Short Poems

Strange Force of Beauty to controul
The Mind, and catch the sinking Soul!
Fond Proselyte! you plainly prove
No Jesuit can preach like Love ,
Nor all the Doctors of Sorbonne
E'er do, what Laura 's Smiles have done.

Timon of London here is laid,
Who was a close rich, testy Blade :
Lest any Mortal , now alive,
Shou'd by his mighty Treasure thrive,
'Tis by his Will to Heirs convey'd,
Still to be gotten, born , and bred .

Stay, Youth , and o'er this Marble weep,
Where now alone , and fast asleep
Beata lies, poor Sinner!
Alive, so tempting , so resign'd ,
She ever charm'd , yet spar'd Mankind
The Time , and Pains to win her.

From Orcade Isles to Ægypts 's Coast
His Travels Sauny still wou'd boast,
And lov'd about the World to roam.
Howe'er, at the last Trumpet 's Sound
He promis'd, he wou'd here be found,
And tarry quiet now at home.

Swain , give o'er your sod Pretension!
Wit's above her Apprehension:
'Tis no Merit to excell .
Any powder'd Thing in Breeches ,
Who can make soft, simple Speeches,
Pleases Myra sull as well.

O Strephon! how useless your Counsel must prove,
Who sighs for Belinda for ever must love;
For thus the dread Power of Love has decreed!
Who once wears her Fetters shall never be freed,
On absolute Beauty an absolute Sway
Is justly bestow'd, and with Pride we obey.

Had e'er Anacreon , or Flaccus
But tasted of divine Tokay ,
They had ador'd Hungarian Bacchus ,
And cast their Chios Wine away.

While round to Jenny 's Health the Goblet moves,
If gen'rous as her Blood the Liquor proves,
Far above theirs , our juster Mirth shall rise,
Who, ere the Tryal, triumph'd in the Prize.

Pleasing Goddess , I obey!
In your Fane I hang my Arms!
What should tempt me, here to stay ?
Free from all, but Cloi 's Charms,
To your Summons I, resign'd,
Follow with a docile Mind.

With such a sapient Eve, and heav'nly Mind,
M INERVA taught her Arts to human Kind;
With such attractive Charms, and graceful Air,
Venus was judg'd the Queen of all the Fair:
Such Sense and Beauty to the Painter shone,
He drew Two Goddesses to finish One .