YE Defcend in all her fober charms; And take (fhe faid, and fmil'd ferene) "Take at this hand celeftial arms. "Secure the radiant weapons wield; Aw'd, on my bended knees I fell, "What Well? what Weapon? (Flavia cries) It came from Bertrand's, not the skies; But, Friend, take heed whom you attack; You 'a "You'd write as smooth again on glass, "Athenian Queen! and fober charms! I tell you, fool, there's nothing in 't: " "Tis Venus, Venus gives these arms; "In Dryden's Virgil fee the print. "Come, if you'll be a quiet foul, "That dares tell neither Truth nor Lies, "I'll lift you in the harmless roll "Of thofe that fing of these poor eyes.” EPISTLE SENT to the Earl of Oxford with Dr. Parnell's Poems published by our Author, after the faid Earl's Imprisonfonment in the Tower, and Retreat into the Country, in the year 1721. UCH were the notes thy once-lov'd Poet fung, Till Death untimely ftopp'd his tuneful tongue. Oh just beheld, and loft! admir'd, and mourn'd! With foftest manners, gentleft arts adorn'd! Bleft in each science, bleft in every ftrain! Dear to the Mufe! to Harley dear-in vain! For him, thou oft haft bid the World attend, Fond to forget the statesman in the friend; For Swift and him, defpis'd the farce of ftate, The fober Follies of the wife and great; Dextrous, the craving, fawning crowd to quit, And pleas'd to 'scape from Flattery to Wit. 5 10 Absent or dead, ftill let a friend be dear, Who, careless now of Intereft, Fame, or Fate, Or, Or, deeming meanest what we greatest call, And fure, if aught below the feats divine When the last lingering friend has bid farewell. 20 25 30 Ev'n now, fhe fhades thy Evening-walk with bays 35 (No hireling the, no proftitute to praise); Ev'n now, obfervant of the parting ray, Eyes the calm Sun-fet of thy various Day, Through Fortune's cloud one truly great can fee, EPISTLE EPISTLE TO JAMES CRAGG S, ESQ SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE YEAR 1720. A Soul as full of Worth, as void of Pride, 5 } Which nothing feeks to fhew, or needs to hide; Which nor to Guilt, nor Fear, its Caution owes, And boasts a Warmth that from no Paffion flows: A Face untaught to feign; a judging Eye, That darts fevere upon a rifing Lie, And ftrikes a blush through frontless Flattery: All this thou wert; and being this before, Know, Kings and Fortune cannot make thee more. Then fcorn to gain a Friend by fervile ways, Nor wish to lose a Foe these Virtues raise; But candid, free, fincere, as you began, Proceed-a Minifter, but ftill a Man. Be not (exalted to whate'er degree) Afham'd of any Friend, not ev'n of Me: The Patriot's plain, but untrod, path pursue; Af not, 'tis I must be asham'd of You. 10 15 EPISTLE |