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21
TO CLIO
Daughter of Memory and Jove!
While flowery braids by Fancy wove
Thy Sisters' brows adorn,
Truth's simple laurel circles thine,
Where not a flower has leave to twine;
For Fancy is thy scorn.
While flowery braids by Fancy wove
Thy Sisters' brows adorn,
Truth's simple laurel circles thine,
Where not a flower has leave to twine;
For Fancy is thy scorn.
But with that chaplet's sober green
Are mingled gems of ray serene,
Prefer'd when thou wert young
By History's Prince and Father first,
On whose charm'd ear at Samos burst
The dictates of thy tongue—-
Are mingled gems of ray serene,
Prefer'd when thou wert young
By History's Prince and Father first,
On whose charm'd ear at Samos burst
The dictates of thy tongue—-
And Him
who, doom'd his throne to'inherit,
Wept, with a young enthusiast's spirit,
When in the' Olympic ring
That venerable Carian's theme
Flow'd to his soul, like mountain-stream
Into a rising spring—-
Wept, with a young enthusiast's spirit,
When in the' Olympic ring
That venerable Carian's theme
Flow'd to his soul, like mountain-stream
Into a rising spring—-
By Him
who from the' Assyrian field,
Still baffling Power with Wisdom's shield,
Led the Ten Thousand home:
Worthy of Socrates, his mind,
Like fire in a tempestuous wind,
Blazed out in storm and gloom—-
Still baffling Power with Wisdom's shield,
Led the Ten Thousand home:
Worthy of Socrates, his mind,
Like fire in a tempestuous wind,
Blazed out in storm and gloom—-
22
And by that Chæronean just
To whom didst thou the scales intrust
Where fame's true weight is tried:
Oft, while the deeds of heroes pondering,
Unmoved he saw the Graces wandering
By old Cephisus' side.
To whom didst thou the scales intrust
Where fame's true weight is tried:
Oft, while the deeds of heroes pondering,
Unmoved he saw the Graces wandering
By old Cephisus' side.
Thy name with ancient Greece was Glory!
Thy first disciples traced her story
In characters of flame;
And for the splendour thus confer'd,
Well did she choose a golden word,
A Halo for thy name.
Thy first disciples traced her story
In characters of flame;
And for the splendour thus confer'd,
Well did she choose a golden word,
A Halo for thy name.
But not that favour'd land alone
Distinguish'd by thy presence shone
And paid Thee honour due;
Amidst thy laurel-girded hair
Glow gems of Latian tribute, rare
As Greece presents to view.
Distinguish'd by thy presence shone
And paid Thee honour due;
Amidst thy laurel-girded hair
Glow gems of Latian tribute, rare
As Greece presents to view.
There Cæsar's shines: and brighter yet,
Though by too frail a votary set
On thy averted brow,
There beams the gem that Sallust gave:
O how could Pleasure's willing slave
So pure an offering vow!
Though by too frail a votary set
On thy averted brow,
There beams the gem that Sallust gave:
O how could Pleasure's willing slave
So pure an offering vow!
Though Horace strung the' Alcaic Lyre,
Though Virgil breath'd Mæonian fire,
Yet Rome's Augustan Age
Scarce owes it's lustre more to Them
Than to thy rich historic gem,
The gift of Padua's Sage.
Though Virgil breath'd Mæonian fire,
Yet Rome's Augustan Age
Scarce owes it's lustre more to Them
Than to thy rich historic gem,
The gift of Padua's Sage.
He too by virtuous Pliny loved,
And in imperial courts approved,
Though Flattery's foe profest,
He with no vulgar hand repaid
Thy grace that to his eye display'd
The secret human breast.
And in imperial courts approved,
Though Flattery's foe profest,
He with no vulgar hand repaid
Thy grace that to his eye display'd
The secret human breast.
These, with that wreath of green combining,
And with a chasten'd radiance shining,
Compose thine antique crown:
O teach us by their blended light
To see the hearts of others right,
And thence correct our own.
And with a chasten'd radiance shining,
Compose thine antique crown:
O teach us by their blended light
To see the hearts of others right,
And thence correct our own.
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