University of Virginia Library

On seeing Mr. MOSSOP perform.

'Tis Merit calls, awake the grateful lyre,
With manly measures and with kindred sounds,
That, correspondent, picture to the ear
And raptur'd breast, elate, thy awful image,
Imprinted deep within the yielding mind,
To rouze, alarm, and captivate the soul.
O, Eloquence divine! at thy command,
See Nature bend; the passions at her side,
In all their various liv'ries deck'd, await
Obedient to thy nod. Lo, reason wears
Thy chain! Thy elocution sways discreet,
By sense directed, and by genius fir'd,
The sceptre of the soul; like him that erst,
In Doric, or in Lydian strains divine,
Transform'd, at will, the mighty son of Jove,
When, strong inspir'd, the god-like master touch'd
The pow'rful string, when glory, war, and love
Successive reign'd, obsequious to his hand,
Within the hero's heart exulting high;
His changing hand, with various magic fraught,
To soothe, to soften, and to melt the mind,
To sink on radiant beauties blooming breast,
Dissolv'd in rapture, and by love subdu'd,
The master of the world: but see! he awakes,
He starts, he frowns, he glows, the alter'd note,
With deep sonorous and tempestuous sound,
Like the dread prelude of his father's thunder,
Arouz'd young Ammon from the blessful trance:
He raves, he burns, and shakes the dreadful spear.
Lo, Tully and Timotheus join'd! behold
Where sense and harmony, and warmth divine,
Emphatic eloquence, and pathos meet,
Confess'd, with Greek and Roman grace adorn'd,
To rule the judgment and to charm the soul;
Where art and nature in perfection crown
The finish'd high, the manly various task,
When Taste applauds, and MOSSOP fills the scene.