Love
To my worthy Friend Mr. Wase, the Translator of Gratius.
THus by the Musick we may know
When Noble Wits a Hunting go
Through Groves that on Parnassus grow.
The Muses all the Chase adorn,
My Friend on Pegasus is born,
And young Apollo winds the Horn.
Having old Gratius in the wind.
No pack of Critiques e're could find
Or he know more of his own mind.
Here Huntsmen with delight may read
How to chuse Dogs for scent or speed,
And how to change or mend the breed.
What Arms to use, or Nets to frame,
Wild Beasts to combat or to tame,
With all the Mysteries of that game.
But (worthy Friend) the face of War
In antient times does differ …ar
From what our fiery battles are.
Nor is it like (since powder known)
That man so …ruel to his own,
Should spare the race of Beasts alone.
No quarter now but with the Gun,
Men wait in Trees from Sun to Sun,
And all is in a moment done.
And therefore we expect your next
Should be no Comment but a Text,
To tell how modern Beasts are vext.
Thus would I further yet engage
Your gentle Muse to court the age
With somewhat of your proper rage.
Since none does more to … owe,
Or in more Languages can show
Those Arts which you so early know.
Cite this poem
MLA
Waller, Edmund. “To my worthy Friend Mr. Wase, the Translator of Gratius.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/waller/80/.
Chicago
Waller, Edmund. “To my worthy Friend Mr. Wase, the Translator of Gratius.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/waller/80/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Edmund Waller
- On my Lady Dorothy Sidneys Picture.
- To a Lady singing a Song of his Composing.
- To Mr. George Sands, on his translation of some parts of the Bible.
- Of Her Royal Highness Mother to the Prince of Orange, and of Her Portraict written by the late Dutchess of York while She lived with Her.
- Of an Elegy Made by Mrs Wharton on the Earl of Rochester.