ESSAY on FRIENDSHIP. Mary Leapor 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. T127827 p. 413 K101776.000 Leapor, Mrs. (Mary), 1722-1746. Poems upon several occasions: By Mrs. Leapor of Brackley in Northamptonshire. London printed: and sold by J. Roberts 1748 pp. 74-80. 15,[5],282p. ; 8⁰.

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ESSAY on FRIENDSHIP . TO Artemisia . — 'Tis to her we sing , For her once more we touch the sounding String , 'Tis not to Cythera's Reign nor Cupid's Fires , But sacred Friendship that our Muse inspires . A Theme that suits Aemilia's pleasing Tongue : So to the Fair Ones I devote my Song . The Wise will seldom credit all they hear , Tho' saucy Wits shou'd tell them with a Sneer , That Womens Friendships , like a certain Fly , Are hatch'd i'th Morning and at Ev'ning die . 'Tis true , our Sex has been from early Time A constant Topick for Satirick Rhyme : Nor without Reason — since we're often found , Or lost in Passion , or in Pleasures drown'd : And the fierce Winds that bid the Ocean roll , Are less inconstant than a Woman's Soul : Yet some there are who keep the mod'rate Way , Can think an Hour , and be calm a Day : Who ne'er were known to start into a Flame , Turn Pale or tremble at a losing Game . Run Chloe's Shape or Delia's Features down , Or change Complexion at Celinda's Gown : But still serene , compassionate and kind , Walk through Life's Circuit with an equal Mind . Of all Companions I would choose to shun Such , whose blunt Truths are like a bursting Gun , Who in a Breath count all your Follies o'er , And close their Lectures with a mirthful Roar : But Reason here will prove the safest Guide , Extremes are dang'rous plac'd on either Side . A Friend too soft will hardly prove sincere ; The Wit's inconstant , and the Learn'd severe . Good-Breeding , Wit , and Learning , all conspire To charm Mankind and make the World admire : Yet in a Friend but serve an under Part , The main Ingredient is an honest Heart : By this can Urs'la all our Souls subdue Which wanting , this , not Sylvia's Charms , can do . Now let the Muse ( who takes no Courtier's Fee ) Point to her Friend — and future Ages see ( If this shall live 'till future Ages be ) One Line devoted to Fidelia's Praise , The lov'd Companion of my early Days : Whouse harmless Thoughts are sprightly as her Eyes , By Nature chearful , and by Nature wise . To have them last , the social Laws decree ; We choose our Friendships in the same degree : What mighty Pleasure , if we might presume , To strut with Freedom in Arvida's Room , Or share the Table what supreme Delight ? With some proud Dutchess or a scornful Knight , To sit with formal and assenting Face ? For who shall dare to contradict her Grace ? Our free-born Nature hates to be confin'd , Where State and Power check the speaking Mind ; Where heavy Pomp and sullen Form withholds That chearful Ease and Sympathy of Souls . But yet the Soul whate'er its Partner do , Must lift its Head above the baser Crew . Celestial Friendship with its nicer Rules , Frequents not Dunghills nor the Clubs of Fools . It asks , to make this Union soft and long , A Mind susceptible , and Judgment strong ; And then a Taste : But let that Taste be giv'n By mighty Nature and the Stamp of Heav'n : Possest of these , the justly temper'd Flame Will glow incessant , and be still the same : Not mov'd by Sorrow , Sickness , or by Age To sullen Coldness or distemper'd Rage . The Soul unstain'd with Envy or with Pride , Pleas'd with itself and all the World beside , Unmov'd can see gilt Chariots whirling by , Or view the wretched with a melting Eye , Discern a Failing and forgive it too : Such , Artemisia , we may find in you . Be seldom sour , or your Friends will fly From the hung Forehead and the scornful Eye : Nor , like Aurelia , in the Morning kind , And soft as Summer or the western Wind : But round ere night her giddy Passions wheel , She'll clap the Door against your parting Heel . An even Temper will be sure to please , With cool Reflexion and a chearful Ease . But see Armida's unfrequented Rooms , How vainly spread with Carpets and Perfumes : All shun her like the Cocatrice's Beams , And for no other Reason but her loath'd Extremes . To-day more holy than a cloister'd Nun , Almost an Atheist by to-morrow's Sun : Now speaks to Heaven with a lifted Eye : Now to her Footman , You're a Rogue , and lye . O say , from what strange Principles begin These odd Compounds of Piety and Sin ? A sickly Fair may some Excuses find , ( What grieves the Body will affect the Mind ) But not the Creatures who have learn'd to screen Their own Ill-nature in the name of Spleen . What the black Mists afflict the aking Skull , The Spirits tremble and the Heart be dull : Have you from thence a Licence to offend , Affront a Patron or abuse a Friend ? And ape the Manners of a surly Beast , Because 'tis cloudy and the Wind's i'th' East ? But all have Failings , not the best are free , Or in a greater or a less Degree . What follows then ? — Forgive , or unforgiven Expect no Passage at the Gate of Heav'n . Kind Nature gave , in Pity to Mankind , This social Virtue to the human Mind : This gives our Pleasures a more easy Flow , And helps to blunt the Edge of smarting Woe : The Soul's Relief , with Grief or Cares opprest , Is to disclose them to a faithful Breast ; And then how lovely in a Friend appear , The mournful Sigh and sympathizing Tear . When changing Fortune with propitious Ray , Gilds the brown Ev'ning or the smiling Day ; The pleas'd Companion shares the welcome Tide , And wrap'd in Joy the happy Minutes glide . Grave Authors differ — Men of Sense incline This Way or that — Opinions rarely join : Their Thoughts will vary . Why ? Because they're free , But most in this and only this agree ; That our chief Task is seldom to offend , And Life's great Blessing a well-chosen Friend .