READER, I was born, and cry’d;
I crack'd, I smelt, and fo I dy'd.
Like Julius Cæfar's was my death,
Who in the Senate loft his breath.
Much alike entomb'd does lie
The noble Romulus and I:
And when I dy'd, like Flora fair,
I left the Commonwealth my heir..
HER
ER. time with equal prudence Silvia shares,
First writes a BILLET-DOUX, then says her prayers;
Her mafs and toilet; vefpers and the play;
Thus God and Ashtaroth divide the day:
Constant she keeps her Ember-week and Lent,
At Eafter calls all Israel to her tent :
Loose without bawd, and pious without zeal,
She still repeats the fins fhe would conceal.
Envy herself from Silvia's life must grant,
An artful woman makes a Modern Saint.
PROMETHEUS, forming Mr. Day,
Carv'd fomething like a man in clay.
The mortal's work might well miscarry ;
HE, that does Heaven and earth controul,
Alone has power to form a foul,
His hand is evident in Harry.
Since one is but a moving clod,
T' other the lively form of God;
'Squire Wallis, you will scarce be able,
To prove all poetry but fable.
WAS FOND OF FORTUNE TELLING.
YOU, Madam, may with safety go,
Decrees of destiny to know;
For at your birth kind planets reign'd,
And certain happiness ordain'd:
Such charms as your's are only given
To chofen favourites. of Heaven.
But, fuch is my uncertain ftate,
'Tis dangerous to try my fate;
For I would only know from art,
The future motions, of your heart,
And what predeftinated doom
Attends my love for years to come;
No fecrets elfe, that mortals learn,
My cares deferve, or life concern:
But this will fo important be,
I dread to fearch the dark decree ;
For, while the fmalleft hope remains,
Faint joys are mingled with my pains;
Vain diftant views my fancy please,
And give fome intermitting ease:
‹ But should the stars too plainly show
That you have doom'd my endless woe,
No human force, or art, could bear
The torment of my wild defpair.
This fecret then I dare not know,
And other truths are ufeless now.
What matters, if unblest in love,
How long or fhort my life will prove ♪
To gratify what low defire,
Should I with needless hafte enquire,
How great, how wealthy, I fhall be?
Oh! what is wealth or power to me!
If I am happy, or undone,
It must proceed from you alone.
IMITATE D.
WHEN hungry wolves had trespass'd on the fold,
And the robb'd fhepherd his fad story told;
"Call in Alcides," faid a crafty priest;
"Give him one half, and he 'll fecure the reft."
No! faid the fhepherd, if the Fates decree,
By ravaging my flock, to ruin me;
To their commands I willingly refign,
Power is their character, and patience mine; Though, troth! to me there feems but little odds, Who prove the greatest robbers, wolves or gods!
WHEN Jove lay bleft in his Alcmæna's charms,
Three nights, in one, he preft her in his arms;
The fun lay fet, and confcious nature ftrove
To shade her God, and to prolong his love.
From that aufpicious night Alcides came,
What lefs could rife from Jove, and such a dame ?
May this aufpicious night with that compare,
Nor less the joys, nor less the rising heir;
He ftrong as Jove, the like Alcmæna fair¦
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