Anonymous

“ No high wrought speech our Minstrel's thoughts adorn.
Rebels, he cries, to nature, fools of art,
Skill'd to pervert the taste, not move the heart,
Whoe'er ye are, that venture to defile
The pure conceit with misnam'd charms of style.
Those base utensils of the rhyming trade,
But mar the beauty they pretend to aid.
Oh sweet Simplicity! of rustic mien,
Whose household phrase is heard on village green [12] ;
Where hinds and cottage maids, at setting sun,
In talk and gambol join, their labour done ”

“ Doubting impedes the freedom of the lay,
Augments the labour, throws the time away;
Looks like the abject toil of slavish art,
Shows more the thoughtful head than feeling heart.
What care the public for such needless pains?
They love alike our rough or finish'd strains [11] .
If all have equal praise, 'tis surely best,
To seize first thoughts; let pedants take the rest.
By easy boldness, Nature's works are known,
Her vot'ry's wonders should be like her own.
As from each subject thoughts unnumber'd grow,
So, thoughts provided, words of course will flow. ”

“ He takes the small and lays the vast aside,
Nature is Nature still, wherever seen,
In an owl's hooting [8] , or an ass's mien [9] .
From ev'ry theme alike, or grand or low,
As leaves on trees, unnumber'd thoughts will grow,
But lest these stores the wav'ring choice confuse,
An easy maxim guides th' obsequious Muse.
When wild'ring fancies crowd upon the brain,
Secure the leader of the airy train [10] . ”