| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Later Poems | | On His Grotto at Twickenham |
| | | | Composed of Marbles, Spars, Gems, Ores, and Minerals |
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| These lines were enclosed in a letter to Bolingbroke, dated September 3, 1740. |
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THOU who shalt stop where Thames’ translucent wave | |
| Shines a broad mirror thro’ the shadowy cave; | |
| Where ling’ring drops from min’ral roofs distil, | |
| And pointed crystals break the sparkling rill; | |
| Unpolish’d gems no ray on pride bestow, | 5 |
| And latent metals innocently glow; | |
| Approach. Great Nature studiously behold! | |
| And eye the mine without a wish for gold. | |
| Approach; but awful! lo! the Ægerian grot, | |
| Where, nobly pensive, St. John sate and thought; | 10 |
| Where British sighs from dying Wyndham stole, | |
| And the bright flame was shot thro’ Marchmont’s soul. | |
| Let such, such only, tread this sacred floor, | |
| Who dare to love their country, and be poor. | | | |
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