The Wiccamical Chaplet a selection of original poetry; comprising smaller poems, serious and comic; classical trifles; sonnets; inscriptions and epitaphs; songs and ballads; mock-heroics, epigrams, fragments, &c. &c. Edited by George Huddesford |
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ON TWO PUBLICATIONS, INTITLED EDITIONS OF TWO OF OUR POETS. |
The Wiccamical Chaplet | ||
192
ON TWO PUBLICATIONS, INTITLED EDITIONS OF TWO OF OUR POETS.
When Critic Science first was known,
Somewhere upon the Muse's ground
The PRUNING KNIFE OF WIT was thrown;
Not that which Aristarchus found:
Somewhere upon the Muse's ground
The PRUNING KNIFE OF WIT was thrown;
Not that which Aristarchus found:
That had a stout and longer blade;
Would at one stroke cut off a limb,
This knife was delicately made,
Not to dismember, but to trim.
Would at one stroke cut off a limb,
This knife was delicately made,
Not to dismember, but to trim.
With a short harmless edge a-top,
'Twas made like our prize-fighting swords,
Pages and Chapters 'twould not lop,
But cut off syllables and words.
'Twas made like our prize-fighting swords,
Pages and Chapters 'twould not lop,
But cut off syllables and words.
Well did it wear; and might have worn
Full many an age, yet ne'er the worse;
Till Bentley's hand its edge did turn
On Milton's adamantine verse.
Full many an age, yet ne'er the worse;
Till Bentley's hand its edge did turn
On Milton's adamantine verse.
Warhurton seiz'd the blunted Tool,
Scarce fit for Oyster-opening Drab:
For Critic use 'twas now too dull,
But tho' it would not cut, 'twould stab.
Scarce fit for Oyster-opening Drab:
For Critic use 'twas now too dull,
But tho' it would not cut, 'twould stab.
193
Then Shakespeare bled, with every friend
That lov'd the Bard:—he threaten'd further.
And God knows what had been the end,
Had not Tom Edwards cried out “Murder!”
That lov'd the Bard:—he threaten'd further.
And God knows what had been the end,
Had not Tom Edwards cried out “Murder!”
Confounded at the fearful word,
Awhile he hid the felon steel;
Now gives it Mason, lends it H---;
Ah! see what Gray and Cowley feel!
Awhile he hid the felon steel;
Now gives it Mason, lends it H---;
Ah! see what Gray and Cowley feel!
The Wiccamical Chaplet | ||