To Philaster.
'Tis the glory of the Great and Good to be
the Refuge of the Distress'd; their Virtues
create 'em troubles; and he that has the God-like
Talent to oblige, is never free from Impunity,
you, Philaster, have a Thousand
ways merited my Esteem and Veneration; and I beg you
wou'd now permit the effects of it, which cou'd not forbear,
though unpermitted, to dedicate, this youthful sally
of my Pen, this first Essay of my Infant-Poetry to your excellent
Self: 'Tis a Virgin-Muse, harmless and unadorned,
unpractis'd in the Arts to please; and if by chance you find
any thing agreable, 'tis natural & unskill'd Innocence. Three
thousand Leagues of spacious Ocean she has measured, visited
many and distant Shores, and found a welcome every
where; but in all that vast tract of Sea & Land cou'd never
meet with one whose Person and Merits cou'd oblige her
to yield her ungarded Self into his protection: A thousand
Charms of Wit, good Nature, and Beauty at first approach
she found in Philaster; and since she knew she cou'd
not appear upon the too-critical English Stage without making
choice of some Noble Patronage, she waited long,
look'd round the judging World, and fixt on you. She feared
the reproach of being an
American, whose Country rarely
produces Beauties of this kind: The Muses seldom inhabit
there; or if they do, they visit and away; but for variety a
Dowdy Lass may please: Her youth too should attone for all
her faults besides; and her being a Stranger will begit civility,
and you that are by nature kind and generous, tender and
soft to all that's new and gay, will not, I hope refuse her
that Sanctuary I am too sensible she will have need of in
this loose Age of Censure. You have goodness enough to
excuse all her weaknesses, and Wit enough to defend 'em;
and that's sufficient to render her Estimable to all the world
that knows the generous and excellent
Philaster; whilst
this occasion to celebrate you under this Name, is both a
Pleasure and an Honour to
ASTREA.
