[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]
AS from a rock past all relief,
The shipwrackt Colin spying
His native soil, o’ercome with grief,
Half sunk in waves, and dying:
With the next morning sun he spies
A ship, which gives unhop’d surprise;
New life springs up, he lifts his eyes
With joy, and waits her motion.
–
So when by her whom long I lov’d,
I scorn’d was, and deserted,
Low with despair my spirits mov’d,
To be for ever parted:
Thus droopt I, till diviner grace
I found in Peggy’s mind and face;
Ingratitude appear’d then base,
But vertue more engaging.
–
Then now since happily I’ve hit,
I’ll have no more delaying;
Let beauty yield to manly wit,
We lose ourselves in staying:
I’ll hast dull courtship to a close,
Since marriage can my fears oppose;
Why should we happy minutes lose,
Since, Peggy, I must love thee?
–
Men may be foolish, if they please,
And deem’t a lover’s duty,
To sigh, and sacrifice their ease,
Doating on a proud beauty:
Such was my case for many a year,
Still hope succeeding to my fear,
False Betty’s charms now disappear,
Since Peggy’s far outshine them.