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University of Virginia Library

A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes

Dodsley, Robert (1703-1764)

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

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VI.

HYMN TO THE NAIADS.

ODE To the Right Honourable Francis Earl of HUNTINGDON. MDCCXLVII.

ODE To the Right Reverend BENJAMIN Lord Bishop of WINCHESTER.

ODE TO THE TIBER.

On the Immortality of the Soul.

The Arbour: An Ode to Contentment.

The GROTTO: An Ode to Silence.

The Picture of HUMAN LIFE.

The DROPSICAL MAN.

PARADISE Regain'd. By H. T.

To the Right Hon. Sir Robert Walpole.

To a Lady on a Landscape of her Drawing.

ODE to Cupid on Valentine's Day.

To the Honourable and Reverend F. C.

To the Reverend T--- T---, D. D.

To a LADY very handsome, but too fond of Dress.

ANACREON. Ode III.

An Imitation of Horace, Ode II. Book III.

A Reply to a Copy of Verses made in Imitation of Ode II. Book III. of Horace.

Inscription on a Grotto of Shells at Crux-Easton, the Work of Nine young Ladies.

VERSES occasioned by seeing a Grotto built by Nine Sisters.

An Excuse for Inconstancy, 1737.

To VENUS. A Rant, 1732.

The Power of MUSIC. A SONG.

LETTER from Smyrna to his Sisters at Crux-Easton, 1733.

Part of a Letter to my Sisters at Crux-Easton, wrote from Cairo in Egypt, August 1734.

LETTER from Marseilles to my Sisters at Crux-Easton, May 1735.

The History of Porsenna, King of Russia,

The EVER-GREEN.

LYSANDER to CLOE.

CLOE to LYSANDER.

To the Memory of an agreeable Lady bury'd in Marriage to a Person undeserving her.

An Elegy, written on Valentine Morning.

ODE to the Honourable ---

To Miss ---. By Miss Elisa Carter.

Lady Mary W---, to Sir W--- Y---

Sir W--- Y---'s Answer.

Miss Soper's Answer to a Lady, who invited her to retire into a monastic Life at St. Cross, near Winchester.

REPENTANCE. By the Same.

CYNTHIA, an Elegiac Poem.

DIALOGUE to CHLORINDA.

The Fable of Ixion. To CHLORINDA.

A TALE. To CHLORINDA.

Ode on Lyric Poetry.

HORACE, Book II. Ode II.

A PANEGYRIC on ALE.

ODE to the Genius of Italy, occasioned by the Earl of Corke's going Abroad.

To C--- P---, Esq;

Epistle from the late Lord Viscount B---gb---ke to Miss Lucy A---k---ns.

The CHEAT's Apology.

Another. By the Same.

To Mr. Grenville on his intended Resignation.

To Mr. Garrick, on his erecting a Temple and Statue to Shakespear.

On the Birth-Day of Shakespear. A Cento. Taken from his Works.

An Ode to SCULPTURE.

True RESIGNATION.

An Epistle from the King of PRUSSIA, to Monsieur Voltaire. 1757.

At seeing Archbishop William's Monument in Carnarvonshire.

Extempore Verses upon a Trial of Skill between the two great Masters of Defence, Messieurs Figg and Sutton.

A Letter from Cambridge to a young Gentleman at Eton School.

The Song of Simeon paraphrased.

On the Invention of Letters.

The Play-Thing chang'd.

The Fable of JOTHAM: To the Borough-Hunters.

An Elegy written in an empty Assembly-Room.

The FAKEER: A Tale.

To Mr. WHITEHEAD, On his being made Poet Laureat.

Verses on the Prospect of planting Arts and Learning in America.

ODE. To INDEPENDENCY.

ODE. On MELANCHOLY.

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164

To VENUS. A Rant, 1732.

Set to Music by Dr. HAYES, By the same.

Recitative.

O Goddess most rever'd above,
Bright parent of almighty Love,
Whose pow'r th'immortal Gods confess,
Hear and approve my fond address:
In melting softness I thy doves outvie,
Then teach me like thy swans to sing and fly;
So I thy vot'ry will for ever be;
My song, my life I'll consecrate to thee.

Air.

Give me numbers strong and sweet,
Glowing language, pointed wit;
Words that might a Vestal move,
And melt a frozen heart to love.
Bid, bid thy blind boy
All his vigour employ;

165

On his wings wou'd I soar up to same:
'Tis but just, if he scorch
My breast with his torch,
In my wit too he kindle a flame.

Recitative.

Trophies to Chastity let others raise,
In notes as cold as the dull thing they praise,
To rage like mine more sprightly themes belong;
Gay youth inspires, and beauty claims my song;
Me all the little Loves and Graces own;
For I was born to worship them alone.

Air.

Tell not me the joys that wait
On him that's rich, on him that's great:
Wealth and wisdom I despise:
Cares surround the rich and wise.
No, no,—let love, let life be mine:
Bring me women, bring me wine:
Speed the dancing hours away,
And mind not what the grave ones say;
Speed, and gild 'em as they fly
With love and freedom, wit and joy:
Bus'ness, title, pomp, and state,
Give 'em to the fools I hate.