That eye dropt sense distinct and clear, Ran trickling down her beauteous cheek. Dissembling what I knew too well, 66 My love, my life," said I," explain This change of humor: pr'ythee tell : That falling tear-what does it mean?" : She sigh'd she smiled: and to the flowers "See! friend, in some few fleeting hours, "Ah me, the blooming pride of May, "At morn poor Stella danced and sung; I saw, and kiss'd her in her shroud. "Such as she is, who died to-day; Matthew Prior. CIII. THE LOVER. Addressed to Congreve. AT length, by so much importunity press'd, I am not as cold as a virgin in lead, Nor is Sunday's sermon so strong in my head; That we live but few years, and yet fewer are young. But I hate to be cheated, and never will buy For I would have the power, but not give the pain. No pedant, yet learned; no rake-helly gay, But when the long hours of public are past, And that my delight may be solidly fix'd, Let the friend and the lover be handsomely mix'd, Whose kindness can soothe me, whose counsel can guide No danger should fright me, no millions should bribe; But till this astonishing creature I know, As I long have lived chaste, I will keep myself so. I never will share with the wanton coquet, I loathe the mere rake, the drest fopling despise: We harden like trees, and like rivers grow cold. Lady Mary W. Montague. CIV. THE merchant, to secure his treasure, My softest verse, my darling lyre That I should sing, that I should play. My lyre I tune, my voice I raise; Fair Chloe blush'd: Euphelia frown'd: I sung, and gazed: I play'd and trembled ; And Venus to the Loves around Remark'd how ill we all dissembled. Matthew Prior, CV. In vain you tell your parting lover, From slighted vows, and cold disdain? Be gentle, and in pity choose Matthew Prior. CVI. ON MRS. A, H. AT A Concert. Look where my dear Hamilla smiles, See how with all their arts and smiles O, fairest maid, I own thy power, And triumph in my anguish. So I the dearest love thee. CVII. William Crawford. MRS. FRANCES HARRIS' PETITION. Written in the year 1701. To their Excellencies the Lords Justices of Ireland. The humble petition of Frances Harris, who must starve, and die a maid, if it miscarries. Humbly sheweth, That I went to warm myself in Lady Betty's chamber, because I was cold, And I had in a purse seven pounds, four shillings, and sixpence, besides farthings, in money and gold: So, because I had been buying things for my lady last night, I was resolved to tell my money, to see if it was right. Now you must know, because my trunk has a very bad lock, Therefore all the money I have, which, God knows, is a very small stock, I keep in my pocket, tied about my middle, next my smock. So, when I went to put up my purse, as luck would have it, my smock was unript, And instead of putting it into my pocket, down it slipt: Then the bell rung, and I went down to put my lady to bed: And, God knows, I thought my money was as safe as my stupid head! So, when I came up again, I found my pocket feel very light: But when I search'd, and miss'd my purse, law! I thought I should have sunk outright. "Lawk, madam," says Mary, "how d'ye do?" "Indeed," says I, never worse. 66 But pray, Mary, can you tell what I've done with my purse? Lawk, help me!" said Mary, "I never stirr'd out of this place: "Nay," said I, "I had it in Lady Betty's chamber, that's a plain case. So Mary got me to bed, and cover'd me up warm : However, she stole away my garters, that I might do myself no harm. So I tumbled and toss'd all night, as you may very well think, And in a corner of Mrs. Duke's box, tied in a rag the money was found, So next morning we told Whittle, and he fell a-swearing : Then my dame Wadger came: and she, you know, is thick of hearing: "Dame," said I, as loud as I could bawl, "do you know what a loss I have had?" "Nay," said she, "my Lord Colway's folks are all very sad; For my Lord Dromedary comes a Tuesday without fail." Pugh!" said I, "but that's not the business that I ail." Says Cary, says he, "I've been a servant this five-andtwenty years come spring, And in all the places I lived I never heard of such a thing." "Yes," says the Steward, "I remember, when I was at my Lady Shrewsbury's, Such a thing as this happened, just about the time of gooseberries." So I went to the party suspected, and I found her full of grief, (Now, you must know, of all things in the world I hate a thief,) |