Daniel Baker

For Wit and Beauty she may vie
With any mortal Brain, or Face:
But, ah! where's noble Virtue? where shall I
Thy venerable Footsteps trace?
...

The British Land in former Time
Was thought too phlegmatick a Clime,
Too cold for Verse to thrive and grow
On such a heavy Soil: But now,
...

I.
So long had Poetry possessed been
By Pagans, that a Right in her they claim'd,
Pleaded Prescription for their Sin,
...

As underdeath an Oak one Day
Free from unpeaceful Thoughts I lay
A gentle Slumber o'er my head
His downy Wing had softly spread:
...

I.
Ah! dearest Friend, the Years are flying;
They flie alass! they pass away
...

Amphion e'en hard Stones did move)
Appease the stubborn Anger of my Love,
And move her harder Heart.
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If ever this thy frequent breach of Oath
Had punish'd been with one black Tooth,
If but one Nail, or Hair of thine had bin
...

Cupid was lost, and all about
His Mother ran to seek him out.
Through Town and Field, through Earth and Skies,
...

Reason, which long had absent been before,
Vouchsaf'd one Day to come within my door.
Affrighted at th' unusual Sight, I try'd:
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Upon a flow'ry Bed
Beneath a Willow's pleasant shade,
Beside a crystal Flood his Love--sick Head
...

A little house I had (a Heart I mean)
Well furnish'd by my Mother's early Care
With holy Principles, chaste Thoughts and clean,
...

Having received home my Heart at last
I'll keep thee now, said I,
Thou never more from me shalt flie:
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Lo! to thee in this silent Sheet
Appears the Ghost of thy departed Lover:
Dear, do not any fear discover,
...

You that at ev'ry trifling Cross repine,
And tax the Ways of Providence Divine;
You that to ev'ry soft Temptation yield,
...

Again th' Almighty mounts his lofty Throne,
And on his Right Hand sate th' Eternal Son.
The Royal Writs were issued out, to call
...

Mean while loquacious Fame the News thro'--out
Each Corner of the Land had spread about.
The Monster Fame; by Stealth brought forth at first,
...

Ingrateful and malicious Maid,
A Veil of Darkness thou hast thrown
Over that Beauty which display'd
Thy Maker's Glory not thine own.
...

As virtuous Souls when they depart away,
And leave their loved Bodies here alone,
In Rest abide, until the joyful day
...

By the fond Counsel of my Friends misled
I banish'd Love out of my Breast;
Now surely I shall be at rest
...

Pardon me Friend, that I so soon
Forsake this great tumultuous Town.
And on the sudden hasten down;
...