procure and perfect his delight:
Attending Loves fly round in wanton Rings,
And strive to fan her with their am'rous Wings.
He claims by Merit the distinguish'd Fair,
And she is worthy of his fondest Care.
Courage with Beauty is most aptly join'd,
And happy Venus when with Mars combin'd.
O! may they long be in each other blest,
Smil'd on by Fate, by faithful Friends carest;
And may old Time his brittle Glass employ
To measure out successive Hours of Joy;
May nothing interrupt the Cares of Life,
No Doubts or Fears, no Jealousies or Strife;
Nor fierce Bellona with her dire Alarms,
Force the young Hero from his fair one's Arms.
Smil'd on by Fate, by faithful Friends carest;
85
To measure out successive Hours of Joy;
May nothing interrupt the Cares of Life,
No Doubts or Fears, no Jealousies or Strife;
Nor fierce Bellona with her dire Alarms,
Force the young Hero from his fair one's Arms.
And may the Nymph to whom I send these Lays,
Accept the Verses which she cannot praise:
Her Sex's Errors she may best excuse,
And kindly patronize a Virgin-Muse.
Accept the Verses which she cannot praise:
Her Sex's Errors she may best excuse,
And kindly patronize a Virgin-Muse.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |