An ODE to SCULPTURE. James Scott 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 K104099.006 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. 276-280. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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An ODE to SCULPTURE . LED by the Muse , my step pervades The sacred haunts , the peaceful shades , Where Art and Sculpture reign : I see , I see , at their command , The living stones in order stand , And marble breathe through ev'ry vein ! Time breaks his hostile scythe ; he sighs To find his pow'r malignant fled ; " And what avails my dart , he cried , " Since these can animate the dead ? " Since wak'd to mimic life , again in stone " The patriot seems to speak , the heroe frown ? " There Virtue's silent train are seen , Fast fix'd their looks , erect their mien . Lo ! while , with more than stoic soul , The Socrates , who was condemned to die by poison . Attic sage exhausts the bowl , A pale suffusion shades his eyes , Till by degrees the marble dies ! See there the injur'd Seneca , born at Corduba , who , according to Pliny , was orator , poet , and philosopher . He bled to death in the bath . poet bleed ! Ah ! see he droops his languid head ! What starting nerves , what dying pain , What horror freezes ev'ry vein ! These are thy works , O Sculpture ! thine to shew In rugged rock a feeling sense of woe . Yet not alone such themes demand The Phydian stroke , the Daedal hand ; I view with melting eyes A softer scene of grief display'd , While from her breast the duteous maid Her infant sire with food supplies . In pitying stone she weeps , to see His squalid hair , and galling chains : And trembling , on her bended knee , His hoary head her hand sustains ; While ev'ry look , and sorrowing feature prove , How soft her breast , how great her filial love . Lo ! there the wild Semiramis , cum ei circa cultum capitis sui occupatae nun ciatum esset Babylonem defecisse ; alterâ parte crinium adhuc solutâ protinus ad eam expugnandum cucurrit : nec prius de corum capillorum in ordinem quam tantam urbem in potesta ¦ tem suam redegit : quocircà statua ejus Babylone posita est &c. Val. Max. de Ira Assyrian queen , With threat'ning brow , and frantic mien ! Revenge ! revenge ! the marble cries , While fury sparkles in her eyes . Thus was her aweful form beheld , When Babylon's proud sons rebell'd ; She left the woman's vainer care , And flew with loose dishevell'd hair ; She stretch'd her hand , imbru'd in blood , While pale Sedition trembling stood ; In sudden silence , the mad crowd obey'd Her aweful voice , and Stygian Discord fled ! With hope , or fear , or love , by turns , The marble leaps , or shrinks , or burns , As Sculpture waves her hand ; The varying passions of the mind Her faithful handmaids are assign'd , And rise and fall by her command . When now life's wasted lamps expire , When sinks to dust this mortal frame , She , like Prometheus , grasps the fire ; Her touch revives the lambent flame ; While phoenix-like , the statesman , bard , or sage , Spring fresh to life , and breathe through every age . Hence , where the organ full and clear , With loud hosannas charms the ear , Behold ( a prism within his hands ) Absorb'd in thought , great A noble statue of Sir Isaac Newton , erected in Trinity College chapel , by Dr. Smith . Newton stands ; Such was his solemn wonted state , His serious brow , and musing gait , When , taught on eagles-wings to fly , He trac'd the wonders of the sky ; The chambers of the sun explor'd , Where tints of thousand hues are stor'd ; Whence every flower in painted robes is drest , And varying Iris steals her gaudy vest . Here , as Devotion , heavenly queen , Conducts her best , her fav'rite train , At Newton's shrine they bow ! And while with raptur'd eyes they gaze , With Virtue's purest vestal rays , Behold their ardent bosoms glow ! Hail , mighty mind ! hail , aweful name ! I feel inspir'd my lab'ring breast ; And lo ! I pant , I burn for fame ! Come , Science , bright etherial guest , Oh come , and lead thy meanest , humblest son , Through Wisdom's arduous paths to fair renown . Could I to one faint ray aspire , One spark of that celestial fire , The leading cynosure , that glow'd While Smith explor'd the dark abode , Where Wisdom sate on Nature's shrine , How great my boast ! what praise were mine ! Illustrious sage ! who first could'st tell Wherein the power of Music dwell ; And ev'ry magic chain untie , That binds the soul of Harmony ! To thee , when mould'ring in the dust , To thee shall swell the breathing bust : Shall here ( for this reward thy merits claim ) " Stand next in place to Newton , as in fame . "