Classic Poem

Occasion's on a Lady ' s having writ V ERSES in commendation of a P OEM which was written a Praise of another Lady .

H ARD is the Task, and bold th' adventrous Flight
Of him, who dares in Praise of Beauty write;
For when to that high Theme our Thoughts ascend,
'Tis to detract, too poorly to commend.
And he, who praising Beauty, does no Wrong,
May boast to be successful in his Song:
But when the Fair themselves approve his Lays,
And one accepts, and one vouchsafes to praise,
His wide Ambition knows no farther Bound,
Nor can his Muse with brighter Fame be crown'd.