 | Poems |  |
184
Mr. WROUGHTON.
Respectable Wroughton was form'd to exist,
Like an elegant bracelet round Dignity's wrist
In Society's circle, where Honour him leads,
As he brightens the beauties of Truth—by his deeds.—
When your vices impell'd you such worth to reject,
I caught him to give my weak household—respect;
Now he breathes 'mid my rulers to combat Disgrace,
Like Confucius haranguing a mob in Duke's place;
Tho' the language of neither can much mend the band,
Yet both of them hallow the spot where they stand.—
In those parts where the moral emblazons the friend,
We scarce can the actor too warmly commend;
The reins of Propriety govern his powers,
Few errors creep in, but no apathy sours.
If the author has fail'd in a portrait of worth,
This player well knows where such virtues have birth;
And using discreetly a laudable art,
Researches his bosom, and draws—from his heart.
His Ford is an instance of wond'rous ability,
And proves his importance, his sense, and utility;
Like Vandyke's exertions, it teems with effect,
And the little extremes are high priz'd and correct;
Yet sometimes he gives antient judgment a jostle,
By fidgets that speak him too much in a bustle:
Running over his periods with singular haste,
He crucifies oft his own natural taste;
But if in some moments the man is deficient,
In Restless that bustle is apt and efficient;
It gives added charms to the ludicrous knight,
And removes the deceptions of Art from the sight;
Makes us think what we see, not a case that just seems,
Like a shadow that's nought, or the phantoms of dreams.
Like an elegant bracelet round Dignity's wrist
In Society's circle, where Honour him leads,
As he brightens the beauties of Truth—by his deeds.—
When your vices impell'd you such worth to reject,
I caught him to give my weak household—respect;
Now he breathes 'mid my rulers to combat Disgrace,
Like Confucius haranguing a mob in Duke's place;
Tho' the language of neither can much mend the band,
Yet both of them hallow the spot where they stand.—
In those parts where the moral emblazons the friend,
We scarce can the actor too warmly commend;
The reins of Propriety govern his powers,
Few errors creep in, but no apathy sours.
If the author has fail'd in a portrait of worth,
This player well knows where such virtues have birth;
And using discreetly a laudable art,
Researches his bosom, and draws—from his heart.
His Ford is an instance of wond'rous ability,
And proves his importance, his sense, and utility;
Like Vandyke's exertions, it teems with effect,
And the little extremes are high priz'd and correct;
185
By fidgets that speak him too much in a bustle:
Running over his periods with singular haste,
He crucifies oft his own natural taste;
But if in some moments the man is deficient,
In Restless that bustle is apt and efficient;
It gives added charms to the ludicrous knight,
And removes the deceptions of Art from the sight;
Makes us think what we see, not a case that just seems,
Like a shadow that's nought, or the phantoms of dreams.
While genuine worth merits human esteem,
Shall Wroughton's meek claims be the popular theme?
Like Edward the Sixth, Peace bestows him her meeds,
For the godlike display of benevolent deeds;
No vaunting encomiums have hung round his name,
No mean little arts have promoted his fame;
He elbows no youth in the road of renown,
He plays no illiberal tricks with the Town;
He never has once been affectedly ill,
Or, to punish his Chief, drawn his name from the bill;
But pursues the calm duties attach'd to his station,
And lives an example without—ostentation:
As th' associate of Honor he loves his behest,
Whose maxims he treasures with care in his breast;
Thus they lye undefil'd where no vice can misuse 'em,
Till the actions of life call the man to peruse 'em.
Shall Wroughton's meek claims be the popular theme?
Like Edward the Sixth, Peace bestows him her meeds,
For the godlike display of benevolent deeds;
No vaunting encomiums have hung round his name,
No mean little arts have promoted his fame;
He elbows no youth in the road of renown,
He plays no illiberal tricks with the Town;
He never has once been affectedly ill,
Or, to punish his Chief, drawn his name from the bill;
But pursues the calm duties attach'd to his station,
And lives an example without—ostentation:
As th' associate of Honor he loves his behest,
Whose maxims he treasures with care in his breast;
Thus they lye undefil'd where no vice can misuse 'em,
Till the actions of life call the man to peruse 'em.
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