By AMOS MEREDITH, Esq; -------------------------------------------------- Near is my Shirt, but nearer is my Skin. -------------------------------------------------- _Rules were by Coxcombs made to cramp the Mind } By Nature free, unfetter’d, unconfin’d, } She mounts a Flame, and flies, astride the Wind. } Through boundless space wings her Celestial Way, } And Eagle-ey’d confronts the Source of Day; } Criticks begone, avant ye Sons of Clay! } To every Star its Name and Course assign, } In narrow Bounds the swelling Tides confine, } And teach the Ruler of the Day to shine. } Sluggish the servile Mule sustains the Weight; } Wolves bait the Moon because she shines so bright; } And Owls are blinded with Excess of Light. } Unchain’d by Art with true Poetick Rage, } In Buskins highly rais’d, we tread the Stage; } With Fire from Heaven, to thaw the frozen Age. } The God of Number and melodious Strains, } Triumphant drives through Empyrean Plains, } Impetuous bound the Steeds nor hear the Reins } If Soar-æthereal’s Characters too high, } For mean Conception shocks the vulgar Eye, } Let filthy Mire accuse the Azure Sky. } Diamonds to Swine are despicable Things, } Lost to the Mole the Vernal Verdure Springs, } And Adders hiss tho’_ Senesino _sings. } The Priestess speaks of him that gilds the Skies; } Behold he comes, behold the God she cries: } And swells, and foams, and rolls her frantick Eyes. } Hark to the Noise a hundred Doors around, } Spontaneous jarr, the vaulted Roofs rebound, } And Words burst forth with more than mortal Sound._ } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Persons of the Drama. MEN. Soarethereal. Hurlothrumbo. Dologodelmo. Darony. Urlandenny. Theorbeo. Lomperhomock. Darno. Primo. Puny. Temo. Col. Countermine. Genius. Spirit. Death. _Lord_ Flame. WOMEN.