THE COUNTRY TO MY LADY CARLISLE.[1]
Reading edition
THE COUNTRY TO MY LADY CARLISLE.[1]
1 Madam, of all the sacred Muse inspired, Orpheus alone could with the woods comply; Their rude inhabitants his song admired, And Nature's self, in those that could not lie: Your beauty next our solitude invades, And warms us, shining through the thickest shades.
2 Nor ought the tribute, which the wond'ring Court Pays your fair eyes, prevail with you to scorn The answer and consent to that report Which, echo-like, the country does return: Mirrors are taught to flatter, but our springs Present th'impartial images of things.
3 A rural judge disposed of beauty's prize; A simple shepherd was preferr'd to Jove; Down to the mountains from the partial skies, Came Juno, Pallas, and the Queen of Love, To plead for that which was so justly given To the bright Carlisle of the court of heaven.
4 Carlisle! a name which all our woods are taught, Loud as their Amaryllis, to resound; Carlisle! a name which on the bark is wrought Of every tree that's worthy of the wound. From Phoebus' rage our shadows and our streams May guard us better than from Carlisle's beams.
[1] 'Lady Carlisle': the Lady Lucy Percy, daughter of the Earl of Northumberland, married against her father's wishes to the Earl of Carlisle. She was a wit and intriguante.