Hadst thou nine lives, like a cat,
Soon those nine lives would be pass’d.
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Ere shall they not, who resolute explore
And scanning right the practice of yore,Shall deem our hoar progenitors unwise.They to the dome where smoke with curling playAnnounced the dinner to the regions round,Summon’d the singer blithe, and harper gay,And aided wine with dulcet-streaming sound.The better use of notes, or sweet or shrill,By quivering string or modulated wind;Trumpet or lyre – to their…
Bright Stella, form’d for universal reign,
When in your eyes resistless lightnings play,Awed into love our conquer’d hearts obey,And yield reluctant to despotic sway;But when your music soothes the raging pain,We bid propitious heaven prolong your reign,We bless the tyrant, and we hug the chain.When old Timotheus struck the vocal string,Ambition’s fury fired the Grecian king:Unbounded projects labouring in his mind,He…
Thou who survey’st these walls with curious eye,
His various worth through varied life attend,And learn his virtues while thou mourn’st his end.His force of genius burn’d in early youth,With thirst of knowledge, and with love of truth;His learning, joined with each endearing art,Charm’d every ear, and gain’d every heart.Thus early wise, the endanger’d real to aid,His country call’d him from the studious…
Oft in danger, yet alive,
Long may better years arrive,Better years than thirty-five.Could philosophers contriveLife to stop at thirty-five,Time his hours should never driveO’er the bounds of thirty-fiveHigh to soar, and deep to dive,Nature gives at thirty-five.Ladies, stop and tend your hive,Trifle not at thirty-five;For, howe’er we boast and strive,Life declines from thirty-five:He that ever hopes to thriveMust begin by…
This tributary verse receive, my fair,
May this returning day for ever findThy form more lovely, more adorn’d thy mind;All pains, all cares, may favouring heaven remove,All but the sweet solicitudes of love!May powerful nature join with grateful art,To point each glance, and force it to the heart!O then! when conquer’d crowds confess thy sway,When even proud wealth and prouder wit…
Behold, my fair, where’er we rove,
The naked hill, the leafless grove,The hoary ground, the frowning skies.Nor only through the wasted plain,Stern Winter is thy force confess’d;Still wider spreads thy horrid reign,I feel thy power usurp my breast.Enlivening hope, and fond desire,Resign the heart to spleen and care;Scarce frighted love maintains her fire,And rapture saddens to despair.In groundless hope, and causeless…