20 Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store, WEEPING. WHILE Celia's Tears make forrow bright, Proud grief fits fwelling in her eyes; The Sun, next those the faireft light, These silver drops, like morning dew, The Baby in that sunny Sphere So like a Phaëton appears, 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; SIL Thou wert, ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vast 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, In one more various animal combin'd, And fram'd the clam'rous race of busyHuman-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 surer state, and courts thy gentle reign. VI. Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free, And routed Reason finds a fafe retreat in thee. VII. With thee in private modest Dulness lies, Thou varnisher of Fools, and cheat of all the Wife! VIII. Yet thy indulgence is by both confeft; 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 ; 25 Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame. Χ. But could'st thou seize some tongues that now are free, How Church and State should be oblig'd to thee? AtSenate, and at Bar, how welcome would'st thou be? XI. Yet speech ev'n there, submissively withdraws, From rights of fubjects, and the poor man's cause: Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy 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 parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, All rest in peace at last, and fleep eternally. |