The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop ... To Which are Prefixed, Memoirs of the Life of the Author By the Rev. Thomas Clare |
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THE READING-GLASS. |
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 | The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop |  |
125
THE READING-GLASS.
If I can guess your thoughts, (and let me say
We boys are shrewd observers in our way,)
You half expect a descant dull and dry,
As, “How the spectacles assist the eye;
“How grave old gentlemen their use confess;
“And purblind dowagers th' invention bless;
“How, thro' their aid, full many a sage adviser
“Trims Europe's Balance—by the Advertiser;
“How criticks by their help can words pursue
“From tome to tome; nor ever lose the view;
“How wits can annotate, compose, compile;
“And readers read, and spellers spell—the while.”
We boys are shrewd observers in our way,)
You half expect a descant dull and dry,
As, “How the spectacles assist the eye;
“How grave old gentlemen their use confess;
“And purblind dowagers th' invention bless;
“How, thro' their aid, full many a sage adviser
“Trims Europe's Balance—by the Advertiser;
“How criticks by their help can words pursue
“From tome to tome; nor ever lose the view;
“How wits can annotate, compose, compile;
“And readers read, and spellers spell—the while.”
126
Why really, Gentlemen, one might contrive
With such trite hints to keep you—just alive:—
But 'tis with me, as 'tis, I hope, with you;
I love a little touch at something new;
And trust me, 'tis not in my verse alone,
That novelty for nonsense must atone:—
Then take in lieu of wit—such rhymes as these;—
And as you like them, call them what you please.
With such trite hints to keep you—just alive:—
But 'tis with me, as 'tis, I hope, with you;
I love a little touch at something new;
And trust me, 'tis not in my verse alone,
That novelty for nonsense must atone:—
Then take in lieu of wit—such rhymes as these;—
And as you like them, call them what you please.
There is a Book, and in that book a page,
Which holds a lesson for each state and age;
That proper lesson every man should read;—
And one good Glass is all the help he'll need:—
To keep your thoughts no longer in suspense,
Nature's the Book; the Glass is Common Sense.
Which holds a lesson for each state and age;
That proper lesson every man should read;—
And one good Glass is all the help he'll need:—
To keep your thoughts no longer in suspense,
Nature's the Book; the Glass is Common Sense.
O! could you see that Glass exalted ride,
Like spectacles, the Coxcomb's nose astride!
How alter'd would he seem in every feature!
How quite another! quite a better creature!
No more he'd lisp, and lear, and pish! and fie!
A baby-man, boy-miss—of six feet high.
Like spectacles, the Coxcomb's nose astride!
How alter'd would he seem in every feature!
How quite another! quite a better creature!
127
A baby-man, boy-miss—of six feet high.
In Nature's horn-book, her mere criss-cross row,
'Tis the first sentence, “Live for Use, not Show.”
Could Scholars read this, thro' the Glass of Sense,
What loads would vanish of impertinence!
Could Beauties see it, what a change would rise,
From patch and paint—to puddings, and to pies!
Could Poets learn it, what a world of wit,
That never will be read—would not be writ!
Could we all get it, tho' some toil attend on't,
'Twould make us none the worse, we may depend on't.
—Let then all those, who would for wisdom look,
Make Sense their Glass, and study Nature's Book.
'Tis the first sentence, “Live for Use, not Show.”
Could Scholars read this, thro' the Glass of Sense,
What loads would vanish of impertinence!
Could Beauties see it, what a change would rise,
From patch and paint—to puddings, and to pies!
Could Poets learn it, what a world of wit,
That never will be read—would not be writ!
Could we all get it, tho' some toil attend on't,
'Twould make us none the worse, we may depend on't.
—Let then all those, who would for wisdom look,
Make Sense their Glass, and study Nature's Book.
| The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop | |