The Poetical Works of Charles Churchill (Volume 2 ); With Copious Notes and a Life of the Author (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1864. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE GHOST. BOOK n. A Sacred standard rule we find, By poets held time out of mind, To offer at Apollo's shrine, And call on one, or all the Nine. This custom, through a bigot zeal Which moderns of fine taste must feel, For those who wrote in days of yore, Adopted stands like many more; Though every cause which then conspired To make it practised and admired, Yielding to Time's destructive course, For ages past hath lost its force. With ancient bards, an invocation Was a true act of adoration, Of worship an essential part, And not a formal piece of art, Of paltry reading a parade, A dull solemnity in trade, A pious fever, taught to burn An hour or two, to serve a turn. They talk'd not of Castalian springs, By way of saying pretty things, As we dress out our flimsy rhimes; 'Twas the religion of the times, And they believed that holy stream - With greater force made fancy teem, Reckon'd by all a true specific To make the barren brain prolific: Thus Romish church, (a scheme which bears Not half so much excuse as theirs) x Since Faith implicitly hath taught her, Reveres the force of holy water. The Pagan system, whether true Or false, its strength, like buildings, drew From many parts disposed to bear, - In one great whole, their proper share. Each god of eminent degree To some vast beam compared might be; Each godling was a peg, or rather A cramp, to keep the beams together: 4o And man as safely might pretend From Jove the thunderbolt to rend, As with an impious pride aspire To rob Apollo of his lyre. With settled faith and pious awe, 46 Establish'd by the voice of Law, Then poets to the Muses came, And from their altars caught the flame. Genius, with Phoebus for his guide, The Muse ascending by his side, so With towering pinions dared to soar, Where eye c...