The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 8/To Dr. Swift on his Birthday

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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8
(1733)
by Laetitia Pilkington, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner

To Dr. Swift on his Birthday, by Mrs. Pilkington

On Dr. Swift

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1568297The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8
— To Dr. Swift on his Birthday, by Mrs. Pilkington1733Laetitia Pilkington

TO DR. SWIFT,

ON HIS BIRTHDAY^[1].

WHILE I the godlike men of old,
In admiration wrapt, behold;
Rever'd antiquity explore,
And turn the long-lived volumes o'er;
Where Cato, Plutarch, Flaccus, shine,
ln every excellence divine:
I grieve that our degenerate days
Produce no mighty soul like these:
Patriot, philosopher, and bard,
Are names unknown, and seldom heard.
⁠"Spare your reflection," Phœbus cries;
"'Tis as ungrateful as unwise:
Can you complain, this sacred day,
That virtues or that arts decay?
Behold in Swift reviv'd appears
The virtues of unnumber'd years;
Behold in him, with new delight,
The patriot, bard, and sage, unite;
And know, Ierne in that name
Shall rival Greece and Rome in fame."

↑ Written by Mrs. Pilkington, at a time when she wished to be introduced to the dean. The verses being presented to him by Dr. Delany, he kindly accepted the compliment. See vol. I. p. 451.

[1] Written by Mrs. Pilkington, at a time when she wished to be introduced to the dean. The verses being presented to him by Dr. Delany, he kindly accepted the compliment. See vol. I. p. 451.

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