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Juft, as our tea, we fip each tender ftrain,
Too weak to warm the heart, or reach the brain.
If harmless, why are we debarr'd our rights?
Damfels diftrefs'd have ever found their knights.
Shall we, the Dulcineas of the stage,

In vain ask fuccour in this fighting age?
Will you, choice fpirits, who direct the town,
Suffer fuch impofitions to go down?
Can it be thought this law will ever pass,
While doors are only wood, and windows glass ?
Befides, our play-houfe guards are paffive men:
Strike without fear; they muft not ftrike again.
Ev'n Fribble here, to draw his sword may venture,
May curfe the Creters, beat his man, and enter-
The jealous Moor not roars in louder trains,
Than all our nymphs for lofs of abfent fwains-
"We had been happy, tho' the house had fail'd,
"Mafters and all, had not this fcheme prevail'd.
"For ever now farewel the plumed beaux,
"Who make ambition to confift in cloaths.
"Farewel coquetry, and all green-room joys,
"Ear-thrilling whispers, Deard's deluding toys,
"Soul-melting flatt'ry, which ev'n prudes can move,
"Sighs-tears-and all the circumftance of love,
"Farewel!

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"But oh! ye dreadful critics, whofe rude throats "Can make both play'rs and mafters change their

notes,

ris in your pow'r-you any lengths will run, "Help us; or elfe-our occupation's gone."

VER SE S

AT THE REQUEST OF A GENTLEMAN TO WHOM

A LADY HAD GIVEN A SPRIG OF MYRTLE

BY THE SAME.

WHAT hopes, what terrors does thy gift create,
Ambiguous emblem of uncertain Fate!
The myrtle (enfign of fupreme command,
Confign'd by Venus to Meliffa's hand)
Not lefs capricious than a reigning fair,
Oft favours, oft rejects a lover's pray'r i
In myrtle fhades oft fings the happy fwain,
In myrtle shades defpairing ghosts complain;
The myrtle crowns the happy lovers heads,
Th' unhappy lovers graves the myrtle spreads;
Oh! then the meaning of thy gift impart,
And ease the throbbings of an anxious heart;
Soon must this bough, as you fhall fix his doom,
Adorn Philander's head, or grace his tomb.

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ON

VERSE S

THE APPROACH OF WINTER,

BY THE SAME.

AUTUMNAL leaves apace do fade,
And Winter fhows its hoary head,
With clouds and winds auftere:
Th' enamell'd flow'r in earth is laid,
And lies conceal'd in Nature's bed,
'Till Sol revolves the year.

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The feather'd throng prepare for flight,
The woods no fhelter yield at night;
Unrob'd their bow'rs appear:

The fportfman views, with true delight,
The new-reap'd fields expofe to fight
The haunts of tim'rous hare.

To town, my Lord, with eager hafte
Repairs, and makes his dwelling place
At Arthur's or at White's:

Nor time her Ladyfhip doth waste,
But feeks the route fhe oft hath grac❜d,

And fhone at whift whole nights.

The

The streets fhall now with flambeaux blaze;
The gay refort to balls and plays,
And Winter's joys poffefs;
While fons of mirth in roundelays,
At feftive board their voices raife,
And Bacchus' pow'r confefs.

The foldier now, from direful War,
Retires with honourable fear,

With Calia to engage :

While the, more bright than morning star,
Poffefs'd with ev'ry grace and air,
Unequal War doth wage.

The Pluralist, with fimp'ring cheek,
And ftall-fed skin so smooth and fleek,
His tything circuit ends :

Tho' tythes he once a year doth seek,
His Curate preaches once a week,
But oft with poor amends:

The Rector touches all the pelf,
And Curate ftarves t'enrich himself,

God's word is Mammon made:

While he, a lazy pamper'd elf,
Scarce pulls a book from off the shelf:

His function is a trade,

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The Doctor, juft at death arriv'd,
Fearing of fee to be depriv'd,

Ere ended is the farce;

To finish recipe he striv'd,

That done, or live or die he's brib'd,
Affur'd it is his last.

ELEGY

ON THE DEATH OF DR. ROBERT LEVET.

BY THE SAME.

CONDEMN'D to Hope's delufive mine,
As on we toil from day to day,

By fudden blafts, or flow decline,
Our focial comforts drop away.

Well tried thro' many a varying year,
See Levet to the grave defcend ;
Officious, innocent, fincere,

Of ev'ry friendless name the friend.

Yet ftill he fills Affection's eye,
Obfcurely wife, and coarfely kind;
Nor, letter'd Arrogance, deny
Thy praife to merit unrefin'd.

When

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