EARL OF DORSET.

ARTEMISIA.

THOUGH Artemisia1 talks by fits
Of councils, classics, fathers, wits;
Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke:
Yet in some things methinks she fails:
"Twere well if she would pare her nails,
And wear a cleaner smock.

Haughty and huge as High Dutch bride,
Such nastiness and so much pride
Are oddly join'd by fate:

On her large squab you find her spread,
Like a fat corpse upon a bed,

That lies and stinks in state.

She wears no colours (sign of grace)
On any part except her face;

All white and black beside:
Dauntless her look, her gesture proud,
Her voice theatrically loud,

And masculine her stride.

So have I seen, in black and white,
A prating thing, a magpie hight,

Intended, it is said, for Queen Caroline.

Majestically stalk;

A stately worthless animal,

That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, All flutter, pride, and talk.

PHRYNE.

PHRYNE had talents for mankind;
Open she was and unconfin'd,
Like some free port of trade:
Merchants unloaded here their freight,
And agents from each foreign state
Here first their entry made.

Her learning and good breeding such, Whether th' Italian or the Dutch, Spaniards or French, came to her; To all obliging she'd appear;

'Twas Si Signior, 'twas Yaw Mynheer, 'Twas S'il vous plait, Monsieur.

Obscure by birth, renown'd by crimes, Still changing names, religions, climes, At length she turns a bride:

In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, She shines the first of batter'd jades, And flutters in her pride.

So have I known those insects fair

(Which curious Germans hold so rare)
Still vary shapes and dyes;

Still gain new titles with new forms;
First grubs obscene, then wriggling worms,
Then painted butterflies.

DR. SWIFT.

THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON.

PARSON, these things in thy possessing
Are better than the bishop's blessing:-
A wife that makes conserves; a steed
That carries double when there's need;
October store, and best Virginia,
Tythe pig, and mortuary guinea;
Gazettes sent gratis down and frank'd,
For which thy patron's weekly thank'd;
A large Concordance, bound long since;
Sermons to Charles the First, when prince;
A chronicle of ancient standing;
A Chrysostom to smoothe thy band in :
The Polyglott-three parts-my text:
Howbeit-likewise-now to my next :
Lo here the Septuagint-and Paul,
To sum the whole-the close of all.

He that has these may pass his life,
Drink with the 'squire, and kiss his wife;
On Sundays preach, and eat his fill,
And fast on Fridays-if he will:

Toast church and queen, explain the news,
Talk with churchwardens about pews,
Pray heartily for some new gift,
And shake his head at Doctor S-t.

A PARAPHRASE ON THOMAS A KEMPIS
BOOK I. CHAP. 2.

DONE BY THE AUTHOR AT TWELVE YEARS OLD.1

SPEAK, gracious Lord, oh speak; Thy servant hears:

For I'm Thy servant, and I'll still be so :
Speak words of comfort in my willing ears;
And since my tongue is in Thy praises slow,
And since that Thine all rhetoric exceeds,
Speak Thou in words, but let me speak in deeds!

Nor speak alone, but give me grace to hear
What Thy celestial sweetness does impart ;

'First published from the Caryll Papers, in the Athenæum, July 15th, 1854.

Let it not stop when entered at the ear,

But sink, and take deep rooting in my heart. As the parched earth drinks rain (but grace afford) With such a gust will I receive Thy word.

Nor with the Israelites shall I desire

Thy heavenly word by Moses to receive, Lest I should die; but Thou who didst inspire Moses himself, speak Thou, that I may live. Rather with Samuel I beseech with tears, Speak, gracious Lord, oh speak, Thy servant hears.

Moses, indeed, may say the words, but Thou

Must give the spirit and the life inspire; Our love to Thee his fervent breath may blow, But 'tis Thyself alone can give the fire;

Thou without them mayst speak and profit too; But without Thee what could the prophets do?

They preach the doctrine, but Thou mak'st us do't;

They teach the mysteries Thou dost open lay; The trees they water, but Thou giv'st the fruit; They to salvation show the arduous way; But none but You can give us strength to walk, You give the practice, they but give the talk.

Let them be silent then, and Thou alone,

My God! speak comfort to my ravished ears;