 | Philomela |  |
162
TO MEMORY.
Best Gift that Heav'n's Indulgence could bestow!
To Thee our surest Happiness we owe;
Thou all the flying Pleasures dost restore,
Which but for Thee, blest Mem'ry! were no more;
For we no sooner grasp some frail Delight,
But ready for its everlasting Flight,
E'er we can call the hasty Bliss our own,
If not retain'd by Thee, it is for ever gone.
Thou to the kind successful Lover's Heart,
A Thousand melting Raptures dost impart,
When yet more lovely than herself, and kind,
Thou bring'st his fancy'd Mistress to his Mind;
The flatt'ring Image wears a livelier Grace,
A softer Mien, and more inticing Face.
To Thee our surest Happiness we owe;
Thou all the flying Pleasures dost restore,
Which but for Thee, blest Mem'ry! were no more;
For we no sooner grasp some frail Delight,
But ready for its everlasting Flight,
E'er we can call the hasty Bliss our own,
If not retain'd by Thee, it is for ever gone.
Thou to the kind successful Lover's Heart,
A Thousand melting Raptures dost impart,
When yet more lovely than herself, and kind,
Thou bring'st his fancy'd Mistress to his Mind;
The flatt'ring Image wears a livelier Grace,
A softer Mien, and more inticing Face.
163
Thou from the flying Minutes dost retrieve,
The Joys Clorinda's Wit and Beauty give;
Those Joys which I had once possess'd in vain,
Did not the dear Remembrance still remain,
Methinks she speaks, and all my Soul inspires,
Brightens each Thought, and gives my Muse new Fires;
'Tis she who lends my daring Fancy Wings,
Softens my Lyre, and tunes its warbling Strings.
The Joys Clorinda's Wit and Beauty give;
Those Joys which I had once possess'd in vain,
Did not the dear Remembrance still remain,
Methinks she speaks, and all my Soul inspires,
Brightens each Thought, and gives my Muse new Fires;
'Tis she who lends my daring Fancy Wings,
Softens my Lyre, and tunes its warbling Strings.
Thou only to the Guilty art severe,
Who the Review of their past Actions fear;
But to the Innocent and Virtuous Mind,
Art still propitious, smiling still, and kind,
To Thee we all those charming Pleasures owe,
The Pleasures which from gen'rous Actions flow,
They're still the Noblest we possess below.
Who the Review of their past Actions fear;
But to the Innocent and Virtuous Mind,
Art still propitious, smiling still, and kind,
To Thee we all those charming Pleasures owe,
The Pleasures which from gen'rous Actions flow,
They're still the Noblest we possess below.
| Philomela | |