Classic Poem

For all the Art the Chizel could apply,
Ne're wrought such curious folds of Drapery .
Of this the figure is, as men should crowd
A vast Colossus in a Marble shrowd,
And yet the pleats so soft , and flowing are,
As finest folds , from finest looms they were;
But, far as hands can reach to give a blow,
By the rude Clowns broke, and disfigur'd so,
As may be well suppos'd, when all that come,
Carry some piece of the Rock Crystal home.
Of all these Rarities , this alone can claim
A doubtless right to everlasting fame,
The fairest, brightest Queen , that ever yet
On English ground unhappy footing set,
Having, to th'rest of th' Isles eternal shame,
Honor'd this Stone with her own splendid name.
For Scotlands Queen , hither by Art betray'd,
And by false friendship after Captive made,
(As if she did nought but a Dungeon want
T'express the utmost rigor of restraint)
Coming to view this Cave , took so much pains,
For all the damp, and horror it contains,
To penetrate so far, as to this place,
And seeing it, with her own mouth to grace,
As her non ultra , this now famous Stone,
By naming, and declaring it her own;
Which, ever since so gloriously enstall'd,
Has been the Queen of Scots her Pillar call'd.

Illustrious Mary , it had happy been,
Had you then found a Cave like this to skreen
Your Sacred Person from those Frontier Spies ,
That of a Sovereign Princess durst make prize,
When Neptune too officiously bore
Your cred'lous Innocence to this faithless shore.
Oh England ! once who hadst the only fame
Of being kind to all who hither came
For refuge and protection; how couldst thou
So strangely alter thy Good Nature now,
Where there was so much excellence to move,
Not only thy compassion, but thy love?
'Twas strange on earth, save Calidonian ground,
So impudent a villain could be found,
Such Majesty , and Sweetness to accuse;
Or after that a Judg would not refuse
Her Sentence to Pronounce; or that being done,
Even amongst bloody'st Hangmen , to find one
Durst, though her Face was veild, and Neck laid down,
Strike off the fairest Head e're wore a Crown.
And what State-Policy there might be here,
Which does with right too often interfere,
I'm not to judg; yet thus far dare be bold,
A fouler Act the Sun did ne're behold,
And 'twas the worst, if not the only stain,
I'th'brightest Annals of a Female Reign.

Over the Brook you're now oblig'd to stride,
And, on the left hand, by this Pillars side
To seek new Wonders , though beyond this stone,
Unless you safe return, you'l meet with none,
And that indeed will be a kind of one:
For from this place, the way does rise so steep,
Craggy, and wet, that who all safe does keep,
A stout, and faithful Genius has, that will
In Hells black Territories guard him still;
Yet to behold these vast prodigious Stones,
None who has any kindness for his bones,
Will venture to climb up, though I did once,
A certain symptom of an empty sconce;
But many more have done the like since then,
That now are wiser than to do't agen.
Having swarm'd sevenscore paces up, or more,
On the right hand you find a kind of floor,
Which twining back, hangs o're the Cave below,
Where, through a hole, your kind Conductors show
A Candle left on purpose at the Brook,
On which, with trembling horror, whilst you look,
You'l fancy't from that dreadful Precipice,
A Spark ascending from the black Abyss .
Returning to your Road , you thence must still
Higher, and higher mount the dang'rous Hill,
Till, at the last, dirty, and tir'd enough,
Your giddy heads do touch the sparkling Roof.
And now you here a while to pant may sit,
To which Advent'rers have thought requisit
To add a Bottle, to express the love
They owe their Friends left in the world above.
And here I too would sheath my wearied Pen,
Were I not bound to bring you back agen;
You therefore must return, but with much more
Deliberate circumspection, than before:
Two Hob-nail Peakrills, one on either side,
Your arms supporting like a bashful Bride ,
Whilst a third steps before, kindly to meet
With his broad shoulders your extended feet,
And thus from Rock to Rock they slide you down,
Till to their footing you may add your own:
Which is at the great Torrent , roars below,
From whence your Guides another Candle show
Left in the hole above, whose distant light,
Seems a Star peeping through a sullen night.