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VERSES ADDRESSED TO MATTHEW WILSON, ESQ. ON THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF HIS FAMILY AT ESHTON HALL, AFTER ITS BEING RE-BUILT.
To thee whose smile—when first from Tweed I came—
With some importance marked my stranger name,
And which, as then, by nothing changed or chilled,
The name it gilded yet persists to gild—
To thee my heart, by duty moved, hath long
Desired to pour its gratitude in song.
But hear the truth. Of those who wake the lyre,
So few are faithful to the sacred fire,
So many, anxious for the Great's regard,
In mean servility renounce the bard—
Sing but as Interest prompts, and temples bind
With garlands fair that justice scarce had twined;
That I—so dreading to be classed with these—
Still checked the embryo-effort meant to please,
And silence kept, determined to be seen
As thankless—heartless—anything—but mean!
With some importance marked my stranger name,
And which, as then, by nothing changed or chilled,
The name it gilded yet persists to gild—
To thee my heart, by duty moved, hath long
Desired to pour its gratitude in song.
But hear the truth. Of those who wake the lyre,
So few are faithful to the sacred fire,
So many, anxious for the Great's regard,
In mean servility renounce the bard—
Sing but as Interest prompts, and temples bind
With garlands fair that justice scarce had twined;
That I—so dreading to be classed with these—
Still checked the embryo-effort meant to please,
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As thankless—heartless—anything—but mean!
But when, as now, in morning's smile I see
Thy fair Hall's turrets crown the verdant lea—
See, where the beams with richest lustre fall,
Young Beauty's steps by portico and wall—
See her, whose name, where'er that name is known,
Makes every blessing, every prayer her own—
See her, the lady of the splendid pile,
Peace at her heart, and pleasure in her smile—
See him—the youthful Stranger—who bestows
A careless glance on all that Eshton shows,
Nor dreams a time (yet distant may it be!)
Shall make him lord of all possessed by thee—
All this beheld, I feel a throb too strong
For caution, and my heart flows out in song!
Thy fair Hall's turrets crown the verdant lea—
See, where the beams with richest lustre fall,
Young Beauty's steps by portico and wall—
See her, whose name, where'er that name is known,
Makes every blessing, every prayer her own—
See her, the lady of the splendid pile,
Peace at her heart, and pleasure in her smile—
See him—the youthful Stranger—who bestows
A careless glance on all that Eshton shows,
Nor dreams a time (yet distant may it be!)
Shall make him lord of all possessed by thee—
All this beheld, I feel a throb too strong
For caution, and my heart flows out in song!
Yet shall no fulsome flattery's vain parade
Thy humble Poet's heart-felt song degrade—
One blameless wish alone shall be expressed,
Respect conceal, and Silence muse the rest.
Thy humble Poet's heart-felt song degrade—
One blameless wish alone shall be expressed,
Respect conceal, and Silence muse the rest.
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O! while fair Summer brings the heather-bell
To deck the rocks of Flasby's neighbouring fell—
While Eshton woods rejoice beneath her beam,
And violets blow by Eshton's fairy stream—
So long may thine the beauteous Mansion claim,
So long be Eshton linked to Wilson's name!
To deck the rocks of Flasby's neighbouring fell—
While Eshton woods rejoice beneath her beam,
And violets blow by Eshton's fairy stream—
So long may thine the beauteous Mansion claim,
So long be Eshton linked to Wilson's name!
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