V. Gloomy Pluto, King of Terrors, VI. Mournful Cypress, verdant Willow, VII. Melancholy smooth Maander, On thy Margin Lovers wander, With thy flow'ry Chaplets crown'd. VIII. Thus when Philomela, drooping, Softly feeks her filent Mate, See the Bird of Juno stooping; Melody refigns to Fate. On a certain LADY at Court. I Know the thing that's most uncommon; (Envy be filent, and attend!) I know a reasonable Woman, Handsome and witty, yet a Friend. Not warp'd by Paffion, aw'd by Rumour, "Has fhe no faults then (Envy fays) Sir?" When all the World confpires to praise her, On his GROTTO at Twickenham, COMPOSED OF Marbles, Spars, Gemms, Ores, and THOU Minerals. HOU who fhalt ftop, where Thames' Shines a broad Mirror thro' the shadowy Cave; VARIATIONS. After Ver. 6. in the MS. You fee that Ifland's wealth, where, only free, 5 i. e. Britain is the only place on the globe which feels not Tyranny even to its very entrails. Alluding to the condemnation of Criminals to the Mines, one of the inflictions of civil justice in moft Countries. The thought was exceeding natural and proper in this place, where the Poet was describing a Grotto incrufted and adorned with all forts of Minerals collected by the means of commerce from the four quarters of the Globe. NOTES. On his Grotto.] The improving and finishing his Grott was the favourite amusement of his declining Years; and the beauty of his poetic genius, in the difpofition and ornaments of this romantic recefs, appears to as much advantage as in his beft contrived Poems. And eye Approach. Great NATURE ftudiously behold! Let fuch, fuch only, tread this facred Floor, VARIATIONS. poor. VER. 11. Where British fighs fram dying Wyndham stole,] In his MS. it was thus, To Wyndham's breaft the patriot paffions stole, which made the whole allude to a certain Anecdote of not much confequence to any but the parties concerned. NOTES. VER. 9. Egerian Grott,] Alluding to Numa's projecting his fyftem of Politics in this Grott, affifted, as he gave out, by the Goddess Ægeria. то Mrs. M. B. on her BIRTH-DAY. H be thou bleft with all that Heav'n can fend, OF Long Health, long Youth, long Pleasure, and a Friend: Not with those Toys the female world admire, Riches that vex, and Vanities that tire. With added if Life bring nothing new, years But like a Sieve let ev'ry bleffing thro', 5 ΙΟ Let Joy or Ease, let Affluence or Content, And the gay Confcience of a life well spent, Calm ev'ry thought, inspirit ev'ry grace, Glow in thy heart, and smile upon thy face. Let day improve on day, and year on year, 15 Without a Pain, a Trouble, or a Fear; |