To a Friend. Written in M DCC XC. Catherine Rebecca Grey, Lady Manners 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. T173070 Manners, Catherine Rebecca, Lady, 1766 or 1767-1852. Poems by Lady Manners. Second edition. London John Bell 1793 pp. [104]-[]. 126p.

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To a Friend . Written in M DCC XC. AH , say not , young Shepherdess , I am to blame , When I tell you the swains are untrue ; Nor think that each youth is possess'd of a flame Who swears he's devoted to you . The artful Lysander , his love is exprest In accents so winningly sweet , As might tempt the fleet moments delighted to rest Inactive , their pleasure-wing'd feet . Gay Damon will tell you , though splendid the sun , 'Tis not half so brilliant as you ; And thus in a strain of high compliments run , Perhaps not a syllable true . Aricius walks stately and proud o'er the plain , In the mirror his image he'll view ; But when you appear , even Aricius the vain Enraptur'd kneels captive to you . But , dearest Lamira , may you never prove With humiliation this truth : That interest governs their actions , not love , That your gold has more charms than your youth ! In vain lavish Nature had spread o'er your cheek Those roses unsullied by Art ; In vain from your eyes sprightly Genius might speak The thoughts that ennoble your heart — Had not Fortune , indulgent , embellish'd each grace With varnish that never can fade ; Whose lustre , when wrinkles shall alter your face , Shall throw a new light o'er the shade . Enough of the youths of Arcadia I've told , Nor further intend to advise ; Lamira may fancy my censures too bold , But my pen paints the heart , not the eyes .