THE ancient poets and their learned rhymes We still admire in these our later times, And celebrate their fames. Thus, though they die, Their names can never taste mortality: Blind Homer's muse and Virgil's stately verse, While any live, shall never need a hearse. Since then to these such praise was justly due For what they did, what shall be said to you? These had their helps: they writ of gods and kings, Of temples, battles, and such gallant things; But you of nothing: how could you have writ, Had you but chose a subject to your wit? To praise Achilles or the Trojan crew, Show'd little art, for praise was but their due. To say she's fair that's fair, this is no pains: He shows himself most poet, that most feigns. To find out virtues strangely hid in me--- Ay, there's the art and learned poetry! To make one striding of a barbed steed, Prancing a stately round---I use indeed To ride Bat Jewel's jade---this is the skill, This shows the poet wants not wit at will. I must admire aloof, and for my part Be well contented, since you do't with art. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEATH AND THE LADY; THEIR BARGAIN TOLD AGAIN by LEONIE ADAMS SONNET: ENGLAND by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH LISTENING by KATHARINE LEE BATES THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY - 1834 by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER THE THANKSGIVING FOR AMERICA by HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH |