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Original poems on several subjects

In two volumes. By William Stevenson
Stevenson, William (ca. 1719-1783)

collapse sectionI. 
VOLUME I.
  
[dedication]
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VERTUMNUS;
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
 IV. 
BOOK IV.
 V. 
BOOK V.
 VI. 
BOOK VI.
  
ODE ON SPRING.
  
An HYMN TO THE DEITY.
  
THE THEORY OF TEARS.
  
THE PROGRESS OF EVENING; OR, THE POWER OF VIRTUE.
  
RURAL SPORTS, Descriptive and Elegiac.
  
ON RICHES.
  
From PHANOR, A Lover with a small Patrimony,
  
The ANSWER.
  
PROLOGUE,
  
EPILOGUE On the same Occasion.
  
To the Author of Douglas and Agis.
  
CROSS .
  
On the Ruins of an old ELM.
  
To Doctor AKENSIDE.
  
To Mr WOTY;
  
On HARMONY.
  
To Miss J---y T---tt---r, Appearing often at her Window with her Hat on.
  
Miss G---tt to the Author;
  
His ANSWER.
  
A QUESTION:
  
To DANIEL N---, Esq
  
ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΕΑΥΤΟΝ.
  
On a Foreigner's losing a considerable Sum of Money at a Gaming-table with a Sharper.
  
C---'S CURE.
  
On MARRIAGE.
  
On the Same.
  
On an Author who pleaded Poverty as an excuse for Printing.
  
To A CLERGYMAN Too fond of appearing in Print.
collapse sectionII. 
VOLUME II.
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SATIRES.
  
INTRODUCTION TO THE SATIRES.
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POETICAL CHARACTERISTICS;
 I. 
CANTO I.
 II. 
CANTO II.
 III. 
CANTO III.
  
THE MONOPOLIST.
  
ZALATES.
  
THE TRIUMPH OF VICE.
  
To the Honourable ---.
  
LAURIA.
  
STELLA.
  
ZEPHALINDA.
  
LUCIA.
  
FLAVIA.
  
Early-rising and its Opposite compared.
  
Conclusion to the Satires.
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ELEGIES.
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AN ELEGY ON THE Cutting down of an Oak.
 I. 
PART I.
 II. 
PART II.
 III. 
PART III.
  
THE DEIST on a Deathbed .
  
AN ELEGY Written in a FLOWER-GARDEN.
  
The EPITAPH.
  
On the Death of a beloved Friend cut off in the Prime of Life.
  
To the Memory Of the Reverend Mr John Bonar.
  
On the Death of The Reverend Mr James Hervey.
  
To the Memory of William Shenstone, Esq
  
On the Death of Mr Churchill.
  
To the Memory Of the Reverend Dr Edward Young.
  
MONIMIA; OR, THE UNFORTUNATE BEAUTY. ADDRESSED TO MARIA.
  
The EPITAPH.
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Epitaphs for a MISER.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X. Epitaph on Mr ADDISON.
 XI. 
XI. Epitaph for Mr THOMSON's Monument.
 XII. 
XII. Epitaph on Sir ---
 XIII. 
XIII. Epitaph on Dr ---
 XIV. 
XIV. Epitaph on FANNY ROVER.
 XV. 
XV. Epitaph on LUCY HAY.
 XVI. 
XVI. Epitaph on a SLANDERER.
 XVII. 
XVII. Epitaph on an unhappy young Man.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. Epitaph on a BEGGAR.
 XIX. 
XIX. My own Epitaph.
  
A REVERY.
  
Description of the FACE.
  
Written in an Arbour at the foot of a Garden.
  
To Miss J---y ---
  
To Miss Annie Hamilton.
  
To a Lady offended at seeing her Verses printed, on account of their being too simple.
  
On the Death of Mr Allan Ramsay .
  
Advice to a LADY,
  
To ---
  
To ---
  
A Sketch of NOON.

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235

EPILOGUE On the same Occasion.

If ever play an epilogue deserv'd,
For acting which from justness never swerv'd,
That now presented (cries some waggish elf)
Speaks with convincing merit for itself;
Though Charity the palm of virtues wins,
As she conceals a multitude of sins.
What native strokes of genius, to surprise
The most unthinking hearts, and careless eyes!
What easy attitudes! what graceful shapes!
Which self-vain affectation vainly apes.
What apt behaviour! what exact address!
As if it were not human to transgress.
How with the comic muse their bosoms burn'd!
With what just emphasis their periods turn'd!
Which show'd, beyond the strongest proofs of art,
True eloquence is seated in the heart.
Had present but the British Roscius been,
Their fine display of talents to have seen,
236

He had confess'd, though oft in boasts detected,
He never could, indeed, like them have acted.
From evils often of the largest size
Some accidental good we see arise.
Thus, in the midst of scarcity and need,
When universal famine seem'd decreed,
A set of worthies rose to our relief,
Dispell'd our fears, and mollify'd our grief.
Had plenty still charm'd our delighted sight,
We had not seen this matchless play to-night.
Ladies, your breasts with admiration mov'd,
Justly have you each actor's skill approv'd;
For only they so greatly could excel,
And only you distinguish worth so well.
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