66 



A grateful incense to the household gods. 



Her plastic genius now she bends anew 



To make, what mortals call, the &quot; OYSTER STEW &quot; 



True talent not alone doth lie 



In great endeavor, and capacity 



To do the loftiest deeds ; but also to bestow 



A higher place on humbler things, and throw 



O er that, which hitherto obscure hath been, 



The light of genius, and the voice of fame. 



Clocinda s genius elevates the dish, 



And makes it all that man or gods might wish. 



First, in the cauldron cleansed with anxious care 



The savory celery she doth prepare. 



Then, over this inverts the crystal stream, 



And gives the cauldron to the genial flame. 



Then adds the exuberant udder s freshest yield 



Ta en from the kine, that roam, at large, the field, 



In sunny Orange, nor forgets the grease 



Yellow and sweet, that Goshen, land of peace 



And pasture, justly boasts, then adds, but sparsely, 



To give a vernal tase, the well-minced parsley 



Her snow-white tribute, next, doth Ceres give, 



Which, first, Clocinda cares to pass through sieve ; 



Then throws it in, commixed by slow degrees, 



Or more or less, each varied taste to please 



