The Works of the British poets, with lives of the authors Volume 12 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1819 Excerpt: ...Till gather'd in a globe, the beams were fix'd: Last shone the sun, who radiant in his sphere, Ulumin'd heaven and earth, and roll'd around the So reason in this brutal soul began: year. Love made him first suspect he was a man; Love made him doubt his broad barbarian sound; By love his want of words and wit he found: That sense of want prepar'd the future way To knowledge, and disclos'd the promise of a day. What not his father's care, nor tutor's art, Could plant with pains in his unpolish'd heart, The best instructor, Love, at once inspir'd; As barren grounds to fruitfulness are fir'd: Love taught him shame, and shame with love at strife, Soon taught the sweet civilities of life. His gross material soul at once could find Somewhat in her excelling all her kind: 'Exciting a desire till then unknown, Somewhat unfound, or found in her alone. This made the first impression in his mind, Above, but just above, the brutal kind: For beasts can like, but not distinguish too, Nor their own liking by reflection know; Nor why they like, or this, or t' other face, Or judge of this or that peculiar grace, But love in gross, and stupidly admire; As flies, allur' d by fight, approach the fire. Thus our man-beast, advancing by degrees, First likes the whole, then separates what he sees; On several parts a several praise bestows, The ruby lips, the well-proportion'd nose, The snowy skin, and raven-glossy hair, The dimpled cheek, the forehead rising fair, And ev'n in sleep itself a smiling air. From thence his eyes descending view'd the rest, Her plump round arms, white hands, and heaving breast: Long on the last he dwelt, though every part A pointed arrow sped to pierce his heart. Thus in a trice a judge of beauty grown, (A judge erected from a country clown) He long' d t...