20 Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store, Still turns her beauties from th' invading beam, 25 W WEEPING. HILE Celia's Tears make forrow bright, Proud grief fits fwelling in her eyes; The Sun, next thofe the faireft light, Thus from the Ocean firft did rife : These filver drops, like morning dew, The Baby in that funny Sphere 35 40 That Heav'n, the threaten'd World to spare, 45 Elfe might th' ambitious Nymph aspire, V. E. of ROCHESTER. On SILENCE. I. ILENCE! coeval with Eternity; SILEN Thou wert, ere Nature's felf began to be, 'Twas one vaft Nothing,all,and all slept fast in thec. 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 bufyHuman-kind. 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, 14 And seeks a furer state, and courts thy gentle reign. VI. Afflicted Senfe thou kindly dost set free, And routed Reason finds a fafe 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 Wise! VIII. Yet thy indulgence is by both confeft; And 'tis in thee at last that Wisdom feeks for reft. IX. Silence the knave's repute, the whore's good name, The only honour of the wishing dame ; 25 Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame. X. But could'st thou feize fome tongues that now are free, How Church and State should be oblig'd to thee? AtSenate,and atBar,how welcome would'st thou be? XI. Yet speech ev'n there, fubmiffively withdraws, From rights of fubjects,and the poor man's cause: Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy Laws. XII. Paft 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 exprefs'd; and fhine in thee alone. XIV. The parfon's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, Lord's quibble, critic's jeft; all end in thee, All reft in peace at last, and sleep eternally. |