(VERSES ON A GROTTO BY THE RIVER THAMES AT TWICKENHAM, COMPOSED OF MARBLES, SPARS, AND MINERALS) Thou who shalt stop, where Thames' translucent Wave Shines a broad Mirrour thro' the shadowy Cave; Where lingering Drops from Mineral Roofs distill, And pointed Crystals break the sparkling Rill, Unpolish'd Gemms no Ray on Pride bestow, And latent Metals innocently glow: Approach. Great NATURE studiously behold! And eye the Mine without a Wish for Gold. Approach: But aweful! Lo th' AEgerian Grott, Where, nobly-pensive, ST. JOHN sate and thought; Where British Sighs from dying WYNDHAM stole, And the bright Flame was shot thro' MARCHMONT's Soul. Let such, such only, tread this sacred Floor, Who dare to love their Country, and be poor. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CITY DEAD-HOUSE by WALT WHITMAN PSALM 73: INTRODUCTORY LINES by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE SPHINX-MONEY by MATHILDE BLIND THIRD YPRES by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN AUTHORS IN LONDON by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB SIC VITA by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |