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Sonnet XVI. Translated From Boileau.

Topics: classic

Apollo, at his crowded altars, tir'd         Of Votaries, who for trite ideas thrown         Into loose verse, assume, in lofty tone,         The Poet's name, untaught, and uninspir'd,      Indignant struck the LYRE. - Straight it acquir'd         New powers, and complicate. Then first was known         The rigorous Sonnet, to be fram'd alone         By duteous Bards, or by just Taste admir'd. -      Go, energetic Sonnet, go, he cried,         And be the test of skill! - For rhymes that flow         Regardless of thy rules, their destin'd guide,      Yet take thy name, ah! let the boasters know         That with strict sway my jealous laws preside,         While I no wreaths on rebel verse bestow.

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"Apollo, at his crowded altars, tir'd..."

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