But ftill how good must be that fair one's mind, The mufe her company, good-fense her guide, And makes the warbling nightingale her choice, Prefers her books, and conscience void of ill, To IN ANSWER TO A LETTER WROTE IN A VERY FINE HAND. W HILST well-wrote lines our wond'ring eyes command, The beauteous work of CHLOE's artful hand, Throughout the finish'd piece we see display'd This pure, as flows the style thro' ev'ry line, See with what art the fable currents stain The ivory plain of lovely CHLOE's neck: The yielding paper's pure, but vacant breast, 5 } At At ev'ry touch more animated grows, Your pen o'ertakes him, if he 'scapes your eyes; But perish victims to the diftant gun. Beauty's a fhort-liv'd blaze, a fading flow'r, But these are charms no ages can devour; These far fuperior to the brighteft face, Triumph alike o'er time as well as space. When that fair form, which thousands now adore, These lovely lines fhall future ages view, And eyes unborn, like ours, be charm'd by you. How How oft do I admire with fond delight The curious piece, and wifh like you to write! To fteal your hand, in hopes to fteal your heart. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY MARGARET CAVENDISH HARLEY*, PRESENTED WITH A COLLECTION OF POEMS. HE tuneful throng was ever beauty's care, THE And verfe a tribute facred to the fair ; Hence in each age the lovelieft nymph has been, By undifputed right, the mufes queen; Her fmiles have all poetic bofoms fir'd, And patronis'd the verse themselves inspir'd: LESBIA *Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley was the only daughter and heiress of Edward Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, by his wife the Lady Henrietta Cavendish, fole daughter and heiress of John Holles Duke of Newcastle. She married William the fecond Duke of Portland July 11, 1734, who died on the 1ft of May, 1762; her Grace surviving him, departed this life at her feat at Bulftrode, on Monday the 18th of June 1785 leaving behind her that famous museum, replete with works in the fine arts and a most extenfive collection of natural history, which, with no less industry than judgment, and at an expence which could be only fupported by her princely fortune, fhe had been the greatest part of her life collecting; but this collection, however |