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Countess of Winchilsea
61
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COUNTESS OF HARTFORD,
with her volume of Poems
Of sleepless nights, and days with cares o'ercast,
Accept the fruits, tho' far beneath your taste;
Yet look with favour on Ardelia's muse,
And what your father cherish'd, still excuse.
Whenever style or fancy in them shines,
Conclude his praise gave spirit to those lines:
So deep his judgment, so acute his wit,
No critic liv'd, but did to him submit.
From his your gentle nature does proceed;
Then partial be, like him, while here you read;
Who could forgive the errors of a friend,
But knew no bounds, when prompted to commend.
Accept the fruits, tho' far beneath your taste;
Yet look with favour on Ardelia's muse,
And what your father cherish'd, still excuse.
Whenever style or fancy in them shines,
Conclude his praise gave spirit to those lines:
So deep his judgment, so acute his wit,
No critic liv'd, but did to him submit.
From his your gentle nature does proceed;
Then partial be, like him, while here you read;
Who could forgive the errors of a friend,
But knew no bounds, when prompted to commend.
UPON THE DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM TWISDEN
Cou'd Rivers weep (as somtimes Poets dream)
Cou'd neigh'bring Hills our sorrows know,
And thoughtlesse Flocks, and faiding Flowers,
Droop o're the pastures, and beneath the showers,
To sympathize with Man, and answer to his Woe;
Now, shou'd the Medway's fruitfull stream,
In broaken drops, disolve away,
And pay in tears, her Tribute to the sea;
Now shou'd the Flocks, forgett to thrive,
Nor wou'd th' ensuing blasted Spring 10
One purple Violet revive,
One fragrant Odour bring;
Now, by those Eccho's, which return'd his Name
When by the loud prevailing voice
Calld to the Senate, by his Country's choice,
Twisden amongst their Rocks, and deep recesses came;
Cou'd neigh'bring Hills our sorrows know,
And thoughtlesse Flocks, and faiding Flowers,
Droop o're the pastures, and beneath the showers,
To sympathize with Man, and answer to his Woe;
Now, shou'd the Medway's fruitfull stream,
In broaken drops, disolve away,
And pay in tears, her Tribute to the sea;
Now shou'd the Flocks, forgett to thrive,
Nor wou'd th' ensuing blasted Spring 10
One purple Violet revive,
One fragrant Odour bring;
Now, by those Eccho's, which return'd his Name
When by the loud prevailing voice
Calld to the Senate, by his Country's choice,
Twisden amongst their Rocks, and deep recesses came;