The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop ... To Which are Prefixed, Memoirs of the Life of the Author By the Rev. Thomas Clare |
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 | The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop |  |
53
TO THE SAME,
ON ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAME DAY. WITH A POCKET LOOKING-GLASS.
To you, dear wife, (and all must grant
A wife's no common confidant,)
I dare my secret soul reveal;
Whate'er I think, whate'er I feel.
A wife's no common confidant,)
I dare my secret soul reveal;
Whate'er I think, whate'er I feel.
This verse, for instance, I design
To mark a Female Friend of mine;
Whom long, with passion's warmest glee,
I've seen—and could for ever see!
To mark a Female Friend of mine;
Whom long, with passion's warmest glee,
I've seen—and could for ever see!
But hear me first describe the Dame:
If candour then can blame me—blame.
If candour then can blame me—blame.
I've seen Her charm at forty more,
Than half her sex, at twenty four:—
Seen her, with equal power and ease,
Draw right to rule, from will to please;
Seen her so frankly give, and spare
At once, with so discreet a care;
As if her sense, and hers alone,
Could limit bounty like her own;—
Seen her in nature's simplest guise,
Above arts, airs, and fashions rise;
And when her peers she had surpast,
Improve upon herself, at last;—
Seen her, in short, in every part,
Figure, Discernment, Temper, Heart,
So perfect, that till Heaven remove her,
I must admire her, court her, love her.
Than half her sex, at twenty four:—
54
Draw right to rule, from will to please;
Seen her so frankly give, and spare
At once, with so discreet a care;
As if her sense, and hers alone,
Could limit bounty like her own;—
Seen her in nature's simplest guise,
Above arts, airs, and fashions rise;
And when her peers she had surpast,
Improve upon herself, at last;—
Seen her, in short, in every part,
Figure, Discernment, Temper, Heart,
So perfect, that till Heaven remove her,
I must admire her, court her, love her.
Molly, I speak the thing I mean:
So rare a Woman I have seen;—
And send this honest Glass, that You,
Whene'er you please—may see her too!
So rare a Woman I have seen;—
And send this honest Glass, that You,
Whene'er you please—may see her too!
| The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop | |