University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams

... From the Originals in the Possession of His Grandson The Right Hon. The Earl of Essex and Others: With Notes by Horace Walpole ... In Three Volumes, with Portraits

collapse section 
collapse sectionI. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
TO MRS. WOFFINGTON.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 III. 


13

TO MRS. WOFFINGTON.

(Written in July 1744.)

IN IMITATION OF

Ulla si juris tibi pejerati
Pœna, Barine, nocuisset unquam.
Hor. Lib. 2, Od. 8.

IF heav'n upon thy perjur'd head,
Had the least mark of vengeance shed,
For all thy hate to truth;
Had ev'n diminish'd any grace,
Lit up one pimple in thy face,
Or rotted but one tooth,
I would believe its pow'rs; but you
More fair, as still more faithless grow,
Charms flow from perjuries;
The more you cheat, we trust the more,
Each jilting tear 's a fruitful show'r,
That makes fresh beauties rise.

14

By Venus, Cupid, ev'ry pow'r,
To love propitious you're forswore,
Regardless of their wrath;
By tricks and cheats, and lies you live,
By breach of word and honour thrive,
Like my good Lord of Bath.
But at each broken oath and vow,
Indulgent Venus smiles you know,
Who have so often tried her;
And Cupid can't be angry sure,
While thus new vot'ries you procure,
And stretch his empire wider.
See all our youth confess thy pow'r,
They but behold thee and adore,
And press to drag thy chain;
And tho' we swear, and brag we're free,
Repentant Darnley longs like me,
To be thy slave again.

15

That beauteous face, those heav'nly charms,
The cautious mother's breast alarms,
For her young darling son;
And each penurious father fears,
Lest their unthinking am'rous heirs,
Should gaze, and be undone,
Venus, whose charms rule all above,
Is fam'd for fickleness in love,
And for her beauty's pow'r;
You are her copy drawn with care,
Like her are exquisitely fair,
Like her a thorough w---.