 | Familiar letters and poems on several occasions |  |
67
Familiar Letters, &c.
69
[To wear away Time as we can, we full oft]
To wear away Time as we can, we full oft,Sit together and chat of the People at Croft;
Your House and your Gardens, your Self and your Spouse,
Your Pigeons and Chickens, your Pigs and your Cows;
Of the Corn-Fields and Meadows, the Tythe and the Trees,
The Church and the Bridge, and the sweet River Tees;
Of the neighb'ring Rector you've heard me so praise,
And the fair Lady M**banke that brightens my Lays:
Of your Kindred all round, your Father and Mother,
Of Durham's good Dean, and the Prebend your Brother:
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The Allens, and Chaytors, and fifty Folks more:
Of more than you think on we constantly prate,
For, Madam, you know that dull Silence I hate.
At last, when no more can be thought of, or said,
We call for our Candles and trip up to Bed.
77
[O wou'd the Free-born Maids together join]
O wou'd the Free-born Maids together joinIn this so laudable and just Design;
Th'imperious Lord his wonted Pow'r should mourn,
And Equal Woman triumph in her Turn:
Souls have no Sex, nor Male, nor Female there,
A manly Mind informs the well-taught Fair.
While Fops have female Follies in Excess,
Who nothing study, but the Art of Dress:
From diff'rent Teaching, diff'rent Notions rise,
Hence Women less, and Men appear more wise,
78
What stupid Things these Boasters then would be;
Whilst Wisdom, Science, ev'ry Art divine,
In Woman would with fullest Lustre shine.
[Fear not my Genius to unfold]
Fear not my Genius to unfold
My silent Thoughts are these,
Women were born to be controul'd
Think of them as you please;
Their long usurped Monarchy
Hath made me hate such Tyranny.
My silent Thoughts are these,
Women were born to be controul'd
Think of them as you please;
Their long usurped Monarchy
Hath made me hate such Tyranny.
Let them and their magnetic Charms
Like Harbingers before them,
Possess themselves in Cupid's Arms
As Baits for to adore them.
Like Harbingers before them,
Possess themselves in Cupid's Arms
As Baits for to adore them.
Their Deity with them must fade,
It cannot be deny'd,
But since those pretty Things were made
Out of old Adam's Side,
We'll love them still, yet know as thus,
We'll do't because they're Part of us,
And let it then suffice those Elves,
To say we love them as ourselves.
It cannot be deny'd,
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Out of old Adam's Side,
We'll love them still, yet know as thus,
We'll do't because they're Part of us,
And let it then suffice those Elves,
To say we love them as ourselves.
[Fear not, Maria, to display]
Fear not, Maria, to display
That arbitrary Thing
Who says weak Woman must obey,
And he's her mighty King.
Presumptuous Man, know I defy
Thy too long practis'd Tyranny.
That arbitrary Thing
Who says weak Woman must obey,
And he's her mighty King.
Presumptuous Man, know I defy
Thy too long practis'd Tyranny.
Thy lordly Rights thou mayst proclaim
And place obey before
Usurp a Monarch's awful Name
To make tame Fools adore;
No Homage shalt thou gain from me,
For, as I'm born, I will be, free.
And place obey before
Usurp a Monarch's awful Name
To make tame Fools adore;
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For, as I'm born, I will be, free.
Since from Man's Side, as we are told,
Fair polish'd Woman rose,
We'll not despise our kindred Mold,
Nor yet adore the Dross.
Robust and strong from native Earth he came,
Fit Guardian of his Partner's finer Frame,
And if he'll faithful, mild and gen'rous prove,
We'll pay him back with due Returns of Love:
A helpful Consort while he's kind and good,
And let him thank us for our Gratitude.
Fair polish'd Woman rose,
We'll not despise our kindred Mold,
Nor yet adore the Dross.
Robust and strong from native Earth he came,
Fit Guardian of his Partner's finer Frame,
And if he'll faithful, mild and gen'rous prove,
We'll pay him back with due Returns of Love:
A helpful Consort while he's kind and good,
And let him thank us for our Gratitude.
81
[But this is the Effect of present Grief]
But this is the Effect of present Grief,And Time, I hope, will bring a kind Relief,
For Pity would it be, so bright a Maid
So soon should set beneath a lasting Shade.
Women like her we very rarely find,
Such Modesty with so much Learning join'd.
Mistress of Languages, and yet not vain,
But wholly free from Pride's disgusting Stain,
Grac'd with one Charm which we but rarely view,
Quick are her Thoughts, and yet her Words are few.
82
[That some there are, who regularly move]
That some there are, who regularly move,Can banish Hate, and overcome their Love,
Hard is the Combat, but the Conquest brave,
For who wou'd live wild Passion's tortur'd Slave
That cou'd reflect, and rightly judging, see
'Tis in their own Election to be free:
Reason and Piety can calm the Breast,
And charm the most intemp'rate Mind to Rest.
83
[Though I feel no youthful Fires]
Though I feel no youthful FiresBlooming Hopes nor gay Desires,
Such as Venus' Son inspires,
Yet I have a Heart and Mind,
Softest of the softest Kind:
Friendly to a Lover's Cause,
Virtuous Love deserves Applause.
Pleasure in my Bosom springs,
When I read of tender Things:
Pity sighs, when Sighs reveal
Wants and Woes which others feel:
If in Tears their Sorrows flow,
Tears my kindred Sorrows show.
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Such as Venus' Son inspires,
True it is, I daily prove,
All my melting Soul is Love.
85
[An active Mind, and Spirits gay]
An active Mind, and Spirits gay,
Turn my September into May.
Higher Health and livelier Bloom,
Promise still an Age to come,
Charming Prospects rise in Sight,
And thrill my Heart with new Delight,
I feel fresh Life in every Vein,
And sprightly Youth returns again.
Turn my September into May.
Higher Health and livelier Bloom,
Promise still an Age to come,
Charming Prospects rise in Sight,
And thrill my Heart with new Delight,
I feel fresh Life in every Vein,
And sprightly Youth returns again.
But where would giddy Fancy run!
The longest Date will soon be done:
Autumn, like Spring, may Verdure shew,
But ever wears a fainter Hue:
Years of Vanity are past,
Can I better hope at last?
Flatt'ring the fair Ideas seem,
But Human Life is all a Dream:
The longest Date will soon be done:
Autumn, like Spring, may Verdure shew,
But ever wears a fainter Hue:
Years of Vanity are past,
Can I better hope at last?
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But Human Life is all a Dream:
87
On Good Friday.
O Pow'r Supreme! incline a gracious Ear,And now accept my penitential Prayer:
After the many Days, which I must own,
Alas! unvalu'd, and unheeded gone;
After the many restless Nights I've spent,
In anxious Care, in raving Discontent,
Contending with a wild, a fierce Desire,
The Flame of Love, which set my Soul on Fire;
While Laura's Image only fill'd my Breast,
An Image I too fondly have caress'd;
Oh let me now thy tender Mercy find,
With thy free Grace illuminate my Mind,
Let me no more the Slave of Passion be,
But turn my wand'ring Thoughts to Heav'n and thee;
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Finding his artful Snares are vainly spread.
Of rolling Years, eleven are past in Pain,
Since I was doom'd to wear the galling Chain:
The Chain which am'rous Minds are forc'd to bear,
Still to the most Submissive, most severe.
On my degen'rate Sorrow Pity take,
And from the Maze of Error bring me back:
With noblest Objects all my Thoughts inspire,
Let him, alone, be all my Soul's Desire,
Who on this Day his Sacred Life resign'd,
And suffer'd on the Cross for lost Mankind.
Another Passage from Petrarch.
Since thou and I, too oft, have prov'd the Pain
Of baffled Hopes, and Expectations vain;
From earthly Views thy doubtful Heart remove,
And fix it on the solid Joys above.
Of baffled Hopes, and Expectations vain;
From earthly Views thy doubtful Heart remove,
And fix it on the solid Joys above.
The flatt'ring World presents a gaudy Scene,
Like a fair Meadow, flow'ry fresh and green:
Where hid, obscure, beneath the verdant Leaves,
A deadly Snake th'unwary Foot deceives.
Who views the gay Temptation with Delight,
And only thinks to take a transient Sight,
Shall feel the pleasing Mischief sweetly roll
Through his fond Eyes, and catch his melting Soul:
But would you with Tranquillity be blest,
E'er the last Day's Approach shall give you Rest;
Follow with patient Steps the Pious Few,
And quit the Crowd, who diff'rent Paths pursue.
Like a fair Meadow, flow'ry fresh and green:
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A deadly Snake th'unwary Foot deceives.
Who views the gay Temptation with Delight,
And only thinks to take a transient Sight,
Shall feel the pleasing Mischief sweetly roll
Through his fond Eyes, and catch his melting Soul:
But would you with Tranquillity be blest,
E'er the last Day's Approach shall give you Rest;
Follow with patient Steps the Pious Few,
And quit the Crowd, who diff'rent Paths pursue.
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[A shining Treasure from the World conceal'd]
A shining Treasure from the World conceal'd,A Treasure only to my self reveal'd:
Like them, I too shall frequently retire,
Count my rich Store, and secretly admire;
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Thy pictur'd Mind I in thy Letters love.
But here, indeed, we something disagree,
'Tis Money pleases them, and Paper me.
94
[Had, hitherto, escap'd those Darts]
Had, hitherto, escap'd those Darts,That wound, unseen, poor Virgin's Hearts,
95
Or of a worthy Heart possest;
But, Oh, 'tis hard amongst Mankind,
A Heart of real Worth to find,
Full of Merit, kind and true,
Wise and good, and fit for you.
96
[Ye lovely Nymphs of Britain's beauteous Race]
Ye lovely Nymphs of Britain's beauteous Race,Let no false Shews your native Charms disgrace,
Ape not the vain Coquette, too kind or rude,
Nor imitate the stiff dissembling Prude.
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A mild Address, an unaffected Air
Will make Mankind your pleasing Worth approve,
And gently fix the lasting Chain of Love.
98
[For early will the treach'rous Tempters come]
For early will the treach'rous Tempters come:They spread their Nets for Beauty in its Bloom.
O happy she that can betimes beware,
And shun the sly Deluder's gilded Snare.
101
[For though fond Hope our Wishes oft deceives]
For though fond Hope our Wishes oft deceives,The Charmer still deludes, the Heart believes;
And, sure, to credit her is better far,
Than fall a Sacrifice to black Despair.
Despair! dire Fiend! bids ev'ry Pleasure cease
And leaves no Passage to returning Peace.
But lovely Hope, with mitigating Smiles,
Cheers the sad Heart, and weary Care beguiles.
With Angel-sweetness sooths the throbbing Breast,
And sings the troubled Passions into Rest.
109
[Pride, that imperious Fiend too well I know]
Pride, that imperious Fiend too well I know,A Fiend which oft has been Maria's Foe.
The Bad are her's, but sometimes she'll intrude,
And stain a Soul that otherwise is good;
For, once admitted, she'll engross the Heart,
Swell it with Rage, and act a Tyrant's Part.
110
[A Love which greater Transports can impart]
A Love which greater Transports can impart,Than e're possess'd a sensual Lover's Heart:
A Love which ne'er knew Guilt, or Shame, or Fear,
Whose Joys are lasting, solid, and sincere.
| Familiar letters and poems on several occasions | |