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Her plaited hair difguis'd with brilliants glar'd;
Her cheeks the ruby's neighbouring luftre thar'd;
The gawdy topaz lent its gay fupplies,
And every gem that ftrikes lefs curious eyes;
Expos'd her breaft with foreign fweets per-
fum'd;

And, round her brow, a refeate garland bloom'd.
Soft fmiling, blufhing lips conceal'd her wiles;
Yet, ah! the blushes artful as the fmiles.
Oft-gazing on her fhade, th' enraptur'd fair
Decreed the fubftance well deferv'd her care:
Her thoughts, to others charms maligoly blind,
Center'd in that, and were to that confin d
And if on others eyes a glance were thrown,
'Twas but to watch the influence of her own.
Much like her guardian, fair Cythera's queen,
When for her warrior fhe refines her mien;
Or when, to blefs her Delian favourite's arms,
The radiant fair invigorates her charmis.
Much like her pupil, Egypt's fportive dame,
Her drefs expreffive, and her air the fame,
When her gay bark o'er filver Cydnos roll'd,
And all th' emblazon'd ftreamers wav'd in gold.
Such fhone the vision, nor forbore to move
The fond contagious airs of lawless love.
Each wanton eye deluding glances fir'd,
And amorous dimples on each check confpir'd.
Lifelefs her gait, and flow, with feeming pain,
She dragg'd her loitering limbs along the plan;
Yet made fome faint efforts, and firft approach'o

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eyes;

'Tis here the lovely vale of pleafure dies.
Debate no more, to me thy life refign;
Each fweet which nature can diffule is mine,
For me the nymph diverfifies her power,
Springs in a tree, or bloffoms in a flower;
To pleafe my ear, fhe tunes the linnet's rains;
To pleafe my eye, with lilies paints the plains;
To form my couch, in moffy beds fhe grows;
To gratify my fmell, perfumes the rofe;
Reveals the fair, the fertile feene you fee,
And fwells the vegetable world, for me.

Let the gull'd fool the toils of war purfue,
Where bleed the many to enrich the few:
Where chance from courage claims the boated
prize :

Where, though the give, your country oft de

пісь

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Induftrious thou fhalt Cupid's wars maintain,
And ever gently fight his foft campaign.
His darts alone fhalt wield, his wounds endure !
Yet only fuffer, to enjoy, the cure.
Yie'd but to the-a choir of nymphs fhall rife,
And fire thy breaft and blefs thy ravish'd eyes.
Their beauteous cheeks a fairer rofe fhall wear,
A brighter lily on their necks appear;
Where fondly thou thy favour'd head fhall reft,
Soft as the down that fwells the cygnet's neft!....
While Philomel in cach foft voice complains,
And gently lulls thee with mellifluous trains :
Whilft, with each accent, fweetest odours flow;
And fpicy gums round every bofom glow.
Not the fam'd bird Arabian climes admire,
Shall in fuch luxury of fweets expize.
At floth let war's victorious fons exclaim;
In vain! for pleafure is my real name;
Nor envy thou the head with bays o'ergrown ;,
No, feck thou rofes to adorn thy own:

For well each opening fcene, that claims my

care,

Suits and deferves the beauteous crown I wear.

Let others prune the vine; the genial bowl, Shall crown thy table, and enlarge thy foul. Let vulgar hands explore the brillant mine, So the gay produce glitter ftill on thing. Indulgent Bacchus loads his labouring tree, And, guarding, gives its cluffering fweets to

me.

For my lov'd train, Apollo's piercing beam
Darts through the pallive grebe, and frames the

gem

See in my caufe confenting gods employ'd.
Nor flight thofe gods, their blefling's unenjoy'd !
For thee the poplar fhall its amber drain;
For thee, in clouded beauty, fpring the cane;
Some cofily tribute every clime fhall pay ;
Some charming treafure every wind convey;
Each object round fome pleafing fcene fhall
yield;

Art built thy dome, while nature decks thy field;
Of Corinth's order hail the fructure rife;
The fpiring turrets glitter through the skies;
Thy coilly robe fhall glow with Tyrian rays;
Thy vale fhall-fparkle, and thy car fhall blaze;
Yet thou, whatever pomp the fun dilplay,
Shalt own the amorous night exceeds the day.
When melting Bites, and fweetly-founding
lyres

Wake the gay loves, and cite the young defires ;
Or, in th' lonian dance, fom favourit - maid
Improves the flame her fparkling eyes convey'd ;
Think, cauft thou quit a glowing Delia's arms,
To feed on virtue's vifionary chatis;

Or fight the joys which wir and youth engage,
For the faint honour of a frozen fige?
to find dull cnvy ev'n tha: Lope deface,
And, where you toil'd for glory, reap difgrace 2

O! think that beauty waits on thy decree,
And thy lov'd lovelieft charmer pleads with me...
She, whofs foft fmile, or gender glance to move,
You vow the wild extremitie
lore;

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In whofe endearments years, like moments, flew;
For whofe endearments millions feem'd too few;
She, fhe implores; fhe bids thee feize the prime,
And tread with her the flowery tract of time;
Nor thus her lovely bloom of life bestow
On fome cold lover, or infulting foe
Think, if against that tongue thou canst rebel,
Where love yet dwelt, and reafon feem'd to dwell;
What ftrong perfuafion arms her softer fighs!
What full conviction sparkles in her eyes!

See nature fmiles, and birds falute the fhade,
Where breathing jasmin screens the sleeping maid:
And fuch her charms, as to the vain may prove,
Ambition feeks more humble joys than love!
There busy toil fhall ne'er invade thy reign,
Nor fciences perplex thy labouring brain:
Or none, but what with equal fweets invite;
Nor other arts, but to prolong delight:
Sometimes thy fancy prune ber tender wing,
Te praise a pendant, or to grace a ring;
To fix the dress that fuits each varying mien;
To fhew where beft the clustering gems are feen;
To figh foft ftrains along the vocal grove,
And tell the charms, the fweet effects of love'!
Nor fear to find a coy difdainful Mufe;
Nor think the fifters will their aid refufe.
Cool grots, and tinkling rills, or filent fhades,
Soft fcenes of leifure! fuit th' harmonious maids;
And all the wife, and all the grave decrec
Some of that facred train ally'd to me.

But if more fpecious eafe thy wishes claim,
And thy breast glow with faint defire of fame,
Some fofter science shall thy thoughts amufe,
And learning's name a folemn found diffufe:'
To thee all nature's curious flores I ll bring,
Explain the beauties of an infect's wing;
The plant, which nature, less diffufely kind,
Has to few climes with partial care confin'd:
The fhell fhe fcatters with more carelefs air,
And, in her frolicks, feems fupremely fair;
The worth that dazzles in the tulip's ftains,
Or lurks beneath a pebble's various veins.

Sleep's downy god, averfe to war's alarms,
Shall o'er thy head diffufe his fofteft charms;
Ere anxious thought thy dear repofe affail,
Or care, my moft destructive foe, prevail.
The watery nymphs fhall tune the vocal vales,
And gentle zephyrs harmonize their gales,
For thy repofe, inform, with rival joy,
Their ftreams to murmur, and their winds to figh.
Thus fhalt thou fpend the fweetly-flowing day,
Tilt loft in blifs thou breath'ft thy foul away:
Till fhe t'Elysian bowers of joy repair,
Nor find my charming fcenes exceeded there."

She ceas'd; and on a lily bank reclin'd, Her flowing robe wav'd wanton with the wind: One tender hand her drooping head sustains; One points, expreffive, to the flowery plains. Soon the fond youth perceiv'd her influence roll, Deep in his breaft, to melt his manly foul. As when Favonius joins the folar blaze, And each fair fabric of the froft decays. Soon, to his-breaft, the foft harangue nvey'd Refolves too partial to the fpecious maid,

He figh'd, he gaz'd, fo fweetly fmil'd the dame;
Yet, fighing, gazing, feem'd to, fcorn his flame,
And, oft as virtue caught his wandering eye,
4 crimson blufh condemn'd the rising figh.
'Twas fuch the lingering Trojan's fhame betray'd
When Maia's fon the frown of Jove difplay'd:
When wealth, fame, empire, could no balance
prove,

For the foft reign of Dido, and of love.
Thus ill with arduous glory love confpires;
Soft tender flames with bold impetuous fires!

Some hovering doubts his anxious bofom mov'd, And virtue, zealous fair! thofe doubts improv'd. "Fly, fly, fond youth, the too indulgent maid,

Nor err, by fuch fantastic scenes betray'd.
Though in my path the rugged thorn be feen,
And the dry turf difclofe a fainter green;
Though no gay rofe or flowery product fhine,
The barren furface ftill conceals the mine.
Each thorn that threatens, ev'n the weed that
grows

In virtue's path, superior sweets beslows-
Yet fhould thofe boafted, fpecious toys allure,
Whence could fond floth the flattering gifts pro-
cure?

The various wealth that tempts thy fond desire,
'Tis I alone, her greatest foe, acquire.
I from old ocean rob the treafur'd ftore;
I through each region, latent gems explore;
'Twas I the rugged brilliant first reveal'd,
By numerous ftrata deep in earth conceal'd,
'Tis I the furface yet refine, and fhow
The modeft gem's intrinfic charms to glow.
Nor fwells the grape, nor fpires its feeble tree
Without the firm fupports of industry.

But grant we floth the fcene herfelf has drawn, The moffy grotto, and the flowery lawn; Let Philomela tune th' harmonious gale, And with each breeze eternal fweets exhale; Let gay Pomona flight the plains around, And chufe, for fairefl fruits, the favour'd ground; To blefs the fertile vale fhould virtue cease, Nor moffy grots, nor flowery lawns could please; Nor gay Pomona's lufcious gifts avail, The found harmonious, or the fpicy gale.

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Séeft thou yon rocks in dreadfu! pomp arife, Whofe rugged cliffs deform th' encircling fkies? Thofe fields, whence Phoebus all their moillure drains, And, too profufely fond, difrobes the plains? When I vouchfafe to tread the barren foil, Thofe rocks feem lovely, and thofe deferts fmile." The form thou view't, to every, fcene with cafe Transfers its charms, and every fcene can please. When I have on thofe pathlefs wilds appear'd; And the lone wanderer with my prefence chear'd; Thofe cliffs the exile has with pleasure view'd, And call'd the defert blissful folitude!

Nor I alone to fuch extend my care: Fair-blooming health furveys her altars there. Brown exercife will lead thee where he reigns, And with reflected luftre gild the plains.

With

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With her, in flower of youth, and beauty's pride,
Her offspring, calm content and peace, refide.
One ready offering fuits each neighbouring fhrine;
And all obey their laws, who practite mine.
But health averfe from floth's fmooth region
flies;

And, in her abfence, pleafure droops and dies.
Her bright companions, mirth, delight, repose,
Smile where the imiles, and ficken when the goes.
A galaxy of powers! whofe forms appear
For ever beauteous, and for ever near.

Nor will foft fleep to floth's request incline,
He from her couches flies unbid to mine.

Vain is the fparkling bowl, the warbling strain,
Th' incentive fong, the labour'd viand vain!
Where the relentlefs reigns without control,
And checks each gay excurfion of the foul:
Unmov'd, though beauty, deck'd in all its charms,
Grace the rich couch, and spread the fofteft arms:
Till joyless indolence fuggefts defires;

Or drugs are fought to furnish languid fires:
Such languid fires as on the vitals prey,
Barren of bliss, but fertile of decay.
As artful heats, apply'd to thirfly lands,
Produce no flowers, and but debafe the fands,

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But let fair health her chearing fmiles impart,
How feet is nature, how fuperfluous art!
'fis fhe the fountain's ready draught commends,
And smooths the flinty couch which fortune lends,
And when my hero from his toils retires,
Fills his gay bofom with unufual fires,
And, while no checks th' unbounded joy reprove,
Aids and refines the genuine fweets of love.
His faireft profpect rising trophies frame;
His fweetcft mufic is the voice of fame;
Pleafures to floth unknown! fhe never found
How fair the profpect, or how fweet the found
See fame's gay fructure from yon fummit
charms,

And fires the manly breast to arts or arms;
Nor dread the fleep afcent, by which you rife
From groveling vales to towers which reach the
fkies.

Love, fame, esteem, 'tis labour must acquire The fmiling offspring of a rigid fire!

;

To fix the friend, your fervice must be fhewn ; All, ere they lov'd your merit, lov'd their own. That wondering Greece your portrait may admire,

That tuneful bards may ftring for you their lyre, That books may praile, or coins record your

name,

Such, fuch rewards 'tis toil alone can claim ! And the fame column which displays to view The conqueror's name, di plays the conqueft too. 'Twas flow experience, tedious miftrefs! taught All that e'er nobly spoke, or bravely fought. 'I was he the patriot, the the bard refin d, In arts that ferve, protect, or please mankind. Not the vain vifions of inactive fchools; Not fancy's maxims, not opinion's rule, E'er form'd the man whofe generous warmth extends

T'enrich his country, or to ferve his friends.

On active worth the laurel war beftows:
Peate rears her olive for induftrious brows;
Nor earth, uncultur'd, yields its kind fupplies:
Nor heaven, its fhowers without a facrifice.

See far below fuch groveling fcenes of shame,
As lull to reft ignavia's flumbering dame.
Her friends, from all the toils of fame fecure,
Alas! inglorious, greater toils endure.
Doom'd all to mourn, who in her cause engage
A youth enervate, and a painful age;
A fickly feplefs mafs, if reafon flies;
And, if the linger, impotently wife!
A thoughtless train, who pamper'd, fleek, and
gay,

Invite old age, and revel youth away;
From life's fresh vigour move the load of care,
And idly place it where they leaft can bear,
When to the mind, difeas'd, for aid they fly,
What kind reflection fhall the mind fupply?
When, with loft health, what fhould the lofs al-
lay,

Peace, peace is loft: a comfortless decay !
But to my friends, when youth, when pleasure
fiies,

And earth's dim beauties fade before their eyes, Through death's dark villa flowery tracts are feen,

Elyfian plains, and groves for ever green.
If o'er their lives a refluent glance they caft,
Their's is the prefent who tan praife the past.
Life has its blifs for thefe, when paft its bloom,
As wither'd rofes yield a late perfume.

Serene, and fafe from paffion's formy rage,
How calm they glide into the port of age!
Of the rude voyage lefs depriv'd than eas'd;
More tir'd than pain'd, and weaken'd than dif-
eas'd.

For health on age, 'tis temperance must bestow;
And peace from piety alone can flow;
And all the incenfe bounteous Jove requires,
Has fweets for him who feeds the facred fires.-
Sloth views the towers of fame with envious

eyes;

Defirons Bill, fill impotent to rife.

Oft, when refolv'd to gain those blifsful towers,
The penfive queen the dire afcent explores,
Conies onward, wafted by the balmy trees,
Some fylvan mufic, or fome fcented breeze :
She turns her head, her own gay realm fhe fp es,
And all the fhort-liv'd refolution dies.
Thus fome fond infect's faultering pinions wave,
Clafp'd in its favourite fweets, a lasting flave:
And thus in vain thefe charming vifions pleafe
The wretch of glory, and the flave of cafe:
Doom'd ever in ignoble ftate to pine,
Boat her own feenes, and languish after mine.

But fhun her fnares, nor let the world exclaim, Thy birth, which was thy glory, ptov'd thy fhame.

With early hope thine infant adions fir'd;
Let manhood crown what infancy infpir'd:
Let generous toils reward with health thy days,
Prolong thy prime, and eternize thy praife.
The bold exploit that charms th' attefting age,
To latet times fhall generous hearts engage;

And

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And with that myrtle fhall thy fhrine be crown'd, With which, alive, thy graceful brows were bound:

Till time fhall bid thy virtues freely bloom,
And raise a temple where it found a tomb.

Then in their feafts thy nanre fhall Grecians join-;

Shall pour the fparkling juice to Jove's and thine. Thine, us'd in war, fhall raise their native fire; Thine, us'd in peace, their mutual faith infpire. Dulnefs perhaps, through want of fight, may blame,

And fpleen, with odious induftry, defame;

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OR,

And that, the honours given, with wonder view, The PROGRESS of TASTE.
And this, in fecret faducfs, own them due:
Contempt and envy were by fate defign'd
The rival tyrants which divide mankind;
Contempt, which none, but who deferve, "can

bear;

While envy's wounds the fmiles of fame repair.
For know, the generous thine exploits fhall fire,
Thine every friend it fuits thee to require.
Lov'd by the gods, and, till their feats I fhew,
Lov'd by the good their images below."

Ceafe, lovely maid, fair daughter of the fkies!
My guide my queen, th' extatic youth replies.
In thee I trace a form defign'd for sway;
Which chiefs may court, and Lings with pride
obey,

And, by thy bright immortal friends I fwear,
Thy fair idea fhall no toils impair.

Lead me! O lead me where whole hofts of foes
Thy form depreciate, and thy friends oppose!
Welcome all toils th' inequal fates decree,
While toils endear thy faithful charge to thee.
Such be my cares, to bind th' opprefiive hand,
And crush the fetters of an injur'd land;
To fee the monfter's noxious life refign'd,
And tyrants quell'd, the monsters of mankind!
Nature fhall file to view the vanquish'd brood,
And none, but envy, riot unfubdued.
In cloister'd flate let felfifh fages dwell,
Proud that their heart is narrow a their cell !
And boaft their lazy labyrinth of rules,
Far lefs the friends of virtue, than the fools:
Yet fuch in vain thy favouring fmiles pretend;
For he is thine, who proves his country's friend.
Thus when my life well-fpent the good enjoy,
And the mean envious labour to destroy;
When, ftrongly lur'd by fame's contigucus fhrine,
I yet devote my choicer vows to thine;
If all my oils thy promis'd favour claim,
O lead thy favourite through the gates of fame!
He ceas'd his vows, and, with difdainful air,
He turn'd to blast the late cxulting fair.
But vanish'd, fled to fome more friendly fhore,
The confcious phantom's beauty pleas'd no more:
Convinc'd, her fpurious charms of drefs and face
Claim'd a quick conquef, or a fure difgrace.
Fantastic Power! whofe tranfient charms allur'd,
While error's mill the reafoning mind obfcur'd:
Not fuch the vidrefs, virtue's conftant queen,
Endur'd the teft of truth, and dar'd be feen.
Her brightning form and features feem'd to own,
'Twas all her wish, her intereft, to be known:

The FATE of DELICACY.

A POEM on the Temper and Studies of the AuTHOR; and how reat a Misfortune it is, for a Man of fmall Estate to have much TASTE.

PART the FIRST.

ERHAPS fome cloud eclips'd the day,
When thus I tun'd my penfive lay.
The fhip is launch'd-we catch the gale-
On life's extended ocean fail

For happinefs our courfe we bend,
Our ardent cry, our general end !

Yet, ah! the fcenes which tempt our care
Are like the forms d.fpers'd in air,
Still dancing near diforder'd eyes;
And weakest his, who beft deferies!
Yet let me not my birth-right barter,
(For withing is the poet's charter ;

All bards have leave to wifh what's wanted,
Though few e'er found their wiflhes granted a
Extenfive field; where pocts pride them
In finging all that is deny'd them.)

For humble eafe, ye powers! I pray ;
That plain warm fuit for ev'ry day!
And pleasure, and brocade bestow;
To flaunt it-once a month, or fo.
The first for conftant wear we want;
The first, ye powers! for ever grant;
But conftant wear the laft befpatters,
And turns the tiffue into tatters.

Where'er my vagrant courfe I bend,
Let me fecure one faithful friend.
Let me, in public fcenes, request
A friend of wit and tafte, well dreff'd ;
And, if I mult not hope fuch favour,
A friend of wit and tafte, however.
Alas! that wisdom ever fhuns
To congregate her fcatter 'd fonis
Whofe nervous forces well combin'd
Would win the field, and fway mankind.
The fool will fquceze, from morn to night,
To fix his follies full in fight;

The note he firikes, the plume he fhows,
Attract whole flights of fops and beaux;
And kindred-fools, who ne'er had known him,
Flock at the fight; carefs, and own him ;

But ill-ftarr'd fenfe, nor gay nor loud,
Steals foft on tip-toe through the crowd:
Conveys his meagre form between ;
And flides, like pervious air, unfeen:
Contracts his known tenuity,

As though 'twere ev'n a crime, to be:
Nor even permits his eyes to stray,
And win acquaintance in their way.
In company, so mean his air,
You fcarce are confcious he is there,

Till from fome nook, like sharpen'd steel,
Occurs his face's thin profile,

Still feeming, from the gazer's eye,
Like Venus, newly bath'd, to fly.
Yet, while reluctant he displays
His real gems before the blaze,
The fool hath, in its centre, plac'd
His tawdry ftock of painted pafte,
Difus'd to fpeak, he tries his skill;
Speaks coldly, and fucceeds but ill;
His penfive manner, dulnefs deem'd
His modefty, referve efteem'd;
His wit unknown, his learning vain,
He wins not one of all the train.
And those who mutually known,
In friendship's fairest lift had fhone,
Lefs prone, than pebbles, to unite,
Retire to fhades from public fight;
Grow favage, quit their social nature;
And ftarve, to study mutual fatire.

A

But friends, and favourites, to chagrin them, Find counties, countries, feas between them: Meet once a year, then part, and then Retiring, wish to meet a, ain.

Sick of the thought, let me provide,
Some human form to grace my fide;
At hand, where'er I fhape my course;
An useful, pliant, ftalking-horse !

No gefture free from fome grimace;
No feam, without its fhare of lace;
But, mark'd with gold or filver cither,
Hint where his coat was piec'd together.
His legs be lengthen'd, I advise,
And stockings roll'd abridge his thighs.
What though Vandyck had other rules,
What had Vandyck to do with fools?
Be nothing wanting, but his mind:
Before, a folitaire; behind,
A twisted ribbon, like the track
Which nature gives an ass's back.
Silent as midnight! pity 'twere
His wifdom's flender wealth to share!
And, whilft in flocks our fancies ftray,
To with the poor man's lamb away.

This form attracting every eye,
I ftroll all unregarded by:
This wards the jokes of every kind,
As an umbrella fun or wind;
Or, like a fponge, abforbs the fallies,
And peftilential fumes of malice;
Or, like a fplendid fhield, is fit
To screen the templar's random wit;
Or what fome gentler cits let fall,
As wool-packs quafh the leaden ball.

Allufions thefe of weaker force, And apter ftill the ftalking-horse! O let me wander all unfeen, Beneath the fan&tion of his mien ! As lilies foft, as roses fair! Empty as air-pumps drain'd of air! With fteady eye and peace remark The fpeckled flock that haunts the park Level my pen with wondrous heed At follies flocking there to feed: And, as my fattire burfts amain, See, feather'd foppery ftrew the plain. But when I feek my rural grove, And fhare the peaceful haunts I love, Let none of this unhallow'd train My fweet fequefter'd paths profane, Oft may fome polifh'd virtuous friend, To the foft-winding vales defcend; And love with me inglorious things, And scorn with me the pomp of kings, And check me, when my bofom burns For ftatues, paintings, coins, and urns. For I in Damon's prayer could join, And Damon's with might now be mineBut all difpers'd! the wish, the prayer, Are driven to mix with common air.

H

PART THE SECOND.

OW happy once was Damon's lot,
While yet romantic schemes were not!
Ere yet he fent his weakly eyes

To plan frail caftles in the fkies;
Forfaking pleasures cheap and commen,
To court a blaze, ftill fitting from one.

Ah happy Damon! thrice and more,
Had tafte ne'er touch'd thy tranquil fhore!
Oh! days when to a girdle ty'd
The couples jingled at his fide;
And Damon fwore he would not barter
The sportsman's girdle, for a garter!-
Whoever came to kill an hour,
Found eafy Damon in their power;
Pure focial nature all his guide,
"Damen had not a grain of pride."

He wish'd not to elude the fares
Which knavery plans, and craft prepares;
But rather wealth to crown their wiles:
And win their univerfal fmiles:
For who are chearful, who at ease,
But they who cheat us as they pleafe?

He winked at many a grofs defign,
The new-fallen calf might countermine :
Thus every fool allow'd his merit;
"Yes! Damon had a generous fpirit!"

A coxcomb's jeft, however vile,
Was fure, at least, of Damon's fimile:.
That coxcomb ne'er denied him fenfe ;
For why, it prov'd his own pretence:
All own'd, were modefty away,
Damen could fhine as much as they.
St. James's.

Whe

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