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University of Virginia Library

The Poems of John Byrom

Edited by Adolphus William Ward

Byrom, John (1692-1763)

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I.

VOL. I.—MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

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I.

HOW TO MOVE THE WORLD.

THE ASTROLOGER.

ON THE AUTHOR'S COAT OF ARMS.

A LETTER TO R. L., ESQ.

EPIGRAM ON THE FEUDS BETWEEN HANDEL AND BONONCINI.

A LETTER TO R. L., ESQ.,

EXTEMPORE VERSES

THE DISSECTION OF A BEAU'S HEAD.

A Full and True Account of an Horrid and Barbarous Robbery, Committed on Epping Forest upon the Body of the Cambridge Coach.

TO HENRY WRIGHT OF MOBBERLEY, ESQ.

ADVICE TO THE Rev. Messrs. H--- and H--- to Preach Slow.

VERSES SPOKEN EXTEMPORE

TO THE REV. MESSRS. H--- AND H---

ON CLERGYMEN PREACHING POLITICS.

THE PLEASURES OF CHESS.

CARELESS CONTENT.

A DIALOGUE ON CONTENTMENT.

A HINT TO A YOUNG PERSON,

ABSENT FRIENDS.

POWDER WITHOUT SHOT.

EPILOGUE TO HURLOTHRUMBO,

THE THREE BLACK CROWS.

VERSES On the Danger and Impropriety of Hastily Attaching Wrong Ideas to Words or Epithets.

THE APE AND THE FOX.

DULCES ANTE OMNIA MUSÆ.

THE COUNTRY FELLOWS AND THE ASS.

“IN NOVA FERT ANIMUS MUTATAS DICERE FORMAS CORPORA.”

VERSES Intended to have been Spoken at the Breaking-up of the Free Grammar School in Manchester, in the year 1748,

ON INOCULATION.

THE WOODEN HORSE.

UPROUSE YE, THEN.

THE STATUE IN CHEAPSIDE.

LINES TO STEPHEN DUCK.

ON THE WHIG WORKHOUSE BILL.

ON SPECIOUS AND SUPERFICIAL WRITERS.

THE PASSIVE PARTICIPLE'S PETITION TO THE PRINTER OF THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

FROM A GENTLEMAN TO HIS BARBER.

THE BEAU AND THE BEDLAMITE.

ST. PHILIP NERI AND THE YOUTH.

THE CENTAUR FABULOUS.

THOUGHTS ON THE CONSTITUTION OF HUMAN NATURE, AS REPRESENTED IN THE SYSTEMS OF MODERN PHILOSOPHERS.

TO R. L., ESQUIRE,

“THE ART OF ACTING.”

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II.

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DIALOGUES IN THE LANCASHIRE DIALECT.

I.

I. A LANCASHIRE DIALOGUE, OCCASIONED BY A CLERGYMAN PREACHING WITHOUT NOTES.

II.

II. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SIR JOHN JOBSON AND HARRY HOMESPUN;

III.

III. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SAME, ABOUT COMPELLING A PERSON TO TAKE THE OATHS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

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VERSES CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHESTER COURANT.

I.

I. TOM THE PORTER.

II.

III.

III. MISS ---'S OBSERVATION UPON THE LATIN MOTTO.

IV.

IV. LOVERS OF LIBERTY.

V.

V. DE FACTO LOYALTY.

VI.

VI. ON THE NATURALISATION BILL.

VII.

VII. ON THE SAME.

VIII.

VIII. ON THE SAME.

IX.

IX. ON THE SAME.

X.

X. ON THE SAME.

XI.

XI. ADVERTISEMENT UPON THE SAME.

XII.

XII. THE RUMP PARLIAMENT: A HISTORICAL QUESTION.

XIII.

XIII. ON THE SAME.

XIV.

XIV. THE GHOST OF THE RUMP.

XV.

XV. TO MISO-MANC. AND COMPANY.

XVI.

XVI. HOW DIFFERS HISTORY, PRITHEE, FROM HISTORIANS?

XVII.

XVII. WHITWORTH'S VICARIOUS SUFFERINGS.

XVIII.

XVIII. BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

XIX.

XIX. OAK-APPLE DAY.

XX.

XX. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO EXECUTED LORDS.

XXI.

XXI. A GENUINE DIALOGUE BETWEEN A GENTLEWOMAN AT DERBY AND HER MAID JENNY,

XXII.

XXII. VERSES SPOKEN EXTEMPORE BY A SOLDIER THE DAY AFTER HE RECEIVED A FLANNEN WAISTCOAT, THROUGH THE BOUNTY OF THE QUAKERS.

XXIII.

XXIII. ONE THING WANTING.

AN EPISTLE TO A FRIEND,

SIR LOWBRED O**N,

AGAINST AN UNGALLANT MODERN ROUNDHEAD.

TO THE EARL OF HARRINGTON: AN APPEAL FOR MERCY.

TO LADY B--- W---,

THOUGHTS ON RIME AND BLANK VERSE.

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AN EPISTLE TO A FRIEND

I.

II.

THE ORIGIN OF POETRY.

A DEFENCE OF RIME.

VERSES ON THE ATTACK UPON ADMIRAL BYNG IN THE “MONITOR.”

REMARKS ON DR. BROWN'S ESTIMATE.

REMARKS ON A PAMPHLET ENTITLED EPISTLES TO THE GREAT, FROM ARISTIPPUS IN RETIREMENT

REMARKS UPON DR. AKENSIDE'S AND MR. WHITEHEAD'S VERSES,

ON THE PATRON OF ENGLAND;

AN EPISTLE TO J. BL---K---N, ESQ.,

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THREE EPISTLES TO G. LLOYD, ESQ., ON THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN HOMER:

I.

II.

III.

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CRITICAL REMARKS IN ENGLISH AND LATIN UPON SEVERAL PASSAGES IN HORACE.

I.

I. AN EPISTLE TO A FRIEND, PROPOSING A CORRECTION IN THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE

II.

II. A DIALOGUE.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XIII.

XIV.

LINES ON A CONTESTED ELECTION TO A FELLOWSHIP OF THE MANCHESTER COLLEGIATE CHURCH.

EPITAPH ON WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM.

PLURAL AND SINGULAR.

AN ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING LETTER, .

TIME PAST, FUTURE, AND PRESENT.

DISARMING AN ENEMY.

THE EFFECTS OF MANNER.

THE WICKEDNESS OF REVENGE.

THE SELF-SUBORDINATION OF REASON.

THE QUID AND THE QUIS.

VERSES DESIGNED FOR A WATCH-CASE.

AN ADMONITION AGAINST SWEARING.

TO THE SAME, EXTEMPORE.

ON PRIOR'S SOLOMON.

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II.

VOL. II.—SACRED POEMS.

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I.

A DIVINE PASTORAL.

A THANKSGIVING-HYMN.

A HYMN ON THE DIVINE OMNIPRESENCE.

GOD THE ONLY TRUE TEACHER.

A PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD'S PRAYER.

THE COLLECT FOR ADVENT SUNDAY.

A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

A HYMN FOR THE SAME.

ON THE EPIPHANY.

MEDITATIONS FOR EVERY DAY IN PASSION-WEEK.

EASTER COLLECT.

AN HYMN FOR EASTER DAY.

ON TRINITY SUNDAY.

ATHEISM THE ONLY GROUND OF DISCONTENT.

A CAUTION AGAINST DESPAIR.

A PENITENTIAL SOLILOQUY.

FOR THE DUE IMPROVEMENT OF A FUNERAL SOLEMNITY.

VERSES WRITTEN UNDER A PRINT REPRESENTING THE SALUTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

VERSES WRITTEN UNDER A PRINT REPRESENTING CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF THE DOCTORS.

THE POOR IN SPIRIT.

LESLIE v. BOURIGNON.

FALSE HAPPINESS.

GOD'S LOVE TO MAN.

THE ETERNAL PROMISE OF GOD.

AN HYMN TO JESUS,

A FAREWELL TO THE WORLD,

AN HYMN, From the French.

THE DESPONDING SOUL'S WISH.

AN HYMN TO JESUS,

ARMELLE NICOLAS' ACCOUNT OF HERSELF.

REFLEXIONS ON THE FOREGOING ACCOUNT.

AN HYMN ON SIMPLICITY,

A SIMPLE CONFESSION.

AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO EARNEST AND IMPORTUNATE PRAYER.

A SOLILOQUY, On reading the 5th and 8th Verses of the 37th Psalm.

AN EPISTLE FROM THE AUTHOR TO HIS SISTER,

PASCAL'S CHARACTER OF HIMSELF.

ST. CECILIA'S HYMN.

A LETTER TO A LADY,

A HINT TO CHRISTIAN POETS.

ON THE DISPOSITION OF MIND

ON THE SAME SUBJECT,

ON THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL.

AN EPISTLE TO A GENTLEMAN OF THE TEMPLE,

A PRAYER, FROM MR. LAW'S SPIRIT OF PRAYER.

THE FORCE OF TRUTH.

REMARKS ON DR. MIDDLETON'S EXAMINATION OF THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON'S DISCOURSES CONCERNING THE USE AND INTENT OF PROPHECY.

PETER'S DENIAL OF HIS MASTER.

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FAMILIAR EPISTLES TO A FRIEND,

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

A STRICTURE ON THE REV. MR. WARBURTON'S DOCTRINE OF GRACE.

AN ANSWER TO SOME ENQUIRIES

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FOUR EPISTLES TO THE REV. MR. L---, LATE VICAR OF BOWDON, UPON THE MIRACLE AT THE FEAST OF PENTECOST.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

A LETTER TO A FRIEND,

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN RUSTICUS, THEOPHILUS AND ACADEMICUS,

A CONTRAST BETWEEN HUMAN REASON AND DIVINE ILLUMINATION,

SOCRATES' REPLY CONCERNING HERACLITUS' WRITINGS.

THOUGHTS UPON HUMAN REASON,

ON FAITH, REASON, AND SIGHT,

VERSES DESIGNED FOR AN INFIRMARY.

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II.

A POETICAL VERSION OF A LETTER FROM THE EARL OF ESSEX TO THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON.

AN ITALIAN BISHOP.

ON RESIGNATION.

A POETICAL VERSION OF A LETTER FROM JACOB BEHMEN TO A FRIEND, ON THE SAME OCCASION.

ON RESIGNATION.

ON BEARING THE CROSS.

A SOLILOQUY ON THE CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCES OF A DOUBTING MIND.

A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF THE NATURE AND DESIGN OF TRUE RELIGION.

ON THE TRUE MEANING OF THE SCRIPTURE TERMS “LIFE” AND “DEATH,” WHEN APPLIED TO MEN.

ON THE GROUND OF TRUE AND FALSE RELIGION.

ON THE CAUSE, CONSEQUENCE AND CURE OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE.

THE BEGGAR AND THE DIVINE.

FRAGMENT OF AN HYMN ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

UNIVERSAL GOOD THE OBJECT OF THE DIVINE WILL, AND EVIL THE NECESSARY EFFECT OF THE CREATURE'S OPPOSITION TO IT.

ON THE DISINTERESTED LOVE OF GOD.

ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

ON THE MEANING OF THE WORD “WRATH,” AS APPLIED TO GOD IN SCRIPTURE.

THE FOREGOING SUBJECT MORE FULLY ILLUSTRATED, IN A COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE

THE TRUE GROUNDS OF ETERNAL AND IMMUTABLE RECTITUDE.

ON THE NATURE AND REASON OF ALL OUTWARD LAW.

DIVINE LOVE, THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF TRUE RELIGION.

ON WORKS OF MERCY AND COMPASSION, CONSIDERED AS THE PROOFS OF TRUE RELIGION.

THE SOUL'S TENDENCY TOWARDS ITS TRUE CENTRE.

A PARAPHRASE ON THE PRAYER USED IN THE CHURCH LITURGY “FOR ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEN.”

THE PRAYER OF RUSBROCHIUS.

A PRAYER, USED BY FRANCIS THE FIRST, WHEN HE WAS AT WAR WITH THE EMPEROR CHARLES THE FIFTH.

A COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE, IN THE GENERAL CONFESSION OF SINS USED IN THE CHURCH-LITURGY: “ACCORDING TO THY PROMISES DECLARED UNTO MANKIND IN CHRIST JESU OUR LORD.”

ON CHURCH COMMUNION

A DYING SPEECH;

A COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE

A MEMORIAL ABSTRACT OF A SERMON PREACHED BY THE REV. MR. H--- ON PROVERBS, Ch. XX. v. 27.

ON THE UNION AND THREEFOLD DISTINCTION OF GOD, NATURE AND CREATURE.

ON THE ORIGIN OF EVIL.

A FRIENDLY EXPOSTULATION WITH A CLERGYMAN, CONCERNING A PASSAGE IN HIS SERMON RELATING TO THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND.

ON THE SAME SUBJECT;

THOUGHTS ON IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS, OCCASIONED BY READING THE REV. MR. HERVEY'S DIALOGUES BETWEEN THERON AND ASPASIO.

A CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO EMINENT DIVINES.

ON THE NATURE OF FREE GRACE, AND THE CLAIM TO MERIT FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF GOOD WORKS.

A SOLILOQUY ON READING A DISPUTE ABOUT FAITH AND WORKS.

THOUGHTS ON PREDESTINATION AND REPROBATION.

THE POTTER AND HIS CLAY;

AN ARGUMENT FOR DAVID'S BELIEF OF A FUTURE STATE, INFERRED FROM BATHSHEBA'S LAST WORDS TO HIM UPON HIS DEATH-BED.

AN EXPOSTULATION WITH A ZEALOUS SECTARIST, WHO INVEIGHED IN BITTER TERMS AGAINST THE CLERGY AND CHURCH INSTITUTIONS.

ON THE FALL OF MAN;

ON JONATHAN EDWARDS' ENQUIRY CONCERNING FREEWILL.

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MISCELLANEOUS PIECES,

The Ways of God.

Natural Knowledge and Heavenly Wisdom.

The Cost of being Religious.

Works without Love.

Disappointments.

The Rewards of the Contented.

Faith and Charity.

Faith, Hope and Love.

Faith and Works.

Zeal and Meekness.

Procrastination.

True and False Inspiration.

The Recompense of Charity.

Interest upon Charity.

The Season for Watching.

The Spirit of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

A Deaf and Dumb God.

The Love and the Fear of God.

The Mote and the Beam.

On the Epicurean, Stoic and Christian Philosophy.

An Epigram, On the Blessedness of Divine Love.

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TRANSLATED VERSE.

THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL.

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95

REFLEXIONS ON THE FOREGOING ACCOUNT.

How full a Proof of Heav'ns All-present Aid
Was good Armelle, a simple Servant-maid!
A poor French Girl, by Parentage and Birth
Of low and mean Condition upon Earth;
By Education ignorant indeed:
She all her Life could neither write nor read.

But she had that which all the Force of Art
Could neither give nor take away,—an Heart,
An honest, humble, well-disposèd Will,
The true Capacity for higher Skill
Than what the World with all its learnèd Din
Could teach. She learn'd her Lesson from within,—
Plain, single Lesson of essential Kind:
The Love of God's Pure Presence in her Mind.
Her artless, innocent, attentive Thought
Was at the Source of all True Knowledge taught.
There she could read the Characters imprest
Upon the Mind of ev'ry human Breast,—
The native Laws prescrib'd to ev'ry Soul,
And Love, the One Fulfiller of the Whole.

This Holy Love to know and practise well
Became the sole Endeavour of Armelle.

96

Of outward Things the Management and Rule
She wisely took from this internal School.
In ev'ry Work well done by such a Hand,
The Work was servile, but the Thing was grand.
There was a Dignity in all she did,
Tho' from the World by meaner Labours hid,—
If mean below, not so esteem'd above,
Where all the Grand of Labour is the Love.
In vain to boast Magnificence of Scene;
It is all Meanness, if the Love be mean!