Untitled verses for Herbert Lawrence

In August 1777, Herbert Lawrence wrote a song dedicated to Hester Thrale. What follows are verses that Hester wrote for Lawrence to put to music.

Hester Thrale wrote in Thraliana "In former days when I lived in Dean Street, particularly the last year my Father lived, & during the interval between his Death & my Marriage, we were very often visited by Herbert Lawrence; Brother to General [Charles Lawrence, Govenor of Nova Scotia from 1753] who courted Miss Rich & died in America [in 1760]: He was a capital musician I believe, & played sweetly on the German Flute; he never could make me Sing, but nothing would serve him but I must at least write a Song, & he would set it to Musick: I looked over Boileau, and imitating his Epigram of ’Tout me fait peine & depuis un Jour, &c.’ I wrote the following Lines which he set sure enough & Beard sung it one Spring at Ranelagh."

Whence comes it Phillis since we met,
Our Sylvan Games to celebrate;
When Sports went round—with magick Mien
You tript it lightly o’er the Green,
That something ever since that Day
Upon my Spirits seems to prey?

The pleasing Sense of sweet Repose
No more my beating Bosom knows;
And ev’ry Symptom seems to prove
The Melancholy Truth—I love:
Nay never frown, for if I do,
Assure yourself—it is not You.

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.
Thraliana August 1778. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.