40
The posture chang'd, the forehead prest in vain;
All spoke the mis'ry of the ancient strain.
The thought was natural, but then 'twas low—
Give him a pen, his slave had written so[1].
This was sublime, but then 'twas out of place,
Lines from their station oft are grand or base[2].
The thought selected, after hours of pain,
In choice of words far greater pangs remain.
This suits the meaning, but confounds the rhyme[3],
That matches both, but does not fall in time.
All spoke the mis'ry of the ancient strain.
The thought was natural, but then 'twas low—
Give him a pen, his slave had written so[1].
This was sublime, but then 'twas out of place,
Lines from their station oft are grand or base[2].
The thought selected, after hours of pain,
In choice of words far greater pangs remain.
This suits the meaning, but confounds the rhyme[3],
That matches both, but does not fall in time.
- ↑ Non satis est puris versum perscribere verbis,
Quem si dissolvas, quivis stomachetur eodem
Quo personatus pacto pater.
Hor. lib, i, sat. iv, 54. - ↑ Sed nunc non erat his locus.
Ep. ad. Piso. - ↑ M. Boileau was a remarkable instance of this perplexity.
Mais moi qu' un vain caprice, une bizarre humeur
Pour mes péchés, je crois, it devenir rimeur,
