 | The Poetical Works of John Scott |  |
332
ON THE INGENIOUS MR. JONES'S ELEGANT TRANSLATIONS AND IMITATIONS OF EASTERN POETRY,
AND HIS RESOLUTION TO DECLINE TRANSLATING THE PERSIAN POETS.
The Asian Muse, a Stranger fair!Becomes at length Britannia's care;
And Hafiz' lays, and Sadi's strains,
Resound along our Thames's plains.
They sing not all of streams and bowers,
Or banquet scenes, or social hours;
Nor all of Beauty's blooming charms,
Or War's rude fields, or feats of arms;
But Freedom's lofty notes sincere,
And Virtue's moral lore severe.
333
The scarcely-tasted pleasure's o'er!
For He, the Bard whose tuneful art
Can best their varied themes impart—
For He, alas! the task declines;
And Taste, at loss irreparable, repines.
| The Poetical Works of John Scott | |