 | A collection of original poems and translations |  |
208
To the Hon. and Rev. ------
By the same.
In Frolick's Hour, e'er serious Thought had birth,
There was a Time, my dear C---s, when
The Muse wou'd take me on her Airy Wing
And waft to Views Romantic, there present
Some motley Vision, Shade and Sun; the Cliff
O'er hanging, sparkling Brooks, and Ruins gray:
Bad me Mæanders Trace and catch the Form
Of varying Clouds, and Rainbows learn to paint.
There was a Time, my dear C---s, when
The Muse wou'd take me on her Airy Wing
And waft to Views Romantic, there present
Some motley Vision, Shade and Sun; the Cliff
O'er hanging, sparkling Brooks, and Ruins gray:
Bad me Mæanders Trace and catch the Form
Of varying Clouds, and Rainbows learn to paint.
Sometimes Ambition, brushing by, wou'd twitch
My Spirits, and with winning look sublime
Allure to follow. What tho' Steep the Track!
Her Mountain's Top would overpay when climb'd,
The Scaler's Toil, her Temple there was fine,
And lovely thence the Prospects. She cou'd tell,
Where Lawrels grew, whence many a Wreath Antique;
But more advis'd to shun the barren Twig,
(What is immortal Verdure without Fruit?)
And woo some thriving Art; Her numerous Mines
Were open to the Searcher's Skill and Pains.
My Spirits, and with winning look sublime
Allure to follow. What tho' Steep the Track!
Her Mountain's Top would overpay when climb'd,
The Scaler's Toil, her Temple there was fine,
And lovely thence the Prospects. She cou'd tell,
Where Lawrels grew, whence many a Wreath Antique;
209
(What is immortal Verdure without Fruit?)
And woo some thriving Art; Her numerous Mines
Were open to the Searcher's Skill and Pains.
Caught by th' Harangue, Heart beat, and flutt'ring Pulse
Sounded irregular Marches to be gone;—
What, pause a Moment, when Ambition calls?
No, the Blood gallops to the distant Goal,
And throbs to reach it. Let the lame sit still
When Fortune gentle, at the Hills Verge extreme,
Array'd in decent Garb, but somewhat thin,
Smiling approach'd, and what Occasion, ask'd,
Of Climbing? She already provident
Had cater'd well, if Stomach cou'd digest
Her Viands, and a Palate not too nice.
Unsit, she said, for perilous Attempt,
That manly Limb requir'd, and Sinews tough.
Sounded irregular Marches to be gone;—
What, pause a Moment, when Ambition calls?
No, the Blood gallops to the distant Goal,
And throbs to reach it. Let the lame sit still
When Fortune gentle, at the Hills Verge extreme,
Array'd in decent Garb, but somewhat thin,
Smiling approach'd, and what Occasion, ask'd,
Of Climbing? She already provident
Had cater'd well, if Stomach cou'd digest
Her Viands, and a Palate not too nice.
Unsit, she said, for perilous Attempt,
That manly Limb requir'd, and Sinews tough.
210
She took, and laid me in a Vale remote,
Amid the gloomy Scene of Fir and Yew,
On Poppy Ground, where Morpheus strew'd the Bed:
Obscurity her Curtain round me drew,
And Siren Sloth a dull Quietus sung!
Amid the gloomy Scene of Fir and Yew,
On Poppy Ground, where Morpheus strew'd the Bed:
Obscurity her Curtain round me drew,
And Siren Sloth a dull Quietus sung!
Sithence no Fairy Sights, no quick'ning Ray,
Nor stir of Pulse, nor Objects to entice
Abroad the Spirits; but the Cloyster'd Heart
Sits squat at Home, like Pagod in a Nitch
Demure; or Grandees, with Nod-watching Eye,
And folded Arms, in presence of the Throne,
Turk or Indostan.—Cities, Forums, Courts,
And prating Sanhedrims, and drumming Wars,
Affect no more than Stories told to Bed
Lethargic, which at Intervals the Sick
Hears and forgets, and wakes to doze again.
Instead of Converse and Variety,
The same trite Round, the same stale silent Scene;
Such are thy Comforts, blessed Solitude.
Nor stir of Pulse, nor Objects to entice
Abroad the Spirits; but the Cloyster'd Heart
Sits squat at Home, like Pagod in a Nitch
Demure; or Grandees, with Nod-watching Eye,
And folded Arms, in presence of the Throne,
Turk or Indostan.—Cities, Forums, Courts,
And prating Sanhedrims, and drumming Wars,
Affect no more than Stories told to Bed
Lethargic, which at Intervals the Sick
Hears and forgets, and wakes to doze again.
Instead of Converse and Variety,
The same trite Round, the same stale silent Scene;
Such are thy Comforts, blessed Solitude.
211
But Innocence is there, but Peace all-kind,
And simple Quiet with her downy Couch,
Meads lowing, Tune of Birds, and Lapse of Streams,
And saunter with a Book and warbling Muse
In Praise of Hawthorns.—Life's whole Business this?
Is it to bask i' th' Sun? if so, a Snail
Were happy crawling on a Southern Wall.
And simple Quiet with her downy Couch,
Meads lowing, Tune of Birds, and Lapse of Streams,
And saunter with a Book and warbling Muse
In Praise of Hawthorns.—Life's whole Business this?
Is it to bask i' th' Sun? if so, a Snail
Were happy crawling on a Southern Wall.
Why sits Content upon a Cottage-fill
At Even-tide, and blesses the coarse Meal
In sooty Corner? Why sweet Slumbers wait
Th'hard Pallet? Not, because from Haunt remote,
Sequester'd in a Dingle's bushy Lap:
'Tis Labour makes the Peasant's sav'ry Fare,
And works out his Repose. For Ease must ask
The Leave of Diligence to be enjoy'd.
At Even-tide, and blesses the coarse Meal
In sooty Corner? Why sweet Slumbers wait
Th'hard Pallet? Not, because from Haunt remote,
Sequester'd in a Dingle's bushy Lap:
'Tis Labour makes the Peasant's sav'ry Fare,
And works out his Repose. For Ease must ask
The Leave of Diligence to be enjoy'd.
O! listen not to that Enchantress Ease
With seeming Smile, her palatable Cup
By standing grows insipid, and beware
The Bottom, for there's Poison in the Lees.
What Health impair'd, and Crouds inactive maim'd?
What daily Martyrs to her sluggish Cause?
Less strict Devoir the Russ and Persian Claim
Despotick; and as Subjects, long inur'd
To servile Burden, grow supine and tame;—
So fares it with our Sovereign and her Train.
With seeming Smile, her palatable Cup
By standing grows insipid, and beware
212
What Health impair'd, and Crouds inactive maim'd?
What daily Martyrs to her sluggish Cause?
Less strict Devoir the Russ and Persian Claim
Despotick; and as Subjects, long inur'd
To servile Burden, grow supine and tame;—
So fares it with our Sovereign and her Train.
What tho' with Lure fallacious she pretend
From worldly Bondage to set free? What gain
Her Votaries? What avails from Iron Chains
Exempt, if Rosy Fetters bind as fast?
From worldly Bondage to set free? What gain
Her Votaries? What avails from Iron Chains
Exempt, if Rosy Fetters bind as fast?
Bestir, and answer your Creation's End.
Think we that Man with Vig'rous Pow'r endow'd,
And room to stretch, was destin'd to sit still?
Sluggards are Nature's Rebels, slight her Laws,
Nor live up to the Terms on which they hold
Their vital Lease. Laborious Terms and hard,
But such the Tenure of our Earthly State.
Riches and Fame are Industry's Reward,
The nimble Runner courses Fortune down,
And then he banquets, for she feeds the Bold.
Think we that Man with Vig'rous Pow'r endow'd,
And room to stretch, was destin'd to sit still?
Sluggards are Nature's Rebels, slight her Laws,
Nor live up to the Terms on which they hold
Their vital Lease. Laborious Terms and hard,
But such the Tenure of our Earthly State.
213
The nimble Runner courses Fortune down,
And then he banquets, for she feeds the Bold.
Think what you owe your Country, what yourself.
If Splendor charm not, yet avoid the Scorn
That treads on lowly Stations. Think of some
Assiduous Booby mounting o'er your Head,
And thence with saucy Grandeur looking down.
Think of (Reflection's Stab!) the pitying Friend,
With Shoulder shrug'd, and sorry. Think that Time
Has golden Minutes, if discreetly seiz'd:
And if some sad Example indolent
To warn and scare be wanting,—Think of me.
If Splendor charm not, yet avoid the Scorn
That treads on lowly Stations. Think of some
Assiduous Booby mounting o'er your Head,
And thence with saucy Grandeur looking down.
Think of (Reflection's Stab!) the pitying Friend,
With Shoulder shrug'd, and sorry. Think that Time
Has golden Minutes, if discreetly seiz'd:
And if some sad Example indolent
To warn and scare be wanting,—Think of me.
| A collection of original poems and translations | |