 | The poems of Dr. Yalden |  |
THE INSECT.
AGAINST BULK.
Inest sua gratia parvis.
Where greatness is to Nature's works deny'd,
In worth and beauty it is well supply'd:
In a small space the more perfection's shown,
And what is exquisite in little's done.
Thus beams, contracted in a narrow glass,
To flames convert their larger useless rays.
In worth and beauty it is well supply'd:
In a small space the more perfection's shown,
And what is exquisite in little's done.
Thus beams, contracted in a narrow glass,
To flames convert their larger useless rays.
'Tis Nature's smallest products please the eye,
Whilst greater births pass unregarded by;
Her monsters seem a violence to sight;
They're form'd for terrour, insects to delight.
Thus, when she nicely frames a piece of art,
Fine are her strokes, and small in every part;
No labour can she boast more wonderful
Than to inform an atom with a soul;
To animate her little beauteous fly,
And cloath it in her gaudiest drapery.
Whilst greater births pass unregarded by;
Her monsters seem a violence to sight;
They're form'd for terrour, insects to delight.
Thus, when she nicely frames a piece of art,
Fine are her strokes, and small in every part;
No labour can she boast more wonderful
Than to inform an atom with a soul;
To animate her little beauteous fly,
And cloath it in her gaudiest drapery.
Thus does the little epigram delight,
And charm us with its miniature of wit;
Whilst tedious authors give the reader pain,
Weary his thoughts, and make him toil in vain;
When in less volumes we more pleasure find,
And what diverts, still best informs the mind.
And charm us with its miniature of wit;
Whilst tedious authors give the reader pain,
Weary his thoughts, and make him toil in vain;
When in less volumes we more pleasure find,
And what diverts, still best informs the mind.
'Tis the small insect looks correct and fair,
And seems the product of her nicest care.
When, weary'd out with the stupendous weight
Of forming prodigies and brutes of state,
Then she the insect frames, her master-piece,
Made for diversion, and design'd to please.
Thus Archimedes, in his crystal sphere,
Seem'd to correct the world's Artificer:
Whilst the large globe moves round with long delay,
His beauteous orbs in nimbler circles play:
This seem'd the nobler labour of the two,
Great was the sphere above, but fine below.
And seems the product of her nicest care.
When, weary'd out with the stupendous weight
Of forming prodigies and brutes of state,
Then she the insect frames, her master-piece,
Made for diversion, and design'd to please.
Thus Archimedes, in his crystal sphere,
Seem'd to correct the world's Artificer:
Whilst the large globe moves round with long delay,
His beauteous orbs in nimbler circles play:
This seem'd the nobler labour of the two,
Great was the sphere above, but fine below.
Thus smallest things have a peculiar grace,
The great w' admire, but 'tis the little please;
Then, since the least so beautifully show,
B' advis'd in time, my Muse, and learn to know
A Poet's lines should be correct and few.
The great w' admire, but 'tis the little please;
Then, since the least so beautifully show,
B' advis'd in time, my Muse, and learn to know
A Poet's lines should be correct and few.
| The poems of Dr. Yalden | |