Major Pack's Poetical Remains Published from his Original Manuscripts. To which are Added, translations from Catullus, Tibullus, and Ovid. With an Essay on the Roman elegiac poets, &c. [by Richardson Pack] |
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A Poetical Sally.
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 | Major Pack's Poetical Remains |  |
26
A Poetical Sally.
Occasioned by some Peevish Censure on a late Merry-Meeting of Gentlemen and Ladies, at Aberdeen, October 23. 1728.
And is then Life a lazy Length of Years,
Train'd on in Cautions, and ignoble Fears,
Where sportive Love must never dare intrude,
And Mirth and Wit be damn'd as loud and lewd?
Is it in slothful Sleep to spend the Night,
Nor wake at sprightly Morn to gay Delight?
Ne'er know the Joy, a Kindness to receive,
And less, that sweeter Happiness to give?
Drudge on to fifty in a rugged Road,
Dully discreet, and impotently good;
Till with Experience, Age comes limping on,
With vile Distrust their sole-surviving Son,
For the Twins, Hope and Joy, like still-born Babes were gone.
Thus some pass thro' the World meer envious Spies,
Nor feel one Object glad their Hearts, or Eyes.
Train'd on in Cautions, and ignoble Fears,
Where sportive Love must never dare intrude,
And Mirth and Wit be damn'd as loud and lewd?
Is it in slothful Sleep to spend the Night,
Nor wake at sprightly Morn to gay Delight?
Ne'er know the Joy, a Kindness to receive,
And less, that sweeter Happiness to give?
Drudge on to fifty in a rugged Road,
Dully discreet, and impotently good;
27
With vile Distrust their sole-surviving Son,
For the Twins, Hope and Joy, like still-born Babes were gone.
Thus some pass thro' the World meer envious Spies,
Nor feel one Object glad their Hearts, or Eyes.
Wedded to Life, for Better and for Worse,
My Genius led me, yet a smoother Course.
Tho' young and vain upon the Stage I came,
'Twas not without some Sparks of Heav'nly Flame.
That rais'd my Action in each op'ning Scene,
And made me scorn ungen'rous Parts or Mean.
Refin'd my Soul to elegant Desires,
Friendship's warm Joys, or Love's Diviner Fires.
Nor few, nor evil have been, thus my Days,
While some have Pleasure gain'd, and others Praise:
A Share to niggard Fate one must resign;
Content for each New-Lease I paid the Fine.
The Cares, and Toils, and Pains, the Price enhance;
And there's a Bliss—that's worth Extravagance.
My Genius led me, yet a smoother Course.
Tho' young and vain upon the Stage I came,
'Twas not without some Sparks of Heav'nly Flame.
That rais'd my Action in each op'ning Scene,
And made me scorn ungen'rous Parts or Mean.
Refin'd my Soul to elegant Desires,
Friendship's warm Joys, or Love's Diviner Fires.
Nor few, nor evil have been, thus my Days,
While some have Pleasure gain'd, and others Praise:
28
Content for each New-Lease I paid the Fine.
The Cares, and Toils, and Pains, the Price enhance;
And there's a Bliss—that's worth Extravagance.
The fainter Beams succeed the Youthful Blaze,
Chearful I'll yet, bask in these milder Rays;
And when the Little-Loves no more may please,
The Graces still will charm me with their Ease,
Soften the rigid Sentiments of Age,
And give me Peace, as Pleasure gave me Rage:
Then as my Play of Life grows almost done,
I'll smile to see it copying by my Son.
Chearful I'll yet, bask in these milder Rays;
And when the Little-Loves no more may please,
The Graces still will charm me with their Ease,
Soften the rigid Sentiments of Age,
And give me Peace, as Pleasure gave me Rage:
Then as my Play of Life grows almost done,
I'll smile to see it copying by my Son.
| Major Pack's Poetical Remains | |