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ODE IX.

The Author apologizes to a Lady, for his being a little man.

Natura nusquam magis, quam in minimis tota est. PLIN.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. HOM.
I.
1 YES, contumelious fair, you scorn
2 The amorous dwarf, that courts you to his arms,
3 But ere you leave him quite forlorn,
4 And to some youth gigantic yield your charms,
5 Hear him oh hear him, if you will not try,
6 And let your judgment check th' ambition of your eye.
II.
7 Say, is it carnage makes the man?
8 Is to be monstrous really to be great?
9 Say, is it wise or just to scan
10 Your lover's worth by quantity, or weight?
11 Ask your mamma and nurse, if it be so;
12 Nurse and mamma, I ween, shall jointly answer, no.
III.
13 The less the body to the view,
14 The soul (like springs in closer durance pent)
15 Is all exertion, ever new,
16 Unceasing, unextinguish'd, and unspent;
17 Still pouring forth executive desire,
18 As bright, as brisk, and lasting, as the vestal fire.
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IV.
19 Does thy young bosom pant for fame;
20 Woud'st thou be of posterity the toast?
21 The poets shall ensure thy name,
22 Who magnitude of mind not body boast.
23 Laurels on bulky bards as rarely grow,
24 As on the sturdy oak the virtuous misletoe.
V.
25 Look in the glass, survey that cheek
26 Where FLORA has with all her roses blush'd;
27 The shape so tender, looks so meek,
28 The breasts made to be press'd, not to be crush'd
29 Then turn to me, turn with obliging eyes,
30 Nor longer Nature's works, in miniature, despise.
VI.
31 Young AMMON did the world subdue,
32 Yet had not more external man than I;
33 Ah! charmer, should I conquer you,
34 With him in fame, as well as size, I'll vie.
35 Then, scornful nymph, come forth to yonder grove,
36 Where I defy, and challenge, all thy utmost love.

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Title (in Source Edition): ODE IX. The Author apologizes to a Lady, for his being a little man.
Themes: relations between the sexes; love
Genres: ode

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Source edition

Smart, Christopher, 1722-1771. Poems on several occasions: By Christopher Smart, A. M. Fellow of Pembroke-Hall, Cambridge. London: printed for the author, by W. Strahan; and sold by J. Newbery, at the Bible and Sun, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, MDCCLII., 1752, pp. 23-24. [16],230p.,plates; 4⁰. (ESTC T42626; OTA K041581.000) (Page images digitized from microfilm of a copy in the Bodleian Library [2799 d 134].)

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The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

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