The Wiccamical Chaplet a selection of original poetry; comprising smaller poems, serious and comic; classical trifles; sonnets; inscriptions and epitaphs; songs and ballads; mock-heroics, epigrams, fragments, &c. &c. Edited by George Huddesford |
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ODE TO A COUNSEL IN SOUTH WALES,
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 | The Wiccamical Chaplet |  |
16
ODE TO A COUNSEL IN SOUTH WALES,
Who made strong Declarations against Poetry, to which he was much devoted.
Shall no fair one of all the fair throng
Rise the theme of thy amorous lay?
Tho', like Philomel, weeping in song,
Or tho' wild as the wood-lark in May?
Rise the theme of thy amorous lay?
Tho', like Philomel, weeping in song,
Or tho' wild as the wood-lark in May?
Does the Muse, in the trammel of laws,
Now flutter her pinions in vain?
Does she faulter o'er briefs and old saws,
And grovel in this sink of gain?
Now flutter her pinions in vain?
Does she faulter o'er briefs and old saws,
And grovel in this sink of gain?
Shall the fond foster-child of that Muse
Soft nurst in the jessamine bower,
Her shell, like an ingrate, refuse,
To become the first blood-hound of Power?
Soft nurst in the jessamine bower,
Her shell, like an ingrate, refuse,
To become the first blood-hound of Power?
In his fastness the Briton to seek,
And drive, like the Pict, to the sea?
With the rod of oppression to break—
And sacrifice fame to his fee?
And drive, like the Pict, to the sea?
With the rod of oppression to break—
And sacrifice fame to his fee?
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Ah, never on Towy's fair shore
Be the tale to the Oreads told,
Who Grongar's recesses explore,
And tend the wild thyme on the wold!
Be the tale to the Oreads told,
Who Grongar's recesses explore,
And tend the wild thyme on the wold!
Ah, never on that hallow'd sweard
Where, while Corydon slept, in the air
Druidical numbers were heard,
Ere he painted the landscape so fair,
Where, while Corydon slept, in the air
Druidical numbers were heard,
Ere he painted the landscape so fair,
Shall the dissonant bray of the Courts,
Shall the sound of the whip, or the thong,
Ever drive the fair Train from their sports,
Or obstruct the sweet flow of their song!
Shall the sound of the whip, or the thong,
Ever drive the fair Train from their sports,
Or obstruct the sweet flow of their song!
Then, friendly to nature and truth,
Foe to jargon, ambition, and hire,
Resume the lov'd Arms of your youth,
And war with the Myrtle and Lyre!
Foe to jargon, ambition, and hire,
Resume the lov'd Arms of your youth,
And war with the Myrtle and Lyre!
| The Wiccamical Chaplet | |