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The Poems Of Mark Akenside

Akenside, Mark (1721-1770)

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THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION. A POEM. IN THREE BOOKS.
 1. 
BOOK THE FIRST.
 2. 
BOOK THE SECOND.
 3. 
BOOK THE THIRD.
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THE PLEASURES OF THE IMAGINATION: A POEM.
 1. 
BOOK THE FIRST.
 2. 
BOOK THE SECOND.
 3. 
BOOK THE THIRD.
 4. 
BOOK THE FOURTH.
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ODES ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS. IN TWO BOOKS.
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ODES, BOOK THE FIRST.
  
ODE I. PREFACE.
  
ODE II. ON THE WINTER-SOLSTICE,
  
ODE III. TO A FRIEND, UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOVE.
  
ODE IV. AFFECTED INDIFFERENCE. TO THE SAME.
  
ODE V. AGAINST SUSPICION.
  
ODE VI. HYMN TO CHEERFULNESS.
  
ODE VII. ON THE USE OF POETRY.
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ODE VIII. ON LEAVING HOLLAND.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
  
ODE IX. TO CURIO.
  
ODE X. TO THE MUSE.
  
ODE XI. ON LOVE, TO A FRIEND.
  
ODE XII. TO SIR FRANCIS HENRY DRAKE, BARONET.
  
ODE XIII. ON LYRIC POETRY.
  
ODE XIV. TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES TOWNSHEND:
  
ODE XV. TO THE EVENING-STAR.
  
ODE XVI. TO CALEB HARDINGE, M. D.
  
ODE XVII. ON A SERMON AGAINST GLORY.
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ODE XVIII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FRANCIS EARL OF HUNTINGDON.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
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ODES, BOOK THE SECOND.
  
ODE I. THE REMONSTRANCE OF SHAKESPEARE:
  
ODE II. TO SLEEP.
  
ODE III. TO THE CUCKOW.
  
ODE IV. TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES TOWNSHEND IN THE COUNTRY.
  
ODE V. ON LOVE OF PRAISE.
  
ODE VI. TO WILLIAM HALL, ESQUIRE: WITH THE WORKS OF CHAULIEU.
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ODE VII. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND BENJAMIN LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
  
ODE VIII.
  
ODE IX. AT STUDY.
  
ODE X. TO THOMAS EDWARDS, ESQUIRE: ON THE LATE EDITION OF MR. POPE'S WORKS.
  
ODE XI. TO THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND.
  
ODE XII. ON RECOVERING FROM A FIT OF SICKNESS, IN THE COUNTRY.
  
ODE XIII. TO THE AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS OF THE HOUSE OF BRANDENBURGH:
  
ODE XIV. THE COMPLAINT.
  
ODE XV. ON DOMESTIC MANNERS.
  
HYMN TO THE NAIADS.
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INSCRIPTIONS.
  
I. FOR A GROTTO.
  
II. FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK.
  
III.
  
IV.
  
VI. FOR A COLUMN AT RUNNYMEDE.
  
VII. THE WOOD NYMPH.
  
VIII.
  
IX.

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VI.

2.

This reign, these laws, this public care,
Which Nassau gave us all to share,
Had ne'er adorn'd the English name,
Could fear have silenc'd freedom's claim.
287

But fear in vain attempts to bind
Those lofty efforts of the mind
Which social good inspires;
Where men, for this, assault a throne,
Each adds the common welfare to his own;
And each unconquer'd heart the strength of all acquires.

2.

Say, was it thus, when late we view'd
Our fields in civil blood imbru'd?
When fortune crown'd the barbarous host,
And half the astonish'd isle was lost?
Did one of all that vaunting train,
Who dare affront a peaceful reign,
Durst one in arms appear?
Durst one in counsels pledge his life?
Stake his luxurious fortunes in the strife?
Or lend his boasted name his vagrant friends to chear?

3.

Yet, Hastings, these are they
Who challenge to themselves thy country's love;
The true; the constant: who alone can weigh,
What glory should demand, or liberty approve!
But let their works declare them. Thy free powers,
The generous powers of thy prevailing mind,
Not for the tasks of their confederate hours,
Lewd brawls and lurking slander, were design'd.
288

Be thou thy own approver. Honest praise
Oft nobly sways
Ingenuous youth:
But, sought from cowards and the lying mouth,
Praise is reproach. Eternal God alone
For mortals fixeth that sublime award.
He, from the faithful records of his throne,
Bids the historian and the bard
Dispose of honor and of scorn;
Discern the patriot from the slave;
And write the good, the wise, the brave,
For lessons to the multitude unborn.
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