 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
206
An ENCOMIUM.
[Mortal was never yet so grac'd]
Mortal was never yet so grac'd
With partial blessings from the skies,
As Draco;—rich in ev'ry taste
That Men of real worth—Despise.
With partial blessings from the skies,
As Draco;—rich in ev'ry taste
That Men of real worth—Despise.
A Youth more lovely, more polite,
More witty, graceful, more refin'd,
Or one more form'd to give delight,
Was never seen—In his own Mind.
More witty, graceful, more refin'd,
Or one more form'd to give delight,
Was never seen—In his own Mind.
“Study thyself,”—(thus Sages write)
“In Wisdom's lore if you'd surpass:”
Draco each morning, noon, and night,
Studies Himself—Within the Glass.
“In Wisdom's lore if you'd surpass:”
Draco each morning, noon, and night,
Studies Himself—Within the Glass.
His learning, his amazing knowledge,
Impartial Judges must confess
Unequall'd ev'n by Heads of College,
In that most noble science—Dress.
Impartial Judges must confess
Unequall'd ev'n by Heads of College,
In that most noble science—Dress.
Some silly folk who know him not
Aver, he's got an empty skull;
Can emptiness then be the lot
Of one who—Of himself's brimful?
Aver, he's got an empty skull;
Can emptiness then be the lot
Of one who—Of himself's brimful?
His Courage in the open field,
Was never doubted day or night;
Nor was he ever known to yield,
For well 'tis known—He dares not fight.
Was never doubted day or night;
Nor was he ever known to yield,
For well 'tis known—He dares not fight.
207
Whene'er the lovely Swain draws near,
The Ladies all around him flock:
At sight of him they glad appear,
For he's their favourite—Laughing Stock.
The Ladies all around him flock:
At sight of him they glad appear,
For he's their favourite—Laughing Stock.
So very amorous the Youth,
Still making love, still ogling, sighing,
Observe him, and you'd swear, in sooth,
He cannot live—unless he's dying.
Still making love, still ogling, sighing,
Observe him, and you'd swear, in sooth,
He cannot live—unless he's dying.
But should a Fair One equal die,
And face to face our Youth assail;
Gods! with what eagerness he'd fly—
Backwards—like Cur with shrunk-in tail.
And face to face our Youth assail;
Gods! with what eagerness he'd fly—
Backwards—like Cur with shrunk-in tail.
Proceed, dear Youth—Dear Youth, proceed,
To other Youths example show;
And let 'em in your actions read,
Not what they shou'd, but shou'd not do.
To other Youths example show;
And let 'em in your actions read,
Not what they shou'd, but shou'd not do.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |