First Line Index

First Line Author Title Last Line Library Shelfmark Folio

A full-dress'd wig some empty head Like yours too oft contains Anonymous To the author of some lines in yesterday's Gazetteer addressed to the Revd. Mr Horne Despise the outside of a head That's furnish'd well within U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 109-10

A lady nice as well as fair Whose conscience always was her care Swift, Jonathan A poem of Dean Swift's copied from a lady's transcript Or is he criminal that flies The living lustre of your eyes U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 125-30

A part that helps compose a wheel A passion none but patriots feel Anonymous A rebus These a famed city's name will tell Who find it must exactly tell U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 118

Ah talk not of features what charms can we trace In a shape or an air or a mien or a grace Anonymous A ballad May I live the abhorrence of all human kind When I prize not with rapture my Phillida's mind U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 101-03

All folks who pretend to religion and grace Allow there's a hell but dispute of the place Swift, Jonathan The place of the damn'd & hell to be sure is at Paris or Rome How happy for us that it is not at home U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 72

And lives their one by canker'd malice led T'arraign the innocent defenceless dead Madan, Judith Written by Mrs Madden daughter to Spenser Cowper, upon reading a poem call'd Sarah to Lothario, reflecting on her father With rough compassion sternly stalks away & scorns to tear the unresisting prey U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 19

Artist who underneath my table Thy curious texture has display'd Littleton, Edward On a spider 'Tis ten to one but penury Ends both the spider & the poet U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 27-28

As if Paul's cupola were brought to bed After hard labour of a small pin's head Bramston, James U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 At back

Believe me friend the man whose life is pure & free from guilt in innocence secure Verney, Miss; Bowes, Mrs The 22nd Ode of the 1st Book of Horace translated & if in slumbers I should chance to dream Chloe alone should fill the pleasing scene U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 14-15

Belinda whilst with skill divine Your painting needle moves Anonymous On a young lady working her a toilet Then as more gay their beauty now More fragrant were their smell U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 5-6

Deat Tom this brown jug that now foams with mild ale In which I will drink to sweet Nan of the vale Fawkes, Francis A song called The Brown Jugg Now sacred to friendship & mirth & mild ale So here's to my lovely sweet Nan of the vale U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 123-24

Earth walks on the earth glittering like gold Earth goes to the earth sooner than it wold Anonymous Epitaph in Stamford churchyard Earth builds on the earth castles & tow'rs Says the earth to the earth all shall be ours U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 74

Even-handed justice / Returns th'ingredients of our poison'd chalice / To our own lips Shakespeare, William U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 At back

Fair Lucretia when you left me You of all thats dear bereft me Anonymous A song And declining 'Till my charming spring return U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 64-65

Fanny Brooks who once was so thin Now boasts she hath not any chin Anonymous U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 Between p.130-31

Forgive me if your looks I thought Did once some change discover Anonymous A song [A love song (index)] Divinely blest if you prove true Undone if you forsake me U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 139

From man's too curious and impatient sight The future heav'n involves in thickest night Anonymous Verses occasioned by a late epistle to Sir R. Walpole [Latin epigraph] My strains are number'd by the tunefull nine Each maid presents her thanks & all present thee mine U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 10-13

Gaily I liv'd as ease and nature taught And spent my little life without a thought Anonymous Regnier's epitaph, made by himself And am amaz'd thro' what capricious whim Death thought of me who never thought of him U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 120

Great unexhausted source of day Bright parent of the genial ray Anonymous An ode on his majesty's birthday 1729 set to musick [Ode to the king (index)] Than ere adorned Britannias name Or ever blest the world before U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 41-44

Hail happy bride for thou art surely blest Three months of rapture crown'd with endless rest Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley Written by Lady M.W. Montague on a card upon her hearing of the death Mrs Bows & if superior bliss heav'n can bestow With fellow angels you enjoy it now U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 28

Hail noble Wilkes! By Heaven I joy to see The man who breathes the soul of liberty Anonymous On seeing Mr Wilkes on the hustings at Guildhall While true to freedom's cause the public spirit Was the sole plea to favour rest of merit U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 106

Happy George and happy Charlotte Happy child that falls to their lot Anonymous An ode And when he departs a solio His sons shall weep in folio U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 107

Hear all ye friends to knighthood A tale will raise your wonder Stanhope, Philip Dormer; Earl of Chesterfield On Sir William Morgan's loosing his George On how slight strings depend those things On which you build your glory U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 4-5

Here lies a piece of Christ a star in dust A vein of gold a china dish that must Wild, Robert On a child in Ealing churchyard Approv'd by all & lik'd so well So such like fruit thats ripe so she fell U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 77

Here lies father an' mother an' sister an' I Who ail dyd in the space of one shorte yeere Godfrey, John Epitaph From all the paynes of thys worlde wee ar free Whych into thys worlde wee brought with wee U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 74

Here lies Margaret Johnson Who had seven issues by one man Anonymous Epitaph in the same churchyard [i.e. Stamford] U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 74

Here lies T. R----'s frisky wife Who restless was throughout her life Anonymous U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 Between p.130-31

Here Watson lieth dead Wrapped up close in lead Anonymous ... As John Watson Esq. of Walthamstow in Essex was transacting some business in ths house of Justice Bertie at Lowlayton, he dropped down in an apoplectic fit and expired immediately. I have heard verses to the following effect were put up at his gate so And died like a dog And gave all his wealth to an whore U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 132

Here Withers rest thou bravest gentlest mind Thy country's friend but more of human kind Pope, Alexander Epitaph Nor let us say the English glory's gone The last true Briton lies beneath this stone U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 52

I walked five miles thro' scorching sand With zeal in heart & notes in hand Anonymous The labors of a country curate All this perform'd by Robert Haet What mortal else could half go thro' it? U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 73

I who so oft with transport and surprise Have read the over with a lover's eyes Anonymous To Mr Pope, on his Dunciad The generous dead from whom thy rise began Who made thee great but coudn't make thee man U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 23-24

I'll tell you a story a story so merry How th'upholder did John D. of M. bury Anonymous On the funeral of the Duke of Marlborough. A ballad He could ne'er make amends but by this cavalcade Derry down etc U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 7-8

I'll tell you a tale as strange as 'tis true How a famous physician & alderman too Bacon, Phanuel The doctor and alderman over head & ears in the hyp. with a consultation upon the case. [...An Oxford ballad (index)] I shall only prescribe you an innocent laugh Derry down U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 110-14

I'm not high church nor low church nor Tory nor Whig Nor flutt'ring young coxcomb nor formal old prigg Anonymous A character And as to the ways after death to be trod I submit to the will of a mercifull god U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 70-71

If a truth may be asked, Sir, pray what may it mean My pretensions so fair I'm not made a dean Anonymous Dr Croxal to Sir R. Walpole, occasion'd by a sermon of the Dr's on the 30th of January For a poet disdain'd I allow you no quarter Poor Charles is forgotten - to make you the martyr U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 49-51

If there's no plague like love to hatred turn'd Nor any fury like a woman scorn'd Anonymous Verses That Myra's curse has reach'd thy destin'd head & all thy happiness with her is fled U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 60-61

If this fair rose offend thy sight It in thy bosom wear Somervile, William [Verses on a Yorkist's presenting a red [sic] rose to his mistress of the House of Lancaster (index)] 'Twill blush to find itself less white And turn Lancastrian there U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 135

If Tom should publish what he writes I hope 'tis not decreed Anonymous A query to a dull author. An epigram That we who kindly buy his works Shall be obliged to read U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 134

If you should join the ministerial rout And all eclipse as an accomplish'd knave Anonymous The post from Parnassus. An epigram. [Epigram on Lord North (index).] None but a North or some such sordid elf Who would become a closestool for his pelf U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 120-21

In days of yore it was a constant rule That ev'ry knight should have his squire and fool Anonymous We are obliged to our correspondent for the following epilogue which was spoken at the opening of the New Theatre at Bristol by Mr Arthur, one of the managers Good plays are useful toys as such enjoy 'em Whene'er they make you naughty then destroy 'em U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 89, 91

In vain the muse attempts to tune the lyre Invokes the god requests his sacred fire Anonymous Upon the death of Mr G. Sewell M.D. Then Britain's groves had pleas'd the heav'nly nine As once learn'd Graecias or fam'd Latium thine U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 62-63

Inspir'd with joy we see the learne[d] throng Listen propitious to our humble song Anonymous A translation of a copy of Latin verses, spoken by a Westminster scholar at a late election By humble steps he might have rose to praise & having felt our birch deserved your bays U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 25

It must be so thou reasonest well Money poor virtue mauls Anonymous On the appearance of Edward Gibbon Esq. in the Court calendar. [An epigram (Index).] [Latin epigraph.] Thy book declares how Romans fell Thyself how Britain falls U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 140

John Fisher was his name of whom you read Like John the Baptist this John lost his head Anonymous Inscription under the head of Bishop Fisher prefixed to his life Read but this book this Fisher through & then You'll find a fisher not of fish but men U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 75

Just as much money as 'twill bring Is the true worth of ev'ry thing Anonymous U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 At back

Leave Garrick the rich landscape proudly gay Docks ports and navies bright'ning all the bay Pitt, William; Earl of Chatham Verses by the late Earl of Chatham to David Garrick Esq. when on a visit some years ago at Mount Edgecumbe Come taste the simple life of patriarchs old Who rich in rural peace ne'er thought of pomp or gold U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 137

Let all the Blues with pious grief In his last march attend their chief Anonymous Upon the death of the most noble John Manners, Marquis of Granby and Colonel of the Blues. [Two epigrams on ... (index, cf.BCMSV 1017).] For Granby's gone & with him flew The essence of good manners U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 119

Let th'Oxford bells ring And the citizens sing Anonymous But has left here his wife O gownsmen on all for to frown ye U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 Between p.130-31

Like Philomel in soft melodious strains Orpheus in Virgil's verse & thine complains Trapp, Joseph ? An inscription under a print of Mrs Bows in which she is represented sitting & writing with Virgil open before her at the passage above cited Sweet Philomel her warbling numbers join & all admire & weep in deathless notes like thine U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 17-18

Love's no irregular desire No sudden start or raging pain Anonymous An answer to what is love? 'Tis what I know but can't define 'Tis what I feel but can't express U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 26

May I presume in humble lays My dancing fair thy steps to praise Anonymous To a lady who lov'd dancing 'Till nature in one mass is blended Then one may say the ball is ended U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 18

My timorous muse unpractic'd in the art To breathe in rhyme th'effusions of my heart Bowes, Miss To the Honourable Miss W[indsor] on her birthday If blame my artless numbers should incurr Think 'twas excess of friendship made me err U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 83, 85

Near half an age with every good man's praise Among his flock the shepherd pass'd his days Anonymous An epitaph on the monument of the late worthy and rev. Mr Brighton [Beighton] (sic) of Egham, who was vicar of that place forty-five years Peculiar blessings did his life attend He had no foe and Camden was his friend U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 124-25

Of Jacobites hundreds have pensions and places And papists have met with as notable graces Anonymous On the promotion of E. Gibbon, Esq. That in this pious reign Their friends are proscrib'd by the faith's own defender U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 139 [bis]

Old Twitcher sitting t'other day In drooping mood without a ray Anonymous The soliloquy. An epigram [on Jemmy Twitcher (index)]. Come Bacchus with thy best champagne And Plutus with thy pelf U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 134-35

On curl'd toupee and powder'd hair Jacky bestows his daily care Anonymous The beau parson. Addressed to the Revd. Mr John Horne (Minister or Curate of Brentford) As caressly [sic] I pass the street That Jacky has some graces U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 108

Once on a time in sunshine weather Falsehood & truth walk'd out together Anonymous Truth & falsehood. A fable & scorning from her cause to wince Has gone stark naked ever since U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 21-22

Palemon seated by his fav'rite maid The sylvan scenes with exta [sic] survey'd Anonymous A pastoral How limpid the stream is! How gay the blue skies The hills and the hedges how green U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 99, 101

Quoth Parson Horne This Tuesday morn Anonymous The kind inquiry Could I but know How some folks slept last night U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 109

Rise damask Rose now blossom and perfume And scatter roses round thy Byfield's tomb Anonymous To Dr Rose of Putney, to whom Mr Byfield left a large fortune U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 134

Say doctor what could be your aim When starting from the post of fame Anonymous Extempore lines on a late translation of French sermons. Addressed to Dr D-d [Dod, margin]. Receive reproof revere the age And go again to school U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 118-19

Says Pierce to Garrick tell not me Your taste's not worth a farthing Garrick, David Mr Garrick in his late visit to Bath going to see Mr Pierce's house called Lilliput [upon Lansdown near the monument erected to the memory of Sir Bevill Granville ... (note, p.86)] took occasion to mention some alterations which he thought would be improv For Hampton shall be Lilliput If you'll be often there U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 87

See wanton Kitty wild and young The foremost in the giddy throng Anonymous An address to the young ladies [index] Give Kitty's off'ring to your priest At hour of sanctity at least U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 117

Shine bright O sun and doubly gild the morn In which the fair Euryalus was born Anonymous To Euryalus on his coming to age [Latin epigraph] Thus shall no blot thy reputation stain & the whole man immortal joy shall gain U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 54-55

So Philomel beneath a poplar's shade Laments her young by some rude hind betray'd Verney, Miss; Bowes, Mrs Line 511th Lib. 4th of Virgil's Georgicks, translated In mournfull notes all night she seeks relief & the wide fields re-echo to her grief U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 17

So underneath a poplar's shade her young The mother nightingale laments alone Dryden, John Line 511th Lib. 4th of Virgil's Georgicks, thus translated With one continu'd tenor still complains And melancholy musick fills the plains U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 17

Stella and Flavia ev'ry hour Do various hearts surprize *Earle, Jabez; or Barber, Mary) ? The contrast Thy charms will ev'ry day decrease Each hour give Stella more U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 29

Stretch'd on the turf in sylvan shades No tear the peasant's rest invades Anonymous [Latin epigraph, from Virgil] Her's is just like the others taken And she's content with eggs & bacon U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 136

Terne claims her birth; Lisetta was her name Her country's honour not unknown to fame Anonymous The sigh. On a lady deceased. [An elogy ... on the death of his wife (index)]. Thence suffer'd to approach the throne of grace Where virtue never fails to find a place U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 130-31

The like was never seen before The leather-bottle go to boar Anonymous [A distich under the signs of a public-house in Havering (index)] U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 123

The various seasons of the year As they successively appear Anonymous A sketch of human life In Autumn we in part decay And Winter sweeps us quite away U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 133

There's Miss Fanny Brookes Whose beautiful looks Anonymous But says she'll not wed A gownman who may prove a deceiver U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 Between p.130-31

This modest stone what few vain marbles can May truly say here lies an honest man Pope, Alexander Epitaph on Mr Fenton From nature's temp'rate feast rose satisfied Thank heav'n that he had liv'd & that he died U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 55

Thou balm of life thou greatest good below Spite of knowledge & all our boasted art Anonymous An ode to content Why, cast off vice and all insidious wiles Bless'd then be here and after sure to live U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 132-33

Tis done he's crown'd one bright martyr more Black Rome is charg'd on thy too bulky score Anonymous A small fragment of my Lord Russel's elogy, whose much lamented execution was performed in Lincoln's Inn Fields on the 21st day of July 1683 Earth wept and all that vainly pitying croud And Heaven his death in thunder groan'd aloud U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 105

Tis now a twelvemonth since the muse Did first attempt to sing Scott, William To Miss Walter of Grosvenor-Square on her birth-day, June 17, 1766 The muse next year attends your will To Stalbridge well-belov'd U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 93, 95, 97

To love and verse young Ovid's tender mind The muse inspir'd as nature had inclin'd Anonymous To J.M. of the Temple The muse expressive of your other praise Around the silk shall wreath the sacred bays U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 53

To save from death could honesty suffice This stone had never said Here Dennis lies Anonymous On a faithful servant U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 77

To what a dull and dismal pass A-b--kle's labours come alas Anonymous A funeral apotheosis on the tribunes, a paper so called which came out in Ireland. [Latin epigraph] As Thetis wets or Phoebus dries The tribunes sink but never rise U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 46-48

Two eyes I have yet am compleatly blind But what I seek at last am sure to find Anonymous A riddle Ladies if you to solve this riddle try & miss your aim you're much more blind than I U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 68

Two nymphs the most renown'd Sir For voice & skill profound Sir Anonymous Polly Peachum. A ballad Once on his own judge Midas & stretch't their Lordship's ears U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 19-21

Unequal how I shall the search begin Or paint with artless hand the awful scene Anonymous The progress of poetry From each the same enliv'ning splendors fly & the diffusive glory charms the eye U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 31-40

Weep not for me my husband dear Keep it in mind that I lies here Anonymous Epitaph. To be seen in a country churchyard in Essex And have compassion on the nine Motherless children I left behind U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 139 [bis]-40

What conquest now will Britain boast Or where display her banners Anonymous Upon the same [i.e. the death of ... John Manners, Marquis of Granby]. [Two epigrams on ... (index, cf. BCMSV 1016).] Alas in Granby she has lost True courage & good manners U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 119

What do scholars and bards and philosophers wise Mean by stuffing ones head with such nonsense and lies Stanhope, Philip Dormer; Earl of Chesterfield An epigram Nor wanted she Cestus her bosome to grace For Richmond that night had lent her her face U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 45

What youth in rosy bower laid His locks with liquid odours spread Anonymous Ode 5th Lib.1 Horace translated My dropping weeds hung up to thee Great Neptune ruler of the sea U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 44-45

When Myra's hands her needle threads What gaudy scenes our eyes surprize Anonymous To Miss M.H. on her working a gown Gay spreading stems of lively green & yellow fruit of ripening gold U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 65-67

When Peleus' son untaught to yield Wrathful forsook the hostile field Garrick, David Mr Garrick's answer to the verses addressed to him by the Earl of Chatham Smiling he to his friend resign'd This soother of the human mind U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 138

Whene'er physicians wrangle with each other And college dons shut out each licenc'd brother Epilogue to The widow'd wife [by a friend,] spoken by Mrs Clive 'Tis by our nostrums you are kept alive Pursue the regimen of Doctor Clive U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 103-05

While pensive genius hung o'er Yorick's urn With grief unfeign'd his fatal loss to mourn Anonymous To the fair authoress of an epigram, in answer to an illiberal abuse of the late Rev. Dr Sterne Warded by beauty's hand the haggard elf Received the wound she meant for him herself U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 107

While pining anguish wild despair Increase my pangs prolong my care Anonymous On the death of a beloved wife She spake she smil'd she soar'd away While comfort glanc'd a healing ray U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 56-60

While tears o'erflow bright Anna's eyes And dead her darling Lora lies Anonymous On the death of Lora a ladys parrot There's no defence against the grave E'en Anna's kisses cannot save U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 9-10

Who can sing a so merry a note As he who cannot change a groat Anonymous U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 At back

Will [While?] Pult'ney and Shippen do mightily rave And all the wise men of the nation Anonymous An epigram supposed to be written by Mr Pope on the hermitage at Richmond That four such wise heads should be found for a cave And not one for the administration U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 85

Wit humor genius hadst thou all agree One grain of wisdom had been worth the three Anonymous U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 106

With haughty spirit and grand parade The Gallick warriors threaten'd to invide Anonymous On the pretended invasion. [An epigram ... 1779 (Index).] As 'twas of yore when forty thousand men March'd up the hill and so march'd down again U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 140

Ye belles and ye bloods who the pantheon flock well Come & see the renown'd pandemonium at Stockwell Anonymous A song in Harlequin Skeleton sung by Mr Dunstall in the character of a woman ballad-singer, entitled The Stockwell Wonder. To the tune of King John and the Abbot of Canterbury For we all know sweet girls are extremely bewitching Derry down down down derry U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 122

Ye dull thinking souls who by troubles are press'd That are strangers alike both to joy and to rest Anonymous Sung by Mrs Lowe at Marybone Gardens For me while I've breath I will never refrain From singing the virtues of sparkling champaign U. Leeds, Brotherton Lt 12 p. 91, 93

Union First Line Index of English Verse

13^th-19^th Century (bulk 1500-1800)

Union First Line Index of English Verse

13th-19th Century (bulk 1500-1800)

13^th-19^th Century (bulk 1500-1800)