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Familiar letters and poems on several occasions

By Mary Masters
Masters, Mary (ca. 1706-ca. 1759)

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Familiar Letters, &c.
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POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
  
A Morning ODE.
  
On the Nativity of our BLESSED SAVIOUR.
  
On Friendship.
  
To Miss H--- on her Marriage with Captain J---.
  
PSALM XXV.
  
An Answer to an Epistle sent me by a Gentleman on the Death of his Father.
  
On hearing a Sermon preached by the Reverend Mr ---.
  
PSALM XLII.
  
My Love describ'd to CAMILLA.
  
To the same on her telling me a very acceptable piece of News.
  
An EPISTLE to ---
  
A Second Epistle to the Same.
  
The Rose and other Flowers, a Tale; inscribed to a young Lady.
  
The ATOM and WASP; or Pride mortified.
  
On a FOUNTAIN.
  
Casim. Lib. i. Ode 2.
  
To SILVIO.
  
The various Pursuits of Mankind.
  
SPRING.
  
CATULLUS to LESBIA.
  
An Imitation of the foregoing Verses, by way of Reply.
  
Wrote immediately upon seeing the Behaviour of a Jealous Husband.
  
An EPIGRAM on a Person who constantly drinks a Dram when he goes to Prayers.
  
Verses sent by a Gentleman to the Author, desiring an Answer.
  
To the Gentleman who sent the above Verses.
  
An EXTEMPORE THOUGHT.
  
Return'd in Answer to a poetical Compliment from Miss ---
  
Wrote some Months after the Prince of Wales's Death.
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Four Speeches for four Boys, &c.
 1. 
HOPE.
 2. 
DESPAIR.
 3. 
LOVE.
 4. 
CONTENT.
  
On the PEACE.
  
To the Ladies at ---, having pass'd one Day with them.
  
To a Friend who tax'd me with too much Zeal in blaming her Fondness to an unworthy Lover.
  
To Miss ---, on her Birth-Day, at a Time when she was much distress'd.
  
Sent to a young Lady in Town, who had vow'd to die a Maid, in Answer to a Letter, where, in a Copy of Verses, she signify'd her Resolution, and desired an Account of the House and its Situation, in which a new married Lady of her acquaintance was settled.
  
An Answer to a poetical Letter from Miss ---, in which she informs me of a warm Debate, in a Senate of Ladies, upon the Question, Whether I had ever been in Love?
  
The Gentleman's Answer to a Song call'd the Lady's Reply.
  
Sent to Mrs ---, upon the Epiphany.
  
Upon the first Day of the Year.
  
PSALM CXLVI.
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SHORT EJACULATIONS.
  
A THOUGHT at first waking.
  
To a Lady on the New Year; by a Gentleman.
  
To the Rt Hon. Lady Viscountess IRWIN, on her Poem call'd Castle Howard.
  
CYDIPPE to LEONZO.
  
PSALM CI.
  
Written in a blank Leaf of Mrs Row's Works.
  
On a Lady who refused the Address of four Gentlemen eminent in their Profession, and died a Maid.
  
Presented to a Gentleman in danger of being in Love with a Woman of bad Conduct.
  
On a female Cat, named Selima, who fell into a China Cistern with Gold Fishes in it, and was drown'd.
  
The following upon the same Occasion, was wrote by a Lady, probably to Selima's Mistress, to comfort her for the Loss of her Favourite.
  
A Gentleman having read the foregoing Verses, ask'd what Reason could be given for Phœbus interesting himself in the Affair? This Question occasion'd the following Lines.
  
Wit rewarded, or the Double Triumph.
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An ODE on MUSICK.
  
Address'd to a Lady (whom I had not then seen) on the Day of her Marriage with a Gentleman of my Acquaintance.
  
To the Author of the EPISTLE. To Mrs MASTERS and her Readers.
  
PSALM CXXXVIII.
  
An Epitaph found at Soulac, the Ancient Noviomagus, a Town in Guienne, a Province of France.
  
The Expostulation and Resolution.
  
An Hymn intended to be sung on Easter-Day.
  
PSALM CIV.

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200

DESPAIR.

The second Speech.

[_]

At the Beginning of this Speech the Boy who speaks it turns, and looks at him that spoke last.

In vain you talk of Hope's endearing Wiles,
Her ample Blessings, and her lasting Smiles;
That she to ev'ry Breast can Joy impart,
And sweetly solace the afflicted Heart:
All this I know th'Enchantress will pretend,
And flatters high and imitates the Friend;
But few that trust her find the Dame sincere,
Her Gifts are Shadows, and her promise Air:
That her Dominion's large must be confest,
Yet let her not lay Claim to ev'ry Breast;
For some there are who scorn her gentle Sway,
Court black Despair, and his stern Laws obey.
201

Despair that keeps with Hope eternal War,
A Tyrant he, but more rever'd by far;
Such true Obedience do his Slaves afford,
They'll pour their Blood to please their cruel Lord.
Reverse of Hope that softly-soothing Dame,
By diff'rent Methods he aspires to Fame;
He robs the Rich, and does the Poor oppress,
Sows Discontent, adds Terror to Distress;
Confirms the Wretched, makes all Comfort fade,
And throws Dishonour on th'ambitious Head:
Plunders the Miser of his ill-got Pelf,
Who oft, to save his Money, starves himself;
His gloomy Subjects no soft Pleasures know,
Strangers to Ease, and Devotees to Woe:
In painful Anguish tedious Days are past,
And Sighs and Tears, Night's ling'ring Moments waste.
202

This sullen Pow'r averse to ev'ry Joy,
Does all the blissful Hours of Life destroy;
Blasts our best Wishes in their rising Bloom,
And shocks the tim'rous Mind with Ills to come.
To you, great Sirs, with low Respect I bend,
And ardent wish in each to find a Friend;
Long have I sigh'd your Favour to obtain,
But cold Despair assures me 'tis in vain.
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