Hail curious Wights! to whom so fair <br />The form of mortal flies is! <br />Who deem those grubs beyond compare, <br />Which common sense despises. <br /> <br />Whether o'er hill, morass or mound, <br />You make your sportsman sallies; <br />Or that your prey, in gardens found <br />Is urged through walks and alleys, <br /> <br />Yet, in the fury of the chase, <br />No slope could e'er retard you; <br />Blest, if one fly repay the race, <br />Or painted wing reward you. <br /> <br />Fierce as Camilla, o'er the plain, <br />Pursued the glittering stranger; <br />Still ey'd the purple's pleasing stain, <br />And knew not fear nor danger. <br /> <br />'Tis you dispense the favourite meat <br />To nature's filmy people; <br />Know what conserves they choose to eat, <br />And what liqueurs, to tipple. <br /> <br />And, if her brood of insects dies, <br />You sage assistance lend her; <br />Can stoop to pimp for amorous flies, <br />And help them to engender. <br /> <br />'Tis you protect their pregnant hour; <br />And when the birth's at hand, <br />Exerting your obstetric power, <br />Prevent a mothless land. <br /> <br />Yet oh! however your towering view <br />Above gross objects rises; <br />Whate'er refinements you pursue, <br />Hear, what a friend advises. <br /> <br />A friend, who, weigh'd with yours, must prize <br />Domitian's idle passion; <br />That wrought the death of teasing flies, <br />But ne'er their propagation. <br /> <br />Let Flavia's eyes more deeply warm, <br />Nor thus your hearts determine, <br />To slight Dame Nature's fairest form, <br />And sigh for nature's vermin. <br /> <br />And speak with some respect of beaus; <br />No more, as triflers, treat them; <br />'Tis better learn to save one's clothes, <br />Than cherish moths that eat them.<br /><br />William Shenstone<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-the-virtuosi/
