Classic Poem

PARTLY IN THE MANNER OF MILTON .

Hence , gloomy Spleen, and sullen Care,
Of black-stol'd Night and horrid Hydra born!
That lead the feet forlorn
All through the rueful regions of despair.

Hence to the dark and dire abode,
Where Folly mourns in Superstition's chain,
And priests, devoutly vain,
Forsake each virtue to adore their God.

Nor yet, ye deep immured cells,
Nor yet, ye dim glooms; ought have ye to please,
Where oft the mind's disease,
Beating her lorn breast, melancholy, dwells.

Far from these I fly to thee,
Blithe-ey'd nymph, Society!
In thy dwelling, free and fair,
Converse smooths the brow of Care.
Who, when waggish Wit betray'd
To his arms a silvan maid,
All beneath a myrtle tree,
In some vale of Arcady,
Sprung, I ween, from such embrace,
The lovely contrast in her face.
Perchance the Muses, as they stray'd
Seeking other spring, or shade,
On the sweet child cast an eye,
In some vale of Arcady,
And, blithest of the sisters three,
Gave her to Euphrosine,
The Grace, delighted, taught her care,
The cordial smile, the placid air;
How to chase, and how restrain
All the fleet ideal train.
How with apt words, well combin'd,
To shew each image of the mind;
Taught her how they disagree,
Aukward fear, and modesty,
And freedom and rusticity,
True politeness when to know
From the superficial show,
From the coxcomb's shallow grace,
And the many-modell'd face;
That Nature's unaffected ease
More than study'd forms would please;
When to check the sportive vein,
When to fancy give the rein;
On the subject when to be
Grave or gay, reserv'd or free;
The speaking air, th' impassion'd eye,
The living soul of symmetry,
And that soft sympathy that binds
In hidden chains congenial minds.
Memory, mother of the Nine,
Led her oft to Learning's shrine;
And taught her from the treasur'd page
To cull the flowers of ev'ry age.
Come, gentle herald of the heart!
Fraught with every pleasing art,
On Hackthorn's silent shades awhile,
Sweet queen of parley! deign to smile,
For thee an hour I well cou'd spare,
Stol'n from solitude and care.