BY HERACLIDES. IN Cnidus born, the consort I became ON THE REED. I WAS of late a barren plant, Useless, insignificant, Nor fig, nor grape, nor apple borc, A native of the marshy shore; But gather'd for poetic use, And plung'd into a sable juice, Of which my modicum I sip, With narrow mouth and slender lip, And speak with fluency untired, TO HEALTH. ELDEST born of pow'rs divine! To enjoy what thou canst give, For in pow'r if pleasure be, Wealth, or num'rous progeny, Where no spy infests the place: To alleviate human woes, When the wearied heart despairs Of a respite from its cares; These and ev'ry true delight Flourish only in thy sight; And the sister Graces Three Owe, themselves, their youth to thee, Without whom we may possess Much, but never happiness. ON THE ASTROLOGERS. TH' Astrologers did all alike presage And spoke not, till he heard the fun'ral cries. ON AN OLD WOMAN. MYCILLA dyes her locks 'tis said; But 'tis a foul aspersion; She buys them black; they therefore need No subsequent immersion. ON INVALIDS. FAR happier are the dead, methinks, than they Who look for death, and fear it ev'ry day. ON FLATTERERS. No mischief worthier of our fear In nature can be found, Than friendship, in ostent sincere, For lull'd into a dangerous dream We close infold a foe, Who strikes, when most secure we seem, Th' inevitable blow. ON THE SWALLOW. ATTIC maid! with honey fed, Bear'st thou to thy callow brood Yonder locust from the mead, Destin'd their delicious food! Ye have kindred voices clear, Ye alike unfold the wing, Ah for pity drop the prize! Let it not, with truth, be said, That a songster gasps and dies, That a songster may be fed. ON LATE ACQUIRED WEALTH. POOR in my youth, and in life's later scenes Who nought enjoy'd, while young, denied the means; And nought, when old, enjoy'd, denied the pow'r. |