THE wretched FLAVIA on her couch reclin'd "How am I chang'd! alas! how am I grown "A frightful spectre, to myself unknown! "Where's my complexion? where my radiant bloom, "That promis'd happinefs for years to come? "Then with what pleasure I this face furvey'd ! "To look once more, my vifits oft delay'd! "Charm'd with the view, a fresher red would rife, "And a new life fhot sparkling from my eyes! "Ah! faithlefs glass, my wonted bloom reftore « Alas! I rave, that bloom is now no more! "The greatest good the gods on men bestow, "Ev'n youth itself to me is useless now. "There was a time (oh! that I cou'd forget.) "When opera-tickets pour'd before my feet; Daughter of Evelyn duke of Kingston, and wife Edward Wortley Montague efq. Born 1.........; dyed 1762. 257 30 And at the ring, where brightest beauties fhine, "The earlicft cherries of the fpring were mine. 20 "Witness, O Lilly; and thou, Motteux, tell "How much japan thefe eyes have made ye fell. "With what contempt ye faw me oft defpife "The humble offer of the rafled prize; "For at the raffle ftill each prize I bore, "With fcorn rejected, or with triumph wore! "Now beauty's fled and prefents are no more! "For me the patriot has the house forfook, And left debates to catch a passing look: "For me the Soldier has foft verfes writ: "For me the Beau has aim'd to be a wit. For me the Wit to nonfenfe was betray'd; "The Gamefter has for me his dun delay'd, "And overfeen the card he would have play'd. "The bold and haughty by fuccefs made vain, 35 "Aw'd by my eyes, have trembled to complain : "The bafhful 'Squire, touch'd by a wish unknown, "Has dar'd to fpeak with spirit not his own: "Fir'd by one with, all did alike adore ; "Now beauty's fled, and lovers are no more! 40 "As round the room I turn my weeping eyes, "New unaffected fcenes of forrow rife! "Far from my fight that killing picture bear, "The face disfigure, and the canvas tear! "That picture, which with pride I us'd to thow, 45 The loft refemblance but upbraids me now. "And thou, my toilette! where I oft have fate, "What now is left but weeping, to deplore My beauty fled, and empire now no more? "Ye cruel chymifts, what with-held your aid? "Could no pomatums fave a trembling maid? "How falfe and trifling is that art ye boast! "No art can give me back my beauty loft! "In tears, furrounded by my friends I lay, "Mafk'd o'er, and trembled at the fight of day; 70 "MIRMILLIO came my fortune to deplore, "(A golden-headed cane well carv'd he bore) "Cordials, he cry'd, my fpirits must restore : Beauty is filed, and spirit is no more! VOL. II. X "GALEN, the grave, officious SQUIRT, was there, 75 "With fruitless grief and unavailing care; "MACHAON too, the great MACHAON, known "By his red cloak and his fuperior frown: "And why, he cry'd, this grief and this despair, 80 "You fhall again be well, again be fair; "Believe my oath : (with that an oath he swore) "Falfe was his oath; my beauty is no more! "Ceafe, hapless maid, no more thy tale pursue, "Forfake mankind, and bid the world adieu! "Monarchs and beauties rule with equal fway; 85 "All strive to serve, and glory to obey: "Alike unpitied when depos'd they grow, "Men mock the idol of their former vow. "Adieu! ye parks !-in some obfcure recess, "Where gentle streams will weep at my distress, 90 "Where no false friend will in my grief take part, "And mourn my ruin with a joyful heart; "There let me live in fome deferted place; "There hide in fhades this loft inglorious face: "Ye operas, circles, I no more must view! My toilette, patches, all the world, adieu !” 95 AT TAKING LEAVE OF A LADY, WHO WAS READING NORRIS'S POEMS. BY MISS MARY MASTERS, MADAM, obferve these melancholy tales, And fee how grief o'er generous minds prevails; 5 See here my grief in aptest terms exprest, Born 17..; dyed 17... 10 |