And when in Thetis lap of rest,
He streaks with gold the ruddy west,
He's not so beauteous, as undress'd
Appears my lovely Peggy.

III.

Were she array'd in rustic weed,
With her the bleating flocks I'd feed,

And pipe upon mine oaten reed,

To please my lovely Peggy.

With her a cottage would delight,
All's happy when she's in my sight,
But when she's gone it's endless night,
All's dark without my Peggy.

IV.

The zephyr's air, the violet blows,
Or breathes upon the damask rose,
He does not half the sweets disclose,
That does my lovely Peggy.

I stole a kiss the other day,

And, trust me, nought but truth I say, The fragrant breath of blooming May,

Was not so sweet as Peggy,

V.

While bees from flow'r to flow'r shall rove, And linnets warble thro' the grove,

Or stately swans the waters love,

So long shall I love Peggy.

And when death with his pointed dart, Shall strike the blow that rives my heart,

My words shall be when I depart,

"Adieu my lovely Peggy!"

TO MRS. WOFFINGTON.

(Written in July 1744.)

IN IMITATION OF

Ulla si juris tibi pejerati

Poena, Barine, nocuisset unquam.

HOR. Lib. 2, Od. 8.

IF heav'n upon thy perjur'd head,

Had the least mark of vengeance shed,

For all thy hate to truth;

Had ev'n diminish'd any grace,

Lit up one pimple in thy face,

Or rotted but one tooth,

I would believe its pow'rs; but you
More fair, as still more faithless grow,
Charms flow from perjuries;

The more you cheat, we trust the more,
Each jilting tear 's a fruitful show'r,

That makes fresh beauties rise.

By Venus, Cupid, ev'ry pow'r,
To love propitious you're forswore,
Regardless of their wrath;

By tricks and cheats, and lies you live,
By breach of word and honour thrive,
Like my good Lord of Bath.

But at each broken oath and vow,
Indulgent Venus smiles you know,
Who have so often tried her;

And Cupid can't be angry sure,
While thus new vot'ries you procure,

And stretch his empire wider.

See all our youth confess thy pow'r,
They but behold thee and adore,

And press to drag thy chain;
And tho' we swear, and brag we're free,
Repentant Darnley * longs like me,

To be thy slave again.

* Edward Bligh, second Earl of Darnley.-W.

That beauteous face, those heav'nly charms,

The cautious mother's breast alarms,

For her young darling son;

And each penurious father fears,

Lest their unthinking am'rous heirs,
Should gaze, and be undone,

Venus, whose charms rule all above,
Is fam'd for fickleness in love,

And for her beauty's pow'r ;

You are her copy drawn with care,
Like her are exquisitely fair,

Like her a thorough w