The meagre stores of verbal gratitude;

But, such as I possess, I send thee all.

This page presents thee in their full amount

With thy son's treasures, and the sum is nought; 15

Nought, save the riches that from airy dream

In secret grottos and in laurel bowers

I have, by golden Clio's gift, acquired.

Verse is a work divine; despise not thou

Verse, therefore, which evinces (nothing more) 20

Man's heavenly source, and which, retaining still