Her pious love excell'd to all she bore; New Objects only multiply'd it more. And as the Chosen found the perly Grain Her care of their Educa tion. As much as ev'ry Vessel could contain ; Soft for Impression, from the first, prepar'd, It turned to Habit; and, from Vices free, Goodness resolv'd into Necessity. Thus fix'd she Virtue's Image, that's her Still in their own, though from the Pallace far: Thus her Friend's Heart her Country Dwelling was, A sweet Retirement to a courser place: 260 Where Pomp and Ceremonies enter'd not; Where Greatness was shut out, and Buis’ness well forgot. This is th' imperfect draught; but short as far As the true height and bigness of a Star Exceeds the Measures of th' Astronomer. She shines above, we know, but in what place, How near the Throne, and Heav'ns Imperial Face, By our weak Opticks is but vainly ghest; Distance and Altitude conceal the rest. 269 Tho all these rare Endowments of the Mind Were in a narrow space of life Reflections confin'd; on the shortness of her life. The Figure was with full Perfection crown'd; Though not so large an Orb, as truly round. As when in glory, through the publick place, The Spoils of conquer'd Nations were to pass, And but one Day for Triumph was allowed, The Consul was constrain'd his Pomp to crowd; And so the swift Procession hurry'd on, That all, though not distinctly, might be shown: 279 So, in the straiten'd bounds of life confin'd, She gave but glimpses of her glorious Mind And multitudes of Vertues pass'd along, Each pressing foremost in the mighty throng; Ambitious to be seen, and then make room, For greater Multitudes that were to come. Yet unemploy'd no Minute slipt away; Moments were precious in so short a stay THE MONUMENT OF A FAIR MAIDEN LADY, BELOW this Marble Monument is laid All that Heav'n wants of this Celestial Maid. The Mold was made on purpose for the And she wou'd lose, if at the latter Day Her Limbs were form'd with such harmonious So faultless was the Frame, as if the Whole Each Thought was visible that rowl'd within: are seen. And Heav'n did this transparent Veil provide, Because she had no guilty Thought to hide. All white, a Virgin-Saint, she sought the For Marriage, tho' it sullies not, it dies. 20 As if she cou'd not, or she wou'd not find Yet she had learn'd so much of Heav'n below, But only to refresh the former Ilint; Yet in such Charities she pass'd the Day, 30 A Soul so calm, it knew not Ebbs or Flows, A Female Softness, with a manly Mind ON THE DEATH OF AMYNTAS. 'TWAS on a Joyless and a Gloomy Morn, When Damon, who design'd to pass the Day With Hounds and Horns, and chase the flying Prey, Rose early from his Bed; but soon he found The Welkin pitch'd with sullen Clouds An Eastern Wind, and Dew upon the THE MONUMENT OF A FAIR MAIDEN LADY. Text from the edition of 1700. The variants Thus while he stood, and sighing did survey He saw Menalcas come with heavy pace; 10 Face: He wrung his Hands, distracted with his Care, 28 as] that. 29 was] seem'd In 6 with gives a wrong sense, and in 18 below are from the monument in the Abbey thoughts is false grammar. In 29 seem'd may Church at Bath as reported by Christie. o off with 18 Thought thoughts be right: at any rate it gives better sense. ON THE DEATH OF AMYNTAS Text from the Miscellanies, 1704. The Promise of the Day not only crossed, But ev'n the Spring, the Spring it self is lost. Amyntas-Oh! he cou'd not speak the rest, Nor needed, for presaging Damon guess'd. Equal with Heav'n young Damon loved the Boy; 20 The boast of Nature, both his Parents Joy. Too well the Envy of the Gods he knew: For, sure, it was too bountiful a Dole, Then thus he cry'd, The Morn bespoke the News, 30 The Morning did her chearful Light diffuse, But see how suddenly she changed her Face, And brought on Clouds and Rains, the Day's disgrace: Just such, Amyntas, was thy promis'd Race. What Charms adorn'd thy Youth where And more than Man was giv'n us in a Child. snatch'd away, E're Mortals all his Beauties cou'd survey, Just like the Flow'r that buds and withers in a day. MENALCAS. 4I The Mother Lovely, tho' with Grief opprest, Reclin'd his dying Head upon her Breast. The mournful Family stood all around; One Groan was heard, one Universal Sound: All were in Floods of Tears and endless Sorrow drown'd. So dire a Sadness sate on ev'ry Look, DR. H |