HUMBLY INSCRIBED TO THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM EDEN, ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY, AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS AT THE COURT
OF VERSAILLES.
OF EDEN loft, in ancient days,
If we believe, what Moses fays,
A paltry pippin was the price;
One crab was bribe enough t'entice
Frail human kind from virtue's ways.
But now, when PITT, th' all-perfect sways,
Nó fuch vain lures the Tempter lays,
Too poor to be the purchase twice,
Of EDEN loft.
The Dev'l grown wifer, to the gaze
Six thousand pounds a-year displays,
And finds fuccefs from the device;
Finds this fair fruit too well fuffice
To pay the peace, and honest praise
Of EDEN loft.
TO MR. HASTINGS, ON HIS RETURN FROM INDIA.
NOT the Fifth Charles himself refign'd
Th' Imperial throne o'er millions of mankind
With more applause, with more regret,
Than thou, when leaving India to her fate!
Long had'st thou reign'd, and worshipp'd as a god! For tho' all knew thy pow'r, the good ne'er felt thy rod:
You rul'd with fuch a juft and gentle fway,
That to be happy was but to obey.
You foften'd war by all the charms of peace;
Made rapine fly abash'd, and all injustice cease:
Reftor'd the British name
To a far fairer fame,
Than e'er before was known
Beyond the torrid zone;
Shew'd George's godlike clemency on India's diftant
While greatly thus employ'd,
Your reputation here was oft annoy'd. But, like the diamond in Golconda's mine, The deeper it was cut the purer it did shine! And ev'ry stain or blot
Was wip'd off by the gallant Scott,
Whose talents triumph'd o'er mistaken foes,
That deem'd you India's bane, not healer of her
Now to your native foil retir'd,
The more you're known, the more you'll be admir'd,
As a most able and an honeft man,
Whom wealth could ne'er feduce to any vicious plan.
One of the very few return'd across the line-
Oh, prodigy divine!
Without one worthy Indian's curfe or hate,
To four thy present great and happy state!
THE BRITISH BEAUTIES.
YE gen'rous fair that light Britannia's ifles,
Rewarding patriot toils with bright'ning smiles,
Tho' Vanity the ready cerufe lend,
The feign'd carnations ftill tho' Fashion blend,
Reject with scorn the dull factitious glow;
Where lurks difgust and dire disease below;
Worfe than Pandora's vase, tho' feeming kind;
Curs'd rouge destroys-nor leaves e'en hope behind!
Believe the bard who thus prefumes your praife,
To you, who gives his first, his artless lays ;
Not happier charms adorn the climes of earth,
Than deck the favour'd Ifle that gave you birth;
No tints more fine bloom on the lonely cheek,
Nor forms more ftriking elegance befpeak;
And fairer still the radiance of each mind,
Where Virtue dwells-by purity enfhrin'd.
And lo! to prove the glories of our isle,
Yon vale with added verdure feems to finile ;
Tranfported zephyrs feem to fan the air,
And hail the BRIGHT ASSEMBLAGE of our fair.
Lo, MODESTY, in lengthen'd veil array'd,
O'er each fweet nymph cafts her pellucid shade;
And SENSIBILITY, with pearly tear,
Each charm, with heighten'd lure, bids appear.
VOL. II.
.aoufand hov'ring loves with rofes crown'd, Strew the rich beauties of the fpring around, Through the gay fcene whilst fragrant odours breathe, And PLEASURE forms for each her happiest wreath.-
To lead the beauteous triumph of the day,
See TOWNSHEND, *fprightly as the radiant May!
Fair as Aurora dawns in eastern skies,
When Night's dull cone before her melting flies;
Perfect as had the been by Fate decreed,
"A combination and a form indeed."-
Whate'er of grace excurfive Fancy views,
When courted by the lover's ardent muse,
Whate'er of fymmetry e'en Sculpture knows,
'Nature on this lov'd favourite beftows.
Illum'd by eyes that speak the foul refin❜d,
And fweet expreffion of th' ingenuous mind-
In fprightly Innocence and Virtue's pride,
Her fifters *, Graces, fmiling on her fide.
Thofe gentle bofoms, ever honour's feat,
Thofe forms with every excellence complete,
The blushing rofe that fcents the ambient air,
Breathes not more fweets, or fhews a teint more fair.
Yet not the vermeil cheek's enchanting glow,
The luftrous bofom's animated fhow,
Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Beresford.
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