Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 10. TO THOMAS EDWARDS, ON ... POPE'S WORKS, by MARK AKENSIDE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Believe me, edwards, to restrain Last Line: To keep inviolate their fame. Subject(s): Edwards, Thomas (1699-1757); Pope, Alexander (1688-1744); Edwards, Thomas (1699-1757); Pope, Alexander (1688-1744) | ||||||||
I. BELIEVE me, Edwards, to restrain The license of a railer's tongue Is what but seldom men obtain By sense or wit, by prose or song: A task for more Herculean powers, Nor suited to the sacred hours Of leisure in the Muse's bowers. II. In bowers where laurel weds with palm, The muse, the blameless queen, resides: Fair fame attends, and wisdom calm Her eloquence harmonious guides: While, shut for ever from her gate, Oft trying, still repining, wait Fierce Envy and calumnious Hate. III. Who then from her delightful bounds Would step one moment forth to heed What impotent and savage sounds From their unhappy mouths proceed? No: rather Spenser's lyre again Prepare, and let thy pious strain For Pope's dishonour'd shade complain. IV. Tell how displeas'd was every bard, When lately in the Elysian grove They of his Muse's guardian heard, His delegate to fame above; And what with one accord they said Of wit in drooping age misled, And Warburton's officious aid: V. How Virgil mourn'd the sordid fate To that melodious lyre assign'd Beneath a tutor who so late With Midas and his rout combined By spiteful clamour to confound That very lyre's enchanting sound, Though listening realms admired around VI. How Horace own'd he thought the fire Of his friend Pope's satiric line Did farther fuel scarce require From such a militant divine: How Milton scorn'd the sophist vain Who durst approach his hallow'd strain With unwash'd hands and lips profane. VII. Then Shakespeare, debonair and mild, Brought that strange comment forth to view; Conceits more deep, he said and smiled, Than his own fools or madmen knew: But thank'd a generous friend above, Who did with free adventurous love Such pageants from his tomb remove. VIII. And if to Pope, in equal need, The same kind office thou wouldst pay, Then, Edwards, all the band decreed That future bards with frequent lay Should call on thy auspicious name, From each absurd intruder's claim To keep inviolate their fame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CULTURAL EVOLUTION; AFTER POPE by CAROLYN KIZER IMITATION OF POPE: A COMPLIMENT TO THE LADIES by WILLIAM BLAKE IN ANSWER TO MR. POPE by ANNE FINCH ON THE DEATH OF DR. SWIFT by JONATHAN SWIFT MR. POPE by JOHN ORLEY ALLEN TATE EPITAPH by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU VERSES ADDRESSED TO IMITATOR OF FIRST SATIRE OF HORACE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU A PIPE OF TOBACCO (MR. POPE'S STYLE IMITATED) by ISAAC HAWKINS BROWNE LINES WRITTEN IN WINDSOR PARK by CHARLES CHURCHILL THE VIRTUOSO; IN IMITATION OF SPENCER'S STYLE AND STANZA by MARK AKENSIDE |
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