Читать книгу The Poetical Works of Addison; Gay's Fables; and Somerville's Chase - John Gay - Страница 14

If yet your thoughts are loose from state affairs,

Nor feel the burden of a kingdom's cares,

If yet your time and actions are your own,

Receive the present of a Muse unknown:

A Muse that in adventurous numbers sings

The rout of armies, and the fall of kings,

Britain advanced, and Europe's peace restored,

By Somers' counsels, and by Nassau's sword.

To you, my lord, these daring thoughts belong,

Who helped to raise the subject of my song;

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To you the hero of my verse reveals

His great designs; to you in council tells

His inmost thoughts, determining the doom

Of towns unstormed, and battles yet to come.

And well could you, in your immortal strains,

Describe his conduct, and reward his pains:

But since the state has all your cares engross'd,

And poetry in higher thoughts is lost,

Attend to what a lesser Muse indites,

Pardon her faults and countenance her flights.

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On you, my lord, with anxious fear I wait,

And from your judgment must expect my fate,

Who, free from vulgar passions, are above

Degrading envy, or misguided love;

If you, well pleased, shall smile upon my lays,

Secure of fame, my voice I'll boldly raise;

For next to what you write, is what you praise.