[Page [144]]

FROM PHILANDER TO EUMENES.

1 WITH pleasure I your welcome letter read,
2 While Cupid for a little from me fled.
3 With freedom write, dispel your trivial fears;
4 There's nought presumptuous in your song appears;
5 Tho' strange th' ideas which you now convey,
6 While you our lovely females thus portray.
7 No doubt, there are, in the promiscuous crowd,
8 The worthless fair, the virtuous and the good;
9 The haughty nymph, the maid of humble mind;
10 Th' imperious, yea, the gentle and the kind;
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11 Such as an adamantine heart could charm,
12 And furious tygers of their rage disarm.
13 In all vicissitudes of human life,
14 Man's greatest blessing is a virtuous wife:
15 Her smiles can't fail to sooth his anxious breast,
16 Diffusing joy, while various cares molest:
17 Her prudent counsel swift relief can bring,
18 As Abigail appeased Isr'el's king.
19 Nor need I thus the sacred annals trace,
20 In Britain's Isle they claim the highest place;
21 When dire oppression, with uplifted hand,
22 His yoke extended o'er our native land,
23 Our sires to abject slavery were doom'd,
24 Our mothers all their ancient claims resum'd:
25 You'll say my speeches do me partial prove,
26 And so ascribe the cruel cause to love.
27 Are you alone exempt from such a guest?
28 Are you of every antidote possess'd
29 T' effect a cure, or mitigate the pain?
30 Then may the archer cast his shafts in vain.
31 Of late dear friend I did such valour boast;
32 But by one fatal glance the field was lost.
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33 While you are free of dangers, still beware;
34 Be warn'd by me, and shun th' alluring snare.
35 It is by some deem'd cowardice to fly,
36 But sure it more ignoble is to die:
37 To die, I'm frantic, sir; what did I say?
38 Reason once more resume thy wonted sway;
39 Kind heaven defend us from such dire alarms;
40 Who would a victim fall to female charms?
41 I find I'm better while your lines I read,
42 I'm almost from my Gallic fetters free'd.
43 As you alone were partner of my grief,
44 Pray now congratulate my quick relief.
45 I would not by prolixity offend;
46 Both bound and free, Philander is your friend.

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Title (in Source Edition): FROM PHILANDER TO EUMENES.
Author: Janet Little (later Richmond)
Themes:
Genres: epistle

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Little, Janet, 1759-1813. The Poetical Works of Janet Little, the Scotch Milkmaid. Air: Printed by John & Peter Wilson, 1792, pp. [144]-146.  (ESTC T126549) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Library of the University of California, Los Angeles.)

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Other works by Janet Little (later Richmond)