THOMAS TAYLOR

To Thomas Taylor

 

Though time and distance deem to separate

Good heroes, priests, and loving sages great

From modern man, with all his present woes,

‘Til little shines from ancient mystic shows;

Yet providence would not this golden chain

To end or break, nor douse the sacred flame.

She placed a son on Britain’s fertile land

To bear the aegis of that noble band,

With strength both rare and full of ardent fire,

Who shunned false pleasure and temptations dire.

This great soul laboured in obscurity

To fan the flame of pure philosophy,

And place before the seeker of the good

A banquet full with wholesome heav’nly food –

Whilst fired by wisdom’s ever lucid light

He toiled ‘gainst ignorance and folly’s night,

Rejecting vain and boastful slights of men,

To wisdom’s way he brought a light again.

 

O Thomas Taylor, in your praise I sing,

Far seeing sage, with you my soul takes wing

Above the rages of this world uncouth,

Back to the sacred majesty of truth!

With heart-full joy and thanks for pure insight,

May all your days abound with beauty’s light;

And, in our turn, with all you left behind

We toil, assured that wisdom’s home we’ll find.

Philosophy, your spouse and starry guide,

Is also ours, as in the truth we bide –

Is always ours when in the good we bide…