To
S. M..I a Young African Painter', on Seeing His' Works
To show
the lab'ring bosom's deep intent,
And thought
in living characters to paint,
When first
thy pencil did those beauties give,
And breathing
figures learnt from thee to live,
How did
those prospects give my soul delight, 5
A new
creation rushing on my sight?
Still,
wond'rous youth! each noble path pursue,
On deathless
glories fix thine ardent view:
Still
may the painter's and the poet's fire
To aid
thy pencil, and thy verse conspire! 10
And may
the charms of each seraphic theme
Conduct
thy footsteps to immortal fame!
High to
the blissful wonders of the skies
Elate
thy soul, and raise thy wishful eyes.
Thrice
happy, when exalted to survey 15
That splendid
city, crown'd with endless day,
Whose
twice six gates on radiant hinges ring:
Celestial
Salem blooms in endless spring.
Calm and
serene thy moments glide along,
And may
the muse inspire each future song! 20
Still,
with the sweets of contemplation bless'd,
May peace
with balmy wings your soul invest!
But when
these shades of time are chas'd away,
And darkness
ends in everlasting day,
On what
seraphic pinions shall we move, 25
And view
the landscapes in the realms above?
There
shall thy tongue in heav'nly murmurs flow,
And there
my muse with heav'nly transport glow:
No more
to tell of Damon's tender sighs,
Or rising
radiance of Aurora's eyes, 30
For nobler
themes demand a nobler strain,
And purer
language on th' ethereal plain.
Cease,
gentle muse! the solemn gloom of night
Now seals
the fair creation from my sight.
1773