AN ELEGY UPON STEPHEN DUCK. Mary Collier 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. T125590 Collier, Mary, c.1690-c.1762. Poems, on Several Occasions, by Mary Collier, Author of the Washerwoman's Labour, with some remarks on Her Life. Winchester Printed by Mary Ayres; for the Author. MDCCLXII. 1762 pp. []-51. 68p.

This e-text is part of the Works section of the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA).

XML created for the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA).

Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. This text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF) text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center; text-align: right; text-align: left; display: inline font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;
AN ELEGY UPON STEPHEN DUCK . In murmuring Strains , I lately heard it Said , The Muse's Darling , Reverend Duck is dead . Impartial Death by one untimely blow Has snatch'd away from Mortals here below , That wond'rous Man , in whom alone did join A Thresher , Poet , Courtier , and Divine . And while a Labourer of mean degree , The Ornament , and Grace of Poverty Upon that State in high and lofty Rhime , Bravely attempts Parnassus's Hill to Clime ; And quickly after by Fame's loud Report , Remov'd from his lowly Cot and call'd to Court . A Gracious Queen Queen Caroline whom he had enchanted with his poetry as she was one of his most significant patrons. being charm'd with the Lyre , While Noble Peers his Nat'ral parts Admire ; Advanc'd , caress'd , and favour'd more and more , Nor ceased till the Rev'rend Gown he wore . Immortal Duck how happy hadst thou been Belov'd by Lords Respected by a Queen ? How doubly Blest couldst thou have kept with thee , The sweet companion of thy Poverty ? That true content and inward peace of mind , Which in thy humble Cottage thou didst find . Which oft doth to the poor and mean retreat But seldom dwells among the Rich , or Great . The want of wit thy pleasure turnd to pain , Thy Life a Burthen , and thy Death a Stain : So have I Seen in a fair Summers Morn , Bright Phoebus's Beams the Hills and Dales adorn , With Flow'rs and Shrubs their fragrant Sweets display , And Warbling Birds foretell a Chearfull Day : When on a Sudden some dark Clouds arise , Obscures the Sun and overspreads the Skies ; The Birds are Silent , plants contract their bloom , The Glorious Day ends in a dismal gloom .