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Fourfcore; you're good at numbers; let us fee,
Seventeen fuppofe, remaining fixty-three;
Aye, in that span of time you'll bury me.
Mean-time, if you have tumult, noife, and ftrife,
(Things not abhorrent to a marry'd life)
They'll quickly end, you fee; what fignify
A few odd years to you that never die?
And, after all, you're half your time away,
You know your bus'nefs takes you up all day;
And coming late to bed, you need not fear,
Whatever noife I make, you'll fleep my
Or, if a winter evening fhould be long,
Ev'n read your phyfic-book, or make a fong.
Your wife, your fteeds, diachalon, and rhyme,
May take up any honeft godhead's time.
Thus, as you like it, you may love again,
And let another Daphne have her reign.

dear:

Now love, or leave, my dear; retreat, or follow;
I Daphne (this premis'd) take thee Apolle;
And may I fplit into ten thousand trees
If I give up on other terms than thefe.

She faid, but what the am'rous god reply'd,
So Fate ordain'd, is to our fearch deny'd;
By rats, alas! the manufcript is ate;
O cruel banquet which we all regret ;
Bavius, thy labours must this work reftore,
May thy good-will be equal to thy pow'r.

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COLIN'S MISTAKES.

WRITTEN IN IMITATION OF SPENSER'S STYLE.

Me ludit amabilis
Infania.

Hor.

AST by the banks of Cam was Colin bred,

FA

(Ye Nymphs, for ever guard that facred stream)
To Wimple's woody fhade his way he fped,
(Flourish thofe woods, the Mufes' endless theme.)
As whilom Colin ancient books had read,
Lays Greek and Roman would he oft rehearse,
And much he lov'd, and much by heart he faid,
What Father Spenfer fung in British verse.
Who reads that bard defire like him to write,
Still fearful of fuccefs, ftill tempted by delight.

II.

Soon as Aurora had unbar'd the morn,
And light difcover'd Nature's cheerful face,
The founding clarion and the sprightly horn
Call'd the blithe huntfman to the diftant chase.
Eftfoons they iffue forth, a goodly band ;

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The deep mouth'd hounds with thunder rend the air,
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 woods, his orders

ill.

[fports. guide the

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On a fair palfrey, well equipp'd, did fit
An Amazonian dame; a fcarlet veit,
For active horfemanfhip adaptly fit,
Enclos'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 fteed to turn and guide:
The willing fteed receiv'd her foft command:
Courage and sweetness on her face was feated;
On her all eyes were bent, and all good wishes waited.

IV.

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This feeing, Colin thus his Mufe befpake,
For alltydes was the Mufe to Colin nigh,
Ah me, too nigh! or, Clio, I mistake,
Or that bright form that pleaseth 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 mafter's flight,
Dan Spenfer makes the fav'rite goddess known,
When in her graceful look fair Britomart is fhown. 40

V.

At noon as Colin to the castle came,

Op'd were the gates, and right prepar'd the feast;
Appears at table rich yclad a dame,

The lord's delight, the wonder of the guest;
With pearl and jewels was the fumptuous deck'd, 45
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 softness bright:

O beauty sent from heav'n to cheer the mortal fight! 50
VI.

Lib'ral Munificence behind her food,

And decent State obey'd her high command,
And Charity, diffuse of native good,

At once pourtrays her mind and guides her hand.
As to each gueft fome fruits the 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 sense
Can well diftinguifh yon 'illuftrious dame,
Who nobly doth fuch gentle gifts difpenfe
In Latian numbers, Juno is her name;

Great goddess who, with peace and plenty crown'd,
To all that under iky breathe vital air,

.

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Diffufeth blifs, and thro' 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. 70 VIII.

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As Colin mus'd at ev'ning near the wood,
A nymph undrefs'd, befeemeth, by him past,
Down to her feet her filken garment flow'd,
A ribband bound and fhap'd her flender waift;
A veil dependent from her comely head,
And beauteous plenty of Ambrofial hair,
O'er her fair breaft and lovely fhoulders spread,
Behind fell loofe, and wanton'd with the air:
The fmiling Zephyrs call'd their am'rous brothers,
They kiss'd the waving lawn, and wafted it to others.

IX.

Daifies and violets rofe where'er fhe trod,

As Flora, kind, her roots and buds had forted;
And, led by Hymen, wedlock's myftic god,
Ten thoufand 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 kindness 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 Edmund's verse.

X.

e;

Heard this the Mufe, and with a fmile reply'd,
Which fhew'd foft anger mix'd 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 shall deviate from his way :
Me to have afk'd what thou couldst 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 haft feen,
When foon at morn the flying deer was chas'd;

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Nor Jove's great wife, nor Spenfer's fairy Queen,
At noontide dealt the honours of the feaft:
Nor Venus nor Belphebe didft thou spy,
The ev'ning'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 ftood confeft,
As various hour advis'd in various habit dreft.

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