From Johannes Secundus .

Good Friend, this Message to my Owner bear,
That Myron stole me, and has fix'd me here.

C HARMING Sex whose wit and beauty
Love attends with pleasing duty ,
Envy not the rugged Swiss ,
Who is proud, and braves the kiss!
Let him still be cold and free!
Mine the chain — but held by thee.

Oft have I thought thy wonder-working Art,
Could more than Nature's outward Form impart;
But now my Eyes convinc'd the Truth believe,
For lo! the Picture more than seems to live,
Pleas'd to decide mistrusting Reason's Strife,
Breaks thro' the Glass, and startles into Life .

W ERE I of Kingston the Manorial King,
No boughs of mine should clip the Coachman's wing
But I was poor, when Dysart's wealthy Lord
Swept all the timber into his record:
Else at a word, before day should roll,
I 'd strip the Elm into a barber's pole .

T HE Milbourne Groves in silent grief no more
The Summer's vocal fugitives deplore;
For Echo whispers to the passing gale
On Time's enchanted plume a Hermit's tale —
That an accomplish'd and a partial Guest
The solitary Vale has cheer'd and blest;
From its dull throne Ambition's pride has hurl'd,
With Taste and Sense atoning for the World .

As Time (unseen) with Love's enraptur'd eye
Saw Nature's colours o'er the landscape fly,
The " subtle thief " had mischief in his mind,
Claim'd all the works, but left the charms behind.

" Ye Nymphs, the secret theft unfold,
Whose fairy touch converts to gold,
And forms Elysian bowers? "
Bright Fancy heard; and whispering Taste ,
In Beauclerc's mind, and scene, embrac'd,
Reply'd, " The charm is ours . "

Ye, to whom Heav'n imparts its special Fires,
Whose Breasts the wondrous quick'ning Beam inspires,
That sheds strong Eloquence's melting Rays,
Or scatrers forth the bright Poetick Blaze,
Look here and learn, those Gifts how low and light,
If conscious Dignity not guides their Flight,
How mean when human Pride their Service claims,
And Bacon condescends to flatter Fames .

My lady is not fair, but a clear light
Shines in her eyes from morning until night.

My lady is not learned, but she knows
The way to every heart, — straight there she goes.

Though neither fair nor learned, she is one
To love and love, and never to have done.

D AMON , whom all the World, but I believ'd
The falsest Wretch that ever Nymph deceiv'd,
According to the Promise of my Mind,
The truest, and the faithfull'st Youth I find;
Thro' ev'ry little Vice I trac'd the Swain,
But still found Honour in his Bosom reign:
So Proteus , if a Chain but held him fast,
Shook off the Beast, and prov'd a God at last.