Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THOMAS STANLEY, ON HIS POEMS, .. MANIFEST HIS MORE SERIOUS LABOURS, by WILLIAM HAMMOND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THOMAS STANLEY, ON HIS POEMS, .. MANIFEST HIS MORE SERIOUS LABOURS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou nature's step here treadest in
Last Line: Castor alone bodes danger to the pine.
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Stanley, Thomas (1625-1678)


THOU Nature's step here treadest in,
Dost show us but thy soul's fair skin,
What Fancy more than intellect did spin.

Thus Nature shows the rose's paint;
Us with the outside doth acquaint,
But keeps reserv'd the soul of the fair plant.

Thy sails all see swelling with haste;
Yet the hid ballast steers as fast
His steady course, as the apparent mast.

For though carv'd works only appear,
We know there is a basis here,
Doth them together with the fabric bear;

And that thy lightning intellect,
Though in the clouds yet undetect,
Can Nature's bowels pierce with its aspect.

Melting through stubborn doubts his way,
Whilst Fancy gilds things with her ray,
And but o' th' surface doth of Nature play.

But whilst thy intellect doth wear
The Fancy's dress, his motions are
In Epicycles not his proper sphere.

Break forth, and let his double sign
In their own orbs distinctly shine;
Castor alone bodes danger to the pine.





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