Poems on Several Occasions, Together with a Pastoral By Mrs. S. F. [i.e. Sarah Egerton] |
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To my Ingenious Friend Mrs. S. F. on her Poems.
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 | Poems on Several Occasions, Together with a Pastoral |  |
To my Ingenious Friend Mrs. S. F. on her Poems.
Come ev'ry Muse with Fire and Garlands too,Inspire my Breast adorn Clarinda's Brow;
(Cypress and Mirtle with the Laurel twine,
Three Boughs of each, with Heavenly skill combine,
The mystick Number suits the sacred Nine,)
She does the force of every Passion tell,
None ever Lov'd, or Greiv'd, or Prais'd so well.
Sometimes she soars aloft a Pindar's height,
In a bright Track nigh lost to human Sight;
Then gently slides into a softer Strain,
And does with Loves and Graces entertain:
In Panegyricks just to that Degree,
'Tis all complaisant Truth, not nauseous Flattery;
And when her Muse Satyrick would appear,
'Tis without air of Spite, and yet severe.
And traces Fate thro' her mysterious Wind:
To ev'ry Theme she does her Genius bend,
While every Art and Grace officiously attend.
Such sacred Beauties grace her lays Divine,
Pæan's immortal Beams shine Bright in every Line;
In Virgil, Ovid, Martial we prefer,
Some single Gift, but we have all in her.
Forbear by humble Muse, thou art unfit,
To celebrate her various turns of Wit.
Let the soft Pen, who great Pastora Mourn'd,
To more delightful rural Strains be turn'd;
And sing Clarinda's Fame, whose tender Lays,
Next to his own, deserve immortal Praise.
E. C.
| Poems on Several Occasions, Together with a Pastoral | |