Miscellanies in Prose and Verse By Mrs. Catherine Jemmat |
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BEAUTY and TASTE, inscribed to Her Grace the Duchess of HAMILTON. |
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 | Miscellanies in Prose and Verse |  |
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BEAUTY and TASTE, inscribed to Her Grace the Duchess of HAMILTON.
------ like another Jason,
I'll bear my beauteous conquest thro' the seas.
A richer booty, and a nobler prize,
Than he from Colchos bore.
I'll bear my beauteous conquest thro' the seas.
A richer booty, and a nobler prize,
Than he from Colchos bore.
Where shall the trembling Muse begin her flight,
Confin'd in fancy, as obscur'd in sight?
Could I the force of heav'nly rays receive,
From Homer's Helen, or from Milton's Eve,
Beauty and Taste in every thought should shine,
This form the words, that decorate the line;
Confin'd in fancy, as obscur'd in sight?
Could I the force of heav'nly rays receive,
From Homer's Helen, or from Milton's Eve,
Beauty and Taste in every thought should shine,
This form the words, that decorate the line;
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Beauty, first figur'd in th' Almighty's throne,
The next, in this great world's creation's shewn;
He first conceiv'd, then form'd this solid earth,
And gave to symmetry and order birth;
Delightful order on its surface spread,
Rais'd the tall hills, and stretch'd the lowly mead;
To ev'ry part its signal use assign'd,
And elegance to just proportion join'd;
Then added motion's vivifying soul,
Saw that the whole was good, and prais'd the whole.
The next, in this great world's creation's shewn;
He first conceiv'd, then form'd this solid earth,
And gave to symmetry and order birth;
Delightful order on its surface spread,
Rais'd the tall hills, and stretch'd the lowly mead;
To ev'ry part its signal use assign'd,
And elegance to just proportion join'd;
Then added motion's vivifying soul,
Saw that the whole was good, and prais'd the whole.
No less in forming thee, enchanting Fair!
We trace the work of Heav'n's peculiar care;
Beauty, fair emblem of thy soul serene,
Blooms in thy face, and shines thro' all thy mien;
And we, with generous sense of virtue, prove
Thy innate goodness from thy country's love;
Such love the Grecian dames for Greece possess'd,
And such Rome's matrons for old Rome profess'd,
We trace the work of Heav'n's peculiar care;
Beauty, fair emblem of thy soul serene,
Blooms in thy face, and shines thro' all thy mien;
And we, with generous sense of virtue, prove
Thy innate goodness from thy country's love;
Such love the Grecian dames for Greece possess'd,
And such Rome's matrons for old Rome profess'd,
Ierne's sons, for arts and arms renown'd,
Have been, for true desert, with glory crown'd;
To war and science have an equal claim,
And nobly triumph in immortal fame;
And you, Ierne's fairest daughter, shew
Our fame in virtue, and in beauty too.
The laurel wreath in foreign realms they bore,
And you, your conquest to your native shore.
But brightest excellence may lie supine,
And ev'ry grace and worth unheeded shine:
In vain the ruby all its radiance plays,
Or the clear diamond shoots its vivid rays,
If knowing Taste pass unattentive by,
Nor there direct the sharp and curious eye;
Taste, which instruction can alone dispense,
And observation ripen into sense;
The sum of all philosophy can preach,
Or time, or thought, or wise experience teach:
This the true standard for perfection names,
And the rich gem's intrinsic worth proclaims.
By this young Ammon Homer's merit knew,
And Ilium's sacred tale from darkness drew;
By this, that Phrygian's just decree was seen,
Who gave love's apple to the Cyprian queen;
Guided by truth, mature in early years,
Thy taste, illustrious HAMILTON! appears;
Distinguish'd excellence confirms thy choice,
And fame applauds with universal voice.
Have been, for true desert, with glory crown'd;
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And nobly triumph in immortal fame;
And you, Ierne's fairest daughter, shew
Our fame in virtue, and in beauty too.
The laurel wreath in foreign realms they bore,
And you, your conquest to your native shore.
But brightest excellence may lie supine,
And ev'ry grace and worth unheeded shine:
In vain the ruby all its radiance plays,
Or the clear diamond shoots its vivid rays,
If knowing Taste pass unattentive by,
Nor there direct the sharp and curious eye;
Taste, which instruction can alone dispense,
And observation ripen into sense;
The sum of all philosophy can preach,
Or time, or thought, or wise experience teach:
This the true standard for perfection names,
And the rich gem's intrinsic worth proclaims.
By this young Ammon Homer's merit knew,
And Ilium's sacred tale from darkness drew;
4
Who gave love's apple to the Cyprian queen;
Guided by truth, mature in early years,
Thy taste, illustrious HAMILTON! appears;
Distinguish'd excellence confirms thy choice,
And fame applauds with universal voice.
Rent from the commerce of the good and great,
By wrecks of time, and turns of varying fate,
Doom'd to oblivion in my native soil,
No more by Stanhope cheer'd, nor charm'd by Boyle;
Left at each day's revival to renew,
A tear, for friendship dead in Montesquieu;
A bard, whose soul detest'd the sordid tribe,
Who praise for lucre, or who fawn for bribe;
Her long deserted lyre to numbers strings,
And this disinterested tribute brings.
By wrecks of time, and turns of varying fate,
Doom'd to oblivion in my native soil,
No more by Stanhope cheer'd, nor charm'd by Boyle;
Left at each day's revival to renew,
A tear, for friendship dead in Montesquieu;
A bard, whose soul detest'd the sordid tribe,
Who praise for lucre, or who fawn for bribe;
Her long deserted lyre to numbers strings,
And this disinterested tribute brings.
| Miscellanies in Prose and Verse | |