Men thought her Minerva, and him a new god. But why should I stories of Athens rehearse, Where people knew love, and were partial to verse; Since none can with justice my pleasures oppose, In Holland half drowned in interest and prose? By Greece and past ages what need I be tried, When the Hague and the present are both on my side? And is it enough for the joys of the day, To think what Anacreon or Sappho would say? So blest as the Englishen Heer Secretar' is. THE REMEDY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE I SENT for Ratcliffe; was so ill, But, when the wit began to wheeze, Cur'd yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician. UPON THIS PASSAGE IN THE SCALIGERIANA. "Les Allemans ne ce soucient pas quel Vin ils boivent pourveu que ce soit Vin, ni quel Latin ils parlent pour veu que ce soit Latin." WHEN you with High-Dutch Heeren dine, TO A CHILD OF QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD, MDCCIV. THE AUTHOR THEN FORTY. LORDS, knights, and squires, the numerous ban‹l, My pen among the rest I took, Lest those bright eyes that cannot read Should dart their kindling fires, and look The power they have to be obey'd. Nor quality, nor reputation, Forbid me yet my flame to tell, For, while she makes her silkworms beds She may receive and own my flame, For, though the strictest prudes should know it, She'll pass for a most virtuous dame, And I for an unhappy poet. Then too, alas! when she shall tear For, as our different ages move, 'Tis so ordain'd (would Fate but mend it!) That I shall be past making love, When she begins to comprehend it. : PARTIAL FAME. THE sturdy man, if he in love obtains, Though he, for all his boast, is forc'd to yield, He vaunts his conquest, she conceals her shame; TO CLOE. WHILST I am scorch'd with hot desire, Your drops of pity on my fire, Alas! but make it fiercer burn. Ah! would you have the flame supprest, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF DEVONSHIRE, ON A PIECE OF WIESSEN'S WHEREON WERE WIESSEN1 and Nature held a long contest, With pleasing thought the wondrous combat grew, With art increas'd, their utmost skill they tried, And, both well pleas'd they had themselves surpass'd, The goddess triumph'd, and the painter died. 'That both, their skill to this vast height did raise, Be ours the wonder, and be yours the praise: 1 William Wiessen, an eminent portrait painter, born at the Hague in 1656. He learned the art of painting from Dodoens, and after some time spent with him, visited England, and improved himself under Sir Peter Lely, whose manner he imitated with success. "He had the honour," says Mr. Pilkington, "to be competitor with Sir Godfrey Kneller, though the superiority was allowed to the latter, on account of that dignity and air which Kneller generally gave to his portraits; however, the real merit of Wiessen as an artist, as also the politeness of his manners, secured to him the esteem of the great, and provided him employment as long as he lived." Dictionary of Painters, 4to. 1770, p. 685. He died 1687. |