Versos English Thomas Hull Address to Theodore Maurice, Esq

English poem

Address to Theodore Maurice, Esq

by (1728–1808)

Listen in the reader

Dorus, the present lay is thine, The tale to Friendship I consign; To thee, who well dost comprehend The zeal and fervour of a friend: Thou, who hast known my infant Muse, Since first she could her go-cart use, This plaything candidly receive, And smile, and censure, and forgive.

How oft doth memory enjoy The sports, that did our days employ, When gentle HOTCHKIS held the rule O'er SUTTON's long-renowned school! Some age ago, whose annals shone With deathless STEELE and ADDISON: And in our days from BLACKSTONE's name Have gather'd dignity and fame.

For many a trick, and many a feat, I love the rev'rend bound'ry yet; And can, ev'n now, in thought run o'er The gambols I enjoy'd before. I love it for the lore I gain'd, For all that pleas'd, and all that pain'd; For tasks of each denomination, Theme, verse, night study, and translation: Nay, to this hour, when I engage With HORACE's or VIRGIL's page, Right mindful I my tribute pay Of gratitude to Founder's Day.

But chief I love the antique walls, For that each well-known path recalls The basis of our friendship laid, Which hath for years stood undecay'd.

What tho' awhile th' Atlantic ran, With envious course, 'twixt man and man, No time, no distance could unbind The sacred league 'twixt mind and mind.

Long may we hail, with honest mirth, The place which gave our friendship birth, And, in libation to the school, When, chatting o'er a social bowl, Through life, it seemly may become us To toast CARTHUSIANA DOMUS.