On earth arrive, with thankful awe While thus our vows prolong Thy steps on earth, and when by us resign'd Thou join'st thy seniors, that heroic throng Who rescu'd or preserv'd the rights of human kind, O! not unworthy may thy Albion's tongue Thee still, her friend and benefactor, name: O! never, Hoadly, in thy country's eyes, May impious gold, or pleasure's gaudy prize Make public virtue, public freedom vile; Nor our own manners tempt us to disclaim That heritage, our noblest wealth and fame, Which thou hast kept entire from force and factious guile. ODE VIII. I. IF rightly tuneful bards decide, II. Behold that bright unsullied smile, 'Hoadly was born 1676, died 1761.-W. III. But neither music, nor the powers Of youth and mirth and frolic cheer, Add half that sunshine to the hours, Or make life's prospect half so clear, As memory brings it to the eye From scenes where Amoret was by. IV. Yet not a satirist could there One virtue pictur'd in his mind, Whose form with lovelier colours glows Than Amoret's demeanor shows. V. This sure is Beauty's happiest part: ODE IX. AT STUDY. I. WHITHER did my fancy stray? Have I left my studious theme? From this philosophic page, From the problems of the sage, Wandering through a pleasing dream? II. 'Tis in vain, alas! I find, Much in vain, my zealous mind Would to learned Wisdom's throne Dedicate each thoughtful hour: Nature bids a softer power Claim some minutes for his own. III. Let the busy or the wise IV. Me though no peculiar fair Though the pride of my desire V. Though the day have smoothly gone, Or in social duty spent ; ODE X. TO THOMAS EDWARDS, ESQ.; ON THE LATE EDITION OF MR POPE'S WORKS. 1751.1 I. BELIEVE me, Edwards, to restrain Of leisure in the Muse's bowers. 1 By Warburton, against whom Edwards wrote his once famous and still remembered Canons of Criticism. Boswell relates that, soon after the publication of that book, Johnson happened to dine with Tonson, and when the company praised Edwards, the Doctor admitted his merit, but checked the attempt to "pit" him against Warburton. "Nay, he has given him some hard hits, to be sure; but there is no proportion between the two men ; they must not be named together. A fly may sting a stately horse, and make him wince; but one is an insect, the other is a horse still." Undoubtedly the "Canons" are very acute, and the style is bold and slashing. The Bishop himself might have written the following passage :-" And now I hope I have taken leave of Mr. Warburton and his works; unless, to complete the massacre of our best English poets, he should take it into his head to murder Spenser as he did Shakspere, and, in part, Milton also."-W. II. In bowers where laurel weds with palm, III. Who then from her delightful bounds IV. Tell how displeas'd was every bard, V. How Virgil mourn'd the sordid fate VI. How Horace own'd he thought the fire From such a militant divine: 'During Mr. Pope's war with Theobald, Concanen, and the rest of their tribe, Mr. Warburton, the present Lord Bishop of Gloucester, did with great zeal cultivate their friendship; having been introduced, forsooth, at the meetings of that respectable confederacy; a favour which he afterwards spoke of in very high terms of complacency and thankfulness. At the same time in his intercourse with them, he treated Mr. Pope in a most contemptuous manner. and as a writer without genius. Of the truth of these assertions his lordship can have no doubt, if he recollects his own correspondence with Concanen; a part of which is still in being, and will probably be remembered as long as any of this prelate's writings. How Milton scorn'd the sophist vain, VII. Then Shakespeare debonair and mild VIII. And if to Pope, in equal need, ODE XI. TO THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND. I. 1758.1 WHITHER is Europe's ancient spirit fled? Who taught the steer the wintry plough to endure, Now in full councils check'd encroaching power, And gave the guardian Laws their majesty to know. 1 The Ode to the Country Gentlemen is unequal; but has noble and glorious passages in it. Mr. Elliott, father of Lord Minto, made an admirable speech in favour of the Scotch Militia, which I had the good fortune to hear, when I was a boy; and it was reported, that when commended on every side, as he was, for that performance" If I was above myself," he answered, "I can account for it; for I had been animated by the sublime ode of Dr. Akenside."-George Hardinge to Mr. Nichols, Literary Anecdotes, viii, 524. -W. |