Is not the wretch (still trembling for his store) Pleased when he grasps a glittering thousand more? Cheers not the mariner propitious seas? Before such judges, we confess, with dread, These new dominions we presume to tread; Yet if you smile, we'll boldly do our best, And leave your favours to supply the rest. TO THE MUSE OF OSSIAN.' A PIECE ADAPTED TO THE STAGE FROM OSSIAN'S To form a little work of nervous merit, Dauntless, he cried;- It is but nobly daring! Can we peruse a pathos more than Attic, "Tis nervous! noble! 'tis true northern ardour! • Methinks I hear the Grecian bards exclaiming (The Grecian bards no longer worth the naming), In song, the northern tribes so far surpass us, One of their Highland hills they'll call Parnassus; And from the sacred mount decrees should follow, That Ossian was himself-the true Apollo.' Spite of this flash-this high poetic fury, He trembles for the verdict of his jury: As from his text he ne'er presumed to wander, But gives the native Ossian to your candour, To an impartial judgment we submit him, Condemn-or rather (if you can) acquit him. TO RULE A WIFE.' SPOKEN AT EDINBURGH. 'Tis an odd portrait that the poet drew; A strange irregular he sets in view! 'Mongst us-thank Heaven-the character's unknown (Bards have creative faculties we own), And this appears a picture from his brain, Till we reflect-the lady lived in Spain. Should we the portrait with the sex compare, "Twould add new honours to the northern fair; Their merit's by the foil conspicuous made, A matrimonial medium may be hit, Where neither governs, but where both submit. The nuptial torch with decent brightness burns, Where male and female condescend by turns; Change then the phrase, the horrid text amend, And let the word obey-be condescend! SPOKEN BY MR. DIGGES, ON OPENING THE EDINBURGH THEATRE IN 1763. To rectify some errors that of late Had crept into the bosom of our state; To make strong leagues 'twixt Novelty and Taste; To spare no pains to make the drama thrive; These are the labours that to-night commence, By Beauty' sanction'd, and approved by Sense". Suppose some Corydon-some country swain, Enamour'd of some Phillis of the plain, At early dawn should seek the dappled glade, To form a nosegay for the favourite maid; When he had cropp'd the beauties of the banks, And cull'd the fairest from the flowery ranks, He'd range in order every blooming sweet, And lay the little chaplet at her feet. So the fair fields of Fancy we'll explore, Yet, as young soldiers may be damp'd by fear SPOKEN AT EDINBURGH, ON MRS. BELLAMY'S FIRST APPEARANCE THERE. IN early days, when Error sway'd mankind, From sanction is the English stage become If from that stage an actress, fill'd with fears, New to this northern scene, to-night appears, Intent-howe'er unequal to the flight, To hit-what critics call-the happy right:' Your plaudit must remove the stranger's fear; ON REVIVING THE MERCHANT OF VENICE,' AT THE TIME A BILL HAD PASSED FOR NATURALIZING THE JEWS. TWIXT the sons of the stage, without pensions or places, And the vagabond Jews, are some similar cases; Since time out of mind, or they 're wrong'd much by slander, [wander: Both lawless, alike, have been sentenced to Then, faith, 'tis full time we appeal to the nation, To be join'd in this bill for na-tu-ra-li-za-ti-on; Lard, that word's so uncouth!-'tis so irksome to speak it! [take it. But 'tis Hebrew, I believe, and that's taste, as I A London. |