A Collection of Miscellanies Consisting of Poems, Essays, Discourses & Letters, Occasionally Written. By John Norris ... The Second Edition Corrected |
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To his Muse.
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 | A Collection of Miscellanies |  |
To his Muse.
I
Come Muse, let's cast up our Accounts, and seeHow much you are in Debt to me:
You've reign'd thus long the Mistress of my heart,
You've been the ruling Planet of my days,
In my spare-hours you've had your part,
Ev'n now my servile hand your sovereign Will obeys.
Too great such service to be Free,
Tell me what I'm to have for being thy Votary.
II
You have Preferments in your gift, you say,You can with gold my service pay;
I fear thy boast, your sacred Hill I'm told
In a poor, curs'd and barren Country lies;
Besides, what's state to me, or gold,
These you long since have taught me to despise.
To put me off with this, would be
Not to reward, but tax my ill Proficiency.
III
But Fame you say will make amends for all,This you your sovereign Blessing call,
The only lasting good that never dies,
A good which never can be bought too dear,
Which all the wise and vertuous prize,
The Gods too with delight their Praises hear.
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You'l crown my head with an immortal Bay.
IV
Give me a place less high, and more secure,This dangerous good I can't endure.
The peaceful Banks which profound silence keep
The little Boat securely passes by,
But where with noise the Waters creep
Turn off with Care, for treacherous rocks are nigh.
Then Muse farewell, I see your store
Can't pay for what is past, and I can trust no more.
| A Collection of Miscellanies | |