A Muse in Livery A Collection of Poems [by Robert Dodsley] |
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EFFIGIES AUTHORIS: OR, THE Mind of the Frontispiece. |
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 | A Muse in Livery |  |
1
EFFIGIES AUTHORIS: OR, THE Mind of the Frontispiece.
I
In vain, in vain, I stretch my Chain;In vain I strive to rise:
It checks, and pulls me down again,
And all my strength defies.
II
In vain Desire oft wings my soul,And mounts my thoughts on high;
Despair still clogs, and keeps me down,
Where I must grov'ling lie.
III
Thro' Wisdom's sacred realms to fly,But vainly I essay;
Chain'd down to Ignorance I lie,
And cannot get away.
2
IV
To Virtue's paths my soul enclines,My feet her steps would trace;
But folly leads, when ign'rance blinds,
Into erroneous ways.
V
Knowledge and Virtue thus debar'd,Which lead to Happiness;
In mental Misery I'm plung'd,
And hopeless of redress.
VI
Unless some great, some gen'rous MindVouchsafe to cut the Chain;
Then I might hope, by slow degrees,
Those blissful seats to gain.
VII
With various Knowledge I would striveMy mind should be endu'd;
And the first lesson I would learn
In Virtue, should be Gratitude.
| A Muse in Livery | |