 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
334
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
To the Right Honourable John Earl of Stair
1726.
O
Britain's Boast, and Glory of our Times!
Belov'd at Home! Renown'd in foreign Climes!
Thou Courtier, Hero, Patriot, ever dear!
The Muses' Friend! to me, the kindest Peer!
My first, great Patron! and the only Lord,
Who ne'er to Mitchell meanly broke his Word!
How shall a grateful Bard his Debt discharge?
So poor his Stock, and his Arrears so large!
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What due Return for heaps of Favours bring?
Can Verse of mine, can Life it self, suffice
To pay my Duty, and unloose my Ties?
No! thou hast found the Secret to controul
The Whole of Mitchell; thou hast bound his Soul!
Delightful Thraldom! such a Slave to be,
Is Happiness; 'tis more than being free!
Then, speak, my Lord; command me as thy own—
But 'tis too much; the Service were Renown!
Thy ev'ry Smile wou'd animate my Lays,
And Fame immortal issue from thy Praise.
Yet is it so? am I indeed belov'd?
Have I, O Stair, thy favourite Poet prov'd?
Whence this to me? why shou'd'st thou condescend
To read, to praise, to cherish, and defend,
336
And do'st thou stoop to lift thy Bard to Place?
Yes, envious Fellow-Poets I am blest;
Fret, rail, and rage, ye Criticks, at my Rest.
Stair is my Patron; nor disdains to own,
That raising me impairs not his Renown.
Without Foundation wou'd he build my Fame?
No: from this Hour, I'll vindicate my Claim,
I'll dare to think there's Merit in my Muse,
Defy your Censure, and exalt my Views.
By Stair indulg'd and introduc'd, I see
The Fair and Brave already Friends to me.
They frankly join to Patronize my Lays,
Reward my Toil, and prompt me on to Praise.
O cou'd I, grateful, in exalted Verse,
Proclaim his Virtues, and his Deeds rehearse!
337
And be esteem'd more glorious and divine.
No borrow'd Praise, no Common-Place Renown,
Shou'd mix his Godlike Character to crown:
But native Merit the great Basis prove,
And just Encomiums Men's Devotion move.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |