OCR Text |
Show An EPISTLE to But when, by Miracles of Mercy mown, Much-fufTering Charles regain'd his Father's Throne W h e n Peace and Plenty overflow'd the Land, She ftrait pull'd off her Sattin Cap, and Band: Bade Witckerly be Bold in her Defence, Glittering with pointed Wit, and manly Senfe: Etberege and Sidley join'd him in her Caufc, And all deferv'd, and all receiv'd Applaufe. Reftor'd with lsfs Succefc, the Tragic Mufe, Had quite forgot her Stile by long Difufe: She taught her Maximins to rant in Rhime, Miftaking ratling Nonfenfe for Sublime; 'Till witty Buckingham reform'd her Tafte, And fneering fham'd her into Senfe at laft. But n o w relaps'd, She dwindles to a Song, And weakly warbles on an Eunuch's Torguej And with her Minftrelfie m a y ftill remain* 'Till Southerne court Her to be Great again. Perhaps the Beauties of thy Spartan Dame, W h o (long defrauded of the Publick Fame); Shall, with Superior Majefty avow'd Shine like a Goddefs breaking from a Cloud, Once more may reinftate Her on the Stage, Her Action graceful., and Divine her Rage. Arts have their Empires, and, like other States, Their Rife and Fall are govern'd by the Fates: They when their Period's meafur'd out by Time, Tranfplant their Laurels to another Clime. The Grecian Mufe once fili'd with loud Alarm* The Court of Heav'n, and clad the Gods in Arms; I Mr. SOVTHERNE. The Trumpet ftlent, humbly me eilay'd H The Dorick Reed, and fung beneath the Shade, Extoll'd a frugal Life, and taught the Swains T'obferve the Seafons, and manure the Plains. ! Sometimes in warbled Hymns fhe pay'd her Vow, Or wove Olympic Wreaths for Theron's Brow > Sometimes on flow'ry Beds fhe lay Supine, And gave her Thoughts a Loofe to Love and Wine, Or in heri Sable Stole, asd Buskins drefVd, Shew'd Vice enthron'd, and virtuous Kings opprefs'd. The Nymph ftill fair, however paft her Bloom, From Greece at length was led in Chains to Romt t Whilft Wars abroad, and Civil Difcord reign'd, Silent the beauteous Captive long remain'd: That Interval employ'd her facred Care, To Study, and refine the Language there. She views with Anguifh on the Roman Stage The Grecian Beauties weep, the Warriors rage 5 But moft thofe Scenes delight th' Immortal Maid, Which Scipio had revis'd, and Rofcius play'd Thence to the Pleadings of the G o w n (he goes, (For Themis then could fpeak in polifh'd Profe.) Chared at the Bar, amid th' attentive Throng She blefs d the Syren Power of IW/v's Tongue X l i ^ * " * ' ^^cefsful Sword ' Zl ? ?;afld univerfal Peace '«, Fi ft rot tabnUmer°US Ch°ir t0 chant S Fame. Her r 7 rhG f e e n Retrca"' ** lowly Plains, «.i Theme fo g ] M 1 0 u and ^ > ?*vght |