On Sending My Son, As A Present, To Dr. Swift, Dean Of St. Patrick's, On His Birth--Day.



A Curious Statue, we are told,
Is priz'd above its Weight in Gold;
If the fair Form the Hand confess
Of Phidias, or Praxiteles:
But if the Artist could inspire
The smallest Spark of heav'nly Fire,
Tho' but enough to make it walk,
Salute the Company, or talk;
This would advance the Price so high,
What Prince were rich enough to buy?
Such if Hibernia could obtain,
She sure would give it to the Dean:
So to her Patriot should she pay
Her Thanks upon his natal Day.

A richer Present I design,
A finish'd Form, of Work divine,
Surpassing all the Power of Art,
A thinking Head, and grateful Heart,
An Heart, that hopes, one Day, to show
How much we to the Drapier owe.

Kings could not send a nobler Gift;
A meaner were unworthy Swift.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

42 sec read
103

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBXXCCDDXXEE FFGGHH II
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 718
Words 140
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 14, 6, 2

Mary Barber

Mary Barber, poet, was a member of Swift's circle. more…

All Mary Barber poems | Mary Barber Books

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    "On Sending My Son, As A Present, To Dr. Swift, Dean Of St. Patrick's, On His Birth--Day." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/26629/on-sending-my-son,-as-a-present,-to-dr.-swift,-dean-of-st.-patrick's,-on-his-birth--day.>.

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