Poems on several Occasions Viz. Munificence and Modesty. Female Dignity. To Lady Huffy Delaval. Verses from Catullus, after Dining with Mr. Murray. EPITAPHS. On the Dutchess of Cleveland. On Henry Fielding, Esq. On the Rev. James Sheeles. Epitaph from Demosthenes. By Mr. Smart |
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MUNIFICENCE and MODESTY,A POEM;
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 | Poems on several Occasions |  |
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MUNIFICENCE and MODESTY,A POEM;
The Hint from a Painting of GUIDO.
O voice of APPROBATION, bless
The spirits still demanding less,
The more their natures have to need,
The more their services can plead;
The more their mighty merits claim—
The voice of Approbation came.
The spirits still demanding less,
The more their natures have to need,
The more their services can plead;
The more their mighty merits claim—
The voice of Approbation came.
Fair MODESTY, divinely sweet,
With garb prepared, and lamp replete,
Lamented still from sun to sun
So much received, and nothing done.
Her abstinence was insincere,
Her studies not enough severe;
Her thoughts at fault, and still to seek,
Her words inadequate and weak;
Her actions wretched and restrain'd,
Her passions neither balk'd nor rein'd.
Her head she waved in meek distrust,
Her eyes were fix'd to read the dust;
Her cheeks were tinctured to receive
The blushes of the crimson eve,
Prophetic of a better day,
When thus she framed her hymn to pray.
“O Thou, whose bounties never fail,
“Who smil'st upon the lowly vale,
“And giv'st fertility and peace
“Their flow'ry lawn and golden fleece;
“Who send'st the spirit of the breeze,
“To bend the heads of stately trees,
“Till pines with all their state and rank,
“Bow like the bullrush on the bank.
“Who bid'st the little brook flow on,
“And warbling sooth the silent swan,
“And spreading form the shaded lake,
“Untill th'emerging rays retake
“The transcript of the scene to Thee,
“O FATHER of SIMPLICITY.
“As this thy glossy turf I press,
“And prostrate on my forehead bless,
“Consider for the poor infirm,
“The harmless sheep, th'obnoxious worm,
“The stooping yoke that turn the soil,
“And all the children of thy toil.
“In fine, of all the num'rous race,
“Of all that crowd and ought to grace
“Thy vast immeasurable board,
“To me the lowest lot afford.”
With garb prepared, and lamp replete,
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So much received, and nothing done.
Her abstinence was insincere,
Her studies not enough severe;
Her thoughts at fault, and still to seek,
Her words inadequate and weak;
Her actions wretched and restrain'd,
Her passions neither balk'd nor rein'd.
Her head she waved in meek distrust,
Her eyes were fix'd to read the dust;
Her cheeks were tinctured to receive
The blushes of the crimson eve,
Prophetic of a better day,
When thus she framed her hymn to pray.
“O Thou, whose bounties never fail,
“Who smil'st upon the lowly vale,
“And giv'st fertility and peace
“Their flow'ry lawn and golden fleece;
“Who send'st the spirit of the breeze,
“To bend the heads of stately trees,
“Till pines with all their state and rank,
“Bow like the bullrush on the bank.
3
“And warbling sooth the silent swan,
“And spreading form the shaded lake,
“Untill th'emerging rays retake
“The transcript of the scene to Thee,
“O FATHER of SIMPLICITY.
“As this thy glossy turf I press,
“And prostrate on my forehead bless,
“Consider for the poor infirm,
“The harmless sheep, th'obnoxious worm,
“The stooping yoke that turn the soil,
“And all the children of thy toil.
“In fine, of all the num'rous race,
“Of all that crowd and ought to grace
“Thy vast immeasurable board,
“To me the lowest lot afford.”
She bow'd, she sigh'd, and made her pause:
And instantly th'immense applause
Of thunder in the height was heard,
And all the host of Heav'n appear'd.
And thro' the great and glorious throng,
Of Seraphims, ten thousand strong
Came down that prince of high degree,
Th'archangel Liberality.
A crown of Beryls graced his head,
His wings were closed, his hands were spread;
His stature nobler than the rest,
A sun and belt adorn'd his breast;
His voice was rapture to the ears,
His look like GRANBY in his geers;
When lighting on the dewy sod,
Thus spake the Almoner of God.
“Survey these scenes from east to west,
“All earth in bloom and verdure drest;
“Those olives planted by the line,
“That forrest after God's design.
“Those naked rocks that rise to bound,
“The vine-invested elms around;
“The golden meads that far extend,
“And to the silver streams descend.
“Those fields of corn in youthful green,
“Where larks prepare the nest unseen.
“Or turn your eyes, immortal Fair,
“To yon gay walks of art and care,
“Where the throng'd hive their sweets augment,
“And murmur not, but thro' content.
“That long canal so clear and deep,
“Unmoved, but by the Crusion's leap;
“That Grotto, which from Gani's mines,
“And Ocean's ransack'd bosom shines.
“I, whose commission's to dispense
“The mead of God's munificence,
“To thy undoubted worth resign,
“These joys of thought and sense, as thine.”
And instantly th'immense applause
Of thunder in the height was heard,
And all the host of Heav'n appear'd.
4
Of Seraphims, ten thousand strong
Came down that prince of high degree,
Th'archangel Liberality.
A crown of Beryls graced his head,
His wings were closed, his hands were spread;
His stature nobler than the rest,
A sun and belt adorn'd his breast;
His voice was rapture to the ears,
His look like GRANBY in his geers;
When lighting on the dewy sod,
Thus spake the Almoner of God.
“Survey these scenes from east to west,
“All earth in bloom and verdure drest;
“Those olives planted by the line,
“That forrest after God's design.
“Those naked rocks that rise to bound,
“The vine-invested elms around;
“The golden meads that far extend,
“And to the silver streams descend.
“Those fields of corn in youthful green,
“Where larks prepare the nest unseen.
5
“To yon gay walks of art and care,
“Where the throng'd hive their sweets augment,
“And murmur not, but thro' content.
“That long canal so clear and deep,
“Unmoved, but by the Crusion's leap;
“That Grotto, which from Gani's mines,
“And Ocean's ransack'd bosom shines.
“I, whose commission's to dispense
“The mead of God's munificence,
“To thy undoubted worth resign,
“These joys of thought and sense, as thine.”
I ask not (Modesty replied)
For wealthy regions far and wide;
I rest content, if you but spare,
What is the utmost of my pray'r;
A little cot my frame to house,
With room enough to pay my vows.
“Then take a view of yonder tow'rs,
“Where Fortune deals her gifts in showr's;
“Where that vast bulwark's proud disdain
“Runs a long terras on the main;
“Whose strong foundation Ocean laves,
“And bustles with officious waves,
“To bring with many a thousand sail,
“Whate'er refinement can regale;
“Rich fruits of oriental zest,
“Perfumes of Araby the blest,
“With precious ornaments to wear,
“Upon thine hands, thy neck, thy hair:
“O Queen of the transcendent few,
“All decoration is thy due.”
Remote from cities and their noise
Serenity herself enjoys,
And free from grandeur and expence,
Had best be cloath'd with innocence.
“If such thine elevated mind,
“Chuse pleasures for thy sex design'd;
“A blooming youth I will provide,
“To make thee a transported bride;
“To give each day some new delight,
“And bless the soft connubial night.
I may not act a double part,
And offer a divided heart;
Let other nymphs their swains endear,
For my affections are not here.
“Accomplish then that great desire,
“To which the wise and good aspire;
“A name that no detraction knows,
“Whose fragrance is as Sharon's rose;
“Which makes the highest flight of fame,
“By vast and popular acclaim.”
O rather may I still refrain,
Nor run the risk of being vain;
To peace and silence let me cleave,
And give the glory—not receive.
“Yet, yet accept a gift of love,
“The royal Sceptre and the Dove;
“All things on earth thou shalt command,
“Whatever heart, whatever hand;
“Why are those charming looks aground?
“Arise, aspire, thou shalt be crown'd.”
Talk not of crowns—I have no will,
No power, no thought.—“No more, be still.
“Who's there?” The vast Cherubic flight,
Of thousand thousands on the right.
“Who's there?” 'Tis ORIEL and his SONG,
Full eighty thousand legions strong.—
“Hand from the nether Zenith down
“The chariot with the emeral'd crown
“By Phœnix drawn.—Lo! this is SHE,
“Which has atchieved the first degree;
“And scorning Mammon and his leav'n,
“Has won Eternity and Heav'n.”
For wealthy regions far and wide;
I rest content, if you but spare,
What is the utmost of my pray'r;
A little cot my frame to house,
With room enough to pay my vows.
“Then take a view of yonder tow'rs,
“Where Fortune deals her gifts in showr's;
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“Runs a long terras on the main;
“Whose strong foundation Ocean laves,
“And bustles with officious waves,
“To bring with many a thousand sail,
“Whate'er refinement can regale;
“Rich fruits of oriental zest,
“Perfumes of Araby the blest,
“With precious ornaments to wear,
“Upon thine hands, thy neck, thy hair:
“O Queen of the transcendent few,
“All decoration is thy due.”
Remote from cities and their noise
Serenity herself enjoys,
And free from grandeur and expence,
Had best be cloath'd with innocence.
“If such thine elevated mind,
“Chuse pleasures for thy sex design'd;
“A blooming youth I will provide,
“To make thee a transported bride;
“To give each day some new delight,
“And bless the soft connubial night.
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And offer a divided heart;
Let other nymphs their swains endear,
For my affections are not here.
“Accomplish then that great desire,
“To which the wise and good aspire;
“A name that no detraction knows,
“Whose fragrance is as Sharon's rose;
“Which makes the highest flight of fame,
“By vast and popular acclaim.”
O rather may I still refrain,
Nor run the risk of being vain;
To peace and silence let me cleave,
And give the glory—not receive.
“Yet, yet accept a gift of love,
“The royal Sceptre and the Dove;
“All things on earth thou shalt command,
“Whatever heart, whatever hand;
“Why are those charming looks aground?
“Arise, aspire, thou shalt be crown'd.”
Talk not of crowns—I have no will,
No power, no thought.—“No more, be still.
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Of thousand thousands on the right.
“Who's there?” 'Tis ORIEL and his SONG,
Full eighty thousand legions strong.—
“Hand from the nether Zenith down
“The chariot with the emeral'd crown
“By Phœnix drawn.—Lo! this is SHE,
“Which has atchieved the first degree;
“And scorning Mammon and his leav'n,
“Has won Eternity and Heav'n.”
| Poems on several Occasions | |