The Virginia Gazette

POET'S CORNER.

The Eye.

To say what wondrous skill what has spare
Through fluid Space with piercing Ken to pry
To measure Earth and comprehend the Sky,
Is but to tell, what every Moment shows,
That Heaven no Bounds in Power or Bounty knows,
All-mighty when it works, all-good when it bestows.

This Homage paid, forgive the vagrant Muse
If for her Theme some lighter Dress she choose,
And, cloth'd in sportive Fancy's wanton Guise,
More trivial Thoughts from humbler Hints that rise
When vulgar Gentry gather to a Crowd,
Some all intent, some jolting, and some loud,
You ask the Cause, and wait for a Reply,
'Tis ten to one they answer, Ask my Eye.

You call this rude; but call it what you will,
Rude as it is, there's Meaning in it still.
Clodius shall prove it: Clodius looks you through
Yet seems to look at every Thing but you.
Is he insidious, mean, malignant, sly,
What says the vulgar Maxim? Ask his Eye

When pert Corinna darts from Place to Place,
Sinks with laborious Ease from Grace to Grace,
Or calls forth Glance by Glance, or Charm by Charm,
Does the design our Bosoms to alarm?
Does she conclude that all who gaze must die?
Does Pride inspire her Purpose? Ask her Eye.

When the great Scholar, slow, precise, and sour,
Mere human Clockwork, speaks one Word an Hour,
Does his grave Silence Modesty imply?
Or is it Scorn's dumb Language? Ask his Eye.

The Flatterer swears he lives upon your Smile,
Calls himself yours, and makes you his the while,
Say, would you know, if what he speaks he feels,
His Eye will tell you what his Heart conceals.

The Miser's Heir bedecks the Funeral Show
With all the sad Formalities of Woe;
Behind the Corpse himself a Mourner creeps,
But is it Grief, or is it Joy, that weeps?
Consult his Eye, 'twill then perhaps appear
That Hopes and Pleasures swim in every Tear.

Twere endless Work to prove that through Mankind
The speaking Eye explains the secret Mind;
Would you the Bad detect, the Good descry.
Its Wise and Virtuous, toil, examine, try,
Ask where you will, but never miss the Eye.