ODE. IN IMITATION OF HORACE's ode, "Quis multá gracilis te puer in rosá "Perfusus," &c. To whom now, Lib. I. Od. 5. Pyrrha, art thou kind? To what heart-ravish'd lover Dost thou thy golden locks unbind, And with large bounty open set All the bright stores of thy rich cabinet ? Ah, simple youth! how oft will he Of thy chang'd faith complain! And his own fortunes find to be Of so cameleon-like an hue, How oft, alas! will he admire The blackness of the skies! Trembling to hear the wind sound higher, Poor unexperienc'd he, Who ne'er, alas! before had been at sea! He' enjoys thy calmy sun-shine now, And no breath stirring hears; In the clear heaven of thy brow He sees thee gentle, fair, and gay, Unhappy, thrice unhappy, he, T'whom thou untry'd dost shine! But there's no danger now for me, In witness of the shipwreck past, My consecrated vessel hangs at last. IN IMITATION OF MARTIAL'S EPIGRAM, "Si tecum mihi, chare Martialis," &c. L. 5. Ep. 21. IF, dearest friend, it my good fate might be We should not the lords' tables humbly use, Free, but not savage or ungracious mirth, Such, dearest friend! such, without doubt, should be THE CHRONICLE. A BALLAD. MARGARITA first possest, If I remember well, my breast, Margarita first of all; With But when awhile the wanton maid my restless heart had play'd, Martha took the flying ball. Martha soon did it resign To the beauteous Catharine. Beauteous Catharine gave place (Though loth and angry she to part With the possession of my heart) To Eliza's conquering face. Eliza till this hour might reign, Had she not evil counsels ta'en. And still new favourites she chose, Mary then, and gentle Anne, Both to reign at once began; Alternately they sway'd; And sometimes Mary was the fair, Another Mary then arose, And did rigorous laws impose; Long, alas! should I have been Had not Rebecca set me free. When fair Rebecca set me free, 'T was then a golden time with me: But soon those pleasures fled; For the gracious princess dy'd, In her youth and beauty's pride, And Judith reigned in her stead. One month, three days, and half an hour, Judith held the sovereign power : Wondrous beautiful her face! But so weak and small her wit, That she to govern was unfit, And so Susanna took her place. But when Isabella came, Arm'd with a resistless flame, Whilst she proudly march'd about, She beat out Susan by the bye. But in her place I then obey'd Black-ey'd Bess, her viceroy-maid; Thousand worse passions than possest Bless me from such an anarchy ! Gentle Henrietta then, And a third Mary, next began; Then Joan, and Jane, and Audria; And then a pretty Thomasine, And then another Katharine, And then a long et cætera. |