The Shepherd and the Calm. Anne Finch (née Kingsmill), countess of Winchilsea Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T94539 pp. 274-5 K076314.000 Winchilsea, Anne Kingsmill Finch, Countess of, 1661-1720. Miscellany poems, on several occasions: Written by the Right Honble Anne, Countess of Winchilsea. London printed for J. B. and sold by Benj. Tooke, William Taylor, and James Round 1713 pp. 113-116. [8],390p. ; 8⁰.

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The Shepherd and the Calm . SOothing his Passions with a warb'ling Sound , A Shepherd-Swain lay stretch'd upon the Ground ; Whilst all were mov'd , who their Attention lent , Or with the Harmony in Chorus went , To something less than Joy , yet more than dull Content . ( Between which two Extreams true Pleasure lies , O'er-run by Fools , unreach'd-at by the Wise ) But yet , a fatal Prospect to the Sea Wou'd often draw his greedy Sight away . He saw the Barques unlading on the Shore , And guess'd their Wealth , then scorn'd his little Store , Then wou'd that Little lose , or else wou'd make it more To Merchandize converted is the Fold , The Bag , the Bottle , and the Hurdles sold ; The Dog was chang'd away , the pretty Skell Whom he had fed , and taught , and lov'd so well . In vain the Phillis wept , which heretofore Receiv'd his Presents , and his Garlands wore . False and upbraided , he forsakes the Downs , Nor courts her Smiles , nor fears the Ocean's Frown For smooth it lay , as if one single Wave Made all the Sea , nor Winds that Sea cou'd heave ; Which blew no more than might his Sails supply Clear was the Air below , and Phoebus laugh'd on high . With this Advent'rer ev'ry thing combines , And Gold to Gold his happy Voyage joins ; But not so prosp'rous was the next Essay , For rugged Blasts encounter'd on the way , Scarce cou'd the Men escape , the Deep had all their Prey . Our broken Merchant in the Wreck was throw Upon those Lands , which once had been his own Where other Flocks now pastur'd on the Grass , And other Corydons had woo'd his Lass . A Servant , for small Profits , there he turns , Yet thrives again , and less and less he mourns ; Re-purchases in time th'abandon'd Sheep , Which sad Experience taught him now to keep . When from that very Bank , one Halcyon Day , On which he lean'd , when tempted to the Sea , He notes a Calm ; the Winds and Waves were still , And promis'd what the Winds nor Waves fulfill , A settl'd Quiet , and Conveyance sure , To him that Wealth , by Traffick , wou'd procure . But the rough part the Shepherd now performs , Reviles the Cheat , and at the Flatt'ry storms . Ev'n thus ( quoth he ) you seem'd all Rest and Ease , You sleeping Tempests , you untroubl'd Seas , That ne'er to be forgot , that luckless Hour , In which I put my Fortunes in your Pow'r ; Quitting my slender , but secure Estate , My undisturb'd Repose , my sweet Retreat , For Treasures which you ravish'd in a Day , But swept my Folly , with my Goods , away . Then smile no more , nor these false Shews employ , Thou momentary Calm , thou fleeting Joy ; No more on me shall these fair Signs prevail , Some other Novice may be won to Sail , Give me a certain Fate in the obscurest Vale .