EPIGRAM ON MRS. TOFTS. A HANDSOME WOMAN WITH A FINE VOICE, BUT VERY COVETOUS AND PROUD*. O bright is thy beauty, fo charming thy fong, As had drawn both the beafts and their Orpheus along; But fuch is thy avarice, and fuch is thy pride, EPIGR AM On one who made LONG EPITAPHST. REIND, for your Epitaphs I 'm griev'd, FR Where ftill fo much is faid; One half will never be believ'd, The other never read. This epigram, first printed anonymously in Steele's Collection, and copied in the Mifcellanies of Swift and Pope, is fcribed to Pope by Sir John Hawkins in his History of Mufic— Mrs. Tofts, who was the daughter of a person in the family of Bishop Burnet, is celebrated as a finger little inferior, either for She lived at her voice or manner, to the best Italian women. the introduction of the opera into this kingdom, and fung in company with Nicolini; but, being ignorant of Italian, chanted her recitative in English, in answer to his Italian; yet the charms of their voices overcame the abfurdity. It is not generally known that the perfon here meant was Dr. Robert Freind, Head Mafter of Westminster School TO SIR GODFREY KNELLER, ON HIS PAINTING FOR ME THE STATUES OF APOLLO, VENUS, AND HERCULES. WHAT HAT God, what Genius did the pencil move "Twas Friendship-warm as Phoebus, kind as Love, And strong as Hercules. A FAREWELL TO LONDON D IN THE YEAR 1715. EAR, damn'd, distracting town, farewell! This year in peace, ye critics, dwell, Soft Band rough C---, adieu ! : The lively H----k and you May knock up whores alone. To drink and droll be Rowe allow'd Let Jervais gratis paint, and Frowde Farewell Arbuthnot's raillery And Garth, the best good christian he, Lintot, Lintot, farewell! thy bard muft go; - Heaven gives thee, for thy lofs of Rowe, Why should I stay? Both parties rage; The wits in envious feuds engage; The love of arts lies cold and dead And not one Muse of all he fed, My friends, by turns, my friends confound, Why make I friendships with the great, When I no favour feek? Or follow girls feven hours in eight ?- Still idle, with a busy air, The gayeft valetudinaire, Solicitous for others ends, Though fond of dear repose; Careless or drowsy with my friends, Luxurious Luxurious lobster-nights, farewell, Adieu to all but Gay alone, Whofe foul, fincere and free, Loves all mankind, but flatters none, And fo may starve with me. РОРЕ. A DIALOGUE. INCE my old friend is SIN grown fo greats As to be minifter of state, CRAGGS. Alas! if I am fuch a creature, To grow the worse for growing greater; EPIGRAM. Engraved on the Collar of a Dog, which I gave to his Royal Highness. I AM his Highness' dog at Kew; Pray tell me, Sir, whose dog are you ? EPIGRAM IN Occafioned by an Invitation to Court. 'N the lines that you fent, are the Mufes and Graces; You've the Nine in your wit, and the Three in your .faces. ON AN OLD GATE ERECTED IN CHISWICK Gate, how cam'ft thou here? GARDENS. Gate. I was brought from Chelsea laft year, Batter'd with wind and weather. Inigo Jones put me together. Sir Hans Sloane Let me alone: Burlington brought me hither. 1742. A FRAGMENT. 7HAT are the falling rills, the pendant shades, WHAT The morning bowers, the evening colonnades, But foft receffes for th' uneafy mind To figh unheard in, to the paffing wind! |