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“So be it mine to touch the sounding string,
The FRIEND, the PATRIOT, and the MAN to sing,
And though unused to raise the tuneful song,
The MIGHTY THEME shall make my numbers strong;
Bright TRUTH shall guide me like the solar rays,
Illume my darkness and direct my praise!
Inspire each thought and breathe in ev’ry line,
And grace my Eulogy with rays divine;
And, while I paint the scene, the fact recite,
Still burst upon me in a blaze of light.”
_Page_ 2.
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NORWICH:
PRINTED BY W. UPCROFT, ST. CLEMENT’S.
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DEDICATION,
TO THE HONORABLE
THE LADY ANN COKE.
PRAISE—when it is fairly earned and justly due, is that meed which virtue
delights to bestow upon merit; and, as it is highly gratifying to every
worthy mind to receive, so next to those who merit it, it is to none more
delightful than to those who are allied to, and love and regard the
object of the Eulogy. Most grateful then must it be to the feelings of a
beloved wife, to hear and even read of the honorable and praise-worthy
actions of a kind and tender husband. It is indeed like the oil of
gladness to the heart, which, while it softens and lubricates, rejoices
and refines: while it is read it delights—inspires a desire to
imitate—infuses a portion of the spirit it celebrates into the bosom of
rectitude—and cherishes the noble incentive to “go and do likewise.”
Under this impression it is, that the Author has presumed to dedicate to
your Ladyship, this humble tribute of his respect and esteem. If he must
not be allowed to rank it with the brighter effusions of imagination;
yet, being founded in truth, it is intrinsically superior to the flights
of fancy, and he trusts when you consider the justness of the panegyric,
and the sincerity which inspires it; you will look over the imperfection
of the Performance, in regard to the goodness of the intention; and
readily pardon the writers defects of genius in justice to the warmth of
his feelings.
Should this humble attempt tend to circulate more widely the Virtues it
aspires to praise, or induce some more elevated Bard to
“Touch the sounding strings,
And in more fervid pœans sing his fame.”
the Author will be highly gratified and rejoice in the happy effects of
his labours.
He begs most respectfully
to subscribe himself,
your Ladyship’s very obedient,
humble Servant,
_PHILO_.