Original - Duke Divinity School

(The Grove) 52
[p.] 283 In Behalf of Mr. Southerne
To the Duke of Argyle 53
Argyle, his praise when Southern wrote,
First struck out This, and then that Thought.
Said, This was Flattery, that a Fault;
How shall the bard contrive?
My Lord, consider what you do,
He’ll lose his Pains and Verses too,
For if these Praises fit not you,
They’ll serve no man alive.
[p.] 285 The Resignation 54
Great Pow’r! at whose Almighty Hand
Vengeance and Comfort ever wait;
Starting to Earth at thy Command
To execute thy Love, or Hate.
Thy Indignation knits the Brow
On Those who dare to sin give Way;
But who’s so perfect, Lord, below,
As never from thy Word to stray?
Yet when they mighty Laws we break,
And after do our Guilt deplore;
Thou do’st the Word of Comfort speak,
And treasure up our Crimes no more.
52Lewis Theobald (1688–1744), editor, The Grove; or, A Collection of Original Poems, Translations, etc.
(London: W. Mears, 1721).
53 “In Behalf of Mr. Southerne, To the Duke of Argyle. Epigram,” Grove, 283.
54 “The Resignation: Written for a Lady at Her Request,” Grove, 185–87.
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