: The Tribute: A Panegyrical Poem by Philo - Coke Thomas William Earl of Leicester 1752-1842 Poetry

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THE TRIBUTE;

BY PHILO.

"So be it mine to touch the sounding string, The FRIEND, the PATRIOT, and the MAN to sing, And though unused to raise the tuneful song, The MIGHTY THEME shall make my numbers strong; Bright TRUTH shall guide me like the solar rays, Illume my darkness and direct my praise! Inspire each thought and breathe in ev'ry line, And grace my Eulogy with rays divine; And, while I paint the scene, the fact recite, Still burst upon me in a blaze of light."

NORWICH: PRINTED BY W. UPCROFT, ST. CLEMENT'S.

DEDICATION, TO THE HONORABLE THE LADY ANN COKE.

PRAISE--when it is fairly earned and justly due, is that meed which virtue delights to bestow upon merit; and, as it is highly gratifying to every worthy mind to receive, so next to those who merit it, it is to none more delightful than to those who are allied to, and love and regard the object of the Eulogy. Most grateful then must it be to the feelings of a beloved wife, to hear and even read of the honorable and praise-worthy actions of a kind and tender husband. It is indeed like the oil of gladness to the heart, which, while it softens and lubricates, rejoices and refines: while it is read it delights--inspires a desire to imitate--infuses a portion of the spirit it celebrates into the bosom of rectitude--and cherishes the noble incentive to "go and do likewise." Under this impression it is, that the Author has presumed to dedicate to your Ladyship, this humble tribute of his respect and esteem. If he must not be allowed to rank it with the brighter effusions of imagination; yet, being founded in truth, it is intrinsically superior to the flights of fancy, and he trusts when you consider the justness of the panegyric, and the sincerity which inspires it; you will look over the imperfection of the Performance, in regard to the goodness of the intention; and readily pardon the writers defects of genius in justice to the warmth of his feelings.

Should this humble attempt tend to circulate more widely the Virtues it aspires to praise, or induce some more elevated Bard to

"Touch the sounding strings, And in more fervid poeans sing his fame."

the Author will be highly gratified and rejoice in the happy effects of his labours.

TO THE READER.

The principal part of the following little Poem was composed ten or a dozen years ago, and is extracted from a much longer Eulogy upon our Great Patriot, his Holkham, and his Agriculture; but which, for reasons not necessary to mention here, has never met the public eye; nor would what is here published, have done so now, had the Author been aware of any Competitor in the same field, who had attempted to do justice to the great and good man whose fame he aspires to sing. But now the Guardian of our County's rights, her liberties and laws, has resigned his seat in Parliament, and after seeing the great measures for which he so long contended in the House of Commons granted to the energetic exertions of a great People, aided by the support of a Patriotic Monarch, and a wise Ministry; has retired to the Sylvan shades of his wide domain, to enjoy the well earned meed of public virtue and private spirit; the Author could no longer delay presenting this humble tribute to his fame, and he trusts it will now be deemed neither misplaced nor ill timed, and although its pretensions are so humble, yet as they are ardent and sincere, he hopes it will be received with the candour and indulgence such trifles are usually received, when the praise is so justly due--so dearly earned--and so seldom deserved; in which case he will be highly gratified and his labour amply rewarded.

North Walsham, Dec. 25th, 1832

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