The LYRIC MUSE to Mr. MASON. On the Recovery of the Right Honourable the Earl of HOLDERNESSE from a dangerous Illness. William Whitehead Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.006 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. VI. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 58-60. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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The LYRIC MUSE to Mr. MASON . On the Recovery of the Right Honourable the Earl of HOLDERNESSE from a dangerous Illness . By the Same . MASON , snatch the votive Lyre , D'Arcy lives , and I inspire . 'Tis the Muse that deigns to ask , Can thy hand forget its task ? Or can the Lyre its strains refuse To the Patron of the Muse ? Hark , what notes of artless love The feather'd poets of the grove , Grateful for the bowers they fill , Warble wild on Sion hill ; In tuneful tribute duely paid To the Master of the shade ! And shall the Bard sit fancy-proof Beneath the hospitable roof , Where every menial face affords Raptur'd thoughts that want but words ? And the Patron's dearer part , The gentle sharer of his heart , Wears her wonted charms again . Time , that felt Affliction's chain , Learns on lighter wings to move ; And the tender pledge of love , Sweet Amelia , now is prest With double transport to her breast . Sweet Amelia , thoughtless why , Imitates the general joy ; Innocent of care or guile See the lovely Mimic smile , And , as the heart-felt raptures rise , Catch them from her Mother's eyes . Does the noisy town deny Soothing airs , and extacy ? Sion's shades afford retreat , Thither bend thy pilgrim feet . There bid th' imaginary train , Coinage of the Poet's brain , Not only in effects appear , But forms , and limbs , and features wear . Let festive Mirth , with flow'rets crown'd , Lightly tread the measur'd round ; And Peace , that seldom knows to share The Statesman's friendly bowl , be there ; While rosy Health , superior guest , Loose to the Zephyrs bares her breast ; And , to add a sweeter grace , Give her soft Amelia's face . Mason , why this dull delay ? Haste , to Sion haste away . There the Muse again shall ask , Nor thy hand forget its task ; Nor the Lyre its strains refuse To the Patron of the Muse .