85
My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,
Whilst comments of your praise, richly compil'd,
Reserve their character with golden quill,
And precious phrase by all the Muses fil'd. 4
I think good thoughts, while others write good words,
And, like unletter'd clerk, still cry 'Amen'
To every hymn that able spirit affords
In polish'd form of well-refined pen. 8
Hearing you prais'd, I say, ''Tis so, 'tis true,'
And to the most of praise add something more;
But that is in my thought, whose love to you,
Though words come hindmost, holds his rank before. 12
Then others for the breath of words respect,
Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.
86
Was it the proud full sail of his great verse,
Bound for the prize of all too precious you,
That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse,
Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew? 4
Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write
Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead?
No, neither he, nor his compeers by night
Giving him aid, my verse astonished. 8
He, nor that affable familiar ghost
Which nightly gulls him with intelligence,
As victors of my silence cannot boast;
I was not sick of any fear from thence: 12
But when your countenance fill'd up his line,
Then lack'd I matter; that enfeebled mine.
1 in manners: modestly
2 richly compil'd: composed in an elaborate style
3 Reserve their character; cf. n.
4 precious: carefully wrought
fil'd: polished
7 that able spirit; cf. n.
12 Though words . . . before; cf. n.
rank: place in line
13 respect: esteem
14 speaking in effect: which virtually speak
3 inhearse: lay as in a coffin
8 astonished: dismayed
10 gulls: cheats
13 countenance: favor
