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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin
The Works of the Rev Jonathan Swift DD Dean of St Patrick's Dublin Author:Jonathan Swift Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: And kindled first with indolence and ease ; And since, too oft debauch'd by praise, 'Tis now grown an incurable disease: In vain to quench this foolish fire I... more » try In wisdom and philosophy: In vain all wholesome herbs I sow, Where nought but weeds will grow: Whate'er I plant (like corn on barren earth) By an equivocal birth Seeds, and runs up to poetry. ODE, TO THE ATHENIAN SOCIETY. Moor-park, Feb. 14, 1691. A S when the deluge first began to fall, That mighty ebb, never to flow again, When this huge body's moisture was so great, It quite o'ercame the vital heat; That mountain, which was highest first of all, Appear'd above the universal main, To bless the primitive sailor's weary sight! And 'twas perhaps Parnassus, if in height It be as great as 'tis in fame, And nigh to Heaven as is it name: So, after th' inundation of a war, When Learning's little houshold did embark, With her world's fruitful system, in her sacred ark, At the first ebb of noise and fears, Philosophy's exalted head appears; ODE TO THE ATHENIAN SOCIETY. II And the Dove-Muse will now no longer stay, But plumes her silver wings, and flies away; And now a laurel wreath she brings from far, To crown the happy conqueror, To show the flood begins to cease, And brings the dear reward of victory and peace. The eager Muse took wing upon the waves' decline, When war her cloudy aspect just withdrew, When the bright sun of peace began to shine, And for a while in heavenly contemplation sat, On the high top of peaceful Ararat; And pluck'd a laurel branch (for laurel was the first that grew, The first of plants after the thunderstorm and rain) And thence, with joyful nimble wing, Flew dutifully back again, And made an humble chaplet for the King . And ...« less