Familiar letters and poems on several occasions By Mary Masters |
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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.
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 | Familiar letters and poems on several occasions |  |
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.
Of all the Nymphs that e'er were seen,
With purring Note and pleasing Mien,
Fair Selima, alone,
Shall by the Bards recorded stand,
And roving o'er Parnassian Land;
To future Times be known.
With purring Note and pleasing Mien,
Fair Selima, alone,
Shall by the Bards recorded stand,
And roving o'er Parnassian Land;
To future Times be known.
254
Exalted thus, how blest her Fate,
On whom the Muses daily wait;
With kindest, tend'rest Care,
Fond Clio, while with her she plays,
Will wond'ring on her Beauty gaze,
A Beauty there most rare.
On whom the Muses daily wait;
With kindest, tend'rest Care,
Fond Clio, while with her she plays,
Will wond'ring on her Beauty gaze,
A Beauty there most rare.
For since the modest Sisters chose
To live retir'd, and there repose,
Of all the Tabby Race,
No gentle Foot was ever seen,
To press the sweet refreshing Green,
Of that delicious Place;
To live retir'd, and there repose,
Of all the Tabby Race,
No gentle Foot was ever seen,
To press the sweet refreshing Green,
Of that delicious Place;
But she more honour'd than the rest,
Above her Kind supremely blest,
May freely wanton round;
If Phœbus Beams too fierce are play'd,
May bask within a Laurel Shade,
And sleep on sacred Ground.
Above her Kind supremely blest,
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If Phœbus Beams too fierce are play'd,
May bask within a Laurel Shade,
And sleep on sacred Ground.
Or bounding from the bay-set Bow'rs,
May sport amidst the fairest Flow'rs,
And range their gaudy Ways,
Or sink her soft reclining Head,
Upon the bloomy, fragrant Bed,
And purr her grateful Lays.
May sport amidst the fairest Flow'rs,
And range their gaudy Ways,
Or sink her soft reclining Head,
Upon the bloomy, fragrant Bed,
And purr her grateful Lays.
Apollo's self will glance a Smile,
And kind Thalia stop a while;
Her Beauties to admire,
Calliope, with Pleasure too,
Her curious painted Robe shall view,
And thank th'indulgent Sire,
And kind Thalia stop a while;
Her Beauties to admire,
Calliope, with Pleasure too,
Her curious painted Robe shall view,
And thank th'indulgent Sire,
256
Who sav'd her from the liquid Grave,
And the half-dying Darling gave,
To faithful Clio's Care;
Who with his Beams, her Eyes new set,
And dry'd her Coat, all dropping wet,
Nor stopp'd his kindness there.
And the half-dying Darling gave,
To faithful Clio's Care;
Who with his Beams, her Eyes new set,
And dry'd her Coat, all dropping wet,
Nor stopp'd his kindness there.
Two snow-white Cows, at his command,
Press'd by a Muse's lilly Hand,
Pour forth a silver Stream;
Nectareous Milk of Taste and Hue,
The nicest Mortals never knew,
And she has all the Cream.
Press'd by a Muse's lilly Hand,
Pour forth a silver Stream;
Nectareous Milk of Taste and Hue,
The nicest Mortals never knew,
And she has all the Cream.
Favours so great you'll scarce believe,
But I shall soon the Reason give,
For all this wond'rous Care;
And, plain beyond Objection, prove,
'Twas gen'rous, undecaying Love,
Made Selima so dear.
But I shall soon the Reason give,
257
And, plain beyond Objection, prove,
'Twas gen'rous, undecaying Love,
Made Selima so dear.
Though cruel Tom, and careless Sue,
Ne'er heard her Pity-moving Mew,
Nor Dolphins came at Need;
Yet she her Pedigree could trace,
Sprung from an ancient honour'd Race
Of Daphne's fav'rite Breed.
Ne'er heard her Pity-moving Mew,
Nor Dolphins came at Need;
Yet she her Pedigree could trace,
Sprung from an ancient honour'd Race
Of Daphne's fav'rite Breed.
'Twas this alone could make the Don
So readily forsake his Throne,
To snatch her from Distress.
Tell me ye mortal Lovers all,
In such a Case, at such a Call,
Could the bright Beau do less?
So readily forsake his Throne,
To snatch her from Distress.
Tell me ye mortal Lovers all,
In such a Case, at such a Call,
Could the bright Beau do less?
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Phœbus, for Reasons unreveal'd,
From his own Son her Fate conceal'd,
But told a kindred Dame.
Yet Gray to gain his Father's Praise,
Sung all her Charms in pleasing Lays,
And won a Poet's Fame.
From his own Son her Fate conceal'd,
But told a kindred Dame.
Yet Gray to gain his Father's Praise,
Sung all her Charms in pleasing Lays,
And won a Poet's Fame.
| Familiar letters and poems on several occasions | |