My trembling muse your honour does address, <br />That it's a bold attempt most humbly I confess; <br />If you'll encourage her young fagging flight, <br />She'll upwards soar and mount Parnassus' height. <br />If little things with great may be compared <br />In Rome it so with the divine Virgil fared; <br />The tuneful bard Augustus did inspire, <br />Made his great genius flash poetic fire; <br />But if upon my flight your honour frowns, <br />The muse folds up her wings, and dying - justice owns.<br /><br />James Thomson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-poetical-epistle-to-sir-william-bennet-bart-of-grubbat/
