A Collection of Miscellany poems and letters Comical and Serious. By Jo. Harvey |
 |
TO The Much Honoured, Sir Richard Steele, A POEM. |
 | A Collection of Miscellany poems and letters |  |
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TO The Much Honoured, Sir Richard Steele, A POEM.
Qui feros cultus hominum
------ Formasti catus.
Hor.
------ Formasti catus.
Hor.
As
Phebus once, when banish'd by his Sire,
Touch'd on Emathian Plains the sounding Lyre;
The Satyrs, Nymphs, and all the Sylvan Train
Hung on each Note, and drunk the Heav'nly Strain.
Admetus wonders! And the Crowd around
Melts into Sense, and softens on the Sound:
A milder Passion thrills thro' ev'ry Vein,
And Love and Music fill th'enchanted Plain.
Touch'd on Emathian Plains the sounding Lyre;
The Satyrs, Nymphs, and all the Sylvan Train
Hung on each Note, and drunk the Heav'nly Strain.
Admetus wonders! And the Crowd around
Melts into Sense, and softens on the Sound:
A milder Passion thrills thro' ev'ry Vein,
And Love and Music fill th'enchanted Plain.
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Just so, thy Precepts from each charming Page
Break on our Souls, and soften all our Rage.
Gods! How the sweet harmonious Pages shine!
How the Thought brightens on each labour'd Line!
Before each Line a surly Passion flies,
And a rude Thought on ev'ry Period dies.
Break on our Souls, and soften all our Rage.
Gods! How the sweet harmonious Pages shine!
How the Thought brightens on each labour'd Line!
Before each Line a surly Passion flies,
And a rude Thought on ev'ry Period dies.
Immortal Steele!
To thy dear Name, what Trophies can we raise,
How paint thy Merit in our Gothic Lays?
See! on Edina's Streets the Loving Throng
Gaze joyful as thou walk'st, and softly wish along.
Our mingled Vows the Air, in Whispers, bears,
And murmur'd Blessings gently strike thine Ears.
How paint thy Merit in our Gothic Lays?
See! on Edina's Streets the Loving Throng
Gaze joyful as thou walk'st, and softly wish along.
Our mingled Vows the Air, in Whispers, bears,
And murmur'd Blessings gently strike thine Ears.
All hail, thou gen'rous Friend! Thou hast been long
The Poets Darling, and their boasted Song.
A Northern Muse, born near the freezing Sea,
Thaws into poor, but kindly Lays, for thee.
A Northern Muse wou'd fondly borrow Fame,
Rise on thy Worth, and live upon thy Name.
But here, methinks, I see thy Genius frown,
And sullen Lowrs the Ghost of Addison.
The Poets Darling, and their boasted Song.
A Northern Muse, born near the freezing Sea,
Thaws into poor, but kindly Lays, for thee.
A Northern Muse wou'd fondly borrow Fame,
Rise on thy Worth, and live upon thy Name.
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And sullen Lowrs the Ghost of Addison.
O Addison! But stop—The mighty Name
Rises stupendous! And looks down on Fame.
That Name, which some have vainly strove to raise
On envious Merit, and detractive Praise;
Rises stupendous! And looks down on Fame.
That Name, which some have vainly strove to raise
On envious Merit, and detractive Praise;
Mean Artifice—
High on eternal Columns, see, it stands
Rear'd by his own, and Steele's immortal Hands.
Rear'd by his own, and Steele's immortal Hands.
Adieu, Great Steele! Accept those humble Lays,
Shades of thy Worth, and Outlines of thy Praise;
If Phœbus smiles upon a Northern Swain,
Perhaps his homely Muse may 'ttempt a loftier Strain.
Shades of thy Worth, and Outlines of thy Praise;
If Phœbus smiles upon a Northern Swain,
Perhaps his homely Muse may 'ttempt a loftier Strain.
| A Collection of Miscellany poems and letters | |