Neglected Genius A Poem. Illustrating the Untimely And Unfortunate Fate Of Many British Poets; From the Period of Henry the Eighth to the Aera of the Unfortunate Chatterton. Containing Imitations of their Different Styles, &c. &c. By W. H. Ireland |
 |
 |
|
[In strains like these erst sung the fire-fraught child] |
|
 | Neglected Genius |  |
71
[In strains like these erst sung the fire-fraught child]
In strains like these erst sung the fire-fraught child,In language nervous, and with fancy wild;
No theme too dazzling for his mental store,
No style too rude, tho' 'ray'd in antique lore:
The field immense of poetry he ran,
And gain'd the fadeless crown, ere yet a man.
Such was the youth who fled his native soil,
Wearied with Bristol and its sordid toil;
London, he thought, would patronize his worth,
And foster one of Heliconian birth.
Vain was the hope:—sweet youth, thy godlike song
Woke not at pity's string the list'ning throng;
72
E'en classic Walpole left thee to thy lot.
Pining, the spirit still, by genius fed,
Inspir'd his pride, and rear'd aloft his head;
Disdainful he beheld the threat'ning bane,
And silent suffer'd famine's deadly pain;
Proud to the last, he breath'd no suppliant's sigh,
True son of fire, with spirit fix'd on high;
He spurn'd humility, nor deign'd to sue
For that reward which genius claims its due:
He died!—ah! let me close the mournful truth,
Corroding poison nipp'd his budding youth;
Unutterable anguish seal'd his fate,
And bore his spirit to the kindred great:—
While soft the cherub choir of minstrels sung
The holy requiem;—lo! the clarion tongue
Of great Apollo, hail'd his darling boy,
And crown'd his soul with everlasting joy.
| Neglected Genius | |