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goffipping, fcandal, and chit-chat, into marks of cuckows, parrots and magpies. When I go to the Opera, and obferve the plumes and the performers, the Gabrielli-cum femiviro comitatu-appears like a nightinga furrounded by capons. But when I turn to the boxes, I cannot but agree, that if there is one woman who is acknowledged to be a good wife, a good mother, and a good friend, fuch a woman ought to be confidered as the Bird of Paradise.

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BY MRS. GREVILLE.

OFT I've implor'd the Gods in vain,

And pray'd till I've been weary ; For once I'll ftrive my wish to gain, Of Oberon, the Fairy.

Sweet airy being, wanton fprite,
Who liv't in woods unfeen,

And oft by Cynthia's filver light

Trips gaily o'er the green;

If e'er thy pitying heart was mov'd,
(As ancient ftories tell)

And for th' Athenian maid, who lov'd,
Thou fought'st a wond'rous spell.

Oh! deign once more t' exert thy pow'r
Haply fome herb or tree,
Sov'reign as juice from western flow'r,
Conceals a balm for me.

I ask no kind return in love,

No tempting charm to please;
Far from that heart fuch gifts remove,
Which fighs for peace and ease.

Nor ease, nor peace, that heart can know,
That, like the needle true,
Turns at the touch of joy or woe,
But, turning, trembles too.

For as diftrefs the foul can wound, 'Tis plain in each degree,

Blifs goes but to a certain bound,

Beyond, 'tis agony.

Then take this treacherous fenfe of mine,

Which dooms me ftill to fmart :

Which Pleasure can to Pain refine,

To Pain new pangs impart !

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Oh! hafte to shade the fov'reign balin,
My fhatter'd nerves new string;
And for my gueft, ferenely calm,

The nymph, Indifference, bring.

At her approach, fee Hope, fee Fear,
See Expectation fly;

With Disappointment in the rear,
That blast the purpos'd joy.

The tears which Pity taught to flow,
My eyes fhall then difown;

The heart which throbb'd for other's woe,
Shall then scarce feel its own.

The wounds which now each moment bleed,
Each moment then fhall close;
And peaceful days fhall ftill fucceed

To nights of fweet repofe.

Oh, Fairy Elf! but grant me this,
This one kind comfort fend;

And fo may never-fading blifs
Thy flow'ry paths attend!

So may the glow-worm's glimmering light

Thy tiny footsteps lead,

To fome new region of delight,

Unknown to mortal tread!

And

And be the acorn-goblet fill'd
With Heav'n's ambrofial dew,
From fweeteft, freshest flow'rs diftill'd,
That fhed fresh sweets for you.

And what of life remains for me
I'll pass in fober ease;
Half-pleas'd, contented will I be,
Content but half to please.

TWO LOVE ELEGIES.

Arge'itanas mavis babitare Tabernas,

Cum tibi, parve liber, fcrinia noftra vacent.
Nefcis, heu! nefcis domina Faftidia Roma:
Crede mihi, nimium martia turba fapit.
Etherias, lafcive, cupis volitare per auras:
I, fuge; fed poteras tutior effe domi.

MARTIAL.

ELEGY I.

'TIS night, dead night; and o'er the plain

Darkness extends her ebon ray,

While wide along the gloomy scene

Deep Silence holds her folemn fway:

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Throughout the Earth no chearful beam
The melancholy eye furveys,

Save where the worm's fantastic gleam
The 'nighted traveller betrays.
The favage race (fo Heav'n decrees)
No longer thro' the forest rove;
All Nature refts, and not a breeze
Disturbs the ftillness of the grove :
All Nature refts; in Sleep's foft arms
The village fwain forgets his care:
Sleep, that the fting of Sorrow charms,
And heals all sadness but Despair :
Defpair, alone, her power denies;

And, when the Sun withdraws his rays,
To the wild beach diftracted flies,

Or, chearless, through the defart strays:
Or, to the church-yard's horrors led,
While fearful echoes burst around,
On fome cold ftone he leans his head,
Or throws his body on the ground.
To fome fuch drear and folemn fcene,
Some friendly power direct my way,
Where pale Misfortune's haggard train,
Sad luxury delights to ftray:
Wrapp'd in the folitary gloom,
Retir'd from Life's fantastic crew,
Refign'd, I'll wait my final doom,
And bid the bufy world adieu.

The

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