Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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AN EPILOGUE,
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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AN EPILOGUE,
Design'd to be spoke at Alnwick, on resigning the Playhouse to a Party detach'd from the Edinburgh Theatre.
To Alnwick's lofty seat, a silvan scene!
To rising hills from distance doubly green,
Go—says the God of Wit, my standard bear,
These are the mansions of the great and fair,
'Tis my Olympus now, go spread my banners there.
To rising hills from distance doubly green,
Go—says the God of Wit, my standard bear,
These are the mansions of the great and fair,
'Tis my Olympus now, go spread my banners there.
Led by fond hope, the pointed path we trace,
And thank'd our patron for the flowers place;
Here—we behold a gently waving wood!
There—we can gaze upon a wand'ring flood!
The landscape smiles!—the fields gay fragrance wear!
Soft scenes are all around—refreshful air!
Slender repast indeed, and but cameleon fare!
And thank'd our patron for the flowers place;
Here—we behold a gently waving wood!
There—we can gaze upon a wand'ring flood!
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Soft scenes are all around—refreshful air!
Slender repast indeed, and but cameleon fare!
A troop, at certain times compell'd to shift,
And from their northern mountains turn'd adrift;
By tyrant managers a while consign'd,
To fatten on what forage they can find;
With lawless force our liberty invades,
And fain would thrust us from these fav'rite shades;
But we (since prejudice erects her scale,
And puffs and petty artifice prevail)
To stronger holds with cool discretion run,
And leave the conquerors to be—undone.
And from their northern mountains turn'd adrift;
By tyrant managers a while consign'd,
To fatten on what forage they can find;
With lawless force our liberty invades,
And fain would thrust us from these fav'rite shades;
But we (since prejudice erects her scale,
And puffs and petty artifice prevail)
To stronger holds with cool discretion run,
And leave the conquerors to be—undone.
With gratitude, still we'll acknowledge the favours
So kindly indulg'd to our simple endeavours;
To the great and the fair we rest thankfully debtors,
And wish we could say, we gave place to our betters.
So kindly indulg'd to our simple endeavours;
To the great and the fair we rest thankfully debtors,
And wish we could say, we gave place to our betters.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |