 | The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 |  |
104
Ode XII
Jonathan taketh his leave of his correspondents: apostrophiseth a great man without stain, and giveth to real merit, merit's due.
Majora canamus.
Virg.
Virg.
Enough of Atlas! and the venal train
That 'round his paper shrine attendant meet:
Enough of Daddy Vice's fertile brain,
Titles and rank Prolific to create,
Prolific as Egyptian oven vast,
Where chickens, ducks and geese are hatched so fast!
That 'round his paper shrine attendant meet:
Enough of Daddy Vice's fertile brain,
Titles and rank Prolific to create,
Prolific as Egyptian oven vast,
Where chickens, ducks and geese are hatched so fast!
Enough of the well-born! those lordling cits,
Who now presume so high to hold their heads:
Wretches, whose pride by far outweighs their wits,
Who, if they know, try to forget their dads;
Just as rank weeds that on a dung-hill grow,
Shoot up at once to hide the filth below,
Who now presume so high to hold their heads:
Wretches, whose pride by far outweighs their wits,
Who, if they know, try to forget their dads;
Just as rank weeds that on a dung-hill grow,
Shoot up at once to hide the filth below,
As the philosopher in search of truth
With high contempt each base deception spurns;
As from the midnight punk the generous youth
To the chaste object of his passion turns;
As from a loathed disease returning health;
Or, as from beggary the joys of wealth;
With high contempt each base deception spurns;
As from the midnight punk the generous youth
To the chaste object of his passion turns;
As from a loathed disease returning health;
Or, as from beggary the joys of wealth;
As to the blind the newfound bliss of sight;
As to the galley-slave fair freedom's hand;
As from a dungeon the return of light;
As from a shipwreck the long wished for strand;—
My soul turns from them all with high disdain
To find in George true greatness without stain.
As to the galley-slave fair freedom's hand;
As from a dungeon the return of light;
As from a shipwreck the long wished for strand;—
My soul turns from them all with high disdain
To find in George true greatness without stain.
O Washington! for whom my willing lyre
Unbidden vibrates loudest notes of praise
When shall thy yet unrivaled worth inspire
Some emulations of thy glorious days!
Unbidden vibrates loudest notes of praise
When shall thy yet unrivaled worth inspire
Some emulations of thy glorious days!
105
Still, as a father to thy country dear,
Regard not those who seek to wound thy peace,
Nor to their impious falsehoods lend an ear,
Who would persuade thee her regards can cease.
Still at the helm go on our bark to steer,
Nor quit it, till thou leave thine equal there.
Regard not those who seek to wound thy peace,
Nor to their impious falsehoods lend an ear,
Who would persuade thee her regards can cease.
Still at the helm go on our bark to steer,
Nor quit it, till thou leave thine equal there.
Aug. 12, 1793
| The Poems of St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia 1752-1827 | |