The Poetical Works of the late Christopher Anstey ::

The Poetical Works of the late Christopher Anstey

With Some Account of the Life and Writings of the Author, By his son, John Anstey

Anstey, Christopher (1724-1805)

1 occurrence of Once more, O! ye Muses, from Pindus descend, And bid all the Graces your Footsteps attend, Who oft at Elections are wont to prolong
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[Some Account of the Life and Writings of the Author]

[From wealth, from honours, and from courts remov'd]

[With every plague that can conspire]

TO SIR WILLIAM DRAPER, K.B.

TO THE SAME;

TO COLONEL B. HALE,

TO DAVID GARRICK, ESQ.

[I ne'er (tho' fame applaud me to my wrong)]

[O! pause a while, whoe'er thou art]

THE NEW BATH GUIDE:

OCCASIONAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PIECES.

1 occurrence of Once more, O! ye Muses, from Pindus descend, And bid all the Graces your Footsteps attend, Who oft at Elections are wont to prolong
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xxvii

TO SIR WILLIAM DRAPER, K.B.

With a copy of the Patriot, and a present of Cottenham Cheeses.

Donarem pateras, &c. Hor. Lib. iv. Ode 8.

Freely I'd give ye cups of gold,
Rich with the curious works of old;
With coins and medals I'd present ye,
And send ye rings and seals in plenty;
Reward ye like the valiant Greeks,
If I, like Deard, could make antiques.
But gifts like these, my generous Friend,
Nor you expect, nor I can send.
Something to eat, I'd have you know it,
Is no small present from a Poet;
And tho' I took some little pains
In weaving my Pindaric strains,
You're welcome, if my verse displeases,
To d—n my book, and eat my cheeses;
Still will I venture to acquaint ye,
Tho' I, like Gainsborough, cou'd paint ye;
Tho' I with Wilton's art, could give
The animated stone to live;

xxviii

Yet not the picture, or the busto,
Are things that heroes ought to trust to.
Good generals and statesmen too,
From verse alone, must claim their due;
And oft the friendly Muse supplies
What an ungrateful world denies:
Not the swift flight of threat'ning Lally,
Not every bold successful sally,
Under your banners from Madras,
Tho' told on marble, or on brass:
Not India's distant spoils brought home,
To grace our Henry's lofty dome;
Without the Muses just regard,
Can give the Conqueror his reward.—
—Spite of the law's unjust delay,
Your guerdon still the Muse shall pa y
With faithful steps your fame attend,
And speed the wishes of your friend.

Trumpington, Dec. 24, 1767. C.A.

The Spanish colours which were surrendered to the British arms at the conquest of Manilla, were hung up in the chapel of King's College, Cambridge.

University of Virginia Library

TO SIR WILLIAM DRAPER, K.B.

With a copy of the Patriot, and a present of Cottenham Cheeses.