ANSWER

THO' I never get possession,
'Tis a pleasure to adore;
Hope, the wretch's only blessing,
May in time procure me more.

Constant courtship may obtain her,

Where both wealth and merit fail, And the lucky minute gain her,— Fate and fancy must prevail.

At Diana's shrine aloud,

By the bow and by the quiver, Thrice she bow'd, and thrice she vow'd Once to love-and that for ever.

LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU.

CXXXVII

SONG

OH! forbear to bid me slight her,
Soul and senses take her part;
Could my death itself delight her,

Life should leap to leave my heart.

Strong, though soft, a lover's chain,
Charm'd with woe, and pleas'd with pain.

Though the tender flame were dying,
Love would light it at her eyes;
Or, her tuneful voice applying,

Through my ear my soul surprise.
Deaf, I see the fate I shun;

Blind, I hear I am undone.

CXXXVIII

A. HILL.

MIRA'S SONG

SEE those cheeks of beauteous dye,
Lovely as the dawning sky,
Innocence that ne'er beguiles,

Lips that wear eternal smiles :
Beauties to the rest unknown,

Shine in her and her alone.

Now the rivers smoother flow,

Now the op'ning roses glow,

The woodbine twines her odorous charms

Round the oak's supporting arms:

Lilies paint the dewy ground

And ambrosia breathes around.

Come, ye gales that fan the spring,
Zephyr, with thy downy wing,
Gently waft to Mira's breast
Health, Content, and balmy Rest.
Far, O far from hence remain
Sorrow, Care, and sickly Pain.

Thus sung Mira to her lyre,
Till the idle numbers tire:

"Ah! Sappho sweeter sings," I cry,
And the spiteful rocks reply,
(Responsive to the jarring strings)
"Sweeter-Sappho sweeter sings."

MARY LEAPOR.

CXXXIX

A SONG

WHEN thy beauty appears

In its graces and airs,

All bright as an angel new dropt from the sky;
At distance I gaze, and am awed by my fears,

So strangely you dazzle my eye!

But when, without art,

Your kind thought you impart,

When your love runs in blushes through every vein; When it darts from your eyes, when it pants in your

heart,

Then I know you're a woman again.

"There's a passion and pride

In our sex," she replied,

"And thus, (might I gratify both,) I would do: Still an angel appear to each lover beside,

But still be a woman to you."

CXL

T. PARNELL.

THE INDIFFERENT

IF from the lustre of the sun,

To catch your fleeting shade you run,
In vain is all your haste, Sir;
But if your feet reverse the race,
The fugitive will urge the chace,
And follow you as fast, Sir.

Thus, if at any time, as now,
Some scornful Chloe you pursue,
In hopes to overtake her;
Be sure you ne'er too eager be,
But look upon't as cold as she,

And seemingly forsake her.

So I and Laura, t'other day,
Were coursing round a cock of hay,
While I could ne'er o'er get her;
But, when I found I ran in vain,
Quite tir'd I turn'd me back again,
And, flying from her, met her.

W. PATTISON.

CXLI

TO A LADY MAKING LOVE

GOOD madam, when ladies are willing,
A man must needs look like a fool;
For me, I would not give a shilling

For one who would love out of rule.

You should leave us to guess by your blushing,
And not speak the matter so plain;

'Tis our's to write and be pushing,

'Tis your's to affect a disdain.

That you're in a terrible taking,

By all these sweet oglings I see;
But the fruit that can fall without shaking,

Indeed is too mellow for me.

LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU.