Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO RICHARD BENTLEY, by THOMAS GRAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In silent gaze the tuneful choir among Last Line: A sigh of soft reflection. Variant Title(s): Stanzas To Mr. Bentley Subject(s): Bentley, Richard (1662-1742); Books; Reading | ||||||||
In silent gaze the tuneful choir among, Half pleased, half blushing, let the Muse admire, While Bentley leads her sister-art along, And bids the pencil answer to the lyre. See, in their course, each transitory thought Fixed by his touch a lasting essence take; Each dream, in fancy's airy coloring wrought, To a local symmetry and life awake! The tardy rhymes that used to linger on, To censure cold, and negligent of fame, In swifter measures animated run, And catch a luster from his genuine flame. Ah! could they catch his strength, his easy grace, His quick creation, his unerring line; The energy of Pope they might efface, And Dryden's harmony submit to mine. But not to one in this benighted age Is that diviner inspiration given, That burns in Shakespeare's or in Milton's page, The pomp and prodigality of Heaven. As when, conspiring in the diamond's blaze, The meaner gems that singly charm the sight Together dart their intermingled rays, And dazzle with a luxury of light. Enough for me, if to some feeling breast, My lines a secret sympathy; And as their pleasing influence, A sigh of soft reflection. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONNETS: 1 by DAVID LEHMAN THE ILLUSTRATION?ÇÖA FOOTNOTE by DENISE LEVERTOV FALLING ASLEEP OVER THE AENEID by ROBERT LOWELL POETRY MACHINES by CATE MARVIN LENDING LIBRARY by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD by THOMAS GRAY |
|