The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson ... for the first time fully collected and compared with the original and early editions ... edited ... by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart ... with portrait, illustrations, &c |
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LINES ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR OF ‘THE SAILOR AND LOUSE.’ |
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 | The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson |  |
LINES ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR OF ‘THE SAILOR AND LOUSE.’
Hail! thou whose great aspiring soul
Can range, no doubt, from pole to pole,
Creation's ample house;
Yet deigns to memorate the name,
And roll in the records of fame,
Thy bosom foe, a—Louse.
Can range, no doubt, from pole to pole,
Creation's ample house;
Yet deigns to memorate the name,
And roll in the records of fame,
Thy bosom foe, a—Louse.
Transporting bard! how didst thou light
On such a tale to fire thy sight,
Such beauties to express?
How cou'dst thou to our raptured view,
Discover such a scene? so new!
Forgive me if I guess.
On such a tale to fire thy sight,
Such beauties to express?
How cou'dst thou to our raptured view,
Discover such a scene? so new!
Forgive me if I guess.
Perhaps in some dark, dirty den,
Long had'st thou pin'd and chew'd thy pen,
When (wond'rous inspiration!)
The grey inhabitants of hair,
That itch'd thee ceaseless here and there,
Claim'd all thy contemplation.
Long had'st thou pin'd and chew'd thy pen,
When (wond'rous inspiration!)
The grey inhabitants of hair,
That itch'd thee ceaseless here and there,
Claim'd all thy contemplation.
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Impatient to be found in verse,
Around thy hulk, thick-throng'd and fierce,
The restless creatures hurry'd;
Till thou for want of nobler theme,
Was forced t'immortalize their name,
On pain of being worry'd.
Around thy hulk, thick-throng'd and fierce,
The restless creatures hurry'd;
Till thou for want of nobler theme,
Was forced t'immortalize their name,
On pain of being worry'd.
| The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson | |