Phillis, this pious talk give o'er, And modesty pretend no more, It is too plain an art: Surely you take me for a fool, And would by this prove me so dull As not to know your heart. ...
Still, Dorinda, I adore; Think I mean not to deceive you, For I loved you much before, And, alas! now love you more Though I force myself to leave you.
Alexis shun'd his Fellow Swains, Their rural Sports, and jocund Strains: (Heav'n guard us all from Cupid's Bow!) He lost his Crook, He left his Flocks; And wand'ring thro' the lonely Rocks,...
Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing, Must we no longer live together? And dost thou prune thy trembling wing, To take thy flight thou know'st not whither? Thy humorous vein, thy pleasing folly,...
When hungry wolves had trespass'd on the fold, And the robb'd shepherd his sad story told, "Call in Alcides," said a crafty priest, "Give him one half and he'll secure the rest."...
Celia and I the other Day Walk'd o'er the Sand-Hills to the Sea: The setting Sun adorn'd the Coast, His Beams entire, his Fierceness lost: And, on the Surface of the Deep, The Winds lay only not asleep:...
Her time with equal prudence Silvia shares, First writes her billet-doux, then says her prayers, Her mass and toilette, vespers, and the play; Thus God and Ashtaroth divide the day:...
The circling months begin this day To run their yearly ring, And long-breathed time, which ne'er will stay, Refits his wings and shoots away, It round again to bring. Who feels the force of female eyes...
Hah! how the laurel, great Apollo's tree, And all the cavern shakes! Far off, far off, The man that is unhallow'd: for the god, The god approaches. Hark! he knocks; the gates...
While with labour assiduous due pleasure I mix, And in one day atone for the business of six, In a little Dutch chaise, on a Saturday night, On my left hand my Horace, a W* on my right...
Behind an unfrequented glade, Where yew and myrtle mix their shade, A widow Turtle pensive sat, And wept her murder'd lover's fate. The Sparrow chanced that way to walk,...
Lie Philo untouch'd, on my peaceable shelf, Nor take it amiss that so little I heed thee; I've no envy to thee, and some love to myself: Then why should I answer since first I must read thee?...
Forgive the muse who, in unhallow'd strains, The saint one moment from his God detains; For sure whate'er you do, where'er you are, 'Tis all but one good work, one constant prayer....
When future ages shall with wonder view These glorious lines which Harley's daughter drew, They shall confess that Britain could not raise A fairer column to the father's praise.
Wiessen and nature held a long contest If she created or he painted best; With pleasing thought the wondrous combat grew, She still form'd fairer, he still liker drew....
Madam, Since Anna visited the muse's seat, (Around her tomb let weeping angels wait) Hail, thou, the brightest of thy sex, and best, Most gracious neighbour and most welcome guest:...