The Poetical Works of Anna Seward With Extracts from her Literary Correspondence. Edited by Walter Scott ... In Three Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The Poetical Works of Anna Seward |  |
189
SONNET LXVIII.
ON THE POSTHUMOUS FAME OF DOCTOR JOHNSON.
Well it becomes thee, Britain, to avowJohnson's high claims!—vet boasting that his fires
Were of unclouded lustre, Truth retires
Blushing, and Justice knits her solemn brow;
The eyes of Gratitude withdraw the glow
His moral strain inspired.—Their zeal requires
That thou should'st better guard the sacred lyres,
Sources of thy bright fame, than to bestow
Perfection's wreath on him, whose ruthless hand,
Goaded by jealous rage, the laurels tore,
That Justice, Truth, and Gratitude demand
Should deck those lyres till time shall be no more.—
A radiant course did Johnson's glory run,
But large the spots that darken'd on its sun.
| The Poetical Works of Anna Seward | |