128
Epistles.
Tell her less of thy knowledge and more of thy charms,
And my life for it the damsel will fly to thy arms. 16
And my life for it the damsel will fly to thy arms. 16
VERSES TO MRS. LOWTHER
ON HER MARRIAGE,
FROM MENAGE.
The greatest swain that treads the Arcadian grove
Our shepherds envy and our virgins love,
His charming nymph his softer fair obtains,
The bright Diana of our flow'ry plains;
He 'midst the graceful of superiour grace, 5
And she the loveliest of the loveliest race.
Thy fruitful influence guardian Juno shed,
And crown the pleasures of the genial bed;
Raise thence, their future joy, a smiling heir,
Brave as the father as the mother fair. 10
Well may'st thou show'r thy choicest gifts on those
Who boldly rival thy most hated foes;
The vig'rous bridegroom with Alcides vies,
And the fair bride has Cytherea's eyes. 14
Our shepherds envy and our virgins love,
His charming nymph his softer fair obtains,
The bright Diana of our flow'ry plains;
He 'midst the graceful of superiour grace, 5
And she the loveliest of the loveliest race.
Thy fruitful influence guardian Juno shed,
And crown the pleasures of the genial bed;
Raise thence, their future joy, a smiling heir,
Brave as the father as the mother fair. 10
Well may'st thou show'r thy choicest gifts on those
Who boldly rival thy most hated foes;
The vig'rous bridegroom with Alcides vies,
And the fair bride has Cytherea's eyes. 14
TO A LADY BEFORE MARRIAGE.
Oh! form'd by Nature and refin'd by art,
With charms to win and sense to fix the heart,
By thousands sought, Clotilda! canst thou free
Thy crowd of captives and descend to me,
With charms to win and sense to fix the heart,
By thousands sought, Clotilda! canst thou free
Thy crowd of captives and descend to me,
