 | A collection of original poems and translations |  |
236
To C. P. Esq.
By the same.
From Friendship's Cradle, up the verdant Paths
Of Youth, Life's jolly Spring; and now sublim'd
To it's full Manhood, and Meridian Strength,
Her latest Stage, (for Friendship ever hail
Knows not old Age, Diseases, and Decay,
But burning keeps her sacred Fire, till Death's
Cold Hand extinguish.) At this Spot, this Point,
Here, P---t, we social meet; and gaze about,
And look back to the Scenes, our Pastime trod
In Nature's Morning; when the gamesome Hours
Had sliding Feet, and laugh'd themselves away.
Luxurious Season! Vital Prime! where Thames
Flows by Etona's Walls, and chearful sees
Her Sons wide-swarming; and where sedgie Cam
Baths with slow Pace his Academic Grove,
Pierian Walks!—O never hope again,
Impossible! Untenable! to grasp
Those Joys, again; to feel alike the Pulse
Dancing, and fiery Spirits boiling high:
Or see the Pleasure that with careless Wing
Swept on, and flow'ry Garlands toss'd around
Disporting! Try to call her back:—as wise
Bid Yesterday return, arrest the Flight
Of Time; or musing by a River's Brink
Say to the wave that huddles swiftly by
For ever, “from thy Fountain roll anew.
Of Youth, Life's jolly Spring; and now sublim'd
To it's full Manhood, and Meridian Strength,
Her latest Stage, (for Friendship ever hail
Knows not old Age, Diseases, and Decay,
But burning keeps her sacred Fire, till Death's
Cold Hand extinguish.) At this Spot, this Point,
Here, P---t, we social meet; and gaze about,
And look back to the Scenes, our Pastime trod
In Nature's Morning; when the gamesome Hours
Had sliding Feet, and laugh'd themselves away.
Luxurious Season! Vital Prime! where Thames
Flows by Etona's Walls, and chearful sees
Her Sons wide-swarming; and where sedgie Cam
Baths with slow Pace his Academic Grove,
237
Impossible! Untenable! to grasp
Those Joys, again; to feel alike the Pulse
Dancing, and fiery Spirits boiling high:
Or see the Pleasure that with careless Wing
Swept on, and flow'ry Garlands toss'd around
Disporting! Try to call her back:—as wise
Bid Yesterday return, arrest the Flight
Of Time; or musing by a River's Brink
Say to the wave that huddles swiftly by
For ever, “from thy Fountain roll anew.
The Merriment, the Tale, and Heart-selt Laugh,
That eccho'd round the Table, idle Guests,
Must rise and serious Immates take their Place:
Reflection's Daughters sad, and World-born Thoughts
Dislodging Fancy's Empire.—Yet who knows
Exact the Ballance of our Loss and Gain?
Who knows how far a Rattle may outweigh
The Mace or Sceptre? But as Boys resign
The Plaything—Baubles of their Infancy,
So fares it with maturer Years: They sage
Imagination's airy Regions quit,
And under Reason's Banner take the Field;
With Resolution Face the cloud or Storm,
While all their former Rainbows die away.
That eccho'd round the Table, idle Guests,
Must rise and serious Immates take their Place:
Reflection's Daughters sad, and World-born Thoughts
Dislodging Fancy's Empire.—Yet who knows
Exact the Ballance of our Loss and Gain?
Who knows how far a Rattle may outweigh
The Mace or Sceptre? But as Boys resign
238
So fares it with maturer Years: They sage
Imagination's airy Regions quit,
And under Reason's Banner take the Field;
With Resolution Face the cloud or Storm,
While all their former Rainbows die away.
Some to the Palace with regardful Step,
And courtly Blandishment resort; and there
Advance Obsequious; in the Sun-shine Bask
Of princely Grace, catch the creating Eye,
Parent of Honours.—In the Senate, some
Harangue the full-bench'd Auditory, and wield
Their list'ning Passions, (such the Pow'r the Sway
Of Reason's Eloquence!)—Or at the Bar,
Where Cowper, Talbot, Sommers, York before
Pleaded their Way to Glory's Chair supreme,
And worthy fill'd it. Let not these great Names
Damp, but incite: Nor M---s Praise obscure
Thy younger Merit. Know these Lights, e'er yet
To Noon Day Lustre kindled, had their Dawn.
Proceed familiar to the Gate of Fame,
Nor think the Task severe, the Prize too high,
Of Toil and Honour for your Father's Son.
And courtly Blandishment resort; and there
Advance Obsequious; in the Sun-shine Bask
Of princely Grace, catch the creating Eye,
Parent of Honours.—In the Senate, some
Harangue the full-bench'd Auditory, and wield
Their list'ning Passions, (such the Pow'r the Sway
Of Reason's Eloquence!)—Or at the Bar,
Where Cowper, Talbot, Sommers, York before
Pleaded their Way to Glory's Chair supreme,
And worthy fill'd it. Let not these great Names
Damp, but incite: Nor M---s Praise obscure
Thy younger Merit. Know these Lights, e'er yet
239
Proceed familiar to the Gate of Fame,
Nor think the Task severe, the Prize too high,
Of Toil and Honour for your Father's Son.
| A collection of original poems and translations | |