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University of Virginia Library

The Works of William Mason

... In Four Volumes

Mason, William (1725-1797)

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I.

TO ROBERT EARL OF HOLDERNESSE, BARON D'ARCY, MENIL AND CONYERS, LORD WARDEN OF HIS MAJESTY'S CINQUE PORTS, AND GOVERNOR OF DOVER CASTLE.

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I.

SONNET I. SENT TO A YOUNG LADY WITH DODSLEY'S MISCELLANIES.

II.

SONNET II. PRESENTED TO A FRIEND ON THE MORNING OF HIS MARRIAGE.

III.

SONNET III. AUGUST, 1773.

IV.

SONNET IV. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELD AND COVENTRY, PREFIXED TO THE DRAMATIC POEM OF CARACTACUS, WHEN ALTERED FOR STAGE REPRESENTATION.

V.

SONNET V. TO A VERY YOUNG PAINTER.

VI.

SONNET VI. TO GEORGE BUSSY VILLIERS EARL OF JERSEY, &c. &c. AND GEORGE SIMON HARCOURT EARL HARCOURT, &c. &c.

VII.

SONNET VII. FEBRUARY 23, 1795. ANNIVERSARY.

VIII.

SONNET VIII. FEBRUARY 23, 1796. ANNIVERSARY.

IX.

SONNET IX. TO THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER, SENT TO HIM WITH THE PRECEDING SONNET.

X.

SONNET X. FEBRUARY 23, 1797. ANNIVERSARY.

XI.

SONNET XI. OCCASIONED BY A LATE ATTACK ON THE PRESENT TASTE OF ENGLISH GARDENS.

XII.

SONNET XII. TO A GRAVEL WALK, RELATIVE TO THE PRECEDING SUBJECT.

XIII.

SONNET XIII. OCCASIONED BY A DIDACTIC POEM ON THE PROGRESS OF CIVIL SOCIETY.

EPITAPHS AND INSCRIPTIONS.

HYMNS, AND SELECT PSALMS VERSIFIED.

II.

III.

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123

SONNET III. AUGUST, 1773.

“Ah! why, cries Prudence, “turn thy wayward feet
“From scenes congenial to each spruce Divine?
“See, how they flutter round Preferment's shrine
“With scarfe so rustling, and with band so neat!
“Bless'd with such brethren and their converse sweet,
“Like them politely pray, devoutly dine.”
Pardon me, Dame; for Competence benign
(Heav'n-sent at last) now favours my retreat,
Leads me to where Content sedately gay,
Her favourite sister, my free step attends:
Hark! she repeats the Pontic exile's lay,
Bids me enjoy the boon, kind Fortune lends,
Of Envy void, while Time slides soft away,
And from my equals only cull my friends.

Vive sine invidiâ, mollesq; inglorius annos
Exige, amicitias et tibi junge pares.

Ovid Trist. Lib. III. Eleg. IV. p. 42.