Familiar letters and poems on several occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Familiar letters and poems on several occasions

By Mary Masters

Masters, Mary (ca. 1706-ca. 1759)

Familiar Letters, &c.

[To wear away Time as we can, we full oft]

[O wou'd the Free-born Maids together join]

[Fear not my Genius to unfold]

[Fear not, Maria, to display]

[But this is the Effect of present Grief]

[That some there are, who regularly move]

[Though I feel no youthful Fires]

[An active Mind, and Spirits gay]

On Good Friday.

Another Passage from Petrarch.

[A shining Treasure from the World conceal'd]

[Had, hitherto, escap'd those Darts]

[Ye lovely Nymphs of Britain's beauteous Race]

[For early will the treach'rous Tempters come]

[For though fond Hope our Wishes oft deceives]

[Pride, that imperious Fiend too well I know]

[A Love which greater Transports can impart]

POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

A Morning ODE.

On the Nativity of our BLESSED SAVIOUR.

On Friendship.

To Miss H--- on her Marriage with Captain J---.

PSALM XXV.

An Answer to an Epistle sent me by a Gentleman on the Death of his Father.

On hearing a Sermon preached by the Reverend Mr ---.

PSALM XLII.

My Love describ'd to CAMILLA.

To the same on her telling me a very acceptable piece of News.

An EPISTLE to ---

A Second Epistle to the Same.

The Rose and other Flowers, a Tale; inscribed to a young Lady.

The ATOM and WASP; or Pride mortified.

On a FOUNTAIN.

Casim. Lib. i. Ode 2.

To SILVIO.

The various Pursuits of Mankind.

SPRING.

CATULLUS to LESBIA.

An Imitation of the foregoing Verses, by way of Reply.

Wrote immediately upon seeing the Behaviour of a Jealous Husband.

An EPIGRAM on a Person who constantly drinks a Dram when he goes to Prayers.

Verses sent by a Gentleman to the Author, desiring an Answer.

To the Gentleman who sent the above Verses.

An EXTEMPORE THOUGHT.

Return'd in Answer to a poetical Compliment from Miss ---

Wrote some Months after the Prince of Wales's Death.

Four Speeches for four Boys, &c.

To the Ladies at ---, having pass'd one Day with them.

To a Friend who tax'd me with too much Zeal in blaming her Fondness to an unworthy Lover.

To Miss ---, on her Birth-Day, at a Time when she was much distress'd.

Sent to a young Lady in Town, who had vow'd to die a Maid, in Answer to a Letter, where, in a Copy of Verses, she signify'd her Resolution, and desired an Account of the House and its Situation, in which a new married Lady of her acquaintance was settled.

An Answer to a poetical Letter from Miss ---, in which she informs me of a warm Debate, in a Senate of Ladies, upon the Question, Whether I had ever been in Love?

The Gentleman's Answer to a Song call'd the Lady's Reply.

Sent to Mrs ---, upon the Epiphany.

Upon the first Day of the Year.

PSALM CXLVI.

SHORT EJACULATIONS.

['Tis Religion that can give]

[By Meditation, and by Pray'r]

[Whene'er I touch the sounding Lyre]

At the ALTAR.

A THOUGHT at first waking.

To a Lady on the New Year; by a Gentleman.

To the Rt Hon. Lady Viscountess IRWIN, on her Poem call'd Castle Howard.

CYDIPPE to LEONZO.

PSALM CI.

Written in a blank Leaf of Mrs Row's Works.

On a Lady who refused the Address of four Gentlemen eminent in their Profession, and died a Maid.

Presented to a Gentleman in danger of being in Love with a Woman of bad Conduct.

On a female Cat, named Selima, who fell into a China Cistern with Gold Fishes in it, and was drown'd.

The following upon the same Occasion, was wrote by a Lady, probably to Selima's Mistress, to comfort her for the Loss of her Favourite.

A Gentleman having read the foregoing Verses, ask'd what Reason could be given for Phœbus interesting himself in the Affair? This Question occasion'd the following Lines.

Wit rewarded, or the Double Triumph.

An ODE on MUSICK.

[section]

Act II.

Address'd to a Lady (whom I had not then seen) on the Day of her Marriage with a Gentleman of my Acquaintance.

To the Author of the EPISTLE. To Mrs MASTERS and her Readers.

PSALM CXXXVIII.

An Epitaph found at Soulac, the Ancient Noviomagus, a Town in Guienne, a Province of France.

The Expostulation and Resolution.

An Hymn intended to be sung on Easter-Day.

PSALM CIV.

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To a Lady on the New Year; by a Gentleman.

To you, the Mistress of my Heart,
My Muse her annual Tribute brings;
An homely Verse devoid of Art,
Not courtly, but sincere she Sings.

232

The Sun renews th'Ecliptic Way,
Slow turning from his southern Bound;
With more direct and copious Ray,
To scatter lengthen'd Day around.

Hail, fairest, with the rising Year,
As the advancing Hours improve;
May each to you luxuriant bear,
Increase of Health, and Joy, and Love.

Be banish'd far all faithless Fear,
With canker'd Jealousy's annoy;
Let no presumptuous Care come near,
That Breast, the Treasury of Joy.

233

Yet as the vary'd Seasons pass,
Might they this useful Truth display;
Time will the brightest Form deface,
And Youth and Beauty meet Decay.

Foremost the jolly Spring appears,
Then lusty Summer cloath'd in Green;
Next Autumn with his ripen'd Ears,
Last hoary Winter shuts the Scene.

Then O remember, charming Maid,
The faithful Muse records it true;
The Lillies on those Cheeks must fade,
The Roses there must change their Hue.

234

Those Eyes of all their fatal Store,
Will the Usurper Time disarm;
By him subdu'd, that Form no more
Will please, that Voice no more will charm.

Virtue, alone, not fears to die,
Superior to the Tyrant's Sway;
Confest in native Majesty,
And Charms un-knowing to decay.

High on a Rock supremely great,
Amidst the Flux of rolling Years;
The Goddess firms her stedfast Seat,
Remov'd from Dangers as from Fears.

235

Thence, smiling on her votive Throng,
Shines to dispel the Lover's Care;
Sheds purer Graces on the Young,
And brighter Radiance on the Fair.