The Poetical Works Of James Grainger ... With Memoirs Of His Life And Writings, By Robert Anderson ... And An Index Of The Linnean Names Of Plants, &c. By William Wright |
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| MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. |
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 | The Poetical Works Of James Grainger |  |
71
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
73
AN EPISTLE TO LORD L--- IN LONDON,
WRITTEN AT FORT-WILLIAM IN LOCHABER, Feb. 1752.
------ Jacet extra sidera tellus
Extra anni, solisque vias.
Virg.
Extra anni, solisque vias.
Virg.
Was e'er, my Lord, so strange a thing?
What! at the Bear to bid me sing!
D'ye think Euterpe such a fool,
To leave her Pind' for furthest Thule?
Or that Dan Phœbus such an ass is,
To climb Ben Nevis for Parnassus?
Here, here, alas! no streamlets play,
To sooth enraptur'd Fancy's lay!
Here the mild airs no alcoves twine,
Retirement for the sacred Nine!
Here no soft Philomela pours
Her plaints, to charm the midnight hours!
But Alps on Alps, pil'd rudely high,
Heave their shagg'd summits to the sky;
Round their shagg'd summits lightnings flash,
Adown their sides wild torrents dash;
Fogs, from torpid lakes that rise,
Veil their basis from your eyes;
While cliffs, from whose o'er-beetling brinks,
Dizzy Consternation shrinks,
Oft thunder down, when tempests plough,
And crash whole villages below!
The mountains groan, the caverns roar,
By ten thousand Echoes tore!
The crash the distant savage hears,
Snatches his babes, and, wing'd with fears,
Flies to some glen's Cimmerian gloom,
And, shuddering, dreads the final doom!
What! at the Bear to bid me sing!
D'ye think Euterpe such a fool,
To leave her Pind' for furthest Thule?
Or that Dan Phœbus such an ass is,
To climb Ben Nevis for Parnassus?
Here, here, alas! no streamlets play,
To sooth enraptur'd Fancy's lay!
74
Retirement for the sacred Nine!
Here no soft Philomela pours
Her plaints, to charm the midnight hours!
But Alps on Alps, pil'd rudely high,
Heave their shagg'd summits to the sky;
Round their shagg'd summits lightnings flash,
Adown their sides wild torrents dash;
Fogs, from torpid lakes that rise,
Veil their basis from your eyes;
While cliffs, from whose o'er-beetling brinks,
Dizzy Consternation shrinks,
Oft thunder down, when tempests plough,
And crash whole villages below!
The mountains groan, the caverns roar,
By ten thousand Echoes tore!
The crash the distant savage hears,
Snatches his babes, and, wing'd with fears,
Flies to some glen's Cimmerian gloom,
And, shuddering, dreads the final doom!
75
Yet here, when Friendship bids me sing,
And sweep the shell, of various string,
I snatch the long-neglected lyre,
And thus to Erato the lays aspire:
And sweep the shell, of various string,
I snatch the long-neglected lyre,
And thus to Erato the lays aspire:
“Daughter of Jove! assistance deign;
“Your Memmius commands the strain:
“Send your genius, Fiction, here!
“Fire my brain, and loose the year!
“If the mimic Goddess come,
“Winter is no longer dumb:
“Each vast Abrupt his voice shall raise,
“Each barbarous Echo babble lays!
“Storm a placid mien shall wear!
“And huddling Torrents stop to hear!
“Fiction send, my song shall be,
“Worthy Friendship, worthy thee.”
She nodded. Fancy left the Sun,
And thus the mimic Queen begun:
“Your Memmius commands the strain:
“Send your genius, Fiction, here!
“Fire my brain, and loose the year!
“If the mimic Goddess come,
“Winter is no longer dumb:
“Each vast Abrupt his voice shall raise,
“Each barbarous Echo babble lays!
“Storm a placid mien shall wear!
“And huddling Torrents stop to hear!
“Fiction send, my song shall be,
“Worthy Friendship, worthy thee.”
She nodded. Fancy left the Sun,
And thus the mimic Queen begun:
“If I stand confess'd to view,
“'Tis for Memmius, not for you;
“Him the sacred Sisters love,
“Thou a stranger art above.
“But no more, expect my aid,
“Jove will'd, and Jove must be obey'd:
“The cause I tell, prepare to hear,
“'Twas never told in mortal ear.
“'Tis for Memmius, not for you;
“Him the sacred Sisters love,
“Thou a stranger art above.
76
“Jove will'd, and Jove must be obey'd:
“The cause I tell, prepare to hear,
“'Twas never told in mortal ear.
“When Time was young, and lusty Jove
“Had Saturn from his empire drove,
“Him to dethrone Rebellion rose,
“Gods and Titans were his foes;
“These soon his mightier arm o'ercame,
“And doom'd to Ætna's ceaseless flame;
“And, oh! too giddy with his might,
“The Nectar stopp'd till late at night;
“When mad with the enticing drink,
“(Not Jove! when drunk, has power to think)
“In whim, though otherwise 'twas fated,
“The Rocks around you he created!
“Next day, before he op'd his eyes,
“The Sun was driving down the Skies,
“But when he saw his midnight blunder,
“He shook his curls, and grasp'd his thunder,
“And as an object which we hate,
“If present, pain will aye create;
“He bade a dusky fog to spring,
“And cloak the cliffs with curling wing:
“The dusky Fog obedient sprung,
“And o'er them ever since has hung!
“Around the Gods affrighted wait;
“He spoke, and what he spoke was fate:”
“Had Saturn from his empire drove,
“Him to dethrone Rebellion rose,
“Gods and Titans were his foes;
“These soon his mightier arm o'ercame,
“And doom'd to Ætna's ceaseless flame;
“And, oh! too giddy with his might,
“The Nectar stopp'd till late at night;
“When mad with the enticing drink,
“(Not Jove! when drunk, has power to think)
“In whim, though otherwise 'twas fated,
“The Rocks around you he created!
“Next day, before he op'd his eyes,
“The Sun was driving down the Skies,
“But when he saw his midnight blunder,
“He shook his curls, and grasp'd his thunder,
“And as an object which we hate,
“If present, pain will aye create;
77
“And cloak the cliffs with curling wing:
“The dusky Fog obedient sprung,
“And o'er them ever since has hung!
“Around the Gods affrighted wait;
“He spoke, and what he spoke was fate:”
“I see, my brethren of the skies,
“That oft success misleads the wise!
“To rage no sooner Faction ceas'd,
“And I proclaim'd the royal feast,
“Than I —but since 'tis past, 'twere better
“Not recapitulate the matter:
“And though, ye Gods! each act of mine
“Th'eternal Fates must countersign;
“I swear by Styx! oath firm and holy,
“Ne'er to forgive myself this folly:
“My eyes, whene'er I look below,
“With tears of penitence shall flow.
“Now to my mandates, Gods! giver ear,
“And practise duly what you hear!
“I'm King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!
“And Destiny awaits my words!
“Let none of you presumptuous dare
“To watch yon rocks with guardian care;
“Fly, fly, the rage-devoted coast;
“But, Ceres, you and Phœbus most!
“There Winter, with his first-born cold,
“In savage pomp his throne shall hold;
“Snow and Hail be pil'd around,
“Frost eternal jag the ground;
“At distance Hurricanes shall wait,
“And awful guard his gloomy state;
“While roseate Spring's prolific smile,
“Purples the rest of Britain's isle.
“And while bland Peace, with olive-wand,
“Peoples, ploughs, and reaps that land;
“There Broil his bloody flag shall wield,
“And heap with kindred-slain the field.
“There Sloth shall quell their lust for gain,
“And give them up to Beggary's train.
“While fruitful Albion's sea-taught race,
“With fleets the wat'ry world embrace;
“With every wind commercial roam,
“And thrifty waft both Indies home:
“And while just laws, which Britain's sons ordain,
“Confine the Monarch, and protect the Swain;
“To selfish petty tyrants they shall bend,
“And feel the fiend Oppression's leaden hand!”
“That oft success misleads the wise!
“To rage no sooner Faction ceas'd,
“And I proclaim'd the royal feast,
“Than I —but since 'tis past, 'twere better
“Not recapitulate the matter:
“And though, ye Gods! each act of mine
“Th'eternal Fates must countersign;
“I swear by Styx! oath firm and holy,
“Ne'er to forgive myself this folly:
“My eyes, whene'er I look below,
“With tears of penitence shall flow.
“Now to my mandates, Gods! giver ear,
“And practise duly what you hear!
78
“And Destiny awaits my words!
“Let none of you presumptuous dare
“To watch yon rocks with guardian care;
“Fly, fly, the rage-devoted coast;
“But, Ceres, you and Phœbus most!
“There Winter, with his first-born cold,
“In savage pomp his throne shall hold;
“Snow and Hail be pil'd around,
“Frost eternal jag the ground;
“At distance Hurricanes shall wait,
“And awful guard his gloomy state;
“While roseate Spring's prolific smile,
“Purples the rest of Britain's isle.
“And while bland Peace, with olive-wand,
“Peoples, ploughs, and reaps that land;
“There Broil his bloody flag shall wield,
“And heap with kindred-slain the field.
“There Sloth shall quell their lust for gain,
“And give them up to Beggary's train.
“While fruitful Albion's sea-taught race,
“With fleets the wat'ry world embrace;
“With every wind commercial roam,
“And thrifty waft both Indies home:
79
“Confine the Monarch, and protect the Swain;
“To selfish petty tyrants they shall bend,
“And feel the fiend Oppression's leaden hand!”
“He spoke; and gave th'almighty nod,
“The stamp of Fate, and of the God!
“The Muses harp'd, Apollo sung,
“From earth, O Gods! the Titans sprung!
“They, with rebel purpose, strove
“To wrest his scepter'd might from Jove.
“These his thundering arm o'erthrew!
“Let their Mother suffer too!
“If her sons are pierc'd with thunder,
“These rocks will keep her as much under!
“And make her hourly curse the morn,
“When the rebel crew was born.
“The stamp of Fate, and of the God!
“The Muses harp'd, Apollo sung,
“From earth, O Gods! the Titans sprung!
“They, with rebel purpose, strove
“To wrest his scepter'd might from Jove.
“These his thundering arm o'erthrew!
“Let their Mother suffer too!
“If her sons are pierc'd with thunder,
“These rocks will keep her as much under!
“And make her hourly curse the morn,
“When the rebel crew was born.
“The Gods approv'd the mother's doom;
“And Jove, in better humour, left the room.”
“And Jove, in better humour, left the room.”
She said; and from my sight withdrew.
And what she said, my Lord, I send to you.
And what she said, my Lord, I send to you.
Contremuit nemus, et sylvæ intonuere profundæ
Audiit et Triviæ longe lacus, audiit aninis
Et trepidæ matres preffere ad ubera natos.
Audiit et Triviæ longe lacus, audiit aninis
Et trepidæ matres preffere ad ubera natos.
Virg.
80
A DIALOGUE.
COLIN.Parent of blooms, Love's herald, Spring!
Fair primal season of the year!
Where Delia treads, your flow'rets fling;
Or turns, your gayest livery wear:
But would you charm with more than vernal grace,
Smile like my Fair one, and assume her face!
DELIA.
Ye birds of sweetest, wildest throats!
That now renew your spousal lays,
Thrill, thrill, your most melodious notes,
And soothe my Colin where he strays:
By while ye chant his woodbine-bow'rs among,
His flute will more than recompense your song.
81
Favonius, fragrant child of May!
Mild friend of Coolness, grant my prayer;
The Dog-star's burning beam allay,
O guard from each rude blast my Fair!
You need not grudge the East his scented sky!
Far sweeter scents from Delia's bosom fly!
DELIA.
O Stream! that now with silent flow,
The green marge kissing, dimply steal;
Now bursting o'er rude rocks, each mound o'erthrow,
And loud as June-thunder, pale terror deal,
You silent flow, and roughen'd roll in vain,
My Colin boasts of a more various strain.
COLIN.
Let Pan his usual aid deny;
Sylvanus break my oaten reed;
My midnight steps the Muses fly;
Nymphs tear the garland from my head;
Their frowns or favour little I regard;
Your praise, my Fair one! stamps the genuine Bard.
82
SONNET, ON LEAVING NEÆRA.
TO A FRIEND.
Oft have I parted from the beauteous Maid,
Whose eyes, in willing thraldom, hold my heart;
Oft have I parted, yet did never part,
But I with her much rather would have staid.
I felt a real, not unpleasant smart,
Which yet time, friends, or books, or Nine, allay'd:
But since from **** last I went,
Since last I saw her lovely face in tears,
A more severe aspect my fortune wears.
His total quiver Love on me has spent,
Lessen'd my hopes, redoubled all my fears;
Time, books, friends, Nine, increase my dreariment.
You ask from whence this change, I'll tell you whence,
Time spares her beauties, and improves her sense.
83
EPIGRAM.
You wonder that I still deny,Though oft you beg, my works to see:
The reason's not that I am shy,
I fear you'd send your own to me.
84
BRYAN AND PEREENE.
A WEST INDIAN BALLAD.
I
The north-east wind did briskly blow,The ship was safely moor'd,
Young Bryan thought the boat's crew slow,
And so leap'd over board.
II
Pereene, the pride of Indian dames,His heart did long enthral;
And whoso his impatience blames,
I wot ne'er lov'd at all.
III
A long, long year, one month and day,He dwelt on English land,
Nor once in thought would ever stray,
Though ladies sought his hand.
85
IV
For Bryan he was tall and strong,Right blithesome roll'd his een,
Sweet was his voice whene'er he sung,
He scant had twenty seen.
V
But who the countless charms can draw,That grac'd his mistress true?
Such charms the old world never saw,
Nor oft I ween the new.
VI
Her raven hair plays round her neck,Like tondrels of the vine;
Her cheeks red dewy rose-buds deck,
Her eyes like diamonds shine.
VII
Soon as his well-known ship she spied,She cast her weeds away,
And to the palmy shore she hied,
All in her best array.
86
VIII
In sea-green silk so neatly clad,She there impatient stood;
The crew with wonder saw the lad,
Repel the foaming flood.
IX
Her hands a handkerchief display'd,Which he at parting gave;
Well pleas'd, the token he survey'd,
And manlier beat the wave.
X
Her fair companions one and all,Rejoicing crowd the strand;
For now her lover swam in call,
And almost touch'd the land.
XI
Then through the white surf did she haste,To clasp her lovely swain;
When, ah! a shark bit through his waist:
His heart's blood dy'd the main!
87
XII
He shriek'd! his half sprung from the wave,Streaming with purple gore,
And soon it found a living grave,
And, ah! was seen no more.
XIII
Now haste, now haste, ye maids, I pray,Fetch water from the spring:
She falls, she falls, she dies away,
And soon her knell they ring.
XIV
Now each May morning round her tomb,Ye Fair, fresh flow'rets strew,
So may your lovers 'scape his doom,
Her hapless fate 'scape you.
| The Poetical Works Of James Grainger | |