[Page 311]

Verses on the Prospect of planting ARTS and LEARNING in AMERICA.

1 THE Muse, disgusted at an age and clime,
2 Barren of every glorious theme,
3 In distant lands now waits a better time,
4 Producing subjects worthy fame:
5 In happy climes, where from the genial sun
6 And virgin
[ed.] Virginia. (anon.)
earth such scenes ensue,
7 The force of art by nature seems outdone,
8 And fancied beauties by the true:
9 In happy climes the seat of innocence,
10 Where nature guides and virtue rules,
11 Where men shall not impose for truth and sense
12 The pedantry of courts and schools:
13 There shall be sung another golden age,
14 The rise of empire and of arts,
15 The good and great inspiring epic rage,
16 The wisest heads and noblest hearts.
17 Not such as Europe breeds in her decay;
18 Such as she bred when fresh and young,
19 When heav'nly flame did animate her clay,
20 By future poets shall be sung.
[Page 312]
21 Westward the course of empire takes its way;
22 The four first acts already past,
23 A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
24 Time's noblest offspring is the last.

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Title (in Source Edition): Verses on the Prospect of planting ARTS and LEARNING in AMERICA.
Themes: poetry; literature; writing; other countries
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References: DMI 27944

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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. 311-312. 6v.: music; 8⁰. (ESTC T131163; OTA K104099.006) (Page images digitized by the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive from a copy in the archive's library.)

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