"Above the thirst of gold, if in his heart / Ambition govern'd, Av'rice had no part."
— Williams, Sir Charles Hanbury (1708-1759)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Edward Jeffrey and Son
Date
w. August, 1745; 1822
Metaphor
"Above the thirst of gold, if in his heart / Ambition govern'd, Av'rice had no part."
Metaphor in Context
"But Orford's self, I've seen whilst I have read,
Laugh the heart's laugh, and nod th' approving
"Pardon, great Shade, if, duteous, on thy herse
"I hang my grateful tributary verse:
"If I who follow'd thro' thy various day,
"Thy glorious zenith and thy bright decay,
"Now strew thy tomb with flow'rs, and o'er thy urn,
"With England, Liberty, and Envy mourn."
His soul was great, and dar'd not but do well,
His noble pride still urg'd him to excel;
Above the thirst of gold---if in his heart
Ambition govern'd, Av'rice had no part.
A genius to explore untrodden ways,
Where prudence sees no track, nor ever strays;
Which books and schools, in vain attempt to teach,
And which laborious art can never reach.
Falsehood and flatt'ry, and the tricks of court,
He left to Statesmen of a meaner sort ;
Their cloaks and smiles were offer'd him in vain,
His acts were justice which he dar'd maintain,
His words were truth that held them in disdain.
Open to friends, but ev'n to foes sincere,
Alike remote from jealousy and fear;
Tho' Envy's howl, tho' Faction's hiss he heard,
Tho' senates frown'd, tho' death itself appear'd:
Calmly he view'd them---conscious that his ends
Were right, and Truth and Innocence his friends.
Thus was he form'd to govern and to please,
Familiar greatness, dignity with ease,
Compos'd his frame---admir'd in ev'ry state,
In private amiable---in public great:
Gentle in pow'r---but daring in disgrace,
His love was liberty---his wish was peace.
Such was the man that smil'd upon my lays,
And what can heighten thought or genius raise,
Like praise from him whom all mankind must praise;
Whose knowledge, courage, temper, all surpris'd,
Whom many lov'd, few hated, none despis'd.
Here then I rest, and since it is decreed
The pleasing paths of poetry to tread;
Hear me, O Muse! receive one poet more,
Consenting bend, and pour down all thy store:
No longer constant round Parnassus rove,
But change the scene, and smile on Coldbrook's Grove.
(pp. 146-8, ll. 194-237)
Laugh the heart's laugh, and nod th' approving
"Pardon, great Shade, if, duteous, on thy herse
"I hang my grateful tributary verse:
"If I who follow'd thro' thy various day,
"Thy glorious zenith and thy bright decay,
"Now strew thy tomb with flow'rs, and o'er thy urn,
"With England, Liberty, and Envy mourn."
His soul was great, and dar'd not but do well,
His noble pride still urg'd him to excel;
Above the thirst of gold---if in his heart
Ambition govern'd, Av'rice had no part.
A genius to explore untrodden ways,
Where prudence sees no track, nor ever strays;
Which books and schools, in vain attempt to teach,
And which laborious art can never reach.
Falsehood and flatt'ry, and the tricks of court,
He left to Statesmen of a meaner sort ;
Their cloaks and smiles were offer'd him in vain,
His acts were justice which he dar'd maintain,
His words were truth that held them in disdain.
Open to friends, but ev'n to foes sincere,
Alike remote from jealousy and fear;
Tho' Envy's howl, tho' Faction's hiss he heard,
Tho' senates frown'd, tho' death itself appear'd:
Calmly he view'd them---conscious that his ends
Were right, and Truth and Innocence his friends.
Thus was he form'd to govern and to please,
Familiar greatness, dignity with ease,
Compos'd his frame---admir'd in ev'ry state,
In private amiable---in public great:
Gentle in pow'r---but daring in disgrace,
His love was liberty---his wish was peace.
Such was the man that smil'd upon my lays,
And what can heighten thought or genius raise,
Like praise from him whom all mankind must praise;
Whose knowledge, courage, temper, all surpris'd,
Whom many lov'd, few hated, none despis'd.
Here then I rest, and since it is decreed
The pleasing paths of poetry to tread;
Hear me, O Muse! receive one poet more,
Consenting bend, and pour down all thy store:
No longer constant round Parnassus rove,
But change the scene, and smile on Coldbrook's Grove.
(pp. 146-8, ll. 194-237)
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry); confirmed in ECCO.
Citation
Originally found searching The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams, 3 vols. (London: Edward Jeffrey and Son, 1822).
Date of Entry
05/31/2005
