Page:The poetical works of William Cowper (IA poeticalworksof00cowp).pdf/136

52 To be suspected, thwarted, and withstood, Even when he labours for his country's good,— To see a band called patriot for no cause, But that they catch at popular applause, Careless of all the anxiety he feels, Hook disappointment on the public wheels, With all their flippant fluency of tongue, Most confident, when palpably most wrong,— If this be kingly, then farewell for me All kingship, and may I be poor and free! To be the Table Talk of clubs up stairs, To which the unwashed artificer repairs, To indulge his genius after long fatigue, By diving into cabinet intrigue, (For what kings deem a toil, as well they may, To him is relaxation and mere play;)— To win no praise when well-wrought plans prevail, But to be rudely censured when they fail,— To doubt the love his favourites may pretend, And in reality to find no friend,— If he indulge a cultivated taste, His galleries with the works of art well graced, To hear it called extravagance and waste, If these attendants, and if such as these, Must follow royalty, then welcome ease! However humble and confined the sphere, Happy the state that has not these to fear. A. Thus men whose thoughts contemplative have dwelt On situations that they never felt, Start up sagacious, covered with the dust Of dreaming study and pedantic rust, And prate and preach about what others prove, As if the world and they were hand and glove. Leave kingly backs to cope with kingly cares, They have their weight to carry, subjects theirs; Poets, of all men, ever least regret Increasing taxes and the nation's debt. Could you contrive the payment, and rehearse The mighty plan, oracular, in verse, No bard, howe'er majestic, old or new, Should claim my fixt attention more than you. B. Not Brindley nor Bridgewater would essay To turn the course of Helicon that way; Nor would the Nine consent, the sacred tide Should purl amidst the traffic of Cheapside, Or tinkle in 'Change Alley, to amuse The leathern ears of stock-jobbers and Jews. A. Vouchsafe, at least, to pitch the key of rhyme To themes more pertinent, if less sublime. When ministers and ministerial arts,— Patriots who love good places at their hearts,—