WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
George Crabbe: Poems, Volume 3 (of 3) cover

George Crabbe: Poems, Volume 3 (of 3)

Chapter 116: ON A DRAWING OF CADLANDS.
By George Crabbe
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

British LiteraturePoetry

About This Book

The volume gathers later narrative and miscellaneous poems, presenting a sequence of Tales of the Hall followed by posthumous pieces and shorter lyrics. An editor’s preface and textual notes outline manuscript sources and variant readings. The poems offer realistic portraits of rural and domestic life, closely observed scenes, and moral reflection on passions such as pride, grief, revenge, and belated refinement, delivered through narrative sketches and reflective commentary. Tone alternates between anecdotal storytelling, satirical observation, and sober moralizing.

ON A DRAWING OF CADLANDS.

Oft as the Eye on this fair View
Shall gaze, on every part intent,
Shall Memory, to Affection true,
Her Object to the Mind present.
These Lights and Shades, with Skill combin’d,
Aid us to see the real Place;
And, pleased with her Employ, the Mind
That Scene of Joy delights to trace.
Daughter of Rutland, ’twas thy Hand
Gave us this lovely Place to see; 10 
But who shall Grace and Skill command
To give as just a View of thee?
To paint thee fair is not enough,
With every pleasing Grace endued;
But he must give of Genius proof,
And shew thee gracious, kind and good.
I saw thee in thy Infant Days,
When every Charm a promise made,
That thou wouldst merit lasting Praise—
And lo! the Promise more than paid. 20 
I saw thee in thy youthful Bloom
With much delight, but no Surprise;
It was another Rutland come
To cheer our hearts and charm our Eyes.
Fairest among the Fair was she;
And ardent is my Hope that thou
In thy maternal years [may’st] be
What she, her Sex’s Pride, is now.