THE CHARACTER

OF THE

LADY HENRIETTA CAVENDISH HOLLES

1712-13.

SUCH early wisdom, such a lovely face,
Such modest greatness, such attractive grace!
Wit, beauty, goodness, charity, and truth,
The riper sense of age, the bloom of youth!
Whence is it, that in one fair piece we find
These various beauties of the female kind?
Sure but in one such diff'rent charms agree,
And Henrietta is that phoenix-she.

TRUTH, HONOUR, HONESTY.

THE MOTTO CHOSEN BY THE RIGHT HON.

THE LADY HEN. CAVENDISH HOLLES,

In thee, bright Maid! tho' all the virtues shine
With rival beams, and ev'ry grace is thine,
Yet three, distinguish'd by thy early voice,
Excite our praise, and well deserve thy choice.

* This lady, also celebrated by Mr. Prior in a beautiful ode called Collin's Mistake, was afterwards married to Edward Earl of Oxford, and was mother of the present Duchess Dowager of Portland.

Immortal Truth in heav'n itself displays

Her charms celestial born, and purest rays,

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Which thence in streams, like golden sunshine, flow, And shed their light on minds like your's below.

Fair Honour, next in beauty and in grace,
Shines in her turn, and claims the second place:
She fills the well-born soul with noble fires,
And gen'rous thoughts and godlike acts inspires.

Then Honesty, with native air, succeeds;
Plain is her look, unartful are her deeds;

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And, just alike to friends and foes, she draws

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The bounds of right and wrong, nor errs from equal

[laws.

From heav'n this scale of virtues thus descends
By just degrees, and thy full choice defends.
So when, in visionary trains, by night
Attending angels bless'd good Jacob's sight,
The mystic ladder thus appear'd to rise,
Its foot on earth, its summit in the skies,

THE HUE AND CRY.
OYES!---Hear, all ye beaus and wits,
Musicians, poets, 'squires, and cits;
All who in town or country dwell!
Say, can you tale or tidings tell
Of Tortorella's hasty flight?

Why in new groves she takes delight,

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And if in concert, or alone, ..

The cooing murm'rer makes her moan?
Now learn the marks by which you may
Trace out and stop the lovely stray.

Some wit, more folly, and no care,
Thoughtless her conduct, free her air;
Gay, scornful, sober, indiscreet,
In whom all contradictions meet;
Civil, affronting, peevish, easy,

Form'd both to charm you and displease you;
Much want of judgment, none of pride;
Modish her dress, her hoop full wide;
Brown skin, her eyes of sable hue;

Angel when pleas'd, when vex'd a shrew.

Genteel her motion when she walks; Sweetly she sings, and loudly talks; Knows all the world, and its affairs;

Who goes to court, to plays, to pray'rs ;
Who keeps, who marries, fails, or thrives,'
Leads honest or dishonest lives;

What money match'd each youth or maid,
And who was at each masquerade;

Of all fine things in this fine Town
She's only to herself unknown.

By this description, if you meet her,

With lowly bows and homage greet her;
And if you bring the vagrant beauty

Back to her mother and her duty,

Ask for reward a lover's bliss,
And (if she'll let you) take a kiss;
Or more, if more you wish and may,
Try if at church the words she'll say,
Then make her, if you can---" obey."

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