Lines To Fortune

Occasioned by a very amiable and generous Friend of mine munificently presenting Miss E.S. with a Donation of Fifteen Thousand Pounds.     Oh, Fortune! I have seen thee shed     A plenteous show'r of treasure down     On many a weak and worthless head,     On those who but deserv'd thy frown.     And I have heard, in lonely shade,     Her sorrows hapless Merit pour;     And thou hast pass'd the drooping maid,     To give some pamper'd fav'rite more.     But tho' so cold, or strangely wild,     It seems that worth can sometimes move;     Thou hast on gentle Emma smil'd,     And thou hast smil'd where all approve: -     For Nature form'd her gen'rous heart     With ev'ry virtue, pure, refin'd;     And wit and taste, and grace and art,     United to illume her mind.     So dew-drops fall on some rare flow'r,     That merits all their fost'ring care,     As tho' they knew that, by their pow'r,     Grateful 'twould wider scent the air.