LINES ADDRESSED TO DR. DARWIN, AUTHOR OF "THE BOTANIC GARDEN." Two Poets,' (poets, by report, Not oft so well agree) Sweet Harmonist of Flora's court, They best can judge a poet's worth, Who oft themselves have known The pangs of a poetic birth By labours of their own. We therefore pleas'd extol thy song, Though various yet complete, Rich in embellishment as strong, And learned as 'tis sweet. Alluding to the poem by Mr. Hayley, which accompanied this. 10 No envy mingles with our praise, Though, could our hearts repine At any poet's happier lays, They would-they must at thine. But we, in mutual bondage knit With an unjaundic'd eye; And deem the bard, whoe'er he be, And howsoever known, Who would not twine a wreath for Thee, Unworthy of his own. 20 ON MRS. MONTAGU'S FEATHER-HANGINGS. THE Birds put off their ev'ry hue, To dress a room for Montagu. The Peacock sends his heav'nly dyes, His rainbows and his starry eyes; The Pheasant plumes, which round infold The Cock his arch'd tail's azure show; This plumage neither dashing show'r, Nor blasts, that shake the dripping bow'r, 10 Shall drench again or discompose, But, screen'd from ev'ry storm that blows, It boasts a splendour ever new, Safe with protecting Montagu. To the same patroness resort, Secure of favour at her court, Strong Genius, from whose forge of thought Which, though new-born, with vigour move, Wild roses over furrow'd ground, And teach Philosophy a smile- Whose fires, to sacred Truth applied, 20 30 Well-tutor❜d Learning, from his books Dismiss'd with grave, not haughty, looks, Not more harmonious or compact Than that, to which he keeps confin'd Ambitious of a shelter there. There Genius, Learning, Fancy, Wit, Around their flight who highest soar) And in her eye, and by her aid, She thus maintains divided sway With yon bright regent of the day; The Plume and Poet both we know 40 50 And she the works of Phoebus aiding, Poth Poet saves and Plume from fading. 56 |