An Apology Written For My Son To The Reverend Mr. Sampson,
Mary Barber 1685 – 1755
With Joy your Summons we obey,
And come to celebrate this Day.
Yet I, alas! despair to please;
For you require exalted Lays:
And, let me write whate'er I will,
You'll think my Verse deficient still;
Altho' the Task I now decline,
Asks no Assistance from the Nine;
For Nature, better far than Art,
Can paint the honest, grateful Heart.
Heav'n knows how much I rack'd my Head,
(For beaten Paths I scorn to tread)
To tell the Vice--Roy something new,
Who graciously distinguish'd you;
Who had your Merit in his Eye,
When Prelates often pass'd it by.
What Blessings must the People share,
Where Virtue is the Ruler's Care!
Some Lines I wrote; which seem'd so fine,
My Mother cry'd, ``They can't be thine:
(Alas! there needs but little Care
In Sons, to please a Mother's Ear)
``Maro might own such Lines as these,
``Nor with more Elegance could praise:
``This is the true poetic Fire:
``But such a Subject must inspire:
``What beauteous Images are here!
``Constantia help'd you now, I fear:
``It must be so; you are not able--
Then I by Chance upon the Table
The Birth of manly Virtue spy'd;
So threw my useless Pen aside.
And set my Verses in a Flame,
Nor dar'd to touch the hallow'd Theme:
For there the God his Pow'r displays,
And leaves no Room for mortal Praise.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:14 min read
- 57 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AABCDDEEFF GGHHIIJJ EEJKBCXXKXLLFXXXCC |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,235 |
Words | 231 |
Stanzas | 3 |
Stanza Lengths | 10, 8, 18 |
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"An Apology Written For My Son To The Reverend Mr. Sampson," Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/26609/an-apology-written-for-my-son-to-the-reverend-mr.-sampson,>.
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