 | An Epistle to David Garrick |  |
23
POSTSCRIPT.
Once when the Fire-ey'd Regent of the Day,
From Sirius shot to Earth a fervid Ray,
The puny fluttering Insects of the Shade,
Too weak to bear the radiant God display'd,
A joint Remonstrance buzz'd—and to the Sky
Sent their high Wills by the Recorder-Fly;
“Call forth thick Clouds this Fervour to abate,
“There's no enduring such transcendent Heat.—”
The pert Demand of the remonstrant Fly,
Drew from the God a Smile, and this Reply—
“—Flutter your Hour when to the West I'm gone,
“But pray, great Sir, excuse my shining on.—”
From Sirius shot to Earth a fervid Ray,
The puny fluttering Insects of the Shade,
Too weak to bear the radiant God display'd,
A joint Remonstrance buzz'd—and to the Sky
Sent their high Wills by the Recorder-Fly;
“Call forth thick Clouds this Fervour to abate,
“There's no enduring such transcendent Heat.—”
The pert Demand of the remonstrant Fly,
Drew from the God a Smile, and this Reply—
“—Flutter your Hour when to the West I'm gone,
“But pray, great Sir, excuse my shining on.—”
So Thou, bright Son of Merit, and of Fame,
While thy Meridian darts its wonted Flame,
Scorching the Eyes of literary Gnats,
Theatric Beetles, and be-doctor'd Bats,
Let these obscene dim Children of the Night,
Their Malice club to execrate thy Light,
Regardless of the Darklings, be it Thine,
With undiminish'd Lustre still to Shine.
While thy Meridian darts its wonted Flame,
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Theatric Beetles, and be-doctor'd Bats,
Let these obscene dim Children of the Night,
Their Malice club to execrate thy Light,
Regardless of the Darklings, be it Thine,
With undiminish'd Lustre still to Shine.
| An Epistle to David Garrick | |