The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] ... With a Copious Index. To which is prefixed Some Account of his Life. In Four Volumes |
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TO NOLLEKENS. |
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 | The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] |  |
410
TO NOLLEKENS.
The Bard singeth to the Praise of Mr. Nollekens, but condemneth him as the supposed Executioner of a certain Bishop's Sentence on the Bosom of a beautiful Greek Vestal.
With pleasure, Nollekens, I see
The muse of Sculpture wake in thee,
And Britain, who has been so long asleep—
Well!—since thy works such worth display,
Brisk, stir thy stumps, and work away,
And with the gems of Athens, Britain heap!
The muse of Sculpture wake in thee,
And Britain, who has been so long asleep—
Well!—since thy works such worth display,
Brisk, stir thy stumps, and work away,
And with the gems of Athens, Britain heap!
How could thy sacrilegious hand
Obey the bishop's dread command,
And slice the bosom of the Grecian maid?—
That Phidias' angry ghost would rise
With mealy face, and saucer eyes,
To break thy chisel—wert thou not afraid?—
Obey the bishop's dread command,
And slice the bosom of the Grecian maid?—
That Phidias' angry ghost would rise
With mealy face, and saucer eyes,
To break thy chisel—wert thou not afraid?—
Oh, where was Venus in that hour,
To snatch the vestal from thy pow'r?
An action so barbaric chills my blood!—
Now, do not, Nollekens, dissemble:
Did not thy hand with horror tremble,
And thy two eyes let fall a plenteous flood?
To snatch the vestal from thy pow'r?
An action so barbaric chills my blood!—
Now, do not, Nollekens, dissemble:
Did not thy hand with horror tremble,
And thy two eyes let fall a plenteous flood?
How did the bishop's wife behave
On this most sacrilegious shave—
Did not the lady smile upon the garble?—
She might—for ladies old and dry,
Inspir'd by Jealousy, can spy
A dreaded rival in a piece of marble!
On this most sacrilegious shave—
Did not the lady smile upon the garble?—
She might—for ladies old and dry,
Inspir'd by Jealousy, can spy
A dreaded rival in a piece of marble!
| The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | |