Miscellaneous Work in Verse and Prose By Mr. Miller: Volume the first |
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To a Young Lady, desiring a Copy of Verses from the Author.
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 | Miscellaneous Work in Verse and Prose |  |
To a Young Lady, desiring a Copy of Verses from the Author.
Madam, I've laid aside my Muse,
But, when You bid, I can't refuse
To tune my Harp, to put a String on
And think of something new to sing on;
But Oh! the Task is hard to hit
On something new, and something fit!
But, when You bid, I can't refuse
To tune my Harp, to put a String on
And think of something new to sing on;
But Oh! the Task is hard to hit
On something new, and something fit!
To write of Heroes, and of Wars,
Intestine Feuds, or foreign Jars;
Of mighty Matters done in Battel,
How Towns are storm'd, and Cannons rattle,
Are things without a Lady's Sphere,
And therefore not so proper here.
Intestine Feuds, or foreign Jars;
Of mighty Matters done in Battel,
How Towns are storm'd, and Cannons rattle,
Are things without a Lady's Sphere,
And therefore not so proper here.
To talk of Swains and Shepherdesses,
Their aukward Dialogues, and Dresses,
How the fond Clowns adore their Dames,
Old-fashion'd things, with constant Flames,
And how the Nymphs, Occasion blessing,
And gentle Nature jointly pressing,
Relieve their Pain with kind caressing;
Of Moon-light Freaks, and Cynthia's Train,
How Fairies wanton in the Plain,
Of flowery Valleys, lofty Hills,
Resounding Grots, and whisp'ring Rills,
Above, or much below, my Strain is,
And therefore to attempt it vain is.
Their aukward Dialogues, and Dresses,
How the fond Clowns adore their Dames,
Old-fashion'd things, with constant Flames,
And how the Nymphs, Occasion blessing,
And gentle Nature jointly pressing,
Relieve their Pain with kind caressing;
Of Moon-light Freaks, and Cynthia's Train,
How Fairies wanton in the Plain,
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Resounding Grots, and whisp'ring Rills,
Above, or much below, my Strain is,
And therefore to attempt it vain is.
A King's or Cobler's Death to pity,
And pen a grievous Church-yard Ditty,
In sable Elegy to wail,
Would prove, I fear, a drouzy Tale;
And therefore I'm resolv'd to keep
My Muse from crying you to sleep.
And pen a grievous Church-yard Ditty,
In sable Elegy to wail,
Would prove, I fear, a drouzy Tale;
And therefore I'm resolv'd to keep
My Muse from crying you to sleep.
To sing of Beauty, and of You,
And give your Merit half its due;
Your Charms and Virtues to rehearse
Is far beyond the Pow'r of Verse.
And give your Merit half its due;
Your Charms and Virtues to rehearse
Is far beyond the Pow'r of Verse.
What, then, to sing, or what to say,
Without a Subject for my Lay!
Troth, Madam, all that can be done,
Is to leave off where I begun.
Without a Subject for my Lay!
Troth, Madam, all that can be done,
Is to leave off where I begun.
| Miscellaneous Work in Verse and Prose | |