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Poems of James Graham: Marquis of Montrose

... With introduction and notes by J. L. Weir ... and a preface by the Rt. Hon. Lord Tweedsmuir
Montrose, James Graham (1612-1650)

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ON THE FLYLEAVES OF HIS BOOKS
 I. 
I Lines written in his copy of Lucan.
 II. 
II On a leaf of Cæsar's Commentaries.
 III. 
III On his copy of Quintus Curtius.
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15

ON THE FLYLEAVES OF HIS BOOKS

I
Lines written in his copy of Lucan.

As Macedo his Homer, I'll thee still,
Lucan, esteem as my most precious gem;
And, though my fortune second not my will,
That I may witness to the world the same,
Yet, if she would but smile even so on me,
My mind desires as his, and soars as hie.
16

II
On a leaf of Cæsar's Commentaries.

Though Cæsar's paragon I cannot be,
Yet shall I soar in thoughts as high as he.
17

III
On his copy of Quintus Curtius.

As Philip's noble son did still disdain
All but the dear applause of merited fame,
And nothing harboured in that lofty brain
But how to conquer an eternal name;
So, great attempts, heroic ventures, shall
Advance my fortune, or renown my fall.
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