And will your Goodness never have an End? <br />And will you still persist to be my Friend? <br />To meet me still with that engaging Air, <br />Still open, ardent, gen'rous, and sincere; <br />Still to advise, to aid, to cheer, to bless; <br />Still to prevent, or to dispel, Distress; <br />Sollicit for me with unweary'd Zeal, <br />Pleas'd to succeed, nor slacken'd when you fail; <br />Point out each Path to good Success from far; <br />And guide me by thy Light, my happier Star! <br /> <br />When of ungen'rous Minds I Favours ask, <br />And sink, oppress'd beneath the grievous Task; <br />Hear the false Promise, or the feign'd Excuse, <br />In Words that mean but more refin'd Abuse; <br />Full in my View thy nobler Soul appears, <br />And swells my Heart, and fills my Eyes with Tears; <br />Whilst, to prevent my Wish, your Goodness flies, <br />Nor one kind Look deceives me, from your Eyes. <br /> <br />Then let good Heav'n withhold, or grant Success, <br />Add to a Weight of Cares, or make it less; <br />By you protected, I no more repine: <br />How few can boast an Happiness like mine! <br />A Bliss so great can Wealth, or Pow'r, impart, <br />As one fix'd Friend, with such a Head, and Heart?<br /><br />Mary Barber<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-the-honourable-mrs-percival/
