A paper book is sent by Boyle, Too neatly gilt for me to soil. Delany sends a silver standish, When I no more a pen can brandish. Let both around my tomb be placed: As trophies of a Muse deceased;...
Libertas et natale solum: [2] Fine words! I wonder where you stole 'em. Could nothing but thy chief reproach Serve for a motto on thy coach? But let me now the words translate: Natale solum, my estate;...
1. A cat in distress, Nothing more, nor less; Good folks, I must faithfully tell ye, As I am a sinner, It waits for some dinner To stuff out its own little belly.
Think not, thou pride of Summer's softest strain! Sweet dress of Nature, in her virgin bloom! That thou hast flutter'd to the breeze in vain, Or unlamented found thy native tomb. ...
Here is a horse to tame Here is a gun to handle God knows you can enter the game If you'll only pay for the same, And the price of the game is a candle, A single flickering candle! ...
My latest tribute here I send, With this let your collection end. Thus I consign you down to fame A character to praise or blame: And if the whole may pass for true, Contented rest, you have your due....
By holy zeal inspired, and led by fame, To thee, once favourite isle, with joy I came; What time the Goth, the Vandal, and the Hun, Had my own native Italy[1] o'errun. Ierne, to the world's remotest parts,...
Behold, those monarch oaks, that rise With lofty branches to the skies, Have large proportion'd roots that grow With equal longitude below: Two bards that now in fashion reign,...
To watch the storms, and hear the sky Give all our almanacks the lie; To shake with cold, and see the plains In autumn drown'd with wintry rains; 'Tis thus I spend my moments here,...
O Friendship! cordial of the human breast! So little felt, so fervently profess'd! Thy blossoms deck our unsuspecting years; The promise of delicious fruit appears: We hug the hopes of constancy and truth,...
The joyous day illumes the sky That bids each care and sorrow fly To shades of endless night: E'en frozen age, thawed in the fires Of social mirth, feels young desires, And tastes of fresh delight....
You've read, sir, in poetic strain, How Varus and the Mantuan swain Have on my birth-day been invited, (But I was forced in verse to write it,) Upon a plain repast to dine,...
Shall then my kindred all my glory claim, And boldly rob me of eternal fame? To every art my gen'rous aid I lend, To music, painting, poetry, a friend. 'Tis I celestial harmony inspire,...
Madam, Since Anna visited the muse's seat, (Around her tomb let weeping angels wait) Hail, thou, the brightest of thy sex, and best, Most gracious neighbour and most welcome guest:...
I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute; From the centre all round to the sea I am lord of the fowl and the brute. O Solitude! where are the charms...
O raise those eyes to me again And smile again so joyously, And fear not, love; it was not pain Nor grief that drew these tears from me; Beloved child, thou canst not tell...
Here, where the Scottish muse immortal lives, In sacred strains and tuneful numbers join'd, Accept the gift; tho' humble he who gives, Rich is the tribute of the grateful mind. ...