Poetry Archives

This Sonnet was addressed to the Author of this volume, and
was occasioned by several little Quatorzains, misnomered
Sonnets, which he published in the Monthly Mirror. He begs
leave to return his thanks to the much respected writer, for
the permission so politely granted to insert it here, and
for the good opinion he has been pleased to express of his
productions.


Ye whose aspirings court the muse of lays,
“Severest of those orders which belong,
  Distinct and separate, to Delphic song,”
Why shun the sonnet’s undulating maze?
And why its name, boast of Petrarchian days,
  Assume, its rules disown’d? whom from the throng
The muse selects, their ear the charm obeys
  Of its full harmony:—they fear to wrong
The sonnet, by adorning with a name
  Of that distinguish’d import, lays, though sweet,
  Yet not in magic texture taught to meet
Of that so varied and peculiar frame.
O think! to vindicate its genuine praise
Those it beseems, whose lyre a favouring impulse sways.