If then, ftern Wisdom at my gate Should knock with all her formal train, Tell her I'm bufy-she may wait, Or if the chooses-call again. * OLD AGE THE SEASON OF FRIEND. SHIP AND NOT OF LOVE. I AN IMITATION FROM VOLTAIRE. Se vous voulez que j'aime encore, &c. F in this bofom love you'd raife, Let Youth enjoy the fmiles of Fate, But-Fly ye, to return no more. Celestial Celeftial Gifts of genial power, To ceafe to Love and to be loved But charm'd-but ravifh'd lefs than Love. C *AN INVOCATION. ELESTIAL harmony defcend, Joy owes its fweeteft charm to thee. When When love the bofom fills, 'tis thine Love owes its sweetest charm to thee. Through life, enchanting power 'tis thine; Life owes its sweetest charm to thee. * ON FOUR BEAUTIFUL SISTERS. E Daughters of H YE each mortal may fee Such fymptoms of sweetness, of beauty fuch traces In every dear feature-that were you but three, Each mortal would whisper, " Behold the three Graces." But fince heavenly charmers, your number is four, A fourth heavenly name must be fix'd on between us; Each mortal, whofe eyes the fair group shall explore Muft whisper "Behold the three Graces and Venus." Yet whom to diftinguifh with Venus's name, Is a point that must puzzle a poor rhyming elf; For the handmaids of beauty to rank cannot claim With the sweet smiling goddess of beauty herself. 'Tis not in your charms the diftinction I'll feek, With equal attraction beholders they feast; So fparkling each eye, and so blooming each cheek, Each nymph is a Venus-in beauty at least. But Venus, by bards, young and old 'tis confeffed, Was gifted with kindness united to beauty; And still was her heart with this maxim impreft, "To wound is my Fate-but to heal is my Duty." Since then the contention of charms is in vain, The claim beauty cannot, let kindness discover; Let this be the praife that ye ftrive to obtain, Who foonest shall grant the fond suit of her lover. Thus who fhall be Venus will be a plain cafe, The point to decide with fuccefs I've been trying, Each nymph that is prudish, fhall be but a Grace, And the nymph fhall be Venus, that's kind and complying. * Upon my foul when I advised One of you four to copy Venus, Sweet By! faith I ne'er furmised, You'd form this mifconftruction heinous. Was Mifs B. H. married a gentleman engaged in the Iron works at S. ON THE DEATH OF MISS F. H'S LOVER. Was there alas! no other way, And treatment of her chosen too. In decking heads much time you've spent, * On the DEATH of Mifs F. H'S LOVER. TH HE youth of Peleus' verdant plain, Laments th' untimely ftroke of death. She weeps her friend and lover too. 231 It |