The Works of Soame Jenyns ... In Four Volumes. Including Several Pieces Never Before Published. To Which are Prefixed, Short Sketches of the History of the Author's Family, and also of his Life; By Charles Nalson Cole |
 | I. |
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WRITTEN IN THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF OXFORD's Library at Wimple, An. 1729. |
| II. |
 | The Works of Soame Jenyns |  |
31
WRITTEN IN THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF OXFORD's Library at Wimple, An. 1729.
Who, uninspir'd, can tread this sacred ground,
With all the sons of Fame encompass'd round?
Where, crown'd with wreaths of ever-verdant bays,
Each sister Art her willing charms displays:
Mellow'd by time, here beauteous paintings glow,
There marble busts illustrious faces show:
And in old coins are little heroes seen,
With venerable rust of ages green:
Around, unwounded by the teeth of age,
By Gothick fire, and Persecution's rage,
Perfect and fair unnumber'd volumes stand,
By Providence preserv'd for Oxford's hand.
With all the sons of Fame encompass'd round?
Where, crown'd with wreaths of ever-verdant bays,
Each sister Art her willing charms displays:
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There marble busts illustrious faces show:
And in old coins are little heroes seen,
With venerable rust of ages green:
Around, unwounded by the teeth of age,
By Gothick fire, and Persecution's rage,
Perfect and fair unnumber'd volumes stand,
By Providence preserv'd for Oxford's hand.
Whilst thus within these magic walls I stray,
At once all climes and ages I survey:
On Fancy's wings I fly from shore to shore,
Recall past time, and live whole æras o'er:
Converse with heroes fam'd in ancient song,
And bards, by whom those heroes breathe so long:
Observe the quick migrations Learning makes,
How harrass'd nations trembling she forsakes,
And hastes away to build her downy nest
In happier climes, with peace and plenty blest.
At once all climes and ages I survey:
On Fancy's wings I fly from shore to shore,
Recall past time, and live whole æras o'er:
Converse with heroes fam'd in ancient song,
And bards, by whom those heroes breathe so long:
Observe the quick migrations Learning makes,
How harrass'd nations trembling she forsakes,
And hastes away to build her downy nest
In happier climes, with peace and plenty blest.
See how, in fam'd Augustus' golden days,
Wit triumphs, crown'd with universal praise!
Approaches thrones with a majestic air,
The Prince's mistress, and the Statesman's care
Mecænas shines in ev'ry classic page,
Mecænas, once the Harley of his age.
Nor with less glory she her charms display'd,
In Albion once when Royal Anna sway'd.
See Oxford smiles! and all the tuneful train,
In his Britannia's sons revive again;
Prior, like Horace, strikes the sounding strings,
And in harmonious Pope once more great Maro sings.
Wit triumphs, crown'd with universal praise!
Approaches thrones with a majestic air,
The Prince's mistress, and the Statesman's care
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Mecænas, once the Harley of his age.
Nor with less glory she her charms display'd,
In Albion once when Royal Anna sway'd.
See Oxford smiles! and all the tuneful train,
In his Britannia's sons revive again;
Prior, like Horace, strikes the sounding strings,
And in harmonious Pope once more great Maro sings.
Again she waves her pinions to be gone,
And only hopes protection from his son:
Chas'd from the senate and the court she flies,
There craft and party zeal her place supplies.
Yet still, since fix'd in Wimple's happy plain,
(Her last retreat) she knows not to complain.
There in great Oxford's converse does engage
Th' instructed ear, and shames a vicious age;
Or in his consort's accents stands confest,
And charms with graceful ease each list'ning guest;
Or with her lov'd companions gladly tied,
Goodness sincere, and Beauty void of pride,
Fixes her throne in Margaretta's face,
And from her lips acquires a new resistless grace.
And only hopes protection from his son:
Chas'd from the senate and the court she flies,
There craft and party zeal her place supplies.
Yet still, since fix'd in Wimple's happy plain,
(Her last retreat) she knows not to complain.
There in great Oxford's converse does engage
Th' instructed ear, and shames a vicious age;
Or in his consort's accents stands confest,
And charms with graceful ease each list'ning guest;
Or with her lov'd companions gladly tied,
Goodness sincere, and Beauty void of pride,
Fixes her throne in Margaretta's face,
And from her lips acquires a new resistless grace.
| The Works of Soame Jenyns | |