Poems upon Various Occasions Written for the Entertainment of the author, And Printed for the Amusement Of a few friends, Prejudic'd in his Favour [by William Shenstone] |
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Je-ne-s'cai-quoi.
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 | Poems upon Various Occasions |  |
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Je-ne-s'cai-quoi.
In Imitation of Ld Rochester's Poem upon Nothing.
I
Ye Sages all! no longer vainly tryTo each perplexing Doubt to make reply,
But justly solve it with a Je-ne-scai-quoi.
II
Dear happy Phrase, to ancient Times unknown!Substantial Forms have long usurp'd thy Throne,
And subtle Matter reign'd, with Glory not its own.
III
When Reason's Optics can no farther see,Then Fancy's only must of Service be,
And Fancy's airy Schemes unite at last in Thee.
IV
O'er upper Worlds exulting Sophist's roam,Till, where they first set out, at last they come;
And reck'ning up their Gains find thee the total Sum;
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V
Unnumber'd Folio's, big with Wit's Pretence,Giants in Stature, but mere Dwarfs in Sense,
Such Knowledge only yield, as thou could'st best dispense.
VI
Ah! wou'd thy Friends confess thy gentler Sway,Their Iliads vast a Nut-shell might convey;
Their Long heroick strains might shrink to Namby's Lay.
VII
What's Wit, the wise Man's Scorn, the Poet's Pride,By those whose wants are greatest, most enjoy'd?
Some-thing to Madness much, and more to thee ally'd.
VIII
Thou under various Names art still the same,The Quaker's Light, the fiery Zealot's Aim,
The Poet's fancy'd Muse, the Lover's fancy'd Flame.
IX
Under thy Shield the Critick launches free,Discovers Charms which no one else can see,
Or damns, triumphant when secur'd by thee.
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X
Beneath thy Guard the Envious Mind can traceA Secret Blemish in Selinda's Face;
Or in Melanthe's Mien, the Lover find a Grace.
XI
E'en Beauty's Charms thro' various Colours shewn,Diff'rent in each is still by some-thing Known,
Some-thing, secure to please, exprest by thee alone.
XII
The Sceptick strove thy gen'ral claim to shew,Disown'd by Moderns, yet from thee we know
Their wild Debates arose, to thee at last must flow.
XIII
What makes the restless slight his present Store?What makes the Miser daily strive for more?
Wou'd they the Truth confess, they must confess thy Pow'r.
XIV
However stor'd with Good, or void of IllOur Lives appear; yet thou art wanting still,
To mend the tasteless Draught, to gild th' unsightly Pill.
| Poems upon Various Occasions | |