Classic Poem

An Imitation of Horace.

Some praise Augusta 's losty Spires,
Affecting Kindred with the Skies;
Another Sot her Streets admires,
The glorious Dirt, th'enchanting Noise;
Where Fops repugnant met, agree alone
In this; that all are wand'ring, all are wrong.

Some again, with rapt'rous Tongue,
Extol Soft WINDSOR 's G REEN R ETREATS ;
Taught by POPE 's romantic Song,
S EQUESTER'D Scenes and M USE'S S EATS .
But these, the Muse's Magpies, catch her Words;
Neglectful, what the noble Sense affords.

Others make the crowded Mall ,
And Theatre their bigot Theme;
Where Follies of all Kinds excel,
And painted Faces fit supreme:
Where idol Doxies, and affected Beaux
Reign first in Folly, as they're first in Cloaths.

For me, not Rich 's utmost Art,
Not all the Daemon 's of the Stage,
Can from her dear Embrace dispart,
Can from my Oxford disengage:
Where Isis rolls her flow majestick Stream,
And charm'd by Song, forgets th'uxorious Tame .

Sometimes in pensive Mood I stray,
And trace her Honours to the Sourse:
Sometimes from neighbour Hills survey
The mystick Mazes of her Course.
Whence Oxford 's tow'ry Head adorns the Scene,
And Blenheim dignifics the distant Plain.

But thou, my Friend, remember still
With gen'rous Wine to banish Care.
True Joys are few; then boldly fill:
The racy Juice will heal Dispair.
As Clouds don't always blacken Summer Skies,
So let not Care still ruffle youthful Joys.

When Drake , that brave undaunted Man,
Who first durst tempt the Southern Seas,
Extending Britain 's wide Command
From farthest West to distant East ,
Was landed on the dreary desert Coast,
He thus the Comrades of his Toil accost.

" Come, my Boys, with rosy Wine
" Let the foaming Bowl be crown'd,
" Let us all in Mirth combine,
" And Britain 's Monarch still go round.
" Britain and Drake reign Sov'reign of the Sea,
" Nor fear, where Drake and Britain lead the Way.

" Let earth-born Mortals of the Land
" On gaping Sots their Morals palm;
" We're taught more Wisdom by our Main,
" Where's sometimes Storm, and sometimes Calm.
" Then let's carouse, To-morrow we'll again
" Brave the rough Buffers of the boistrous Main. "