The Powers of the Pen A poem addressed to John Curre ... By E. Lloyd ... The second edition, with large additions |
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 | The Powers of the Pen |  |
The rambling Muse late chanc'd to stop,
Where it was written o'er a Shop,
“Pens sold of ev'ry Size and Sort,
“Fit for the Country, or the Court”—
Curious she cast her Eyes around,
When, lo! one gaudy Quill she found,
Trick'd with all Colours that are seen
Dangling about a Tragic Queen,
And ask'd its Price—The Shopman bow'd,
And instant in its Praise grew loud—
“This Pen on every Theme can write,
“None is too heavy, none too light;
“And what it writes cannot miscarry,
“For it is a la mode de Paris.
“'Tis fraught with Learning's various Store,
“Such Wit!—Apollo scarce has more—
“And fell, as Critics all agree,
“From the wing'd Heel of Mercury.
“Of Heroes, Demi-Gods, and Kings,
“In Epic-Tragic Strains it sings,
“And not a Heroe of them all,
“But in heroic Verse must fall:
“In Interjections wise, can draw
“The true French Pathos of Helas!
“Make fine set Speeches full of oh's!
“And all the Symphony of Woes—
“Can by the Foot sob, whine, and sigh,
“Tho' too polite to make you cry.
“Sometimes, so various is this Pen,
“'Twill deign to write of common Men;
“Will tell the Feats of Tommy Thumb,
“As well as those of Fee-fa-fum—
“Histories, Novels, Odes, or Tales,
“As the fantastic Whim prevails.
Where it was written o'er a Shop,
“Pens sold of ev'ry Size and Sort,
“Fit for the Country, or the Court”—
Curious she cast her Eyes around,
When, lo! one gaudy Quill she found,
Trick'd with all Colours that are seen
Dangling about a Tragic Queen,
And ask'd its Price—The Shopman bow'd,
And instant in its Praise grew loud—
“This Pen on every Theme can write,
“None is too heavy, none too light;
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“For it is a la mode de Paris.
“'Tis fraught with Learning's various Store,
“Such Wit!—Apollo scarce has more—
“And fell, as Critics all agree,
“From the wing'd Heel of Mercury.
“Of Heroes, Demi-Gods, and Kings,
“In Epic-Tragic Strains it sings,
“And not a Heroe of them all,
“But in heroic Verse must fall:
“In Interjections wise, can draw
“The true French Pathos of Helas!
“Make fine set Speeches full of oh's!
“And all the Symphony of Woes—
“Can by the Foot sob, whine, and sigh,
“Tho' too polite to make you cry.
“Sometimes, so various is this Pen,
“'Twill deign to write of common Men;
“Will tell the Feats of Tommy Thumb,
“As well as those of Fee-fa-fum—
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“As the fantastic Whim prevails.
| The Powers of the Pen | |