TO A YOUNG LADY, WITH THE FIRST EDITION OF THESE Mifcellanies. A CCEPT this Gift, Lucinda,and approve The humble Tribute of an early Love. Verse is the fittest Offering we can give To Beauty, or that Beauty can receive For Love and Poefy Companions are, And Wit was given to oblige the Fair. Since 'tis her Charms alone that can-inspire, And fill the Poets breast with Heavenly fire; To Offer at another Shrine, wou'd be Here the Compofer has employ'd his care, The fcatter'd Beams of Poetry and Wit. From Verse whilft tender Mulgrave feeks relief, Nor Nor Thoughts, which naufeous Images infpire, And damp the glowing heat of foft defirë : But calm and eafy the fweet Numbers move, And ev'ry Verse is influenc'd by Love. Here, bright Lucinda, you'll with pleafu e fee Perform'd, what Nature has outdone in Thee. Nature (whom We aruel Mother find, But too indulgent to the Female Kind, ) Has with nice Art and a peculiar Gare Chose the Perfections of each charming Fair; Aurelia's Judgment, and Corinna's Wit, And Chloe's Beauty in Lucinda meet; In thee their beams with pow'rful influence join, Nature's chief Mafter-piece is Writing well; But But Heav'n forbid we should be fo profane, Which tho sometimes behind a Cloud retir'd, Number, and Rhime, and that harmonious Which never does the Ear with Harshness wound, Are neceffary, yet but vulgar Arts, Contribute to the Structure of the whole |