The Canons of Criticism and Glossary Being A Supplement to Mr. Warburton's Edition of Shakespear ... The Sixth Edition, with Additions [with] The Trial of the Letter y, alias Y, and Sonnets [by Thomas Edwards] |
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 | SONNETS. |
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 | The Canons of Criticism and Glossary |  |
281
SONNETS.
SONNET I.
To R. Owen Cambridge, Esq;
Cambridge, with whom, my pilot and my guide,
Pleas'd I have travers'd thy Sabrina's flood;
Both where she foams impetuous, soil'd with mud,
And where she peaceful rolls her golden tide;
Pleas'd I have travers'd thy Sabrina's flood;
Both where she foams impetuous, soil'd with mud,
And where she peaceful rolls her golden tide;
Never, O never let ambition's pride,
(Too oft pretexed with our Country's good)
And tinsell'd pomp, despis'd when understood,
Or thirst of wealth thee from her banks divide:
(Too oft pretexed with our Country's good)
And tinsell'd pomp, despis'd when understood,
Or thirst of wealth thee from her banks divide:
Reflect how calmly, like her infant wave,
Flows the clear current of a private life;
See the wide public stream, by tempests toss'd,
Of every changing wind the sport, or slave,
Soil'd with corruption, vex'd with party strife,
Cover'd with wrecks of peace and honor lost.
Flows the clear current of a private life;
See the wide public stream, by tempests toss'd,
Of every changing wind the sport, or slave,
Soil'd with corruption, vex'd with party strife,
Cover'd with wrecks of peace and honor lost.
282
SONNET II.
To John Clerke, Esq;
Wisely, O Clerke, enjoy the present hour,
“The present hour is all the time we have,”
High God the rest has plac'd beyond our power,
Consign'd perhaps to grief—or to the grave.
“The present hour is all the time we have,”
High God the rest has plac'd beyond our power,
Consign'd perhaps to grief—or to the grave.
Wretched the man, who toils ambition's slave;
Who pines for wealth, or sighs for empty fame;
Who rolls in pleasures, which the mind deprave,
Bought with severe remorse, and guilty shame.
Who pines for wealth, or sighs for empty fame;
Who rolls in pleasures, which the mind deprave,
Bought with severe remorse, and guilty shame.
Virtue and Knowledge be our better aim;
These help us Ill to bear, or teach to shun;
Let Friendship chear us with her generous flame,
Friendship, the sum of all our joys in one:
So shall we live each moment fate has given,
How long or short, let us resign to Heaven.
These help us Ill to bear, or teach to shun;
Let Friendship chear us with her generous flame,
Friendship, the sum of all our joys in one:
So shall we live each moment fate has given,
How long or short, let us resign to Heaven.
283
SONNET III.
To Francis Knollys, Esq;
O sprung from Worthies, who with counsils wise
Adorn'd and strengthen'd great Elisa's throne,
Who yet with virtuous pride mayst well despise
To borrow praise from merits not thy own;
Adorn'd and strengthen'd great Elisa's throne,
Who yet with virtuous pride mayst well despise
To borrow praise from merits not thy own;
Oft as I view the monumental stone,
Where our lov'd Harrison's cold ashes rest;
Musing on joys with him long past and gone,
A pleasing sad remembrance fills my breast.
Where our lov'd Harrison's cold ashes rest;
Musing on joys with him long past and gone,
A pleasing sad remembrance fills my breast.
Did the sharp pang, we feel for friends deceas'd,
Unbated last, we must with anguish die;
But Nature bids it's rigor should be eas'd
By lenient Time, and strong Necessity;
These calm the passions, and subdue the mind,
To bear th'appointed lot of human kind.
Unbated last, we must with anguish die;
But Nature bids it's rigor should be eas'd
By lenient Time, and strong Necessity;
These calm the passions, and subdue the mind,
To bear th'appointed lot of human kind.
284
SONNET IV.
To Mr. Crusius.
Crusius, I hop'd the little Heaven shall spare
Of my short day, which flits away so fast,
And sickness threats with clouds to over-cast,
In social converse oft with thee to share;
Of my short day, which flits away so fast,
And sickness threats with clouds to over-cast,
In social converse oft with thee to share;
Ill luck for me, that wayward fate should tear
Thee from the haven, thou hadst gain'd at last,
Again to try the toils and dangers past,
In forein climates, and an hostile air;
Thee from the haven, thou hadst gain'd at last,
Again to try the toils and dangers past,
In forein climates, and an hostile air;
Yet duteous to thy Country's call attend,
Which clames her portion of thy useful years;
And back with speed thy course to Britain bend:
Which clames her portion of thy useful years;
And back with speed thy course to Britain bend:
If, e'er again we meet, perchance should end
My dark'ning Eve, Thou'lt pay some friendly tears,
Grateful to him, who liv'd and died thy friend.
My dark'ning Eve, Thou'lt pay some friendly tears,
Grateful to him, who liv'd and died thy friend.
285
SONNET V.
On a FAMILY-PICTURE.
When pensive on that Portraiture I gaze,
Where my four Brothers round about me stand,
And four fair Sisters smile with graces bland,
The goodly monument of happier days;
Where my four Brothers round about me stand,
And four fair Sisters smile with graces bland,
The goodly monument of happier days;
And think how soon insatiate Death, who preys
On all, has cropp'd the rest with ruthless hand;
While only I survive of all that band,
Which one chaste bed did to my Father raise;
On all, has cropp'd the rest with ruthless hand;
While only I survive of all that band,
Which one chaste bed did to my Father raise;
It seems that like a Column left alone,
The tottering remnant of some splendid Fane,
Scape'd from the fury of the barbarous Gaul,
And wasting Time, which has the rest o'erthrown;
Amidst our House's ruins I remain
Single, unpropp'd, and nodding to my fall.
The tottering remnant of some splendid Fane,
Scape'd from the fury of the barbarous Gaul,
And wasting Time, which has the rest o'erthrown;
Amidst our House's ruins I remain
Single, unpropp'd, and nodding to my fall.
286
SONNET VI.
To John Revett, Esq;
Revett, who well hast judg'd the task too hard,
Of this short life throughout the total day,
To follow glory's false bewitching ray,
Through certain toils, uncertain of reward;
Of this short life throughout the total day,
To follow glory's false bewitching ray,
Through certain toils, uncertain of reward;
A Prince's service how should we regard?
As service still—though deck'd in livery gay,
Disguis'd with titles, gilded o'er with pay,
Specious, yet ill to liberty preferr'd.
As service still—though deck'd in livery gay,
Disguis'd with titles, gilded o'er with pay,
Specious, yet ill to liberty preferr'd.
Bounding thy wishes by the golden mean,
Nor weakly bartering happiness for shew;
Wisely thou'st left the busy bustling scene,
Where merit seldom has successful been;
In Checquer's shades to taste the joys, that flow
From calm retirement, and a mind serene.
Nor weakly bartering happiness for shew;
Wisely thou'st left the busy bustling scene,
Where merit seldom has successful been;
In Checquer's shades to taste the joys, that flow
From calm retirement, and a mind serene.
287
SONNET VII.
To the Honorable Philip Yorke.
O Yorke, whom Virtue makes the worthy heir
Of Hardwicke's titles, and of Kent's estate;
Blest in a Wife, whose beauty, though so rare,
Is the lest Grace of all that round her wait;
Of Hardwicke's titles, and of Kent's estate;
Blest in a Wife, whose beauty, though so rare,
Is the lest Grace of all that round her wait;
While other Youths, sprung from the Good and Great;
In devious paths of pleasure seek their bane,
Reckless of wisdom's lore, of birth or state,
Meanly debauch'd, or insolently vain;
In devious paths of pleasure seek their bane,
Reckless of wisdom's lore, of birth or state,
Meanly debauch'd, or insolently vain;
Through Virtue's sacred gate, to Honor's fane
You and your fair Associate ceaseless climb,
With glorious emulation; sure to gain
A meed, shall last beyond the reign of Time:
From your example long may Britain see,
Degenerate Britain, what the Great should be!
You and your fair Associate ceaseless climb,
With glorious emulation; sure to gain
A meed, shall last beyond the reign of Time:
From your example long may Britain see,
Degenerate Britain, what the Great should be!
288
SONNET VIII. On the Cantos of SPENSER's Fairy Queen, lost in the Passage from Ireland.
Wo worth the man, who in ill hour assay'd
To tempt that Western Frith with ventrous keel;
And seek what Heav'n, regardful of our weal,
Had hid in fogs, and night's eternal shade;
To tempt that Western Frith with ventrous keel;
And seek what Heav'n, regardful of our weal,
Had hid in fogs, and night's eternal shade;
Ill-starr'd Hibernia! well art thou appaid
For all the woes, which Britain made thee feel
By Henry's wrath, and Pembroke's conqu'ring steel;
Who sack'd thy Towns, and Castles disarray'd:
For all the woes, which Britain made thee feel
By Henry's wrath, and Pembroke's conqu'ring steel;
Who sack'd thy Towns, and Castles disarray'd:
No longer now with idle sorrow mourn
Thy plunder'd wealth, or liberties restrain'd,
Nor deem their victories thy loss or shame;
Severe revenge on Britain in thy turn,
And ample spoils thy treacherous waves obtain'd,
Which sunk one half of Spenser's deathless fame.
Thy plunder'd wealth, or liberties restrain'd,
Nor deem their victories thy loss or shame;
Severe revenge on Britain in thy turn,
And ample spoils thy treacherous waves obtain'd,
Which sunk one half of Spenser's deathless fame.
289
SONNET IX.
To the Memory of Mrs. M. Paice.
Peace to thy ashes, to thy memory Fame,
Fair paragon of merit feminine;
In forming whom kind Nature did inshrine
A mind angelic in a faultless frame;
Fair paragon of merit feminine;
In forming whom kind Nature did inshrine
A mind angelic in a faultless frame;
Through every stage of changing life the same,
How did thy bright example ceaseless shine;
And every grace with every virtue join,
To raise the Virgin's and the Matron's name!
How did thy bright example ceaseless shine;
And every grace with every virtue join,
To raise the Virgin's and the Matron's name!
In thee Religion, chearful, and serene,
Unsour'd by superstition, spleen, or pride,
Through all the social offices of life,
To shed its genuine influence was seen;
This thy chief ornament, thy surest guide,
This form'd the Daughter, Parent, Friend, and Wife.
Unsour'd by superstition, spleen, or pride,
Through all the social offices of life,
To shed its genuine influence was seen;
This thy chief ornament, thy surest guide,
This form'd the Daughter, Parent, Friend, and Wife.
290
SONNET X.
To N. Paice, Esq;
Brother and Friend, whom Heav'n's all-gracious hand,
In lieu of Brethren and of Friends deceas'd,
To me a solace and support has rais'd,
And bound by Virtue's ever-sacred band;
In lieu of Brethren and of Friends deceas'd,
To me a solace and support has rais'd,
And bound by Virtue's ever-sacred band;
To future times fair shall thy memory stand,
(If aught of mine to future times at lest
Can reach,) and, for fraternal kindness blest,
Wide as good Proculeius' fame expand.
(If aught of mine to future times at lest
Can reach,) and, for fraternal kindness blest,
Wide as good Proculeius' fame expand.
The fond remembrance of Maria's love
Her friends and kindred to thy heart endears;
With equal warmth thou dost their friendship meet,
And generous acts thy true affection prove;
Thy kind compassion dries the Widows tears,
And guides the lonely Orphan's wand'ring Feet.
Her friends and kindred to thy heart endears;
With equal warmth thou dost their friendship meet,
And generous acts thy true affection prove;
Thy kind compassion dries the Widows tears,
And guides the lonely Orphan's wand'ring Feet.
291
SONNET XI.
To the Author of Observations on the Conversion
and Apostleship of St. Paul.
O Lyttelton, great meed shalt thou receive,
Great meed of fame, Thou and thy learn'd Compeer,
Who, 'gainst the Sceptic's doubt and Scorner's sneer,
Assert those Heav'n-born truths, which you believe;
Great meed of fame, Thou and thy learn'd Compeer,
Who, 'gainst the Sceptic's doubt and Scorner's sneer,
Assert those Heav'n-born truths, which you believe;
In elder time thus Heroes wont t'atchieve
Renown; they held the Faith of Jesus dear,
And round their Ivy crown or Laurell'd spear
Blush'd not Religion's Olive branch to weave;
Renown; they held the Faith of Jesus dear,
And round their Ivy crown or Laurell'd spear
Blush'd not Religion's Olive branch to weave;
Thus Ralegh, thus immortal Sidney shone,
(Illustrious names!) in great Elisa's days.
Nor doubt his promise firm, that such who own
In evil times, undaunted, though alone,
His glorious truth, such He will crown with praise,
And glad agnize before his Father's throne.
(Illustrious names!) in great Elisa's days.
Nor doubt his promise firm, that such who own
In evil times, undaunted, though alone,
His glorious truth, such He will crown with praise,
And glad agnize before his Father's throne.
292
SONNET XII.
To D. Wray, Esq;
Wray, whose dear friendship in the dawning years
Of undesigning childhood first began,
Through youth's gay morn with even tenor ran,
My noon conducted, and my evening chears;
Of undesigning childhood first began,
Through youth's gay morn with even tenor ran,
My noon conducted, and my evening chears;
Rightly dost Thou, in whom combin'd appears
Whate'er for public life completes the Man,
With active zeal strike out a larger plan;
No useless friend to Senators and Peers:
Whate'er for public life completes the Man,
With active zeal strike out a larger plan;
No useless friend to Senators and Peers:
Me moderate talents and a small estate
Fit for retirement's unambitious shade,
Nor envy I who near approach the throne;
But joyful see thee mingle with the Great,
See thy deserts with due distinction paid,
And praise thy lot, contented with my own.
Fit for retirement's unambitious shade,
Nor envy I who near approach the throne;
But joyful see thee mingle with the Great,
See thy deserts with due distinction paid,
And praise thy lot, contented with my own.
293
SONNET XIII.
To the same.
Trust me, Dear Wray, not all these three months' pain,
Though tedious seems the time in pain to wear,
Nor all those restless nights, through which in vain
I've sought for kindly sleep to lull my care;
Though tedious seems the time in pain to wear,
Nor all those restless nights, through which in vain
I've sought for kindly sleep to lull my care;
Not all those lonely meals, and meagre fare,
Unchear'd with converse of a friendly guest;
This close confinement, barr'd from wholesome air
And exercise, of medicines the best;
Unchear'd with converse of a friendly guest;
This close confinement, barr'd from wholesome air
And exercise, of medicines the best;
Have sunk my spirits, or my soul oppress'd:
Light are these woes, and easy to be born;
If weigh'd with those, which rack'd my tortur'd breast
When my fond heart from Amoret was torn:
So true that word of Solomon I find—
“No pain so grievous as a wounded mind.”
Light are these woes, and easy to be born;
If weigh'd with those, which rack'd my tortur'd breast
When my fond heart from Amoret was torn:
So true that word of Solomon I find—
“No pain so grievous as a wounded mind.”
294
SONNET XIV.
O sacred Love of Country! purest flame,
That wont in Britons' honest hearts to blaze,
And fire them to achieve high deeds of praise,
Which earn the guerdon of eternal fame;
That wont in Britons' honest hearts to blaze,
And fire them to achieve high deeds of praise,
Which earn the guerdon of eternal fame;
If aught of thee remain, beside the name
And semblance vain, to these degenerate days;
With all the effulgence of thy heavenly rays
Shine forth, and dash the spurious Patriot's clame;
And semblance vain, to these degenerate days;
With all the effulgence of thy heavenly rays
Shine forth, and dash the spurious Patriot's clame;
That bold bad man, who bellowing in the cause
Of truth and virtue, and with fraudful skill
Winning the giddy changing multitude,
Warps on the wind of popular applause
To private wealth and power; pretending still
With hard unblushing front the public good.
Of truth and virtue, and with fraudful skill
Winning the giddy changing multitude,
Warps on the wind of popular applause
To private wealth and power; pretending still
With hard unblushing front the public good.
295
SONNET XV.
To the Honorable Charles Yorke.
Charles, whom thy Country's voice applauding calls
To Philip's honorably vacant seat;
With modest pride th' awakening summons meet,
And rise to glory in St. Stephen's walls;
To Philip's honorably vacant seat;
With modest pride th' awakening summons meet,
And rise to glory in St. Stephen's walls;
Nor mean the honor, which thy Youth befalls,
Thus early clam'd from thy lov'd learn'd retreat,
To guard those sacred Rights, which elevate
Britain's free sons above their neighbor thralls:
Thus early clam'd from thy lov'd learn'd retreat,
To guard those sacred Rights, which elevate
Britain's free sons above their neighbor thralls:
Let Britain, let admiring Europe see
In those bright Parts, which yet too close confin'd
Shine in the circle of thy friends alone,
How sharp the spur of worthy Ancestry,
When kindred Virtues fire the generous mind
Of Somers' Nephew, and of Hardwicke's Son.
In those bright Parts, which yet too close confin'd
Shine in the circle of thy friends alone,
How sharp the spur of worthy Ancestry,
When kindred Virtues fire the generous mind
Of Somers' Nephew, and of Hardwicke's Son.
296
SONNET XVI.
To Isaac Hawkins Browne, Esq;
Hawkins, whose lips the Muses have imbued
With all the sweetness of th' Aonian spring;
Whom emuling I deftly learn'd to sing,
And smoother tune my numbers rough and rude;
With all the sweetness of th' Aonian spring;
Whom emuling I deftly learn'd to sing,
And smoother tune my numbers rough and rude;
Truce with the jangling Law's eternal feud,
It's subtile quirks, and captious cavilling;
Unlike the Muse's gentle whispering,
Which leads the Heaven-taught Soul to Fit and Good:
It's subtile quirks, and captious cavilling;
Unlike the Muse's gentle whispering,
Which leads the Heaven-taught Soul to Fit and Good:
Thee more beseems in Eloquence' fair field,
The Senate, war with Faction's chiefs to wage,
Bare the Mock-Patriot's ill dissembled crime,
Nor let fair Truth to feigned seeming yield;
With thy sweet Lyre to catch the list'ning Age,
And sing thy Trimnell's charms in deathless rhyme.
The Senate, war with Faction's chiefs to wage,
Bare the Mock-Patriot's ill dissembled crime,
Nor let fair Truth to feigned seeming yield;
With thy sweet Lyre to catch the list'ning Age,
And sing thy Trimnell's charms in deathless rhyme.
297
SONNET XVII.
To the same.
Once more, my Hawkins, I attempt to raise
My feeble voice to urge the tuneful song
Of that sweet Muse, which to her Country's wrong
Or sleeps, or only wakes to Latian lays;
My feeble voice to urge the tuneful song
Of that sweet Muse, which to her Country's wrong
Or sleeps, or only wakes to Latian lays;
Great is the merit, well-deserv'd the praise
Of that last Work, where Reasoning just and strong
In charming verse thy name shall bear along
To learned foreiners, and future days:
Of that last Work, where Reasoning just and strong
In charming verse thy name shall bear along
To learned foreiners, and future days:
Yet do not Thou thy native language scorn;
In which great Shakespear, Spenser, Milton sang
Such strains as may with Greek or Roman vie:
This cultivate, raise, polish and adorn;
So each fair Maid shall on thy numbers hang,
And every Briton bless thy melody.
In which great Shakespear, Spenser, Milton sang
Such strains as may with Greek or Roman vie:
This cultivate, raise, polish and adorn;
So each fair Maid shall on thy numbers hang,
And every Briton bless thy melody.
298
SONNET XVIII.
To the Right Honorable the Lord Hardwicke,
Lord Chancellor.
O thou, to sacred Themis' awful throne,
And the chief seat among the crowned Peers,
The Nation's last resort, in early years
Rais'd by thy high desert; Not this alone,
Nor all the Fame thy Eloquence has won,
Though Britain's counsils with success it steers,
And the rough Scot it's distant thunder fears,
Rank Thee so high above comparison,
And the chief seat among the crowned Peers,
The Nation's last resort, in early years
Rais'd by thy high desert; Not this alone,
Nor all the Fame thy Eloquence has won,
Though Britain's counsils with success it steers,
And the rough Scot it's distant thunder fears,
Rank Thee so high above comparison,
As that prime bliss, by which thy heart is warm'd,
Those numerous pledges of thy nuptial bed;
Who back reflect a lustre on their Sire,
Taught by thy lore, by thy example form'd,
With steady steps the ways of glory tread,
And to the palm of virtuous praise aspire.
Those numerous pledges of thy nuptial bed;
Who back reflect a lustre on their Sire,
Taught by thy lore, by thy example form'd,
With steady steps the ways of glory tread,
And to the palm of virtuous praise aspire.
299
SONNET XIX.
To his Grace
Thomas
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Prelate, whose steady hand, and watchful eye
The sacred vessel of Religion guide,
Secure from Superstition's dangerous tide,
And fateful Rocks of Infidelity;
The sacred vessel of Religion guide,
Secure from Superstition's dangerous tide,
And fateful Rocks of Infidelity;
Think not, in this bad age of obloquy,
When Christian virtues Christians dare deride,
And worth by Party-zele alone is tried,
To 'scape the poison'd shafts of calumny;
When Christian virtues Christians dare deride,
And worth by Party-zele alone is tried,
To 'scape the poison'd shafts of calumny;
No—though the tenor of thy blameless life,
Like His, whose flock is to thy care consign'd,
Be spent in teaching Truth and doing Good;
Yet, 'mongst the Sons of Bigotry and Strife,
Thou too, like Him, must hear thy Good malign'd,
Thy Person slander'd, and thy Truths withstood.
Like His, whose flock is to thy care consign'd,
Be spent in teaching Truth and doing Good;
Yet, 'mongst the Sons of Bigotry and Strife,
Thou too, like Him, must hear thy Good malign'd,
Thy Person slander'd, and thy Truths withstood.
300
SONNET XX.
To the Right Honorable the Lord
Willoughby
of Parham.
Parham, if worth concel'd in reason's doom
From want of worth be only once remov'd;
Nor can those virtues be esteem'd and lov'd,
Which listless sleep as in the silent tomb;
From want of worth be only once remov'd;
Nor can those virtues be esteem'd and lov'd,
Which listless sleep as in the silent tomb;
No longer let thy youthful years consume
In shy retirement; Thee long since behov'd,
In public life, with courage unreprov'd,
To shew those worths, which bloom so fair at home:
In shy retirement; Thee long since behov'd,
In public life, with courage unreprov'd,
To shew those worths, which bloom so fair at home:
When Virtue, wanting to herself, will shroud
Behind the veil of shameface'd bashfulness
Those charms, which Action should produce to view;
No wonder if the forward, bold, and loud,
In this world's bustling scene, before her press,
Usurp her name, and rob her of her due.
Behind the veil of shameface'd bashfulness
Those charms, which Action should produce to view;
No wonder if the forward, bold, and loud,
In this world's bustling scene, before her press,
Usurp her name, and rob her of her due.
301
SONNET XXI. For the Root-House at WREST.
Stranger, or guest, whome'er this hallowed grove
Shall chance receive, where sweet contentment dwells,
Bring here no heart, that with ambition swells,
With avarice pines, or burns with lawless love:
Shall chance receive, where sweet contentment dwells,
Bring here no heart, that with ambition swells,
With avarice pines, or burns with lawless love:
Vice-tainted Souls will all in vain remove
To sylvan shades, and hermits' peaceful cells,
In vain will seek retirement's lenient spells,
Or hope that bliss, which only good men prove:
To sylvan shades, and hermits' peaceful cells,
In vain will seek retirement's lenient spells,
Or hope that bliss, which only good men prove:
If heaven-born truth, and sacred virtue's lore,
Which chear, adorn, and dignify the mind,
Are constant inmates of thy honest breast,
If, unrepining at thy neighbor's store,
Thou count'st as thine the good of all mankind,
Then welcome share the friendly groves of Wrest.
Which chear, adorn, and dignify the mind,
Are constant inmates of thy honest breast,
If, unrepining at thy neighbor's store,
Thou count'st as thine the good of all mankind,
Then welcome share the friendly groves of Wrest.
302
SONNET XXII.
To the Author of Clarissa.
O master of the heart, whose magic skill
The close recesses of the Soul can find,
Can rouse, becalm, and terrifie the mind,
Now melt with pity, now with anguish thrill,
The close recesses of the Soul can find,
Can rouse, becalm, and terrifie the mind,
Now melt with pity, now with anguish thrill,
Thy moral page while virtuous precepts fill,
Warm from the heart, to mend the Age design'd,
Wit, strength, truth, decency are all conjoin'd
To lead our Youth to Good, and guard from Ill:
Warm from the heart, to mend the Age design'd,
Wit, strength, truth, decency are all conjoin'd
To lead our Youth to Good, and guard from Ill:
O long enjoy, what thou so well hast won,
The grateful tribute of each honest heart
Sincere, nor hackney'd in the ways of men;
At each distressful stroke their true tears run,
And Nature, unsophisticate by Art,
Owns and applauds the labors of thy pen.
The grateful tribute of each honest heart
Sincere, nor hackney'd in the ways of men;
At each distressful stroke their true tears run,
And Nature, unsophisticate by Art,
Owns and applauds the labors of thy pen.
303
SONNET XXIII.
To the Author of Sir Charles Grandison.
Sweet Moralist, whose generous labors tend
With ceaseless diligence to guide the mind,
In the wild maze of error wandering blind,
To Virtue Truth and Honor, glorious end
With ceaseless diligence to guide the mind,
In the wild maze of error wandering blind,
To Virtue Truth and Honor, glorious end
Of glorious toils! vainly would I commend,
In numbers worthy of your sense refin'd,
This last great work, which leaves all praise behind,
And justly styles You Of Mankind the Friend:
In numbers worthy of your sense refin'd,
This last great work, which leaves all praise behind,
And justly styles You Of Mankind the Friend:
Pleasure with profit artful while you blend,
And now the fancy, now the judgment feed
With grateful change, which every passion sways;
Numbers, who ne'er to graver lore attend,
Caught by the charm, grow virtuous as they read,
And lives reform'd shall give you genuine praise.
And now the fancy, now the judgment feed
With grateful change, which every passion sways;
Numbers, who ne'er to graver lore attend,
Caught by the charm, grow virtuous as they read,
And lives reform'd shall give you genuine praise.
304
SONNET XXIV.
To Miss H. M.
Sweet Linnet, who from off the laurel spray,
That hangs o'er Spenser's ever-sacred tomb,
Pour'st out such notes, as strike the Woodlark dumb,
And vie with Philomel's inchanting lay,
That hangs o'er Spenser's ever-sacred tomb,
Pour'st out such notes, as strike the Woodlark dumb,
And vie with Philomel's inchanting lay,
How shall my verse thy melody repay?
If my weak voice could reach the age to come,
Like Colin Clout's, thy name should ever bloom
Through future times, unconscious of decay:
If my weak voice could reach the age to come,
Like Colin Clout's, thy name should ever bloom
Through future times, unconscious of decay:
But such frail aid thy merits not require,
Thee Polyhymnia, in the roseate bowers
Of high Parnassus, 'midst the vocal throng,
Shall glad receive, and to her tuneful sire
Present; where, crown'd with amaranthine flowers,
The raptured choir shall listen to thy song.
Thee Polyhymnia, in the roseate bowers
Of high Parnassus, 'midst the vocal throng,
Shall glad receive, and to her tuneful sire
Present; where, crown'd with amaranthine flowers,
The raptured choir shall listen to thy song.
| The Canons of Criticism and Glossary | |