 | Poetical amusements at a villa near Bath |  |
I. VOLUME I.
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POETICAL AMUSEMENTS, &c.
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ENIGMA . Mrs. M---ll---r.
CRUSH'D by oppression's weight, thou shalt confess,The woes I feel my fury can't express;
Straggling and choak'd, how can I but detest
The tyrant's gripe, who would my soul molest:
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Tho' beaten—wounded—dance with all my might.
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ENIGMA. Mrs. M---ll---r.
Ever brilliant, ever charming, I defy the power of timeTo deprive me of adorers, tho' oft I'm purchas'd by a rhyme;
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Court and senate, still contending, sing my praise in various lays:
Midnight ball, nor opera, glitt'ring, without me afford no pleasure;
Yet joyless pass his anxious moments, who to me devotes his leisure.
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ENIGMA. Mrs. M---ll---r.
The breast of a goddess I once did alarm;With my beauty and voice she fear'd I should charm
Her slumbering swain,—so determin'd my fall,
And diminish'd my figure;—yet I at a ball
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I've startled the heroes, augmenting their rage;
Tho' the Grand Turk were present, unaw'd by his state,
On his Fatima's lips I'd again tempt my fate.
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SUBJECT. DANCING.
Mrs. M---ll---r.
The Muses are Ladies so bashful and shy,
When I ask'd their assistance, they all cry'd—O fie!
Tho' Helicon rings with our music and prattle,
To a ball we prefer the din of a battle;
So making my curt'sey, I soon took my leave
From a circle so prudish—you all may believe.
Thus left in the lurch, I implore your compassion,
If I fail in relating the different fashion,
The rise and the progress of Jigging, and Prancing,
From times most remote, to French Opera Dancing.
When I ask'd their assistance, they all cry'd—O fie!
Tho' Helicon rings with our music and prattle,
To a ball we prefer the din of a battle;
So making my curt'sey, I soon took my leave
From a circle so prudish—you all may believe.
Thus left in the lurch, I implore your compassion,
If I fail in relating the different fashion,
The rise and the progress of Jigging, and Prancing,
From times most remote, to French Opera Dancing.
From Castor and Pollux, those twins of renown,
Arose the great dance taught at Lacedæmon;
Then a son of Achilles, with a barbarous name
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Taught his soldiers to dance—those Cretans of fame.
Wise Philosopher Socrates also would know,
From Aspasia the Fair, how to well point a toe.
Pompous nuptials and feasts—e'en the grave Funeral
Was danc'd at by princes, priests, people, and all.
In these later days, an old king of France ,
To augment the Carousal, caus'd horses to dance;
What bounding, curveting, what neighing, and kicking!
Sure this sight far surpass'd a Newmarket meeting.
At this horse-ball don't wonder—for, without any trope,
Grave Pliny says, elephants danc'd on a rope .
But 'twould take too much time was I to rehearse
The dances of brutes and of trees in my verse :
And I'm sure I should tire you if I was to tell
Of Francis, of Harry, up to Philip the Bel ,
What great monarchs have strove in the dance to excel.
Now suffice it to all, that one Thoinot Arbeau,
To the great joy of France a system did shew,
Where all movements and steps for the dance are wrote down,
'Tis not many years since, as the Opera will own,—
That Opera, whose grandeur exceeds all compare!
There Olympus descends with the Pleasures in rear .
See what heroes and heroines in triumph advance,
Nodding plumes, brilliant diadems, join in the dance;
See the arts of Armida, combin'd in Guimard,
In the Athletic games behold vig'rous Allard;
For Gardel and Vestris whole armies divide,
But I can't on their merits pretend to decide.
So adieu, my dear friends, for I've led you a dance—
If you want to know more, I shall wish you in France.
Arose the great dance taught at Lacedæmon;
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Taught his soldiers to dance—those Cretans of fame.
Wise Philosopher Socrates also would know,
From Aspasia the Fair, how to well point a toe.
Pompous nuptials and feasts—e'en the grave Funeral
Was danc'd at by princes, priests, people, and all.
In these later days, an old king of France ,
To augment the Carousal, caus'd horses to dance;
What bounding, curveting, what neighing, and kicking!
Sure this sight far surpass'd a Newmarket meeting.
At this horse-ball don't wonder—for, without any trope,
Grave Pliny says, elephants danc'd on a rope .
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The dances of brutes and of trees in my verse :
And I'm sure I should tire you if I was to tell
Of Francis, of Harry, up to Philip the Bel ,
What great monarchs have strove in the dance to excel.
Now suffice it to all, that one Thoinot Arbeau,
To the great joy of France a system did shew,
Where all movements and steps for the dance are wrote down,
'Tis not many years since, as the Opera will own,—
That Opera, whose grandeur exceeds all compare!
There Olympus descends with the Pleasures in rear .
85
Nodding plumes, brilliant diadems, join in the dance;
See the arts of Armida, combin'd in Guimard,
In the Athletic games behold vig'rous Allard;
For Gardel and Vestris whole armies divide,
But I can't on their merits pretend to decide.
So adieu, my dear friends, for I've led you a dance—
If you want to know more, I shall wish you in France.
In the Opera of Castor and Pollux (as represented on the Theatre in the Palais Royale at Paris) the whole Court of Olympus descends with the Pleasures, (represented by beautiful young girls,) who form a ballette.—Madamoiselle Guimard is famous in a ballette, called Armida; as is Madamoiselle Allard in another, called Athletic Sports.— The two dancers, called Gardel and Vestris, are the most esteemed in Europe, and are rivals in the art.
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On the same.
Mrs. M---ll---r.
Assist me, Muse, to hail this sacred morn,
So may the verdant wreath my brows adorn.
So may the verdant wreath my brows adorn.
And O! thou hallow'd shade
, be ever near,
Protect thy urn, and hear a votary's pray'r:
Inspire these rival bards with powers to shine
Sublime in thought, to elevate each line:
Or teach with eloquence, like thine, to move
Th'obdurate breast, and soften into love.
And though they strive each other to excel,
May never rancour in their bosoms dwell.
The scowling eye, the smother'd laugh, portend
That satire lurks beneath the vale of friend:
Nor let pale Envy ever enter here,
That foe to beauty, source of endless care.
Protect thy urn, and hear a votary's pray'r:
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Sublime in thought, to elevate each line:
Or teach with eloquence, like thine, to move
Th'obdurate breast, and soften into love.
And though they strive each other to excel,
May never rancour in their bosoms dwell.
The scowling eye, the smother'd laugh, portend
That satire lurks beneath the vale of friend:
Nor let pale Envy ever enter here,
That foe to beauty, source of endless care.
Assist me, Muse, to hail this sacred morn,
So may the verdant wreath my brows adorn.
So may the verdant wreath my brows adorn.
Ye Nymphs, who kindly leave Bath's giddy round,
And seek these shades, to tread poetic ground,
Whilst virtue, modesty, discretion, join,
And candour from your eyes shed rays benign,
The Graces always near you shall appear,
O'er your soft cheeks the rose shall bloom each year;
Immortal verse shall lend her heav'nly aid,
Nor time, nor wint'ry blasts, those charms shall fade.
And seek these shades, to tread poetic ground,
Whilst virtue, modesty, discretion, join,
And candour from your eyes shed rays benign,
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O'er your soft cheeks the rose shall bloom each year;
Immortal verse shall lend her heav'nly aid,
Nor time, nor wint'ry blasts, those charms shall fade.
May each revolving sun, that gilds the skies,
Still see the attic fire of Tully rise:
As the bright Phœnix, springing from the flame
Of her enliven'd ashes, mounts to fame.
Still see the attic fire of Tully rise:
As the bright Phœnix, springing from the flame
Of her enliven'd ashes, mounts to fame.
109
SUBJECT, PAINTING. A Dream.
Mrs. M---ll---r.
Refulgent, thro' the shades of night,
Bright Cynthia rose, and shed her silver light
Thro' parting clouds, which o'er the dusky glade
Guided my steps to seek the peaceful shade,
Where Philomela, on the flowery thorn,
Prolongs her plaintive song 'till rising morn!
But ere her love-lorn tale she could disclose,
Sleep o'er my listless limbs her poppies throws:—
Bright to my fancy rose the Elysian plains,
Where faithful shades, with amaranthine chains,
Bind their chaste loves—who never more feel care;
(Eternal pleasures wait the constant Fair.)
There, Poets gain the never-fading wreaths;
There, Heroes from the toils of war find ease;
And there, the Sons of Science joy to find
Their due reward—of knowledge unconfin'd.
Bright Cynthia rose, and shed her silver light
Thro' parting clouds, which o'er the dusky glade
Guided my steps to seek the peaceful shade,
Where Philomela, on the flowery thorn,
Prolongs her plaintive song 'till rising morn!
But ere her love-lorn tale she could disclose,
Sleep o'er my listless limbs her poppies throws:—
Bright to my fancy rose the Elysian plains,
Where faithful shades, with amaranthine chains,
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(Eternal pleasures wait the constant Fair.)
There, Poets gain the never-fading wreaths;
There, Heroes from the toils of war find ease;
And there, the Sons of Science joy to find
Their due reward—of knowledge unconfin'd.
Methought I wander'd thro' these sacred groves,
When sudden to my view a temple rose,
Majestic columns (in fair order plac'd)
Sustain'd the dome, with verdant chaplets grac'd;
Within the walls, I found my ravish'd sight
Surrounded with the works of each fam'd wight;
From him who costly Egypt once adorn'd,
And Isis and Osiris rudely form'd,
Down to those later times, when Europe caught
The mimic art, and to perfection brought.
When sudden to my view a temple rose,
Majestic columns (in fair order plac'd)
Sustain'd the dome, with verdant chaplets grac'd;
Within the walls, I found my ravish'd sight
Surrounded with the works of each fam'd wight;
From him who costly Egypt once adorn'd,
And Isis and Osiris rudely form'd,
Down to those later times, when Europe caught
The mimic art, and to perfection brought.
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There, fam'd Apelles shew'd to wond'ring Greece
All beauty's charms collected in one piece.
In after ages, Michael form'd that school
Which Florence boasts, for just design the rule:
At Rome great Raphael toil'd—in him we see
Elegant forms, noble simplicity!
Then Milan own'd a Leonardo's fame—
Fair sculpture, music, painting, grac'd his name.
The glow of nature Titian's nymphs confess,
Aurora's charms their golden locks express.
For grace and ease, Guido with all may vie,—
Correct his groupes, and cloath'd with dignity.
On Carrach, Guercin, and Correggio great,
Were fix'd my gazing eyes:—when, wond'rous to relate,
A heav'nly form, array'd in azure bright,—
Radiant Britannia! stood before my sight:
“Hasten, she cry'd, and seek my happy isles,
“Where Royal Bounty on fair Genius smiles:
“There Nature on the canvas starts to view,
“With each revolving year their labours they renew:
“Thus emulous to rival Greece, and Rome,
“In a long line of artists yet to come.”—
Sudden I wak'd—a ray of Phœbus' light
Shot thro' the grove—Elysium fled my sight.
All beauty's charms collected in one piece.
In after ages, Michael form'd that school
Which Florence boasts, for just design the rule:
At Rome great Raphael toil'd—in him we see
Elegant forms, noble simplicity!
Then Milan own'd a Leonardo's fame—
Fair sculpture, music, painting, grac'd his name.
The glow of nature Titian's nymphs confess,
Aurora's charms their golden locks express.
For grace and ease, Guido with all may vie,—
Correct his groupes, and cloath'd with dignity.
On Carrach, Guercin, and Correggio great,
Were fix'd my gazing eyes:—when, wond'rous to relate,
A heav'nly form, array'd in azure bright,—
Radiant Britannia! stood before my sight:
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“Where Royal Bounty on fair Genius smiles:
“There Nature on the canvas starts to view,
“With each revolving year their labours they renew:
“Thus emulous to rival Greece, and Rome,
“In a long line of artists yet to come.”—
Sudden I wak'd—a ray of Phœbus' light
Shot thro' the grove—Elysium fled my sight.
114
On the Pleasures of Society at Batheaston Villa.
Mrs. M---ll---r.
On the fair summit of a verdant lawn,
Which Phœbus silvers with his earliest dawn,
There stands a Bower, inclos'd in lofty shade,
Save where it overlooks the fertile glade:—
What, though the front no stately columns boast,
Of costly marble, brought from Afric's coast;
Nor swelling portico, with Grecian pride,
And sculptur'd pomp, advance its polish'd side;
Yet blushing roses, wove with eglantine,
In sportive garlands round the portal twine:
There, sacred laurels spread their branches round,
There, aged rocks with hoary moss are crown'd;
There the clear fountains in the sun-beams play,
Invite repose, and mitigate the day:
There, Flora paints the ground with fragrant flowers,
And the kind Spring bestows refreshing showers,
Teaching luxuriant branches how to shoot,
Their produce vying with th'Hesperian fruit:
There, fertile fields the wealthy loads sustain,
Ceres' rich blessings rip'ning o'er the plain:—
Oft to these shades a sprightly train repair,
With song and dance the festive hours to wear;
And oft, resigning such tumultuous joys,
Poetic themes the fleeting morn employs.
Thalia, invok'd, shall hear the Poet's pray'r,
And modest merit from oblivion spare.
When Taste and Wit compose the polish'd line,
And Fancy's flights within just bounds confine,
With attic elegance, and native ease,
The flowing verse can never fail to please.
Which Phœbus silvers with his earliest dawn,
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Save where it overlooks the fertile glade:—
What, though the front no stately columns boast,
Of costly marble, brought from Afric's coast;
Nor swelling portico, with Grecian pride,
And sculptur'd pomp, advance its polish'd side;
Yet blushing roses, wove with eglantine,
In sportive garlands round the portal twine:
There, sacred laurels spread their branches round,
There, aged rocks with hoary moss are crown'd;
There the clear fountains in the sun-beams play,
Invite repose, and mitigate the day:
There, Flora paints the ground with fragrant flowers,
And the kind Spring bestows refreshing showers,
Teaching luxuriant branches how to shoot,
Their produce vying with th'Hesperian fruit:
116
Ceres' rich blessings rip'ning o'er the plain:—
Oft to these shades a sprightly train repair,
With song and dance the festive hours to wear;
And oft, resigning such tumultuous joys,
Poetic themes the fleeting morn employs.
Thalia, invok'd, shall hear the Poet's pray'r,
And modest merit from oblivion spare.
When Taste and Wit compose the polish'd line,
And Fancy's flights within just bounds confine,
With attic elegance, and native ease,
The flowing verse can never fail to please.
Rivals in verse, and emulous for fame,
With candour judge—be cautious how you blame.
The liberal heart ne'er seeks to criticise,
But joys to see the sparks of genius rise;
The warm effusions of a generous breast:
(Such fire celestial ne'er should be supprest!)
From various genius, various numbers flow,
When social mirth in all their bosoms glow;
For them the Muse shall strip th'Idalian groves
Of myrtle wreaths, to grace the Bard she loves.
Like a May morn, unclouded, and serene,
In whose mild beams the promis'd day is seen,
This fair Assembly shall more bright appear,
Their wit more brilliant with the growing year:
In Friendship's sacred bands may they still live,
And Tully's Vase again their lays receive.
With candour judge—be cautious how you blame.
The liberal heart ne'er seeks to criticise,
But joys to see the sparks of genius rise;
117
(Such fire celestial ne'er should be supprest!)
From various genius, various numbers flow,
When social mirth in all their bosoms glow;
For them the Muse shall strip th'Idalian groves
Of myrtle wreaths, to grace the Bard she loves.
Like a May morn, unclouded, and serene,
In whose mild beams the promis'd day is seen,
This fair Assembly shall more bright appear,
Their wit more brilliant with the growing year:
In Friendship's sacred bands may they still live,
And Tully's Vase again their lays receive.
| Poetical amusements at a villa near Bath | |