20 Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store, Still turns her beauties from th' invading beam, WEEPING. W HILE Celia's Tears make forrow bright, The Sun, next those the faireft light, Thus from the Ocean firft did rife: These filver drops, like morning dew, So from one Cloud foft fhow'rs we view, And blasting lightnings burst away. The Stars that fall from Celia's eye, Declare our Doom in drawing nigh. The Baby in that funny Sphere So like a Phaeton appears, 5 ΙΟ That Heav'n, the threaten'd World to fpare, 15 Else might th' ambitious Nymph aspire, V. E. of ROCHESTER, On SILENCE. I. ILENCE! coeval with Eternity; Thou wert, ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vaft Nothing, all, and all slept fast in thee. II. Thine was the sway, ere heav'n was form'd, or earth, Ere fruitful Thought conceiv'd creation's birth, Or midwife Word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth. III. Then various elements, against thee join'd, And fram'd the clam'rous race of busy Humankind. IV. The tongue mov'd gently first, and speech was low, "Till wrangling Science taught it noise and show, And wicked Wit arose, thy most abusive foe, V. But rebel Wit deferts thee oft' in vain ; Loft in the maze of words he turns again, And seeks a furer ftate, and courts thy gentle reign, VI. Afflicted Senfe thou kindly doft fet free, And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee. VII. With thee in private modest Dulness lies, And in thy bofom lurks in Thought's disguise; Thou varnisher of Fools, and cheat of all the Wife! VIII. Yet thy indulgence is by both confest; Folly by thee lies fleeping in the breast, And 'tis in thee at last that Wisdom seeks for rest IX. 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. X. But could'ft thou feize fome tongues that now are free, How Church and State should be oblig'd to thee? At Senate, and at Bar, how welcome would'st thou be? XI. Yet fpeech ev'n there, fubmiffively withdraws, From rights of subjects, and the poor man's caufe: Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noify Laws. XII. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, What Fav'rites gain, and what the Nation owes, Fly the forgetful world, and in thy arms repose. XIII. The country wit, religion of the town, The courtier's learning, policy o' th' gown, Are best by thee express'd; and shine in thee alone. XIV. The parfon's cant, the lawyer's fophiftry, Lord's quibble, critic's jeft; all end in thee, All reft in peace at laft, and fleep eternally. |