Classic Poem

ON HIS DIVINE EPIGRAMS .

Thou hast inspir'd me with thy soul, and I
Who ne'er before could ken of poetry,
Am grown so good proficient, I can lend
A line in commendation of my friend
Yet 'tis but of the second hand; if aught
There be in this, 'tis from thy fancy brought
Good thief, who dar'st, Prometheus like, aspire,
And fill thy poems with celestial fire:
Enliven'd by these sparks divine, their rays
Add a bright lustre to thy crown of bays.
Young eaglet, who thy nest thus soon forsook,
So lofty and divine a course hast took,
As all admire, before the down begin
To peep, as yet, upon thy smoother chin;
And making Heaven thy aim, hast had the grace
To look the sun of righteousness i' th' face.
What may we hope, if thou go'st on thus fast!
Scriptures at first, enthusiasms at last!
Thou hast commenc'd, betimes, a saint: go on,
Mingling diviner streams with Helicon,
That they who view what Epigrams here be,
May learn to make like, in just praise of thee —
Reader, I've done, nor longer will withhold
Thy greedy eyes; looking on this pure gold
Thou'lt know adulterate copper, which, like this,
Will only serve to be a foil to his.