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The posture chang'd, the forehead prest in vain;All spoke the mis'ry of the ancient strain. The thought was natural, but then 'twas low—Give him a pen, his slave had written so[1].This was sublime, but then 'twas out of place,Lines from their station oft are grand or base[2].The thought selected, after hours of pain,In choice of words far greater pangs remain.This suits the meaning, but confounds the rhyme[3],That matches both, but does not fall in time.
- ↑ Non satis est puris versum perscribere verbis,Quem si dissolvas, quivis stomachetur eodem Quo personatus pacto pater. Hor. lib, i, sat. iv, 54.
- ↑ Sed nunc non erat his locus.Ep. ad. Piso.
- ↑ M. Boileau was a remarkable instance of this perplexity. Mais moi qu' un vain caprice, une bizarre humeur Pour mes péchés, je crois, it devenir rimeur,
