The poems of William Collins Author:William Collins Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: VERSES HtTMBI.Y ADDRESS')! TO SIR THOMAS HANMER ON HIS EDITION OF SHAKESPEAKS WORKS. By a GENTLEMAN of OXFORD. London: Printed for M. Coope... more »r, in Pater-Noster-Row. 1743. (Price Six Pence.) To SIR THOMAS HANMER. While, own'd by You, with Smiles the Muse surveys Th' expected Triumph of her sweetest Lays: While, stretch'd at Ease, she boasts your Guardian Secure, and happy in her sylvan Shade: Excuse her Fears, who scarce a Verse bestows, In just Remembrance of the Debt she owes; With conscious Awe she hears the Critic's Fame, And blushing hides her Wreath at Shakespears Name. Long slighted Fancy, with a Mother's Care, Wept o'er his Works, and felt the last Despair. Torn from her Head, she saw the Roses fall, By all deserted, tho' admir'd by all. " And oh! she cry'd, shall Science still resign " Whate'er is Nature's, and whate'er is mine ? " Shall Taste and Art, but shew a cold Regard, "And scornful Pride reject th' unletter'd Bard? Ye myrtled Nymphs, who own my gentle Reign, " Tune the sweet Lyre, and grace my airy Train ! " If, where ye rove, your searching Eyes have known " One perfect Mind, which Judgment calls its own; " There ev'ry Breast its fondest Hopes must bend, " And ev'ry Muse with Tears await her Friend. 'Twas then fair Isis from her Stream arose, In kind Compassion of her Sister's Woes. 'Twas then she promis'd to the mourning Maid Th' immortal Honours, which thy Hands have paid:" My best lov'd Son (she said) shall yet restore " Thy ruin'd Sweets, and Fancy weep no more. Each rising Art by slow Gradation moves, Toil builds on Toil, and Age on Age improves. The Muse alone unequal dealt her Rage, And grac'd with noblest Pomp her earliest Stage. Preserv'd thro' Time, the speaking Scenes impart Each changeful Wish of Phcedra's tort...« less