The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
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The Dedication of a Poem, now lost; written
in the Royall Expedition against the Scotts.
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| II. |
| III, IV. |
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 | The poems of George Daniel |  |
68
The Dedication of a Poem, now lost; written in the Royall Expedition against the Scotts.
To the King.
All fitt to serve you, in this great Designe,
Where Action fires brave Minds, to entertaine
Bright hopes of honour; and your Subiects stand
A Gvard to you, a Glorie to your Land;
Where Armes are only vsefull. Sir, excuse
(When now Bellona thunders) a Sad Muse,
Who can noe other way her Tribute bring;
But a weake forme of words, the offering
Of a neglected Poet, who to Fame,
Bequeaths his Numbers, rich in your great Name.
Tho' Sir; if I were happie, this might live
A Time beyond what all your Annalls give;
And when the brasen Trumpe of Historie
Shall splitt with Time, and to Posteritie
Give scarce the Names of your dead Ancestors;
When Statues, Monuments, and high-rear'd Towers
Shall drop to Dust, and lye forgotten, in
A heape of Ruines; when the mouth of Sin
Shall spitt vpon Iust vertues and deface
The Light of Truth, and Maiestie disgrace;
When all the world shall suffer, in her Iawes;
Wee stand Secure, and doe not feare the Lawes
Of Surly fate, nor the Decrees of Time;
Confident in the force of mighty Rhime.
Where Action fires brave Minds, to entertaine
Bright hopes of honour; and your Subiects stand
A Gvard to you, a Glorie to your Land;
Where Armes are only vsefull. Sir, excuse
(When now Bellona thunders) a Sad Muse,
Who can noe other way her Tribute bring;
But a weake forme of words, the offering
Of a neglected Poet, who to Fame,
Bequeaths his Numbers, rich in your great Name.
Tho' Sir; if I were happie, this might live
A Time beyond what all your Annalls give;
And when the brasen Trumpe of Historie
Shall splitt with Time, and to Posteritie
Give scarce the Names of your dead Ancestors;
When Statues, Monuments, and high-rear'd Towers
Shall drop to Dust, and lye forgotten, in
A heape of Ruines; when the mouth of Sin
Shall spitt vpon Iust vertues and deface
The Light of Truth, and Maiestie disgrace;
When all the world shall suffer, in her Iawes;
Wee stand Secure, and doe not feare the Lawes
69
Confident in the force of mighty Rhime.
But Franticke Poets erre: 'tis you can give
A Life to verse. The great Prerogative
Of Numbers cannot stand without the Breath
Of Maiestie; that only frees from Death,
Creates a Poet, and gives verse her wings;
This, Sir, wee know; and thus this Poet Sings.
A Life to verse. The great Prerogative
Of Numbers cannot stand without the Breath
Of Maiestie; that only frees from Death,
Creates a Poet, and gives verse her wings;
This, Sir, wee know; and thus this Poet Sings.
| The poems of George Daniel | |