Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN ODE TO SOCIETY, by HESTER LYNCH (SALUSBURY) PIOZZI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN ODE TO SOCIETY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Society, gregarious dame
Last Line: Thy best-loved sweets -- society.
Alternate Author Name(s): Thrale, Mrs. Henry
Subject(s): Upper Classes


Written at the Bagni di Pisa, in the Appenines

SOCIETY, gregarious dame!
Who knows thy favoured haunts to name?
Whether at Paris you prepare
The supper and the chat to share;
Where, fixed in artificial row,
Laughter displays his teeth of snow;
Grimace with raillery rejoices,
And song of many-mingled voices;
Till young Coquetry's artful wile
Some foreign novice shall beguile,
Who, home returned, still prates of thee,
Light, flippant, French Society.

Or whether, with your zone unbound,
You ramble gaudy Venice round,
Resolved th' inviting sweets to prove
Of wanton mirth and willing love,
Where gently roll th' obedient seas,
Sacred to luxury and ease.
In coffee-house or casino gay,
Till the too quick return of day,
Th' enchanted votary who sighs
For sentiments without disguise,
Clear, unaffected, fond and free,
In Venice finds Society.

Or if, to wiser Britain led,
Your vagrant feet desire to tread,
With measured step and anxious care,
The precincts pure of Portman Square;
While wit with elegance combined,
And polished manners, there you'll find,
The taste correct and fertile mind;
Remember Vigilance lurks near,
And Silence with unnoticed sneer,
Who watches but to tell again
Your foibles with tomorrow's pen,
Till tittering Malice smiles to see
Your wonder -- grave Society!

Far from your busy, crowded court,
Tranquillity makes her resort,
Where, mid cold Staffa's columns rude,
Resides majestic Solitude;
Or where, in some sad Brachman's cell,
Meek Innocence delights to dwell,
Weeping with inexperienced eye
The fate of a departed fly;
Or in Hetruria's heights sublime,
Where Science' self might fear to climb,
But that she seeks a smile from thee,
And wooes thy praise, Society.

Thence let me view the plains below,
From rough St. Julian's rugged brow;
Hear the loud torrents swift descending,
Or watch the beauteous rainbow bending,
Till heaven regains its favourite hue,
Aether divine! celestial blue!
Then bosomed high in myrtle bower,
View lettered Pisa's pendent tower;
The sea's wide scene, the port's loud throng
Of rude and gentle, right and wrong --
A motley group! which yet agree
To call themselves Society.

Oh thou! still sought by Wealth and Fame,
Dispenser of applause or blame!
While Slander, ever at thy side,
With Flattery can thy smiles divide:
Far from thy haunts oh! let me stray,
But grant one friend to cheer my way,
Whose converse bland, whose music's art,
May soothe my soul -- and heal my heart;
Let soft Content our steps pursue,
And bliss eternal bound our view --
Power I'll resign, and pomp, and glee,
Thy best-loved sweets -- Society.





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