 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
137
To Mrs. A. B.
What! Genius can describe Fair Anna's Mind?
What! Pencil Paint, to Anna's Beauty join'd?
Her Eyes are lovely, as the Rays of Light;
We look Enamour'd, and we court the Sight.
Nature her Lips adorn'd, with choicest Care,
And painted every Balmy Sweetness there.
How clean her Shape! how delicate her Waste!
They court our Arms, and sue to be embrac'd.
What! Pencil Paint, to Anna's Beauty join'd?
Her Eyes are lovely, as the Rays of Light;
We look Enamour'd, and we court the Sight.
Nature her Lips adorn'd, with choicest Care,
And painted every Balmy Sweetness there.
How clean her Shape! how delicate her Waste!
They court our Arms, and sue to be embrac'd.
Behold her move! behold the graceful Mien,
Like that of Venus, by Æneas seen.
Dancing! she courts your Eye, and makes you swear,
It is the Goddess, by that Heavenly Air.
Like that of Venus, by Æneas seen.
138
It is the Goddess, by that Heavenly Air.
Yet! all these Charms, An unexhausted Store!
These rare, unrivall'd Charms, which all adore,
Compare not with Her Soul; That nobler Part!
Her Cherub Soul, Her large extended Heart.
These rare, unrivall'd Charms, which all adore,
Compare not with Her Soul; That nobler Part!
Her Cherub Soul, Her large extended Heart.
How fair her Mind! her Mind excels her Eyes;
And to her Sense, her Beauty yields the Prize!
The shining Casket our Applause may win;
But the rich Treasure is preserv'd Within.
And to her Sense, her Beauty yields the Prize!
The shining Casket our Applause may win;
But the rich Treasure is preserv'd Within.
Severest Judgment her Chaste Manners guides,
And o'er her Actions Prudence, still, presides.
Her Looks, her Gestures, and her Thoughts are gay,
But govern'd are by Reason's temp'rate Sway;
No wanton Follies, which light Minds imploy,
Taint her pure Mirth, or mingle with her Joy.
Her Conduct Uniform and Just, we see,
Alike from Levity, or Stiffness free.
Nor with Censorious Malice is alloy'd;
Her Vertue, nor her Beauty, stain'd with Pride.
And o'er her Actions Prudence, still, presides.
Her Looks, her Gestures, and her Thoughts are gay,
But govern'd are by Reason's temp'rate Sway;
No wanton Follies, which light Minds imploy,
Taint her pure Mirth, or mingle with her Joy.
139
Alike from Levity, or Stiffness free.
Nor with Censorious Malice is alloy'd;
Her Vertue, nor her Beauty, stain'd with Pride.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |