Classic Poem

INSCRIBED AND APPLIED TO

Lady HUSSEY DELAVAL .

Whate'er the sense, whate'er the face,
Whate'er the beauties all combin'd;
'Tis Dignity , that gives the grace,
And forms the Fair, as first design'd.
Thro' life we have a sterling rule
To make the noblest points our aim;
And Dignity commands the school
Of all that excellence, we claim.

O never yet the gift of chance,
Or bought by wealth, or forced by pow'r;
For Thee, the Champion grasps his lance,
For Thee, the flights of Fancy tow'r.
Thine is the great and perfect praise
Of fathers kind, and lovers true;
Stern censure smiles thy worth to blaze,
And owns the myrtle wreath thy due.

'Tis Dignity , supports the song
By sense to choicest sounds allied;
The Muses do the Graces wrong,
Unless her influence preside.
O Fountain of all Female worth,
That play'st so sweet and so sublime;
To feed the flow of decent mirth,
The PRIDE of PLACE, the LIFE of TIME.

Hail Condescension, heav'nly mild,
By which no Majesty is lost;
Thee Faith and Truth their Queen have styl'd,
And still with awful love accost.
On Thee, ten thousand blessings wait,
In bright succession without pause;
If, CHARMER, thou hast found thy mate,
His name is HONOUR and APPLAUSE.