 | Poems upon several occasions |  |
412
TO Mr. WALLER, UPON THE Copy of Verses made by himself on the last Copy in his Book.
I.
When Shame, for all my foolish Youth had writ,Advis'd, 'twas time the rhiming Trade to quit,
Time to grow wise, and be no more a Wit—
The Noble Fire, that animates thy Age,
Once more inflam'd me with Poetick Rage.
II.
Kings, Heroes, Nymphs, the Brave, the Fair, the Young,Have been the Theme of thy Immortal Song:
413
Two things Divine, Thee, and Her self, does chuse.
III.
Age, whose dull Weight makes vulgar Spirits bend,Gives Wings to thine, and bids it upward tend.
No more confin'd, above the Starry Skies,
Out, from the Body's broken Cage, it flies.
IV.
But oh! vouchsafe, not wholly to retire,To join with, and compleat, th'Etherial Quire!
Still here remain! still on the Threshold stand;
Still at this Distance view the promis'd Land,
Tho' thou may'st seem, so heav'nly is thy Sense,
Not going thither, but new come from thence.
| Poems upon several occasions | |