Familiar letters and poems on several occasions By Mary Masters |
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To a Lady on the New Year; by a Gentleman.
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Familiar letters and poems on several occasions | ||
To a Lady on the New Year; by a Gentleman.
To you, the Mistress of my Heart,
My Muse her annual Tribute brings;
An homely Verse devoid of Art,
Not courtly, but sincere she Sings.
My Muse her annual Tribute brings;
An homely Verse devoid of Art,
Not courtly, but sincere she Sings.
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The Sun renews th'Ecliptic Way,
Slow turning from his southern Bound;
With more direct and copious Ray,
To scatter lengthen'd Day around.
Slow turning from his southern Bound;
With more direct and copious Ray,
To scatter lengthen'd Day around.
Hail, fairest, with the rising Year,
As the advancing Hours improve;
May each to you luxuriant bear,
Increase of Health, and Joy, and Love.
As the advancing Hours improve;
May each to you luxuriant bear,
Increase of Health, and Joy, and Love.
Be banish'd far all faithless Fear,
With canker'd Jealousy's annoy;
Let no presumptuous Care come near,
That Breast, the Treasury of Joy.
With canker'd Jealousy's annoy;
Let no presumptuous Care come near,
That Breast, the Treasury of Joy.
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Yet as the vary'd Seasons pass,
Might they this useful Truth display;
Time will the brightest Form deface,
And Youth and Beauty meet Decay.
Might they this useful Truth display;
Time will the brightest Form deface,
And Youth and Beauty meet Decay.
Foremost the jolly Spring appears,
Then lusty Summer cloath'd in Green;
Next Autumn with his ripen'd Ears,
Last hoary Winter shuts the Scene.
Then lusty Summer cloath'd in Green;
Next Autumn with his ripen'd Ears,
Last hoary Winter shuts the Scene.
Then O remember, charming Maid,
The faithful Muse records it true;
The Lillies on those Cheeks must fade,
The Roses there must change their Hue.
The faithful Muse records it true;
The Lillies on those Cheeks must fade,
The Roses there must change their Hue.
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Those Eyes of all their fatal Store,
Will the Usurper Time disarm;
By him subdu'd, that Form no more
Will please, that Voice no more will charm.
Will the Usurper Time disarm;
By him subdu'd, that Form no more
Will please, that Voice no more will charm.
Virtue, alone, not fears to die,
Superior to the Tyrant's Sway;
Confest in native Majesty,
And Charms un-knowing to decay.
Superior to the Tyrant's Sway;
Confest in native Majesty,
And Charms un-knowing to decay.
High on a Rock supremely great,
Amidst the Flux of rolling Years;
The Goddess firms her stedfast Seat,
Remov'd from Dangers as from Fears.
Amidst the Flux of rolling Years;
The Goddess firms her stedfast Seat,
Remov'd from Dangers as from Fears.
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Thence, smiling on her votive Throng,
Shines to dispel the Lover's Care;
Sheds purer Graces on the Young,
And brighter Radiance on the Fair.
Shines to dispel the Lover's Care;
Sheds purer Graces on the Young,
And brighter Radiance on the Fair.
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Familiar letters and poems on several occasions | ||