Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/242

104 THE POEMS OP ANNE �And in each verse he draws a bill on fame. �For none have writ (whatever they pretend) �Singly to raise a patron, or a friend ; �But whatsoe'er the theme or object be, �Some commendations to themselves foresee. �Then let us find in your foregoing page, �The celebrating poems of the age ; 10 �Nor by injurious scruples think it fit �To hide their judgments who applaud your wit. �But let their pens to yours the heralds prove, �Who strive for you as Greece for Homer strove ; �Whilst he who best your poetry asserts, �Asserts his own, by sympathy of parts. �Me panegyric verse does not inspire, �Who never well can praise what I admire; �Nor in those lofty trials dare appear, �But gently drop this counsel in your ear. 20 �Go on, to gain applauses by desert, �Inform the head, whilst you dissolve the heart ; �Inflame the soldier with harmonious rage, �Elate the young, and gravely warn the sage ; �Allure with tender verse the female race, �And give their darling passion courtly grace; �Describe the Forest still in rural strains, �With vernal sweets fresh breathing from the plains. �Your tales be easy, natural, and gay, �Nor all the poet in that part display ; 30 �Nor let the critic there his skill unfold, �For Boccace thus, and Chaucer tales have told. �Soothe, as you only can, each diffring taste, �And for the future charm as in the past. �Then should the verse of ev'ry artful hand �Before your numbers eminently stand; �In you no vanity could thence be shown, ��� �