The poetical works of George Keate

Keate, George (1729-1797)

VOL. I.

II.

VOL. II.

AN EPISTLE FROM LADY JANE GRAY, TO LORD GUILFORD DUDLEY,

TO A LADY

TO A Young LADY,

TO A FRIEND, On New-Year's Day, 1766.

PROLOGUE, On opening of the new Theatre, at Southampton, 1766.

A CARD TO DAVID GARRICK, Esq.

ON Seeing Mrs. Garrick in a Country Dance.

TO BIDDY AT BATH.

THE ALPS.

EPILOGUE TO THE Dramatic Romance of CYMON.

A LITTLE ODE, TO A LITTLE MAID,

TO A LADY,

TO ARDELIA,

A POEM TO THE MEMORY OF THE CELEBRATED Mrs. CIBBER.

FERNEY : AN EPISTLE TO MONSR DE VOLTAIRE.

TO ARDELIA.

PROLOGUE TO THE Play of KING JOHN, Acted at Mr. Newcomb's at Hackney, 1769.

EPILOGUE TO THE Play of KING JOHN, Acted at Mr. Newcomb's at Hackney, 1769.

TO ARDELIA.

EPILOGUE TO THE Play of MACBETH.

AN ADDRESS FROM THE THAMES.

THE CONTENTED MAID.

TO ARDELIA,

TO Mrs. BLAKE, With a Pair of Hand-Screens.

CUPID's REMONSTRANCE, AN EPILOGUE,

A BURLESQUE ODE,

PROLOGUE, TO THE Play of JULIUS CÆSAR, Acted at Mr. Newcomb's at Hackney, 1774.

TO Miss DUVAL,

THE MONUMENT IN ARCADIA:

TO The Messrs. ADAM,

EPILOGUE FOR THE First Part of HENRY IV.

A PETITION FROM Mrs. DELANY's Citron-Tree ,

To the Memory of Dr. JOHN HOADLY, Chancellor of Winchester.

A NUPTIAL ODE, ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND,

ADVICE TO A LITTLE GIRL,

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A LITTLE ODE, TO A LITTLE MAID,

On her first going out after her Birth.

[_]

WRITTEN IN M.DCC.LXVII.

Little Zephyrs, Loves, and Graces,
Bid each chilling wind be laid,
Shelter'd in your warm embraces,
See where comes my little Maid.

With your guardian-wings protect her,
Ev'ry motion hover o'er;
Through her little Path direct her,
She ne'er ventur'd out before.

Forth she comes, a new-born Creature,
How her little blue Eyes range!
Wonder fits on ev'ry Feature,
All around is gay and strange.

Could'st thou, little Maid, but paint me
What thy little Fancy warms,
Or thy little Tongue acquaint me,
'Midst this glitter, what most charms.

To a Stranger all's inviting,
All a morning Beauty wears;
Be the World, as now delighting,
Taste its Joys, but not its Cares!

Over these I draw a Curtain,
Leave their sad approach to Chance;
Not a Truth than this more certain,
“Bliss is built on Ignorance.“—

Pity, gentlest Child of Heav'n,
Little Maid, will Thee attend;
Innocence is also given
As thy Guardian, as thy Friend:

She shall wake thine heart to Pleasures
Such as Virtue can disclose;
Give Thee Love and Friendship's treasures,
Strew thy Path with many a Rose.

As in Years, in Wisdom growing,
Never from her side depart;
Through thy future Life still showing
She had form'd thy youthful Heart.

Let the false World ne'er confound Thee,
From its Vices turn thine ear;
Shun the bad Examples round Thee,
Give them but a Sigh!—a Tear!—

Thus self-guarded, thus defended,
Thy Experience shall confess,
Spite of what's by Fools pretended,
Virtue is true Happiness!

Such a blameless Tract pursuing,
Thy perfection'd Sense shall tell,
Oft this little Ode reviewing,
Little Maid, I wish'd Thee well.

University of Virginia Library

A LITTLE ODE, TO A LITTLE MAID,

On her first going out after her Birth.