The English poets; selections Volume 2 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ...For the poor wretched fisher-boats of wit. Thy nobler vessel the vast ocean tries, And nothing sees but seas and skies, Till unknown regions it descries, Thou great Columbus of the golden lands of new philosophies! Thy task was harder much than his, For thy learn'd America is Not only found out first by thee, And rudely left to future industry, But thy eloquence and thy wit Has planted, peopled, built, and civiliz'd it. I little thought before, (Nor, being my own self so poor, Could comprehend so vast a store) That all the wardrobe of rich eloquence, Could have afforded half enough, Of bright, of new, and lasting stuff, To clothe the mighty limbs of thy gigantic sense. Thy solid reason like the shield from heaven To the Trojan hero given, Too strong to take a mark from any mortal dart, Yet shines with gold and gems in every part, And wonders on it grav'd by the learn'd hand of art; A shield that gives delight Even to the enemies' sight, Then when they're sure to lose the combat by't. Nor can the snow which now cold age does shed Upon thy reverend head Quench or allay the noble fires within, But all which thou hast been And all that youth can be thou'rt yet, So fully still dost thou Enjoy the manhood, and the bloom of wit, And all the natural heat, but not the fever too. So contraries on /Etna's top conspirej Here hoary frosts, and by them breaks out fire. A secure peace the faithful neighbours keep, Th' emboldened snow next to the flame does sleep. And if we weigh, like thee, Nature, and causes, we shall see That thus it needs must be: To things immortal time can do no wrong, And that which never is to die, for ever must be young Brutus. Excellent Brutus, of all human race The best till nature was improved by grace, Till men above...