Pause here, and think; a monitory… Demands one moment of thy fleeting… Consult life’s silent clock, thy b… Seems it to say—'Health here has… Hast thou the vigour of thy youth?…

The suitors sinned, but with a fai… Whom all this elegance might well… Nor can our censure on the husband… Who, for a wife so lovely, slew th…

Did not my Muse (what can she les… Perceive her own unworthiness, Could she by some well-chosen them… But hope to merit your esteem, She would not thus conceal her lay…

Strophe I My two-fold Book! single in show But double in Contents, Neat, but not curiously adorn’d Which in his early youth,

At threescore winters’ end I died A cheerless being sole and sad; The nuptial knot I never tied, And wish my father never had.

On the green margin of the brook, Despairing Phyllida reclined, Whilst every sigh, and every look, Declared the anguish of her mind. Am I less lovely then? (she cries…

Farewell, false hearts! whose best… Like shallow brooks which summer s… Forgetful of the man whom once ye… Cold in his cause, and careless of… I bid you both a long and last adi…

Thus says the prophet of the Turk… Good musselman, abstain from pork! There is a part in every swine No friend or follower of mine May taste, whate’er his inclinatio…

The Spirit breathes upon the word… And brings the truth to sight; Precepts and promises afford A sanctifying light. A glory gilds the sacred page,

What virtue, or what mental grace But men unqualified and base Will boast it their possession? Profusion apes the noble part Of liberality of heart,

As in her ancient mistress’ lap The youthful tabby lay, They gave each other many a tap, Alike disposed to play. But strife ensues. Puss waxes war…

I was a grovelling creature once, And basely cleaved to earth: I wanted spirit to renounce The clod that gave me birth. But God hath breathed upon a worm…

Though once a puppy, and though F… Here moulders one whose bones some… No sycophant, although of spaniel… And though no hound, a martyr to t… Ye squirrels, rabbits, leverets, r…

The beams of April, ere it goes, A worm, scarce visible, disclose; All winter long content to dwell The tenant of his native shell. The same prolific season gives

When darkness long has veil’d my m… And smiling day once more appears, Then, my Redeemer, then I find The folly of my doubts and fears. Straight I upbraid my wandering h…