EARL OF ROCHESTER. ON SILENCE. SILENCE! coeval with eternity; Thou wert ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vast nothing all, and all slept fast in thee. Thine was the sway ere heaven was form'd, or earth, Ere fruitful thought conceiv'd creation's birth, Or midwife word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth. Then various elements against thee join'd, And fram'd the clamorous race of busy humankind. The tongue mov'd gently first, and speech was low, But rebel wit deserts thee oft in vain; reign. Afflicted sense thou kindly dost set free, Oppress'd with argumental tyranny, And routed reason finds a safe retreat in thee. With thee in private modest dulness lies, And in thy bosom lurks in thought's disguise; Yet thy indulgence is by both confest ; And 'tis in thee at last that wisdom seeks for rest. Silence the knave's repute, the whore's good name, But couldst thou seize some tongues that now How church and state should be oblig'd to thee! At senate and at bar how welcome wouldst thou be! Yet speech, e'en there, submissively withdraws From rights of subjects, and the poor man's cause: Then pompous silence reigns, and stills the noisy laws. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, The country wit, religion of the town, The parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, EARL OF DORSET. ARTEMISIA. . THOUGH Artemisia1 talks by fits Haughty and huge as High Dutch bride, On her large squab you find her spread, That lies and stinks in state. She wears no colours (sign of grace) All white and black beside: And masculine her stride. So have I seen, in black and white, 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; 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 plaist, 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 gain new titles with new forms; DR. SWIFT. THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON. PARSON, these things in thy possessing |