Classic Poem

Which (though old freinds part ill) is recompence
For a few Goth , and Vandal ornaments,
And all these glories glitter to the sight
By the advantage of a clearer light.
The Glaziers work before substantial was
I must confess, thrice as much lead, as glass,
Which in the Suns Meridian , cast a light,
As it had been within an hour of night.
The windows now look like so many Suns,
Illustrating the noble Room at once:
The primitive Casements modell'd were no doubt
By that through which the Pigeon was thrust out,
Where now whole Shashes are but one great eye ,
T'examine, and admire thy beauties by.
And, if we hence look out, we shall see there
The Gardens too i'th Reformation share:
Upon a Terrass , as most Houses high,
Though from this prospect humble to your eye,
A stately Plat , both regular, and vast
Suiting the rest, was by the Foundress cast,
In those incurious times, under the Rose
Design'd, as one may saucily suppose,
For Lillies, Pionies, Daffodills , and Roses
To garnish Chimneys, and make Sunday Posies,
Where Gooseberries , as good as ever grew,
'Tis like were set; for Winter-greens the Yew ,
Holly , and Box : for then these things were new
With oh! the honest Rosemary and Bays ,
So much esteem'd in those good Wassel days.

Now in the middle of this great Parterre ,
A Fountain darts her streams into the Air
Twenty foot high; till by the Winds deprest,
Unable longer upward to contest,
They fall again in tears for grief, and ire
They cannot reach the place they did aspire.
As if the Sun melted the waxen wings
Of these Icarian temerarious springs,
For braving thus his generative ray,
When their true motion lies another way
Th'ambitious Element repulsed so
Rallies, and saves her routed waves below,
In a large Bason of Diameter
Such as old Romes expensive Lakes did bear,
Where a Pacifick Sea expanded lies,
A liquid Theater for Naumachies ;
And where in case of such a Pageant War,
Romans in statue still spectators are.

Where the ground swells nearer the Hill above
And where once stood a Cragg and Cherry Grove ,
(Which of renown then shar'd a mighty part)
Instead of such a barbarous piece of Art ,
Such poor contriv'd, dwarfish and ragged shades,
Tis now adorn'd with Fountains and Cascades ,
Terass on Terass with their Stair-Cases
Of brave, and great contrivance, and to these
Statues , Walks , Grass-plats, and a Grove indeed
Where silent Lovers may lye down and bleed.
And though all things were, for that Age , before
In truth so great, that nothing could be more;
Yet now they with much greater lustre stand,
Toucht up, and finisht by a better hand.

But that which crowns all this, and does impart
A Lustre far beyond the pow'r of Art ,
Is the Great Owner , He , whose noble mind
For such a Fortune only was design'd.
Whose bounties as the Oceans bosom wide,
Flow in a constant, unexhausted Tyde
Of Hospitality and free Access ,
Liberal Condescension , Cheerfulness ,
Honour and Truth , as ev'ry of them strove
At once to captivate Respect and Love:
And all with such Order perform'd, and Grace
As rivett Wonder to the stately place.

But I must give my Muse the Hola here,
Respect must check her in the wild Career ;
For when we impotently do commend,
The thing well meant, ill done, must needs offend;
His Vertues are above my Character,
Too great for Fame to speak; or Verse to bear.