Classic Poem

SPOKEN TO LADY HENRIETTA CAVENDISH-HOLLES HARLEY, COUNTESS OF OXFORD .

MADAM ,

Since Anna visited the muses' seat
(Around her tomb let weeping angels wait!)
Hail thou, the brighest of thy sex, and best,
Most gracious neighbour, and most welcome guest.
Not Harley's self, to Cam and Isis dear,
In virtues and in arts great Oxford's heir;
Not he such present honour shall receive,
As to his consort we aspire to give.
Writings of men our thoughts to-day neglects,
To pay due homage to the softer sex:
Plato and Tully we forbear to read,
And their great followers whom this house has bred,
To study lessons from thy morals given,
And shining characters, impress'd by Heaven.
Science in books no longer we pursue,
Minerva's self in Harriet's face we view;
For, when with beauty we can virtue join,
We paint the semblance of a form divine.
Their piouSincense let our neighbours bring,
To the kind memory of some bounteous king;
With grateful hand, due altars let them raise,
To some good knight's or holy prelate's praise:
We tune our voices to a nobler theme,
Your eyes we bless, your praises we proclaim,
Saint John's was founded in a woman's name.
Enjoin'd by statute, to the fair we bow;
In spite of time, we keep our ancient vow;
What Margaret Tudor was, is Harriet Harley now.