V. E. OF ROCHESTER. ON SILENCE. I. ILENCE! coeval with Eternity, Thou wert, ere Nature's-self began to be, 'Twas one vast Nothing, all, and all slept fast in thee. II. Thine was the sway, ere heav'n was form'd, or earth, Ere fruitful Thought conceiv'd creation's birth, 5 Or midwife Word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth. III. Then various elements against thee join'd, In one more various animal combin'd, And fram'd the clam'rous race of busy Human And wicked Wit arose, thy most abusive foe. V. But rebel Wit deserts thee oft' in vain; Lost in the maze of words he turns again, And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign. 15 VI. Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free, And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee. VII. With thee in private modest Dulness lies, And in thy bosom lurks in Thought's disguise; Thou varnisher of Fools, and cheat of all the Wise ! VIII. 21 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. IX. Silence! the knave's repute, the whore's good name, 25 The only honour of the wishing dame; Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame. X. But could'st 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 would'st cause: Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy Laws. XII. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, What Fav'rites gain, and what the Nation owes, 35 Fly the forgetful world, and in thy arms repose. XIII. The country wit, religion of the town, The courtier's learning, policy o' th' gown, Are best by thee express'd; and shine in thee alone. XIV. The parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, 40 Lord's quibble, critic's jest; all end in thee, All rest in peace at last, and sleep eternally. VI. E. OF DORSET. ARTEMISIA. HO' Artemisia talks, by fits, Of councils, classics, fathers, wits; Yet in some things methinks she fails, Haughty and huge as High-Dutch bride, Are oddly join'd by fate: On her large squab you find her spread, That lies and stinks in state. 5 She wears no colours (sign of grace) All white and black beside: And masculine her stride. So have I seen, in black and white, A stately, worthless animal, That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, 15 20 PHRYNE. HRYNE had talents for mankind, Merchants freight, And Agents from each foreign state, Here first their entry made. Her learning and good breeding such, Spaniards or French came to her; Obscure by birth, renown'd by crimes, their 5 10 15 So have I known those Insects fair Still gain new Titles with new forms; VII. DR. SWIFT. THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON. 20 ARSON, these things in thy possessing a 5 That carries double when there's need; A Chrysostom to smoothe thy band in. He that has these, may pass Toast Church and Queen, explain the News, 15 20 |