The Works of John Hall-Stevenson ... Corrected and Enlarged. With Several Original Poems, Now First Printed, and Explanatory Notes. In Three Volumes |
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| IMITATIONS OF HORACE'S ODES. |
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| III. |
 | The Works of John Hall-Stevenson |  |
IMITATIONS OF HORACE'S ODES.
BOOK III. ODE III.
TO JOHN WILKES, ESQ.
The man religious to his word,
And a firm Christian, firm as you,
Whose principles are like his sword,
True to dame Honour, whilst she's true;
And a firm Christian, firm as you,
Whose principles are like his sword,
True to dame Honour, whilst she's true;
Like you, may laugh at tyrant peers;
Nor can the base apostate's vote,
Nor ruin, thundering in his ears,
Cram Tory nonsense down his throat.
Nor can the base apostate's vote,
Nor ruin, thundering in his ears,
Cram Tory nonsense down his throat.
Hambden and Pym by arts like these
To glorious patriots once gave law,
And now give nectar on their knees,
To both the Georges and Nassau.
To glorious patriots once gave law,
And now give nectar on their knees,
To both the Georges and Nassau.
10
Nor with less art fanatic Vane
Rul'd the wild Whigs by frantic pray'r,
Like tigers patient of the rein,
When Bacchus steps into the chair.
Rul'd the wild Whigs by frantic pray'r,
Like tigers patient of the rein,
When Bacchus steps into the chair.
Cromwell, Bellona's charioteer,
Ascending to the realms of day,
With fiends and furies in his rear,
Through storms and thunder forc'd his way.
Ascending to the realms of day,
With fiends and furies in his rear,
Through storms and thunder forc'd his way.
Thus to her Sydney Freedom spoke—
“Trust thee I will, tho' oft betray'd;
“Tho' Wentworth , for lewd folly's yoke,
“Left me and the Athenian maid.
“Trust thee I will, tho' oft betray'd;
“Tho' Wentworth , for lewd folly's yoke,
“Left me and the Athenian maid.
“Remove yon foreign dame with speed,
“That wicked judge, those courtiers vile,
“Men that can neither write nor read,
“And give me back my ravish'd isle.
“That wicked judge, those courtiers vile,
“Men that can neither write nor read,
“And give me back my ravish'd isle.
11
“'Tis well—I see the miscreants fly:
“No Fav'rite now, with haughty mien,
“Shall dare to rival kings, and try,
“Like Villiers, to seduce a queen.
“No Fav'rite now, with haughty mien,
“Shall dare to rival kings, and try,
“Like Villiers, to seduce a queen.
“And with prophetic eyes I view
“A monk, the last of Stuart's race,
“In exile, and his slavish crew
“Of perjur'd Tories in disgrace
“A monk, the last of Stuart's race,
“In exile, and his slavish crew
“Of perjur'd Tories in disgrace
“Treason and he to Rome are fled
;
“There let him reign without restraint;
“And, when the spurious monarch's dead,
“Let him be made a Roman saint.
“There let him reign without restraint;
“And, when the spurious monarch's dead,
“Let him be made a Roman saint.
“Whilst seas divide us, let them shine,
“Let saints and martyrs for them battle;
“Whilst Stuart's tomb, like Becket's shrine,
“Is only trod by Romish cattle.
“Let saints and martyrs for them battle;
“Whilst Stuart's tomb, like Becket's shrine,
“Is only trod by Romish cattle.
12
“On Magna Charta's solid base
“Britannia's Majesty shall stand;
“Confin'd alone by boundless space,
“Her sons shall conquer sea and land.
“Britannia's Majesty shall stand;
“Confin'd alone by boundless space,
“Her sons shall conquer sea and land.
“Nor showers of lead nor pointed steel
“Their native ardour shall withhold:
“Thrice happy, could they always feel
“The same innate contempt for gold.
“Their native ardour shall withhold:
“Thrice happy, could they always feel
“The same innate contempt for gold.
“O Britons! whilst your banners wave
“In every clime, on every shore,
“Deep as the center make a grave,
“And bury that pernicious ore;
“In every clime, on every shore,
“Deep as the center make a grave,
“And bury that pernicious ore;
“Lest Tyranny again should rise,
“Enrich'd and strengthen'd by your gains,
“Dazzle your delegates weak eyes,
“And bind them fast in golden chains:
“Enrich'd and strengthen'd by your gains,
“Dazzle your delegates weak eyes,
“And bind them fast in golden chains:
13
“Chains which, however, soon or late,
“I'll break, as I have done before;
“Your chains are not like those of fate,
“That tie the Frenchman to his oar.
“I'll break, as I have done before;
“Your chains are not like those of fate,
“That tie the Frenchman to his oar.
“For, should the Goths again prevail,
“Should impious men again bear sway,
“Their blaze shall, like a comet's tail,
“Awe none but fools, and pass away.
“Should impious men again bear sway,
“Their blaze shall, like a comet's tail,
“Awe none but fools, and pass away.
“Ev'n if rebellion, a third time,
“Shall rise again and leave her bed,
“Freedom again shall load and prime,
“And the Third Brunswick shoot her dead.”
“Shall rise again and leave her bed,
“Freedom again shall load and prime,
“And the Third Brunswick shoot her dead.”
But hold—this is too high a flight;
I fear we both shall come to shame:
Return, my Muse, whilst we have light,
I am half blind, and you are lame.
I fear we both shall come to shame:
Return, my Muse, whilst we have light,
I am half blind, and you are lame.
14
BOOK IV. ODE IX.
To LOLLIUS.
Though born in an ungenial clime,
Where T. with brawls his tribute pays,
'Tis possible, my lord, for Time
To fancy these uncommon lays.
Where T. with brawls his tribute pays,
'Tis possible, my lord, for Time
To fancy these uncommon lays.
If Shakspeare every Muse inspire,
Sole sovereign of the tuneful throng,
Praise still is due to Cowley's lyre,
And Gray's sweet melancholy song.
Sole sovereign of the tuneful throng,
Praise still is due to Cowley's lyre,
And Gray's sweet melancholy song.
Prior shall live with laughing eye
Amongst the vivid sons of fame;
Maids ever weep, and widows sigh,
And burn with Eloisa's flame.
Amongst the vivid sons of fame;
Maids ever weep, and widows sigh,
And burn with Eloisa's flame.
Not Sparta's queen alone has tripp'd,
Charm'd with fine breeding and fine clothes;
Other fair princesses have slipp'd
,
And troubled the whole world's repose.
Charm'd with fine breeding and fine clothes;
15
And troubled the whole world's repose.
Teucer is not the only prince
Famous for shooting the long bow .
Troy has been lost before, and since,
By cunning, with a patriot shew.
Famous for shooting the long bow .
Troy has been lost before, and since,
By cunning, with a patriot shew.
Heroes have bled as well as Hector,
Both for their minions and chaste wives;
Else how had Cromwell been protector,
Or Charles and Edward lost their lives?
Both for their minions and chaste wives;
Else how had Cromwell been protector,
Or Charles and Edward lost their lives?
Pitts with the same aspiring mind
In dark oblivion are gone down;
But they have not the luck to find
Churchills to hand them to renown.
In dark oblivion are gone down;
But they have not the luck to find
Churchills to hand them to renown.
16
Worth, undistinguish'd by applause,
But equals sloth; nor shall the chief
In livid silence guard our laws,
Forgotten like a mouldy brief.
But equals sloth; nor shall the chief
In livid silence guard our laws,
Forgotten like a mouldy brief.
Supremely wise when wisdom's wanted,
Prudent where caution is a merit,
Upright, inflexible, undaunted,
Pure and enlighten'd like a spirit.
Prudent where caution is a merit,
Upright, inflexible, undaunted,
Pure and enlighten'd like a spirit.
Sworn enemy to falsehood base,
Against corruption firm and steady,
Not for one single heat or race,
But always booted, always ready.
Against corruption firm and steady,
Not for one single heat or race,
But always booted, always ready.
You rose at Freedom's sacred call,
Snatch'd her from th' invading great,
Added new trophies to her hall,
And fix'd the goddess in her seat.
Snatch'd her from th' invading great,
Added new trophies to her hall,
And fix'd the goddess in her seat.
17
'Tis the wise use, not the possessing,
The smiles of fortune or of kings,
That can make wealth a real blessing,
Or take from poverty her stings.
The smiles of fortune or of kings,
That can make wealth a real blessing,
Or take from poverty her stings.
That dignifies the virtuous man,
Scorning, though poor, to flinch or faulter,
Who for his prince or his dear clan
Despises the impending halter.
Scorning, though poor, to flinch or faulter,
Who for his prince or his dear clan
Despises the impending halter.
Cydonio arcu—the Cretan or long bow. See St. Paul's Epistle to Titus, chap. i. ver. 12: Κρητες αει Ψευσται. The Stuart race of princes were as famous as Teucer for the Cretan bow.
18
BOOK III. ODE XXIX.
To MÆCENAS.
Offspring of British kings of yore,
To put your spirits in fine tune,
I have some Burgundy in store,
With roses for the tenth of June .
To put your spirits in fine tune,
I have some Burgundy in store,
With roses for the tenth of June .
Quit those damp glades, nor musing mope,
Enchanted with your arms across,
Fix'd like a statue on a slope,
Or the pagoda like a Joss.
Enchanted with your arms across,
Fix'd like a statue on a slope,
Or the pagoda like a Joss.
Let not the noise of yon black city
One moment discompose your peace;
Look down on pomp awhile with pity,
And let fastidious plenty cease.
One moment discompose your peace;
Look down on pomp awhile with pity,
And let fastidious plenty cease.
19
A grateful change to homely fare,
A cot, a barn-door fowl, and mutton,
Oft smooth the anxious face of care,
And squeamishness herself turns glutton.
A cot, a barn-door fowl, and mutton,
Oft smooth the anxious face of care,
And squeamishness herself turns glutton.
Now Phœbus rages, now the swain
With languor drives his fainting sheep
From the parch'd meads and sultry plain,
To silver streams and thickets deep.
With languor drives his fainting sheep
From the parch'd meads and sultry plain,
To silver streams and thickets deep.
Upon the Thames there's not a breeze,
No zephyr with expiring breath,
To animate those horrid trees,
Silent and motionless as death.
No zephyr with expiring breath,
To animate those horrid trees,
Silent and motionless as death.
There you form all your decent plans,
To righteousness give a new birth;
And with your Tories and your clans
Govern the princes of the earth.
To righteousness give a new birth;
And with your Tories and your clans
Govern the princes of the earth.
20
Heaven kindly keeps us in the dark,
And, spite of all our fine-spun schemes,
Laughs when we overshoot the mark,
Both at our fears and sanguine dreams.
And, spite of all our fine-spun schemes,
Laughs when we overshoot the mark,
Both at our fears and sanguine dreams.
The present's all we have to heed;
Futurity is like a current;
Now smooth and pleasant as the Tweed,
Now dreadful like a highland torrent.
Futurity is like a current;
Now smooth and pleasant as the Tweed,
Now dreadful like a highland torrent.
Tumbling with fury down the vale,
The rocks resound the mountains rattle;
Pines float along with groves of cale,
Huts, plaids, blue bonnets, and black cattle.
The rocks resound the mountains rattle;
Pines float along with groves of cale,
Huts, plaids, blue bonnets, and black cattle.
Happy is he who lives to-day,
Lives for himself, 'tis so much gain,
Whether the next be sad or gay,
Or the sun never rise again.
Lives for himself, 'tis so much gain,
Whether the next be sad or gay,
Or the sun never rise again.
21
'Tis done—nor can the power of fate
Cancel and set the deed aside,
Nor Fortune's insolence and hate
That loves to mortify our pride.
Cancel and set the deed aside,
Nor Fortune's insolence and hate
That loves to mortify our pride.
Let her pursue her cruel sport,
Past pleasures cannot be destroy'd;
She cannot, as she does at court,
Vacate what we have once enjoy'd.
Past pleasures cannot be destroy'd;
She cannot, as she does at court,
Vacate what we have once enjoy'd.
Faithful whilst she continues mine;
But, if she violates my bed,
The painted harlot I resign,
And Virtue, though unportion'd, wed.
But, if she violates my bed,
The painted harlot I resign,
And Virtue, though unportion'd, wed.
When the storm beats, and seas run high,
I shall not importune with prayers,
The angry princes of the sky
To spare my curious Cyprean wares.
I shall not importune with prayers,
The angry princes of the sky
To spare my curious Cyprean wares.
22
Nor duped by hope, like many a one,
Stay blubbering beneath the deck,
But, when both mast and rudder's gone,
Take to my boat and leave the wreck.
Stay blubbering beneath the deck,
But, when both mast and rudder's gone,
Take to my boat and leave the wreck.
23
BOOK IV. ODE XVth.
A TORY ODE .
I tried to sing, and touch'd my strings,
Of cities storm'd and conquer'd kings;
But Phœbus cried, What notes are these?
Forbear; nor let thy flimsey sail,
Swell'd by a light delusive gale,
Expose thee to the classic seas.
Of cities storm'd and conquer'd kings;
But Phœbus cried, What notes are these?
Forbear; nor let thy flimsey sail,
Swell'd by a light delusive gale,
Expose thee to the classic seas.
This age has brought us golden days,
Our guardian saint is cloy'd with praise,
With trophies and triumphant banners;
He lets St. Andrew clear the coast,
And drive the Whigs from every post,
To sweeten and correct their manners.
Our guardian saint is cloy'd with praise,
With trophies and triumphant banners;
He lets St. Andrew clear the coast,
And drive the Whigs from every post,
To sweeten and correct their manners.
24
Cæsar has shut the gates of Janus
,
And our Mæcenas to contain us,
Apt to be mutinous and idle,
Vamps the old arts, and makes them fit,
And changes Pelham's foolish bit
For Mansfield's scientific bridle.
And our Mæcenas to contain us,
Apt to be mutinous and idle,
Vamps the old arts, and makes them fit,
And changes Pelham's foolish bit
For Mansfield's scientific bridle.
By these old arts, Britannia's fame,
Diffusive as the Roman name,
In every clime has fix'd her standard,
As far as from the farthest West
To where the Phœnix builds her nest,
As far as ever Scotchman wander'd.
Diffusive as the Roman name,
In every clime has fix'd her standard,
As far as from the farthest West
To where the Phœnix builds her nest,
As far as ever Scotchman wander'd.
Whilst Tories rule, no civil fury,
No persecuting judge nor jury,
Shall interrupt our sweet repose;
No angry parties draw their swords,
No leaders with big looks and words,
Shall lead their princes by the nose.
No persecuting judge nor jury,
Shall interrupt our sweet repose;
No angry parties draw their swords,
No leaders with big looks and words,
Shall lead their princes by the nose.
25
Our laws like thunderbolts are hurl'd,
And echo'd round the conquer'd world,
Their voice the stoutest heart appals,
Sachems in awful horror bound,
Hear not with wonder more profound
Niagara's tremendous falls.
And echo'd round the conquer'd world,
Their voice the stoutest heart appals,
Sachems in awful horror bound,
Hear not with wonder more profound
Niagara's tremendous falls.
Whilst we, our wives and children, all
Assembled in the good old hall,
And every neighbour young and old,
With Christmas merriment and cheer,
Plenty of cider, punch, and beer,
Fiddles and pipes like barons bold,
Assembled in the good old hall,
And every neighbour young and old,
With Christmas merriment and cheer,
Plenty of cider, punch, and beer,
Fiddles and pipes like barons bold,
Shall toast with bumpers and huzzas
The chiefs that fell in the old cause,
And celebrate the heavenly breed,
Sprung from a Latian swain's embrace ,
When Venus took the form and face
Of the fair daughter of the Tweed.
The chiefs that fell in the old cause,
And celebrate the heavenly breed,
Sprung from a Latian swain's embrace ,
When Venus took the form and face
Of the fair daughter of the Tweed.
Alludes to the Accession of the Tories to power and places, soon after the Accession of George the Third.
26
BOOK XXIV. ODE VIII.
TO DANIEL WEBB, ESQ.
I would, with all my heart and soul,
Send every friend a golden bowl,
And with each bowl a purse of gold,
To fill the bowl and make it smile,
And to secure the bowl awhile,
From being either pawn'd or sold.
Send every friend a golden bowl,
And with each bowl a purse of gold,
To fill the bowl and make it smile,
And to secure the bowl awhile,
From being either pawn'd or sold.
To every military friend,
Heroick tripods I would send,
Tripods fit only for brave fellows
That is to say, crutches a pair,
And one stout leg of the same ware,
Made like the nossel of a bellows.
Heroick tripods I would send,
Tripods fit only for brave fellows
That is to say, crutches a pair,
And one stout leg of the same ware,
Made like the nossel of a bellows.
27
Pictures I'd send of every school,
I am so generous a fool,
With statues too and busts for niches,
These I would send to none but you,
The prince and mirror of virtù,
If I was master of such riches.
I am so generous a fool,
With statues too and busts for niches,
These I would send to none but you,
The prince and mirror of virtù,
If I was master of such riches.
As to virtù, that point's decided,
You are sufficiently provided;
All that you want of me is metre,
You may have plenty at my forge,
I need not steal, like thrifty George ,
From Paul, in order to pay Peter.
You are sufficiently provided;
All that you want of me is metre,
You may have plenty at my forge,
I need not steal, like thrifty George ,
From Paul, in order to pay Peter.
I know the price of lyrick song
Easy, yet elegantly strong,
And know that Beckford's head of marble,
I mean that head the sculptor made,
That marble head will sooner fade,
Than any songs the Muses warble.
Easy, yet elegantly strong,
And know that Beckford's head of marble,
I mean that head the sculptor made,
That marble head will sooner fade,
Than any songs the Muses warble.
28
Your fame must fly with wings of paper,
Be you a Wolfe, a Howe, a Draper,
Victor at Minden or at Canna,
Or legislator great as he,
That led the Jews through the Red Sea,
And pamper'd them with quails and manna.
Be you a Wolfe, a Howe, a Draper,
Victor at Minden or at Canna,
Or legislator great as he,
That led the Jews through the Red Sea,
And pamper'd them with quails and manna.
Great bards great favours can bestow,
In heaven above or hell below,
They can convey you with a nod,
From Styx, whenever they think fit,
And call you up to heaven by writ,
And make you an immortal god.
In heaven above or hell below,
They can convey you with a nod,
From Styx, whenever they think fit,
And call you up to heaven by writ,
And make you an immortal god.
Lollius
with Æacus may dwell;
Minos and he may judge in hell,
When future poets sing his worth,
Bute may, like Enoch, be translated,
Then made a star, and made related
To slow Bootes of the North .
Minos and he may judge in hell,
When future poets sing his worth,
Bute may, like Enoch, be translated,
Then made a star, and made related
To slow Bootes of the North .
29
And Sandwich, if the Muses please,
Shall outwit Mercury with ease,
And my lord duke outshine Apollo,
And each Olympick peer outvie
Castor the jockey of the sky,
And Rigby bold beat Bacchus hollow.
Shall outwit Mercury with ease,
And my lord duke outshine Apollo,
And each Olympick peer outvie
Castor the jockey of the sky,
And Rigby bold beat Bacchus hollow.
I know there is classical authority for this epithet,
Sive est arctophylax sive est piger ille Bootes.Yet I cannot help fancying the author wrote Sly, instead of Slow Bootes; he is represented in his northern situation watching his charge with unremitting vigilance; and I am apt to believe that our Sly Boots is a contraction of Bootes. I have seen the same thought in a manuscript collection of verses composed by the professors of a famous university upon the Revolution in 1760. It was beautifully pursued in the verses of the astronomy professor, which struck me so that I still retain them,
Attendant upon Charles's wane,Bootes, commonly called Bute,
The brightest star in all his train,
Without all manner of dispute:
May thou forever fixt remain,
Cunning and watchful as the dragon:
Let Ursa Minor break his chain,
And overturn the northern waggon.
Ov. Fast. iii. 405.
30
BOOK I. ODE X.
To MERCURY
.
Grandson of Atlas, the most chaste
Reformer of the lewd and wicked,
Moulding green senators like paste,
By catches and decorous cricket.
Reformer of the lewd and wicked,
Moulding green senators like paste,
By catches and decorous cricket.
Thee messenger of Jove I'll sing,
Professor of the crooked lyre,
Jocosely stealing to the spring,
Through every crooked dark desire.
Professor of the crooked lyre,
Jocosely stealing to the spring,
Through every crooked dark desire.
Robb'd and betray'd, ungodly John
,
Threatning to shoot thee through the liver,
Laugh'd when he found his arrows gone,
And saw thee sporting with his quiver.
Threatning to shoot thee through the liver,
Laugh'd when he found his arrows gone,
And saw thee sporting with his quiver.
31
Leaving the Whigs at thy persuasion,
Whilst Pelham's beacons blaz'd in vain,
Dives forgot his flaggellation ,
And turn'd a Cocobite again.
Whilst Pelham's beacons blaz'd in vain,
Dives forgot his flaggellation ,
And turn'd a Cocobite again.
To pious souls, delightful benches,
Blest Lord! thy golden rod assigns,
And works great marvels on light wenches,
Grateful to princes and divines
Blest Lord! thy golden rod assigns,
And works great marvels on light wenches,
Grateful to princes and divines
Whoever heard besides this author, that Atlas the father of Maia was remarkable for chastity? Critical Review.
Superis deorum gratus et imis
Grateful to princes and divines.
Grateful to princes and divines.
As the author has not sufficiently declared which of these personages are the superi deorum, we presume, that he leaves them at liberty to toss up for it. Monthly Review.
32
BOOK II. ODE VIII.
To NELLY OBRIEN.
I would believe you once again,
Were you a tooth or nail the worse
For every oath you take in vain,
And every violated curse:
Were you a tooth or nail the worse
For every oath you take in vain,
And every violated curse:
Though you bid Jasus fire your bones,
Confound yourself and all your kin;
Blast those bright eyes like precious stones;
Damn Helen's limbs and Leda's skin,
Confound yourself and all your kin;
Blast those bright eyes like precious stones;
Damn Helen's limbs and Leda's skin,
33
False and forsworn a thousand times,
Obrien's still the public toast,
Still grows more lovely from her crimes,
Godby's intrigue and Welche's boast.
Obrien's still the public toast,
Still grows more lovely from her crimes,
Godby's intrigue and Welche's boast.
Thy perjury and subtle arts,
Venus and Cupid smiling view;
Fell love that whets with blood his darts,
On whetstone of infernal blue .
Venus and Cupid smiling view;
Fell love that whets with blood his darts,
On whetstone of infernal blue .
For thee our youth shoot up and grow;
Each day adds captives to thy store;
Nor can the old exhausted beau
Forbear to hanker at thy door.
Each day adds captives to thy store;
Nor can the old exhausted beau
Forbear to hanker at thy door.
Mothers and misers fear thee still;
Young beauteous brides are in alarms,
Lest thy maturer charms and skill
Should draw their husbands to thy arms.
Young beauteous brides are in alarms,
Lest thy maturer charms and skill
Should draw their husbands to thy arms.
34
The APOTHEOSIS or the INSTELLATION. BOOK III. ODE XXV.
To BACCHUS.
Whither, O Bacchus, am I hurry'd,
O'er mountains high, thro' woods and valleys;
How are my spirits toss'd and flurry'd,
With sudden and unwonted sallies!
O'er mountains high, thro' woods and valleys;
How are my spirits toss'd and flurry'd,
With sudden and unwonted sallies!
Where can I find a cave to muse
Upon his lordship's envied glory;
Which of the Nine dare to refuse
To tell the strange and recent story?
Upon his lordship's envied glory;
Which of the Nine dare to refuse
To tell the strange and recent story?
Mounting I saw the egregious lord
,
O'er all impediments and bars;
I saw him at Jove's council-board,
And saw him stuck amongst the stars.
O'er all impediments and bars;
I saw him at Jove's council-board,
And saw him stuck amongst the stars.
35
Not more amaz'd, with ivy crown'd,
Thy priestess, having booz'd all night,
In chains of ice sees Hebrus bound,
And all the Thracian mountains white.
Thy priestess, having booz'd all night,
In chains of ice sees Hebrus bound,
And all the Thracian mountains white.
I saw him top the Pyrenees,
And lost him in the blaze of day;
At night I spy'd him at his ease,
With Anser in the milky way.
And lost him in the blaze of day;
At night I spy'd him at his ease,
With Anser in the milky way.
Thou, to whom Naiads bend their knees,
That nightly sport in Charlotte's bowers,
Whose hands can pluck up forest trees,
As easily as gather flowers;
That nightly sport in Charlotte's bowers,
Whose hands can pluck up forest trees,
As easily as gather flowers;
Deign to inspire my feeble song;
Deign to accompany my flight;
Inform me, Bacchus, when I'm wrong,
Invigorate me when I'm right.
Deign to accompany my flight;
Inform me, Bacchus, when I'm wrong,
Invigorate me when I'm right.
36
I hate tame themes, abhor tame measure,
And scorn the vulgar's tasteless praises:
'Tis hazardous; but O what pleasure
To reel with thee through pathless mazes!
And scorn the vulgar's tasteless praises:
'Tis hazardous; but O what pleasure
To reel with thee through pathless mazes!
37
BOOK III. ODE XXVI.
To VENUS.
Once, though not lately, I confess,
I lov'd, and lov'd with some success;
But now, ay now, 'tis quite provoking,
Now I will hang up my fine cloaths,
Hang up my harp and take to prose,
And try to turn my pipe to smoaking.
I lov'd, and lov'd with some success;
But now, ay now, 'tis quite provoking,
Now I will hang up my fine cloaths,
Hang up my harp and take to prose,
And try to turn my pipe to smoaking.
Samples of hair, in fine condition,
Surrender'd by fair composition,
Taken by storm, or won by guile;
Writings, for writing sake, not reading,
Assignments, grants, and special pleading,
Shall blaze in one funereal pile.
Surrender'd by fair composition,
Taken by storm, or won by guile;
Writings, for writing sake, not reading,
Assignments, grants, and special pleading,
Shall blaze in one funereal pile.
38
Mountains are hoary oft with snow,
When all the vales are green below,
Still, Venus, let me cleave to thee;
Let Chloe but a while be kind,
Then, if my Chloe change her mind,
Chloe will only copy me.
When all the vales are green below,
Still, Venus, let me cleave to thee;
Let Chloe but a while be kind,
Then, if my Chloe change her mind,
Chloe will only copy me.
39
BOOK III. ODE III.
To THOMAS SCROOPE, Esq.
Remember, friend, to shun excess,
Ill suited to a life so frail and short;
Let no perplexing care oppress,
No giddy joy to insolence transport.
Ill suited to a life so frail and short;
Let no perplexing care oppress,
No giddy joy to insolence transport.
Whether, to gloomy thoughts resign'd,
By drops, like sullen thaws, hours melt away,
Or the gay sun-shine of the mind
Fills all the soul with intellectual day.
By drops, like sullen thaws, hours melt away,
Or the gay sun-shine of the mind
Fills all the soul with intellectual day.
Whether, in social bowers, you ply
The festive bowl, or, by some dimpling stream,
Indulge the sentimental sigh,
At life's absurd, inexplicable dream:
The festive bowl, or, by some dimpling stream,
Indulge the sentimental sigh,
At life's absurd, inexplicable dream:
Let wine and elegance unite,
Their choicest blessings largely to dispense;
Quicken desire, improve delight,
And give the sweetest feelings to the sense.
Their choicest blessings largely to dispense;
Quicken desire, improve delight,
And give the sweetest feelings to the sense.
40
Whilst fate the present bliss bestows,
Catch the important moment, ere 'tis pass'd,
Fleeting and pleasant as the short-liv'd rose,
Exhaling fragrance to the last.
Catch the important moment, ere 'tis pass'd,
Fleeting and pleasant as the short-liv'd rose,
Exhaling fragrance to the last.
Those groves you view with looks so tender,
Those flow'ring shrubs, rear'd with a parent's care,
You must relinquish and surrender
To the capricious fancy of your heir.
Those flow'ring shrubs, rear'd with a parent's care,
You must relinquish and surrender
To the capricious fancy of your heir.
Nor boots it, whether poor or rich,
Whether you are nobly born or meanly bred;
Whether you drop your being in a ditch,
Or leave it lingering in a bed.
Whether you are nobly born or meanly bred;
Whether you drop your being in a ditch,
Or leave it lingering in a bed.
For, soon or late, the fatal urn
Shall issue forth our last relentless doom;
To exile sent, without return,
To endless rest, and an eternal tomb.
Shall issue forth our last relentless doom;
To exile sent, without return,
To endless rest, and an eternal tomb.
41
To Miss ---
Grazie a gl'inganni tuoi,
Alfin respiro, O Nice;
Alfin d'uno infedele
Ebber gli dei pietà.
Metastasio
Alfin respiro, O Nice;
Alfin d'uno infedele
Ebber gli dei pietà.
Metastasio
Thanks to your wiles, deceitful fair,
The gods, so long in vain implor'd,
At last have heard a wretch's prayer;
At last I find myself restor'd.
The gods, so long in vain implor'd,
At last have heard a wretch's prayer;
At last I find myself restor'd.
From thy bewitching snares and thee:
I feel for once this is no dream;
I feel my captive soul is free;
And I am truly what I seem.
I feel for once this is no dream;
I feel my captive soul is free;
And I am truly what I seem.
I cannot now, as heretofore,
Put on indifference or disdain,
To smother flames, that burn no more,
To hide a passion void of pain.
Put on indifference or disdain,
To smother flames, that burn no more,
To hide a passion void of pain.
42
Without a blush, your name I hear,
No transient glow my bosom heats;
And, when I meet your eye, my dear,
My fluttering heart no longer beats.
No transient glow my bosom heats;
And, when I meet your eye, my dear,
My fluttering heart no longer beats.
I dream, but I no longer find
Your form still present to my view;
I wake, but now my vacant mind
No longer waking dreams of you:
Your form still present to my view;
I wake, but now my vacant mind
No longer waking dreams of you:
Absent for you, no more I pine,
But wander careless day or night;
Present, no word, no look, no sign,
Argues disturbance or delight,
But wander careless day or night;
Present, no word, no look, no sign,
Argues disturbance or delight,
I hear your praise, no tender flame
Now thrills responsive through my veins;
No indignation, only shame,
For all my former wrongs remains.
Now thrills responsive through my veins;
No indignation, only shame,
For all my former wrongs remains.
43
I meet you now without alarms,
Nor longer fearful to displease;
I talk with ease about your charms,
E'en with my rival talk with ease.
Nor longer fearful to displease;
I talk with ease about your charms,
E'en with my rival talk with ease.
Whether in angry mood you rise,
Or sweetly sit with placid guile,
Vain is the lightning of your eyes,
And vainer still your gilded smile.
Or sweetly sit with placid guile,
Vain is the lightning of your eyes,
And vainer still your gilded smile.
Loves, in your smiles, no longer play;
Your lips, your tongue, have lost their art;
Those eyes have now forgot the way
That led directly to my heart.
Your lips, your tongue, have lost their art;
Those eyes have now forgot the way
That led directly to my heart.
Whether with grief the mind's diseased,
Or the unburthen'd spirits, glad;
No thanks to you, when I am pleased,
You have no blame, when I am sad
Or the unburthen'd spirits, glad;
No thanks to you, when I am pleased,
You have no blame, when I am sad
44
Hills, woods, and lawns, and bleating flocks,
Without you, captivate me still,
But dreary moors and naked rocks,
Tho' with you, make my blood run chill.
Without you, captivate me still,
But dreary moors and naked rocks,
Tho' with you, make my blood run chill.
Hear me; and judge if I'm sincere;
That you are beauteous still I swear;
But Oh! no longer you appear
The fairest, and the only fair.
That you are beauteous still I swear;
But Oh! no longer you appear
The fairest, and the only fair.
Hear me; but let not truth offend,
In that fine form, in many places,
I now spy faults, my lovely friend,
Which I mistook before for graces.
In that fine form, in many places,
I now spy faults, my lovely friend,
Which I mistook before for graces.
And yet, though free, I thought at first,
With shame my weakness I confess,
My agonizing heart would burst,
The agonies of death are less.
With shame my weakness I confess,
My agonizing heart would burst,
The agonies of death are less.
45
Who would not, when his soul's oppress'd,
Gladly possess himself again?
To pluck a serpent from his breast,
Who would not bear the sharpest pain?
Gladly possess himself again?
To pluck a serpent from his breast,
Who would not bear the sharpest pain?
The little songster thus you see
Caught in the cruel school-boy's toils,
Struggling for life, at last, like me,
Escapes, and leaves his feather'd spoils.
Caught in the cruel school-boy's toils,
Struggling for life, at last, like me,
Escapes, and leaves his feather'd spoils.
His plumage soon resumes its gloss,
His little heart soon waxes gay;
Nor falls, grown cautious from his loss,
To artifice again a prey.
His little heart soon waxes gay;
Nor falls, grown cautious from his loss,
To artifice again a prey.
Perhaps you think I only feign,
I do but strive against the stream,
Else why for ever in this strain,
Why talk upon no other theme?
I do but strive against the stream,
Else why for ever in this strain,
Why talk upon no other theme?
46
It is not love, it is not pique,
That gives my whole discourse this cast;
'Tis nature that delights to speak
Eternally of dangers past.
That gives my whole discourse this cast;
'Tis nature that delights to speak
Eternally of dangers past.
Carousing o'er the midnight bowl
The soldier never ceasing prates,
Shews every scar to every soul,
And every hair-breadth 'scape relates.
The soldier never ceasing prates,
Shews every scar to every soul,
And every hair-breadth 'scape relates.
Thus the poor galley slave, released
From pains as great and bonds as strong.
On his past sufferings seems to feast,
And hug the chain he dragg'd so long.
From pains as great and bonds as strong.
On his past sufferings seems to feast,
And hug the chain he dragg'd so long.
To talk is all that I desire;
When once I let my larum go,
I never stop, nor once enquire,
Whether you're entertain'd or no.
When once I let my larum go,
I never stop, nor once enquire,
Whether you're entertain'd or no.
47
Which of us has most cause to grieve?
Which situation would you choose?
I, a capricious tyrant leave,
And you, a faithful lover lose.
Which situation would you choose?
I, a capricious tyrant leave,
And you, a faithful lover lose.
I can find maids in every rout,
With smiles as false, and forms as fine;
But you must search the world throughout,
To find a heart as true as mine.
With smiles as false, and forms as fine;
But you must search the world throughout,
To find a heart as true as mine.
48
ODE.
Full long to laughter-loving fancy wed,
A foe to nought but treachery and art,
Though mirthful folly ever claim'd my head,
My friends and country always had my heart.
A foe to nought but treachery and art,
Though mirthful folly ever claim'd my head,
My friends and country always had my heart.
Erato, void of true celestial fire,
For thee, weak maid, my feelings are too strong:
Clio, for once, will animate my lyre,
And let my country have one virtuous song.
For thee, weak maid, my feelings are too strong:
Clio, for once, will animate my lyre,
And let my country have one virtuous song.
Whilst wretched Albion for ages mourns
Her conquering sons like laurel'd victims slain;
O could I write, upon their sacred urns,
A verse as lasting as Britannia's pain!
Her conquering sons like laurel'd victims slain;
O could I write, upon their sacred urns,
A verse as lasting as Britannia's pain!
Blush, blush, to read how injur'd Braddock
fought;
Braddock in whom were ever found ally'd,
The soldier's ardour with the chieftain's thought,
The stoic's fortitude, without his pride.
Braddock in whom were ever found ally'd,
The soldier's ardour with the chieftain's thought,
The stoic's fortitude, without his pride.
49
Unmindful of the hero's dying prayer,
Heaven struck a dreadful and avenging blow;
A blow that wrung from England in despair,
Those bitter tears that flow'd for Wolfe and Howe .
Heaven struck a dreadful and avenging blow;
A blow that wrung from England in despair,
Those bitter tears that flow'd for Wolfe and Howe .
Congenial spirits, each a self-form'd chief,
Each great as any chief in ancient lore,
Born to extend her glory and her grief,
Beyond what Britain ever knew before.
Each great as any chief in ancient lore,
Born to extend her glory and her grief,
Beyond what Britain ever knew before.
Valiant in arms, courteous and gay in peace,
See Williams snatch'd to an untimely tomb!
With every art and elegance of Græce,
And all the energy of patriot Rome.
See Williams snatch'd to an untimely tomb!
With every art and elegance of Græce,
And all the energy of patriot Rome.
And Armytage
, alas! in blooming youth,
Left undistinguish'd in a hostile grave,
Whom neither plighted love, nor candid truth,
Nor spirited integrity could save.
Left undistinguish'd in a hostile grave,
50
Nor spirited integrity could save.
Lo! tow'ring Downe
, impatient of repose,
Borne on immortal Fame's impetuous wing,
Falls in the midst of Britain's fiercest foes,
And blasts the wreath design'd him by his king.
Borne on immortal Fame's impetuous wing,
Falls in the midst of Britain's fiercest foes,
And blasts the wreath design'd him by his king.
Learn, Britons, from your king, on worth to smile,
Or heaven may still have greater ills in store:
Brunswick's fair race may cease to bless your isle,
And liberty forsake her native shore.
Or heaven may still have greater ills in store:
Brunswick's fair race may cease to bless your isle,
And liberty forsake her native shore.
Sir William Peer Williams, killed at Bellisle, in the year 1761. See an epitaph on him in Gray's Works.
Sir John Armytage, member of parliament for York, killed at St. Cas, in September, 1758, a young gentleman of large fortune and great expectation.
Lord Viscount Downe of the kingdom of Ireland. He died Dec. 26, 1760, of the wounds he received at Campen, in Germany. He was one of the knights of the shire for the county of York, lieutenant colonel of the 25th regiment of foot, and colonel of the southern battalion of the Yorkshire West Riding militia.
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