( 17 )
"Ah! why recall the toys of thoughtless youth?
"When flow'ry fiction held the place of truth;
"When fancy rul'd; when trill'd each trivial strain,
"But idly sweet, and elegantly vain.
"O! in that strain, if all of wit had flow'd,
"All music warbled, and all beauty glow'd;
"Had liveliest nature, happiest art combin'd;
"That lent each grace, and This each grace refin'd,
"Alas! how little were my proudest boast!
"The sweetest trifler of my tribe at most.
"When flow'ry fiction held the place of truth;
"When fancy rul'd; when trill'd each trivial strain,
"But idly sweet, and elegantly vain.
"O! in that strain, if all of wit had flow'd,
"All music warbled, and all beauty glow'd;
"Had liveliest nature, happiest art combin'd;
"That lent each grace, and This each grace refin'd,
"Alas! how little were my proudest boast!
"The sweetest trifler of my tribe at most.
"To sway the judgment, while he charms the ear;
"To curb mad passion in its wild career;
"To blend with skill, as loftiest themes inspire,
"All reason's rigour, and all fancy's fire:
"Be this the poet's praise. With this uncrown'd,
"Wit dies a jest, and poetry a sound.
"To curb mad passion in its wild career;
"To blend with skill, as loftiest themes inspire,
"All reason's rigour, and all fancy's fire:
"Be this the poet's praise. With this uncrown'd,
"Wit dies a jest, and poetry a sound.
"Come
