 | Household Verses |  |
29
SONNET.
TO THE MARQUIS OF NORTHAMPTON.
What Milton, in his plenitude of fame,
Promised to him who kept his house from harms,
“Captain, or colonel, or knight in arms!”
Kind friend, thy courtesy from me might claim:
And if not mine the power to bid thy name
Have for remote posterity such charms,
An equal gratitude my bosom warms,
Giving my humbler verse as proud an aim!
A purer meed than wealth or rank can seize
Is won by him—who hath an eye to see,
A heart to feel the worth of song, like thee;
To him the immortal Muse herself decrees,
What thou hast done unto the least of these
My votaries—shall survive as done to me!
Promised to him who kept his house from harms,
“Captain, or colonel, or knight in arms!”
Kind friend, thy courtesy from me might claim:
And if not mine the power to bid thy name
Have for remote posterity such charms,
An equal gratitude my bosom warms,
Giving my humbler verse as proud an aim!
A purer meed than wealth or rank can seize
Is won by him—who hath an eye to see,
A heart to feel the worth of song, like thee;
To him the immortal Muse herself decrees,
What thou hast done unto the least of these
My votaries—shall survive as done to me!
| Household Verses | |