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AST by the banks of Cam was Colin bred :

FAST (Ye Nymphs, for ever guard that facred

ftream ;)

To Wimpole's woody fhade his way he sped: (Flourish those woods, the Mufes endless theme.) As whilom Colin ancient books had read,

Lays Greek and Roman wou'd he oft rehearse, And much he lov'd, and much by heart he said, What father Spenfer fung in British verfe. Who reads that bard, defires like him to write, Still fearful of fuccefs, ftill tempted by delight. II.

Soon as Aurora had unbarr'd the morn,

And light difcover'd nature's chearful face; The founding clarion, and the sprightly horn. Call'd the blythe huntsman to the diftant chace, Eftfoons they iffue forth a goodly band;

[air,

The deep-mouth'd, hounds with thunder rend the

The fiery courfers ftrike the rifing fand:

Far thro' the thicket flies the frighted. deer.

Harley the honour of the day fupports; His prefence glads the wood; his orders guide the

fports.

III.

On a fair palfrey well equipt did fit

An Amazonian-dame; a fcarlet vest For active horsemanship adaptly fit

Inclos'd her dainty limbs; a plumed creft Wav'd o'er her head; obedient by her fide

Her friends and fervants rode; with artful hand
Full well knew the the freed to turn and guide;
The willing teed receiv'd her foft command:
Courage and sweetness in her face were feated;
On her all eyes were bent, and all good wishes waited,
IV.

This feeing, Colin thus his Mufe bespake.
For alltydes was the Mufe to Colin nigh,
Ah me too nigh! or, Clio, I mistake;

Or that bright form that pleafeth fo mine eye,
Is Jove's fair daughter Pallas, gracious queen
Of lib'ral arts; with wonder and delight
In Homer's verfe we read her; well I ween,

That em'lous of his Grecian master's flight, Dan Spenfer makes the fav'rite goddess known s When in her graceful look fair Britomart is shown. V.

At noon as Colin to the caftle came,

Ope'd were the gates, and right prepar'd the feaft Appears at table rich yclad a dame,

The lord's delight, the wonder of the guest. With pearl and jewels was the fumptuous deckt, As well became her dignity and place;

But the beholders mought her gems neglect,

To fix their eyes on her more lovely face, Serene with glory, and with foftness bright: O beauty fent from heav'n, to cheer the mortal fight! VI.

Lib'ral Munificence behind her stood;

And decent ftate obey'd her high command ;And Charity diffufe of native good

At once portrayes her mind, and guides her hand,. As to each gueft fome fruits fhe deign'd to lift, And filence with obliging parley broke: How gracious feem'd to each th' imparted gift;

But how more gracious what the giver spoke ?: Such eafe, fuch freedom did her deed attend,. That ev'ry guest rejoic'd, exalted to a friend.

VII,

Quoth Colin: Clio, if my feeble fenfe
Can well diftinguifh yon illuftrious dame,
Who nobly doth fuch gentle gifts difpenfe;
In Latian numbers Juno is her name,
Great goddefs, who with peace and plenty crown'd,.
To all that under fky breathe vital air
Diffufeth blifs, and through the world around

Pours wealthy eafe, and fcatters joyous cheer ;Certes of her in femblant guife I read ;

Where Spenfer decks his lays with Gloriana's deed. VIII.

As Colin mus'd at ev'ning near the wood;

A nymph undrefs'd, befeemeth, by him paft, Down to her feet her filken garment flow'd:

A ribbon bound and shap'd her flender waist:

A veil dependent from her comely head,
And beauteous plenty of ambrofial hair,
O'er her fair breast and lovely thoulders spread,
Behind fell loofe, and wanton'd with the air.
The fmiling Zephyrs call'd their am'rous brothers;
They kifs'd the waving lawn, and wafted it to others.
IX.

Dailies and violets rofe, where'er the trod,
As Flora kind her roots and buds had forted:
And led by Hymen, wedlock's mystic god;

Ten thousand Loves around the nymph difported.
Quoth Colin; now I ken the goddess bright,
Whom poets fing: All human hearts enthrall'd,
Obey her pow'r; her kindnefs the delight

Of gods and men; great Venus fhe is call'd, When Mantuan Virgil doth her charms rehearse; Belphebe is her name, in gentle Edmond's verfe.

X.

Heard this the Mufe, and with a smile reply'd,
Which fhew'd foft anger mixt with friendly love,
Twin fifters ftill were ignorance and pride;

Can we know right, 'till error we remove?
But, Colin, well I wift, will never learn:

Who flights his guide fhall deviate from his way: Me to have afk'd what thou cou'dit not difcern,

To thee pertain'd; to me the thing to say. What heav'nly will from human eye conceals. How can the bard aread, unless the mufe reveals? XI.

Nor Pallas thou, nor Britomart has feen;

When foon at morn the flying deer was chas'd;

Nor Jove's great wife, nor Spenser's fairy queen At noontyde dealt the honours of the feaft: Nor Venus, nor Belphebe didft thou spy,

The evening's glory, and the grove's delight. Henceforth, if afk'd, inftructed right, reply,

That all the day to knowing mortals fight Bright Ca'ndifh-Holles Harley stood confeft, As various hour advis'd, in various habit dreft.

VERSES Spoke to the Lady HENRIETTA-CAVENDISH-HOLLES HARLEY, in the Library of St. JOHN's College, CAMBRIDGE, November 9th, Anno 1719.

MADAM,

INCE Anna vifited the mufes-feat,

SIN

(Around her tomb let weeping angels wait)
Hail thou, the brightest of thy fex, and beft,
Moft gracious neighbour and moft welcome guest.
Not Harley's felf to Cam and Ifis dear,

In virtues and in arts great Oxford's heir,
Not He fuch prefent honours fhall receive,
As to his Confort we afpire to give.

Writings of men our thought to-day neglects
To pay due homage to the fofter-fex:

Plato and Tully we forbear to read,

And their great foll'wers whom this houfe has bred, To ftudy leffons from thy morals giv'n,

And fhining characters, imprefs'd by Heaven.

• The feat of this noble family is at Wimplee in Cambridgefhire,

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