The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
|
|
|
|
|
| III, IV. |
|
|
|
 | The poems of George Daniel |  |
ODE II
[How much a verse deceives]
1
How much a verse deceivesVnhappie man! who weaves
4
Thinking to gaine a grace
From some light wanton's face,
With lighter Sonnet;
His Thoughts, his Hope, his Fate hang all vpon it.
2
To Titles, or great Name,One brings an Epigram,
Yet scarce knowes why;
Another, comes too late,
Deploreing humane ffate,
In Elegie;
Praising a Name, to Raise his owne more high.
3
Some, Souce in bitter Inke,The venome which they thinke,
To taxe the Times;
Write Satire, to betray
Selfe-gvilt, whilst they display
The Age's Crimes;
And vindicate their owne with biting Rhimes.
4
Some, in a higher Straine,Must Annalize the Raigne,
Of Cæsar's Glorie;
Breath big, and thunder State,
5
And dimme the Storie;
Which, his Muse tells him, is not Transitorie.
5
Another, doth preferTo the full Theater,
His giddie verse;
Now, in a Comicke Stile,
Hee wantons; in a while,
Growne big and feirce,
The buskin'd Muse comes out, in Blood and Tears.
6
How much the verse deceivesOur hopes! Like Autumne leaves,
They blow away;
The time wee spent, is lost,
And onlie Time can boast,
In our Decay;
Our verse forgot, not one Line, left to Say.
7
Great Monster! Shall wee gaineOur Labour for our paine?
And noe more wage?
I'le bring, to stop thy Iawes,
And Cancell all thy Lawes
Of Right or Rage;
A Verse too Stronge for Envie or for Age.
| The poems of George Daniel | |