DEAR

I.

EAR Howard, from the foft affaults of Love, Poets and painters never are fecure;

Can I untouch'd the fair ones paffions move?
Or thou draw beauty, and not feel its pow'r?

To

"Hugh Howard, better known by these beautiful "verfes to him, than by his own works, was fon of Ralph "Howard, doctor of phyfick, and was born in Dublin, February 7, 1675. His father being driven from Ire"land by the troubles that followed the Revolution, "brought the lad to England, who difcovering a difpofi❝tion to the arts and Belles Lettres, was fent to travel in 1697; and, in his way to Italy, paffed through Holland "in the train of Thomas Earl of Pembroke, one of the 66 plenipotentiaries at the treaty of Ryfwick. Mr. Howard "proceeded as he had intended, and having visited France "and Italy, returned home in October, 1700.

"Some years he paffed in Dublin: the greatest and "latter part of his life he spent entirely in England, prac

66 tiling

II.

To great Apelles when young Ammon brought
The darling idol of his captive heart;

And the pleas'd nymph with kind attention fat,
To have her charms recorded by his art:

"tifing painting, at leaft with applaufe; but having in"gratiated himself by his fame and knowledge of lands "with men of the first rank, particularly the Duke of "Devonshire and Lord Pembroke, and by a parfimonious

management of his good fortune, and of what he received "with his wife, he was enabled to quit the practical part "of his profeffion for the laft twenty years of his life; the "former peer having obtained for him the pofts of Keeper "of the State Papers, and Pay-Mafter of his Majesty's "Palaces. In this pleafing fituation he amused himself "with forming a large collection of prints, books, and "medals, which at his death † (March 27, 1737), he be"queathed to his only brother Robert Howard, Bishop of "Elphin, who transported them to Ireland.

"Mr. Howard's picture was drawn by Dahl, very "like, and published in Mezzotinto about a year before "his death. Howard himself etched from a drawing of

Carlo Marati, a head of Padra Refta, the collector, with his fpectacles on, turning over a large book of "drawings."

He died in Pall-mall, and was buried at Richmond. Walpole's Anecdotes, vol. III. 156.

III.

The am'rous master own'd her potent eyes;
Sigh'd when he look'd, and trembled as he drew;
Each flowing line confirm'd his first surprize,
And as the piece advanc'd, the pallion grew.
IV.

While Philip's fon, while Venus' fon was near,
What different tortures does his bofom feel?

Great was the rival, and the god fevere:

Nor could he hide his flame, nor durft reveal.
V.

The prince, renown'd in bounty as in arms,
With pity faw the ill-conceal'd diftrefs;
Quitted his title to Campaspe's charms,

And gave the fair-one to the friend's embrace.
VI.

Thus the more beauteous Cloe fat to thee,

Good Howard, emulous of the Grecian art:
But happy thou, from Cupid's arrow free,
And flames that pierc'd thy predeceffor's heart.
VII.

Had thy poor breaft receiv'd an equal pain;

Had I been vefted with the monarch's power; Thou must have figh'd, unlucky youth, in vain ; Nor from my bounty hadst thou found a cure. VIII.

Though to convince thee, that the friend did feel

A kind concern for thy ill-fated care,

I would have footh'd the flame, I could not heal; Giv'n thee the world; though I with-held the fair.

LOVE

LOVE DISAR ME D.

BENEATH a myrtle's verdant shade
As Cloe half afleep was laid,

Cupid perch'd lightly on her breast,
And in that heav'n defir'd to rest:
Over her paps his wings he spread :
Between he found a downy bed,
And neftled in his little head.

Still lay the god: the nymph furpriz'd,
Yet mistress of herfelf, devis'd,
How fhe, the vagrant might enthral,
And captive him, who captives all.
Her bodice half-way fhe unlac'd;
About his arms she flily caft

The filken bond, and held him fast.

The god awak'd; and thrice in vain
He ftrove to break the cruel chain;
And thrice in vain he shook his wing,
Incumber'd in the filken ftring.

Flutt'ring the god, and weeping said,
Pity poor Cupid, generous maid,
Who happen'd, being blind, to stray,
And on thy bofom lost his way:

}

}

Who

Who ftray'd, alas! but knew too well,
He never there must hope to dwell.
Set an unhappy pris'ner free.
Who ne'er intended harm to thee.

To me pertains not, fhe replies,
To know or care where Cupid flies;
What are his haunts, or which his way;
Where he would dwell, or whither stray:
Yet will I never fet thee free:
For harm was meant, and harm to me.
Vain fears that vex thy virgin heart!
I'll give thee up my bow and dart :
Untangle but this cruel chain,
And freely let me fly again.

Agreed: fecure my virgin heart:
Inftant give up thy bow and dart:
The chain I'll in return unty;
And freely thou again shalt fly.

Thus fhe the captive did deliver;
The captive thus gave up his quiver.
The god difarm'd, e'er fince that day
Paffes his life in harmless play :

Flies round, or fits upon her breast,
A little, fluttering, idle guest."

E'er fince that day the beauteous maid
Governs the world in Cupid's ftead;
Directs his arrow as fhe wills;

Gives grief, or pleasure; fpares, or kills.

VOL. L.

"

H

CLOE