Another Letter to Cousin F. R

As Winter's tedious Nights to weary Eyes, As nipping Cold to chirping winged Flocks, Until the welcome Day-star doth arise, And light the Trees to shake their dewy Locks:

Or as a Door close lock'd, to limit thee, E'en thee, to whom I send these hasty Lines, Such was thy tedious Silence unto me, Till now of late a better Aspect shines.

For from thy bounteous Hand I have receiv'd, What I esteem more than the Miser's Gold; If I for lieu of it should be bereav'd, Of the dear Inter'st which in thee I hold;

Surpassing that of Consanguinity, Which scarce obliges, but in Compliments; But cordial Friendship's lasting Unity, Hearts by endearing Virtue so cements,

That Distance, tho' remote, can't separate; Tho' interposing Business prevail, To hinder mutual Converse, and create Those Exercises which sometimes assail:

That Adage, clouded to the World in Mists, Is in thy Conversation verify'd; Honour with true Nobility consists, And nothing more ridiculous than Pride.

Pride in Deportment, and in gaudy Dress, Indulg'd by some t' obtain a Monarchy, Is shun'd by thee; thy Empire ne'ertheless Extended further, than desir'd by thee.

Thou to the World in Plainness bravely shews, Thou covet'st not the Troubles of her Noise; Yet unawares obligingly subdues, Far more than they that court her Vanities.

Pride's gaudy Captives strive to dazzle Eyes, But thy sweet Gravity affects the Heart, Yet such sometimes gain Conquest by Surprize; But whom thou overcomes, own due Desert.

Yet were thy Virtue and thine Honour less, If such Ambition found a Place in thee, As frequently attends the gaudy Dress, T' insult o'er those ta'en in Captivity.

But tho' thou canst not totally redress Such Expectation, as some seem to have, Yet by a prudent Mein and Gentleness, Would loose the Fetters, that so far enslave;

And innocently ever dost extend Such candid Favours, as may best agree To those whom thou vouchsafes to own thy Friend, And yet kept from reflecting Censure free.

But thy great Zeal for true Religion shines In Life and Conversation, ev'n as far Above what others talk these cloudy Times, As the Day-Ruler doth a twinkling Star.

For in thy blooming Years, thy tender Mind Was influenced with such warm Desires Of Holiness; and so to Good inclin'd, As Love, and Power divine, alone inspires,

Nor didst thou take Religion upon Trust, But wisely sought to know its Basis; and, Noble Bercan like, so wise and just, To search the Records of divine Command:

Which having prov'd, thou heard'st, & then obey'd And with a right composed Heart and Mind, Bow'd to the Truth; so Truth its Scepter sway'd, And thou herein dost Peace and Solace find.

And tho' at first the frowning World assay'd, By Scornings and Revilings, t' have deterr'd From Goodness, thy great Soul was not dismay'd. But this, before her Vanities, preferr'd:

So Things that once seem'd difficult, became More easy; and the glorious shining Light, That first but glimmer'd in the Dark, the same Broke out more bright, & overspread the Night.

Thus what seem'd once impossible, appear'd To thy great Satisfaction; and thine Heart (Thy Understanding being fully clear'd) Enjoy'd the Choice of Mary's better Part,

Which from the Righteous may not be remov'd: They know Salvation near, Truth is their Choice; And tho' such be with Exercises prov'd, They have the Earnest of eternal Joys.