APOLLO'S VISIT. Then Erato he sought, the Muse of Love; But here, again, it was his lot to prove What bitter hopelessness his search befel! For, in the stead of Erato, he saw, Scribbling soft rubbish with immense eclat, She of the three initials L. E. L. Now Polyhymnia, who over song And harmony presides, among the throng He sought; but, in her place, alas, he found Calliope his next attention claimed, But her he found asleep with fast-closed eye: He tried to wake her, but 'twas all in vain; Phoebus at first her trance could not explain, Until he saw Montgomery's Satan by. 135 136. APOLLO'S VISIT. Lastly Urania he turns to find, To whom Astronomy has been assigned; But fate once more his inclination mars: Disgusted with our uncongenial clime, Urania, since Sir Isaac Newton's time, Has taken up her quarters in the stars. Hurt at the treatment which his protegés Have met with, "Phoebus you're a fool," he says, "For sending them to this most dull of nations; Since English apathy to death has frozen Each veritable Muse, while they have chosen To worship only vulgar imitations." |