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Nugae Modernae

Morning thoughts, and midnight musings: consisting of casual reflections, egotisms, &c. In prose and verse. By Thomas Park
 
 

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TO THE POET LAUREATE, AFTER READING HIS EPIC ENTITLED “MADOC.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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TO THE POET LAUREATE, AFTER READING HIS EPIC ENTITLED “MADOC.”

Southey! thy mind hath long aspir'd to prove
True poets are no triflers ; though they seem
Near fields of amaranth at times to rove,
Culling mere pansies. Rightly didst thou deem,
And now approv'st thy deeming: Madoc's lay
Shall lift thy loud fame to the clime, where erst
The bard of Eden wing'd his trackless way.
For such heroic hymning scarce hath burst
From British harp, since Milton's ear did steal
Music from Siloa; or the Cymbrian strain
Of hoary Llywarch, rous'd to vengeful zeal
The host of dread Cadwallon. More humane
Thy war-conch winds, and thence more just thy plea
To wear the palmy wreath of bardic poësy.
 

Mr. Southey, in a letter written several years before, had hinted to the Author, that it was his purpose to make it appear—poetry was no trifle.