Poems and Songs by Thomas Flatman. The Fourth Edition with many Additions and Amendments |
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To my dear Friend Mr. THOMAS FLATMAN, Upon the Publication of his POEMS.
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 | Poems and Songs |  |
To my dear Friend Mr. THOMAS FLATMAN, Upon the Publication of his POEMS.
Pindariq' Ode.
I.
Within the haunted thicket, whereThe feather'd Choristers are met to play;
And celebrate with voices clear,
And Accents sweet, the praise of May:
The Ouzel, Thrush, and speckled Lark,
And Philomel, that loves the dawn and dark:
These (the inspired throng)
In numbers smooth, and strong
Adorn their noble Theme with an immortal Song,
Repeat the varied close, and the melodious Trill.
II.
Here feast your Ears, but let their EyeWander, and see one of the lesser fry
Under a leaf, or on a dancing twig,
Ruffle his painted feathers, and look big,
Pirk up his tail, and hop between
The boughs; by moving, only to be seen,
Perhaps his troubled breast he prunes,
As he doth meditate his tunes:
At last (compos'd) his little head he rears,
Towards (what he strives to imitate (the Spheres;
And chirping then begins his best,
Falls on to Pipe among the rest;
Deeming that all's not worth a rush,
Without his Whistle from the bush.
III.
Th' harmonious sound did reach my ear,That eccho'd Thy clear Name,
Which all must know, who e're did hear,
Of Cowley or Orinda's fame;
I heard the Genius, with surprizing Grace,
Would visit us with his fair off-spring, gay
As is the morning spring in May;
But fairer much, and of immortal race.
IV.
Delighted greatly, as I listning stood,The sound came from each corner of the wood;
It both the Shrubs, and Cedars shak'd,
And my drowsie Muse awak'd;
Strange that the sound should be so shrill,
That had its passage through a Quill.
Then I resolv'd Thy praises to rehearse,
The wonders of Thy Pen, among the Croud
Of thy learn'd Friends that sing so loud:
But 'twas not to be sung, or reach'd in verse.
Or if they could, not worth regard;
Desisting therefore I must only send
My very kind well wishes to my Friend.
Octav. Pulleyn.
| Poems and Songs | |