F all my experience how vaft the amount, Since fifteen long winters I fairly can count! Was ever a damfel fo fadly betray'd, To live to these years and yet ftill be a maid ? II. Ye heroes triumphant, by land and by sea, Sworn vott'ries to love, but undmindful of me; III. Ye lawyers fo juft, who with flippery tongue, Can do what you pleafe, or with right, or with wrong, Can it be, or by law or by equity said, That a buxom young girl ought to die an old maid ? IV. Ye learned phyficians, whofe excellent skill ง. Ye fops, I invoke, not to lift to my song, Who answer no end you and to no fex belong; and fhadows of shade I might ftill be a maid. The FAIR RECLUSE. BALLAD VIIL I. E ancient patriarchs of the wood, YE ancient That veil around these awful glooms, Who many a century have stood In verdant age, that ever blooms. II. Ye Gothic tow'rs, by vapours dense, In paftoral magnificence At once fo fimple and fo great. HI. Why all your jealous fhades on me, Fair Innocence fhou'd ftill be free, Nought shou'd be chain'd, but what we dread. 4 Say, IV. Say, must these tears for ever flow? While folitude ftill nurfes woe, And leaves me leifure to lament. V. My guardian see !---who wards off peace, Who bids the tongue of transport cease, VI. Freedom of air alone is giv❜n, To aggravate, not footh my grief, To view th' immensely-diftant heav'n, My nearest prospect of relief.. Το To Mifs **** one of the Chichester Graces. Y Written in Goodwood Gardens, September 1750. BALLAD IX. I. E hills that overlook the plains, "Where wealth and Gothic greatness reigns, "Where Nature's hand by Art is check'd, « And Taste herself is architect; "Ye fallows grey, ye forefts brown, II. I faid---when dearest of her kind (Her form the picture of her mind) Her lips! her beauteous breasts! her eyes! III. But then---her voice l---how fram'd t' endear! Wit that so pierc'd, without offence, So brac'd by the ftrong nerves of sense ! IV. Ah me! thou fweet, delicious maid, One kills with grief, and one with joy. |