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216
ANNUAL REGISTER

To a LADY who greatly admired the SPANISH POETRY
In the Manner of Alonzo de Ercilla

When I would thy beauties paint,
All the pow'r of verse is faint;
Though a hapless, hopeless Lover,
All thy charms I can discover;
Charms are only found in thee, 
Charms which 'tis unsafe to see;
Charms which might Hermit bribe,
Charms no language can describe.
Where words no fit ideas raise,
Silence best expresses praise.
But when I explore thy mind,
A new world of charms I find;
Every virtue, every grace,
There possess their proper place; 
When of these I think awhile,
Raptures soon my soul beguile.
For too strong, too clear a light,
Suits not wither sense, or sight!
All we can do is to gaze, 
Sweetly lost in found amaze.
Fairest Flavia, fav'rite Maid!
Let these artless lays persuade.
Not that I am skill'd in verse,
Or thy conquests can rehearse;
But, what I did long conceal,
That thy beauty's force I feel, 
And in mournful numbers sigh,
For those charms by which I die.
Let them tell- what would you more?-
That I expire, and yet adore.

Upon the Earl of CHATHAM's Verses to Mr. GARRICK

When Peleus' son, untaught to yield,
Wrathful forsook the hostile field,
His breast still warm with heav'nly fire,
He tun'd the lay, and swept the lyre.

So Chatham, whose exalted soul
Pervaded and inspir'd the whole,
Where far, by martial glory led,
Britain her sails and banners spread,
Retires,
*end of page 216*


For the YEAR 1772.   217

*continuing from page 216*
Retires, tho' Wisdom's God dissuades,
And seeks repose in rural shades,
Yet thither comes the god confest,
Celestial form, a well known guest.

Nor slow he moves with solemn air,
Nor on his brow hangs pensive care;
Nor in his hand th' historic page
Gives lessons to experienc'd age;
As when in vengeful ire he rose,
And plann'd the fate of Britain foes;
While the wing'd hours obedient stand,
And instant speed the dread command.

Chearful he came, all blithe and gay,
Fair blooming, like the son of May;
Adown his radiant shoulder hung
A harp, by all the muses strung.
Smiling, he to his friend resign'd
This soother of the human mind.

On the ROYAL MARRIAGE ACT.

QUOTH Dick to Tom, - This Act appears
Absurd, as I'm alive:
To take the Crown at eighteen years,
The Wife at twenty-five,

The myst'ry how shall we explain?
For, sure, as *Dowdeswell said,
Thus early if they're fit to reign
They must be fit to wed!

QUOTH Tom to Dick,- Thou art a fool,
And little know'st of life;
Alas! 'tis easier far to rule
A kingdom than a wife.

BARREAUX's celebrated Sonnet
Grand Dieu! tes jugemens, Ec.
Translated.

GREAT God, thy judgements are supremely right,
And in thy creatures bliss is thy delight;
But I have sinn'd beyond the reach of grace,
Nor can thy mercy yield thy justice place.

*Mr. Dowdeswell's Speech on the Royal Marriage Act.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-13 14:57:46