 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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To MISS. ---
In return for a Set of Reading-Ribbands.
The pleasing Gift that Anna made,
With gentle Hand, for Mem'ry's Aid,
The Mother of the Muses took,
And, smiling, plac'd it in Her Book.
“My Daughters now, said She, prepare
“Some meet Reward for Anna fair;
“Some grateful Present quickly find
“For Anna fair, for Anna kind,
“Polymnia, what can You afford?—
“Mamma, I'll tune her Harpsichord:
“For Her these fav'rite Airs I'll pack,
“And send Them on a Zephyr's Back.
With gentle Hand, for Mem'ry's Aid,
The Mother of the Muses took,
And, smiling, plac'd it in Her Book.
“My Daughters now, said She, prepare
“Some meet Reward for Anna fair;
“Some grateful Present quickly find
“For Anna fair, for Anna kind,
“Polymnia, what can You afford?—
“Mamma, I'll tune her Harpsichord:
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“And send Them on a Zephyr's Back.
“No: let the pleasing Task be mine;
Said Clio, Queen of Verse divine.
“From Me the Fair shall learn the lofty Strain,
“Of Gods imbattled, and of Heroes slain.
“Recount the mighty Toils of War or Love,
“And launch the Bolts of Cupid, or of Jove.
Said Clio, Queen of Verse divine.
“From Me the Fair shall learn the lofty Strain,
“Of Gods imbattled, and of Heroes slain.
“Recount the mighty Toils of War or Love,
“And launch the Bolts of Cupid, or of Jove.
Urania rose, with Aspect mild;
She spoke; attentive Science smil'd.
“By me be Anna taught the Store
“Of Nature's philosophic Lore:
“Creation's various Works to scan,
“And trace her systematic Plan.
“What gives the refluent Ocean Law,
“And whence their Stores the Fountains draw:
“Why Planets still one Orbit hold,
“And start not from their Spheres of Gold.
She spoke; attentive Science smil'd.
“By me be Anna taught the Store
“Of Nature's philosophic Lore:
“Creation's various Works to scan,
“And trace her systematic Plan.
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“And whence their Stores the Fountains draw:
“Why Planets still one Orbit hold,
“And start not from their Spheres of Gold.
Melpomene, the Muse of Woe,
Sighing, spoke in Accents slow.
“Can Music's sweet assuasive Charm,
“Can Song preserve the tuneful Breath?
“Can fair Philosophy disarm,
“Or sooth inexorable Death?
“Genius, and Wit, and Beauty wait
“The Mansions of the silent Urn:
“One tender Tear shall sooth her Fate;
“One tender Line for Anna mourn.
Arch Euterpe, smart and sly,
All this while was listening by.
“These pious Girls, to please their Mother,
Have made, said She, a mighty Pother.
“And now, for good King Phæbus' sake,
“What Offering shall Uterpe make?
“Polymnia, lavish of her Favours,
“Wou'd send a Zephyr-Load of Quavers.
“Sweet Sister Clio, still more stupid,
“Would tell some Tale of Captain Cupid.
“And thus They'd recompence the Fair—
“With what? — a Fiddle and a Bear.
“Urania, more polite than Cly,
“Wou'd introduce her to the Sky:
“But there are, whom I need not name,
“Some Persons of indifferent Fame;
“And no disreputable Planet
“Is proper Company for Nanette.
“The Sister of the tearful Eye,
“It seems, wou'd write her Elegy.
“'Tis kind; but, by my Pipe and Tabor,
“I'll save her Ladyship the Labour.
“For, from this Moment, Anna's Name
“I consecrate to deathless Fame.
Sighing, spoke in Accents slow.
“Can Music's sweet assuasive Charm,
“Can Song preserve the tuneful Breath?
“Can fair Philosophy disarm,
“Or sooth inexorable Death?
“Genius, and Wit, and Beauty wait
“The Mansions of the silent Urn:
“One tender Tear shall sooth her Fate;
“One tender Line for Anna mourn.
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All this while was listening by.
“These pious Girls, to please their Mother,
Have made, said She, a mighty Pother.
“And now, for good King Phæbus' sake,
“What Offering shall Uterpe make?
“Polymnia, lavish of her Favours,
“Wou'd send a Zephyr-Load of Quavers.
“Sweet Sister Clio, still more stupid,
“Would tell some Tale of Captain Cupid.
“And thus They'd recompence the Fair—
“With what? — a Fiddle and a Bear.
“Urania, more polite than Cly,
“Wou'd introduce her to the Sky:
“But there are, whom I need not name,
“Some Persons of indifferent Fame;
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“Is proper Company for Nanette.
“The Sister of the tearful Eye,
“It seems, wou'd write her Elegy.
“'Tis kind; but, by my Pipe and Tabor,
“I'll save her Ladyship the Labour.
“For, from this Moment, Anna's Name
“I consecrate to deathless Fame.
She spoke: the smiling Chorus rose:
Resounding Echos waft Applause:
“Io Pœan! dear to Fame,
“Ever dear be Anna's Name.
Resounding Echos waft Applause:
“Io Pœan! dear to Fame,
“Ever dear be Anna's Name.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |