University of Virginia Library

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

Deign gen'rous Fair, with Candor, to excuse,
The bold Intrusion of a Stranger's Muse;
Who joyous comes with forward Zeal to pay
Her due Address, on this auspicious Day.
What tho' your Form as yet, is un-reveal'd,
Such Merit is too bright to be conceal'd;
Fame's fav'rite Theme is Margarita's Praise,
To Margarita's Fame I'll tune my Lays;
To her I dedicate these artless Lines,
In whose fair Mind her Father's Virtue shines;
Like his, her Soul in Virtue shines array'd,
“And God and Man approves the perfect Maid.”
This I have often heard, with high Delight,
This warm'd my Bosom, taught me thus to Write;
While he, who happy in your kind Regard,
Exults, and Triumphs in the rich Reward.
His filial Letters often spoke your Praise,
And told your various Charms in various Ways;
But much too short, as these Expressions prove,
“All is too little for the Maid I love.”
Such Words, the Pen, by him directed, drew,
Such clos'd the Periods, when he talk'd of you;
Then justly have you smil'd upon the Youth,
Whose Soul is fraught with Tenderness and Truth;
Whose Heart is honest, gen'rous and sincere,
Kind to the poor, to all his Neighbours dear.
Blest be this Day which join'd your meeting Hands,
With holy Vows in Wedlock's sacred Bands;
Pregnant with Blessings, may it oft appear,
The Source of Joy for many a rolling Year;
And when the sublunary Date is past,
(For what is Mortal cannot always last)
May your blest Souls eternally unite,
In Mansions of more permanent Delight.