 | Poems on several occasions |  |
EPILOGUE TO THE SAME.
TAKEN PARTLY FROM A LATIN ONE BY THE SAME AUTHOR. SPOKEN BY DEMEA.
January 15th, 1728–9.
My former humours I with ease lay down,
No more a churl, a snarler, and a clown.
Much is already done: for—let me see—
Hegio is wealthy made, and Syrus free;
My brother, aged sixty-five, is sped,
And my young daughter finely brought to bed.
Is there aught else? Yes; I must higher rise,
Proceeding you, my audience, to advise.
No more a churl, a snarler, and a clown.
Much is already done: for—let me see—
Hegio is wealthy made, and Syrus free;
My brother, aged sixty-five, is sped,
And my young daughter finely brought to bed.
Is there aught else? Yes; I must higher rise,
Proceeding you, my audience, to advise.
580
Why, what a ruin'd, paltry place is here!
Is this, sirs, like a Roman theatre?
Ask not superfluous questions,—what to do,
Since the old structure totters; build a new;
Erect a nobler: nor regard expense:
Consult our use and your magnificence.
'T will cost you little to remove that wall:
You need not pull it down; but let it fall.
Nor vast will be the charge to carry on
What all degrees so gloriously begun.
Away with doubts, excuses, and delay!
Nor stop, where peers and kings have led the way;
Where priests and prelates have example shown,
The reverend guardians of Eliza's gown.
Thus soon the bounteous, patronizing great
The dome may perfect, and the work complete;
And to our common glory be it said,
That you perform it, and that I persuade!
Is this, sirs, like a Roman theatre?
Ask not superfluous questions,—what to do,
Since the old structure totters; build a new;
Erect a nobler: nor regard expense:
Consult our use and your magnificence.
'T will cost you little to remove that wall:
You need not pull it down; but let it fall.
Nor vast will be the charge to carry on
What all degrees so gloriously begun.
Away with doubts, excuses, and delay!
Nor stop, where peers and kings have led the way;
Where priests and prelates have example shown,
The reverend guardians of Eliza's gown.
Thus soon the bounteous, patronizing great
The dome may perfect, and the work complete;
And to our common glory be it said,
That you perform it, and that I persuade!
| Poems on several occasions | |