Poetical works of the late F. Sayers to which have been prefixed the connected disquisitions on the rise and progress of English poetry, and on English metres, and also some biographic particulars of the author, supplied by W. Taylor |
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SONNET.
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 | Poetical works of the late F. Sayers |  |
181
SONNET.
[Ah, wretched man! whom Fame shall tempt to leave]
Ah, wretched man! whom Fame shall tempt to leaveThe soft and silent valley of Repose,
And with her deeply-stirring voice deceive
To deeds of thankless toil, and weary woes;
Ah! wretched man! who stays ne to perceive
The thorns that threat'ning gird the peerless rose;
But hopes unharm'd he may a wreath receive
Of deathless flowerets to surround his brows—
Look up!—afore the beamy towers of Fame,
What fell and ghastly fiends for ever wait;
Envy, whose baleful vipers none can tame,
And Disappointment of slow, sullen gait,
And with her eyes abash'd, heart-damping Shame;
Fly, fly to fair Repose, nor scorn so sweet a mate.
| Poetical works of the late F. Sayers | |