Dh, strange caprice in thy dear breast,
Whence first this whim began;

To follow thus each worthless beast,
And shun their sovereign, man!

Consider, fair, what 'tis you do,
How thus they both must die;
Not surer they, when you pursue,
Than we whene'er you fly.

GEORGE, LORD LYTTLETON.

Born 1708-9, died 1773.

TO LUCY.

When I think on your truth, I doubt you no more,
I blame all the fears I gave way to before:

I say to my heart, "be at rest, and believe

That whom once she has chosen she never will leave."

But, ah! when I think of each ravishing grace
That plays in the smiles of that heavenly face,
My heart beats again; I again apprehend
Some fortunate rival in every friend.

These painful suspicions you cannot remove;
Since you neither can lessen your charms, nor my love:
But doubts caus'd by passion you never can blame;
For they are not ill-founded, or you feel the same.

136

JOHN ARMSTRONG.

PRAYER TO VENUS, IN HER TEMPLE AT STOWE. Fair Venus, whose delightful shrine surveys

Its front reflected in the silver lake,

1 These humble offerings, which thy servant pays, Fresh flowers and myrtle-wreaths propitious take!

If less my love exceeds all other love,

Than Lucy's charms all other charms excel, Far from my breast each soothing hope remove And there let sad despair for ever dwell.

But if my soul is fill'd with her alone,

No other wish or other object knows;
Oh! make her, Goddess, make her all my own,
And give my trembling heart secure repose.

No watchful spies I ask, to guard her charms;
No walls of brass, no steel-defended door:
Place her but once within my circling arms,
Love's surest fort, and I will doubt no more!

JOHN ARMSTRONG.

Born 1709, died 1779.

LOVE RESISTLESS.

Almighty Love! oh inexhausted source
Of universal joy! first principle

Of all creating nature! harmony

By which her mighty movements all are rul'd!

ЗАМЕЯ НАMMOND.

137

Soft tyrant of each element; whose sway
Resistless through the wilds of air is felt.
Through earth, and the deep empire of the main!
Thy willing slaves, we own thy gentle power,
In us supreme, with kind endearments rais'd,
Above the merely sensual touch of brutes.
By thy soft charm the savage breast is tam'd,
The genius rais'd. Thy heavenly warmth inspires
Whate'er is noble, generous, or humane,
Or elegant; whate'er adorns the mind,
Graces and sweetens life: and without thee
Nothing or gay or amiable appears.

JAMES HAMMOND

Born 1711, died 1742.

Ah! what avails thy lover's pious care?
His lavish incense clouds the sky in vain ;
Nor wealth nor greatness was his idle pray'r,
For thee alone he pray'd, thee hoped to gain.

With thee I hoped to waste the pleasing day,
Till in thy arms an age of joy was past:
Then, old with love, insensibly decay,
And on thy bosom gently breathe my last.

138

JAMES HAMMOND.

I only ask, of her I love possest, -To sink o'ercome with bliss, in safe repose; To strain her yielding beauties to my breast, And kiss her wearied eyelids till they close.

No second love shall e'er my heart surprise,
This solemn league did first our passion bind!
Thou, only thou, can'st please thy lover's cyes,
Thy voice alone can sooth his troubled mind.

Oh, that thy charms were only fair to me!
Displease all others, and secure my rest:
No need of envy, let me happy be,

I little care that others know me blest.

With thee in gloomy deserts let me dwell,
Where never human footstep mark'd the ground;
Thou, light of life! all darkness can'st expel;
And seem a world, with solitude around.

C