Fill'd with grief for what is past, And the banquet boldly taste, Since we have paid the price. Love does easie souls despise, To be thus for trifles blamed, Who are for vain swearing damn'd, And know no higher bliss. Love should like the year be crown'd With sweet variety; Hope should in the spring be found Kind fears, and jealousie. In the summer flowers should rise, And in the autumn fruit; His spring doth else but mock our eyes, And in a scoff salute. JOHN POMFRET. Luton, Bedfordshire, 1677-1703. 'Why is Pomfret the most popular of the English Poets? the fact is certain, and the solution would be useful. The Choice. IF Heaven the grateful liberty would give, Near some fair town I'd have a private seat, Better if on a rising ground it stood; On this side fields, on that a neighbouring wood. Methinks 'tis nauseous; and I'd ne'er endure On whose delicious banks a stately row Of shady limes, or sycamore, should grow. At th' end of which a silent study placed, Should be with all the noblest authors graced : Horace and Virgil, in whose mighty lines Immortal wit, and solid learning shines; Sharp Juvenal, and amorous Ovid too, Who all the turns of love's soft passion knew: He that with judgment reads his charming lines, In which strong art with stronger nature joins, Must grant his fancy does the best excel; His thoughts so tender, and express'd so well: With all those moderns, men of steady sense, Esteem'd for learning, and for eloquence. In some of these, as fancy should advise, I'd always take my morning exercise: For sure no minutes bring us more content, Than those in pleasing, useful studies spent. I'd have a clear and competent estate, That I might live genteelly, but not great: As much as I could moderately spend ; A little sometimes t'oblige a friend.. Nor should the sons of poverty repine Too much at fortune; they should taste of mine; And all that objects of true pity were, Should be reliev'd with what my wants could spare; For that our Maker has too largely given, To feed the stranger, and the neighbouring poor. I'd have a little vault, but always stored, If any neighbour came, he should be free, What freedom, prudence, and right reason give, But the least swerving from their rule's too much; That life may be more comfortable yet, Well-born, of humours suited to my own, Airy and prudent; merry, but not light; Quick in discerning, and in judging right: Not prone to lust, revenge, or envious hate; |