Her Prieftefs Mufe forbids the Good to die, And may defcend to Mordington from STAIR: Or beam, good DIGBY, from a heart like thine) Let Flatfry fick'ning fee the Incenfe rife, 235 240 Sweet to the World, and grateful to the Skies: 245 Truth guards the Poet, fanctifies the line, And makes immortal, Verfe as mean as mine. Yes, the laft Pen for Freedom let me draw, When Truth ftands trembling on the edge of Law; Fr. Alas alas! pray end what you began, 255 It is the cuf VER. 237. Anftis] The chief Herald at arms. tom, at the funeral of great Peers, to caft into the grave the broken ftaves and enfigns of honour. VER. 239. Stair;] John Dalrymple Earl of Stair, Knight of the Thistle; ferved in all the wars under the Duke of Marlborough; and afterwards as Embalador in France. VER 240, 241. Hough and Digby] Dr John Hough Bishop of Worcester, and the Lord Digby. VER. 255. in the MS. Quit, quit these themes, and write Effays on Man. O N Receiving from the Right Hon. the Lady FRANCES SHIRLEY A STANDISH and Two PENS. -ES, I beheld th’Athenian Queen YES, Descend in all her fober charms; "And take (she said, and smil❜d serene) "Take at this hand celeftial arms: "Secure the radiant weapons wield; "This fteel shall ftab it to the heart." Aw'd on my bended knees I fell, And dipt them in the fable Well, The fount of Fame or Infamy. The Lady Frances Shirley] A Lady whofe great Merit Mr Pope took a great pleasure to celebrate. “What Well? what Weapon? (Flavia cries) "A ftandish, fteel and golden pen! "It came from Bertrand's, not the skies ; "I gave it you to write again. "But, Friend, take heed whom you attack "You'll bring a houfe (I mean of Peers) "Red, Blue, and Green, nay white and black, and all about your ears. "L. "You'd write as fmooth again on glass, Athenian Queen! and fober charms.! "I tell ye, fool, there's nothing in't: "'Tis Venus, Venus gives thefe arms: "In Dryden's Virgil fee the print. "Come, if you'll be a quiet foul, "That dares tell neither Truth nor Lies, "I'll lift you in the harmlefs roll "Of those that fing of thefe poor eyes." |