The YOUTH and the PHILOSOPHER. A FABLE. William Whitehead Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.002 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. II. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 259-260. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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The YOUTH and the PHILOSOPHER . A FABLE . By the Same . A Grecian Youth , of talents rare , Whom Plato's philosophick care Had form'd for virtue's nobler view , By precept and example too , Wou'd often boast his matchless skill , To curb the steed and guide the wheel . And as he pass'd the gazing throng , With graceful ease , and smack'd the thong , The ideot wonder they express'd Was praise and transport to his breast . At length quite vain , he needs would shew His master what his art could do ; And bade his slaves the chariot lead To Academus' sacred shade . The trembling grove confess'd its fright , The wood-nymphs startled at the sight , The Muses drop the learned lyre , And to their inmost shades retire ! Howe'er , the youth with forward air , Bows to the sage , and mounts the car , The lash resounds , the coursers spring , The chariot marks the rolling ring , And gath'ring crowds with eager eyes , And shouts , pursue him as he flies . Triumphant to the goal return'd , With nobler thirst his bosom burn'd ; And now along th' indented plain , The self-same track he marks again , Pursues with care the nice design , Nor ever deviates from the line . Amazement seiz'd the circling crowd ; The youths with emulation glow'd ; Ev'n bearded sages hail'd the boy , And all , but Plato , gaz'd with joy . For he , deep-judging sage , beheld With pain the triumphs of the field : And when the charioteer drew nigh , And , flush'd with hope , had caught his eye , Alas ! unhappy youth , he cry'd , Expect no praise from me , ( and sigh'd ) With indignation I survey Such skill and judgment thrown away . The time profusely squander'd there , On vulgar arts beneath thy care , If well employ'd , at less expence , Had taught thee honour , virtue , sense , And rais'd thee from a coachman's fate To govern men , and guide the state .