Classic Poem

What spell unseen can thus inspire
The Minstrel's animated lyre?
'Tis bright Cecilia's hand: —
Or is it Sappho's melting lay,
Which thus can sing, and thus can play?
Or is it Cumberland?

" The little Nurseling " solves the doubt;
The secret 's told; the murder 's out;
For Nature is at hand:
No borrow'd feelings, tricks of art,
Can thus do honour to the heart ,
It must be Cumberland .

That air was from the Mother's breast;
Parental joy the chords imprest,
At sacred Love's command:
His tender impulse tun'd the note,
Whose words another Parent wrote;
But he was Cumberland .

Away, ye Billingtons! despair
To emulate this touching air,
To reach the Fairy-land!
With genius virtue must unite,
Affections pure with talents bright, —
And then 'tis Cumberland .