Throughout this long poem, John Rea's warmth much 

 exceeds that of the most romantic lovers. One of the latter 

 only observes, that the flowers courted the tread of his fair 

 one's foot; that the sky grew more beautiful in her presence, 

 and that the atmosphere borrowed new splendour from her 

 eyes. Rea's passion seems even warmer than this. In his 

 address to the reader, he says, " I have continued my affec- 

 tion to this honest recreation, without companion or encou- 

 ragement; and now in my old age, (wearied and weaned from 

 other delights) find myself more happy in this retired soli- 

 tude, than in all the bustles and busie employments of my 

 passed days." He thus concludes his book: 



this is all I crave : 



Some gentle hand with flowers may strew my grave, 

 And with one sprig of bays my herse befriend, 

 When as my life, as now my book, doth end. 



Laus Deo. 



Rea gives us also another very long poem, being that of 

 " Flora to the Ladies," which he thus concludes: 



Silent as flow'rs may you in virtues grow, 

 Till rip'ning time shall make you fit to blow, 

 Then flourish long, and seeding leave behind 

 A numerous offspring of your dainty kind ; 

 And when fate calls, have nothing to repent, 

 But die like flow'rs, virtuous and innocent. 

 Then all your fellow flow'rs, both fair and sweet, 

 Will come, with tears, to deck your winding-sheet; 

 Hang down their pensive heads so dew'd, and crave 

 To be transplanted to your perfum'd grave. 



Martha Blount, written from the Wells at Bristol, and from Stowe, in which 

 Pope says, " I have no more room but to give Lady Gerard my hearty ser- 

 vices." And "once more my services to Lady Gerard." " I desire you will 

 write a post-Jetter to my man John, at what time you would have the pine 

 apples, to send to Lady Gerard." Probably Martha Blount's Lady Gerard 

 was a descendant of Rea's. 



