Education, A Poem: In Two Cantos Written in Imitation of the Style and Manner of Spenser's Fairy Queen. By Gilbert West |
 |
Inscrib'd to Lady Langham, Widow of Sir John Langham, Bt. |
 |
 | Education, A Poem: In Two Cantos |  |
3
Inscrib'd to Lady Langham, Widow of Sir John Langham, Bt.
O Goodly Discipline! from Heav'n y-sprong!
Parent of Science! Queen of Arts refin'd!
To whom the Graces, and the Nine belong:
O! bid those Graces, in fair Chorus join'd
With each bright Virtue that adorns the Mind!
O bid the Muses, thine harmonious Train,
Who by thy Aid erst humaniz'd Mankind,
Inspire, direct, and moralize the Strain,
That doth essay to teach thy Treasures how to gain!
Parent of Science! Queen of Arts refin'd!
To whom the Graces, and the Nine belong:
O! bid those Graces, in fair Chorus join'd
With each bright Virtue that adorns the Mind!
O bid the Muses, thine harmonious Train,
Who by thy Aid erst humaniz'd Mankind,
Inspire, direct, and moralize the Strain,
That doth essay to teach thy Treasures how to gain!
4
And Thou, whose pious and maternal Care,
The Substitute of heav'nly Providence,
With tenderest Love my Orphan Life did rear,
And train me up to manly Strength and Sense;
With mildest Awe, and virtuous Influence,
Directing my unpractic'd wayward Feet
To the smooth Walks of Truth and Innocence;
Where Happiness heart-felt, Contentment sweet,
Philosophy divine aye hold their blest Retreat,
The Substitute of heav'nly Providence,
With tenderest Love my Orphan Life did rear,
And train me up to manly Strength and Sense;
With mildest Awe, and virtuous Influence,
Directing my unpractic'd wayward Feet
To the smooth Walks of Truth and Innocence;
Where Happiness heart-felt, Contentment sweet,
Philosophy divine aye hold their blest Retreat,
Thou, most belov'd, most honour'd, most rever'd!
Accept this Verse, to thy large Merit due!
And blame me not, if by each Tye endear'd,
Of Nature, Gratitude, and Friendship true,
The whiles this moral Thesis I pursue,
And trace the Plan of goodly Nurture o'er,
I bring thy modest Virtues into View;
And proudly boast that from thy precious Store,
Which erst enrich'd my Heart, I drew this sacred Lore.
Accept this Verse, to thy large Merit due!
And blame me not, if by each Tye endear'd,
Of Nature, Gratitude, and Friendship true,
The whiles this moral Thesis I pursue,
And trace the Plan of goodly Nurture o'er,
I bring thy modest Virtues into View;
And proudly boast that from thy precious Store,
Which erst enrich'd my Heart, I drew this sacred Lore.
5
And thus, I ween, thus shall I best repay
The valued Gifts, thy careful Love bestow'd;
If imitating Thee, well as I may,
I labour to diffuse th' important Good;
'Till this great Truth by all be understood;
“That all the pious Duties which we owe,
“Our Parents, Friends, our Country and our God;
“The Seeds of every Virtue here below,
“From Discipline alone, and early Culture grow.
The valued Gifts, thy careful Love bestow'd;
If imitating Thee, well as I may,
I labour to diffuse th' important Good;
'Till this great Truth by all be understood;
“That all the pious Duties which we owe,
“Our Parents, Friends, our Country and our God;
“The Seeds of every Virtue here below,
“From Discipline alone, and early Culture grow.
| Education, A Poem: In Two Cantos | |