from The Life of William Cowper

And while she polishes, perverts the taste;

Habits of close attention, thinking heads,

Become more rare as dissipation spreads,

Till authors hear at length, one gen’ral cry,

Tickle and entertain us, or we die.

The loud demand, from year to year the same,

Beggars invention and makes fancy lame,

Till farce itself, most mournfully jejune,

Calls for the kind assistance of a tune;

And novels (witness ev’ry month’s review)

Belie their name, and offer nothing new.

 (Retirement, lines 703-714)

Farewell! endued with all that could engage

All hearts to love thee, both in youth and age!

In prime of life, for sprightliness enroll’d

Among the gay, yet virtuous as the old;

 ~

In life’s last stage, (oh blessings rarely found!)

Pleasant as youth with all its blossoms crown’d,

Through every period of this changeful state

Unchanged thyself - wise, good, affectionate!

 ~

Marble may flatter, and lest this should seem

O’ercharged with praises on so dear a theme,

Although thy worth be more than half supprest

Love shall be satisfied, and veil the rest.

~