(VERSES ON A GROTTO BY THE RIVER THAMES AT TWICKENHAM, COMPOSED OF MARBLES, SPARS, AND MINERALS) Thou who shalt stop, where Thames' translucent Wave Shines a broad Mirrour thro' the shadowy Cave; Where lingering Drops from Mineral Roofs distill, And pointed Crystals break the sparkling Rill, Unpolish'd Gemms no Ray on Pride bestow, And latent Metals innocently glow: Approach. Great NATURE studiously behold! And eye the Mine without a Wish for Gold. Approach: But aweful! Lo th' AEgerian Grott, Where, nobly-pensive, ST. JOHN sate and thought; Where British Sighs from dying WYNDHAM stole, And the bright Flame was shot thro' MARCHMONT's Soul. Let such, such only, tread this sacred Floor, Who dare to love their Country, and be poor. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JONES'S PRIVATE ARGYMENT by SIDNEY LANIER SURFACES AND MASKS; 3 by CLARENCE MAJOR LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE BOUNDARIES OF APPRECIATION by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS EPIGRAM by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE LAST MAN: LIFE A GLASS WINDOW by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE FLAME-BRIDE by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE WILD DOVES by GEORGES BOUTELLEAU SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 16 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |