By just degrees it to perfection grew,

An early ripeness, and a lasting too.

So the bright sun ascending to his noon
Moves not too slowly, nor is there too soon.
But tho' Achates was unkindly driv’n

25

From his own land, he's banish'd into heav'n; 30
For sure the raptures of Cosmelia's love
Are next, if only next, to those above.
Thus pow'r divine does with his foes engage,
Rewards his virtues, and defeats their rage;
For first it did to fair Cosmelia give

All that a human creature could receive;
Whate'er can raise our wonder or delight,
Transport the soul, or gratify the sight,
Then, in the full perfection of her charms,
Lodg'd the bright virgin in Achates' arms.
What angels are is in Cosmelia seen,
Their awful glories, and their godlike mien
For in her aspect all the graces meet,
All that is noble, beautiful, or sweet;
There ev'ry charm in lofty triumph sits,
Scorns poor defect, and to no fault submits;
There symmetry, complexion, air, unite,
Sublimely noble, and amazing bright.
So, newly finish'd, by the hand divine,
Before her fall, did the first woman shine :
But Eve in one great point she does excel;
Cosmelia never err'd at all; she fell:
From her temptation, in despair, withdrew,

Nor more assaults whom it could ne'er subdue.

35

40

45

50

55

56 ON THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF A➡, &C.
Virtue confirm'd, and regularly brought
To full maturity by serious thought,
Her actions with a watchful eye surveys,
Each passion guides, and every moment sways:
Not the least failure in her conduct lies,
So gaily modest, and so freely wise.

Her judgment sure, impartial, and refin'd,
With wit that's clear and penetrating join'd,
O'er all the efforts of her mind presides,
And to the noblest end her labours guides:
She knows the best, and does the best pursue,
And treads the maze of life without a clue;
That the weak only and the wav'ring lack,
When they're mistaken, to conduct 'em back:
She does, amidst ten thousand ways, prefer
The right, as if not capable to err.

Her fancy, strong, vivacious and sublime,
Seldom betrays her converse to a crime,
And tho' it moves with a luxuriant heat,
'Tis ne'er precipitous, but always great;
For each expression, ev'ry teeming thought,
Is to the scanning of her judgment brought,
Which wisely separates the finest gold,
And casts the image in a beauteous mould.
No trifling words debase her eloquence,
But all's pathetic, all is sterling sense,
Refin'd from drossy chat and idle noise,
With which the female conversation cloys :
So well she knows, what's understood by few,
To time her thoughts, and to express 'em too,

60

65

70

75

80

That what she speaks does to the soul transmit 85
The fair ideas of delightful wit.

Illustrious born, and as illustrious bred,
By great example to wise actions led,
Much to the fame her lineal heroes bore
She owes, but to her own high genius more;
And by a noble emulation mov'd,

Excell'd their virtues, and her own improv'd,
Till they arriv'd to that celestial height,
Scarce angels greater be, or saints so bright.
But if Cosmelia could yet lovelier be,

Of nobler birth, or more a deity,

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90

Achates merits her, tho' none but he,

Whose gen'rous soul abhors a base disguise,
Resolv'd in action, and in council wise;

Too well confirm'd and fortify'd within
For threats to force, or flattery to win;
Unmov'd amidst the hurricane he stood;
He dare be guiltless, and he will be good.
Since the first pair in Paradise were join'd,
Two hearts were ne'er so happily combin'd.
Achates life to fair Cosmelia gives;
In fair Cosmelia great Achates lives:
Each is to other the divinest bliss ;

He is her heav'n, and she is more than his.
Oh! may the kindest influence above

Protect their persons, and indulge their love!

An Inscription for the Monument of

DIANA

COUNTESS OF OXFORD AND ELGIN.

DIANA OXONII ET ELGINI COMITISSA,
Quæ

Illustri orta sanguine, sanguinem illustravit :
Ceciliorem meritis, clara, suis clarissima;
Ut quæ nesciret minor esse maximis.
Vitam ineuntem innocentia;

Procedentem ampla virtutum cohors:
Exeuntem mors beatissima decoravit ;
(Volente Numine)

Ut nuspiam deesset aut virtus aut felicitas.
Duobus conjuncta maritis,
Utrique charissima:
Primum

(Quem ad annum habuit)
Impensé dilexit :
Secundum

(Quem ad annos viginti quatuor)

Tanta pietate et amore coluit;
Ut qui, vivens,

Obsequium tanquam patri præstitit;

Moriens,

Patrimonium, tanquam filio, reliquit.

Noverca cum esset,

Maternam pietatem facile superavit.

10

15

20

Famulitii adeo mitem prudentemque curam gessit, Ut non tam Domina familiæ præesse, Quam anima corpori inesse videretur. Denique,

25

Cum pudico, humili, forti, sancto animo, Virginibus, conjugibus, viduis, omnibus, Exemplum consecrasset integerrimum, Terris anima major, ad similes evolavit superos. 30

THE FOREGOING INSCRIPTION

ATTEMPTED IN ENGLISH.

DIANA COUNTESS OF OXFORD AND ELGIN,

Who from a race of noble heroes came,
And added lustre to its ancient fame;
Round her the virtues of the Cecils shone,
But with inferior brightness to her own,
Which she refin'd to that sublime degree,
The greatest mortal could not greater be.
Each stage of life peculiar splendor had;
Her tender years with innocence were clad ;
Maturer grown, whate'er was brave and good
In the retinue of her virtues stood;
And at the final period of her breath,
She crown'd her life with a propitious death.
That no occasion might be wanting here
To make her virtues fam'd or joys sincere,
Two noble lords her genial bed possest,
A wife to both the dearest and the best :