Classic Poem

FOR A CURIOUS CHAMBER-STOVE, IN THE FORM OF AN URN, SO CONTRIVED AS TO MAKE THE FLAME DESCEND, INSTEAD OF RISE, FROM THE FIRE: INVENTED BY DOCTOR FRANKLIN .

Like a Newton sublimely he soar'd
To a Summit before unattained;
New regions of Science explor'd,
And the Palm of Philosophy gain'd.

With a Spark, that he caught from the Skies,
He display'd an unparallel'd wonder:
And we saw, with delight and surprise,
That his Rod could protect us from thunder.

O had he been wise to pursue
The track for his talents design'd,
What a tribute of praise had been due
To the teacher and friend of Mankind!

But to covet political fame
Was, in him, a degrading ambition;
A Spark, that from Lucifer came,
And kindled the blaze of Sedition .

Let Candor, then, write on his Urn —
Here lies the renowned Inventor,
Whose flame to the Skies ought to burn,
But, inverted, descends to the Center!