Poems on Several Occasions ... To which is added, the Plague of Wealth, Occasion'd By the Author's receiving fifty Pounds from his Excellency the Lord Carteret, for the foremention'd Ode. With several Poems not in the Dublin Edition. By Matthew Pilkington. Revised by the Reverend Dr. Swift |
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The Lost MUSE.
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| XXXIV. |
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
36
The Lost MUSE.
Clio, the sweetest Muse of nine
Who charm the Gods with Lays divine,
Private and unperceiv'd withdrew,
And swift from sacred Pindus flew,
On some exalted Project bent,
But told no Creature her Intent.
Who charm the Gods with Lays divine,
Private and unperceiv'd withdrew,
And swift from sacred Pindus flew,
On some exalted Project bent,
But told no Creature her Intent.
The God of Numbers heard it said,
His fav'rite, sweet-tongu'd Muse was fled,
And he had oft observ'd of late
That she was absent from her Seat,
When all her tuneful Sister-Train
Were forming some immortal Strain.
His fav'rite, sweet-tongu'd Muse was fled,
And he had oft observ'd of late
That she was absent from her Seat,
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Were forming some immortal Strain.
He us'd to send her, now and then,
With Hints to some peculiar Men,
To Pope, Delany, Gay, or Swift,
But now he cou'd not guess her Drift,
And wonders much, that she wou'd venture
To visit Bards, except he sent her;
So half-provok'd away he flies,
Takes Hermes with him in Disguise,
Resolv'd to roam the World around,
'Till Clio's private Haunt is found.
With Hints to some peculiar Men,
To Pope, Delany, Gay, or Swift,
But now he cou'd not guess her Drift,
And wonders much, that she wou'd venture
To visit Bards, except he sent her;
So half-provok'd away he flies,
Takes Hermes with him in Disguise,
Resolv'd to roam the World around,
'Till Clio's private Haunt is found.
The Gods, impatient of Delay,
To fam'd Eblana wing their Way,
And prudent, first at Swift's descend,
Apollo's best regarded Friend,
And whom the God of Verse and Wit,
Inspir'd in ev'ry Line he writ;
There might they hope their Prize to gain
Where ev'ry Muse delights to reign;
But she, to execute her Scheme,
Had left him just before they came.
To fam'd Eblana wing their Way,
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Apollo's best regarded Friend,
And whom the God of Verse and Wit,
Inspir'd in ev'ry Line he writ;
There might they hope their Prize to gain
Where ev'ry Muse delights to reign;
But she, to execute her Scheme,
Had left him just before they came.
Quick as descending Rays of Light,
To Delville next they take their Flight:
Delville, where all the Wise resort,
Where oft the Muses keep their Court;
And veil'd from ev'ry mortal Eye
Thro' all the Doctor's Rooms they pry,
They search his arbour'd Seats and Garden,
(Fit Place to find a Muse or Bard in:)
Then turn'd his Papers o'er with Care,
And plainly found she had been there,
Such Learning, Elegance and Ease,
Appear in all Delany's Lays,
Such Beauties in his Numbers shine,
As prove their Origin divine.
To Delville next they take their Flight:
Delville, where all the Wise resort,
Where oft the Muses keep their Court;
And veil'd from ev'ry mortal Eye
Thro' all the Doctor's Rooms they pry,
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(Fit Place to find a Muse or Bard in:)
Then turn'd his Papers o'er with Care,
And plainly found she had been there,
Such Learning, Elegance and Ease,
Appear in all Delany's Lays,
Such Beauties in his Numbers shine,
As prove their Origin divine.
With these their Disappointments vext,
They fly to fair Saphira's next,
And found her forming into Rhime
A Thought exalted and sublime,
Perceiv'd such Excellence and Wit,
Such Charms in all she spoke and writ,
As soon convinc'd their wond'ring Eyes,
The Muse was with her in Disguise,
And fond the rising Age to bless,
Assum'd a mortal Form and Dress.
They fly to fair Saphira's next,
And found her forming into Rhime
A Thought exalted and sublime,
Perceiv'd such Excellence and Wit,
Such Charms in all she spoke and writ,
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The Muse was with her in Disguise,
And fond the rising Age to bless,
Assum'd a mortal Form and Dress.
The God delighted, calms his Rage,
And cries, there live to charm the Age,
Be thou a gay inspiring Guest,
And fill with soft Delights her Breast,
That Breast with all that's good replete;
But, Clio, this will be thy Fate,
Thou shalt contrive the deathless Lays;
But see Saphira win the Praise.
And cries, there live to charm the Age,
Be thou a gay inspiring Guest,
And fill with soft Delights her Breast,
That Breast with all that's good replete;
But, Clio, this will be thy Fate,
Thou shalt contrive the deathless Lays;
But see Saphira win the Praise.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |