Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
 |
|
Another Letter to Cousin F. R.
|
 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
126
Another Letter to Cousin F. R.
As Winters tedious Nights to weary Eyes,
As nipping Cold to chirping winged Flocks,
Until the welcome Day-Star do arise,
And lights the Trees to shake their dewy Locks:
As nipping Cold to chirping winged Flocks,
Until the welcome Day-Star do arise,
And lights the Trees to shake their dewy Locks:
Or as a Door close lock'd, to limit thee,
Ev'n thee, to whom I send these hasty Lines,
Such was thy tedious Silence unto me,
Till now of late a better Aspect shines.
Ev'n thee, to whom I send these hasty Lines,
Such was thy tedious Silence unto me,
Till now of late a better Aspect shines.
For from thy Bounteous Hand I have receiv'd,
What I esteem more than the Miser's Gold;
If I for lieu of it should be bereav'd
Of the dear Int'rest which in thee I hold;
What I esteem more than the Miser's Gold;
If I for lieu of it should be bereav'd
Of the dear Int'rest which in thee I hold;
Surpassing that of Consanguinity,
Which scarce obliges, but in Complements;
But Cordial Friendship's lasting Unity,
Hearts by endearing Vertue so Cements,
Which scarce obliges, but in Complements;
But Cordial Friendship's lasting Unity,
Hearts by endearing Vertue so Cements,
That distance, tho' remote, can't separate;
Tho' interposing Business prevail,
To hinder mutual Converse, and create
Those Exercises which sometimes assail:
Tho' interposing Business prevail,
To hinder mutual Converse, and create
Those Exercises which sometimes assail:
That Adage, clouded to the World in mists,
Is in thy Conversation verify'd;
Honour with True Nobility consists,
And nothing more Ridiculous than Pride.
Is in thy Conversation verify'd;
Honour with True Nobility consists,
And nothing more Ridiculous than Pride.
127
Pride in Deportment, and in Gaudy Dress,
Indulg'd by some t'obtain a Monarchy,
Is shunn'd by thee; thy Empire ne'ertheless
Extendeth further, than desir'd by thee.
Indulg'd by some t'obtain a Monarchy,
Is shunn'd by thee; thy Empire ne'ertheless
Extendeth further, than desir'd by thee.
Thou to the World in plainness bravely shews,
Thou covet'st not the Troubles of her Noise;
Yet unawares obligingly subdues,
Far more than they that court her Vanities.
Thou covet'st not the Troubles of her Noise;
Yet unawares obligingly subdues,
Far more than they that court her Vanities.
Prides gaudy Captives strive to dazle Eyes,
But thy sweet Gravity affects the Heart,
Yet such sometimes gain Conquest by surprize;
But whom thou overcomes, own due desert.
But thy sweet Gravity affects the Heart,
Yet such sometimes gain Conquest by surprize;
But whom thou overcomes, own due desert.
Yet were thy Vertue and thine Honour less,
If such Ambition found a place in thee,
As frequently attends the gaudy Dress,
T'insult o'er those ta'en in Captivity.
If such Ambition found a place in thee,
As frequently attends the gaudy Dress,
T'insult o'er those ta'en in Captivity.
But tho' thou can'st not totally redress
Such Expectation, as some seem to have,
Yet by a prudent Mein and Gentleness,
Would loose the Fetters, that so far enslave;
Such Expectation, as some seem to have,
Yet by a prudent Mein and Gentleness,
Would loose the Fetters, that so far enslave;
And innocently ever dost extend
Such candid Favours, as may best agree
To those whom thou vouchsafes to own thy Friend,
And yet kept from reflecting Censure free.
Such candid Favours, as may best agree
To those whom thou vouchsafes to own thy Friend,
And yet kept from reflecting Censure free.
But thy great Zeal for true Religion shines
In Life and Conversation, ev'n as far
Above what others talk these cloudy times,
As the Day-Ruler doth a twinkling Star.
In Life and Conversation, ev'n as far
Above what others talk these cloudy times,
As the Day-Ruler doth a twinkling Star.
For in thy Blooming Years, thy tender Mind
Was influenced with such warm desires
Of Holiness; and so to Good inclin'd,
As Love, and Power Divine, alone inspires.
Was influenced with such warm desires
Of Holiness; and so to Good inclin'd,
As Love, and Power Divine, alone inspires.
128
Nor didst thou take Religion upon trust,
But wisely sought to know its Basis; and,
Noble Berean-like, so wise and just,
To search the Records of Divine Command:
But wisely sought to know its Basis; and,
Noble Berean-like, so wise and just,
To search the Records of Divine Command:
Which, having prov'd, thou heard'st, & then obey'd;
And with a right composed Heart and Mind,
Bow'd to the Truth; so Truth its Scepter sway'd,
And thou therein dost Peace and Solace find.
And with a right composed Heart and Mind,
Bow'd to the Truth; so Truth its Scepter sway'd,
And thou therein dost Peace and Solace find.
And tho' at first the frowning World assay'd,
By Scornings and Revilings, t'have deterr'd
From Goodness, thy great Soul was not dismay'd,
But this, before her Vanities, preferr'd:
By Scornings and Revilings, t'have deterr'd
From Goodness, thy great Soul was not dismay'd,
But this, before her Vanities, preferr'd:
So things that once seem'd difficult, became
More easie; and the Glorious Shining Light,
That first but glimmer'd in the dark, the same
Broke out more bright, & overspread the Night.
More easie; and the Glorious Shining Light,
That first but glimmer'd in the dark, the same
Broke out more bright, & overspread the Night.
Thus what seem'd once impossible, appear'd
To thy great Satisfaction; and thine Heart
(Thy Understanding being fully clear'd)
Enjoy'd the Choice of Mary's better part,
To thy great Satisfaction; and thine Heart
(Thy Understanding being fully clear'd)
Enjoy'd the Choice of Mary's better part,
Which from the Righteous may not be remov'd;
They know Salvation near, Truth is their Choice;
And tho' such be with Exercises prov'd,
They have the Earnest of Eternal Joys.
They know Salvation near, Truth is their Choice;
And tho' such be with Exercises prov'd,
They have the Earnest of Eternal Joys.
1690.
| Fruits of Retirement | |