SIR CHARLES SEDLEY, Son of Sir John Sedley, of Aylesford in Kent, bart. was born about 1639, entered at Wadham College, Oxford, 1656, where he spent only a short time, lived in retirement during Cromwell's usurpation, and coming to court after the Restoration, soon distinguished himself by superior wit and debauchery amongst the witty and profligate companions of Charles II. His conduct in Parliament shewed that he possessed in an equal degree the talents necessary for serious business. He was the author of six plays, and of a volume of poems, and died in 1701. See a more particular account in the Biographia Dramatica. SONG PHILLIS, let's shun the common fate, Without being call'd a faithless man. A smile of thine shall make my bliss, If from this height our kindness fall, SONG. NOT, Celia, that I juster am Or better than the rest; For I would change each hour, like them, Were not my heart at rest. But I am tied to very thee All that in woman is ador'd, For the whole sex can but afford Why then should I seek further store, When change itself can give no more, To Cloris. CLORIS, I cannot say your eyes To love a part injustice were. No drowning man can know which drop And join to make the night look clear, He that doth lips or hands adore And nothing less can ease my heart. Indifference excused. LOVE, when 'tis true, needs not the aid Of sighs, nor oaths, to make it known: And, to convince the cruell'st maid, Lovers should use their love alone. Into their very looks 'twill steal, And he that most would hide his flame Does in that case his pain reveal: This, my Aurelia, made me shun Not in their heart, but in their head. I could not sigh, and with cross'd arms But careless liv'd, and without art, Knowing my love you must have spied; And thinking it a foolish part To set to show what none can hide. To a devout young Gentlewoman. PHILLIS, this early zeal assuage! You overact your part: The martyrs at your tender age Gave heaven but half their heart. Old men till past the pleasure ne'er 'Tis early to begin to fear The devil at fifteen. The world to youth is too severe, And, like a treacherous light, Beauty the actions of the fair Exposes to their sight. |