SONNET

TO THE

EARL OF HARDWICKE,

With the Second Edition of the Epiftles to ROMNEY.

1779.

ARDWICKE! whofe bright applaufe a poet

H crown'd

Unknown to thee and to the Mufe's quire, Permit his hand with joyous pride to found

A note of gratitude on freedom's lyre!

And fear not flattery's fong from one plac'd higher
Than fhe has power to raise her menial crew;
From one who, proud of independent fire,
Scorns the bafe Noble, but reveres the true.
The liberal spirit feels thy generous praise
Fall from pure honour's sphere, like genial dew;
Bleft if its vital influence fhall raise

A future flower more worthy of thy view!
Bleft if in these re-polish'd lays thou find
Some light reflected from thy letter'd mind!

9

SONNET

SONNET

то

EDWARD GIBBON, Esq.

On the Publication of his Second and Third Volumes.

1781.

ITH proud delight th' imperial founder gaz'd
On the new beauty of his second Rome,

When on his eager eye rich temples blaz'd,
And his fair city rofe in youthful bloom :
A pride more noble may thy heart affume,
O GIBBON! gazing on thy growing work;
In which, conftructed for a happier doom,
No hafty marks of vain ambition lurk :

Thou may'st deride both time's deftructive sway,
And bafer envy's beauty-mangling dirk;

Thy gorgeous fabrick, plann'd with wife delay,
Shall baffle foes more favage than the Turk:
As ages multiply its fame fhall rife,
And earth must perish ere its fplendor dies.

SONNET

SONNET

TO THE SAME.

Written in MADAME DE LAMBERT's Effays on Friendship and Old Age; in the Name of the Lady who tranflated them.

OW may I, GIBBON, to thy taste confide

How

This artless copy of a Gallic gem ? Wilt thou not caft th' unpolish'd work afide, And with juft fcorn my failing line condemn ? No! thou wilt never, with pedantic phlegm, Spurn the first produce of a female mind;

Young flowers! that, trembling on a tender stem, Court thy protection from each ruder wind. Tho' I may injure, by a coarser style, The work that Lambert's graceful hand design'd, I ftill, if favour'd by thy partial fmile, Shall boast like her of friendship's joys refin'd. Nor fear from age her lift of female woes,

If, as my years increase, thy friendship grows.

VOL. I.

M

SONNET

Keep'ft in thy generous heart a youthful glow, Whofe liberal elegance of foul endears

The joy thy bounty glories to bestow

Accept a volume, in whose pages flow

The mild effufions of a female mind!

First of the letter'd fair that France can fhew, Of sprightly wit with moral truth combin'd!' In the faint copy may thy candour see Some flight resemblance of her ftyle refin'd: Whate'er the merits of the book, in thee May all the bleffings of its theme be join'd! Thine be that joy which friendship's bosom fills; And thine the peace of age, without its ills!

SONNET