 | Albion : Or, The Court of Neptune |  |
3
TO A--- H---nd, Esq;
Enrich'd by Conquest youthful Warriors come,
Deck'd with proud Spoils, and crown'd with Laurels, home;
The prancing Steed, the Sword, or well prov'd Shield,
Falls to the Man who form'd them for the Field.
Thus the young Heroes pay their Tutor's Care,
With the first Trophies of the Toils of War.
But I, who in a diff'rent Province live,
Must offer Verse; 'tis all I have to give;
'Tis what, dear Sir, is to your Merits due;
If here are Beauties they're deriv'd from you;
'Twas you who pointed out the Way to Fame,
Bad me be bold, and dare deserve a Name.
Deck'd with proud Spoils, and crown'd with Laurels, home;
The prancing Steed, the Sword, or well prov'd Shield,
Falls to the Man who form'd them for the Field.
Thus the young Heroes pay their Tutor's Care,
With the first Trophies of the Toils of War.
4
Must offer Verse; 'tis all I have to give;
'Tis what, dear Sir, is to your Merits due;
If here are Beauties they're deriv'd from you;
'Twas you who pointed out the Way to Fame,
Bad me be bold, and dare deserve a Name.
Young, and unskill'd, into the World I came,
Could boast no Favours from the hood-wink'd Dame;
Naked was thrown among the Sons of Earth;
Such the malignant Stars that rul'd my Birth!
Where could I steer my Course? What Methods use?
An able Guide in Life—a Virgin Muse!
Advent'rous Boy, with her to trust thy Fame,
By boldly trifling with a Marlb'rough's Name!
If through the Field disorderly I ran,
And left undrawn much of the mighty Man;
If the weak Produce of those early Days,
Want of just Thought, or Harmony, betrays;
If I am blam'd, I grant the Censure true;
I labour'd singly, and in want of you.
Let others boast the Privilege they have,
In what you freely to the Publick gave;
Which not to me, but to the World is due:
I pride me in a greater Share of you.
You shew'd me when to stoop, or be sublime;
The Art of Thinking, and the Charms of Rhime;
With other Myst'ries of the sacred Train,
Found out by few, by many sought in vain.
Could boast no Favours from the hood-wink'd Dame;
Naked was thrown among the Sons of Earth;
Such the malignant Stars that rul'd my Birth!
Where could I steer my Course? What Methods use?
An able Guide in Life—a Virgin Muse!
Advent'rous Boy, with her to trust thy Fame,
By boldly trifling with a Marlb'rough's Name!
If through the Field disorderly I ran,
And left undrawn much of the mighty Man;
5
Want of just Thought, or Harmony, betrays;
If I am blam'd, I grant the Censure true;
I labour'd singly, and in want of you.
Let others boast the Privilege they have,
In what you freely to the Publick gave;
Which not to me, but to the World is due:
I pride me in a greater Share of you.
You shew'd me when to stoop, or be sublime;
The Art of Thinking, and the Charms of Rhime;
With other Myst'ries of the sacred Train,
Found out by few, by many sought in vain.
To paint the Prospect of great Brunswick's Sway,
I call'd the Gods from Heav'n, and from the Sea.
Weak was my Pow'r for such a Work divine;
Weak was all Aid; till I was bless'd with thine.
Moschus e'er long shall tread the British Plains,
And chant in Albion Groves Sicilian Strains.
Our Swains shall hear, while you Assistance bring,
How Bion, lovely Bion, us'd to sing.
With such a Friend, form'd and inclin'd like you,
What may not I attempt, what hope to do!
I call'd the Gods from Heav'n, and from the Sea.
Weak was my Pow'r for such a Work divine;
Weak was all Aid; till I was bless'd with thine.
6
And chant in Albion Groves Sicilian Strains.
Our Swains shall hear, while you Assistance bring,
How Bion, lovely Bion, us'd to sing.
With such a Friend, form'd and inclin'd like you,
What may not I attempt, what hope to do!
| Albion : Or, The Court of Neptune | |