The stream at once preserves her virgin leaves, At once a shelter from her boughs receives, Where summer's beauty midst of winter stays, And winter's coolness spite of summer's rays. · WEEPING. Proud grief sits swelling in her eyes; Thus from the ocean first did rise: Foretell the fervour of the day: And blasting lightnings burst away. So like a Phaëton appears, Thought fit to drown him in her tears; EARL OF ROCHESTER. ON SILENCE. Silence! coëval with eternity; Thou wert ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vast nothing all, and all slept fast in thee. Thine was the sway ere Heaven was form’d, or Earth, Ere fruitful Thought conceived Creation's birth, Or midwife Word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth. Then various elements against thee join'd, In one more various animal combined, And framed the clamorous race of busy humankind. The tongue moved gently first, and speech was low, Till wrangling Science taught it noise and show, And wicked Wit arose, thy most abusive foe. But rebel Wit deserts thee oft in vain : Lost in the maze of words he turns again, And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign. Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free, Oppress’d with argumental tyranny, And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee. With thee in private modest Dulness lies, And in thy bosom lurks in Thought's disguise ! Thou varnisher of fools, and cheat of all the wise! Yet thy indulgence is by both confess'd; Folly by thee lies sleeping in the breast, And 'tis in thee at last that Wisdom seeks for rest. Silence! the knave’s repute, the whore's good name, The only honour of the wishing dame; The very want of tongue makes thee a kind of fame. But couldst thou seize some tongues that now are free, How church and state should be obliged to thee! At senate and at bar how welcome wouldst thou be! Yet Speech, e'en there, submissively withdraws From rights of subjects, and the poor man's cause: Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy laws. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, What favourites gain, and what the nation owes, Fly the forgetful world, and in thy arms repose. The country wit, religion of the town, The courtier's learning, policy o' the gown, Are best by thee express’d, and shine in thee alone, The parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, Lord's quibble, critic's jest; all end in thee; All rest in peace at last, and sleep eternally, EARL OF DORSET. ARTEMISIA. Though Artemisia talks by fits Of councils, classics, fathers, wits; Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke: And wear a cleaner smock. Are oddly join'd by Fate: That lies and stinks in state. All white and black beside: Dauntless her look, her gesture proud, Her voice theatrically loud, And masculine her stride. Majestically stalk; All flutter, pride, and talk. PHRYNE. PHRYNE had talents for mankind; Open she was and unconfined, Like some free port of trade: Merchants unloaded here their freight, And agents from each foreign state Here first their entry made. Her learning and good breeding such, Whether the’ Italian or the Dutch, Spaniards or French, came to her; To all obliging she'd appear; 'Twas Si Signior, 'twas Yaw Mynheer, 'Twas S'il vous plait, Monsieur. Obscure by birth, renown’d by crimes, Still changing names, religions, climes, At length she turns a bride: In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, She shines the first of batter'd jades, And flutters in her pride. So have I known those insects fair (Which curiouş Germans hold so rąre) Still vary shapes and dyes ; Still gain new titles with new forms; First grubs obscene, then wriggling worms, Then painted butterflies. DR. SWIFT. A Chrysostom to smooth thy band in : He that has these may pass his life, |