Classic Poem

While, matchless Queen , amid your lov'd Retreat
You deign to build the Muses sacred Seet,
Thy favour'd Sages from the Tomb remand ,
And bid' em rise beneath the Sculpture's Hand;
Britannia 's Hopes indulge the bright Presage ,
And from thy Æra , date her classic Age .
On the stale Volume now, the labour'd Piece
Applauded Work of Rome or antient Greece ,
No more shall Fame with partial Honours smile
To shame the Genius of thy happier Isle ;
Thy Grotto shall with their Elysium vie,
And greater Names a loftier Verse supply.
Not with more Awe the pious Chief essay'd
To view the Wonders of that ballow'd Shade ;
Than we thy venerable Cell survey,
And to it's honour'd Guests our solemn Visit pay.

O could my Muse obtain the secret Power
To trace thee in thy calm sequester'd Hour ,
When from the splendid Courts admiring Train
Thy lonely Feet the wonted Covert Gain,
There ( only conscious to Heaven's purer Eyes )
Pleas'd, shou'd I mark thy warm Devotion rise,
See humble Majesty at large exprest ,
In all its native, noblest Glories drest;
Then view the seated Queen in deep Amuse
Each reverend Bust with earnest Gaze peruse,
Till dewy Tears her tender Conflict tell,
And own the Merit she rewards so well:
Or while, perhaps, to studious Arts inclin'd,
She reads th' immortal Labours of their Mind,
An intervening Glance her Thought relieves,
And the lov'd Form her silent Praise receives.
If L OCK present his deep judicious Page ,
Apparent Truths her pleas'd Assent engage;
Great Man! who with laborious Search defin'd
The Powers, and Compass of the human Mind .
Or if experienc'd B OYLE 's sagacious Schemes
Invite her Thoughts to philosophic Themes ;
They yield before his all discovering Ray ,
And Science triumphs in unclouded Day .
When W OLLASTON delineates Nature's Laws ,
(How lovely the resembling Draught he Draws!
Or C LARKE , Religions heavenly Truths proclaims,
And with his powerful Lore the Soul enflames,
Her Looks the pleasing Energy disclose
And her rais'd Breast with sacred Rapture glows.
If N EWTON writes of Gravitation's Force,
Or traces Colours from their lucid Source ,
Abstrusest Themes beneath her Knowledge fall,
She reads with Ease and comprehends ' em all .
Amazing Artist ! whose discerning Eyes
Search'd the vast Systems of th' illumin'd Skies ,
Taught what fixt Laws the circling Orbs obey,
And first describ'd the Comet's devious Way.

Hail ye great Sages ! — her delightful Care ;
O may no Fate the lasting Work impair!
May your own Fame a sure Duration give,
And make the Sculptor's Labour ever live.

Yet if, illustrious Queen , with one Request
The Muse might hope to move thy gen'rous Breast ,
When with like Favours thy unwearied Hand
Prepares a-new to bless a grateful Land ,
Thy Milton , oh! thy Britain's Orpheus grace,
And introduce him to the sacred Race ;
Thy late Indulgence amply has display'd
How well thy Love esteem'd the darling Shade,
Approve him still, the Merit will be known
When Age disfigures the resembling Stone. —

Yet — thy own Virtues shall a Trophy raise,
And swell thy Annals with distinguish'd Praise.
— Let the rear'd Bust the deep Inscription fail,
And Time at length o'er Nature's self prevail,
Thy Worth, imperial Fair! shall firm endure,
And in eternal Skies a nobler Fame secure.