THE BASTAR D. A POE M, Infcribed with all due Reverence to Mrs. BRET, once Countess of MACCLESFIEL D. By RICHARD SAVAGE, Decet hæc dare dona Novercam. Ov. Met. Firft Printed in the Year 1727. TO THE BASTAR D. HE Reader will eafily perceive these Verfes were begun, when my Heart was gayer, than it has been of late; and finished in Hours of the deepeft Melancholy. I hope the World will do me the Justice to believe, that no Part of this flows from any real Anger against the Lady, to whom it is infcribed. Whatever undeferved Severities I may have received at her Hands, would she deal fo candidly as acknowledge Truth, the very well knows, by an Experience of many Years, that I have ever behaved myself towards her, like one who thought it his Duty to support with Patience all Afflictions from that Quarter. Indeed if I had not been capable of forgiving a Mother, I must have blushed to receive Pardon myself at the hands of my Sovereign. Neither to fay Truth, were the Manner of my Birth all, fhould I have any Reafon for Complaintwhen I am a little difpofed to a gay Turn of Thinking, I confider, as I was a DE-RELICT from my Cradle, I have have Honour of a lawful Claim to the best Protection in Europe. For being a Spot of Earth, to which no body pretends a Title, I devolve naturally upon the King, as one of the Rights of his Royalty. While I prefume to name his Majefty, I look back, with Confufion, upon the Mercy I have lately experienced, because it is impoffible to remember it, but with fomething I would fain forget; for the fake of my future Peace and Alleviation of my past Misfortune. I owe my Life to the Royal Pity, if a Wretch can, with Propriety, be faid to live whofe Days are fewer than his Sorrows; and to whom Death had been but a Redemption from Mifery. But I will fuffer my Pardon as my Punishment, till that Life, which has fo graciously been given me, shall become confiderable enough not to be Useless in his Service, to whom it was forfeited. Under Influence of thefe Sentiments, with which his Majesty's great Goodness has infpired me, I confider my loss of Fortune and Dignity, as my Happiness; to which, as I am born without Ambition, I am thrown from them without Repining Poffeffing thofe Advantages, my Care had been, perhaps, but how to enjoy Life; by the Want of them I am taught this nobler Lesson, to study how to deserve it. R.SAVAGE. I E M. N Gayer Hours, when high my Fancy ran, Bleft be the Baftard's Birth! thro' wond'rous Ways, He fhines excentric like a Comet's Blaze! No fickly Fruit of faint Compliance He! He! ftampt in Nature's Mint of Extacy! He lives to build, not boast a generous No Tenth Tranfmitter of a foolish Faced anaboo His daring Hope, no Sire's Example bounds; su His First-born Lights no He, kindling from within, requires no Flame; 9 10 Juice contou od He glories in a Baftard's glowing Name. wood bad 978 No vhul on polla pidon of iron mis I malt to unW Born to himself, by no Poffeffion led, vislab of wor In Freedom fofter'd, and by Fortune fed; Nor . |