If By Dull Rhymes Our English Must Be Chaind

 If by dull rhymes our English must be chain'd,
 And, like Andromeda, the Sonnet sweet
Fetter'd, in spite of pained loveliness;
Let us find out, if we must be constrain'd,
 Sandals more interwoven and complete
To fit the naked foot of poesy;
Let us inspect the lyre, and weigh the stress
Of every chord, and see what may be gain'd
 By ear industrious, and attention meet:
Misers of sound and syllable, no less
 Than Midas of his coinage, let us be
 Jealous of dead leaves in the bay wreath crown;
So, if we may not let the Muse be free,
 She will be bound with garlands of her own.

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