Engraven on a COLUMN

IN THE

Church of Halftead in Effex,

The Spire of which, burnt down by Lightning, was rebuilt at the Expense of Mr. SAMUEL FISKE, 1717.

VIEW not this Spire by Measure giv'n

VIE

To Buildings rais'd by common Hands:

That Fabric rifes high as Heav'n,

Whofe Bafis on Devotion stands.

While yet We draw this vital Breath,

We can our FAITH and HOPE declare:
But CHARITY beyond our Death
Will ever in our Works appear.

Beft be He call'd among good Men,
Who to his GOD this Column rais'd:
Tho' Lightning strike the Dome again;
The Man, who built it, fhall be prais'd.

Yet

Yet Spires and Towers in Duft shall lye,

The weak Efforts of Human Pains:

And FAITH, and HOPE themselves fhall dye;

While Deathlefs CHARITY remains.

Written in MONTAIGNE's Elays,

Given to the Duke of SHREWSBURY in France, after the Peace, 1713.

DICTATE, O mighty Judge, what Thou haft feen

Of Cities, and of Courts, of Books, and Men;

And deign to let Thy Servant hold the Pen.

Thro' Ages thus I may prefume to live;
And from the Tranfcript of Thy Profe receive,
What my own fhort-liv'd Verse can never give.

Thus fhall fair BRITAIN with a gracious Smile
Accept the Work; and the instructed Isle,
For more than Treaties made, fhall blefs my Toil.

Nor longer hence the GALLIC Style preferr'd, Wisdom in ENGLISH Idiom fhall be heard;

While TALBOT tells the World, where MONTAIGNE err'd.

Ал

L
L E,

An EPIST

Defiring the QUEEN's Picture.

Written at PARIS, 1714. But left unfinished, by the fudden News of Her MAJESTY'S Death.

'HE Train of Equipage and Pomp of State,

ΤΗ

The fhining Side-board, and the burnish'd Plate
Let other Minifters, Great ANNE, require;
And partial fall Thy Gift to their Defire.
To the fair Portrait of my Sov'reign Dame,
To that alone, eternal be my Claim.

My bright Defender, and my dread Delight,
If ever I found Favor in Thy Sight;
If all the Pains that for Thy BRITAIN's Sake
My paft has took, or future Life may take,
Be grateful to my QUEEN: permit my Pray'r,
And with This Gift reward my total Care.

Will Thy indulgent Hand, fair Saint, allow
The Boon? and will Thy Ear accept the Vow?
That in defpight of Age, of impious Flame,
And eating Time, Thy Picture like Thy Fame
Entire may laft; that as their Eyes furvey
The femblant Shade, Men yet unborn may say;

Thus Great, thus Gracious look'd BRITANNIA's Queen;

Her Brow thus fmooth, Her Look was thus ferene;

When

When to a Low, but to a Loyal Hand

The mighty Empress gave Her high Command,
That He to Hoftile Camps, and Kings shou'd hafte,
To speak Her Vengeance, as Their Danger, past;
To fay, She Wills detefted Wars to cease;
She checks Her Conqueft, for Her Subjects Eafe;
And bids the World attend Her Terms of Peace.

Thee, Gracious ANNE, Thee prefent I adore,

}

Thee, QUEEN of PEACE If Time and Fate have Power

Higher to raise the Glories of thy Regin;

In Words fublimer, and a nobler Strain,

May future Bards the mighty Theme rehearse,

Here, STATOR JOVE, and PHOEBUS King of Verfe,
The Votive Tablet I suspend * * *