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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 January 2025
TO
The Right Honourable,
SUSANNA,
Countess of EGLINTON.
MADAM,
THE Love of Approbation, and a Desire to please the best, have ever encouraged the Poets to finish their Designs with Chearfulness. But conscious of their own Inability to oppose a Storm of Spleen, and haughty ill Nature, it is generally an ingenious Custom amongst them to chuse some honourable Shade.
WHEREFORE I beg Leave to put my Pastoral under your Ladyship's Protection, if my Patroness says, the Shepherds speak as they ought, and that there are several natural Flowers that beautify the rural Wild, I shall have good Reason to think my self safe from the aukward Censure of some pretending Judges that condemn before Examination.
I am sure of vast Numbers that will croud into your Ladyship's Opinion, and think it their Honour to agree in their Sentiments with the Countess of Eglinton, whose Penetration, superior Wit, and sound Judgment, shines with an uncommon Lustre, while accompanied with all the diviner Charms of Goodness and Equality of Mind.
IF it were not for offending only your Ladyship, here, Madam, I might give the fullest Liberty to my Muse to delineate the finest of Women, by drawing your Ladyship's Character, and be in no Hazard of being deemed a Flatterer; since Flattery lyes not in paying what's due to Merit, but in Praises misplaced.
WERE I to begin with your Ladyship's honourable Birth and Alliance, the Field's ample, and presents us with numberless, great and good Patriots, that have dignified the Names of KENNEDY and MONTGOMERY; be that the Care of the Herauld and Historian. ‘Tis personal Merit, and the heavenly Sweetness of the Fair that inspire the tuneful Lays. Here every Lesbia must be excepted, whose Tongues give Liberty to the Slaves, which their Eyes had made Captives. Such may be flatter’d; but your Ladyship justly claims our Admiration and profoundest Respect: For whilst you are possest of every outward Charm in the most perfect Degree, the never fading Beauties of Wisdom and Piety, which adorn your Ladyship's Mind, command Devotion.
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