TotheRightHonourabletheLadySarahCowper"Lady Sarah Cowper, daughter of William, first Earl Cowper; friend of Pope. She died unmarried in 1758."
(Tucker [1992], 212)
.WrittenwhentheAuthorwassickatTunbridge-Wells.LetmetheHonoursoonobtain,ForwhichIlonghavehop'dinvain;SinceI,alas!amnowconfin'd,YourVisitwouldbedoublykind.WhatSorrowshaveInottofear,Ty'dtotheBedofSicknesshere?Whenallthat'shuman,quitsthePlace,AndWintershewshishorridFace;WhilstDesolationproudlystalksAlongthedull,desertedWalks.MethinkstheSkiesalreadylour;Loud,fromtheHills,theTorrentspour;TheShopsareshut;theDaysaredark;AndscarceaDogislefttobark.O,shieldmefromthedreadfulStorms,Whichmydistemper'dFancyforms!ThethoughtlessFairtheToiletprize,TherepractiseSmiles,andpointtheirEyes:ButCowper,negligentofArt,Chose,earlywise,thebetterPart.YetfromyourMindsomeMomentsspare;TheStrangerbea-whileyourCare,WhonowbeneathAfflictionbends,FarfromherCountry,andherFriends.Come,andmyanxiousHeartrelieve:ForinyourPresencewhocouldgrieve?