Christopher Smart Poems

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by Smart, Christopher

 I 
O THOU, that sit'st upon a throne, 
With harp of high majestic tone, 
 To praise the King of kings; 
And voice of heav'n-ascending swell, 
Which, while its deeper notes excell, 
 Clear, as a clarion, rings: 

 II 
To bless each valley, grove and coast, 
And charm the cherubs to the post 
 Of gratitude in throngs;...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 Sweet is the dew that falls betimes,
And drops upon the leafy limes;
Sweet Hermon's fragrant air:
Sweet is the lily's silver bell,
And sweet the wakeful tapers smell
That watch for early pray'r.

Sweet the young nurse with love intense,
Which smiles o'er sleeping innocence;
Sweet when the lost arrive:
Sweet the musician's ardour beats,
While his vague mind's in quest of sweets,
The choicest flow'rs to hive.

Sweeter in...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 It ever was allow'd, dear Madam, 
Ev'n from the days of father Adam, 
Of all perfection flesh is heir to, 
Fair patience is the gentlest virtue; 
This is a truth our grandames teach, 
Our poets sing, and parsons preach; 
Yet after all, dear Moll, the fact is 
We seldom put it into practice; 
I'll warrant (if one knew the...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry. 
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk,...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry. 
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk,...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 Rejoice in God, O ye Tongues; give the glory to the Lord, and the Lamb. 

Nations, and languages, and every Creature, in which is the breath of Life. 

Let man and beast appear before him, and magnify his name together. 

Let Noah and his company approach the throne of Grace, and do homage to the Ark of their Salvation....Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 Let Elizur rejoice with the Partridge, who is a prisoner of state and is proud of his keepers. 

Let Shedeur rejoice with Pyrausta, who dwelleth in a medium of fire, which God hath adapted for him. 

Let Shelumiel rejoice with Olor, who is of a goodly savour, and the very look of him harmonizes the mind. 

Let Jael rejoice...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 For a Man is to be looked upon in that which he excells as on a prospect. 

For there be twelve cardinal virtues -- three to the East -- Greatness, Valour, Piety. 

For there be three to the West -- Goodness, Purity and Sublimity. 

For there be three to the North -- Meditation, Happiness, Strength. 

For there be three...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 For God has given us a language of monosyllables to prevent our clipping. 

For a toad enjoys a finer prospect than another creature to compensate his lack. 

Tho' toad I am the object of man's hate. 
Yet better am I than a reprobate. who has the worst of prospects. 
For there are stones, whose constituent particles are little toads....Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 Let Ramah rejoice with Cochineal. 

Let Gaba rejoice with the Prickly Pear, which the Cochineal feeds on. 

Let Nebo rejoice with the Myrtle-Leaved-Sumach as with the Skirret Jub. 2d. 

Let Magbish rejoice with the Sage-Tree Phlomis as with the Goatsbeard Jub: 2d. 

Let Hashum rejoice with Moon-Trefoil. 

Let Netophah rejoice with Cow-Wheat. 

Let Chephirah rejoice with Millet. 

Let Beeroth...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 Let Dew, house of Dew rejoice with Xanthenes a precious stone of an amber colour. 

Let Round, house of Round rejoice with Myrmecites a gern having an Emmet in it. 

Let New, house of New rejoice with Nasamonites a gem of a sanguine colour with black veins. 

Let Hook, house of Hook rejoice with Sarda a Cornelian -- blessed...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 [From the Latin of Petronious Ascanius.]

When, wanton fair, the snowy orb you throw, 
I feel a fire before unknown in snow. 
E'en coldest snow I find has pow'r to warm 
My breast, when flung by Julia's lovely arm. 
T'elude love's pow'rful arts I strive in vain, 
If ice and snow can latent fires contain. 
These frolics leave: the force...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 'Tis Nancy's birth-day--raise your strains, 
Ye nymphs of the Parnassian plains, 
And sing with more than usual glee 
To Nancy, who was born for me. 

Tell the blythe Graces as they bound, 
Luxuriant in the buxom round; 
They're not more elegantly free, 
Than Nancy, who was born for me. 

Tell royal Venus, tho' she rove, 
The queen of the...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 The shepherd Christ from heav'n arriv'd, 
My flesh and spirit feeds; 
I shall not therefore be depriv'd 
Of all my nature needs. 

As slop'd against the glist'ning beam 
The velvet verdure swells, 
He keeps, and leads me by the stream 
Where consolation dwells. 

My soul He shall from sin restore, 
And her free pow'rs awake, 
In paths of heav'nly...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 Once on a time I fair Dorinda kiss'd, 
Whose nose was too distinguish'd to be miss'd; 
My dear, says I, I fain would kiss you closer, 
But tho' your lips say aye--your nose says, no, Sir.-- 
The maid was equally to fun inclin'd, 
And plac'd her lovely lily-hand behind; 
Here, swain, she cry'd, may'st thou securely kiss, 
Where there's...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 In ev'ry age, and each profession, 
Men err the most by prepossession; 
But when the thing is clearly shown, 
And fairly stated, fully known, 
We soon applaud what we deride, 
And penitence succeeds to pride.-- 
A certain Baron on a day 
Having a mind to show away, 
Invited all the wits and wags, 
Foot, Massey, Shuter, Yates, and Skeggs,...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 The sweets of evening charm the mind, 
Sick of the sultry day; 
The body then no more confin'd, 
But exercise with freedom join'd, 
When Phoebus sheathes his ray. 

While all-serene the summer moon 
Sends glances thro' the trees, 
And Philomel begins her tune,. 
And Asteria too shall help her soon 
With voice of skillful ease. 

A nosegay, every thing...Read more of this...

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by Smart, Christopher

 The poker lost, poor Susan storm'd, 
And all the rites of rage perform'd; 
As scolding, crying, swearing, sweating, 
Abusing, fidgetting, and fretting. 
"Nothing but villany, and thieving; 
Good heavens! what a world we live in! 
If I don't find it in the morning, 
I'll surely give my master warning. 
He'd better far shut up his doors, 
Than keep such...Read more of this...

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