That what she speaks does to the soul transmit 85 The fair ideas of delightful wit.
Illustrious born, and as illustrious bred,
By great example to wise actions led,
Much to the fame her lineal heroes bore
She owes, but to her own high genius more;
And by a noble emulation mov’d,
Excell'd their virtues, and her own improv'd,
Till they arriv'd to that celestial height,
Scarce angels greater be, or saints so bright.
But if Cosmelia could yet lovelier be,
Of nobler birth, or more a deity,
Achates merits her, tho' none but he,
Whose gen'rous soul abhors a base disguise,
Resolv'd in action, and in council wise;
Too well confirm'd and fortify'd within
For threats to force, or flattery to win;
Unmov'd amidst the hurricane he stood;
He dare be guiltless, and he will be good.
Since the first pair in Paradise were join'd,
Two hearts were ne'er so happily combin'd.
Achates life to fair Cosmelia gives;
In fair Cosmelia great Achates lives:
Each is to other the divinest bliss ;
He is her heav'n, and she is more than his.
Oh! may the kindest influence above
Protect their persons, and indulge their love!
An Inscription for the Monument of
COUNTESS OF OXFORD AND ELGIN.
DIANA OXONII ET ELGINI COMITISSA,
Illustri orta sanguine, sanguinem illustravit :
Ceciliorem meritis, clara, suis clarissima ;
Ut quæ nesciret minor esse maximis.
Vitam ineuntem innocentia;
Procedentem ampla virtutum cohors:
Exeuntem mors beatissima decoravit ;
(Volente Numine)
Ut nuspiam deesset aut virtus aut felicitas.
Duobus conjuncta maritis,
Utrique charissima :
Primum
(Quem ad annum habuit)
Impense dilexit :
Secundum
(Quem ad annos viginti quatuor)
Tanta pietate et amore coluit;
Ut qui, vivens,
Obsequium tanquam patri præstitit;
Moriens,
Patrimonium, tanquam filio, reliquit.
Noverca cum esset,
Maternam pietatem facile superavit.
Famulitii adeo mitem prudentemque curam gessit, Ut non tam Domina familiæ præesse, Quam anima corpori inesse videretur. Denique,
Cum pudico, humili, forti, sancto animo, Virginibus, conjugibus, viduis, omnibus, Exemplum consecrasset integerrimum, Terris anima major, ad similes evolavit superos. 30
THE FOREGOING INSCRIPTION
DIANA COUNTESS OF OXFORD AND ELGIN,
Who from a race of noble heroes came,
And added lustre to its ancient fame;
Round her the virtues of the Cecils shone,
But with inferior brightness to her own,
Which she refin'd to that sublime degree,
The greatest mortal could not greater be.
Each stage of life peculiar splendor had;
Her tender years with innocence were clad ;
Maturer grown, whate'er was brave and good
In the retinue of her virtues stood;
And at the final period of her breath,
She crown'd her life with a propitious death.
That no occasion might be wanting here
To make her virtues fam'd or joys sincere,
Two noble lords her genial bed possest,
A wife to both the dearest and the best :
Oxford submitted in one year to Fate,
For whom her passion was exceeding great ;
To Elgin full six lustra were assign'd,
And him she lov'd with so intense a mind,
That, living, like a father she obey'd;
Dying, as to a son, left all she had.
When a stepmother, she soon soar'd above
The common height ev'n of maternal love.
She did her num'rous family command
With such a tender care, so wise a hand,
She seem'd no otherwise a mistress there,
Than godlike souls in human bodies are:
But when to all she had example shew'd,
How to be great and humble, chaste and good, 30
Her soul, for earth too excellent, too high,'
Flew to its peers, the princes of the sky.
PARAPHRASED OUT OF JOSEPHUS.
ALAS! Jerusalem! alas! where's now
Thy pristine glory, thy unmatch'd renown,
To which the heathen monarchies did bow?
Ah! hapless, miserable town!
Where's all thy majesty, thy beauty, gone?
Thou once most noble, celebrated place,
The joy and the delight of all the earth,
Who gav'st to godlike princes birth,
And bred up heroes, an immortal race,
Where's now the vast magnificence which made 10
The souls of foreigners adore
Thy wond'rous brightness, which no more
Shall shine, but lie in an eternal shade?
Oh! misery! where's all her mighty state,
Her splendid train of num'rous kings,
Her noble edifices, noble things,
Which made her seem so eminently great,
That barb'rous princes in her gates appear'd,
And wealthy presents, as their tribute, brought
To court her friendship? for her strength they fear'd,
And all her wide protection sought.
But now, ah! now they laugh and cry,
"See how her lofty buildings lie!
"See how her flaming turrets gild the sky!"
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