Yet Daphne never flack'd her pace,
For wit and learning fpoil'd his face.
And, fince the fame refemblance held
In gifts wherein you both excell'd,
I fancy'd every nymph would run
From you, as from Latona's fon.
Then where, faid I, shall Harley find A virgin of fuperior mind,
With wit and virtue to discover,
And pay the merit of her lover?
This character fhall Ca'endifh claim,
Born to retrieve her fex's fame.
The chief among the glittering crowd,
Of titles, birth, and fortune proud,
(As fools are infolent and vain)
Madly afpir'd to wear her chain :
But Pallas, guardian of the Maid,
Descending to her charge's aid,
Held out Medufa's fnaky locks,
Which stupify'd them all to ftocks.
The Nymph with indignation view'd
The dull, the noisy, and the lewd:
For Pallas, with celeftial light,
Had purify'd her mortal fight;
Shew'd her the virtues all combin'd,
Fresh blooming, in young Harley's mind.
Terrestrial nymphs, by former arts,
Display their various nets for hearts:
Their looks are all by method fet,
When to be prude, and when coquette;
Yet, wanting fkill and power to choose,
Their only pride is to refufe.
But, when a goddess would bestow
Her love on fome bright youth below,
Round all the earth fhe cafts her eyes;
And then, defcending from the skies,
Makes choice of him the fancies beft,
And bids the ravish'd youth be bless'd.
Thus the bright Emprefs of the Morn
Chofe, for her spouse, a mortal born:
The Goddess made advances first;
Elfe what afpiring hero durft?
Though, like a virgin of fifteen,
She blushes when by mortals feen ;
Still blushes, and with speed retires,
When Sol pursues her with his fires.
Diana thus, Heaven's chafteft queen,
Struck with Endymion's graceful mien,
Down from her filver chariot came,
And to the Shepherd own'd her flame.
Thus Ca'endifh, as Aurora bright,
And chaster than the Queen of Night,
Defcended from her sphere to find
A mortal of fuperior kind.
Written in IRELAND, October 1714.
IS true-then why should I repine
To fee my life fo faft decline?
But why obfcurely here alone,
Where I am neither lov'd nor known?
My state of health none care to learn;
My life is here no foul's concern:
And those with whom I now converse
Without a tear will tend my hearfe.
Remov'd from kind Arbuthnot's aid,
Who knows his art, but not his trade,
Preferring his regard for me
Before his credit, or his fee.
Some formal vifits, looks, and words,
What mere humanity affords,
I meet perhaps from three or four,
From whom I once expected more;
Which those who tend the fick for pay
Can act as decently as they :
But no obliging tender friend
To help at my approaching end.
My life is now a burden grown
To others, ere it be my own.
Ye formal weepers for the fick,
your laft offices be quick;
And spare my abfent friends the grief
To hear, yet give me no relief;
Expir'd to day, intomb'd to-morrow.
When known, will fave a double-forrow.
THE FABLE OF THE BITCHES.
Written in the Year 1715.
On an ATTEMPT to Repeal the TEST ACT.
BITCH that was full pregnant grown,
By all the dogs and curs in town,
Finding her ripen'd time was come,
Her litter teeming from her womb,
Went here and there, and every where,
To find an eafy place to lay-her.
At length to Mufick's houfe * fhe came,
And begg'd like one both blind and lame;
My only friend, my dear," faid fhe,
"You fee 'tis mere neceffity,
"Hath fent me to your house to whelp:
"I die, if you deny your help."
With fawning whine, and rueful tone,
With artful figh and feigned groan,
With couchant cringe, and flattering tale,
Smooth Bawty† did so far prevail,
But mark what follow'd---faith! fhe bit her.
Whole baskets full of bits and scraps,
And broth enough to fill her paps;
For, well the knew, her numerous brood,
For want of milk, would fuck her blood.
But when the thought her pains were done,
And now 'twas high time to be gone;
In civil terms,---" My friend," fays the,
My house you've had on courtesy;
"And now I earnestly defire,
"That you would with your cubs retire; "For, fhould you stay but one week longer, "I fhall be ftarv'd with cold and hunger." The guest reply'd---" My friend, your leave "I must a little longer crave;
Stay till my tender cubs can find
"Their way---for now, you fee, they're blind;
*The church of England.
+ A Scotch name for a bitch; alluding to the kirk.
"But, when we've gather'd ftrength, I fwear, "We'll to our barn again repair."
The time pafs'd on; and Mufick came,
Her kennel once again to claim;
But Bawty, loft to shame and honour,
Set all her cubs at once upon her ;
Made her retire, and quit her right,
And loudly cry'd---" A bite! a bite!"
Thus did the Grecian wooden horfe
Conceal a fatal armed force :
No fooner brought within the walls,
But Ilium's loft, and Priam falls.
HORACE, BOOK III. ODE II.
TO THE EARL OF OXFORD, LATE LORD TREASURER.
Sent to him when in the TOWER, 1716.
OW bleft is he, who for his country dies,
Since death purfues the coward as he flies? The youth in vain would fly from Fate's attack, With trembling knees and terror at his back; Though fear fhould lend him pinions like the wind, Yet fwifter fate will feize him from behind.
Virtue repuls'd, yet knows not to repine;
But shall with unattainted honour fhine;
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