Works

When I was at the Bagni de Pasa among the Appenines & at the foot of S^t Juliano's Craggs which I so delighted in; climbing to gather that sweet Myrtle we used to burn for Perfume to destroy the Animals that pestered us; I made the following Verses, of which having given away some Copies & lost others, I have now no Paper to write them out from. We called it I remember however, An Ode to Society.

1.

Society ! gregarious Dame !
Who knows thy favour'd Haunts to name?
Whether at Paris you prepare
The Supper and the Chat to share;
Where fix'd in artificial Row
Laughter displays his Teeth of Snow;
Grimace with Raillery rejoyces,
And Song of many-mingled Voices;
Till young Coquetry's artful Wile
Some foreign Novice shall beguile,
Who home return'd still prates of thee,
Light, flippant, French Society.

2.

Or whether with your Zone unbound
You ramble gaudy Venice round,
Resolv'd th' inviting Sweets to prove
Of wanton Mirth and willing Love,
Where gently roll th' obedient Seas
Sacred to Luxury and Ease.
In Coffee house or Casino gay
Till the, too quick return of Day,
Th' enchanted Votary who sighs
For Sentiments without Disguise
Clear, unaffected, fond and free,
In Venice finds Society.

3.

Or if to wiser Britain led,
Your vagrant Feet desire to tread
With measur'd Step and anxious Care
The Precincts pure of Portman Square;
While Wit with Elegance combin'd,
And polish'd Manners there you'll find,
The Taste correct, and fertile Mind,
Remember Vigilance lurks near,
And Silence with unnotic'd Sneer,
Who watches but to tell again
Your Foibles with tomorrow's Pen,
Till tittering Malice smiles to see
Your Wonder—grave Society!

4.

Far from your busy, crowded Court
Tranquillity makes her Resort
Where mid cold Staffa's Columns rude
Besides majestick Solitude;
Or where in some sad Brachman's Cell
Meek Innocence delights to dwell,
Weeping with inexperienced Eye
The Fate of a departed Fly:
Or in Hetraria's Heights sublime,
Where Science self might fear to climb,
But that She seeks a Smile from thee
And wooes thy Praise Society.

5.

Thence let me view the Plains below,
From rough S^t Julian's rugged Brow;
Hear the loud Torrents swift descending
Or watch the beauteous Rainbow bending,
Till Heaven regains its favourite hue,
Æther divine! Celestial Blue!
Then bosom'd high in Myrtle Bow'r,
View letter'd Pisa's pendent Tow'r;
The Sea's wide Scene, the Port's loud Throng,
Of Rude and Gentle, Right & Wrong—
A Motley Groupe! which yet agree
To call themselves Society.

6.

Oh Thou ! still sought by Wealth and Fame,
Dispenser of Applause or Blame!
While Slander ever at thy Side
With Flattery can thy Smiles divide,
Far from thy Haunts Oh let me stray,
But grant one Friend to chear my Way:
Whose Converse bland, whose Musick's Art,
May sooth my Soul—& heal my Heart;
Let soft Content our Steps pursue,
And Bliss Eternal bound our View—
Pow'r I'll resign, and Pomp, and Glee,
Thy best-lov'd Sweets—Society.