The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson including many pieces never before published. In Three Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson |  |
239
THE ANSWER.
BY MRS. ROBINSON.
O Peter! since thy sportive Muse
A puppy for her theme will choose,
How envied must his race of brothers be!
How will their mop-like tresses flow,
How will their mops and long ears glow,
When crown'd by genius, Peter, and by thee!
A puppy for her theme will choose,
How envied must his race of brothers be!
How will their mop-like tresses flow,
How will their mops and long ears glow,
When crown'd by genius, Peter, and by thee!
But thou, the Muses' watch-dog, Peter,
Who scar'd the highest with thy metre,
Thou never would'st a servile state survive:
Thou would'st not wear a puppy's chain,
But treating bondage with disdain,
Would'st hope to lead where I would wish to drive.
Who scar'd the highest with thy metre,
Thou never would'st a servile state survive:
Thou would'st not wear a puppy's chain,
But treating bondage with disdain,
Would'st hope to lead where I would wish to drive.
Then, Peter, boast a nobler pate,
Nor envy Shock's inglorious state;
For, know, the puppy species I despise!
With thee I'll wander, wake, or dream,
By Helicon's immortal stream,
Where Peter guards a passage to the skies!
Nor envy Shock's inglorious state;
For, know, the puppy species I despise!
With thee I'll wander, wake, or dream,
By Helicon's immortal stream,
Where Peter guards a passage to the skies!
240
But if, in sportive vein, you seek
To paint a puppy's whisker'd cheek,
My little fav'rite shall your levee grace;
For oft, if they are not bely'd,
At levees, in due pomp and pride,
The highest patronize the fawning race.
To paint a puppy's whisker'd cheek,
My little fav'rite shall your levee grace;
For oft, if they are not bely'd,
At levees, in due pomp and pride,
The highest patronize the fawning race.
My dog has something more to boast;
He scorns the cringing, sneaking host,
And looks to lasting wreaths by genius twin'd;
Since Peter, with his magic help,
Will keep in countenance the whelp,
And prove the painter, like the puppy—kind!
He scorns the cringing, sneaking host,
And looks to lasting wreaths by genius twin'd;
Since Peter, with his magic help,
Will keep in countenance the whelp,
And prove the painter, like the puppy—kind!
| The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson | |