Classic Poem

If thro' creation's wide expanse we trace,
To find a subject worth the muse's praise;
What hosts will claim a tributary place,
In ev'ry song of her unsullied lays!

Av'rice , whose heart excels the hardest stone,
Whom Pity shuns, and Charity ne'er knew;
Claims ev'ry strain from Virtue as his own,
E'en tho' the bosoms of the twins he slew.

Folly next hobbles in despite of age,
And dares invade the touchstone throne of Truth;
There fancies still his soibles can engage,
Alike the fool decrepid as in youth.

The titl'd courtier next a suppliant sues,
Mask'd in the specious garb of patriot zeal;
Whose eyes thro' mercenary optics views
A nation's woes — and feigns her wrongs to feel.

Dark-veil'd Hypocrisy, Religion's bane,
And warlike heroes, who from Fancy flew;
Bravad'ing, urg'd their cover'd plea in vain;
The free-born muse detests the fawning crew.

But he who lives, tho' in domestic life,
Friend of the world, and does on mis'ry tend;
With him the muse ne'er wages cause of strife,
But hails him her's — and Nature's gen'ral friend.

And does not such a character exist,
In these, not quite degenerated times?
Yes, Britain, add it to thy history's list,
Record it proudly unto distant climes:

Lettsom , tho' bless'd with Fortune's choicest store,
With all that fame or riches can bestow,
Forbears to close his hospitable door,
Against distress, or hapless pris'ner's woe.

His open'd heart expands to Nature's call,
With him the mourner finds a sure relief;
His pitying breast extends his purse to all,
And ne'er so happy as to soothe their grief.

Compassion taught him slavery to scorn,
The law of nature pleaded man was free;
No matter where a human being's born,
The Indian's birth-right were as free as he.

Such is the man — Britannia, doth thy isle
In all the pride of honest wealth adorn,
Whose virtuous actions know no thought of guile,
Whose innate worth can smile at Envy's scorn.

To him the muse can dedicate her strains,
Nor blush to own him worthy her regard:
His noble deeds her memory retains,
And chance may sing them by her sweetest bard.