Affliction’s bitter show’r is shed.
But ’tis the weakness of thy kind
Meekly to bear the inevitable sway;
The wisdom of the human mind
Is to murmur and obey.
ODE
TO THE LYRIC MUSE.
SPOKEN IN THE THEATRE AT THE INSTALLATION OF LORD NORTH, CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
STROPHE I.
Fair sov’reign of the golden lyre,
Descend, Thalia, from th’ enchanted grove