653 APPENDIX. I.-COMMENDATORY VERSES PREFIXED TO THE SECOND EDITION OF "WINTER." TO MR. THOMSON, DOUBTFUL TO WHAT PATRON HE SHOULD ADDRESS HIS POEM CALLED "WINTER." SOME peers, perhaps, have skill to judge, 't is true; Yet no mean prospect bounds the Muse's view. Even kings, from whose high source all honours flow, Prince of your passions, live their sovereign still. Ductile of soul, each pliant purpose wind, And, tracing interest close, leave doubt behind : And fancy's force with judgment's caution arm; A. HILL TO MR. THOMSON, 66 O GAUDY Summer! veil thy blushing head, Thy sickening ray and venerable gloom From time and death he will thy beauties save: TO MR. THOMSON, ON HIS PUBLISHING THE SECOND EDITION OF HIS POEM, "WINTER." CALLED CHARM'D and instructed by thy powerful song, Thy worth new lights the poet's darken'd name, For those whose aided will could lift thee high How couldst thou think of such and write so well? Those favours which the fawning base obtain ! But hence that vileness-pleased to charm mankind, Cast each low thought of interest far behind: Neglected into noble scorn-away From that worn path where vulgar poets stray ! And by the pride despised they stoop to praise! By virtue guided, and by glory fired, So shall thy name, through ages, brightening shine, And find a glorious, though a late, reward. D. MALLOCH. II. SPECIMENS OF THOMSON'S PROSE. I PRESENT the reader with two specimens of Thomson's composition in prose, the one written twenty-two years after the other. PREFACE.* I AM neither ignorant nor concerned how much one may suffer in the opinion of several persons of great gravity and character by the study and pursuit of poetry. Although there may seem to be some appearance of reason for the present contempt of it, as managed by the most part of our modern writers, yet that any man should, seriously, declare against that divine art, is really amazing. It is declaring against the most charming power of imagination, the most exalting force of thought, the most affecting touch of sentiment; in a word, against the very soul of all learning and politeness. It is affronting the universal taste of mankind, and declaring against what has charmed the listening world from Moses down to Milton. In fine, it is even declaring against the sublimest passages of the inspired writings themselves, and what seems to be the peculiar language of Heaven. The truth of the case is this: These weak-sighted gentlemen cannot bear the strong light of poetry, and the finer and more amusing scene of things it displays. But must those, therefore, whom Heaven has blessed with the discerning eye, shut it to keep them company? Prefixed to the second and third editions of ** Winter," 1726. It is pleasant enough, however, to observe, frequently, in these enemies of poetry, an awkward imitation of it. They sometimes have their little brightnesses, when the opening glooms will permit. Nay, I have seen their heaviness, on some occasions, deign to turn friskish and witty; in which they make just such another figure as Esop's Ass, when he began to fawn. To complete the absurdity, they would, even in their efforts against poetry, fain be poetical; like those gentlemen that reason with a great deal of zeal and severity against reason. That there are frequent and notorious abuses of poetry, is as true as that the best things are most liable to that misfortune; but is there no end of that clamorous argument against the use of things from the abuse of them? And yet I hope that no man who has the least sense of shame in him, will fall into it after the present sulphureous attacker of the stage. To insist no further on this head, let poetry once more be restored to her ancient truth and purity; let her be inspired from heaven; and, in return, her incense ascend thither: let her exchange her low, venal, trifling subjects for such as are fair, useful, and magnificent; and let her execute these so as at once to please, instruct, surprise, and astonish; and then, of necessity, the most inveterate ignorance and prejudice shall be struck dumb, and poets yet become the delight and wonder of mankind. But this happy period is not to be expected till some longwished illustrious man, of equal power and beneficence, rise on the wintry world of letters; one of a genuine and unbounded greatness and generosity of mind; who, far above all the pomp and pride of fortune, scorns the little, addressful flatterer, pierces through the disguised designing villain, discountenances all the reigning fopperies of a tasteless age, and who, stretching his views into late futurity, has the true interest of virtue, learning, and mankind entirely at heart. A character, so nobly desirable, that, to an honest heart, it is almost incredible so few should have the ambition to deserve it. Nothing can have a better influence towards the revival of poetry than the choosing of great and serious subjects, such as at once amuse the fancy, enlighten the head, and warm the heart. These give a weight and dignity to the poem; nor is the pleasure, I should say rapture, both the writer |