An EXCUSE for INCONSTANCY, 1737. Thomas Lisle Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.006 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. VI. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 162-163. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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An EXCUSE for INCONSTANCY , 1737. By the Rev. Dr. LISLE . WHEN Phoebus's beams are withdrawn from our sight , We admire his fair sister , the regent of night ; Tho' languid her beauty , tho' feeble her ray , Yet still she's akin to the God of the day . When Susan , like Cynthia , has finish'd her reign , Then Charlotte , like Phoebus , shall shine out again . As Catholic bigots fall humble before The pictures of those whom in heart they adore , Which tho' known to be nothing but canvas and paint , Yet are said to enliven their zeal to the saint ; So to Susan I bow , charming Charlotte , for she Has just beauty enough to remind me of thee . Inconstant and faithless in love's the pretence On which you arraign me : pray hear my defence . Such censures as these to my credit redound ; I acknowledge , and thank a good appetite for't , When ven'son and claret are not to be found , I can make a good meal upon mutton and port . Tho' The seat of the honourable R. H—t . Highclear's so fine that a prince would not scorn it , Tho' nature and taste have combin'd to adorn it , Yet the artist that owns it wou'd think it severe , Were a law made to keep him there all round the year . How enrag'd wou'd the rector of Wotton , the author's parish in the isle of Wight . Boscoville look , If the king should enjoin him to read but one book ! And how would his audience their fortune bemoan , If he gave them no sermons but what were his own ! 'Tis variety only makes appetite last , And by changing our dishes we quicken our taste .