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The Works of Richard Savage

... With an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author, by Samuel Johnson. A New Edition
Savage, Richard

collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I.
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SIR THOMAS OVERBURY.
  
[dedication]
  
PROLOGUE
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SIR THOMAS OVERBURY.
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ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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ACT II.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 IV. 
ACT IV.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
  
EPILOGUE.
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VOL. II.
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THE WANDERER:
  
[dedication]
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THE WANDERER.
 I. 
CANTO I.
 II. 
CANTO II.
 III. 
CANTO III
 IV. 
CANTO IV.
 V. 
CANTO V.
  
THE BASTARD:
  
VERSES OCCASIONED BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LADY VISCOUNTESS TYRCONNEL'S RECOVERY AT BATH.
  
AN EPISTLE TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ROBERT WALPOLE.
  
THE PROGRESS OF A DIVINE:
  
OF PUBLIC SPIRIT IN REGARD TO PUBLIC WORKS:
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POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
  
TO MR. JOHN DYER, A PAINTER,
  
VERSES SENT TO AARON HILL, ESQ.
  
PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT THE REVIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE'S KING HENRY VI.
  
THE ANIMALCULE.
  
TO MRS. ELIZA HAYWOOD,
  
AN APOLOGY TO BRILLANTE,
  
An EPISTLE TO MRS. OLDFIELD, OF THE THEATRE-ROYAL.
  
VERSES, OCCASIONED BY READING MR. AARON HILL'S POEM CALLED GIDEON.
  
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE BESSY, COUNTESS OF ROCHFORD,
  
TO THE EXCELLENT MIRANDA, CONSORT OF AARON HILL, ESQ.
  
VERSES TO A YOUNG LADY.
  
THE GENTLEMAN.
  
CHARACTER OF THE REV. JAMES FOSTER.
  
THE POET'S DEPENDANCE ON A STATESMAN.
  
AN EPISTLE TO DAMON AND DELIA.
  
TO MISS M--- H---,
  
ON THE RECOVERY OF A LADY OF QUALITY FROM THE SMALL-POX.
  
THE FRIEND.
  
AN EPISTLE TO MR. JOHN DYER, AUTHOR OF GRONGAR-HILL,
  
VERSES. OCCASIONED BY THE VICE-PRINCIPAL OF ST. MARY-HALL, OXFORD,
  
FULVIA.
  
EPITAPH ON A YOUNG LADY.
  
THE GENIUS OF LIBERTY.
  
E GRÆCO RUF.
  
THE EMPLOYMENT OF BEAUTY.
  
VERSES SENT TO MRS. BRIDGET JONES,
  
ON FALSE HISTORIANS:
  
A CHARACTER.
  
EPITAPH ON MRS. JONES,
  
VALENTINE'S DAY.
  
TO JOHN POWELL, ESQ. BARRISTER AT LAW.
  
THE VOLUNTEER LAUREAT.
  
THE VOLUNTEER LAUREAT.
  
THE VOLUNTEER LAUREAT.
  
THE VOLUNTEER LAUREAT.
  
THE VOLUNTEER LAUREAT.
  
THE VOLUNTEER LAUREAT.
  
LONDON AND BRISTOL DELINEATED.

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158

AN APOLOGY TO BRILLANTE,

FOR HAVING LONG OMITTED WRITING IN VERSE.

IN IMITATION OF A CERTAIN MIMIC OF ANACREON.

Can I matchless charms recite?
Source of ever-springing light!
Cou'd I count the vernal flow'rs,
Count in endless time the hours;
Count the countless stars above,
Count the captive hearts of Love;
Paint the torture of his fire,
Paint the pangs those eyes inspire!
(Pleasing torture, thus to shine,
Purify'd by fires like thine!)
Then I'd strike the sounding string!
Then I'd thy perfection sing.
Mystic world!—Thou something more!
Wonder of the Almighty's store!
Nature's depths we oft descry,
Oft they're pierc'd by learning's eye;
Thou, if thought on thee would gain,
Prov'st (like heav'n) enquiry vain.
Charms unequall'd we pursue!
Charms in shining throngs we view!
Number'd then cou'd nature's be,
Nature's self were poor to thee.
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