ANTHOLOGIA.
BY M. CAREY.
1. On a lady of sixty marrying a youth of seventeen.
Hard is the fate of every childless wife,
The thoughts of barrenness annoy her life.
Troth, aged bride, by thee 'twas wisely done
To choose a child and husband both in one.
2. Composition of an Epigram.
What is an epigram? A dwarfish whole,
Its body brevity and wit its soul.
3. Lurking Love.
When lurking love in ambush lies,
Under friendship's fair disguise:
When he wears an angry mien,
Imitating strife and spleen:
When, like sorrow, he seduces,
When, like pleasure, he amuses:
Still, howe'er the parts are cast,
It is but lurking love at last.
4. The Farmer's Creed.
Let this be held the farmer's creed:
For stock look out the choicest breed—
In peace and plenty let them feed—
Your land sow with the best of seed—
Enclose and drain it with all speed,
And you will soon be rich indeed.
5. On a Slanderous Coquette.
Hast thou not seen a lively bee,
Rove through the air, supremely free,
Its slender waist, and swelling breast,
In nature's beauteous colors drest,
While on its little, pointed tongue,
All Hybla's luscious sweets were hung:
Such Nancy is—but, oh the thing,
Wears, like the bee, a poisonous sting.
6. On Content.
It is not youth can give content,
Nor is it wealth can fee;
It is a dower from heav'n sent,
But not to thee or me.
It is not in the monarch's crown
Though he'd give millions for 't—
It is not in his lordship's frown
Nor waits on him to court.
It is not in a coach and six,
It is not in a garter;
'Tis not in love or politics,
But 'tis in Hodge the Carter.
7. On a Dandy.
They say, my friend, that you admire
Yourself with all a lover's fire.
Men who possess what they desire
Like you, are happy fellows.
But you can boast one pleasure more,
While blest with all that you adore,
That no one will be jealous.