The poetical works ... With the life of the author / [Oliver Goldsmith].
- Oliver Goldsmith
- Date:
- [1795?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The poetical works ... With the life of the author / [Oliver Goldsmith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Thus fpoke the Bard : but not one friendly power With nod afl’entive crown’d the parting hour; No dextral omen; Nature heav’d a figh Prophetic of the dire impending blow. The prefage of her lofs, and Britain’s woe. Already portion’d, unrelenting Fate Had made a paufe upon the number’d date; Behind flood death, too horrible for fight; In darknefs clad, expedlant, prun’d for flight; Pleas’d at the word, the fhapelefs monfter fped. On eager meffage to the humble fhed. Where, wrapt by foft poetic vilions round. Sweet numbering. Fancy’s darling fon he found. At his approach the filken pinion’d train. Affrighted, mount aloft, and quit the brain Which late they farm’d: now other fcenes than dales Oi woody pride, fucceed, or flow’ry vales: As when afudden tcmpcll veils the fky. Before ferene, and flreaming lightning'; fly; The prof] edl ihilts, and pitchy volumes roll. Along the drear expanfe, from pole to pole; Terrific horrors all the void invefl, Whiifl the Archfpedlrc ifliies forth ronfelf. The Bard beholds him beckon to the tontb Ot yawning night, eternity’s dread womb; In vain attempts to fly, th’ impainve air Retards his ileps, and yields him to defpair ; He feels a gripe that thrills throu-gh every rein, And panting Itruggles in the fatal chain. Here paus’d the fell deftroyer to furvev The pride, ilie boall of man, his deflrin’d prey. Prepar’d to flrike, he pois’d aloit the dart, And plung’d the lleel in Virtue’s bleeding heart; Abhorrent, back the fprings of life rebound, And leave on Nature's face a gritly wound, A wound enroll’d among Britannia's woes, I'hat ages yet to follow cannot dole. Oh, Ooldfmilh ; how fhall fbrrow now efl'ay To murmur out her flow incondite lay ? In what fad accents mourn the lucklefs hour. That yielded thee to unrelenting power; Thee, the proud boaflof all the tuneful train That I'weep the lyre, or fwell the polifh’d llraiii? Much honour'd Bard ! if my untutor'J verlc Could pay a tribute worthy of thy h-. trfe,](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28779575_0033.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
