Written for my Son, and spoken by him, at a public Examination for Victors. Mary Barber 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. T42622 519 p. 45 Barber, Mary, ca. 1690-1757. Poems on Several Occasions [poems only]. London Printed for C. Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1734 pp. 181-185. xlviii,283,[7]p.; 8⁰.

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Written for my Son , and spoken by him , at a public Examination for Victors . To you , Athenians , we again submit ; Reward , or punish us , as you think fit . Let Idleness , unpity'd , meet Disgrace ; For Idleness , this Year , is doubly base . This is the Æra , this the destin'd Year , For Arts and Sciences to flourish here . The Muses , exil'd long , to Court repair ; And — strange to think ! are all the Fashion there . Who feels not now a gen'rous Emulation , When Merit raises to the highest Station ? Scholars may surely hope a better Fate , Whilst Carteret directs the Helm of State . O would he govern here by Grecian Rules , And chuse a Senate , to preside o'er Schools ; Honour , alone , to pay the glorious Task , ( A Recompence no Foreigner would ask ! ) Then kind Britannia , doubtless , would consent , Hibernia should supply a President . Too oft , alas ! are Talents misapply'd , By Parents Fondness , Ignorance , and Pride . This Grievance then would cease , and we should be Regarded , as the Publick's Property : Genius alone would be consulted then , ( The only Way to make us useful Men ) And each would have his sev'ral Task assign'd , As Nature gave the Biass to his Mind . Boys of a brutal , cruel Disposition , Should go to Spain , to serve the Inquisition . O what a Change in Landlords would appear ! Next Age , not one would rack his Tenants here . The Lads , who study but to dress and dance , Should cultivate their Worthlesness in France . Those who love Liberty , to Albion roam ; But , could they bear Oppression , — stay at home . Then glorious Ancestors would cease to be Degraded by a worthless Progeny . None should from noble Blood their Lineage trace , Unless they added Lustre to their Race . That the degen'rate Off-spring of the Great Might be no more a Burden to the State ; The Sons of Peers , with mean , ignoble Hearts , In Holland should be taught mechanic Arts ; And Boys of Genius to those Honours soar , Which high-born Dunces but disgrac'd before : See Nature , thus , the gen'rous Juice divide ; The Spirit rises , and the Dregs subside . Thus modell'd , we may hope for happier Times ; Our Isle will be rever'd by distant Climes : And , lest Posterity should think us rude , And lost , at once , to Shame and Gratitude ; A Patriot Race shall sing the Drapier's Praise , And civic Crowns shall mingle with His Bays : Nor shall His Works alone His Worth proclaim , ( Tho' none , like those , can eternize His Name ) His Statue shall be rais'd in ev'ry Street , With proud Oppression , writhing at His Feet ; At his Right-hand fair Liberty shall smile , Protected by the Guardian of our Isle ; On t'other Side , the Goddess Fame shall stand , With His immortal Labours in her Hand : Then shall each gen'rous Youth , who passes by , And sees the Patriot's Image , plac'd on high , With Emulation feel his Bosom fir'd , And thus break forth , by Gratitude inspir'd . " O Thou , whose Genius rose , to save the State , " And snatch Thy Country from the Brink of Fate ! " When for Thy Life Hibernia sues in vain , " And Heav'n no longer will Thy Crown detain ; " Her grateful Sons , already rob'd in White , " Shall hail Thee , glorious , in the Realms of Light .