 | Poems on several occasions |  |
428
TO JAMES OGLETHORPE, ESQ.
Dear Friend, though now far from St. Stephen's walls
You range, nor Acton for your presence calls;
Your mind, I doubt not, on some good is bent,
Your heart still ardent, and your head intent.
Your life, I know, admits no idle time,
No vacant spaces, to be filled with rhyme.
But neither is my life of business void:
Each day, each hour, each moment is employ'd.
So only tell me if my verse you slight;
For if you will not read, I will not write.
You range, nor Acton for your presence calls;
Your mind, I doubt not, on some good is bent,
Your heart still ardent, and your head intent.
Your life, I know, admits no idle time,
No vacant spaces, to be filled with rhyme.
But neither is my life of business void:
Each day, each hour, each moment is employ'd.
So only tell me if my verse you slight;
For if you will not read, I will not write.
'Tis probable, as curious people use
When out of London, you'll inquire for news.
Strange news of one squire O--- I hear,
Which he himself, though not his friends, can bear;
Told by a man of wealth and man of fire,
Who would be Justice, and who is Esquire;
Eye- and ear-witness, evidence not weak;
Who knows his person, and has heard him speak.
This gallant flatly durst affirm and swear,
('Twas well the Norfolk colonel was not there,)
“That the aforesaid Member fierce and thin
The whole last sessions has distracted been
As any out of Bedlam, nay, or in.”
A second tale came from a lawyer shrewd,
And bore, I own, some show of likelihood:—
“That garters he despised, both red and blue;”
(I wish the green were of the number too;)
“And that his rage, if once it overflows,
Careless and fearless whosoe'er oppose,
Would pull the pink of knighthood by the nose.”
When out of London, you'll inquire for news.
Strange news of one squire O--- I hear,
Which he himself, though not his friends, can bear;
Told by a man of wealth and man of fire,
Who would be Justice, and who is Esquire;
Eye- and ear-witness, evidence not weak;
Who knows his person, and has heard him speak.
This gallant flatly durst affirm and swear,
('Twas well the Norfolk colonel was not there,)
“That the aforesaid Member fierce and thin
The whole last sessions has distracted been
As any out of Bedlam, nay, or in.”
A second tale came from a lawyer shrewd,
And bore, I own, some show of likelihood:—
429
(I wish the green were of the number too;)
“And that his rage, if once it overflows,
Careless and fearless whosoe'er oppose,
Would pull the pink of knighthood by the nose.”
But now, my verse, at higher subjects aim;
From private whisper rise to public fame:
Fame which the consort's honour has enroll'd;
Myself am witness it was gravely told:
Fame which your just resentment may engage,
And make you, though not mad, yet in a rage.
Though freeing prisoners from their tyrants' hand
Meets with unenvied praises through the land,
Yet artful faction colours false applies,
And dashes truth with ever-mingled lies.
“The Commons' House their hate of villains show,—
As far as partial judges let it go.
The gaols are oped, spite of opposing powers:
No thanks to Hughes or Oglethorpe or Towers!
The deed shall bright through future ages shine,
The' immortal deed of good queen Caroline!”
Thrice happy queen! how certain of renown.
'Tis glorious to be married to a crown!
To which, we own, this privilege does belong,—
That those who wear it never can do wrong.
But, sure, 't would ruin all our virtue quite,
If those who wear it not, could do no right.
From private whisper rise to public fame:
Fame which the consort's honour has enroll'd;
Myself am witness it was gravely told:
Fame which your just resentment may engage,
And make you, though not mad, yet in a rage.
Though freeing prisoners from their tyrants' hand
Meets with unenvied praises through the land,
Yet artful faction colours false applies,
And dashes truth with ever-mingled lies.
“The Commons' House their hate of villains show,—
As far as partial judges let it go.
The gaols are oped, spite of opposing powers:
No thanks to Hughes or Oglethorpe or Towers!
The deed shall bright through future ages shine,
The' immortal deed of good queen Caroline!”
Thrice happy queen! how certain of renown.
'Tis glorious to be married to a crown!
To which, we own, this privilege does belong,—
That those who wear it never can do wrong.
But, sure, 't would ruin all our virtue quite,
If those who wear it not, could do no right.
From patriots loved, and princes praised by all,
(A strange transition!) to myself I fall:
As wild a stretch of fancy see display'd
As ere the dithyrambic poet made.
Me now intent on verse you scarce shall see,
Labouring and murmuring like a humming-bee.
My business, too, almost aside is thrown,
And for my father's work I leave my own.
I read his papers with observing eyes,
Commanded to erase and to revise.
Not bound by time or place, I range the globe,
Discourse with patriarchs, and converse with Job.
Far-distant Eastern realms employ my thought,
Where Nimrod hunted, and where Nimrod fought;
Where brave Semiramis display'd her pride,
Where Joktan planted, and where Esau died;
Where evil gods were served with rites profane,
And Arabs raised the great leviathan;
Where conquering swords and politicians' care
Establish'd kingdoms which are now but air;
Where ancient empires, once extoll'd by fame,
Have lost the poor existence of a name.
In fancy unconfined abroad I roam,
Still mindful of my father here at home.
(A strange transition!) to myself I fall:
430
As ere the dithyrambic poet made.
Me now intent on verse you scarce shall see,
Labouring and murmuring like a humming-bee.
My business, too, almost aside is thrown,
And for my father's work I leave my own.
I read his papers with observing eyes,
Commanded to erase and to revise.
Not bound by time or place, I range the globe,
Discourse with patriarchs, and converse with Job.
Far-distant Eastern realms employ my thought,
Where Nimrod hunted, and where Nimrod fought;
Where brave Semiramis display'd her pride,
Where Joktan planted, and where Esau died;
Where evil gods were served with rites profane,
And Arabs raised the great leviathan;
Where conquering swords and politicians' care
Establish'd kingdoms which are now but air;
Where ancient empires, once extoll'd by fame,
Have lost the poor existence of a name.
In fancy unconfined abroad I roam,
Still mindful of my father here at home.
A rhyming letter to a richer friend
Will, howsoe'er begun, with begging end.
Subscriptions for a father much distress'd
Entreat your utmost vote and interest.
Let wonted humane sentiments prevail:
'Tis yours to save the needy from a gaol.
If e'er your generous breast with pity glow'd,
And schemes for private and for public good;
If e'er a parent you desired to see,
And felt the throes of filial piety;
If faithful plainness e'er I used to you,
True to your fame, and to your virtue true;
If aught that friendship and regard might draw
In me you ever saw, or thought you saw;
In this one instance be it fully shown;
Preserve the father, and o'erpay the son!
Will, howsoe'er begun, with begging end.
Subscriptions for a father much distress'd
Entreat your utmost vote and interest.
Let wonted humane sentiments prevail:
'Tis yours to save the needy from a gaol.
If e'er your generous breast with pity glow'd,
And schemes for private and for public good;
431
And felt the throes of filial piety;
If faithful plainness e'er I used to you,
True to your fame, and to your virtue true;
If aught that friendship and regard might draw
In me you ever saw, or thought you saw;
In this one instance be it fully shown;
Preserve the father, and o'erpay the son!
| Poems on several occasions | |