m 3 m r^ 6 m ^^^^ 1 — 5 m 1 — ' J3 6 a = J> 3D m = ^—^ 1 — — —1 6 v^- £STC - THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES i^ / % -"je?4f ^, FUGITIVE PIECES coaHa prodire* WRITTEN BY J. P. K E M B L E, y O R K: fRINTEP BY W. BLANCHARD AND CO. FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY FIELDING AND WALKER, LONDON; AN,D T.WILSON ANP SON, AND N. FROBISHER, YORK. MDCCLXXX. ^T X I PPs S H-'S^-'I -K5/a'i I PREFACE. X Declare I hardly know how to fay what juftice to myfelf obliges me to fay.-^ — The public hears daily of fo many unlucky Poets, who become publifhers from the fame fate that ranges me In their clafs, that I am apprehenfive the truth, when told, will not ferve me as ^n apology, but the cffe6l of confiraint be reputed the wifh of prefumption. ' The courfe of my fludies firft gave me a tafle for Poetry, and the fweetnefs of the art infpired me with an inclination to improve It. — The few who faw my verfes faid 76^493 ( vi ) laid they liked them, and would fome* times a(k for a copy of what they had fccn. — The firft pleafure I know is to pleafe ; and indeed I thought complying ;ivith their requeAs an eafy return for the obligation of their praife. — They had co- pies, and in their high opinion of me gave copies to others, who foon circulated fome of my pieces, as particular favours to particular friends, through half a do- zen editions, of which three or fou;* were generally \cry incorred. To prevent this evil from fprcading, I have here colleded in one fmall book ihofc verles of which I have ever given copies, ( vii ) copies, as far as remembrance and pof- feffion have permitted me. All parents have a partiality to their own child — fo every Writer has a par- tiality to the produ6lions of his own brain, that would rather they were feen in a perfe(5i: than an imperfedl Htuation — and when a man's writings mufl unavoid- ably be delivered into the hands of the public, a decent refpedl for his own cha- ia6ler, and good manners to his fellow- creatures will oblige him to endeavour, as much as poilible, that they may not ex- cite a contempt for himfelf, nor be en- tirely ufelefs and difgufting to his readers. York, 1780. FUGITIVE PIECES. HEBE'S BIRTH-DAY. ADDRESSED TO Miss X H E Queen of Paphos' flow'ry groves Afcends her dove-borne car; Cupid J the Graces f and the Lov.ej Shed odours thro' the air. Sooii ( = ) Soon Cythirca reach'd the fliies; Eacli God that day was there — She rais'd to Jovi her wat'ry eyes. And thus prefer'd her pray'r : *' No more niankhid invokes my pow'r, *' Nor ardent vows arife *' From doting bofoms, love's no more^ ^' ]VIy Ctip'id^i influence dies. 5' His bow, hi^ arrows he has thrown << Qjiite ufeleft from lus arms — •f' Sec, where the Sirter Craas moan *' In negligence of charms. <^ To-day fprings fortli to life below <' A Babe of honour'd line ; ^ There let eacli God fome boon beftow, " And ftavnp the Nymph divine.** SI' ( 5 ) She Cpoke—Jove gave th' aflenting noj. His thunders took their way; fie then commanded that each Go4 Tiie ^iieen of Love obey, firft came the Graces liand in hand( And gave her all their eafe, O'er ev'ry heart fupreme comman^ And elegance to pleafe, ^j>o//o and the 31ufi'i Nine Their heav'nly gifts impart^ yj\t, mufic, poery divine And fenfe to form the heart," Jove gave his light'ning to her eyes. Gay Bacchus lading youth, jyioiiius with laughter Ihook the ikiej And added fmiling truth, C}'pi4 ( 4 ) C?^//i heard all— but knew not how The fl.Roiind the plain fecure I rov'dj With ev'ry nymph wou'd toy, Wou'd laugh and kifs — but never lovM Beyond the moment's joy. Cupid refolv'd to faare my heart Each bloomhig Beauty tries. But fent the love-infpiring dart J'rom Hebe's fparkling eyes. Since then I've lov'd — but lov'd in vain^ Gay grandeur charms my fair- She fcorns my fighs — Ah ! kicklefs fwain. Thy portion is defpair, B SALLY ( 10 ) SALLY OF THE MEAD. \^ NE morn when nymphs and fwains were gay And danc'd upon the greeny From mirth poor Jevniiy fled away To mourn his lot unfeen — In tears the am'roiis Boy complains Clofe by the murm'ring Tweed, The fad, fad burthen of his ftrains Was Sally of the Mead. My S^lly did each nymph furpafs Who trips the flow'ry plain^ Once flie was thonglit the lovelieft lafs; And I the happieP: fwain — Tfi ( " ) To pleafe her was my fole employ, To her I tun'd my reed, And, morn and eve, my only joy Was Sally of the Mead. While yet the morn was clad in grey I rofe to court her love. Thro' flow'ry fields I took my way And then her garland wove — , Tho' Rofe and Lily both were there To deck her charming head. That was lefs fvveet, and this lefs fair Than Sally of the Mead. J^ow Ihe no more fliall glad my eyes^ No m.ore my fong infpire, From me the faithlcfs fair-one llieg To blefs the richer 'Squire—. B 2 Yet ( 12 ) Yet may her heart know nought but joy; Kor e'er repent this deed— Jevwiy can lay him down— and die For Sally of the Mead. ODE ( 13 ) ODE A D O M N U M. UEM mihi femper repeti vocanti, So7nney prasrentem, pofito fub umbra Pofco nunc adfis, gravium laborum, Dulce lenimeii. Tu mari mcrfus Lybico notafti Dum polos magui, Palhiure, vires Morphcos nofli properantis in te Triftia fata. An prius dicam rabidse Jimotiis Finias victas, vigilcmque monte Somniis Jus Dominum rolutum Lumina centum? Qiiin ( H ) Onin Jovem magnum, Super um Parentem Vincit en Morpheus — et aguntur omni Tro's's c campo, fuperante Sovmn Fulmina cceli. En Deus. voto totics vocatus Snpplici, fegnis comitatus aflat Somniis vanis, oculos cruentos Venice merfiis ! Fert manu virgam, tacitceque Lethes Tociilo f^iclo Stygia cuprcfTii Rora; circuradat gravidum. papaver Tempora rugis Indecora — ilium comitatur ales Noctis — in Vatcm leviore trac^a Serpit, ct vincit lyricas amantcm Tangere chorJas. ' OCCASIONAL C 15 ) OCCASIONAL PROLOGUE TO A PLAY ACTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INFIRMARY IN LEEDS. »^OON as Compajfioji — Glory of our IfiC — With modelt elegance had rais'd yon pile. Where kindly Science to each acliing grief. Each fad mifchance adrainiflers relief, Covwisrce beheld it — and her looks confeH: The fprightly joy that danc'd within her breafl T\\\!i%Go7nmercs fung-"Toyou, my children, peace I".^ Shefung— and fmilingwav'd her GOLDEN FLEECE— *< 'Tis yours, my fons, with tend'reft care to heal '^ The varied mis'ries Poverty may feel ; «'ris ( '^> ) *' 'Tis yours the finking frame of Age to rear, " 'Tis yours to flicd the fympathetic Tear, *' 'Tis yours Misfortune's kcenefl: pangs to eafe— " And yours fnall be the meed of a*5ls like thefe. " While this bright fun illumes the face of day, '* While yonder moon reflects one filver ray, " So long Abundance fliall your guefl: remain ''■ To deck the board, and whillle o'er the plain. *' Qiiickly with her, of ev'ry good the Oiiecn, '* White Peace lier gentle fiiler fiiall be fccn. " I fee her now defcending from the flcy '' To banini War and bid Rebellion flv. *' InduRry now has all my fails unfurl'd, *' Now fends my honefl treafures o'er the world; *' Now plcas'd tlic mines of either Inde I view *' Relign, my fon-, their many (lores to you — "For ( 17 ) '* For you are bounteous as the Hand of Heav'n, *' And feel why riches were to mortals glv'n." Thus Commerce fung — and here in furtive verfe Have I prefum'd the carol to reheaffe — Where praife is merited, let prai'e be giv'n — To honour virtue is to a6l like Heav'n. And fure your gen'rous deeds may well demand That Angels fing them to the lifl'ning land j For mindful ever of wealth's firft, beft end. You bid the Poor in you behold a Friend. OCCASIONAL ( i8 ) OCCASIONAL PROLOGUE TO THE FOUNDLING, ACTED AT THE THE A THE -ROYAL in YORK% FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LUNATIC ASYLUM. j7 KOM the mild regions of her native fliy. O'er Britain's Ifle fweet Pity caft her eye— • She cafl— and Sorrow heav'd her melting breaft. As to her view pale Sickmfi (toed conftll. Here n each'rous JVafle attains her end by ftealth^ And, fl.ut'ring, flowly faps the bafe of health. There Fevers fhoot through ev'ry fwelling vein. Now fire the lawlcfs blood, now rack the brain.— .Daughtei (19 ) Daughter of Htll, a direr fiend than War, With haft-y flfide Plague rufhes from afar ! — Her favage pleafnre grows on fpreading death, And Parent Nations crplian'd by her breath. Who fits on yonder ftone with hollow eye And hand out-ftretch'd, imploring charity ? 'Tis hungry Famine — " Thou flialt aflc no more," Cry'd one--" but die, and fliame that rich man's door."— Who was't fo cry'd ? — The Monarch of the Dead, As from yon grave he rear'd his meagre head. P'lty with fmiles beheld his friendly blow. And hail'd him — Curer of a curelefs woe.- .. She fpoke, and foaming Phrenzy darted by. Strength in his hand, and murder in his eye Sadly flie figh'd, and as flie turn'd away Heard calmer Melancholy s penfive lay— C ? Jlie ( 20 ) The love-lorn Virgin, wand'ring thro' the gloom Of yew- bound church-yards and the mould'ring tomb. Sung to the Moon of Marg'refs grimly ghoft," or Hejiry'' s broken vows, and Evrma loft. Here Pity wept — and from her tears arofe A kind Asylum for the mad-one's woes. Hail to the wond'rous art that can difpenfe The genial floods of renovatt:d fcnfe ! And bleflings crown your breafts who feel thefe woes, As far the heavieft human nature knows ! EPILOGUE ( 21 ) EPILOGUE T O B E L I S A R I U S. X Hey 're biify yonder — fo I've flip'd awsy To give you my opinion of the Play. 'Tis very, very low — and on my life Bajres makes fad blunders with his injur'd Wife: There's not a fpark of breeding in her nature, A doting, doleful, humdrum, pretty creature !— He and our ill-bred Manager 'tis clear Want to invade the charters of the fair ; Wou'd have us filent — bid us keep our houfes— lnllru ringlets kifs my head ** Loofc, as when on wat'ry bed ** In fmiles I woke to life divine — " AnJ here and there a rofe entwine " Adown that braid" — Says Mifs, " I doubt it " Won't look fo well as 'twould without ir, *< Thefe threads of gold" — " I will have one, " Mifs Grace, you know it's quite the Ton." (So it is pofiible we fee That Ton and Grace may difagree.) Her locks ethereal now were dreft •' Come, bring me my Circaffian veil." ** Where is it, Ma'am? — "I'th' middle drawer" — Pafthca went — her Sifters fiiw her Turn ( 4r ) Turn pale — fiie cries, " we're all undone" — "Howfo ?" — "Lord, Ma'am, the drefs is gone."— The Graces fobbings can't be painted Poor Venus only figh'd — and fainted. *' Here, reach the Hartfliorn Drops," fays one — " Frefli water," t'other — t'other '•' run '* For Efculapitis" — " Greater need " Of Doctor PhcEous''—'^ He don't bleed, '' Alas!" cries one — *' and in this cafe *' She fliou d be bled"— '^Ay"—" Cut her lace."— Nothing was done of all they faid, For each commanded, none obey'd.— Here Cupid with his play- mate came. Soft Ganyvieds^ to fee the Dame. For VcnuSy knowing not a chair That night in Heav'n wou'd be to fpare, F Nor ( 42 ) Nor coach for love or coin be had, Very politely told the Lad That he fhoiild be her *Squire, and ride That night with Cupid lit her fide In her own chariot, drawn by Doves, And lackied by a thoufand Loves — Ent'ring her room, the F'air they found Rifing recover'd from the ground. Arch Cupid, looking earneft at her, Climb'd on her knee, and " what's the matter, " Mama.'" fays he — ** My pretty Boy, " My d« .: «^ »> UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. UC SOUTHERN REGIOMAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 365 600 6 A