May 24th. The Wind W. & by N. blowing fresh & very cold, which com- -ing Suddenly after the great heats has brought upon me a great cold, all last night & to day I am much troubled with it: The – following piece for its wit & humour deserves to be transcribed. [this poem was published in the Gentleman's Magazine March 1749 sw]
The Moderator .
O Guard me, Angells! in the Golden Mean! [this is an epigraph sw]
Pope. [there is a diagonal line under the name sw]
Beneath my wish, the transient Joy.
Which to possess is to destroy:
Far from my heart th' unsocial pride
Of Wisdom, scorning all beside:
The Selfish and the Sensual bliss
Of learning's boast, and beauty's kiss,
Alike I'd Shun, and steer between
Th' Extreams, to gain the golden Mean.
Give me a Nymph, whose Eyes confess
Her Triumph in the pow'r to bless,
Whose Joy survives the fond Embrace,
And lives reflected from her race;
At Love's Soft Suit whose beauty glows
Whose sense the Social Duty knows,
Whose Fortitude can well sustain
Divided Cares and gen'rous pain
Whose goodness wishes to bestow
A liveing boon on Earth below,
And win the Glory to have given
The tribute of a Soul to heaven.
No Steril Pride, no loose desire
Is here th' extream of Ice and Fire;
But Sociall Wishes warm the breast
In Social Sighs and looks express.
O! let my Breast with Answ'ring heat,
A Breast like this transported meet!
Whate'er is Joyfull, good and great,
Shall bless and dignifie the State,
Shall consecrate the Cup of Love
Supply'd from sacred Springs above.
Bellmour. [in the GM the poet's name is Belmour]
About 12 this night Dyed Mrs. Jane LLoyd the youngest & onely Surviv– ing Child of Mr. David LLoyd late of LLoydiarth (except one Sister that sur -vived her Father & was Marryed to one Na[n sw]g[h sw] an Irishman, but left behind her no Issue) this Lady likewise left no Issue, dying unmarryed; she made a will & by it left her Real Estate to her second Cousin Thomas LLoyd of Dublin a Doctor of Physick in preference to his two Elder Brothers – and her personall Estate which is very considerable, she left to my Brother Lewis of LLysdulas .