The Irish Poet and the Natural World: An Anthology of Verse in English from the Tudors to the Romantics

Wetenhall Wilkes (1705/6–1741–1751)

195 WETENHALL WILKES (1705/6–1741–1751) Wetenhall Wilkes – one of eighteenth-century Ireland’s more endearing eccentrics – was born in County Cavan and educated at Trinity College Dublin. Wilkes was a spendthrift who soon found himself heavily in debt and was forced to take up residence in the debtors’ prison in Dublin. While in prison, he wrote and published several long, rambling poems including ‘The Humours of the Black Dog’ which he dedicated to Swift: he later claimed, quite implausibly, to have sold 17,000 copies of this most peculiar poem in two months. He went on to write opinionated but engaging books of advice for young ladies and a book on religion for children. Around 1740, Wilkes moved to England where he wrote and published a highly entertaining poem entitled Hounslow-Heath celebrating angling, coursing and hunting. He also produced a strange volume he called An Essay on the Pleasures and Advantages of Female Literature. … To this are subjoin’d A Prosaic Essay on Poetry, … The Chace, a poem, and three Poetic Landscapes (London, 1741). The three poetic landscapes are Irish and the poems are dedicated to three landowners in the Cavan and Fermanagh area from whom, presumably, Wilkes expected some reward. Though not great poetry, the poems are of exceptional interest for their detailed accounts of Irish houses and gardens in the 1730s. Wilkes was also one of the few poets to explore the relationship between cultivated and ‘wild’ spaces in Ireland and to give some account of the part each played in social life. At some stage, Wilkes was ordained into the Anglican church and, by the time of his death, was rector of a parish in Lincolnshire. from: Bellville, a poem Inscrib’d to Thomas Fleming Esq.1 On rising Ground,2 within a Valley plac’d, With chequer’d Hills at easy distance grac’d, A Structure stands; built uniform and neat – With all the beauties of a Country Seat … Full on the Front the beamy God displays The chearful warmth of his Meridian Rays. Soft rising Breezes, gentle and serene, Salute each Window from the Sylvan Scene: The well til’d Hall in vary’d Angles spreads And to a Stocho’d, lofty Stair-Case leads.3 10 The Flemings were a military family who spent considerable sums on improving 1 Bellville, Co. Cavan in the 1730s. 2 The floors of halls in substantial eighteenth-century Irish houses were usually covered 3 in black and white tiles arranged diagonally, while the walls were stuccoed. 196 A sumptuous Parlour opens to the Right; And shews a triple Prospect of Delight. The Builder’s Skill the Chambers all declare; And do, though plain, a decent Grandeur wear. This Fabrick does agreeably present From ev’ry Side, an easy, slow Descent; But from the Front an unforced Level spreads, Where various Beauties creep along the Beds. A spacious Terrass lies before the Door, Cemented well and smooth as any Floor. 20 Upon the Borders of a velvet Plain Both Sides, where various other Beauties reign, With taper Trees of Box and Yew are grac’d Of equal Size, at equal Distance plac’d. To this an Avenue, serpentine, leads, Adorn’d with Trees above the shelving Meads.4 Just at the Enterance of which there stands A spacious Gate-way built by curious Hands. Within two fair Parterres appear to view All sorts of Flow’rs of lovely Form and Hue. 30 The painted Tulip, Lily, fragrant Rose, A blooming Wilderness of Sweets5 compose. The pale Narcissus, and the bright Jonquil, With rich Perfumes th’enamel’d Carpet fill. On th’Eastern Side delightful Plots appear Diagonally form’d—tall Hedges rear Their waving Heads in various Figures round. The Ear’s diverted with the murm’ring Sound Of Waters falling from a small Cascade, Down to a Bason in the Garden laid. 40 Before the Front, upon a gentle Height, A strong Enclosure stops the wand’ring Sight; In former Times a Danish Fort—but now A Circle where all kinds of Fruit-Trees grow;6 gradually sloping meadows. 4 ‘Wilderness’ was a term of art in landscape design of the period. 5 The two ‘Danish’ forts (i.e. ring forts) and their incorporation into the landscaping at 6 Bellville are clearly seen on eighteenth-century maps of the demesne. 197 Wetenhall Wilkes Fair to the Eye, delicious to the Taste, With pleasant...