EARL OF ROCHESTER. ON SILENCE. SILENCE! coeval with eternity; Thou wert ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vast nothing all, and all slept fast in Thine was the sway ere heaven was form'd, or e Ere fruitful thought conceiv'd creation's birth Or midwife word gave aid, and spoke the inf forth. Then various elements against thee join'd, The tongue mov'd gently first, and speech was But rebel wit deserts thee oft in vain ; reign. Afflicted sense thou kindly dost set free, And routed reason finds a safe retreat in thee. With thee in private modest dulness lies, Yet thy indulgence is by both confest; Folly by thee lies sleeping in the breast, And 'tis in thee at last that wisdom seeks for rest. Silence the knave's repute, the whore's good name, The only honour of the wishing dame; The very want of tongue makes thee a kind of fame. But couldst thou seize some tongues that now are free, How church and state should be oblig❜d to thee! At senate and at bar how welcome wouldst thou be! Yet speech, e'en there, submissively withdraws From rights of subjects, and the poor man's cause: Then pompous silence reigns, and stills the noisy laws. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, The country wit, religion of the town, The parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, EARL OF DORSET. ARTEMISIA. THOUGH Artemisia1 talks by fits Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke: Haughty and huge as High Dutch bride On her large squab you find her spread, That lies and stinks in state. She wears no colours (sign of grace) All white and black beside: And masculine her stride. So have I seen, in black and white, 1 Intended, it is said, for Queen Caroline. Majestically stalk; A stately worthless animal, That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, All flutter, pride, and talk. PHRINE. PHRYNE had talents for mankind; Her learning and good breeding such, 'Twas Si Signior, 'twas Yaw Mynheer, "Twas S'il vous plaist, Monsieur. Obscure by birth, renown'd by crimes, Still changing names, religions, climes, At length she turns a bride: In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, She shines the first of batter'd jades, And flutters in her pride. So have I known those insects fair Still gain new titles with new forms; DR. SWIFT, THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON. PARSON, these things in thy possessing Are better than the bishop's blessing: A wife that makes conserves; a steed That carries double when there's need; October store, and best Virginia, Tythe pig, and mortuary guinea; Gazettes sent gratis down and frank'd, For which thy patron's weekly thank'd; A large Concordance, bound long since; Sermons to Charles the First, when prince; A Chronicle of ancient standing; A Chrysostom to smooth thy band in: The Polyglott-three parts-my text: Howbeit-likewise-now to my next: Lo here the Septuagint-and Paul, To sum the whole-the close of all. |