Deem not devoid of elegance the Sage, By Fancy's genuine feelings unbeguiled, Of painful Pedantry the poring child; Who turns, of these proud domes, the historic page, Now sunk by Time, and Henry's fiercer rage. Thinkst thou the warbling Muses never smiled On his lone hours? Ingenuous views engage His thoughts, on themes, unclassic falsely styled, Intent. While cloistered Piety displays Her moldering roll, the piercing eye explores New manners, and the pomp of elder days, Whence culls the pensive bard his pictured stores. Nor rough, nor barren, are the winding ways Of hoar Antiquity, but strewn with flowers. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER THE QUARREL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR I SIT AND LOOK OUT by WALT WHITMAN |