It was not in the battle; No tempest gave the shock; His sword was in its sheath; Weigh the vessel up, Once dreaded by our foes! And mingle with our cup The tear that England owes. Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again, Full charged with England's thunder, And plough the distant main. But Kempenfelt is gone, His victories are o'er; And he and his eight hundred SONNET TO W. WILBERFORCE, ESQ. 1792. THY Country, Wilberforce, with just disdain, Thou hast achieved a part; hast gain'd the ear Hope smiles, joy springs, and though cold caution pause SONNET TO HENRY COWPER, ESQ. ON HIS EMPHATICAL AND INTERESTING DELIVERY OF THE DEFENCE OF WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. COWPER, whose silver voice, task'd sometimes hard, Legends prolix delivers in the ears (Attentive when thou read'st) of England's peers, Let verse at length yield thee thy just reward. Thou wast not heard with drowsy disregard, Thy generous powers, but silence honour'd thee, Mute as e'er gazed on orator or bard. Thou art not voice alone, but hast beside Both heart and head: and couldst with music sweet Of attic phrase and senatorial tone, Like thy renown'd forefathers, far and wide SONNET TO JOHN JOHNSON. ON HIS PRESENTING ME WITH AN ANTIQUE BUST OF HOMER. 1793. KINSMAN beloved, and as a son, by me! The sculptured form of my old favourite bard, The grief is this, that, sunk in Homer's mine, Proves dross when balanced in the Christian scale, Be wiser thou-like our forefather DONNE, Seek heavenly wealth, and work for God alone. SONNET TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ. 1793. DEAR architect of fine CHATEAUX in air, O for permission from the skies to share, Much to my own, though little to thy good, With thee (not subject to the jealous mood!) A partnership of literary ware! But I am bankrupt now; and doom'd henceforth That he has furnish'd lights for other eyes, SONNET TO DR. AUSTIN, 1792. AUSTIN! accept a grateful verse from me, And oh! could I command the glittering wealth With which sick kings are glad to purchase health; Yet, if extensive fame, and sure to live, Were in the power of verse like mine to give, SONNET TO GEORGE ROMNEY, ESQ. ON HIS PICTURE OF ME IN CRAYONS, DRAWN AT EARTHAM, IN THE SIXTY-FIRST YEAR OF MY AGE, IN THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. 1792. ROMNEY, expert infallibly to trace On chart or canvass, not the form alone And semblance, but, however faintly shown; The mind's impression too on every face With strokes that time ought never to erase * Hayley. |