A collection of poems on various subjects including the theatre, a didactic essay; in the course of which are pointed out, the rocks and shoals to which deluded adventurers are inevitably exposed. Ornamented with cuts and illustrated with notes, original letters and curious incidental anecdotes [by Samuel Whyte] |
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ADVICE TO A YOUNG LADY,
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 | A collection of poems on various subjects |  |
191
ADVICE TO A YOUNG LADY,
ON THE DANGER OF INDISCRIMINATE ACQUAINTANCE.
To nature much, yet art declares,
As much to her thou ow'st,
And pointing out thy air and mien,
By that confirms her boast.
As much to her thou ow'st,
And pointing out thy air and mien,
By that confirms her boast.
She says to fashion and improve
She largely did impart,
And modesty and candour join
To regulate thy heart.
She largely did impart,
And modesty and candour join
To regulate thy heart.
Dear favourite of contending powers!
Thus all thy charms assert,
And wit and judgment eager rise,
To publish thy desert.
Thus all thy charms assert,
And wit and judgment eager rise,
To publish thy desert.
Then, loveliest blossom of the spring!
Should folly dare aspire,
Let not the fluttering insect nip
That worth which all admire.
Should folly dare aspire,
Let not the fluttering insect nip
That worth which all admire.
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Thy heart, still conscious of itself,
Suspects no latent snare;
But where the sun intensely shines,
The lurking adder's there.
Suspects no latent snare;
But where the sun intensely shines,
The lurking adder's there.
And envy, like the canker worm,
The fairest fruit assails;
Is still assiduous to destroy,
And oft, too oft, prevails.
The fairest fruit assails;
Is still assiduous to destroy,
And oft, too oft, prevails.
Even things most rare, familiar made,
No longer are explor'd,
Which treasur'd right might lustre gain;
Might be like thee ador'd.
No longer are explor'd,
Which treasur'd right might lustre gain;
Might be like thee ador'd.
Thy soul, where all perfections meet,
All pure sensations warm,
Can the insipid dangler please?
His trite suggestions charm?
All pure sensations warm,
Can the insipid dangler please?
His trite suggestions charm?
Admitting such, howe'er in sport,
All will not so explain,
And sense and honour 'twill deter,
That ne'er give virtue pain.
All will not so explain,
And sense and honour 'twill deter,
That ne'er give virtue pain.
193
The flimsy tribe may suit the scope
Of slight unfinish'd girls;
In thee 'twere waste of time at best
To strew before them pearls.
Of slight unfinish'd girls;
In thee 'twere waste of time at best
To strew before them pearls.
If praise delight, 'tis merit's due,
And none can bar thy claim;
But those, who most deserve themselves,
Contribute most to fame.
And none can bar thy claim;
But those, who most deserve themselves,
Contribute most to fame.
Mark you those mantling shrubs, how fair!
What sweets those flowers disclose!
Comes the bleak east, parch'd is the tree,
And sickening droops the rose.
What sweets those flowers disclose!
Comes the bleak east, parch'd is the tree,
And sickening droops the rose.
The mantling shrub, the opening flower,
Thy sweetness fall beneath;
More noxious than the eastern blast
The officious coxcomb's breath.
Thy sweetness fall beneath;
More noxious than the eastern blast
The officious coxcomb's breath.
It ranges far, it pierces deep,
It spreads contagion round,
And chief the baleful influence aims,
Where charms like thine abound.
It spreads contagion round,
And chief the baleful influence aims,
Where charms like thine abound.
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Such affable engaging ease,
Such artless innocence,
In situation so expos'd,
Need such consummate sense.
Such artless innocence,
In situation so expos'd,
Need such consummate sense.
The first approach 'twere best to guard;
If there repuls'd they fail,
No wrong can vanity presume,
Perchance would blush to rail.
If there repuls'd they fail,
No wrong can vanity presume,
Perchance would blush to rail.
Thus the weak shaft at random sped
Discretion may despise;—
Oh! may experience dearly bought,
Ne'er dim those beauteous eyes.
Discretion may despise;—
Oh! may experience dearly bought,
Ne'er dim those beauteous eyes.
EPIGRAM.
Jack talks of honour, truth, and heart
And kindness in event;
Show it, says Time—Jack skulks apart—
O! damn your sentiment.
And kindness in event;
Show it, says Time—Jack skulks apart—
O! damn your sentiment.
| A collection of poems on various subjects | |