Classic Poem

Beshrew their envious tongues, who seek to blast thy Bays,
Who Spots in thy bright fame would find, or raise,
And say it only shines with borrow'd Rays.
Rich in thy self, to whose unbounded store
Exhausted Nature could vouchsafe no more;
Thou couldst alone the Empire of the Stage maintain,
Couldst all its grandeur and its port sustain,
Nor neededst others Subsidies to pay,
Neededst no Tax on forein, or thy native Country lay,
To bear the charges of thy purchas'd fame;
But thy own stock could raise the same,
Thy sole Revenue all the vast expence defray.
Yet, like some mighty Conquerour in Poetry,
Design'd by Fate of choice to be
Founder of its new Universal Monarchy,
Boldly thou didst the learned World invade;
Whil'st all around thy pow'rful Genius sway'd:
Soon vanquisht Rome and Greece were made submit,
Both were thy humble tributaries made,
And thou returnd'st in triumph with their captive Wit.