He' enjoys thy calmy sun-shine now, And no breath stirring hears; In the clear heaven of thy brow No smallest cloud appears. He sees thee gentle, fair, and gay, And trusts the faithless April of thy May. Unhappy, thrice unhappy, he, T'whom thou untry'd dost shine! In witness of the shipwreck past, IN IMITATION OF MARTIAL'S EPIGRAM, "Si tecum mihi, chare Martialis," &c. L. 5. Ep. 21. IF, dearest friend, it my good fate might be We should not the lords' tables humbly use, Free, but not savage or ungracious mirth, Such, dearest friend! such, without doubt, should be THE CHRONICLE. A BALLAD. MARGARITA first possest, 'If I remember well, my breast, Margarita first of all; But when awhile the wanton maid With my restless heart had play'd, Martha soon did it resign To the beauteous Catharine. 'Beauteous Catharine gave place (Though loth and angry she to part With the possession of my heart) To Eliza's conquering face. Eliza till this hour might reign, Had she not evil counsels ta'en. And still new favourites she chose, Mary then, and gentle Anne, Both to reign at once began; And sometimes Mary was the fair, And sometimes Anne the crown did wear, And sometimes both I' obey'd. Another Mary then arose, And did rigorous laws impose; Long, alas! should I have been Had not Rebecca set me free. When fair Rebecca set me free, 'T was then a golden time with me; But soon those pleasures fled; For the gracious princess dy'd, In her youth and beauty's pride, And Judith reigned in her stead. One month, three days, and half an hour, Judith held the sovereign power: Wondrous beautiful her face! But so weak and small her wit, That she to govern was unfit, And so Susanna took her place. But when Isabella came, Arm'd with a resistless flame, Whilst she proudly march'd about, Greater conquests to find out, She beat out Susan by the bye. But in her place I then obey'd Black-ey'd Bess, her viceroy-maid; Thousand worse passions than possest Bless me from such an anarchy ! Gentle Henrietta then, And a third Mary, next began; Then Joan, and Jane, and Audria; And then a pretty Thomasine, And then another Katharine, And then a long et cætera. But should I now to you relate, The strength and riches of their state; The ribbons, jewels, and the rings, If I should tell the politic arts To take and keep men's hearts; The letters, embassies, and spies, The frowns, and smiles, and flatteries, The quarrels, tears, and perjuries (Numberless, nameless, mysteries!) And all the little lime-twigs laid, By Machiavel the waiting-maid; But I will briefer with them be, Since few of them were long with me. An higher and a nobler strain My present Emperess does claim, Heleonora, first o' th' name; Whom God grant long to reign↓ |