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Poems on Several Occasions

In Two Volumes. By Mr. Joseph Mitchell

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Already, lo! I see a crowded Hall!
A frequent Congregation! Poets all!
Behold! I mount, inspir'd, my sacred Throne!
Hear! I declaim, with an enchanting Tone!

19

Kirkmen, themselves, begin to think me Good,
And, now, repent they were so blindly rude!
Fain to their Fold they'd bring the banish'd Sheep!
Fain, to themselves, the Poet-Laureat keep!
Free Testimonials, proffer'd, come at last;
With large Indulgence for Offences past:
But, heedless, I my proper Province mind,
And leave the Cripple to conduct the Blind.
Intent to polish and refine the Young,
I rack Invention, and new-tune my Tongue.
Heav'ns! how I lecture! ('tis a Laureat's Part)
Like Aristotle, on poetick Art.
Horace, and Vida, Boileau, Buckingham,
Are Harbingers to my exalted Name:

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Their various Institutions I'd make known,
And add a thousand Beauties of my own.
 

The Presbytery of Edinburgh refus'd the Author (who had studied Divinity) free Testimonials, because he had read Plays, and would not acknowledge the Use of them to be simply, and absolutely unlawful.

Authors who have severally written Arts of Poetry fit to be lectur'd on.