The Poetical Works of John Langhorne ... To which are prefixed, Memoirs of the Author by his Son the Rev. J. T. Langhorne ... In Two Volumes |
 | I. |
TO THE HONOURABLE
CHARLES YORKE. |
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| II. |
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 | The Poetical Works of John Langhorne |  |
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TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES YORKE.
A Muse that lov'd in Nature's walks to stray,
And gather'd many a wild flower in her way,
To Nature's friend her genuine gifts would bring,
The light amusements of Life's vacant spring;
Nor shalt thou, Yorke, her humble offering blame,
If pure her incense, and unmixt her flame.
She pours no flattery into Folly's ear,
No shameless hireling of a shameless Peer,
The friends of Pope indulge her native lays,
And Gloucester joins with Lyttelton to praise.
Each judge of art her strain, tho' artless, loves;
And Shenstone smil'd, and polish'd Hurd approves.
O may such spirits long protect my page,
Surviving lights of Wit's departed age!
Long may I in their kind opinion live!
All meaner praise, all envy I forgive.—
And gather'd many a wild flower in her way,
To Nature's friend her genuine gifts would bring,
The light amusements of Life's vacant spring;
Nor shalt thou, Yorke, her humble offering blame,
If pure her incense, and unmixt her flame.
She pours no flattery into Folly's ear,
No shameless hireling of a shameless Peer,
The friends of Pope indulge her native lays,
And Gloucester joins with Lyttelton to praise.
Each judge of art her strain, tho' artless, loves;
And Shenstone smil'd, and polish'd Hurd approves.
O may such spirits long protect my page,
Surviving lights of Wit's departed age!
Long may I in their kind opinion live!
All meaner praise, all envy I forgive.—
Yet fairly be my future laurels won!
Nor let me bear a bride to Hardwicke's son!
Should his free suffrage own the favour'd strain,
Tho' vain the toil, the glory were not vain.
Nor let me bear a bride to Hardwicke's son!
Should his free suffrage own the favour'd strain,
Tho' vain the toil, the glory were not vain.
| The Poetical Works of John Langhorne | |