ODE to HEALTH. John Duncombe Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
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 K104099.004 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. IV. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 268-270. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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ODE to HEALTH . Non est vivere , sed valere , vita . MARTIAL . By Mr. DUNCOMBE , Fellow of Corpus Christi College , CAMBRIDGE . I. HEALTH ! to thee thy vot'ry owes All the blessings life bestows , All the sweets the summer yields , Melodious woods , and clover'd fields ; By thee he tastes the calm delights Of studious days and peaceful nights : By thee his eye each scene with rapture views ; The Muse shall sing thy gifts , for they inspire the Muse . II . Does increase of wealth impart Transports to a bounteous heart ? Does the sire with smiles survey His prattling children round him play ? Does love with mutual blushes streak The swain's and virgin's artless cheek ? From HEALTH these blushes , smiles and transports flow ; Wealth , children , love itself , to HEALTH their relish owe . III . Nymph ! with thee ; at early Morn , Let me brush the waving corn ; And , at Noon-tide's sultry hour , O bear me to the wood-bine bow'r ! When Evening lights her glow-worm , lead To yonder dew-enamell'd mead ; And let me range at Night those glimm'ring groves , Where stillness ever sleeps , and Contemplation roves . IV . This my tributary lay , Grateful at thy shrine I pay , Who for sev'n whole years hast shed Thy balmy blessings o'er my head ; O ! let me still enamour'd view Those fragrant lips of rosy hue , Nor think there needs th' allay of sharp disease , To quicken thy repast , and give it pow'r to please . V. Now by swiftest Zephyrs drawn , Urge thy chariot o'er the lawn ; In yon gloomy grotto laid , Author of Clarissa . PALEMON asks thy kindly aid ; If goodness can that aid engage , O hover round the virtuous sage : Nor let one sigh for his own suff'rings rise ; Each human suff'ring fills his sympathizing eyes . VI . Venus from Aeneas' side With successful efforts try'd To extract th' envenom'd dart , That baffled wise Iapis' art , If thus , HYGEIA , thou couldst prove Propitious to the queen of love , Now on thy favour'd HEBERDEN bestow Thy choicest healing pow'rs , for Pallas asks them now . VII . What tho' , banish'd from the fight , To the hero's troubled sight , Ranks on ranks tumultuous rose Of flying friends and conqu'ring foes ; He only panted to obtain A laurel wreath for thousands slain ; On nobler views intent , the SAGE'S mind Pants to delight , instruct , and humanise mankind .