The Gods, to curse Pamela with her prayers, Gave the gilt coach and dappled Flanders mares, The shining robes, rich jewels, beds of state, And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate. She glares in balls, front boxes, and the ring, A vain, unquiet, glitt'ring, wretched thing! Pride, pomp, and state but reach her outward part; She sighs, and is no duchess at her heart. But, madam, if the fates withstand, and you Are destined Hymen's willing victim too; Trust not too much your now resistless charms, Those, age or sickness, soon or late disarms: Good humour only teaches charms to last, Still makes new conquests, and maintains the past; Love, raised on beauty, will like that decay, Our hearts may bear its slender chain a day; As flow'ry bands in wantonness are worn, A morning's pleasure, and at evening torn; This binds in ties more easy, yet more strong, The willing heart, and only holds it long. Thus Voiture's' early care still shone the same, And Montausier' was only changed in name: By this, even now they live, even now they charm, Their wit still sparkling, and their flames still warm. Now crowned with myrtle, on the Elysian coast, Amid those lovers, joys his gentle ghost: Pleased, while with smiles his happy lines you view, The brightest eyes of France inspires his muse: 1 Mademoiselle Paulet.-Pope. 2 Madame de Montausier, wife of the Duke de Montausier, was the beautiful daughter of Madame de Rambouillet, whose salons were so celebrated in France. Voiture was one of her intimate friends, and presided at these literary reunions, where the wits of the age assem bled. EPISTLE TO THE SAME, ON HER LEAVING THE TOWN AFTER THE CORONATION. 2 AS SOME fond virgin, whom her mother's care There starve and pray, for that's the way to heav'n. 1 Of King George the First, 1715. 2 The assumed name of Theresa Blount, under which she corresponded for many years with the Mr. Moore of the Dunciad, under the feigned name of Alexis, Martha was called Parthenia.-Bowles, Before you pass th' imaginary sights Of lords, and earls, and dukes, and gartered knights, EPITAPHS. His saltum accumulem donis, et fungar inani Munere! Virg. Æn. vII. vv. 885, 6, L-ON CHARLES EARL OF DORSET. IN THE CHURCH OF WITHYAM IN SUSSEX (1706). DORSET, the grace of the courts, the Muses' pride, The scourge of pride, though sanctified or great, Blest courtier! who could king and country please, Where other Buckhursts, other Dorsets shine, IL-ON SIR WILLIAM TRUMBULL, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES OF STATE TO KING WILLIAM Who having resigned his place, died in his retirement at Easthampsted in Berkshire, 1716. A PLEASING form; a firm, yet cautious mind; A gen'rous faith, from superstition free, Such this man was; who now, from earth removed, At length enjoys that liberty he loved. III-ON THE HON. SIMON HARCOURT, ONLY SON OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR HARCOURT; At the Church of Stanton-Harcourt in Oxfordshire, 1720. To this sad shrine, whoe'er thou art! draw near; How vain is reason, eloquence how weak! IV. ON JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ., IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. JACOBUS CRAGGS, REGI MAGNE BRITANNIE A SECRETIS ET CONSILIIS SANCTIORIBUS. PRINCIPIS PARITER AC POPULI AMOR ET DELICLE: ANNOS, HEU PAUCOS, XXXV. OB. FEB. XVI. MDCCXX. STATESMAN, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere, Who broke no promise, served no private end; Praised, wept, and honoured, by the muse he loved. |