TO THE EDITOR OF THE MATCHLESS ORINDA.1 ONG since great witts have left the stage Unto the drollers of the age, And noble numbers with good sense Are like good works, grown an offence. While much of verse-worse than old story— Speaks but Jack-Pudding, or John-Dory. Such trash-admirers made us poor, For the nice spirit of rich verse Which scorns absurd and low commerce, Although a flame from heav'n, if shed Is seldom good, but when opprest: Doth thrive best in adversity; For since the thunder left our air Their laurels look not half so fair. However 'tis, 'twere worse than rude, Not to profess our gratitude And debts to thee, who at so low An ebbe do'st make us thus to flow: And when we did a famine fear, 1 Mrs. Philips, as before. G. 2 = mag-pies. G. Hast blest us with a fruitfull year. So while the world his absence mourns, The glorious sun at last returns, And with his kind and vital looks Warms the cold Earth and frozen brooks: Puts drowsie Nature into play And rids impediments away, Till flow'rs and fruits and spices through Her pregnant lap get up and grow. But if among those sweet things, we A miracle like that could see Which Nature brought but once to pass : A Muse, such as Orinda was, Phoebus himself won by these charms UPON SUDDEN NEWS OF THE MUCH LAMENTED DEATH OF JUDGE TREVERS.1 EARNING and Law, your day is done, And your work too; you may be gone! TREVER, that lov'd you, hence is fled : And Right, which long lay sick, is dead. TREVER! whose rare and envied part Was both a wise and winning heart, Whose sweet civilitys could move Tartars and Goths to noblest love. Bold Vice and Blindness now dare act, And-like the gray groat-pass, though crack't; While those sage lips lye dumbe and cold, Whose words are well-weigh'd and tried gold. This was probably Sir Thomas Trevor, youngest son of John Trevor, Esq., of Trevallyn, co. Denbigh, by Mary daughter of Sir George Bruges of London. He was born 6th July, 1586. He was made one of the Barons of the Exchequer 12th May, 1625 and was one of the six judges who refused to accept the new commission offered them by the ruling powers under the Commonwealth. He died 21st December, 1656 and is buried at Lemington-Hastang in Warwickshire. There was also Sir John Trevor, Knt. appointed Secretary of State by Charles II. 29th September 1668: Born 1626: died 1672. Probably the former is the subject of the poem supra. G. O how much to discreet desires TO ETESIA (FOR TIMANDER) THE FIRST SIGHT. HAT smiling star in that fair Night, Which gave you birth gave me this sight, And with a kind aspect tho' keen Made me the subject: you the queen? That sparkling planet is got now Love's fire no more than doth cool snow, Before I walk'd free as the wind, Cf. A glow-worms here do glitter in the dark" in lines to "the pious memorie of C. W." ante. G. And not be blinded by a face; For what I saw till I saw thee, Was only not deformity. Such shapes appear-compar'd with thine, In arras, or a tavern-sign, And do but mind me to explore A fairer piece, that is in store. So some hang ivy to their wine, To signifie there is a vine. Those princely flow rs-by no storms vex'd-Which smile one day, and droop the next : The gallant tulip and the rose, Emblems which some use to disclose Bodyed idea's: their weak grace Is meer imposture to thy face. For Nature in all things, but thee, Did practise only sophistry; Or else she made them to express How she could vary in her dress : But thou wert form'd, that we might see Have you observ'd how the day-star Then to the gazer doth convey A silent but a piercing ray? So wounds my love, but that her eys Are in effects, the better skys. |