"For these, if I forget my patron's praise, / While bright ideas dance upon my mind, / Ne'er may these eyes behold auspicious days, / May friends prove faithless, and the Muse unkind."
— Fawkes, Francis (1720-1777)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Author
Date
w. May, 1756; 1761
Metaphor
"For these, if I forget my patron's praise, / While bright ideas dance upon my mind, / Ne'er may these eyes behold auspicious days, / May friends prove faithless, and the Muse unkind."
Metaphor in Context
Thanks to the generous hand that plac'd me here,
Fast by the fountains of the silver Cray,
Who leading to the Thames his tribute clear,
Through the still valley winds his secret way.
Yet from his lowly bed with transport sees
In fair exposure noblest villas rise,
Hamlets embosom'd deep in antient trees,
And spires that point with reverence to the skies.
O lovely dale! luxuriant with delight!
O woodland hills! that gently rising swell;
O streams! whose murmurs soft repose invite;
Where peace and joy and rich abundance dwell.
How shall my slender reed your praise resound
In numbers worthy of the polish'd ear?
What powers of strong expression can be found
To thank the generous hand that plac'd me here:
That gave each requisite of blissful life;
Sweet leisure in sequester'd shades of Kent,
The softening virtues of a faithful wife,
And competence well sorted with content.
For these, if I forget my patron's praise,
While bright ideas dance upon my mind,
Ne'er may these eyes behold auspicious days,
May friends prove faithless, and the Muse unkind.
(pp. 70-1)
Fast by the fountains of the silver Cray,
Who leading to the Thames his tribute clear,
Through the still valley winds his secret way.
Yet from his lowly bed with transport sees
In fair exposure noblest villas rise,
Hamlets embosom'd deep in antient trees,
And spires that point with reverence to the skies.
O lovely dale! luxuriant with delight!
O woodland hills! that gently rising swell;
O streams! whose murmurs soft repose invite;
Where peace and joy and rich abundance dwell.
How shall my slender reed your praise resound
In numbers worthy of the polish'd ear?
What powers of strong expression can be found
To thank the generous hand that plac'd me here:
That gave each requisite of blissful life;
Sweet leisure in sequester'd shades of Kent,
The softening virtues of a faithful wife,
And competence well sorted with content.
For these, if I forget my patron's praise,
While bright ideas dance upon my mind,
Ne'er may these eyes behold auspicious days,
May friends prove faithless, and the Muse unkind.
(pp. 70-1)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "dance" and "idea" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ECCO and ESTC (1761).
See Original Poems and Translations. By Francis Fawkes, M.A. (London: Printed for the author. And sold by R. and J. Dodsley, J. Newbery, L. Davis and C. Reymers, T. Davies, and by H. Dell, in Great Tower-Street, 1761). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
See Original Poems and Translations. By Francis Fawkes, M.A. (London: Printed for the author. And sold by R. and J. Dodsley, J. Newbery, L. Davis and C. Reymers, T. Davies, and by H. Dell, in Great Tower-Street, 1761). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
01/19/2012
