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A Collection Of Poems

By John Whaley

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ON THE Statue of Laocoon,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ON THE Statue of Laocoon,

At the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole's Seat, at Houghton, in Norfolk.

Whilst with a too officious Care
The Priest to save his Country strove;
Offended Pallas frown'd severe,
And came in Vengeance from above.

56

In sharpest Agonies, the Wretch
A dreadful Victim groaning lies;
Yet this the pitying Goddess grants
That in the Punishment he dies.
Tho' fellest Serpents Poisons shoot,
And round his tortur'd Body cling;
Yet e'en their Venom gives a Joy,
Since instant Death is in their Sting.
But the relentless Sculptor's Art
Anguish and Tears implor'd in vain;
He bad the Wretch in Torments live,
And has Immortaliz'd his Pain.