1773
ENGLISH POETRY 1579-1830: SPENSER AND THE TRADITION
William Shenstone
Thomas Lyttleton, "Stanzas written by Lord Lyttelton to Mrs. Peach, now Mrs. Lyttelton" Westminster Magazine 1 (April 1773) 476.
Commentary for
William Shenstone:
1737: William Shenstone
1749: Lady Luxborough
1750 ca.: Rev. Richard Graves
1751: Rev. Richard Jago
1755: Robert Dodsley
1756: John Scott Hylton
1758: Alexander Carlyle
1759: James Woodhouse
1760: Edward Cooper
1760: Rev. Richard Graves
1761: Mrs. John Thomas
1763: Edward Cooper
1763: Rev. Richard Graves
1763: John Cunningham
1763: Edward Cooper
1763: Mary Darwall
1763 ca.: A Lady
1763: Dr. S.
1763: T. H.
1764: Rev. John Langhorne
1765: Cuthbert Shaw
1765: John Oakman
1766: John Scott of Amwell
1769: Thomas Gray
1771: William Roscoe
1771: Rev. Richard Graves
1772: Rev. John Ball
1772: Anonymous
1773: Danos
1773: Thomas Lyttleton
1774: Samuel Jackson Pratt
1774: Anonymous
1774: Charles Graham
1776: Rev. Thomas Maurice
1776: Anonymous
1778: Richard Tickell
1778: Old Robin
1779: J. M.
1779: Herbert
1779: Menassah Dawes
1780: J. W.
1781: Anonymous
1782: Samuel Johnson
1783: Edmond Malone
1784: De Sp—do
1785: H. R.
1787: Robert Burns
1787: Anonymous
1788: John Williams
1789: Junior
1789: A Bard of the Wrekin
1791: Isaac D'Israeli
1791: Corydon
1792: Anna Seward
1792: John Bennet
1793: J. H. C.
1793: Captain John Majoribanks
1795: Dr. Robert Anderson
1797: Mr. Mott
1798: Anna Seward
1802: George Dyer
1802: Anonymous
1805: Thomas Park
1806: Dr. John Aikin
1806: John F. M. Dovaston
1807: Robert Southey
1808: Anne Grant
1812: A. F.
1814: John Hamilton Reynolds
1814: James Jennings
1815: William Wordsworth
1818: William Hazlitt
1818: David Parkes
1823: David Parkes
1823: T. H.
1824: Bryan Waller Procter
1829: Anna Brownell Jameson
1830: Rev. George Barrell Cheever
1836: Hartley Coleridge
1836: L. L.
1842: C. H. Timperley
1855 ca.: Rev. John Mitford
1859: Leigh Hunt
1880: George Saintsbury
1882: Epes Sargent
1910: Ralph Straus
Commentary by
Thomas Lyttleton:
1773: William Shenstone
In SHENSTONE'S consecrated grove,
Where with wood-nymphs Venus plays;
Hid with a cloud, the God of Love
To APPHIA brought a shepherd's lays,
The Shepherd's name to me is known,
His name to you I dare not own;
Fear to displease you stops my tongue,
Yet listen, APPHIA, to my song.
His picture I will fairly place
Before your penetrating eyes;
No blemish shall my heart efface,
For know his soul abhors disguise.
This restless youth, by Venus led
From Virtue's paths, unthinking stray'd;
Yet e'en in wanton Circe's bed,
His heart pursu'd th' immortal maid.
His ear on soft Italia's shore,
No Syren's song refus'd to hear;
Yet still the Muses' moral lore
Was to his serious reason dear.
Restless from fair to fair he flew,
Yet none could lasting bliss impart;
The Muse vot'ry's frailty knew,
And wish'd to fix his wand'ring heart.
To SHENSTONE'S bow'r the Goddess brought
From India's coast a lovely dame;
Whose gentle charms, by Virtue taught,
Could all his wildest wishes tame.
Venus, who had the swain beguil'd,
Yet gracious still, to serve him meant;
Join'd with the Muse, and Virtue smil'd
Benignant, on their kind intent.
Will APPHIA frown where these approve;
Will she her aid refuse to lend;
And bid that heart forbear to love;
Which she alone to Love can bend?
Ah then! for ever be unknown
The name my pride disdains to own;
Remain for ever mute, my tongue;
And then, my lyre, forget thy song.