To Aspasia, a New-Year’s Ode

AS late in Fancy's Lap entranc'd I lay,
Dozing my softer Hours away:
(Fairer than Ida was the Mount she prest,
In Nature's richest Verdure drest,
The Earth with roseat Fragrance did abound,
And all methought was Paradise around;)
Array'd in Summer's fairest Vest,
A Nymph with tripping Motion came;
In gentle Accents, smiling she addrest
My list'ning Sense—and Fortune was her Name.

'Long has the cens'ring World my Pow'r despis'd,
'Of ev'ry Worth my Favor dispossest,
'To prove me blind malicious Tales devis'd,
'And say, thro' me that Merit ne'er is blest.
Mortal, to thee, (nay cease to bend)
'My Suit I make, and thy Assistance crave—
'My Honors to retrieve thy Influence lend,
'And from malicious Slander save.

'There is a Nymph (with Blushes I must own)
'To whom alas! too long I've been unknown:
'Who can my Gifts behold with unregarding Eyes,
'And all my Pow'r to harm defies.
'Some more than human Strength supports her Mind,
'Some Resolution not to Earth confin'd;
'Alike esteem'd my Favor and my Frown.

'One Smile from her would soon destroy
'Malice and Envy's deadliest Rage;
'Would hebetate fell Satire's keen Annoy,
'And all my Cares assuage.
'No more should Men this partial Maxim mind,
'Fortune is fickle, false, and blind,
'But all should own with Joy sincere,
'Her Pow'r is fix'd, her Judgment clear,
'This Day that leads the circling Year.

'Lo! what a Garland is before thee laid,
'Of Flowers cropt from Nature's richest Tree!
'Bestow them ALL on Honor's fav'rite Maid—
'Why dost thou pause?—Aspasia must be she.
'Behold this Branch of PLEASURE's gilded Plant,
'Whereon the Flow'r CONTENT doth grow!
'And here's AFFECTION's Leaf, of Sweetness nothing scant,
'Whence PEACE of MIND it's gentle Bud shall blow,

'Lo! here a flaunting Branch of WEALTH I've brought,
'Plant, that shall never cease to bloom!
'(For which from Age to Age whole Worlds in Toil have sought)
'With FRIENDSHIP's od'rous Sprig to lend divine Perfume;
'And here of LOVE, to crown it all,
'This middle Branch expanding, fair, and tall,
'Stole from the Youth, whom most the Virgin loves.

'With awful Rev'rence, at her Virtue's shrine
'Lowly present the fragrant Wreath;
'More to commend it, let no Praise be mine,
'Say Fate, not Fortune doth the Gift bequeath!
'Ah! should she kindly deign receive
'What I with more than duteous Pleasure give,
'My Pow'r, my Honor shall for ay survive.

'Mortal in thee I must confide,
'In this thy strictest Faith be try'd!—
I bow'd, in Token of my promis'd Care,
And look'd Obedience—ere I had exprest
My Thanks, thus honor'd with so fair Behest,
She vanish'd into Air.

The Garden, where I lay, now o'er and o'er
With curious Search I 'gan t'explore;
So rich a Chaplet to contain
A suited Cage to form all Art were vain.
Yet of the rarest Twigs, the Muse could find,
In artful, plyant Foldings twin'd,
A neat Receptacle (the best she could) she join'd,
That no unhallow'd Touch the Garland might prophane.

ESTEEM his nervous Stem provides
The Groundwork to compose;
HONOR and fairest TRUTH connect the sinuous Sides;
While here and there, between the Chains,
FRATERNAL LOVE, (like Ore thro' Nature's richest Veins)
It's supple Sweetness shews.

MODESTY's tender Leaf o'ercover'd all,
Preserving from inclement Air.—
Thus, well-secur'd, the Muse shall lowly fall,
And reverentially present,
Regardful of the Goddess' great Intent,
With sacred Wishes, and right faithful Pray'r.

O may this Chaplet heighten it's Perfume,
And Day by Day improve!
Each Flow'r contain'd each Moment richer
WEALTH, PLEASURE, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE!
Henceforth no Blast, no Damp come near,
But all in fresher Sweets enrob'd appear
Each Day that leads each circling Year!