Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: I. Personal: Miscellaneous | | The Poet’s Friend | | Alexander Pope (1688–1744) |
| | [Lord Bolingbroke] From “An Essay on Man,” Epistle IV.
COME then, my friend! my genius! come along; | |
| O master of the poet, and the song! | |
| And while the muse now stoops, or now ascends, | |
| To man’s low passions, or their glorious ends, | |
| Teach me, like thee, in various nature wise, | 5 |
| To fall with dignity, with temper rise; | |
| Formed by thy converse happily to steer | |
| From grave to gay, from lively to severe; | |
| Correct with spirit, eloquent with ease, | |
| Intent to reason, or polite to please. | 10 |
| O, while along the stream of time thy name | |
| Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame; | |
| Say, shall my little bark attendant sail, | |
| Pursue the triumph, and partake the gale? | |
| When statesmen, heroes, kings, in dust repose, | 15 |
| Whose sons shall blush their fathers were thy foes, | |
| Shall then this verse to future age pretend | |
| Thou wert my guide, philosopher, and friend! | |
| That, urged by thee, I turned the tuneful art | |
| From sounds to things, from fancy to the heart: | 20 |
| For wit’s false mirror held up Nature’s light; | |
| Showed erring pride, WHATEVER IS, IS RIGHT. | | | | |
|
|
