University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Miscellanies in Prose and Verse

By Mrs. Catherine Jemmat
 

collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Addressed to Mrs. WOFFINGTON.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Addressed to Mrs. WOFFINGTON.

When graceful Woffington adorns the scene,
A pleasing tremor thrills thro' ev'ry vein,
Charms so uncommon strike with such surprise,
We doat, yet doubt; see, yet suspect our eyes.
Long absent mariners, with like delight,
View their own shores, and scarce believe the sight.
A form like her's, if wishes could have done,
Each rival goddess had to Paris shewn;
Her sparkling eyes beam forth unusual fires,
Age feels their force, and burns with new desires.
Some copy nature well, but she alone
Has skill to make each character her own;
At once the author's whole design she sees,
New points the jests, and gives it pow'r to please,

184

Each word its tone, each action knows its place,
Each suits the other with peculiar grace.
Whether she mourns her Hector's hapless fate,
Or plagues her lovers with dissembled hate,
Now peals of laughter the full benches break,
Or falling tears bedew the virgin cheek.
By nature fram'd in ev'ry shape to please,
See her assume the manly gait with ease;
So justly she sustains Sir Harry's part,
Her beauty only can betray her art.
Soft music now invites the sprightly fair,
Graceful she moves obedient to the air:
So when bright Venus in the 'midst of spring,
Sports with the graces in the verdant ring,
The nymphs, the fawns, the sylvan croud admire,
And Pan himself looks stupid with desire;
With easy airs the lively Cyprian queen
Treads the light maze, and skims the level green.