ODE TO APOLLO. ON AN INK-GLASS ALMOST DRIED IN THE SUN. PATRON of all those luckless brains, That, to the wrong side leaning, Indite much metre with much pains, And little or no meaning, Ah why, since oceans, rivers, streams, That water all the nations, Pay tribute to thy glorious beams, In constant exhalations, Why, stooping from the noon of day, Too covetous of drink, Apollo, hast thou stol'n away A poet's drop of ink? Upborne into the viewless air, It floats a vapour now, Impell'd through regions dense and rare, By all the winds that blow. Ordain'd, perhaps, ere summer flies, Combin'd with millions more, To form an iris in the skies, Though black and foul before. Illustrious drop! and happy then Of all that ever pass'd my pen, So soon to be forgot! SHE came-she is gone-we have met- The sun of that moment is set, And seems to have risen in vain. Catharina has fled like a dream- But has left a regret and esteem The last evening ramble we made, Our progress was often delay'd By the nightingale warbling nigh. We paus'd under many a tree, And much she was charm'd with a tone Less sweet to Maria and me, Who had witness'd so lately her own. My numbers that day she had sung, And gave them a grace so divine, As only her musical tongue Could infuse into numbers of mine. The longer I heard, I esteem'd The work of my fancy the more, And e'en to myself never seem'd So tuneful a poet before. Though the pleasures of London exceed Catharina, did nothing impede, For the close-woven arches of limes, Are sweeter to her many times Than all that the city can show. Só it is, when the mind is endued With a well-judging taste from above, Then, whether embellish'd or rude, "Tis nature alone that we love. The achievements of art may amuse, But groves, hills, and vallies, diffuse Since then in the rural recess Catharina alone can rejoice, May it still be her lot to possess The scene of her sensible choice! To inhabit a mansion remote From the clatter of street-pacing steeds, And by Philomel's annual note To measure the life that she leads. With her book, and her voice, and her lyre, |