ward_ Idea of PAMELA's _Person_,
that I dread _any_ figur'd Pretence to Resemblance. For it will be pity
to look at an _Air_, and imagine it _Hers_, that does not carry some
such elegant Perfection of Amiableness, as will be sure to find place in
the _Fancy_."}

VERSES, sent to the Bookseller, for the Unknown Author [_del._ 8th]
{of the beautiful new Piece call'd} _PAMELA_.

Blest be thy pow'rful Pen, whoe'er thou art,
Thou skill'd, great _Moulder_ of the master'd Heart!
Where hast thou lain conceal'd!---or why thought fit,
At this dire Period, to _unveil_ thy Wit?
O! late befriended Isle! had this broad Blaze,
With earlier Beamings, bless'd our _Fathers_ Days,
The Pilot Radiance, pointing out the Source,
Whence public Health derives its [5th: "moral"] {vital} Course,
Each timely Draught some healing Power had shown,
Ere gen'ral _Gangrene_ blacken'd, to the _Bone_.
But, fest'ring now, beyond all Sense of Pain,
'Tis hopeless: and the Helper's Hand is _vain_.
Sweet _Pamela_! forever-blooming Maid!
Thou dear, unliving, yet immortal, Shade!
Why are thy Virtues scatter'd to the Wind?
Why are thy Beauties flash'd upon the Blind?
What, tho' thy flutt'ring Sex might learn, from thee,
That _Merit_ forms a Rank, above _Degree_?
That Pride, too conscious, falls, from ev'ry _Claim_,
While humble Sweetness climbs, beyond its _Aim_?
What, tho' Religion, smiling from thy Eyes,
Shews her _plain_ Power, and charms without _Disguise_?
What, tho' thy warmly-pleasing moral Scheme
Gives livelier Rapture, than the Loose can _dream_?
What, tho' thou build'st, by thy persuasive Life,
Maid, Child, Friend, Mistress, Mother, Neighbour, Wife?
Tho' Taste like thine each Void of Time, can fill,
Unsunk by Spleen, unquicken'd by Quadrille!
What, tho' 'tis thine to bless the lengthen'd Hour!
Give _Permanence_ to Joy, and _Use_ to Pow'r?
Lend late-felt Blushes to the _Vain_ and _Smart_?
And squeeze cramp'd Pity from the _Miser_'s Heart?
What, tho' 'tis thine to hush the Marriage Breeze,
Teach Liberty to _tire_, and Chains to _please_?
Thine tho', from Stiffness to divest Restraint,
And, to the Charmer, reconcile the _Saint_?
Tho' Smiles and Tears obey thy moving Skill,
And Passion's ruffled Empire waits thy Will?
Tho' thine the fansy'd Fields of flow'ry Wit,
Thine, Art's whole Pow'r, in Nature's Language writ!
Thine, to convey strong Thought, with m