TotheRightHonble.theLadyDowagerTorrington"Presumably Margaret, widow of Viscount Torrington, who had died in 1732; she died in 1756 aged 86."
(Tucker [1992], 209)
,withsomeVersesherLadyshipcommandedmetosendher.Whenyoucommand,theMuseobeys,ProudtopresentherhumbleLays.OfwritingI'llnomorerepent,NorthinkmyTimeunwiselyspent;IfVersetheHappinessprocuresOfpleasingsuchaSoulasyours.EndlessAnxiety,Ifind,HathdireEffectsupontheMind:ALifeofunsuccessfulCareToooftensinksustoDespair.FromsuchaLifeasthis,IchuseTosnatchsomeMomentsfortheMuse;ToslightMortality,andsoarToWorldswhereAnguishisnomore;ForgetIerne'sIreland.
wretchedState,Tho'doom'dtosharehercruelFate;Destin'dtopassmyjoylessDays,WherePoverty,relentless,preys;Andform'd,unhappily,togrieveForMiseriesIcan'trelieve.FromgivingWealthmyHandsarety'd;ThatgreatFelicity'sdeny'd.YethaveIsometimestheDelight,TohelpaWretchbywhatIwrite;TomakesomehappierBosomsmelt;AndhealtheWoestheyneverfelt.ToTorrington,whosegen'rousBreastDelightsinraisingtheDistress'd,AddingnewHonourtoherBlood,ByalltheWaysofdoingGood,HowneedlessisthePoet'sArt;SinceHe,thatmade,enlarg'dherHeart?