\fccft onT JuTTi 
 
 -a/7Tf 
 
 DUNCAN INSTITUTE LIBRARY, 
 
 ^UPAR-'SirE. 
 
 "m 
 
 Jfr J'S. 
 
POEMS 
 
 O N 
 
 SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Treasure %oom 
 
ii. 
 
POEMS 
 
 O N 
 
 SEVERAL OCCASIONS- 
 
 By THOMAS BLACKLOCK, 
 Student of Philofophy in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, 
 
 Tlv TTi^i Mao*' ifixms, ^j'fTa S* ocyx^ov rs, hxkov t«. 
 Homer, Odyff. 6. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed by Hamilton, Balfour and Neill, 
 M,DCC,LIV. 
 
srA'^sr 
 
To the Publisher. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 SINCE my arrival from the country, I 
 have been informed, that Mr. Black- 
 lock propofes to lend a new edition of his 
 poetical performances into the world, with- 
 out either preface or introducflion. I am ig- 
 norant what motives may influence him to 
 this ; except, perhaps, the great difficulty 
 which a man finds in fpeaking with propriety 
 of himfelf and his own produdlions. How- 
 ever, ] cannot forbear thinking, that the An- 
 gularity of Mr. Blacklock's circumftances 
 will, not only render a fliort account of him 
 and his performances acceptable to the cu- 
 rious reader, but recommend his talents 
 more to public obfervation. From this laft 
 confideration I think mylelf bound in friend- 
 {hip to fend you a few hints upon that fubjecS:, 
 which you may throw into whatever form 
 you fliall fee convenient. 
 
 Our Author was born in the town Q>i Aji- 
 nan^ loth Nov. 1721. His Relations, tho' 
 not altogether obfcure, were yet more di- 
 ftinguifhed for innocence of life and inte- 
 grity 
 
L VI J 
 
 grity of manners, than either by theli' for- 
 tune or ftation in the world. His Parents 
 propofed, even from his birth, to be^iow 
 fuch an education upon their Son, as might 
 at once render him ufeful and independent. 
 But, alas ! thofe fond profpedis were early 
 blafted ; for fcarcely had he enjoyed the 
 h'ght of heaven five months, when he was 
 deprived of it by the fmall-pox ; and redu- 
 ced to that forlorn fituation fo feelingly de- 
 fcribed by himfelf in his Soliloquy *. 
 
 His thoughts, therefore, were early and 
 anxiouily taken up with the unpleafing pro- 
 fpe6t of his future fortune, except v/hen 
 more agreeably diverted by reading, or the 
 converfation of a few intimate friends. He 
 foon began to difcover a fondnefs for Poetry; 
 and, when he met with any thing ftriking in 
 that way ( to ufe an expreffion of his own) 
 he was at once inchanted with its harmony, 
 and kindled with its enthufiafm. Nor did 
 his fondnefs ftop here : for, from admiring, 
 he was foon led to imitate ; and, when fcarce 
 twelve years of age, he began to indulge his 
 imagination in verfe. But thofe little Eflays, 
 v^hich were the product of tiiat period of his 
 life, tho' fome of them have now a place a- 
 Diongft his other works -fy were only intend- 
 ed 
 
 * See Page 143 — 145. -f Page 73. 
 
[ vii ] 
 
 cd for his own amufement, and induftrioufly 
 kept from the view of all, except a few of 
 his greateft confidents. Thefe encouraged his 
 growing inclination for Poetry, and flattered 
 him from time to time with the alluring 
 hopes, that thofe little excurfions of his un- 
 tutored fancy were prefages of a real genius. 
 
 Thus, contented with the mere pleafure 
 of compofing and the approbation of a few 
 friends, he continued till the year 1740, 
 when his Father died. This, joined to a 
 train of other circumftances too tedious to 
 mention, forced him out of that privacy and 
 retirement which favoured his own inclinati- 
 on J and obliged him to enlarge the fphere 
 of his acquaintance. In confequence of 
 which, fome of his performances fell into 
 the hands of thofe who had tafle enough to 
 approve them, and humanity enough to widi 
 his genius in circumftances more favourable 
 for its cultivation. But their good v/idies, 
 however fincere, contributed little to his ad- 
 vantage, till he was fent for to Eduibiu^gh by 
 that Gentleman to whom his firfl Ode is in- 
 fcribed ; who, with uncommon generofity, 
 indulged him in every thing neceffary to life 
 and education for four years. After his re- 
 turn from thence, anno 1745, while his ap- 
 plication to learning was retarded by the dif-* 
 
 order 
 
[ viii ] 
 
 order of the times, he publlflied a Colle6lion 
 of Poems at Glq/goiv : moft of which, with 
 the addition of leveral new pieces, will make 
 up the Volume you are jufl: now printing ; 
 but the former confiderably improved by cor- 
 rections. Since that period, he has conti- 
 nued fix feafons at the univerfity, fludying 
 with particular attention moft branches of po- 
 lite literature ; at the fame time not unmind- 
 ful of Poetry, his favourite purfuit. 
 
 Indigent circumftances and a dependent 
 fituation muft, of themfelves, greatly deprefs 
 the fublimeft genius, and check the moft 
 lively fallies of imagination : but when 
 thefe are joined (as in the cafe of our Au- 
 thor) with a total deprivation of fight, and 
 that from the earlieft infancy ; thefe exerti- 
 ons of genius which difplay themfelves thro' 
 his poems, and would gain applaufe to ano- 
 ther pofleiTed of common advantages, muft 
 in him command our admiration. 
 
 As it is by the fenfes alone we receive 
 thofe various imprefiions which furnifh the 
 foul with its firft ftock of ideas, and occafion 
 thofe pleafing fenfations which make up a 
 great part of human happinefs ; where any 
 of thefe avenues of perception are obftrudled, 
 thQ mind, fo unfortunately fituated, muft, 
 
 of 
 
[ i^ ] 
 
 of confequence, be cut off from many advan- 
 tages in point of knowledge and pleafure, 
 which are enjoyed by the reft of mankind. 
 But, of all the fenfes, fight is univerfally e- 
 fteemed the moft valuable; as it not only 
 furnifhes our mind with the greatefl variety 
 of ideas, but is, befides, a fource of the moft 
 tranfporting pleafures. 'Tis from this fource, 
 likewife, all fuch materials muft be derived, 
 as are neceffary to awaken the genius, and en- 
 hven the fancy of thofe who would excel in 
 works of imagination. 
 
 Milton very pathetically reprefents the 
 ufe and pleafure which attend the poffeffion 
 of this faculty, in his Third Book ofParadife 
 Loft, 
 
 It is generally agreed, that Homer, for a 
 confiderable time, enjoyed the privilege of 
 fight; and 'tis known, that Milton retain- 
 ed the ufe of his, till he arrived at a pretty 
 advanced age : fo that each of thefe great po- 
 ets had fufficient time to lay in a full ftore of 
 all thofe beautiful images and allufions, 
 which fo heighten and animate their feveral 
 defcriptions : images and allulions derived, 
 not only from nature's produdions, but like- 
 wife drawn from the imitative arts. For, as 
 the fame genius naturally pays court to all 
 b thofe 
 
. [ X ] 
 
 tho^e daughters of Apollo, and as they mu- 
 tually rcfled a luftre upon each other j that 
 Poet muft be at a confiderable lofs, who 
 can neither be elevated with the pleafure, 
 nor allude to the beauties of painting, fcul- 
 pture, ar architedure : not to mention the 
 advantages arifing from travel, and a tho- 
 rough knowledge of the world, which are 
 never to be obtained without the ufe of fight. 
 
 'Tis true, that, by means of a lively defcri- 
 ption, we can, as it were, be tranfported thro* 
 the whole circle of nature ; or led into fcenes 
 where we may view an affemblage of all 
 thofe beauties united, which, fcattered as they 
 are, ferve to imbellifh the whole creation. 
 ;6ut then, it muft be obferved, that thofe 
 pleafm^j; images can never be painted in a 
 mind that has not been previoufly acquainted 
 with objeds which are, at leaft, fmiilar to 
 thofe defcribed : far lefs, one would think, 
 can it be expeded from any in Inch circum- 
 ftances to fpeak diftindly of thofe very 
 things, of vv^hich they have not faculties fuffi- 
 cient to convey the fmalleft conceptions to 
 themfelves. And yet, as has been juftly ob- 
 ferved concerning fome of thofe performan- 
 ces which are the fubjed of this letter, " It 
 muft be matter of amufement to the curious 
 Reader, to remark how well the Poet de- 
 
 fcribes 
 
[ xi ] 
 
 fcribes objecfls which he never faw, and ex- 
 preffes, (o as to be underftood by others, 
 thofe ideas which he himfelf could never 
 conceive." 
 
 Were I to defcend to a more particular 
 criticifm on his performances, I fhould only 
 anticipate the judgment of the Reader, or re- 
 peat what has aheady been often faid to the 
 advantage of thofe formerly publilhed. But, 
 as Dryden fays, 
 
 Poets lofe half the praife they would have got. 
 Were it but known what they difcreetly blot. 
 
 And, indeed, thofe produdions which he has 
 determined fliall never fee the light, for rea- 
 fons that could only afFecfl a very delicate 
 mind, abound with fo many poetical beauties, 
 that nothing can do him greater honour. Yet 
 I muft ftill except his private character j 
 which, were it generally known, would re- 
 commend him more to the public efteem, 
 than the united talents of an accomplished 
 writer. 
 
 I have often thought, that perfons poiTef- 
 fed of a large fhare of benevolence, but la- 
 bouring under a narrow fortune, fuffer more 
 fenfibiy from being denied the generous plea- 
 fure of communicating happinefs to others, 
 than from the inconveniences which it may 
 
 Qccafion 
 
r xii ] 
 
 occafion to themfelves. I have been more 
 confirmed in this opinion, when I have 
 heard our Poet repeat with great fervency the 
 following lines, while, at the fame time, not 
 one murmur fiole from him with refpedl to 
 himfelf: 
 
 Eternal * King ! is there one hour 
 
 To make me greatly bleft ; 
 When I fhali have it in my pow'r 
 
 To fuccour the diftreft ? 
 In vain, alas ! my heart o'erflows 
 
 With ufelefs tendernefs : 
 Why muft I feel another's woes, 
 
 And cannot make them lefs ? 
 Yet I this torture muft endure : 
 
 'Tis not referv'd for me. 
 To eafe the fighing of the poor ; 
 
 And fct the pris'ner free. 
 
 The many hours of pleafure I have often 
 enjoyed in Mr. Blacklock's company, have 
 made me as often regret, that one, whofe 
 uncommon genius, whofe extenfive know- 
 ledge, whofe refined tafte and virtuous difpo- 
 fitions render him fo well qualified to be ufe- 
 ful to mankind, fhould, neverthelefs, be fo 
 little known, or diilinguifhed in the world. 
 
 I am, SIR, Tour s J bcc. 
 Dumfries, 
 Dec. IS' 1753- 
 
 Q^G-^ — N. 
 
 *•* From HiBERNicus's Letters. 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 HORACE, Ode I. imitated: Infcrihed td 
 Dr, John Stevenson, Phyftcian in Edin- 
 burgh, Page I 
 Pfalm I. imitated, 5 
 An Hymn to the Supreme Being : In imitation of the 
 CIV. Ffalm, 8 
 P/^/»2 CXXXIX. imitated, 1 6 
 An Hymn to Divine Love : In imitation <j/Spenfer, i r 
 An Hymn to Benevolence, 24 
 An Hymn to Fortitude, 26 
 ^he Wijh fatisfied : An irregular Ode, ^5 
 To Happinefs : An Ode, 29 
 On EuANTHE*J Ahjence : An Ode, 44 
 'To a young Gentleman hound for Guinea : An Ode, 46 
 An Irregular Ode, fent to a Lady on her Marriage- 
 Day, 51 
 
 To 
 
xjv CONTENTS. 
 
 To a Coquet : An Ode, 54 
 
 On the Ktfinements in Metaphyfical Philofophy : An 
 
 Ode, " 58 
 
 To Mrs. R , on the Death of a promifing In- 
 fant : An Ode, 6^ 
 An Ode, written when fick, 70 
 To Health : An Ode, . 7 1 
 To a little. Girl whom I had offended : An Ode, writ- 
 ten at twelve Years of Age, 73 
 To Lesbia : Tranflited from Catullus, y^ 
 A Tranflation of an old ScQts Song, yS 
 Song : To the tune of the Braes of Ballandyne, 79 
 The Raviflfd Shepherd : A Song, Z l 
 A Pajioral Song, . 82 
 On the Death of Stella, a Pajioral, infcrihed to 
 her Sifter, ' Sy 
 A P aft oral : Infer ibed /(?Euanthe, 90 
 The Plaintive Shepherd : A P aft oral Elegy, g^ 
 Defiderium Lutetiae, from Buchanan : An alle- 
 gorical Paftoral, in which he regrets his abfence 
 from Paris ; imitated, 100 
 
 Philanthes : 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XV 
 
 Philanthes: A Monody : Infcribed to Mifs 
 
 D y H — Y i occafioned by aferies of ift' 
 
 terejling events zvhich happened at Dumfries 
 on Friday, June 12. 1752, particularly that 
 of her Father'' s Death, 1 09 
 
 ThePFifh: An Elegy. fT^ Urania, 125 
 
 On the Death of Mr. Pope : An Elegy., 130 
 
 A Soliloquy : Occafioned by the Author's ef cape from 
 falling into a^eep well., by the found of a fa- 
 vourite Lap-dog* s feet on the board with which 
 It was covered^ 141 
 
 Elegy : To the memory (j/Constantia, 156 
 
 Epifile I. 7'tf Clio : /;; anfwer to one in which fie 
 
 informed me of her departure from Dumfries, 1 64 
 Epifile W. To the fame. Fr^»2 Edinburgh, 167 
 
 Epifile III. To Dorinda, with Venice Freferv'd, 
 
 168 
 Epifile IV. To Mifs Annie Rae, with the Ma- 
 nual of Epidetus aiid Tablature of Cebes, 1 69 
 
 le to OTHi.hLO : Spoken by Mr. Love, at 
 the opening of the Play-houfe in Dumfries, 1 70 
 
 Prologue 
 
xvi CONTENTS. 
 
 Prologue to Hamlet : Spoken by Mr. Love at 
 
 Dumfries, 172 
 
 The Author's Pi5lure, 1 74 
 An Extempore Epigram, on a Girl hringing in a 
 
 Bottle of Wine ^ 178 
 
 To a Gentleman who ojked my fentiments of him, ibid. 
 
 On Punch : An Epigram, 1 79 
 
 On Marriage : An Epigram, 180 
 
 On the fame : An Epigram, 1 8 1 
 
 An Epitaph on a favourite Lap-dog, ibid. 
 
 POEMS 
 
POEMS 
 
 O N 
 
 Several Occasions. 
 
 HORACE, ODE I. imitated. 
 
 Infcribed to 
 Dr. John Stevenson Phyfician in Edinburgh. 
 
 OF R I E N D to freedom's facred caufe I 
 Who nobly arm'd for injur'd laws ; 
 By whofe indulgence I afpire 
 To ftrike the Iweet Horatian lyre : 
 
 There are who on th' Olympic plain 
 Delight the chariot's fpeed to rein; 
 Involv'd in glorious duft, to roll ; 
 To turn with glowing wheel the goalj 
 "Who by repeated trophies rife. 
 And (hare with Gods their pomp and fkies. 
 This, if the changeful crowd admire, 
 Fermented ev'n to mad defire, 
 
 A Their 
 
2 P O E M S ON 
 
 Their fool or villain to elate 
 To all the honours of the flate ; 
 That, if his granary fecures 
 Whate'er th' autumnal fun matures, 
 Pleas'd his paternal field to plow. 
 Remote from each ambitious view ; 
 Vaft India's wealth would bribe in vain, 
 To launch the bark, and cut the main. 
 
 The merchant, while the weftern breeze 
 Foments to rage th* Icarian feas, 
 Urg'd by th' impending hand of fate, 
 Extolls to heav'n his country- feat, 
 Its fweet retirement, fearlefs eafe. 
 The fields, the air, the ftreams, the trees ; 
 Yet fits the fhatter'd bark again, 
 Refolv'd to brave the tumid main, 
 Refolv'd all hazards to endure. 
 Nor fhun a plague, but, to be poor. 
 
 One with the- free, the gen'rous bowl, 
 Abforbs his- cares, and warms his foul : 
 Now wrapt in eafe, fupinely laid 
 Beneath the myrtle's am'rous fhade ; 
 Now where fome facred fountain flows, 
 Whofe cadence foft invites repofe ; 
 
 While 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ;: 
 
 While half the fulcry fummer's day 
 On filent pinions fleals away. 
 
 Some bofoms boall a nobler flame. 
 In fields of death to toil for fame, 
 In war's grim front to tempt their fate, 
 Curft war ! which brides and mothers hate : 
 As in each kindling hero's fight 
 Already glows the promis'd fight. 
 Their hearts with more than tranfport bound. 
 While drums and trumpets mix their found. 
 
 Unmindful of his tender wife. 
 And ev'ry home-felt blifs of life, 
 The huntfman, in th' unflielter'd plains, 
 Heav'n's whole inclemency fuftains ; 
 Now fcales the fteepy mountain's fide. 
 Now tempts the torrent's headlong tide ; 
 Whether his faithful hounds in view. 
 With fpeed fome timid prey purfue'; 
 Or, if fome monfter of the wood 
 At once his hopes and fnares elude. 
 
 Good to beftow, like heav'n, is thine, 
 Concurring in one great defign ; 
 To cool the fever's burning rage. 
 To knit the feeble nerves of age, 
 
 To 
 
4 P O E M S ON 
 
 To bid young health, with pleafure crown'd, 
 In rofy luftre fmile around. 
 
 My humbler funftion fliall I nanne, 
 My fole delight, my higheft aim ? 
 Infpir'd through breezy Ihades to ftray. 
 Where choral nymphs and graces play j 
 Above th' unthinking herd to foar. 
 Who fink forgot, and are no more ; 
 To fnatch from fate an honeft fame, 
 "Is all I hope, and all I claim ; 
 If to my vows Euterpe deign 
 The Doric reed's mellifluent ftrain, 
 
 Nor Polyhymnia, darling Mufe ! 
 
 To tune the Lefbian harp refufe. 
 But, if you rank me with the choir. 
 Who touch with happy hand the lyre i 
 
 Exulting to the ftarry frame, 
 -Suftain'd by all the wings of farne. 
 
 With bays.adorn'd I then {hall foar, 
 
 Pbfcure, deprefs'd, and fcorn'd no more j 
 
 While envy, vainly merit's foe. 
 
 With fable wings fhall flag below ; 
 
 And, doom'd to breathe a grofler air. 
 
 To reach my glorious height, defpair. 
 
 P S A L M 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 5 
 
 PSALM L IMITATED. 
 
 HO W bleft the man, how more than bleft ! 
 Whofe heart no guilty thoughts employ . 
 God's encilefs funlhine fills his breafl:. 
 
 And fmiling confcience whifpers peace and joy. 
 
 Fair reflitude's unerring way 
 
 His heav'n-condu6led fteps purfue ; 
 While crowds in guilt and error ftray, 
 
 Unflain'd his foul, and undeceiv'd his view. 
 
 While with unmeaning laughter gay. 
 
 Scorn, on her throne ereded high. 
 Emits a falfe delufive ray. 
 
 To catch th' aftonifh'd gaze of folly's eye j 
 
 Deep in herfelf his foul retired, 
 
 Unmov'd beholds the meteor blaze. 
 And, with all-perfe£i: beauty fir'd. 
 
 Nature, and nature's God, intent furveys. 
 
 Him from high heav'n, her native feat, 
 
 Eternal wifdom's felf infpires j 
 While he with purpofe fix'd as fate, 
 
 Purfue? her dilates, and her charms admires. 
 
 In 
 
6 P O E M S ON 
 
 In funlhine mild, and temp'rate air, 
 Where fome refrefhing fountain flows, 
 
 So, niirft by nature's tend'reft care, 
 A lofty tree wich autumn's treafure glows. 
 
 Around its boughs the fummer gale 
 With pleafure waves the genial wing ; 
 
 There no unfriendly colds prevail, 
 
 To chill the vigour of its endlefs fpring, 
 
 Amid its hofpitable fhade, 
 
 Heav'n's fweeteft warblers tune the lay ; 
 Nor fhall its honours ever fade. 
 
 Nor immature its plenteous fruit decay. 
 
 By God's almighty arm fuftain'd, 
 Thus virtue foon or late fhall rife ; 
 
 Enjoy her conqueft nobly gain'd. 
 
 And fhare immortal triumph in the fides. 
 
 But fools, to facred wifdom blind. 
 Who vice's tempting call obey, 
 
 A diff 'rent fate fhall quickly find. 
 To ev'ry roaring florm an eafy prey. 
 
 Thus, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 7 
 
 Thus, when the warring winds arife. 
 
 With all their lawlefs fury driv'n, 
 Light chaff or dull inceflant flies, 
 
 Whirl'd in fwift eddies thro' the vault of heav'n. 
 
 When in tremendous pomp array'd, 
 
 Defcending from the op'ning flcy, 
 With full omnipotence difplay'd. 
 
 Her God Ihall call on nature to reply : 
 
 Then vice, with fliame and grief deprefs'd, 
 
 Transfix'd with horror and defpair. 
 Shall feel hell kindling in her breaft, 
 
 Nor to her judge prefer her trembling pray'r: 
 
 For, with a father's fond regard. 
 
 To blifs he views fair virtue tend ; 
 While vice obtains her juft reward. 
 
 And all her paths in deep perdition end. 
 
 An 
 
g P O E M S or^ 
 
 An HYMN to the Supreme Being. 
 
 In IMITATION of the CIV. Pfalm. 
 
 ^id prius dicam foliiis parentis 
 Laudibui ? qui res hominmn ac deortim, 
 ^i mare et terras^ "uar Usque inundum 
 
 'Temper at horis ? HoR. 
 
 A RISE, my foul ! on wings feraphic rife, 
 
 ■^ ■*' And praife th' almighry Sov'reign of the fkies ; 
 
 In whom alone cfiential glory fhines. 
 
 Which not the heav'n of heav'ns, nor boundlefs fpacd 
 confines. 
 
 When darknefs rul'd with univerfal fway. 
 He fpoke, and kindled up the blaze of day, 
 Firfl, faired off'^pring of th'omnific word! 
 Which like a garment cloath'd its fov'reign Lord. 
 On liguid air he bade the columns rife. 
 That prop the ftarry concave of the flcies ; 
 Diffus'd the blue eXpanfe from pole to pole. 
 And fpread circumfluent aether round the whole. 
 
 Soon as he bids impetuous whirlwinds fly, 
 To wing his founding chariot thro' the fl^y ; 
 
 Impetuous 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 9 
 
 Impetuous whirlwinds the command obey, 
 Suftain his flight, and fweep th' aerial way. 
 Fraught with his mandates, from the realms on high^ 
 Unnumber'd hofts of radiant heralds fly 
 From orb to orb, with progrefs unconfla*d. 
 As lightning fwift, refiftlels as the wind. 
 
 In ambient air this pond'rous ball he hung, 
 And bade Its center r^^ft for ever iirong ; 
 Heav'n, air, and fea, with all their fl:orms, in vain 
 Aflauit the bafis of the firm machine. 
 
 At thy almighty voice old ocean raves. 
 Wakes all his force, and gathers all his waves j 
 Nature lies mantled in a wat'ry robe^ 
 And fhorelefs ocean revels round the globe 5 
 O'er higheft hills the higher furges rife, 
 Mix with the clouds, and meet the fluid fkies* 
 But when in thunder the rebuke was giv*n. 
 That fhook th' eternal firmament of heav'n ; 
 The grand rebuke th' affrighted waves obey. 
 And in confufion fcour their uiicouth way 5 
 And pcftjng rapid to the place decreed, 
 Wind down the hills, and fweep the humble mead. 
 Relu6lant in their bounds the waves fubfide. 
 The bounds, impervious to the lafliing tide, 
 
 B Reilram 
 
lo POEMS ON 
 
 Reftrain its rage ; whilft, with inceflant roar. 
 It fhakes the caverns, and affaults the fhore. 
 
 By him, from mountains cloath'd in lucid fnow. 
 Through fertile vales the mazy rivers flow. 
 
 Here the wild horfe, unconfcious of the rein. 
 That revels boundlefs o'er the wide campaign. 
 Imbibes the filver furge, with heat oppreft, 
 To cool the fever of his glowing breafl. 
 
 Here rifing boughs, adorn'd with fummer's pride, 
 Proje6t their waving umbrage o'er the tide ; 
 While, gently perching on the leafy fpray. 
 Each fearher'd warbler tunes his various lay : 
 And, while thy praife they fymphonize around. 
 Creation echoes to the grateful found. 
 Wide o'er the heav'ns the various bow he bends. 
 Its tindures brightens, and its arch extends : 
 At the glad fign the airy conduits flow. 
 Soften the hills, and cheat the meads below : 
 By genial fervour and prolific rain. 
 Swift vegetation runs thro' all the plain : 
 Nature, profufely good, with blifs o'erflows. 
 And fl:ill is pregnant, tho' fhe (till befl:ows. 
 
 Here verdant pafl:ures wide extended lye, 
 And yield the grazing- herd exuberant fupply. 
 
 Luxuriant 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ii 
 
 Luxuriant waving in the wanton air, 
 Here golden grain rewards the peafant's care : 
 Here vines mature with frefh carnation glow, 
 And heav'n above diffufes heav'n below. 
 Eredt and tall here mountain cedars rife. 
 Wave in the ftarry vault, and emulate the (kies. 
 Here the wing'd crowd, that fldm the yielding air 1 
 With artful toil their little domes prepare ; I 
 
 Here hatch their tender young, and nurfe the ri- | 
 
 fing care. J 
 
 Up the fteep hill afcends the nimble doe, 
 While timid conies fcour the plains below. 
 Or in the pendent rock elude the fcenting foe. 
 
 He bade the filver majefty of night 
 Revolve her circles, and encreafe her light ; 
 Affign'd a province to each rolling fphere. 
 And taught the fun to regulate the year. 
 At his command, wide hov'ring o'er the plain, 
 Primaeval night refumes her gloomy reign : 
 Then from their dens, impatient of delay. 
 The favage monfters bend their fpeedy way. 
 Howl thro' the fpacious wafte, and chafe their 
 
 frighted prey. 
 
 Here 
 
12 P OEMS 
 
 ON 
 
 jHerc ftalks the fliaggy monarch of the wood. 
 Taught from thy providence to afk his food : 
 To thcf, p Father, to thy bounteous fkies, 
 lie rears his mane, and rolls his glaring eyes ; 
 He roars ; the defart trembles wide around, 
 And repercuflive hills repeat the found. 
 
 Now orient gems the eaftern fkles adorn. 
 And joyful; nature hails the op'ning morn : 
 The rovers, confcious of approaching day. 
 Fly to their flielters, and forger then' prey. 
 Laborious man with mod'rate flumber bled, 
 Springs chearful to his toil from downy reft; 
 Till grateful ev'ning, with her argent train. 
 Bid labour ceafc, and eafe the weary fwain. 
 
 " Hail! fovVeign goodnefs, all produdive mind! 
 On all thy works thy felt infcrib'd we find : 
 How various all, how varioufly endow'd, 
 How great their number^ and each part how good ! 
 How perfed then muft the great Parent fliine, 1 
 Who, with one a£l of energy divine, > 
 
 Laid the vaft plan, and finifh'd the dcfign !" j 
 
 Where'er the pleafingfearch my thoughts purfue. 
 Unbounded goodnefs rifes to my view j 
 
 Nor 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 13 
 
 Nor does our world alone its influence fliare ; 
 Exhaiifllefs bounty, and unwearied care. 
 Extends thro' all th' infinitude of fpace. 
 And circles nature with a kind embrace. 
 
 The azure kingdoms of the deep below. 
 Thy pow'r, thy wifdom, and thy goodnefs ihow : 
 Here multitudes of various beings ftray, 
 Crowd the profound, or on the furface play : 
 Tall navies here their doubtful way explore. 
 And ev'ry produ6t waft from ev'ry fliore ; 
 Hence meagre want expell'd, and fanguine ftrife. 
 For the mild charms of cultivated life ; 
 Hence focial union fpreads from foul to foul, 
 And India joins in friendfliip with the pole . 
 Here the huge potent of the fcaly train 
 Enormous fails incumbent o'er the main 
 An animated ifle, and in his way, 
 Palhes to heav'n's blue arch the foamy fea : 
 When fides and ocean mingle ftorm and flame. 
 Portending inftant wreck to nature's frame, 
 Pleas'd in the fcene, he mocks with confcious pride. 
 The volley'd lightning, and the furging tide; 
 And, while the wrathful elements engage, 
 J^oments with horrid fport the tempefl's rage. 
 
14 
 
 POEMS ON 
 
 All thofe thy watchful providence fupplies, 
 To thee alone they turn their waiting eyes ; 
 For them thou op'neft thy exhauftlefs ftore. 
 Till the capacious wifh can grafp no more. 
 
 But, if one moment thou thy face fl;ould'Il hide. 
 Thy glory clouded, or thy fmiles deny'd, 
 Then widow'd nature veils her mournful eyes. 
 And vents her grief in univerfal cries : 
 Then gloomy death, with all his meagre train. 
 Wide o'er the nations fpreads his difmal reign ; 
 Sea, earth, and air, the boundlefs ravage mourn, 
 And all their hofts to native dull return. 
 
 But when again thy glory is difplay'd, 
 Reviv'd creation lifts her chearful head j 
 New rifing forms thy potent fmiles obey, 
 And life rekindles at the genial ray ; 
 United thanks replenifli'd nature pays, 
 And heav'n and earth refound their Maker's praife. 
 
 When time fliall in eternity be loft. 
 And hoary nature languifli into duft ; 
 For ever young thy glory fliall remain. 
 Vail as thy being, endlefs as thy reign. 
 Thou, from the regions of eternal day, 
 View'ft all thy works at one immenfe furvey : 
 
 Pleas'd 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 15 
 
 Pleas'd, thou behold'ft the whole propenfcly tend 
 To perfed happincfs, its glorious end. 
 
 If thou to earth but turn thy wrathful eyes, 
 Her bafis trembles, and her offspring dies : 
 Thou fmit'ft the hills, and, at th' Almighty blow. 
 Their fummits kindle, and their inwards glow. 
 
 While this immortal fpark of heav'nly flame 
 Diftends my breafl, and animates my frame ; 
 To thee my ardent praifcs Ihall be borne 
 On the firft breeze that wakes the blufhing morn : 
 The lateft ftar fhall hear the pleafing found. 
 And nature in full choir fhall join around. 
 When full of thee my foul excurfive flies 
 Thro' earth, air, ocean, or thy regal fkies ; 
 From world to world, new wonders ftill I find. 
 And all the God-head flallies on my mind. 
 When wing'd with whirlwinds, vice fhall take its flight 
 To the deep bofom of eternal night, 
 To thee my foul Ihall endlefs praifes pay : 
 Join, men and angles, join th* exalted lay ! 
 
 PSALM 
 
i6 POEMS ow 
 
 PSALM CXXXIX. IMITATE I?. 
 
 T% /TE, O my God ! thy piercing ey^, 
 ■*-^-^ In motion, or at reft furveys 5 
 If to the lonely couch I fly, 
 
 Or travel through frequented ways j 
 Where'er I move, thy boundlefs reign. 
 Thy mighty prefence circles all the fcene. 
 
 Where rtiall my thoughts from thee retire, 
 Whofe view pervades my inmoft heart f 
 
 The latent, kindling, young defire. 
 The word, ere froni my lips it part. 
 
 To thee their various forms difplay. 
 
 And fhine reveal'd in thy unclouded day. 
 
 Behind me if I turn my eyes, 
 
 Or forward bend my wand'ring fight^ 
 
 Whatever objefts round me rife 
 
 Through the wide fields of air and light 5 
 
 With thee imprefs'd each various frame, 
 
 The forming, moving, prefent God proclaim, 
 
 Fatlier 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 17 
 
 Father of all, omnifcient Mind, 
 
 Thy wifdom who can comprehend ? 
 Its highefl point what eye can find. 
 Or to its lowed depths defcend r* 
 That wifdom, which, ere things began, 
 Saw full expreft th' all- comprehending plan I 
 
 What dark recefs, what diftant clime, 
 
 Beyond thy reach, fliall I purfue ? 
 What cave profound, what ftar fublime, 
 
 Shall hide me from thy boundlefs view ? 
 Where from thy fpirit fhall I fly, 
 Diffufive, vital, felt thro' earth and fky ? 
 
 If up to heav'n's aetherial height. 
 
 Thy profped: to elude, I rife j 
 In fplendour there, feverely bright. 
 
 Thy prefence fliall my fight furprife : 
 There, beaming from their fource divine, 
 In full meridian, light and beauty fhine. 
 
 Beneath the pendent globe if laid, 
 
 If plung'd in hell's abyfs profound, 
 I call on night's impervious fhade 
 
 To fpread eflential blacknefs round ; 
 Confpicuous to thy wide furvey, 
 Ev'n hell's grirn horrors kindle into day. 
 
 C Thee, 
 
i8 POEMS ON 
 
 Thee, mighty God ! my wond'ring foul, 
 Thee, all her confcious pow'rs adore ; 
 
 Whofe being circumfcribes the whole, 
 Whofe eyes its utmoft bounds explore : 
 
 Alike illum'd by native light* 
 
 Amid the fun's full blaze, or gloom of night. 
 
 If through the fields of aether borne. 
 The living winds my flight fuftain ; 
 
 If on the rofy wings of morn, 
 
 I feek the diftant weflern main ; 
 
 There, O my God 1 thou ftill art found. 
 
 Thy pow'r upholds me, and thy arms furround. 
 
 Thy eflence fills this breathing frame. 
 It glows in ev'ry confcious part ; 
 
 Lights up my foul with livelier flame. 
 And feeds with life my beating heart : 
 
 Unfelt along my veins it glides. 
 
 And through their -inazes rolls the purple tides. 
 
 While, in the filent womb inclos'd, 
 
 A growing embrio yet I iay. 
 Thy hand my various parts difpos'd. 
 
 Thy breath infus'd life's genial ray ; 
 Till, flnilh'd by thy wond'rous plan, 
 I rofe the dread majefl:ic form of man. 
 
 To 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 19 
 
 To thee, from whom my being came, 
 Whofe fmile is all the heav'n I know. 
 
 Replete with all my wond'rous theme. 
 To thee my votive ilrains ihall flow ; 
 
 Great Archetype ! who firft derign*d, 
 
 Expreffive of thy glory, human kind. 
 
 Who can the ftars of heav'n explore. 
 
 The flow'rs that deck the verdant plain, 
 
 Th' unnumber'd fands that form the Ihore, 
 The drops that fwell the fpacious main ? 
 
 Let him thy wonders publifh round. 
 
 Till earth and heav'n's eternal throne refound. 
 
 As fubterraneous flames confin'd. 
 
 From earth's dark womb impetuous rife. 
 
 The conflagration, fann'd by wind. 
 
 Wraps realms, and blazes to the fl<.ies 5 
 
 In lightning's flafli, and thunder's roar, 
 
 Thus vice fiiall feel the tempefl: of thy pow'i'- 
 
 Fly then, as far as pole from pole, 
 
 Ye fons of flaughter, quick retire ; 
 At whofe approach my kindling foul 
 
 Awakes to unextinguifh'd ire : 
 Fly •, nor provoke the thunder's aim, 
 You, who in fcorn pronounce th' Almighty's name. 
 
20 P O E M *S ON 
 
 The wretch, who dares thy pow'r defy. 
 And on thy vengeance loudly call. 
 
 On him nor pity's melting eye. 
 
 Nor partial favour e'er lliall fall : 
 
 Still fhall thy foes be mine, ftill fliare 
 
 Unpity'd torture, and unmixt defpair. 
 
 Behold, O God ! behold me (land. 
 
 And to thy flrid regard difclofe 
 Whate'er was afted by my hand, 
 
 Whate'er my inmoil: thoughts propofe : 
 If vice indulg'd their candour ftain, 
 Be all my portion bitternefs and pain. 
 
 But, O ! if nature, weak and frail. 
 
 To ftrong temptations oft give way; 
 
 If doubt or paffion oft prevail. 
 
 O'er waftd'rlng reafon's feeble ray : 
 
 Let not thy frowns my fault reprove. 
 
 But guide thy creature with a Father's love. 
 
 An 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 21 
 An hymn to divine LOVE. 
 
 In imitation of Spenser. 
 
 I. 
 
 T^»T" O more of lower flames, whofe pleafing rage 
 **• ^ With flghs and fofc complaints I weakly kdi 
 At whofe unworthy flirine, my budding age. 
 And willing Mufe their firfl: devotion paid. 
 Fly, nurfe of madnefs, to eternal fhade : 
 Far frofn my foul abjur'd and baaifh'd fly, 
 And yield to nobler fires, that lift the foul more high. 
 
 II. 
 
 O LOVE ! coeval with thy parent God, 
 To thee I kneel, thy prefent aid implore ; 
 At whofe celeftial voice and pow'rful nod. 
 Old difcord fled, and chaos ceas'd to roar. 
 Light fmird, and order rofe, unfeen before. 
 But in the plan of the eternal Mind, 
 When God defign*d the work, and lov'd the work 
 defign'd. 
 
 'O 
 
 III. Thou 
 
23 POEMS 
 
 ON 
 
 III. 
 
 Thou fiU'd'fl: the wafte of ocean, earth, and air, 
 Wich multitudes that fvvim, or walk, or fly : 
 From rolling worlds de fcends thy gen'rous care. 
 To infe6t crowds that 'fcape the niceft eye: 
 For each a fphere was circumfcrib'd by thee. 
 
 To blefs, and to be blefs'd their noblefl end ; 
 
 To which,with rpcedycourfe,they all unerringtend, 
 
 IV. 
 
 Confcious of thee, v/ith nobler pow'rs endu'd. 
 Next man, thy darling, into being rofe, 
 Immortal, form'd for high beatitude. 
 Which neither end nor interruption knows. 
 Till evil couch'd in fraud began his woes : 
 Then to thy aid was boundlefs wifdom join'd. 
 And for apoilate man redemption thus d'^fign'd. 
 
 V. 
 
 By thee, his glories veil'd in mortal fhroud, 
 God's darling offspring left his feat on high ; 
 And heav'n and earth, amaz'd and trembling, viev/'(^ 
 Their wounded Sov'reign groan, and bleed, and die. 
 By thee, in triumph to his native fky. 
 On angels wings, the vidor God afpir'd, 
 Relentingjuflicefmil'djandfrowningwrathretir'd. 
 
 VI. To 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 23 
 
 VI. 
 
 To thee, munific, ever-flaming love ! 
 
 One endlefs hymn united nature lings : 
 
 To thee the bright inhabitants above 
 
 Tune the glad voice, and fweep the warbling firings. 
 
 From pole to pole, on ever- waving wings. 
 
 Winds waft thy praife, by rolling planets tun'd ; 
 
 Aid then, O love ! my voice to emulate the found. 
 
 VII. 
 It comes ! it comes! I feel ij.ternal day -, 
 Transfufive warmth through all my boibm glows ; 
 My foul expanding gives the torrent way ; 
 Thro' all my veins it kindles as it flows. 
 Thus, ravifli'd from the fccne of night and woes 
 Oh ! fnatch me, bear me to thy happy reign ; 
 There teach my tongue thy praife in more exalted 
 flrain. 
 
 An 
 
24 P O E iVr s 
 
 ON 
 
 An HYMN to BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 TT AIL! foiirce of tranfport ever new 5 
 ^ ^ While I thy ftrong impulfe purfue, 
 
 I tafte a joy fmcere 5 
 Too vaft for little minds to know. 
 Who on themfelves alone beftow 
 
 Their wifhes and their care. 
 
 Daughter of God ! delight of man f 
 From thee felicity began ; 
 
 Which ftill thy hand fuftains : 
 By thee fweet Peace her empire fpread. 
 Fair Science rais'd her laurel'd head. 
 
 And Difcord gnafl:i'd in chains. 
 
 Far as the pointed fun-beam flies 
 Through peopled earth and ftarry fides. 
 
 All nature owns thy nod : 
 We fee its energy prevail 
 Through Being's ever-rifing fcale. 
 
 From nothing ev'n to God. 
 
 Envy 
 
SEVERALOCCASIONS. 25 
 
 Envy, that tortures her own heart 
 With plagues and ever-burning fmart. 
 
 Thy charms divine expel : 
 Aghaft flie (huts her livid eyes. 
 And, wing'd with tenfold fury, fiys 
 
 To native night and hell. 
 
 By thee iofpir'd, the gf^n'roiis breaft, 
 In blefling others only bleft. 
 
 With goodnefs large and free, 
 Delights the widow's tears to (lay. 
 To teach the blind their fmootheft way. 
 
 And aid the feeble knee. 
 
 O come ! and o'er my bofom reign. 
 Expand my heart, inflame each.vein, 
 
 Through ev'ry aftion fhine •, 
 £ach low, each felfilh wilh controul, 
 With all thy elTence warm my foul. 
 
 And make me wholly thine. 
 
 Nor let fair Virtue's mortal bane, 
 The foul-contradling third of gain. 
 
 My fainteft wifhes fway j 
 By her poffefs'd, ere hearts refine, 
 In hell's dark depth fhall mercy fhine, 
 
 And kindle endlefs day. 
 
 S> If 
 
26 P O E M S ON 
 
 If from thy facred paths I turn, 
 
 Nor feel their griefs, while others mourn. 
 
 Nor with their pleafures glow : 
 Banifh'd from God, from blifs, and thee. 
 My own tormentor let me be. 
 
 And groan in hopelefs woe. 
 
 An HYM.N to FORTITUDE, 
 
 TVT I G H T, brooding o'er her mute domain, 
 ■^ ^ In raylefs filence wraps her reign ; 
 Clouds prefs on clouds, and, as they rife, 
 Condenfe to folid gloom the flxies. 
 
 PorvTENTOus, through the foggy air, 
 To wake the Daemon of defpair, 
 Tlie raven hoarfe, and boding owl. 
 To Hecate curd anthems howl. 
 
 Intent with execrable art. 
 
 To burn the veins, and tear the heart, 
 
 The witch, unhallow'd bones to raife. 
 
 Through fun'ral vaults and charncls ftrays ; 
 
 Calls the damn'd fhade from ev'ry cell. 
 
 And adds new labours to their hell. 
 
 And, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 27 
 
 And, flii&Id me heav'nl what hollow found, 
 Like fate's dread knell, runs echoing round? 
 The bell ftrikes one, that magic hour, 
 When rifing fiends exert their pow'r. 
 And now, fure now, fome caufe unblefl: 
 Breathes more than horror thro' my bread : 
 How deep the breeze ! how dim the light ! 
 What fpedres fwim before my fight ! 
 My frozen limbs pale terror chains, 
 And in wild eddies wheels my brains : 
 
 My icy blood forgets to roll. 
 
 And death ev'n feems to feize my foul. 
 
 What facred pow'r, what healing art, 
 
 Shall bid my foul herfelf afTert -, 
 
 Shall rouze th' immortal a6live flame, 
 
 And teach her whence her being came ? _ 
 O Fortitude ! divinely bright, 
 
 O Virtue's child, and man's delight ! 
 
 Defcend, an amicable gueft. 
 
 And with thy firmnefs fteel my breaft : 
 
 Defcend, propitious to my lays, 
 
 And, while my lyre refounds thy praife. 
 
 With energy divinely flrong 
 
 Exalt my foul, and warm my fon§. 
 
 When 
 
aa POEMS GN 
 
 When raving in eternal pains, 
 And loaded with ten thoufand chains. 
 Vice, deep in Phlegeton, yet lay. 
 Nor with her vifage blafted day -, 
 No fear to guiltlefs man was known, 
 For God and Virtue reign'd alone. 
 Bur, when from native flames and night, 
 The curfed monfter wing'd her flight, 
 Pale Fear, among her hideous train, 
 ChasM fweet Contentment from her reign j 
 Plac'd death and hell before each eye. 
 And wrapt in mifl: the golden fky ; 
 Banifh'd from day each dear delight, 
 And fliook with confcious ftarts the night. 
 
 When, from th' imperial feats on high. 
 The Lord of nature turn'd his eye, 
 To view the ftate of things below ; 
 Still blefl: to make his creatures fo : 
 From earth he faw Astraea fly. 
 And feck her manfions in the fky -, 
 Peace, crown'd with olives, left her throne. 
 And white-rob'd Innocence was gone : 
 While Vice, reveal'd in open day. 
 Sole tyrant^ rul'd with iron fway 5 
 
 And 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 29 
 
 And Virtue veil'd her weeping charms. 
 And fled for refuge to his arms. 
 Her altars fcorn'd, her (hrines defac'd. 
 Whom thus th' eflential Good addrefs'd, 
 " Thou, whom my foul adores alone. 
 Effulgent fliarer of my throne, 
 Fair emprtfs of eternity ! 
 Who uncreated reign'ft like me ; 
 Whom I, who fole and boundlefs fwayj 
 With pleafure infinite obey: 
 To yon diurnal fcenes below, 
 Who feel their folly in their woe. 
 Again propitious turn thy flight. 
 Again oppofe yon tyrant's might ; 
 To earth thy cloudlefs charms difclofe. 
 Revive thy friends, and blafl thy foes : - 
 Thy triumphs man fliall raptur'd fee, 
 A6t, fufFer, live, and die for thee. 
 But fince all crimes their hell contain. 
 Since all muft feel who merit pain, 
 Let Fortitude thy fleps attend, 
 And be, like thee, to man a friend ; 
 To urge him on the arduous road. 
 That leads to virtue, blifs, and God ; 
 
 T? 
 
POEMS 
 
 ON 
 
 To blunt tlie fling of ev'ry grief. 
 And be to all a near relief." 
 
 He faid ; and fhe, with fmiles divine,' 
 Which made all heav'n more brightly fhine. 
 To earth return'd with all her train, 
 And brought the golden age again. 
 Since erring mortals, unconftrain'd. 
 The God, that warms their bread, profan'd, 
 She, guardian of their joys no more. 
 Could only leave them, and deplore : 
 They, now the eafy prey of pain, 
 Curft in their wifli, their choice obtain ; 
 Till, arm'd with heav'n and fate, Ihe came 
 Her deftin'd honours to reclaim. 
 Vice and her flaves beheld her -flight. 
 And fled like birds obfcene from light, 
 Back to th' abode of plagues return. 
 To fin and fmart, blafpheme and burn. 
 
 Thou, Goddefs ! fince, with facred aid. 
 Haft ev'ry grief and pain allay'd. 
 To joy converted ev'ry fmart, 
 And plac'd a heav'n in ev'ry heart : 
 By thee we a6l, by thee fuftain, 
 Thou facred antidote of pain ! 
 
 At 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 31 
 
 At thy great nod the * Alps fubfide, 
 
 Reludant rivers turn their tide ; 
 
 With all thy force Alcides warm'd. 
 
 Alone againft: opprelTion arm'd : 
 
 By thee his mighty nerves were ftrung, 
 
 By thee his ftrength for ever young j 
 
 While on gigantic vice he prefs'd. 
 
 His vigour with his foes increased. 
 
 By thee, like Jove's almighty hand. 
 
 Ambition's havock to withftand, 
 
 t TiMOLEON rofc, the fcourge of fate. 
 
 And huri'd a tyrant from his ftate ; 
 
 The brother in his foul fubdu'd. 
 
 And warm'd the poniard in his blood j 
 
 A foul by fo much virtue fir'd. 
 
 Not Greece alone, but Heav'n admir'd. 
 
 But in thofe dregs of human kind, 
 Thofe days to guilt and fear refign'd, 
 How rare fuch views the heart expand ! 
 In danger's front unmov'd to fland ; 
 
 Like 
 
 * Alluding to the hiftory of Hannibal. 
 
 f TiMOLEON, having long in vain importun'd his brother to 
 refign the defpotifm of Syracuse, at laft reftored the liberty 
 of the people, by ftabbing him. Vid- Plut. 
 
32 POEMS ON 
 
 Like heav'n's almighty pow'r, ferene, 
 With fix'd regard to view the fcene. 
 When nature quakes beneath the ftorm. 
 And horror wears its direft form. 
 Though future worlds are now defcry'd. 
 Though Paul haS writ, and Jesus dy'd, 
 Difpeil'd the dark Infernal {hade. 
 And all the heav'n of heav'ns difplay'd 5 
 Curll with unnumber'd groundlefs fears. 
 How pale yon fiiiv'ring wretch appears 1 
 For him the day-light fhines in vain. 
 For him the fields no joys contain -, 
 Nature's whole charms to him are lofl:^ 
 No more the woods their mufic boaft ^ 
 No more the meads their vernal bloom. 
 No more the gales their rich perfume : 
 Impending mifts deform the fky. 
 And beauty v/ithers in his eye. 
 In hopes his terror to elude. 
 By day he mingles with the crowd 5 
 Yet finds his foul to fears a prey, 
 In bufy crowds, and open day. 
 If night alone his walk furprife, 
 What horrid vifions round him rife ! 
 
 That 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 33 
 
 That blaftcd oak, which meets his way. 
 Shown by the meteor's fudden ray. 
 The midnight murd'rer's known retreat. 
 Felt heav*n's avengeful bolt of late; 
 The clafhing chain, the groan profoundj 
 Loud from yon ruin'd tow'r refound , 
 And now the fpot he feems to tread. 
 Where fome felf-ilaughter'd corfe was laid i 
 Beneath his (leps earth feems to bend, 
 
 Deep murmurs from her caves afcend ; 
 
 Till all his foul, by fancy fvvay*d. 
 
 Sees lurid phantoms crowd the iTiade 5 
 
 While (hrouded manes palely dare. 
 
 And beck'ning wifh to breathe their care j 
 
 Thus real woes from falfe he bears, 
 
 And feels the death, the hell he fears. 
 O thou ! whofe fpirit warms my fong. 
 
 With energy divinely ftrong 
 
 EreiSl his foul, confirm his breafl:. 
 
 And let him know the fweets of reft 5 
 
 •Till ev'ry human pain and care. 
 
 All that may be, and al! that are, 
 
 But falfe imagia'd ills appear 
 
 Beneath our hope, our grief, or fear» 
 
 E Anfl 
 
34 P O E M S ON 
 
 And, if I right invoke thy aid. 
 
 By thee be all my woes allay'd ; 
 
 With fcorn inftruft me to defy 
 
 Impofing fear, and lawlefs joy ; 
 
 To ftruggle thro' this fcene of ftrife, 
 
 The pains of death, the pangs of life ; 
 
 Witl^conflant brow to meet my fate, 
 
 And meet ftill more, Euanthe's hate. 
 
 And, when fome fwain her charms fliall claim. 
 
 Who feels not half my gen'rous flame, 
 
 Whofe cares her angel-voice beguiles, 
 
 On whom flie bends her heav'nly fmiles 5 
 
 For whom fhe weeps, for whom fhe glows. 
 
 On whom her treafur'd foul bellows ; 
 
 When perfe(5t mutual joy they fhare. 
 
 Ah ! joy enhanced by my defpair! 
 
 Mix beings in each flaming kifs. 
 
 And blefl: ftill rife to higher blifs : 
 
 Then, then, exert thy urmoft pow'r. 
 
 And teach me being to endure ; 
 
 Left reafon from the helm fhouJd ftart, 
 
 And lawlefs fury rule my heart ; 
 
 Left madnefs all my foul fubdue, 
 
 To afk her Maker, What doft thou ? 
 
 Yet, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 35 
 
 Yet, couldfl: thou in that dreadful hour, 
 On my rack'd foul all Lethe pour. 
 Or fan me with the gelid breeze. 
 That chains in ice th' indignant feas 5 
 Or wrap my heart in tenfold fteel, 
 I ftili am man, and ilill muft feeK 
 
 The wish satisfied: 
 
 An irregular ODE. 
 
 I. 
 rr^OO long, my foul ! thou'rt toft below, 
 
 -*- From hope to hope, from fear to fear : 
 
 How great, how lafting ev'ry woe ! 
 
 Each joy how fhort, how infincere ! 
 
 II. 
 
 Turn around thy fearching eyes 
 
 Thro' all the bright varieties ; 
 
 And, with exafteft care, 
 Seleft from all the Ihining crowd. 
 Some lafting joy, fome fov'reign good, 
 
 And fix thy wiflies there. 
 
 III. With 
 
36 F O E M S OM 
 
 III. 
 
 With toil amafs a mighty (lore 
 
 Of glowing ilones, or yellow ore j 
 
 plant the nelds with golden grain. 
 
 Crowd with lowing herds the plain, 
 
 Bid the marble domes afcend, 
 
 Bid the pleafant view extend. 
 
 Streams and groves and woods appear. 
 
 And fpring and autumn fill the year : 
 
 Sure, thefe are joys, full, permanent, fmcere ; 
 
 Sure, now each boundlefs wifh can afk no moi». 
 
 IV. 
 
 On rofes now reclin'd, 
 
 I ianguifh into reft ; 
 No vacuum in my mind, 
 
 No craving wilh unbleft : 
 But ah \ in vain, 
 Some abfent joy Oil) gives me pain. 
 
 By toys elated, or by toys deprefto 
 
 V. 
 What melting joy can footh my grief? 
 
 What balmy pleafure yield my foul relief? 
 
 'Tis 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 37 
 
 *Tis found ; the blifs already warms. 
 Sunk in love's perfuafive arms. 
 
 Enjoying and enjoy'd : 
 To tafte var'ety of charms 
 
 Be ev'ry happy hour employ'd, 
 
 VI. 
 
 As the fpeedy moments roll. 
 
 Let feme new joy confpire 5 
 Hese, fill the rofy bowl ; 
 
 OupHEus, tune the lyre ; 
 To new born rapture wake the foul. 
 
 And kindle young defire : 
 While, a beauteous choir around. 
 Tuneful virgins join the found, 
 Panting bofoms, fpeaking eyes. 
 Yielding fmiles, and trembling fighs : 
 Thro' melting error let their voices rove, 
 And trace th' inchanting maze of harmony and love, 
 
 VII. 
 
 Still, ftill infatiate of delight 
 
 My v/ifhes open, as my joys increafe : 
 What now Ihall flop their reftlefs flight. 
 And yield them kind redrefs ? 
 
38 POEMS ON 
 
 For fomething ftill unknown I figh. 
 Beyond what ftrikes the touch, the ear, the eye ; 
 Whence fhall I feek, or how purfue 
 The phantom, that eludes my view, 
 And cheats my fond embrace ? 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Thus, while her wanton toils fond pleafure fpreadj 
 
 By fenfe and pafTion blindly led, 
 
 I chac'd the Syren thro' the flow'ry maze. 
 
 And courted death ten thoufand ways : 
 
 Kind heav'n beheld, with pitying eyes. 
 
 My reftlefs toil, my fruitlefs fighs -, 
 
 And, from the realms of endlefs day, 
 
 A bright Immortal wing'd his way ; 
 
 Swift as a fun-beam down he flew. 
 
 And flood difclos'd, effulgent to my view. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Fond man, he cry'd, thy fruitlefs fearch forbear 5 
 Nor vainly hope, within this narrow fphere, 
 A certain happinefs to find. 
 Unbounded as thy wifh, eternal as thy mind : 
 In God, in perff(5l good alone. 
 
 The anxious foul can find repofe j 
 Nor vo a blifs beneath his throne. 
 
 One hour of full enioyment owes : 
 
 He, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 39 
 
 He, only he, can fill each wide defire. 
 
 Who to each wilh its being gave •, 
 Not all the charms which mortal wifhes fire. 
 Not all which angels in the fkies admire, 
 
 ButGod*s paternal fmile, caa bid it ceafe to crave. 
 Him then purfue, without delay -, 
 He is thy prize, atid virtue is thy way. 
 Then to the winds his radiant plumes he fpread. 
 And from my wond'ring eyes, more fwift than 
 lightning, fled. 
 
 To HAPPINESS: An ODE. 
 
 I. 
 rir^ H E morning dawns, the ev'ning lliades 
 -■- Fair Nature's various face difguife ; 
 
 No fcene to reft my heart perfuades. 
 
 No moment frees from tears my eyes : 
 Whatever once charm'd the laughing hour. 
 Now boafts no more its pleafing pow'r ; 
 Each former objed: of delight. 
 Beyond redemption, wings its flight ; 
 And, where it fmil'd the darling of my fight, 
 Profpedls of woe and horrid phantoms rife. 
 
 II. O 
 
40 P O E M S ON 
 
 II. 
 
 O Happiness! Immortal Fair, 
 
 Where does thy fubtil effence dwell ? 
 
 Doft thou relax th.e Hermit's care. 
 Companion in the lonely cell ? 
 
 Or, doft thou on the funny plain 
 
 Infpire the reed, and chear the fwain ? 
 
 Or, fcornful of each low retreat. 
 
 On fortune's favour doft thou wait ; 
 
 And, in the gilded chambers of the great, 
 Protrad the revel, and the pleafure fwell f 
 
 III. 
 
 Ah me ! the Hermit's cell explore ; 
 
 Thy abfence he, like me, complains ; 
 While murm'ring ftreams along the fhore, 
 
 Echoe the love-fick fliepherd's ftrains : 
 Kor, where the gilded domes afpire, 
 Deign'ft thou, O Goddefs ! to retire : 
 Though there the loves and graces play, 
 Though wine and mufic court thy ftay ; 
 Thou fly'ft, alas ! and who can trace thy way^ 
 
 Or fay what place thy heav'nly form contains ? 
 
 TV. If 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 41 
 
 IV. 
 
 If to mankind I turn my view, 
 
 Flatter'd with hopes of focial joy 5 
 
 Rapine and biood * mankind purfue. 
 As God had form*d them to deltroy. 
 
 Difcord, at whofe tremendous view 
 
 Hell quakes with horror ever new. 
 
 No more by endlefs night depreft. 
 
 Pours all her venom thro* each breaft-, 
 
 And, while deep groans and carnage is increas'd, 
 Smiles grim, the rifing mifchief to enjoy. 
 
 V. 
 
 Hence, hence, indignant turq thy eyest 
 
 To my dejecStcd foul I faid 5 
 See, to the fhade Euanthe flies. 
 
 Go, find Euanthe in the Ihade : 
 Her angel- form thy fight fhall charm, 
 Thy heart her angel-goodnefs warm ; 
 There, fhall no wants thy fteps purfue^ 
 No wakeful care contra6b thy brow ; 
 Mufic each found, and beauty ev'ry view. 
 
 Shall ev'ry fenfe with full delight invade. 
 
 F VI. Exulting 
 
 * This Ode was written in the year 1745. 
 
42 POEMS ON 
 
 VI. 
 
 Exulting in the charming thoughtj 
 
 Thither with hafty Heps I prefs ; 
 And, while th' inchanting maid 1 fought,- 
 
 Thank'd heav'n for all my paft diftrefs r 
 Increafing hopes my journey chear'd. 
 And now in reach the blifs appear' d ; 
 Grant this fole boon, O fate ! I cry'd ; 
 Be all thy other gifts deny'd. 
 In this Ihall all my wifhes be fupply'd •, 
 
 And fure a love like mine deferves no lefs. 
 
 VII. 
 
 In vain, alas ! in vain my pray'r. 
 
 Fate mix'd the accents with the wind 3 
 
 Th' illufive form diffolv'd in air. 
 
 And left my foul to grief refign'd : 
 
 As far from all my hopes Ihe flies, 
 
 As deepeft feas from loftieft fl^ies : 
 
 Yet, iVil!, on fancy deep impreft. 
 
 The fad, the dear ideas reft j 
 
 Yet ftill the recent forrow heaves my brcaft. 
 
 Hangs black o'er life, and preys upon my mind. 
 
 Vill. Ah! 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 43 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Ah ! Goddefs, fcarce to mortals known, 
 Who with thy fhadow madly ftray, 
 
 At length from heav'n, thy facred throne. 
 Dart through my foul one chearful ray : 
 
 Ah ! with fome facred lenient art. 
 
 Allay the anguifh of my heart ; 
 
 Ah ! teach me, patient to fuftain 
 
 Life's various ftores of grief and pain ; 
 
 Or, if 1 thus prefer- my pray'r in vain, 
 Soon let me find thee in eternal day. 
 
 On 
 
44 P O E M S ON 
 
 On EUANTHE's Absence: 
 An ODE. 
 
 I. 
 
 'OLEST heav'n! and thou, fair world below I 
 ^^ Is there no cure to footh my fmart ? 
 No balm to heal a lover's woe, 
 That bids his eyes for ever flow, 
 
 Confumes his foul, and pines his heart f 
 And will no friendly arm above 
 Relieve my tortur'd foul from love ? 
 
 II. 
 
 .As fwift defcending fhow'rs of rain 
 
 Deform with mud the cleared ftreams ; 
 
 As rifing mifts heav'n's azure flain, 
 
 Ting'd with Aurora's blufh in vain ; 
 
 As fades the flow'r in mid-day beams i 
 
 On life thus tender forrcws prey, 
 
 And wrap in gloom its promis'd day. 
 
 III. Y 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 45 
 
 III. 
 
 - Ye plains, where dear Euanthe ftrays. 
 
 Ye various objeds of her view. 
 Be deck'd in beauty's perfefl blaze ; 
 Let all its forms, and all its rays. 
 
 Where'er fhe turns, her eyes purfue ; 
 All fair, as fhe, let nature fhine : 
 Ah ! then, how lovely ! how divine ! 
 
 Where'er the thymy vales defcend. 
 
 And breathe ambrofial fragrance round; 
 
 Eternal Truth, thy line extend, 
 
 And teach the profpeft where to end ; 
 
 While woods or mountains mark the bound : 
 
 That each fair fcene which ftrikes her eye, 
 
 ^ay charm with fweet variety. 
 
 V. 
 Ye ftreams, that, in perpetual flow, 
 Still warble on your mazy way. 
 Murmur Euanthe, as you go ; 
 Murmur a love-fick Poet's woe : 
 
 Ye feather'd warblers, join the Jay j 
 Sing how I fuffer, how complain -, 
 'Yet name not him who feels the pain. 
 
 VI. And 
 
46 P Q E M S ON • 
 
 VI. 
 
 And thou, eternal ruling Pow'r! 
 
 If fpotlefs virtue claims thy care. 
 Around unheard of bleffings fhow'r ; 
 l^et fome new pleafure crown each hour. 
 
 And make her bleft, as good and fair : 
 Of all thy works, to mortals known. 
 The beft and faireft fhe alonCo 
 
 To a Young Gentleman bound for Guinea. 
 An ode, 
 
 L 
 
 ATTEND the mufe, whofe numbers flow 
 Faithful to facred friendlhip's woe ; 
 And let the Scotian lyre 
 Obtain thy pity and thy care : 
 While thy lov'd walks and native air 
 The folemn founds infpire. 
 
 II. TU% 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 47 
 
 11. 
 
 That native air, thofe walks, no more 
 Blefl: with their fav'rite, now deplore. 
 
 And join the plaintive ftrain : 
 While, urg'd by winds and waves, he flies, 
 Where unknown ftars, thro' unknown Ikies, 
 
 Their tracklefs courfe maintain. 
 
 III. 
 
 Yet think : by ev'ry keener fmart. 
 That thrills a friend or brother's heart j 
 
 By all the griefs that rife. 
 And with dumb anguifli heave the breaft. 
 When abfence robs the fouJ of reft. 
 
 And fwells with tears the eyes ; 
 
 IV. 
 
 By all our forrows ever new. 
 
 Think whom you fly, and what purfue 3 
 
 And judge by your's our pain : 
 From friendfliip's dear tenacious arms, 
 You fly, perhaps, to war's alarms, 
 
 To angry fkies and main. 
 
 V. The 
 
48 P O E M S ON 
 
 V. 
 
 The fmiling plain, the folemn fhade. 
 With all the various charms difpiay'd. 
 
 That fummer*s face adorn ; 
 Summer, with all that's gay or fweet. 
 With tranfport longs thy fcnfe to meet. 
 
 And courts thy dear return. 
 
 VI. 
 
 The gentle fun, the fanning gale. 
 The vocal wood, the fragrant vale, , 
 
 Thy prefence all implore : 
 Can then a wafte of fea and fky. 
 That knows no limits, charm thy eye. 
 
 Thy ear the tempeft's roar ? 
 
 VII. 
 
 But why fuch weak attradtions name, 
 While ev*ry warmer focial claim 
 
 Demands the mournful lay ? 
 Ah I hear a brother's mournful fighs. 
 Thro' tears, behold a fitter's eyes 
 
 Emit a faded ray, 
 
 VIII. Thy 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 49 
 
 vm. 
 
 Thy young allies, by nature taught 
 To feel the tender pang of thought. 
 
 Which friends in abfence claim 5 
 To thee, with forrow all-fincere. 
 Oft pay the tributary tear, 
 
 Oft lifp with joy thy name* 
 
 IX. 
 
 Nor thefe thy abfence mourn alone^ 
 O dearly lov'd ! tho' faintly known j 
 
 One yet unfung rerhains : 
 Nature, when fcarce fair light he knew, 
 Snatch'd heav'n, earth, beauty, from his viewj 
 
 And darknefs round him reigns. 
 
 X. 
 
 The mufe with pity view'd his doom i 
 And, darting thro' th* eternal gloom 
 
 An intelledlual ray^ 
 Bade him v/ith mufic's voice infpire 
 The plaintive flute, the fprightly lyrcj 
 
 And tune th' impafTion'd lay. 
 
 Q XL Thu5^ 
 
5P P O E M S ON 
 
 tXI. 
 
 Thus, tho' defpairing of relief. 
 With ev'ry mark of heart-felt grief. 
 
 Thy abfence we complain : 
 While now, perhaps, th' aufpicious gale 
 Invites to fpread the flying fail. 
 
 And all our tears are vain. 
 
 XII. 
 Protect him heav'n : but hence each fear ; 
 Since endlefs goodnefs, endlefs care 
 
 This mighty fabric guides ; 
 Commands the tempeft where to ftrayj 
 Directs the lightning's flanting way. 
 
 And rules the refluent tides. 
 
 XIII. 
 See, from th' eff"ulgence of his reign. 
 With pleas'd furvey. Omniscience deign 
 
 Thy wondrous worth to view : 
 See, from the realms of endlefs day. 
 Immortal guardians wing their way. 
 
 And all thy fteps purfue. 
 
 XIV. If 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 51 
 
 XIV. 
 
 If fable clouds, whofe wombs contain 
 The murm'ring bolt, or daihing rain, 
 
 The blue ferene deform ; 
 Myriads from heav'n's etherial height. 
 Shall clear the gloom, reflore the light, 
 
 And chace th* impending ftorm. 
 
 An Irregular ODE 
 Sent to a Lady on her Marriage-Day. 
 
 I. 
 
 TT r ITH all your wings, ye moments, fly, 
 
 ^ ^ And drive the tardy fun along •, 
 Till that glad morn fhall paint the fky. 
 
 Which wakes the mufe, and claims the 
 raptur'd fong. 
 
 II. 
 
 See nature with our wiilies join. 
 
 To aid the dear, the bled defign ; 
 
 See Time precipitate his way. 
 
 To bring th' expefled happy day ; 
 
 See, 
 
52 P O E M S ON 
 
 See, the vvifli'd-for dawn appears, 
 A more than wonted glow fiie wears : 
 
 Hark ! Hymeneals found ; 
 pach mufe awakes her fofteft lyre •, 
 Each airy warbler fwells the choir ; 
 
 'Tis mufic all around. 
 
 III. 
 
 Awake, ye nymphs, the blufhing bride, 
 
 T' eclipfe Aurora's rofy pride ; 
 
 While virgin Ihame retards her way. 
 
 And Love, half-angry, chides her ftay : 
 
 While hopes and fears alternate reign, 
 
 Intermingling blifs and pain 5 
 
 O'er all her charms diffufe peculiar grace. 
 
 Pant in her ftiiv'ring heart, and vary in her face. 
 
 IV. 
 
 At length confent, reluctant fair. 
 
 To blefs thy long expefting lover's eyes ! 
 f 00 long his fighs are loft in air. 
 
 At length refign the blifs for which he dies : 
 The mufes, prefcient of your future joys. 
 
 Dilate my foul, and prompt the chearful lay j 
 While they, thro' coming times, with glad furprize. 
 
 The long fuccefTive brightning fcenes furvey. 
 
 V. Lo! 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 5? 
 
 V. 
 
 Lo ! to your fight a blooming oflfspring rife. 
 And add new ardour to the nuptial ties ; 
 
 While in each form you both united fliine 5 
 Frelh honours wait your temples to adorn : 
 For you glad Ceres fills the flowing horn. 
 
 And heav'n and fate to blefs your days combine. 
 
 VI. 
 
 While life gives pleafure, life fhall dill remain. 
 Till death, with gentle hand, fhall fhut the pleafing 
 
 fcene : 
 Safe, fable guide to that celefliial fhore. 
 Where pleafure knows no end, and change Is fear'd 
 
 no more ! 
 
 T? 
 
54 P O E M S ON 
 
 To A C O (^U E T. An O D E. 
 
 I. 
 
 A T length, vain, airy flutt'rer, fly ; 
 •*■ ^ Nor vex the public ear and eye 
 
 "With all this noife and glare : 
 Thy wifer kindred gnats behold, 
 All flirouded in their parent mould, 
 
 Forfake the chilling air. 
 
 Of conqueft there they fafely dream ; 
 Nor gentle breeze, nor tranfient gleam. 
 
 Allures them forth to play : 
 But thou, alike in froft and flame, 
 Infatiate of the cruel game. 
 
 Still on mankind would'ft prey. 
 
 Thy confcious charms, thy praftis'd arts, 
 
 Thofe adventitious beams that round thee fliine, 
 
 Referve for unexperienc'd hearts : 
 
 Superior fpells defpair to conquer mine. 
 
 GOj 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 5s 
 
 II. 
 
 Go, bid the funfhine of thine eyes 
 Melt rigid winter, warm the Ikies, 
 
 And fet the rivers free ; 
 O'er fields, immers'd in froft and fnow, 
 Bid flow'rs with fmiling verdure grow ; 
 
 Then hope to foften me. 
 
 No, heav'n and freedom witnefs bear. 
 This heart no fecond frown Ihall fear. 
 
 No fecond yoke fuftain : 
 Enough of female fcorn I know ; 
 Scarce ceafe my recent ftripes to glow, 
 
 Scarce fate could break my chain. 
 
 Ye hours, confum'd in hopelefs pain. 
 
 Ye trees, infculp'd with many a flaming vow. 
 
 Ye echoes, oft invok'd in vain, 
 
 Ye moon light walks, ye tinkling rills, adieu ! 
 
 III. Your 
 
56 P O E M S OM 
 
 HI. 
 Your paint that idle hearts controuls i 
 Your fairy nets for feeble fouls. 
 
 By partial fancy wrought i 
 Your Syren voice, your tempting air^ 
 Ifour borrow'd vifage falfcly fair. 
 
 With me avail ycu nought. 
 
 Let ev'ry charm that wakes defire, 
 Let each infnaring art confpire •, 
 
 Not all can hurt my reft : 
 Touch'd by * Ithuriel's potent fpear. 
 At once unmafk'd the fiends appear, 
 
 In native blacknefs dreft. 
 
 The fpeaking glance, the heaving breaft, 
 The cheek with lilies ting'd and rofy dye 5 
 
 Falfe joys, which ruin all who tafte. 
 
 How fwift they fade in reafon's piercing eye ! 
 
 IV. Seeft 
 * See Paradise Lost, Book IV. verf. 810. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. $7 
 
 IV. 
 
 Seeft thou yon taper's vivid ray, 
 "Which emulates the blaze of day, 
 
 Diffufing far its light ? 
 Tho' it from blafts fhall ftand fecure. 
 Time urges on the deftin'd hour^ 
 
 And, lo ! it links in night. 
 
 Such is thy glory, fuch its date, 
 Wav'd by the fportive hand of fate, 
 
 A while to catch our view : 
 Now bright to heav'n the blaze afpireSj- 
 Then fudden from our gaze retires. 
 
 And yields to wonders new. 
 
 Like this poor torch, thy haughty airs. 
 
 Thy fhort-liv'd fplendor on a puff depends 3 
 
 And, foon as fate the ftroke prepares, 
 
 The flafh in duft and naufeous vapour ends. 
 
 H On 
 
58 P O E M S OM 
 
 On the Ref INEMENTS in Metaphyfical Philofophy : 
 An ode. 
 
 I. 
 
 FALSE wifdom, fly, with all thy * owls ; 
 The duft and cobwebs of the fchools 
 For me have charms no more : 
 The grofs Minerva of our days. 
 In mighty bulk my learn'd f EfTays 
 Reads joyful o'er and o'er. 
 
 11. 
 
 Led by her hand a length Of time, 
 
 Thro' fenfe and nonfenfe, profe and rhyme, 
 
 I beat my painful way j 
 Long, long revolv'd the myftic page 
 Of many a Dttfch and German Sage,, 
 
 And hop'd at lafl for day. 
 
 m. Bur, 
 
 * Formerly the bird of Minerva, but by the noderns a- 
 fcribed to Dulness. 
 
 -f- The Author, like others of greater name, had formerly 
 attempted to demonftrate matters of faft a priori. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 59 
 
 III. 
 
 But, as the mole, hid under ground, 
 3till works more dark as more profound. 
 
 So all my toils were vain : 
 For truth and fenfe indignant fly, 
 As far as ocean from the fky, 
 
 From all the formal train. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The * Stagerite, whofe fruitful quill 
 O'er free-born nature lords it flill, 
 
 Suftain'd by form and phrafe 
 Of dire portent and folemn found, 
 "Where meaning feldom can be found. 
 
 From me fliall gain no praife. 
 
 V. 
 
 put you, who would be truly wife. 
 
 To nature's light unveil your eyes, 
 
 Her gentle call obey : 
 
 She leads by no falfe wand'ring glare. 
 
 No voice ambiguous ftrikes your ear. 
 
 To bid you vainly ftray. 
 
 VI. Not 
 
 * Aristotle, inventor of Syllogifjns, and as fuch only, 
 mentioned here. 
 
6o P O E M S oM 
 
 VI; 
 
 Not in the gloomy cell reclufe. 
 For noble deeds or gen' rous views. 
 
 She bids us watch the night ; 
 Fair virtue fhines, to all difplay'd. 
 Nor afks the tardy Schoolman's aid, 
 
 To teach us what is right. 
 
 VIL 
 
 Pleafure and pain fhe fets in view, 
 And which to fhun, and which purfue, 
 
 Inftruds her pupil's heart : 
 Then, lettered Pnde^ fay, what thy gainj 
 To mafk, widi fo much fruitlefs pain. 
 
 Thy ignorance with art ? 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Thy ftiff grimace and awful tone 
 An idiot's wonder move alone ; 
 
 And, fpite of all thy rules, 
 The wife in ev'ry age conclude. 
 What * Pyrrho taught, and f Hume renewed, 
 
 " That Dcgmatijis are fools." 
 
 IX. The 
 
 * Author of Scepticifm. 
 
 f Author of a Treat ife on Human Nature. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 6| 
 
 IX. 
 
 The gamefler's hope wher) doom'd to lofe. 
 The joys of wine, the wanton's vows, 
 
 The faithlefs calm at fea, 
 The courtier's word, the crowd's, applaufcj 
 The Jefuit's faith, the fenfe of laws, 
 
 Are not more falfe than thee. 
 
 X. 
 
 Bled: he ! who fees, without furprize. 
 Thy various fyftems fall and rife. 
 
 As fliifts the fickle gale ; 
 While all their utmoft force exert, 
 To wound the foe's unguarded part. 
 
 And all alike prevail. 
 
 XL 
 
 Thus (facred * B,ards of yore have fung) 
 High heav'n with martial clamours rung. 
 
 And deeds of mortal wrath j 
 When cranes and pygmies glory fought. 
 And in the fields of aether fought, 
 
 With mutual wounds and death. 
 
 Xil. J^et 
 
 * See Homer. 
 
62 POEMS 
 
 ON 
 
 XII. 
 
 Let Logic's Tons, mechanic throng ! 
 Tht'w fyllogijlic war prolong, 
 
 And reafon's empire boafl : 
 Infhrin'd in deep congenial gloomj 
 Eternal wrangling be their doom. 
 
 To truth and nature loft ! 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Amus'd by fancy's fleeting fire. 
 
 Let* Malebranche ftiil for ^ruth inquire. 
 
 And rack his aching fight : 
 While the coy goddefs wings her ways 
 To fcenes of uncreated day, 
 
 Abforb'd in dazzling light. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 With firmer ftep and graver guife, 
 Whilft t Locke in confcious triumph tries. 
 Her dwelling to explore j 
 
 Swift 
 
 * He thought the medium, by which fenfible perceptions 
 were conveyed to us, was God ; in whofe eflence truth was 
 feen, as in a mirror. 
 
 -f- His account of virtue differs not much from that of the 
 Leiiathan. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 63 
 
 Swift fhe eludes his ardent chace, 
 A fhadow courts his fond embrace, 
 Which * HoBBES carefs'd before. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Lett DoDWELL with the Fathers ]o\n, 
 To ftrip of energy divine 
 
 The heav'n-defcended foul j 
 The iejl of fenfe let % Berkley fcorn. 
 And both on borrow'd pinions borne. 
 
 Annihilate the whole. 
 
 XVI. 
 in Academic vales retir'd. 
 With Plato's love and beauty fir'd, 
 
 My fteps let candour guide ; 
 By tenets vain unprepoffeft, 
 Thofe lawlefs tyrants of the bread, 
 Offspring of zeal and pride ! 
 
 XVII. Or, 
 
 * Author of the laft mentioned piece ; who denied the 
 diftindion between vice and virtue, and affirmed power 
 and right to be the fame. 
 
 ■\ He attempted to prove the Natural Mortality of the 
 Soul, and quoted the Fathers in favour of his opinion. 
 
 X Author of Dialogues on the Non-exilience of Matter. 
 
64 P O E M S orj 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Or, while thro' fields and woods I (Iray; 
 Would * Ashley's genius daft a ray, 
 
 And all my foul inflame •, 
 Creation, f and her bounteous laws. 
 Her order fix'd, her glorious caufcj 
 
 Should be my fav'rite theme. 
 
 tcJ 
 
 * Author of the CharaBcripch. 
 
 -f- The Author's intention will be ill underllood, if he is 
 thought here to recommend univerfal fcepticifm ; for which 
 reafon, he may, with all decorum, declare what authors and 
 fentiments he approves. The philofophy ufeful to man con- 
 fifts, not in abftraft and uncertain proportions, but, being, 
 defigned to regulate his condudl and afcertain his happinefs, 
 muft not only be founded on his nature, but comprehend al! 
 ?he principles of an adlive and percipient being. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 6$ 
 
 To Mrs. R- 
 
 On the Death of a promifing Infant ; 
 An ODE. 
 
 TT 7 H I LE, touch*d with all thy tender pain, 
 * " The mufes breathe a mournful ftrainj 
 O ! lift thy languid eye ! 
 O ! deign a calm aufpicious ear ; 
 The mufe fhall yield thee tear for tear, 
 And mingle figh with figh. 
 
 II. 
 
 Not for the Thracian bard, whofe lyre 
 Could rocks and woods with foul infpirCj 
 
 By jealous fury (lain. 
 While murm'ring on his trembling tongue 
 EuRiDiCE imperfeft hung, 
 
 The nine could more complain, 
 
 I m. AhJ 
 
66 P O E M S ON 
 
 III. 
 
 Ah ! fay, harmonious fifters, fay : 
 When fwift, to pierce the lovely prey, 
 
 Fate took its cruel aim ; 
 When latiguifli'd ev*ry tender grace. 
 Each op'ning bloom that ting'd his face. 
 
 And pangs convuls'd his frame : 
 
 IV. 
 
 Say, could no fong of melting woe 
 Revoke the keen determin'd blow. 
 
 That dimm'd his fparkling eye ? 
 Thus rofes oft, by early doom, 
 Robb'd of their blufh and fweet perfume. 
 
 Grow pale, recline, and die. 
 
 V. 
 
 Pale, pale and cold the beauteous frame ! 
 Nor falient pulfe, nor vital flame, 
 
 A mother's hopes reftore : 
 In vain keen anguilh tears her bread, 
 By ev'ry tender mark exprefl. 
 
 He lives, he fmilcs no more ! 
 
 VL Such 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 67 
 
 VI. 
 
 Such is the fate of human kind ; 
 The faireft form, the brighteft mind. 
 
 Can no exemption know : 
 The mighty mandate of the fky, 
 '' That man when born begins to die," 
 
 Extends to all below. 
 
 VII. 
 
 In vain a mother's pray'rs afcend. 
 Should nature to her forrows lend 
 
 The native voice of fmart j 
 In vain would plaints their force effay 
 To hold precarious life one day. 
 
 Or fate's dread hand avert. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Fix'd as the rock that braves the main, 
 Fix'd as the poles that all fuftain. 
 
 Its purpofe ftands fecure : 
 The humble Hynd who toils for bread. 
 The fceptred hand, the laurel'd head. 
 
 Alike confefs its pow'r. 
 
 IX. Since 
 
6S POEMS 
 
 on 
 
 IX. 
 
 Since time began, the ftream of woes 
 Along its rapid current flows ; 
 
 Still fwells the groan profouncj : 
 "While age, re-echoing ftill to age, 
 Tranfmits the annals of its rage. 
 
 And points the recent wound. 
 
 X. 
 
 When human hopes fub'imeft towV, 
 Then, wanton in th' excels of pow'r, 
 
 The tyrant throws them down 5 
 The orphan early robb'd of aid, 
 The widowM wife, the plighted maid, 
 
 His fable triumph crown. 
 
 XI. 
 
 At length to life and joy return 5 
 Mi2n was not deftin'd ilill to mourns 
 
 A prey to endlefs pain : 
 Heav'n's various hand, the heart to form. 
 With blifs and anguilh, calm and llorm, 
 
 Piverfifies the fcene : 
 
 XII. Buc 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 69 
 
 XII. 
 
 But hides with care from human eyes, 
 "What blifs beyond this profped lies 5 
 
 Left we, with hfe oppreft. 
 Should grieve its burden to endure. 
 And, with excurfion premature, 
 
 Purfue eternal reft. 
 
 XIII. 
 'From difappolntment, grief, and care. 
 From ev'ry pang of fharp defpair. 
 
 Thy charmer wings his way ; 
 And, while new fcenes his bofom fire. 
 He learns to ftrike the golden lyre. 
 
 And heav'n refounds his lay. 
 
 XIV. 
 Lo ! where his facred rejiques He, 
 Immortal guardians from the fky 
 
 Their filver wings difplay ; 
 Till, , bright emerging from the tomb, 
 They rife to heav'n, their deftin'd home, 
 
 And hail eternal day. 
 
 An 
 
70 P O E M S ON 
 
 An ode. 
 
 Written when Sick. 
 
 /^ Prime of life ! O tafle of joy ! 
 ^^^ Whither fo early do you fly ? 
 Scarce half your tranfient fweetnefs known, 
 Why are you vanifli'd ere full blown ? 
 
 The beauteous progeny of fpring. 
 That tinge the zephyr's fragrant wing. 
 Each tender bloom, each fhort-liv'd flow'r, 
 Still flourilh till their deftin'd hour : 
 Your winter too, too foon will come. 
 And chill in death your vernal bloom. 
 
 On my wan cheek the colour dies, 
 Suffus'd and languid roll mine eyes ; 
 Cold horrors thrill each fick'ning vein ; 
 Deep broken fighs my bofom ftrain ; 
 The falient pulfe of health gives o'er, 
 And life and pleafure are no more. 
 
 To 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 71 
 
 To HEALTH: 
 An ODE. 
 
 MO T H E R of all human joys, 
 Rofy cheeks, and fparkling eyes ; 
 In whofe train, for ever gay^ 
 Smiling Loves and Graces play : 
 If complaints thy foul can move. 
 Or mufic charm, the voice of love ? 
 Hither, Goddefs, ere too late. 
 Turn, and flop impending fate. 
 
 Over earth, and fea, and fky, 
 Bid thy airy heralds fly ; 
 With each balm which nature yields, 
 From the gardens, groves, and fields, 
 From each flow'r of varied hue. 
 From each herb chat fips the dew, 
 
 From 
 
72 P O E M S ON 
 
 From each tree of fragrant bloom, 
 Bid the gales their wings perfume; 
 And, around fair Celia*s head. 
 All the mingled incenfe fhed : 
 Till each living fv^^eetnefs rife, 
 Paint her cheeks, and arm her eyes. 
 Mild as ev'ning's humid ray. 
 Yet awful as the blaze of day. 
 
 Celia if the fates reltore. 
 Love and beauty weep no more : 
 But, if they fiiatch the lovely prize^ 
 All that's fair in Celia dies. 
 
 To 
 
73 
 
 SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 
 
 To a Little Girl whom I had offended ; 
 An ODE. 
 
 Written at Twelve Years of Age. 
 
 T T O W long fhall I attempt in vain 
 -^ ^ Thy fmiles, my angel, to regain ? 
 I'll kifs your hand, I'll weep, I'll kneel : 
 Will nought, fair tyrant, reconcile ? 
 
 That gold- finch, with her painted wings j 
 W^hich gayiy looks, and fweetly fings ; 
 That, and if aught I have more fine. 
 All, all, my charmer, lliall be thine. 
 
 When next Mamma fhall prove fevere, 
 
 ni interpofe, and lave my dear. 
 
 Soften, my fair, thofe angry eyes. 
 
 Nor tear thy heart with broken fighs : 
 
 Think, while that tender breafl they ftrain, 
 
 For thee what anguilli I fuftain. 
 
 K Should 
 
74 POEMS ON 
 
 Should but thy fair companions view, 
 How ill that frown becomes thy brow ; 
 With fear and grief in ev'ry eye, 
 Each would to each, aftonifli'd, cry, 
 Heav'ns ! where is all her fweetnefs flown ! 
 How flrange a figure now fhe's grown ! 
 Run, Nancy, let us run, left we 
 Grow pettilh aukv/ard things as fhe. 
 
 'Tis done, 'tis done ; my cherub fmiles. 
 My griefs fufpends, my fears beguiles : 
 How the quick pleafure heaves my breaft ! 
 Ah ! ftiU be kind, and I'll be bleft ! 
 
 To 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ys 
 
 To L E S B I A. 
 
 Tranflated from Catullus. 
 
 ' I A H C four loquacious age reprove, 
 
 -*- Let us, my Lesbia, live for love: 
 For, when the Ihort-hv'd funs decline. 
 They but retire more bright to fhine : 
 But we, when fleeting life is o'er. 
 And light and love can blefs no more 5 
 Are ravifh'd from each dear delight, 
 To deep one long eternal night. 
 
 Give me of kifles balmy (tore. 
 Ten thoufand, and ten thoufand more •, 
 Still add ten thoufand doubly fweec ; 
 The dear, dear number ftill repeat : 
 And, when the fum fo high Ihali fwell, 
 Scarce thought can reach, or tongue can tell ; 
 Let us on kifles kifles crowd, 
 Till number fink in multitude ; 
 Left our full blifs Ihould limits know. 
 And others, mimb'ring, envious grow. 
 
76 P O E M S ON 
 
 A TR AN SLATION of 
 An Old Scots SONG. 
 
 O I N C E robb'd of all that charm'd my view, 
 '^ Of all my foul e'er fancied fair. 
 Ye fmiling native fcenes, adieu ! 
 
 With each delightful objetl there. 
 
 Ye vales, which to the raptur'd eye 
 Difclos'd the flow'ry pride of May ; 
 
 Ye circling hills, whofe fummits high 
 BluHi'd with the morning's earlieft ray: 
 
 Where, heedlefs oft how far I ftray'd. 
 
 And pleas'd'my ruin to purfuc; 
 J fung my dear, my cruel maid : 
 
 Adieu for ever ! ah 1 adieu I 
 
 Ye dear aflbciates of my breafc, 
 
 Whofe hearts v\^ith fpeechlefs forrow fwell j 
 
 And thou, with hoary age oppreft. 
 
 Dear author of my life, farewel ! 
 
 For 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 77 
 
 For me, alas ! thy fruitlefs tears, 
 
 Far, far remote from friends and home. 
 
 Shall blaft thy venerable years, 
 
 And bend thee pining to the tomb. 
 
 Sharp are the pangs by nature felt. 
 
 From dear relations torn avsay ; 
 Yet fharper pangs my vitals melt. 
 
 To hopelefs love a deflin'd prey : 
 
 While Ilie, as angry heav'n and main 
 Deaf to the helplefs failor's prayV, 
 
 Enjoys my foul-confuming pain. 
 
 And wantons v^ith my deep defpair. 
 
 From curfed gold what ills arife ! 
 
 What horrors life's fair profpedl ftain 1 
 Friends blaft their friends with angry eyes. 
 
 And brothers bleed by brothers (lain. 
 
 From curfed gold I trace my woe ; 
 
 Could I this fplendid mifchief boaft. 
 
 Nor would my tears unpitied flow, 
 
 Nor would my fighs in air be loft. 
 
 Ah! 
 
78 P O E M S ON 
 
 Ah ! when a mother's cruel care 
 
 Nurs'd me an infant on the breaft. 
 
 Had early fate furpris'd me there, 
 And wrapt me in eternal reft : 
 
 Then had this breaft ne'er learn'd to beat. 
 
 And tremble with unpitied pain ; 
 Nor had a maid's relentlefs hate. 
 
 Been, ev'n in death, deplor'd in vain. 
 
 Oft, in the pleafing toils of love. 
 
 With ev'ry winning art I try'd 
 To catch the coyly flutt'ring dove, 
 
 With killing eyes and plumy pride : 
 
 But, far on nimble pinions borne 
 
 From love's warm gales and flow'ry plains, 
 She fought the northern climes of fcorn. 
 
 Where ever- freezing winter reigns. 
 
 Ah me ! had heav'n and fhe prov'd kind. 
 
 Then full of age, and free from care, 
 
 How bleft had I my life refign'd, 
 
 Where firft I breath'd this vital air 1 
 
 Bur, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 79 
 
 Bur, fince no flatt'^ring hope remains. 
 
 Let me my wretched lot purfiie : 
 Adieu, dear friends, and native fcenes. 
 
 To all, but grief arid love, adieu ! 
 
 SONG: 
 
 To the Tune of the Braes of Ballandyne, 
 
 I. 
 
 BENEATH a green Ihade, a lovely youngfwain 
 One ev'ning reclin'd, to difcover his pain : 
 So fad, yet fo fweetly he warbled his woe, 
 * The winds ceas'd to breathe, and the fountains to flow : 
 Rude winds, with compafTion, could hear him com- 
 plain *, 
 YetCHLOE, lefs gentle, was deaf to his flrain. 
 
 II. 
 
 How happy, he cry'd, my moments once flew! 
 Ere Chloe's bright charms firfl flafh'd in my view : 
 
 Thefe 
 
§o POEMS o:>i 
 
 Thefe eyes then witli pleafure the dawn could furvey j 
 Nor fmii'd the fair morning more chearful than they; 
 Now fcencs of diftrefs pleafe only my fight ; 
 I'm tortur'd in pleafure, and hinguiHi in light. 
 
 III. 
 
 Through changes in vain relief I purfue ; 
 All, all but confpire my griefs to renew : 
 From funfhine to zephyrs and fliades we repair 5 
 To fun ["bine we fly from too piercing an air : 
 But love's ardent fever burns always the fame ; 
 No winter can cool it, no fummer inflame. 
 
 IV. 
 
 But fee! the pale moon all clouded retires; 
 The breezes grow cool, not Strephon's defires : 
 I fly from the dangers of tempeft: and wind. 
 Yet nourjfli the madnefs that preys on my mind. 
 Ah wretch ! how can life thus merit thy care, 
 Since lengthning its mom.ents, but lengthens defpair? 
 
 The 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 8r 
 
 The ravished SHEPHERD. 
 A SONG. 
 
 I. 
 
 Z U R E dawn, whofe chearful ray 
 
 Bids all nature's beauties rife. 
 Were thy glories doubly gay, 
 
 What art thou to Chloe's eyes ? 
 Boaft no more thy rofy light, 
 If Chloe fmile thee into night. 
 
 11. 
 
 Gentle Spring, whofe kind return 
 
 Spreads diffufive pleafure rounds 
 Bids each breaft enamour'd burn. 
 
 And each flame with blifs be crown'd? 
 Should my Chloe leavt the plain. 
 Fell winter foon would blaft thy reign, 
 
 III. 
 Ev'ry eharm, whofe high delight 
 
 Senfe enjoys, or foul admires , 
 All that ardour can excite. 
 
 All excited love requires, 
 All that heav'n or earth call fair. 
 View Cpu,oe's face, and read it thcrt, 
 
 L A 
 
POEMS ON 
 
 A PASTORAL SONG. 
 
 SANDY, the gay, the blooming fwatn. 
 Had lang frae love been free ; 
 Lang made ilk heart that fili'd the plam 
 Dance quick with harmlefs glee. 
 
 As biythfome lambs that fcour the green, 
 
 His mind was unconflrain'd ; 
 Nae face could ever fix his een, 
 
 Nae fang his ear detained. 
 
 Ahl lucklefs youth ! a fliort-liv'd joy 
 
 Thy cruel fates decree ; 
 Fell tods (hall on thy lambkins prey, 
 
 And love mair fell on thee. 
 
 'Twas e'er the fun exhal'd the dew, 
 
 Ae morn of chearful May, 
 Forth GiRZY walk'd, the flow'rs to view, 
 
 A flow'r mair fweet than they ! 
 
 Like 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 83 
 
 Like fun-beams fheen her waving locks ; 
 
 Her een like ftars were bright ; 
 The rofe lent blufhes to her cheek, 
 
 The lily pureft white. 
 
 Jimp was her wade, like fome tall pine 
 
 That keeps the woods in awe ; 
 Her limbs like iv'ry columns turn'd. 
 
 Her breads like hills of fnaw. 
 
 Her robe around her loofely thrown. 
 
 Gave to the Ihepherd's een 
 What fearlefs innocence would fhow 5 
 
 The reft was all unfeen. 
 
 He fix'd his look, he figh'd, he quak'd. 
 
 His colour went and came ; 
 Dark grew his een, his ears refound. 
 
 His breaft was all on flame. 
 
 Nae mair yon glen repeats his fang. 
 
 He jokes, and fmiles nae mair; 
 
 XJnplaited now his cravat hung, 
 
 Undreft his chefnut hair. 
 
 To 
 
$4 POEMS ON 
 
 To him, how lang the fliorteft night i 
 
 How dark the brighteft day ! 
 Till, with the flow confuming fire. 
 
 His life was worn away. 
 
 Far, far frae fliepherds and their flocksj 
 
 Oppreft with care, he lean'd •, 
 And, in a mirky, bcuclien fhade, 
 
 To hills and dale's thus plean'd : 
 
 At length, my wayward heart, return. 
 
 Too far, alas ! aftray : 
 gay, whence you caught that bitter fmart, 
 
 Which works me fuch decay. 
 
 Ay me ! 'twas Love, 'twas Girzy's charms, 
 
 That Brft began my woes ; 
 Could he fae fafu, or flie fae fair. 
 
 Prove fuch relent lefs foes ? 
 
 Fierce winter nips the fweeteft flow'r j 
 
 Keen lightning rives the tree ; 
 
 pieak mildew taints the faireft crop, 
 
 And love h<is blalled me. 
 
 Sagacioi 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 85 
 
 Sagacious hounds the foxes chace ; 
 
 The tender lambkins they •, 
 Lambs follow clofe their mother cweSj 
 
 And ewes the blooms of May, 
 
 Slth a' that live, with a' their might, 
 
 Some dear delight purfiie ; 
 Ceafe, ruthiefs maid ! to fcorn the heart 
 
 That only pants for you. 
 
 Alas 1 for griefs, to her unken'd. 
 
 What pity can I gain ? 
 And IhoLild fhe ken, yet love refufe. 
 
 Could that redrefs my pain ? 
 
 Come, death, my wan, my frozen bride, 
 
 Ah ! clofe thofe wearied eyes : 
 But death the happy fl;jll purfues. 
 
 Still from the wretched flies. 
 
 Could wealth avail ; what wealth is mine 
 
 Her high-born mind to bend ? 
 Her's are thofe wide delightful plains, 
 
 And her's the flocks I tend. 
 
 Wha» 
 
86 P O E M S ON 
 
 "What tho', whene'er I tun'd my pipe, 
 Glad fairies heard ihe found, 
 
 And, clad in frefliefl; April green. 
 Aft tript the circle round : 
 
 Break, landward clown, thy dinfome reed, 
 And brag thy fkill nae mair : 
 
 Can ought that gies na Girzy joy. 
 Be worth thy lighted care ? 
 
 Adieu ! ye harmlefs fportive flocks ! 
 
 Who now your lives (hall guard ? 
 Adieu ! my faithful dog, who oft: 
 
 The pleafing vigil fhar'd : 
 
 Adieu, ye plains, and light, anes fweet. 
 
 Now painful to my view : 
 Adieu to life, and thou, mair dear. 
 
 Who caus'd my death ; adieu ! 
 
 On 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ty 
 
 On the Death oi STELLA : 
 A PASTORAL. 
 
 Infcrib'd to her Sifter. 
 
 See on thofe ruby lips the trembling breath, 
 ^hofe cheeks new faded at the blafi of death : 
 Cold is that breaft which warned the world before ; 
 And thofe love- darting eyesfhatl roll no more. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 NO W purple ev'ning ting*d the blue ferene. 
 And milder breezes fann'd the verdaot plain 3 
 Beneath a blafted oak's portentous fhade. 
 To fpcak his grief, a penfive fwain was laid : 
 Birds ceas'd to warble at the mournful found ; 
 The laughing landfldp fadden'd all around : 
 For Stella's fate he breath'd his tuneful moan. 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gone ! 
 
 O thou ! by ftronger ties than blood ally'd. 
 
 Who died to pleafure, when a * filter dy'd j 
 
 Thou 
 
 * Mrs. M'CuLLocH, a Lady diftinguifhed for every per- 
 fonal grace and qualification of mind, which could adorn 
 her lex and nature. 
 
S8 P O E M S o?T 
 
 Thou living image of thofe charms we ioii, 
 Charms which exulting nature once might boaft ! 
 Indulge the plaintive mufe, whofe Iimple (train 
 Repeats the heart-felt anguifh of the fwain : 
 For Stella's fate thus flow'd his tuneful moan. 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gone ! 
 
 Are happinefs and joy for ever fled. 
 Nor haunt the twilight grove, nor funny glade ? 
 Ah ! fled for ever from my longing eye 5 
 With Stella born, with Stella too they die : 
 Die, or with me your brighteft image moan ; 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gon'e ! 
 
 Sweet to the thirfty tongue the cryftal ftream. 
 To nightly wand'rers fweet the morning beam 5 
 Sweet to the wither'd grafs the gentle fiiow'r ; 
 To the fond lover fweet the nuptial hour -, 
 Sweet fragrant gardens to the lab'ring bee. 
 And lovely Stella once was heav'n to me : 
 That heav*n is faded, and thofe joys are flown. 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gone ! 
 
 Ar-J \ 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 89 
 
 Ah ! where is now that form which charm'd my fight ? 
 Ah ! where that wifdom, fparkUng heav'niy bright? 
 Ah ! where that fwcetnefs like the Jays of fpnng, 
 When breathe its flow'rs, and all its warblers fing ? 
 Now. fade, ye flow'rs, ye warblers, join my moan j 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gone ! 
 
 Ah me ! tho' winter defolate the field, 
 Again fliall flow'rs their blended odours yield ; 
 Again fhall birds the vernal feafon hail,; 
 And beauty paint, and mufic charm the vale : 
 But fhe no nwre to blefs me fhall appear ; 
 No more her angel voice enchant my ear ; 
 No more her angel fmile relieve my moan : 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gone ! 
 
 He ceas'd ; for mighty grief his voice fuppreft, 
 Chill'd all his veins, and ftruggled in his bread ; 
 From his wan cheek the rofy tincture flies ; 
 The luftre languifh'd in his clofing eyes : 
 Too foon fhall life return, unhappy fwain ! 
 If, with returning fenfe, returns thy pain. [moan j 
 Hills, woods, and ftreams, refound the fliepherd's 
 Love, beauty, virtue, mourn your darling gone ! 
 M A 
 
90 P O E M S ON 
 
 A P AS T O R AL: 
 
 Infcribed to E U A N T H E. 
 
 "^TTHILST I rehearfe unhappy Damon's lays, 
 ' » At which his fleecy charge forgot to graze. 
 With drooping heads and griev'd attention, flood. 
 Nor frifk'd the green, nor fought the neighb'ring 
 flood ; 
 
 Eflential Sweetnefs •! deign with me to ftray, 
 Where yon clofe copes exclude the heat of day •, 
 Or where yon fountain murmurs foft along, 
 Mixt with his tears, and vocal to his fong j 
 There hear the fad relation of his fate. 
 And pity all the pains thy charms create. 
 
 Close in th' adjacent fliade, conceal'd from view, 
 I {laid, and heard him thus his griefs purfue. 
 
 Awake, my mufe ! the foft Sicilian fl:rain ; 
 Mild gleams the purple ev'ning o'er the plain ; 
 Mild fan the breezes, mild the waters flow. 
 And heav'n and earth an equal quiet know ; 
 
 With 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 91 
 
 With eafe the fhepherds and their flocks are blefl. 
 And ev'ry grief, but mine, confents to reft. 
 
 Awake, my mufe, the loft Sicilian drain -, 
 Sicilian numbers may delude my pain : 
 The thirfty field, which fcorching heat devours. 
 Is ne'er fupply'd, tho' heav'n defcend in fho-v'iS : 
 From flow'r to flow*r the bee ftill plies her ^ing. 
 Of fweets infaciate, tho' flie drain the fpring : 
 Still from thofe eyes love calls their !iqi.;id ftore. 
 And, when their currents fail, ftill thirfts for more. 
 
 Awake, my mufe ! the foft Sicilian ftrain : 
 Yet why to ruthlefs ftorms ftiouid I complain ? 
 Deaf ftorms and death itfelf complaints m.ay move, 
 But groans are mufic to the tyrant Love. 
 O Love ! thy genius and thy force I know, 
 Thy burning torch, and peftilential bow : 
 From fome fermented tempeft of the main. 
 At once commenc'd thy being, and thy reign ; 
 Nurs'd by fell harpies in fome howling wood, 
 Inur'd to daughter, and regal'd with blood : 
 Relentlefs.mifchief ! at whofe dire command, 
 A mother ftain'd with filial blood her hand : 
 
 Curft 
 
92 POEMS ON 
 
 Curft boy ! curfl: morher! which mofb impious, fay. 
 She who could wound, or he who couid betray ? 
 
 Awake, my mufe ! the foft Si ci linn ft rain : 
 From love thofe fighs I breathe, thofe plagues fuftain. 
 Why did I firft Euanthe*s charms admire, 
 Blefs the foft fmart, and fan the growing fire ? 
 "Why, happy ft.il! my danger to conceal, 
 Could I no ruin fear, till fure to feel ? 
 So feeks the fwain by night his doubtful way. 
 Led by the infidious meteor's fleeting ray ; * 
 
 Still on, attracted by th' illuftve beam, 
 He tempts the faithlefs marfli, or fatal ftream : 
 Away with fcorn the laughing Daemon flies. 
 While fliades eternal feal the wretch's eyes. 
 
 Awake, my mufe ! the foft Sicilian ftraln ; 
 Ah ! can no laft, no darling hope remain, 
 Round which my foul with all her ftrength may twine, ■ 
 And, tho' but flatter'd, call the treafure niine ? 
 Wretch ! to the charmer's fphere canft thou afcend. 
 Or dar'ft thou ftuicy fhe to thine will bend ? 
 Say, (hall the chirping grafliopper afllime 
 The varied accent, and the foaring plume ; 
 
 Or 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 93 
 
 Or fliail that oak, the talleft of his race. 
 
 Stoop to his root, and mi^et yon flirub*s embrace ? 
 
 Awake, my mufe ! the foft Sicilian ftrain ; 
 Thofe pallid cheeks how long fhall forrow (lain ? 
 Well I remember, O my foul ! too well. 
 When in the fnare of fate I thoughtlefs fell : 
 Hurt by a fall, fhe fought the diftant fliade. 
 Where, led by love or deftiny, I ftray'd : 
 There, from the nymphs retir'd, deprefs'd fhe lay. 
 To unremitting pain a fmiling prey : 
 Ev'n then I faw her, as an angel, bright ; 
 I faw, 1 lov'd, I perifh'd at the fight; 
 I figh'd, I blufh'd, I gaz'd with fix'd furprife. 
 And all my foul hung raptur'd in my eyes. 
 
 Forbear, my mufe ! the (ok Sicilian drain •, 
 Which heav'n beflows, and art refines, in vain : 
 What tho' the heav'n-born mufe my temples iliade 
 With wreaths of fame, and bays that never fade ? 
 What tho' the Sylvan pow'rs, while I complain, 
 Attend my flocks, and patronize my-flrain ? 
 On me my ftars, not gifts, but ills bellow ; 
 And all the change 1 feel, is change of woe. 
 
 But 
 
94 P O E M S ON 
 
 But fee yon rock projefted o'er the main, 
 Whofe giddy profpeft turns the gazer's brain : 
 Object is loft beneath its vaft profound, 
 And deep and hoarfe below the furges found : 
 Oft, while th' unthinking world is loil in fleep, 
 My fable genius tempts me to the fleep ; 
 In fancy's view bids endlefs horrors move, 
 A barren fortune, and a hopelefs love. 
 Life has no charms for me •, why longer (lay ? 
 I hear the gloomy mandate, and obey. 
 What ! fall the vi6tim of a mean defpair. 
 And crown the triumph of the cruel fair ? 
 No, let me once fome confcious merit fhow. 
 And tell the world, I can furvive my woe. 
 
 Forbear, my mufe [ the foft Sicilian drain : 
 Fool ! wretched fool ! what frenzy fires thy brain ? 
 See, choak'd with weeds, thy languid flow'rs recline. 
 Thy fheep unguarded, and unprop'd thy vine. 
 At length recall'd, to toil thy hands inure. 
 Or weave the bafket, or the fold fecure. 
 
 What tho' her cheeks a living blulh difplay. 
 
 Pure as the dawn of heav'n's unclouded day j 
 
 Tho* 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 95 
 
 Tho' love from ev'ry glance an arrow wings. 
 And all the mufes warble, when Ihe fings ? 
 Forbear, my mufe ! the foft Sicilian drain ; 
 Some nymph, as fair, a fprightlier note may gain: 
 There are who know to prize more genuine charms, 
 Which genius brightens, and which virtue warms : 
 Forbear, my mufe ! the foft Sicilian ftrain •, 
 Some nymph, as fair, may fmile, tho' fhe difdain. 
 
 The PLAINTIVE SHEPHERD: 
 A PASTORAL ELEGY. 
 
 Eheu ! quid volui mifero mibi ? florihus aiiftrum 
 Perditus, et liquidis immifi jontibus apros. 
 
 ViRG. 
 
 f^ O L I N, whofe lays the fliepherds all admire, 
 
 ^^ For Phoebe long confum'd with hopelefs fire; 
 
 Nor durft his tongue the hidden fmart convey. 
 
 Nor tears the torment of his foul betray : 
 
 But to the wildnefs of the woods he flies. 
 
 And vents his grief in unregarded fighs : 
 
 Ye confcious woods, who ftill the found retain, 
 
 Repeat the tuneful forrows of the fwain. 
 
 And 
 
96 P O E M S ON • 
 
 And muft I perifli then, ah cruel maid ! 
 To early tate, by love of thee, betray 'd ? 
 And can no tender art thy foul fubdue. 
 Me, dying me, with milder eyes to view ? 
 The fiow'r that withers in its op'ning bloom, 
 Robb'd of Its charming dyes, and fweet perfume 5 
 The tender lamb that prematurely pines, 
 And life's untafted joys at once refigns ; 
 For thefe thy tears in copious tributes flow. 
 For thefe thy bofom heaves with tender woe ; 
 And canft thou then with tears their fate furvey. 
 While, blafled by thy coldnefs, I decay ? 
 
 And now the fwains each to their cors are fled. 
 And not a v/arble echoes thro' the mead ; 
 Now to their folds the panting flocks retreat, 
 Scorch'd with the fummer noon's relentlefs heat: 
 From fummer's heat the Iliades a refuge prove ; 
 But what can fhield my heart from fiercer love ? 
 All bounteous nature taught the fertile field. 
 For all our other ills a balm to yield •, 
 But love, the fliarpefl pang the foul fuitains, 
 
 Still cruel love incurable remains. 
 
 Yet 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 97 
 
 Yet, dear deftroycr ! yet my fufF 'rings hear : 
 By love's kind look, and pity's facred tear. 
 By the flrong griefs that in my bofom roll. 
 By all the native goodnefs of thy foul, 
 Regard my bloom declining to the grave, 
 And, like eternal Mercy, fmile and fave. 
 
 What tho' no founding names my race adorn, 
 Suftaind by labour, and obfcurely born ? 
 "With faired flow'rs tht* humble vales are fpread, 
 Whilft endlefs tempefts beat the mountain's head. 
 Whac tho' by fate no riches are my iliare ? 
 Riches are parents of eternal care ; 
 While, in the lowly hut and filent grove. 
 Content plays fmiling with her fifter love. 
 What tho' no native charms my perfon grace, 
 Nor beauty moulds my form, nor paints my face? 
 The fweeteft fruit may often pall the tallc. 
 While floes and brambles yield a fafe repafl:. 
 
 Ah ! prompt to hope, forbear thy fruitlefs ftrain 5 
 Thy hopes are frantic, and thy lays are vain. 
 Say, can thy fong appeafe the ftormy deep, 
 Or lull th' impetuous hurricane afleep ? 
 
 N Thy 
 
98 P O E M S ON 
 
 Thy numbers then her ftedfaft foul may move. 
 And change the purpofe of determin'd love. 
 
 Die, Colin, die, nor groan with life oppreft ; 
 Another image triumphs in her brcail ; 
 Another foon fhall call the fair his own. 
 And heav'n and fate feem plcas'd their vows to crown. 
 
 Arise, Menalcas, with the dawn arife : 
 For thee thy Phoebe looks with longing eyes ; 
 For thee the fhepherds, a delighted throng, 
 Wake the foft reed, and hymeneal fong ; 
 For thee the hafty virgins rob the fpring, I 
 
 And, wrought with care, the nuptial garland bring. 
 
 iil 
 
 Arise, Menalcas, with the dawn arife; 
 Ev'n time for thee with double fwiftnefs flies : 
 Hours urging hours, with all their fpeed retire. 
 To give thy foul whate'er it can defire. 
 
 Yet, when the pried prepares the rites divine. 
 And when her trembling hand is clafp'd in thine. 
 Let not thy heart too foon indulge its joys ; 
 But think on him whom thy delight deftroys ! 
 
 Thee 
 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 99 
 
 Thee too he lov'd -, to thee his fimple heart. 
 With eafy faith and fondnefs breath'd its Imart : 
 So fools their flocks to fanguine wolves refign, 
 So trtift the cunning fox to prune the vine. 
 Think thou behold'ft hinn from fome gaping wound 
 Effufe his foul, and ftain with blood the ground : 
 Think, while to earth his pale remains they bear. 
 His friends with fhiicking forrow pierce thine ear 5 
 Or, to fome torrent's headlong rage a prey. 
 Think thou behold'ft him floating to the fea. 
 
 V But now the fun declines his radiant head. 
 And rifing hilis projedl a length'ning fhade : 
 Again to browze the green the flocks return. 
 Again the fwains to fport, and I to mourn : 
 1 homeward too muft bend my painful way. 
 Left old Damoetas fternly chide my ftay. 
 
 D ESI' 
 
loo POEMS ON 
 
 DESIDERIUM LUTETIAE: 
 
 From BtJCHANNAN, 
 
 An Alleyorical PASTORAL, 
 In which he regrets his abfence from Pavis, 
 
 Imitated. 
 
 WHILE far remote, thy fwain, dearCHLOE ! 
 fighs, 
 Depriv'd the vital funlhine of thine eyes •, 
 Seven fummer heats already warm the plains ; 
 In ftorms and fnow the fcv'nth bleak winter reigns : ' 
 Yet not feven years revolving fad and flow. 
 Nor fummer's heats, nor winter's ftorms and fnow. 
 Can caufe my heart a moment's refpite fliare 
 From reftlefs love, and ever- waking care. 
 
 The E, when from heav'n defcendthe dews of morn, 
 To crop the verdant mead when flocks return; 
 Thee, when the fun has compafs'd half his way. 
 And darts around unfufFerable day ; 
 
 Thee, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. loi 
 
 Thee, when the ev'ning, o'er the world diiplay'd. 
 From rifing hills projects a length'ning (hade j 
 Thet ftiil I fing, unwearied of my theme. 
 Source of my fong, and object of my flame ! 
 Ev'n nighr, in whofe dark bofom nature laid 
 Appears one blank, one undiftinguidi'd (hade, 
 Ev'n night in vain, with all her horrors, tries 
 To blot thy lovely form from fancy's eyes. 
 
 When fhort-llv'd flumbers,long invok'd, defcend. 
 To footh each care, and ev'ry fenfe fufpend. 
 Full to my fight once more thy charms appear ; 
 Once more my ardent vows falute thine ear ; 
 Once more my anxious foul, awake to blifs. 
 Feels, hears, detains thee in her clofe embrace : 
 In fluttering, thrilling, glov;ing tranfport toft. 
 Till fenfe itfeif in keen delight is loft. 
 
 From fleep I wake •, but oh ! how chang'd the 
 fcene ! 
 The charms illufive, and the pleaf^re vain I 
 The day returns ; but ah ! returning day. 
 When ev'ry grief but mine admits allay. 
 
 On 
 
102 P O E M S ON 
 
 On thefe fad eyes its glory darts in vain ; 
 Its light rcftor'd, rcfbores my foul lo pain. 
 
 The hoLifc I fly, impell'd by wild defpair. 
 As if my griefs could only find me there. 
 Loft to the world, thro' lonely fields I rove ; 
 Vain wilh ! to fly from deftiny and love ! 
 By wayward frenzy's reftlefs impulfe led. 
 Through dtvious wilds, with heedlefs courfe, I tread : 
 The cave remote, the dufky wood explore. 
 Where human ftep was ne'er impreft before : 
 And, with the native accents of defpair, 
 Fatigue the confcious rocks, and defert air. 
 Kind Echo, faithful to my plaints alone. 
 Sighs all my fighs, and groans to ev'ry groan. 
 The ftreams, familiar to the voice of woe. 
 Each mournful found remurmur as they flow. 
 
 Oft on fome rock diftrafted I complain, 
 "Which hangs projefled o'er the ruffled main : 
 Oft view the azure furges as they roll. 
 And to deaf ftorms effufe my frantic foul. 
 " Attend my forrows, O caerulean tide 1 
 «' Ye blue-ey'd nymphs that thro' the billows glide. 
 
 Oh! 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, i 
 
 03 
 
 " Oh ! wafc me gently o'er your rough domain ; 
 
 " Let me at length my darling coaft attain : 
 
 " Or, if my wiflies thus too much implore, 
 
 " Shipwreck'd and gafping let me reach the fhore. 
 
 " While wafh*d along the floods I hold my way, 
 
 " To ev'ry wind and ev'ry wave a prey, 
 
 " Dear hope and love (hall bear my fii.king frame, 
 
 " And unextinguifh'd keep the vital flame." 
 
 Oft to the haftning zephyrs have I faid : 
 " You, happy gales I lliall fan my lovely maid. 
 " So may no pointed rocks your wings deform ; 
 *' So may your fpeedy journey meet no ftorm : 
 " As fofc you whifper round my heav*nly fair, 
 " Flay on her bread, or wanton .with her hair ; 
 *' Faithful to love, the tender meffage bear, 
 *' And breathe my endlefs forrows in her ear.'* 
 
 How oft rough Euriis have I aflc'd in vain ! 
 As with fwift wings he brufti'd the foamy main : 
 " Bleft wind ! who late my diftant charmer view'd, 
 " Say, has her foul no other wifh purfu'd ? 
 " With mutual fire, fay, does her bofom glow ; 
 *' Feels flie my wound, and pities flie my woe ? ** 
 
 Heed- 
 
104 P O E M S ON 
 
 Heedless of all my tears, and all I fay, 
 The winds, wirh blull'iing fury, wing chcir way, 
 A freezing horror, and a chilling pain, 
 Shoots thro' my heart, and ftagnates ev'ry vein. 
 No rural pleafures yieid my foul relief ; 
 No melting lhepherd*s pipe confoles my grief: 
 The choral nymphs, that dancing chear the plain, 
 And Fauns, tho' fwcet their fong, yet fing in vain. 
 Deaf to the voice of joy, my tortur'd mind 
 Can only room for love and anguifli find : 
 By thefe my foul and all its wifhes caught. 
 Can to no other obje6l yield a thought. 
 
 Lycisca, fisilful with her lyre to move 
 Each tender wifh, and melt the foul to love : 
 M £ L AE N I s too, with ev'ry fweetnefs crown'd, 
 By nature form'd with ev'ry glance to wound : 
 With emulation both my love purfue. 
 And both, with winning arts, my paffion woo. 
 The frefheft bioom of youth iheir cheeks difp'ay ; 
 Their eyes are arm'd with beauty's keeneft ray •, 
 Av'rice itfelf might count their fleecy ftore, 
 (A prize beyond its wifh!) and pant no more. 
 
 Me 
 
SEVliRAL OCCASIONS. J05 
 
 Me oft their dow'rs each genVous fire has told^ 
 An hundred playful younglings from the fold. 
 Each with its dam 5 their mothers promife more. 
 And oft and long, with fecret gifts, implore. 
 Me nor an hundred playful younglings move. 
 Each with its dam •, nor wealth can bribe my love j 
 Nor all the griefs th' imploring mothers fliow 5 
 Nor all the fecret gifts they would beftow 5 
 Nor all the tender things the nymphs can fay 3 
 Nor all the foft defires the nymphs betray. 
 
 As winter to the fpring in beauty yields. 
 Languor to health, and rocks to verdant fields 5 
 As the fair virgin's cheek, with rofy dye 
 Blufhing delight, with lightning arm'd her eye. 
 Beyond her mother's faded form appears, 
 MarkM with the wrinkles and the fnow of years ; 
 As beauteous Tweed, and weakh-ini porting Thames 
 Flow each the envy of their country's ftreams : 
 So, loveliefi: of her fex, my heav'niy maid 
 Appears, and all their fainter glories fade. 
 
 Melaenis, whom love's foft inchantments arm,, 
 Replete with charms, and confcious of each charm, 
 O OfE 
 
166 P O E M S ON 
 
 Oft on the glafly ftream, with raptur'd eyes, 
 
 Survtfys her form in mimic fweetnefs rife ; 
 
 Oft, as the waters plea^'d reflect her face, 
 
 Ad i Lifts her locks, and heightens ev'ry grace : 
 
 Oft thus Ihe tries, with all her tuneful art, 
 
 To reach the foft acceffes of my heart. 
 
 " Unhappy fwain, whofe wiflies fondly ftray, 
 
 " To flow-confuming fruitlefs fires a prey ! 
 
 " Say, will thofe fighs and tears for ever flow 
 
 «* In hopelefs torment, and determin'd woe ? 
 
 " Nature, indulgent to our fields as thine, 
 
 " The mellow apple yields, and purple vine : 
 
 "Thofe too thou lov'it ; their free enjoyment Ihare, 
 
 " Nor plant vain tedious hopes, and reap defpair." 
 
 Me oft Lycifca, in the feftive train. 
 Views, as fhe lightly bounds along the plain : 
 Straight, with diflembled fcorn, away flie flies ; 
 Yet flill on me obliquely turns her eyes : 
 While, to the mufic of her trembling ftrings, 
 Amidft the dance fweet warbling, thus flie fings : 
 " No tears the juft revenge of heav'n can move ; 
 " Heav'n's juft revenge will punifli flighted love. 
 
 " I've 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 107 
 
 " I've feen a huntfman, adtive as the morn, 
 " Salute her earlieft blufh with founding horn -, 
 " Purfue the bounding ftag with op'ning cries, 
 " And flight the timid hare, his eafy prize : 
 " Then, with the fetting fun, his hounds reflrain -, 
 " Nor bounding ftag, nor timid hare obtain. • 
 " I've feen the fportfman latent nets difplay, 
 " To catch the feather'd warblers of the fpray ; 
 *' Defpife the finch that flutter'd round in air, 
 " And court the fweeter linnet to his fnare : 
 *' Yet weary, cold, fuccefslefs, leave the plain ; 
 " Nor painted finch, nor fweeter linnet, gain. 
 '^ I've feen a yoLiih the poiifli'd pipe admire, 
 " And fcorn the fimple reed the fwains infpire : 
 *' The fimple reed yet chears each tuneful fwain ; 
 " While ftill unbleft the fcorner pines in vain. 
 '' Thus righteous heav'n chaftifes wanton pride, 
 '' And bids intemp'rate infolence fubfide." 
 
 Thus breathe the am'rous nymphs their fruitlefs pain 
 In ears impervious to the fofteft ftrain. 
 But firft with trembling lambs the wolf fhall graze • 
 Firft hawks with linnets join in focial lays ; 
 
 Firft 
 
io8 P O E M S ON, (3c. 
 
 Firft fhall the tiger's fanguine thirft expire. 
 And tim'rous fawns the lion fierce admire -, 
 Ere, with her lute Lycifca taught to charm, 
 This deftin'd heart ere foft Melaenis warm. 
 Firft fhall the finny nation leave the flood. 
 Shadows the hills, and birds the vocal wood ; 
 The winds fliall ceafe to breathe, the ftreams to flow ; 
 Ere my defires anodier objed know. 
 This infant bofom, yet in love untaught, 
 From Chloe firfl: the pleafing ardor caught : 
 Chloe fiiall ftill its faithful empire claim, 
 Its firft ambition, and its lateft aim ! 
 Till ev'ry wifti and ev'ry hope be o'er. 
 And life and love infpire my frame no more. 
 
 P H I L A N. 
 
PHILANTHES 
 
 MONODY, 
 
 Infcribed to Mifs D y H — y 5 
 
 Occafioned by a ferles of interefting events which 
 happened at Dmnfries on Friday, June 12. 1752, 
 particularly that of her Father's death. 
 
 I^is defider'io fit pudor, ant modus 
 Tarn chart capitis ? Practpe luguhres 
 Cantus Melpomene, cw/ liquidam pater 
 Vocem cwn cithara dedit, 
 
 HORAT. 
 
no POEMS ON 
 
 Argument. 
 
 ^'he fuhje^ propofed. Addrefs to Mifs H — y. Ge- 
 neral reflexions infpir'd by the fubje£i^ and previous 
 to it. The fcem opens with a profpeEl of Mrs. 
 
 M -ii's funeral folemnity: and changes to the 
 
 untimely fate of a beautiful youth ^ fon to Mr. J — s 
 H — LLj whofe early genius., quick progrejs in learn- 
 ing., and gentle difpofitions, infpired his friends 
 with the highefi expe^ations of his riper attainments. 
 Tranjition to the death of Dr. J — s H — y Phy/i- 
 cian : his charaBer as fuch : the general forrow oc- 
 cafioned by his fate : his character as a friend, as 
 particularly qualified to footh dijlrefs ; as a Gentle- 
 man ; as an hufhand \ as a father : his lofs conji- 
 dered in all thefe relations, particularly as fiifiained 
 l>y Mifs H — Y : her tender care oj him during his 
 ficknefs defcribed. The piece concludes with an apo- 
 theofts, in imitation of Virgil'j Daphnis. 
 
 I. 
 
 A Swain, whofe foul the tuneful nine inflame, 
 . As to his weftern goal the fun declin'd. 
 Sung to the lift'ning Ihades no common theme ; 
 While the hoarfe breathings of the hollow wind. 
 And deep refounding furge in concert join'd. 
 Deep was the furge, and deep the plaintive fbng, 
 While all the folemn fcene in mute attention hung. 
 
 Nor 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, iii 
 
 Nor thou, fair vi6lim of fo juft a woe ! 
 Tho' ftill the pangs ot nature fwelJ thy heart, 
 Difdain the faithful mufe ; whofe numbers flow 
 Sacred, alas! to fympathetic fmart : 
 For in thy griefs the mufes claim a part; 
 'Tis all they can, in fecial tears to mourn. 
 And deck with cyprefs wreaths thy dear paternal 
 urn. 
 
 The fwain began, while confcious echoes round 
 Protrad to fadder length his doleful lay. 
 Roll on, ye ftreams, in cadence more profound : 
 Ye humid vapours, veil the face of day : 
 O'er all the mournful plain 
 Let night and forrow reign : 
 For * Pan indignant from his fields retires, 
 Once haunts of gay delight •, 
 Now every fenfe they fright, 
 Refound with fhrieks of fate, and blaze with funVal 
 fires. 
 
 II. 
 
 What tho' the radiant fun and clement fls:y 
 Alternate warmth and Ihow'rs difpenfe below ; 
 
 Tho' 
 * God of Arcadia, who peculiarly prefides over rural life. 
 
 
112 P O E M S^ ou 
 
 Tho* fpring prefages to the careful eye. 
 That autumn copious with her fruits fhall glow ? 
 For us in vain her righefl: blefTings flow : 
 To eafe the bleeding heart, alas ! iil vain 
 Rich fwells the purple grape, or waves the golden 
 grain. 
 
 What fummcr-breeze, on fwifteft pinions born. 
 From fate's relentlefs hand its prey can fave ? 
 What fun in death's dark regions wake the morn. 
 Or warm the cold receffes of the grave ? 
 Ah wretched man ! whofe bread fcarce learns to 
 heave 
 With kindling life -, when, ere thy bud is blown, 
 Eternal winter breathes, and all its fweets are gone* 
 
 Thou all-enliv'nlng flame, intenfely bright ! 
 Whofe facred beams illume each wand'ring fphere^ 
 That thro' high heav'n refledls thy trembling light. 
 Conducing round this globe the varied year ; 
 
 As thou purfu'ft thy way. 
 
 Let this revolving day, 
 
 Deep 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 113 
 
 iDeep ting'd with confcious gloom, roll flow along: 
 In I'able pomp array'd, 
 Let night diffufe her fliade. 
 
 Nor fport the chearlefs hind, nor chant the vocal 
 throng. 
 
 III. 
 
 Scarce, from the ardor of the mid-day gleam^ 
 Had panting nature in the cool refpir'd 5 
 Scarce, by the margin ot the filvcr dream. 
 Faint fung the birds in verdant copes retir'd ; 
 Scarce, o'er the thirfty field with fun-fhine fir'd. 
 Had ev'ning gales the fportive wing eflay'd. 
 When founds othopelefs woe the filent feene invade* 
 
 SopHRONiA, long for ev'ry virtue dear 
 That grac'd the wife, the mother, or the friend^ 
 Depriv'd of life, now prefs'd the mournful bier, 
 in fad proceflion to the tomb fuftain'd. 
 Ah me ! in vain to heav'n and earth complain'd 
 With tender cries her num'rous orphan train 5 
 The tears of wedded love profufe were fhed in vain, 
 
 P ' For, 
 
114 POEMS ON 
 
 For her, was grief on ev'ry face imprefs'd j 
 For her, each bofom heav'd with tender fighs : 
 An hufband lace with alj her virtues blefs'd. 
 And weeping race in fad ideas rife : 
 
 For her deprefs'd and pale. 
 Your charms, ye Graces, veil. 
 Whom to adorn was once your chief delight : 
 Ye virtues all deplore 
 Your image, now no more. 
 And* Hymen quench thy torch in tears and endlefi 
 night. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Nor yet thefe difmal profpedts difappear, 
 When o*er the weeping plain new horrors rife, 
 And louder accents pierce each frighted ear. 
 Accents of grief imbitter'd by furprize ! 
 Frantic with woe, at once the tumult flies. 
 To fnatch Adonis walh'd along the Itream, 
 And all th' extended bank re-echoes to his name; 
 
 Rang'd on the brink the weeping matrons (land. 
 
 The lovely wreck of fortune to furvey. 
 
 While o'er the flood he wav'd his beauteous hand. 
 
 Of 
 
 ■*God of marriage. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 115 
 
 Or in convulfive anguifh ftruggling lay. 
 
 By flow degrees they view'd his force decay. 
 In fruitlefs efforts to regain the fhore : 
 They view'd and mourn'd his fate : O heaven ! they 
 could no more. 
 
 Ye * Naiads, guardians of the fatal flood. 
 Was beauty, fweetnefs, youth, no more your care ? 
 For beauty, fweetnefs, youth, your pity woo'd. 
 Powerful to charm, if fate could learn to fpare. 
 
 Stretch'd on cold earth he lies ; 
 
 While, in his clofing eyes, 
 No more the heav'n-illumin'd luflre fhines; 
 
 His cheek, once nature's pride, 
 
 With blooming rofes dy'd, 
 To unrelenting fate its op'ning blufh refigns, 
 
 y. 
 
 Dear haplefs youth ! what felt thy mother's heart, 
 When in her view thy lifelefs form was laid ? 
 Such anguifli when the foul and body part. 
 Such agonizing pangs the frame invade. 
 
 Was. 
 
 * River soddefles. 
 
Ii6 POEMS ON 
 
 Was there no hand, flie cry'd, my child to aid ? 
 Could heav'n and earth iinmov'd his fall furvey, 
 Nor from th* infatiate waver, redeem their lovely 
 prey ? 
 
 Did I for this my tendVeft cares employ. 
 To nourifh and inflruft thy early bloom ? 
 Are all my rifing hopes, my promis'd joy, 
 Extind in death's inexorable gloom ? 
 No more fliall life thofe faded charms relume. 
 
 Dear rip'ning fweetnefs ! funk no more to rife ! 
 
 Xhee nature mourns, like me, with fond matern^} 
 eyes. 
 
 Fortune and life, your gifts how infecure ! 
 How fair you promife ! but how ill perform 1 
 Like tender fruir, they perifh premature, 
 ^corch'd by the beam, or whelm'd beneath the ftorm. 
 
 For thee a fate more kind. 
 
 Thy rriother's hopes afTign'd, 
 Than thus to fink in early youth deplor'd j 
 
 But late thou fled'ft my fight, 
 
 Thy parent's dear delight ! 
 And art thou to my arms, ah 1 art thou thus reflor'd | 
 
 Severs 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 117 
 
 VI. 
 
 Severe thofe ills •, yet heavier ftill impend. 
 That wound with Hveher grief the fmarting foul : 
 As, ere the long-collefted ftorm defcend. 
 Red lightnings fiafli, and thunder fliakes the pole ; 
 Portentuous, folemn, loud its murmurs roil : 
 While from the fubjeft field the trembling hind 
 Views inftant ruin threat the labours of mankind. 
 
 For fcarce the bitter figh and deep*ning groan 
 In tainter cadence died away in air. 
 When, lo ! by fate a deadlier (liaft was thrown. 
 Which open'd ev^ry fource of deep defpair : 
 As yet our fouls thofe recent forrows (hare. 
 Swift from th' adjacent field IVIenalcas flies. 
 While grief impels his fteps, and tears bedew his 
 eyes. 
 
 Weep on, he cry'd, let tears no meafure know ; 
 Hence from thofe fields let pleafure wing her way : 
 Ye fhades, be hallow*d from this hour to woe : 
 No m.ore with fummcr's pride, ye meads, be gay. 
 Ah! why, with fweetnefs crown'd. 
 Should fummer fmile around ? 
 
] 
 
 ii8 P O E M S ON 
 
 Philanthes now is number'd with the dead : 
 Young health, all drown'd in tears, 
 A livid palenefs wears ; 
 
 Dim are her radiant eyes, and all her rofes fade. 
 
 VII. 
 Him bright * Hygeia, in life's early dawn. 
 Thro' nature's fav'rite walks with tranfport led. 
 Thro' woods umbrageous, or the op'ning lawn. 
 Or where frelh fountains lave the flow'ry mead: 
 There fummer's treafures to his view difplay'd. 
 What herbs and flpw'rs falubrious juice beftow. 
 Along the lowly vale, or mountain's arduous brow. 
 
 The paralytic nerve his art confefs'd, 
 iQuick-panting afthma, and confumption pale : 
 Corrofive pain he foften'd into reft. 
 And bade the fever's rage no more prevail. 
 Unhappy art ! decreed at laft to fail. 
 Why linger'd then thy falutary pow'r, 
 Nor from a life fo dear repell'd the deftin'd hour ? 
 
 Your griefs, O love and friendfhip, how fevere I 
 
 When high to heav'n his foul purfu'd her flight ; 
 
 Your 
 * Daughter of ^scuLAPius, and goddefs of health. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 119 
 
 Your moving plaints ftill vibrate on my ear, 
 Still the fad vifion fwims before my fight. 
 
 O'er all the mournful fcene, 
 
 Inconfolable pain, 
 Inev'ry various form, appeared exprefs'd : 
 
 The tear-diftilling eye, 
 
 The long, deep, broken figh, 
 DiiTolv'd each tender foul, and heav'd in ev'ry breaft. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Such were their woes, and ohl how juft, how due! 
 What tears could equal fuch immenfe dirtrefs ? 
 Time, cure of lighter ills, muil ours renew. 
 And years the fenfe of what we lofe increafe. 
 From whom fhall now the wretched hope redrefs ? 
 
 Religion where a nobler fubjed find. 
 
 So lavour'd of the fkies, fo dear to human kind ? 
 
 Fair friendfhip, fmiling on his natal hour, 
 The babe felefted in her facred train ; 
 She bade him round diflfufive bleflings iTiow'r, 
 And in his bofom fix'd her fav'rite fane. 
 In glory thence how firong, yet how ferene. 
 
 Her vital influence fpread its chearing rays! 
 
 Worth felt the genial beam, and ripen'd in the blaze. 
 
 As 
 
120 POEMS ON 
 
 As lucid (Ireams refrefii the fmiling plain, 
 Op'ning the flowTS that on their borders grow ^ 
 As grateful to the herb, defcending rain. 
 That fhrunk and wither'd in the folar glow : 
 
 So, when his voice was heard, 
 
 AtHiclion difappear'd ; 
 Pleafure with ravilli'd ears imbib'd the found j 
 Grief with its fweetnefs footh'd. 
 Each cloudy feature fmooth'd, 
 And ever-waking care forgot th' eternal wound, 
 
 IX. 
 
 Such elegance of tafle, fuch graceful eafe, 
 
 Infus'd by hcav'n, thro' all his manners fhone ;• 
 
 In him it feem'd to join whate'er could pleafe^ 
 
 And plan the full perfection from its own : 
 
 He orhcr fields and other fwains had known. 
 
 Gentle as thofe of old by * Phoebus taught, 
 
 When poliiVd with his lute, like him, they fpoke' 
 
 and thought. 
 
 Thus 
 
 * He was faid to polifh the fwains, when, in revenge for 
 forging the bolt which killed his fon, he flew the Cyclops, 
 ind was doom'd to keep the flocks of Admetus. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 121 
 
 Thus form'd alike to blefs, and to be blefs'd. 
 Such heav'niy graces kindred graces found j 
 Her gentle turn the fame, the fame her tafte, 
 "With equal worth, and equal candour crown'd : 
 Long may iht fearch creation's ample round. 
 
 The joys of fuch a ftiendihip to explore ; 
 
 But, once in him expir*d, to joy Ihe lives no more. 
 
 As nature to her works fupremely kind. 
 His tender foul with all the parent glow'd j 
 On all his race, his goodnefs unconfin*d, 
 One full exhauftlefs ftream of fondnefs flow*d 5 
 
 Pleas'd as each genius rofe 
 
 New profpedls to difclofe, 
 To forrti the n^ind, and raife its gen'rous aim 5 
 
 His thoughts, with virtue warm*d. 
 
 At once infpir'd and charm*d j 
 His looks, his words, his fmiles transfus'd the facred 
 flame. 
 
 X. 
 Say yc, whofe minds for long revolving years 
 The joys of fweet fociety have known, 
 Whofe mutual fondnefs ev'ry hour endears, 
 
 Q Whofe 
 
122 P O E M S ON 
 
 Whofe pains, whofe pleafures, and whofe fouls, are one 5 
 O! fay, for you can judge, and you alone, ,, 
 
 What anguifh pierc'd his widow'd confort's hearty \ 
 When from her dearer felf for ever doom'd to part. 
 
 His children to the fcene of death repair. 
 While more than filial forrow bathes their eyes ; 
 His fmiles indulgent, his paternal care, j 
 
 In fadly-pleafing rccoUedlion rife : * 
 
 But young DoRiNDA, with diflinguifh'd fighs, 
 
 Effufing all her foul in foft regret, 1 
 
 Seems, while fhe mourns his lofs, to fliare a fa- i 
 
 ther's fate. 
 
 Whether the day its wonted courfe renew'd. 
 Or mid- night vigils wrapt the world in fhade. 
 Her tender tafk afliduous flie purfu'd. 
 To footh his anguifh, or his wants to aid 5 
 To foften ev'ry pain. 
 The meaning look explain, 
 And fcan the forming wifli ere yet exprefs'd : 
 The dying father fmil'd 
 With fondnefs on his child, 
 
 And, when his tongue was mute, his eyes her good- 
 nefs blefs'd. 
 
 At 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 123 
 
 XI. 
 
 At length, fair mourner ! ceafe thy rifing woe : 
 Its objedl ftill fiirviving feeks the fkies. 
 Where brighter funs in happier cHmates glow. 
 And ampler fcenes with height'ning charms furprife : 
 There perfed life thy much lovM fire enjoys, 
 The life of gods, exempt from grief and pain. 
 Where in immortal breafts immortal tranfports 
 
 Ye mourning fwains, your loud complaints forbear ; 
 Srill he, the Genius of our green retreat,^ 
 Shall with benignant care our labours chear. 
 And banlfh far each (hock of adverfe fate ; 
 Mild funs and gentle fliow'rs on fpring fhall wait. 
 His hand with ev'ry fruit fliall autumn ftore : 
 In heav'n your patron reigns, ye fhepherds, weep 
 
 Henceforth his pow'r fliaIlwithyour*LARESjoin, 
 To bid your cots with peace and pleafure fmile ; 
 To bid difeafe and languor ceafe to pine, 
 
 And 
 
 * Domeftic gods. 
 
I?4 POEMS ON 
 
 And fair abundance crown each rural toil i 
 While birds their lays refume, 
 And fpring her annual bloom, 
 
 JLet verdant wreaths his facred tonib adorn j 
 To him, each rifing day. 
 Devout libations pay : 
 
 In heav'n your patron reigns, no more, ye Ihepherds^ 
 mourn. 
 
 Th? 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 12^ 
 
 The WISH: 
 An ELEGy. 
 
 To URANIA. 
 
 Felices ter^ et amplius, 
 
 ^os irrupta tenet copula, nee malis 
 Divulfus querimoniis 
 
 Suprema cititisfofvef amor die. Hor, 
 
 T E T others travel, with inceflant pain, 
 '*-' The wealth of earth and ocean to fecure ; 
 Then, with fond hopes, carefs the precious bane 5 
 In grandeur abjedt, and in affluence poor. 
 
 But foon, too foon, in fancy's timid eyes, 
 
 "Wild waves fhall roar, and conflagrations fpreadj 
 
 "While bright in arms, and of gigantic fize. 
 
 The fear-form'd robber haunts the thorny bed, 
 
 J-et me, in dreadlefs poverty retir'd. 
 The real joys of life, unenvied, fhare : 
 
 pavour'd by love, and by the mufe infpir'd, 
 I'll yield to wealth its je^loufy and care. 
 
 9m 
 
126 POEMS ON 
 
 On rifing ground, the profpe6l to command, 
 
 Unting'd with fmoak, where vernal breezes blow, 
 
 In rural neatnefs let my cottage fland -, 
 
 Here wave a wood, and there a river flow. 
 
 Oft from the ncighbVing hills and pallures round, 
 Let fheep with tender bleat fakite my ear ; 
 
 Nor fox infidious haunt the gulltlefs ground. 
 Nor man purfue the trade of murder near : 
 
 Far hence, kind heav'n ! expel the favage train, 
 Inur'd to blood, and eager to deftroy ; 
 
 "Who pointed fteel with recent flaughter flain. 
 And place in groans and death their cruel joy, 
 
 Ye pow'rs of focial life and tender fong ! 
 
 To you devoted fhall my fields remain ; 
 Here undifturb'd the peaceful day prolong, 
 
 Nor own a fmart but love's delightful pain. 
 
 For you, m.y trees fhall wave their leafy fhade ; 
 
 For you, my gardens tinge the lenient air ; 
 For you, be autumn's blufhing gifts difplay'd. 
 
 And all that nature yields of fweet or fair. 
 
 But, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 127 
 
 Buti O ! if plaints, which love and grief infpiie. 
 In heav'nly breafts could e'er compafiion find. 
 
 Grant me, ah 1 grant my heart's fupreme defire. 
 And teach my dear Urania to be kind. 
 
 For her, black fadnefs clouds my brighteft day •, 
 For her, in tears the mid-night vigils roll 5 
 
 For her, cold horrors melt my pow'rs away, 
 And chill the hving vigour of my foul. 
 
 Beneath her fcorn each youthful ardor dies, 
 Its joys, its wiflies, and its hopes, expire 5 
 
 In vain the fields of fcience tempt my eyes ; 
 In vain for me the mufes firing the lyre. 
 
 O ! let her oft my humble dwelling grace. 
 
 Humble no more if there fhe deign to flilne ; 
 
 For heav'n, unlimited by time or place. 
 
 Still waits on god-like worth and charms divine. 
 
 Amid the cooling fragrance of the morn, 
 
 How fweet with her through lonely fields toftray! 
 
 Her charms the lovelieft landfkip fhall adorn. 
 
 And add new glories to the rifing day. 
 
 With 
 
28 POEMS 
 
 ON 
 
 With her, all nature fhlnes in heightened bloom 5 
 The filver ftream in fweeter mufic flows i 
 
 Odours more rich the fanning gales perfume ; 
 And deeper tinflures paint the fpreading rofe. 
 
 With her, the Ihades of night their horrors lofe. 
 
 Its deepeft filence charms if fhe be by ; 
 Her voice the mufic of the dawn renews, 
 , Its lambent radiance fparkles in her eye. 
 
 How fweer, with her, in wifdom's calm recefSj 
 To brighten foft defire with wit refin'd! 
 
 Kind nature's laws with facred Ashley trace. 
 And view the faireft features of the mind ! 
 
 Or borne on Milton's flight, as heav'n, fublime,^ 
 View its full blaze in open profped glow j 
 
 Blefs the firft pair in Eden\ happy clime. 
 Or drop the human tear for endlefs woe. 
 
 And when^ in virtue and in peace grown old. 
 
 No arts the languid lamp of life reftore; 
 
 Her let me grafp with hands convuls'd and cold^ 
 
 Till ev'ry nerve relax'd can hold no more : 
 
 Long 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 129 
 
 Long, long on her my dying eyes fufpend. 
 
 Till the lall beam fhall vibrate on my fight 5 
 Then foar where only greater joys attend. 
 And bear her image to eternal light. 
 
 Fond man, ah ! whither would thy fancy rove ? 
 
 Tis thine to languifh in unpitied fmart ; 
 'Tis thine, alas I eternal fcorn to prove, 
 
 Nor feel one gleam of comfort warm thy hearf* 
 
 But, if my fair this cruel law impofe, 
 
 Pleas'd, to her will I all my foul refign. 
 
 To walk beneath the burden of my woes, 
 Or fink in death, nor at my fate repine. 
 
 Tfet when, with woes unmingled and fincere. 
 To earth's cold womb in filence I defcend 5 
 
 Let her, to grace my obfequies, appear, 
 
 And with the weeping throng her for rows blende 
 
 Ah! no i be all her hours with pleafure crown'd. 
 
 And all her foul from ev'ry anguifh free : 
 
 Should my fad fate that gentle bofom wound, 
 
 The joys of heav*n would be no joys to me* 
 
 R On 
 
130 P O E M S ON 
 
 On the Death of Mr. POPE: 
 An elegy. 
 
 Poets themfehes mujl fall^ like thofe they [ting •, 
 Deaf the prais'd ear^ and mute the tuneful tongue : 
 Ev^n he^ whofe foul now melts in mournful lays^ 
 Shall fhortly want the gen'rous tear he pays. 
 
 Pope's Unfortunate Lady. 
 
 XTTHILEyetl fcarce awake from d umb furprize, 
 ^ ' And tepid ftreams profufely bathe my eyesj 
 While foul-diflblving fighs my bofom ftrain, 
 And all my being finks opprefs'd with pain ; 
 Deign you, whofe fouls, like mine, are form'd to know 
 The nice poetic fenfe of blifs and woe ; 
 To thofe fad accents deign a pitying ear : 
 Strong be our forrow, as the caufe fevere. 
 
 O Pope, what tears thy obfequies attend! 
 
 Britain a bard deplores, mankind a friend : 
 
 For thee, their darling, weep tW Aonian choir, 
 
 Mute the foft voice, unflrung the tuneful lyre : 
 
 For thee, the virtuous and the fage fh»ll mourn. 
 
 And virgin forrows bathe thy facred urn : 
 
 One 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 131 
 
 One veil of grief o'er heav'n and earth be thrown. 
 And vice and envy flaunt in fmiles alone. 
 Ere while deprefs'd in abjedt dull they lay. 
 Nor with their hideous forms affronted day ; 
 While thy great genius, in their tortur'd fight, 
 Plac'd truth and virtue cloath'd with heav'nly light : 
 Now pleas'd, to open funfhine they return. 
 And o'er the fate exult which others mourn. 
 
 Ah me ! far other thoughts my foul infpire 5 
 Far other accents breathes the plaintive lyre : 
 Thee, tho- the mufes blefs'd with all their art. 
 And pour'd their facred raptures on thy heart ; 
 Tho' thy lov'd virtue, with a mother's pain. 
 Deplores thy fate, alas I deplores in vain : 
 Silent and pale thy tuneful frame remains ; 
 Death feals thy fight, and freezes in thy veins : 
 " Cold is that breaft, which warm'd the world before, 
 " And that heav'n-prompted tongue Ihall charm no 
 " more." 
 
 Whom next fliall heav'n to fhare thy honours chufe j 
 Whom confccrate to virtue and the mufe ? 
 
 The 
 
^Z' 
 
 POEMS ON 
 
 The mufe, by fate's eternal plan, tlefign'd 
 To light, exalt, and humanize the mind ^ 
 To bid kind pity melt, juft anger glow ; 
 To kindle joy, or prompt the fighs of woe ; 
 To fhake with horror, rack with tender fmart. 
 And touch the fined fprings that move the heart. 
 
 * Curst he ! who, without extafy fincere. 
 The poet's foul effus'd in fong can hear : 
 His aid in vain fhall indigence require ; 
 Unmov'd he views his deareft friends expire : 
 Nature and nature's God that wretch deteft ; 
 Unfought his friendfhip, and his days unbleft : 
 Hell's mazy frauds deep in his bofom roll, 
 And all her gloom hangs heavy on his foul. 
 
 As 
 
 * What we call poetical genius, depends entirely on the 
 quicknefs of moral feeling : he, therefore, who cannot feel 
 poetry, mull either have his affeftions and internal fenfes de- 
 praved by vice, or be naturally infenfibie of the pleafures 
 refulting from the exercife of them. But this natural infen- 
 fibility is almofl: never lo great in any heart, as entirely to 
 hinder the impreffion of well-painted paffion, or natural i- 
 mages connefted with it. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 133 
 
 As when the fun begins his eaftern way, 
 To blcfs the nations with returning day, 
 Crown'd with unfading fplendor, on he flies ; 
 Reveals the world, and kindles all the fkies : 
 The proftrate Eaft the radiant God adore -, 
 So, Pope, we view'd thee, but muft view no more. 
 Thee angels late beheld, with mute furprize, 
 Glow with their themes, and to their accents rife 5 
 They view'd with wonder thy unbounded aim, 
 To trace the mazes of th* eternal fchemc : 
 But heav'n thofe fcenes to human view denies, 
 Thofe fcenes impervious to celeftial eyes : 
 "Whoe'er attempts the path, fhall lofe his way. 
 And, wrapt in night, through endlefs error ftray. 
 
 In thee what talent (liall we mod admire j 
 The critic's judgment, or the poet's fire ? 
 Alike, in both, to glory is thy claim ; 
 Thine Aristotle's tafte, and Homer's flame, 
 
 Arm'd with impartial fatire, when thymufe 
 Triumphant vice with all her rage purfues ; 
 To hell's dread gloom the monfl:er fcours away. 
 Far from the haunts of men^ and fcenes of day : 
 
 There, 
 
134 P O E M S ON 
 
 There, curft and curfing, rack*d with raging woe. 
 Shakes with incefilmt howls the realms below. 
 But foon, too foon, the fiend to hght fhall rife ; 
 Her fleps the earth fcarce bound, her head the Ikies j 
 Till his red terrors Jove again difplay, 
 Aflert his laws, and vindicate his fway. 
 
 When Ovid's fong bewails the LefhianFuir, 
 Her flighted pafTion, and intenfe defpair ; 
 By thee improv'd, in each foul-moving line. 
 Not Ovid's wit, but Sappho's forrows Ihine. 
 When Eloisa mourns her haplefs fate. 
 What heart can ceafe v/ith all her pangs to beat ? 
 
 While pointed wit, with flowing numbers grac'd^ 
 Excites the laugh, ev'n in the guilty bread ; 
 The gaudy coxcomb, and the fickle fair. 
 Shall dread the fatire of thy ravi/b'd hair. 
 
 Not the * Sicilian breath'd a fweeter fong, . 
 While Arethuga, charm'd and lift'ning, hung; 
 For whom each mufe, from her dear feat rctir'd. 
 His flocks protedted, and himfelf infpir'd : 
 
 Nor 
 
 * Theocritus. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 135 
 
 Nor he * who fung, while forrow fiU'd the plain, 
 How Cytherea mourn'd Adonis llain ; 
 Nor f TiTYRUs, who, in immortal lays, 
 Taught Mantua's echoes Galatea's praife. 
 No more let Mantua boaft unrival'd fame ; 
 Thy Windfor now fhall equal honours claim : 
 Eternal fragrance fhall each breeze perfume. 
 And in each grove eternal verdure bloom. 
 
 Ye tuneful fhepherds, and ye beauteous maids, 
 From fair LadoncCs banks, and Windjofs Ihades, 
 Whofe fouls in tranfport melted at his fong. 
 Soft as your fighs, and as your wifhes flrong ; 
 O come ! your copious annual tributes bring, 
 The full luxuriance of the rifled fpring; 
 Strip various nature of each faireft flow'r. 
 And on his tomb the gay profufion Ihow'r. 
 Let long-liv'd panfies here their fcents beftow, 
 The violets languilh, and the rofes glow j 
 In yellow glory let the crocus fhlne, 
 Narcifllis here his love-fick. head recline ; 
 Here hyacinths in purple fweetnefs rife. 
 
 And tulips ting'd with beauty's faireft dyes. 
 
 Who 
 
 * BlON. -f VlilCII-. 
 
136 POEMS on 
 
 Who fhail fucceed thy worth, O darling Twain! 
 Attempt thy reeds, or emulate thy ("train ? 
 Each painted warbler of the vocal grove 
 Laments thy fate, unmindful of his love : 
 Thee, thee the breezes, thee the fountains mourn. 
 And folemn moans refponfive rocks return ; 
 Shepherds and flocks prorrafl the doleful found. 
 And nought is heard but mingled plaints around. 
 
 When firft Calliope thy fall furvey'd. 
 Immortal tears her eyes profufely Ihed ; 
 Her pow'rlefs hand the tuneful harp refign'd ; 
 The confcious harp her griefs, low-murm'ring,join'd J 
 Her voice in trembling cadence dy'd away. 
 And, loft in anguifh, all the goddefs lay. 
 Such pangs fhe felt, when, from the realms of light, 
 The fates, in Homer, ravifli'd her delight: 
 To thee her facred hand confign'd his lyre, 
 And in thy bofom kindled all his fire : 
 Hence, in our tongue, his glorious labours dreft. 
 Breathe all the god that warm'd their author's breaft. 
 
 When horrid war Informs the facred page. 
 And men and gods conflid in mutual rage. 
 
 The 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 137 
 
 The clafh of arms, the trumpet's awful found, 
 And groans and clamours (hake the mountains round 5 
 The narions rock, earth's fohd bafes groan, 
 And quake heav'n's arches to ih' eternal throne. 
 
 When Eolus dilates the lawlefs wind. 
 O'er nature's face to revel unconfin'd. 
 Bend heav'n's blue concave, fweep the fruitful plain, 
 Tear up the foreft, and inrage the main ; 
 In horrid native pomp the tempefts fliine. 
 Ferment, and roar, and aeftuate in each line. 
 
 When Sisyphus, with many a weary groan, 
 Rolis up the hill the ftill-revolving (lone; 
 The loaded line, like it, feems to recoil. 
 Strains his bent nerves, and heaves with his full toil : 
 But, when refuking rapid from its height. 
 Precipitate the numbers emulate the flight. 
 
 As when creative Energy, employ'd, 
 With various beings fili'd the boundlefs void ; 
 With deep furvey th' omnifcient Parent view'd 
 The mighty fabric, and confefs'd it good 5 
 
 S He 
 
i3S r* O E M S ON 
 
 He view'd, exulting with immenfe delight, 
 The lovely tranfcript, as th' idea, bright : 
 So fwell*d the * bard with exftafy divine. 
 When full and finifh'd rofe his bright defign ; 
 So, from th'Elyfian bow'rs, he joy'd to fee 
 All his immortal felf reviv'd in thee. 
 While fame enjoys thy confecrated fane, 
 Firft of th' infpir'd, v/ith him for ever reign ; 
 With his, each diftant age fhall rank thy namCj 
 And ev'n reluftant envy hifs acclaim. » 
 
 But, ah ! blind fate will no diftinftion know ^ 
 Swift down the torrent all alike muft flow: 
 Wit, virtue, learning, are alike its prey j 
 All, all muft tread th' irremeable way. 
 
 No more fond wifhes in my breaft Iliall roll, 
 Diftend my heart, and kindle all my foul. 
 To breathe my honeft raptures in thy ear. 
 And feel thy kindnefs in returns fmcere •, 
 Thy art, I hop'd, fhould teach the mufe to fing, 
 Diredt her flight, and prune her infant wing : 
 
 Now, 
 
 * Homer. 
 
TEVERAL OCCASIONS. 139 
 
 Now, mufe, be dumb ; or let thy fong deplore 
 Thy pleafures blafted, and thy hopes no more. 
 
 Tremendous pow'rs ! who rule th' eternal ftate. 
 Whole voice is thunder, and whofe nod is fate ; 
 Did I for empire, fecond to your own, 
 Cling round the fhrine, and importune the throne ? 
 Pray'd I, that fame fliould bear my name on high* 
 Through nation'd earth, or all-involving Iky ? 
 Woo'd I for me the fun to tpil and fhine, 
 The gem to brighten, or mature the mine ? 
 Tho* deep involv'd in adamantine night, 
 Afli'd I again to view heav'n's chearful light ? 
 Pope's love I fought ; that only boon deny'd, 
 O life ! what pleafure canft thou boaft befide, 
 Worth my regard, or equal to my pride ? 
 
 Thus mourns a tim'rous mufe, unknown to fame. 
 Thus fheds her fweeteft incenfe on thy name -, 
 Whild on her lips imperfed accents die. 
 Tear following tear, and figh fucceeding figh : 
 She mourns, nor fhe alone, with fond regret, 
 A world, a feeling world, muft weep thy fate. 
 
 Where 
 
I40 P O E M S ON 
 
 Where polilh'd arts and facred fcience reign, 
 "Where'er the Nine their tuneful prefeace deign 5 
 There fhall thy glory, wirh unclouded blaze, 
 Command immortal monuments of praife : 
 From clime to clime the circling fun fhall view 
 Its rival fplendor ftill his own purfue. 
 While the fwift torrent from its fource defcends 5 
 While round this globe heav'n's ample concave bends j 
 Whilft all its living lamps their courfe maintain. 
 And lead the beauteous year's revolving train 5 
 So long fhall men thy heav'nly fong admire, 
 And nature's charms and thine at once expire. 
 
•SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 141 
 
 A S O L I L O Q^U Y : 
 
 Occafioned by the Author's efcape from falling in- 
 to a deep well, where he muft have been irreco- 
 verably loft, if a favourite lap-dog had not, by 
 the found of its feet upon the board with which 
 the well was covered, warned him ot his danger. 
 
 ^Id qulfque vitef, nunquam homin'i fath 
 Cautum eft In horas, Ho rat. 
 
 WHere am I ! — O Eternal Pow'r of heav'n } 
 Relieve me ; or, amid the filent glgom. 
 Can danger's cry approach no gen'rotis ear 
 Prompt to redrefs th' unhappy ? O my heart ! 
 What fhall I do, or v/hither fhall I turn ? 
 Will no kind hand, benevolent as heav'n. 
 Save me involv'd in peril and in night ? 
 
 Erect with horror ftands my briftling hair; 
 My tongue forgets its motion s, ftrength forfakes 
 My trenibling limbs ; my voice, impell'd in vain. 
 
 No 
 
142 P O E M S ON 
 
 No pafifage finds ; cold, cold as death, my blood, 
 Keen as the breath of winter, chills each vein. 
 For on the verge, the awful verge of fate 
 Scarce fix'd I (land -, and one progrefTive flep 
 Had plung'd me down, unfathomably deep. 
 To gulphs impervious to the chearful fun 
 And fragrant breeze \ to that abhorr'd abode, 
 V/here Silence and Oblivion, fillers drear ! 
 "With cruel Death confederate empire hold. 
 In defolation and primaeval gloom^ 
 
 Ha 1 what unmans me thus ? what, more than horror. 
 Relaxes evVy nerve, untunes my frame, 
 And chills my inmofl foul ? — Be fl:ill, my heart ! 
 Nor, flutt'ring thus, in vain attempt to burft 
 The barrier firm, by which thou art confin'd, 
 Refume your functions, limbs ! reftrain thofe knees 
 From fmiting thus each other. Roufe, my foul I 
 Affert thy native dignity, and dare 
 To brave this king of terrors -, to confront 
 His cloudy brow, and unrelenting frown. 
 With fteady fcorn,g^n confcious triumph bold. 
 Reafon, that beaqi of uncreated day, 
 
 That 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 143 
 
 That ray of Deity, by God's own breath 
 Infus'd and kindled, reafon will difpel 
 Thofe fancy'd terrors : reafon will inftrud thecj 
 That death is heav'n's kind interpofing hand. 
 To fnatcK thee timely from impending woe -, 
 From aggregated mifery, whofe pangs 
 Can find no other period but the grave. 
 
 For oh ! — while others gaze on nature's face, 
 
 The verdant vale, the mountains, woods, and 
 
 llreams ; 
 
 Or, with delight ineffable, furvey 
 
 The fun, bright image of his parent God 5 
 
 The feafons, in majeftic order, round 
 
 This vary'd globe revolving ; young-ey'd fpring, 
 
 Profufe of life and joy •, fummer, adorn'd 
 
 With keen effulgence, bright'ning heav'n and earth 5 
 
 Autumn, replete with nature's various boon^ 
 
 To blefs the toiling hind ; and winter, grand 
 
 With rapid ftorms, convulfing nature's frame ; 
 
 Whillt others view heav'n's all-involving arch. 
 
 Bright with unnumber'd worlds ; and, loft in joy. 
 
 Fair order and utility behold: 
 
 Or, 
 
144 POEMS ON 
 
 Or, unfatigu'd, th' amazing chain purfue, 
 
 "Which, in one vaft all-comprehending whole. 
 
 Unites th'immenfe fttipendous works of God, 
 
 Conjoining part with part, and, thro' the frame, 
 
 DifFufing facred harmony and joy : 
 
 To me thofe fair viciiTitudes are loft, 
 
 And grace and beauty blotted from my view. 
 
 The verdant vale, the mountains, woods, and ftreams, 
 
 One horrid blank appear ; the young-ey'd fpring. 
 
 Effulgent fummer, autumn deck'd in wealth 
 
 To blefs the toiling hind, and winter grand 
 
 With rapid ftorms, revolve in vain for me : 
 
 Nor the bright fun, nor all embracing arch 
 
 Of heav'n, fhail e'er thofe wretched orbs behold. 
 
 O Beauty, Harmony ! ye fiftcr train 
 Of Graces •, you, who in th' admiring eye 
 Of God your charms difplay'd, ere yer, tranfcrtb'd 
 On nature's form, your heav'nly features fhone :• 
 Why are you fnatch'd for ever from my fight, 
 Whilll, in your (lead, a boundlefs wade expanfe 
 Of undiftinguifh'd horror covers all ? 
 Wide o'er my profpe.<5t rueful darknefs breathes 
 
 Her 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 145 
 
 Her inaufpicioLis vapour -, in whofe (hade. 
 Fear, grief, and anguifh, natives of her reign. 
 In focial fadncfs, gloomy vigils keep: 
 "With them 1 walk, with them (till doom'd to (hare 
 Eternal blacknefs, without hopes of dawn. 
 
 Hence oft the hand of ignorance and fcorn. 
 
 To barb'rous mirth abandon'd, points me out 
 
 With idiot grin : the fupercilious eye 
 
 Oft, from the noife and glare of profp'rous life^ 
 
 On my obfcurity diverts its gaze 
 
 Exulting-, and, with wanton pride infiate. 
 
 Felicitates its own fuperior lot : 
 
 Inhuman triumph ! Hence the piercing taunt 
 
 Of titled infolence inflidlcd deep. 
 
 Hence the warm blufh that paints ingenuous Ihanle'a 
 
 By confcious want infpir'd ; th* unpitied pang 
 
 Of love and friendfiiip flighted. Hence the tear 
 
 Of impotent compaflion, when the voice 
 
 Of pain, by others felt, quick fmites my heart. 
 
 And roufes all its tendernefs in vain. 
 
 All thefe, and more, on this devoted head, 
 
 Have with colleded bitternefs been-pour'd. 
 
 T Nor 
 
146 P O E M S ON 
 
 Nor end my forrows here. The facred fane 
 Of knowledge, fcarce acceflible to me. 
 With heart-confuming anguifh I behold ; 
 Knowledge, for which my foul infatiate burns 
 With ardent third. Nor can thefe ufeiefs hands, 
 Untutor'd in each life-fuftaining arc, 
 Nouriih this wretched being, and fupply 
 'iFrail nature's wants that fhorc ceiTation know. 
 
 Where * now, ah! where is that fupporting arm 
 
 Which to my weak unequal infant fleps 
 
 Its kind affiftance lent ? Ah ! where that love. 
 
 That ftrong affiduous tendernefs, which watch'd 
 
 My wifhes yet fcarce form'd •, and, to my view, 
 
 Unimportun'd, like all-indulging heav'n. 
 
 Their objects brought ? Ah ! where that gentle voice 
 
 Which, with inftrudion, foft as fummer dews 
 
 Or fleecy fnows, defcending on my foul, 
 
 Diftinguifh'd ev'ry hour with new delight ? 
 
 Ah ! where that virtue, which, amid the ftorms. 
 
 The mingled horrors of tumultuous life. 
 
 Untainted, unfubdu'd, the lliock fuftain'd ? 
 
 So 
 
 * The charafler here drawn is that of the author's fathsrj, 
 whofe unforefeen late had juft before happened. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 147 
 
 So firm the oak which, in eternal night. 
 As deep its root extends, as high to heav'n 
 Its top majeftic rifes : fuch the fmile 
 Of fome benignant angel, from the throne 
 Of God difpatch'd, ambaflador of peace ; 
 Who on his look impreft his meflage bears. 
 And pleas'd, from earth averts impending ill. 
 Alas ! no wife thy parting kifles fhar'd ; 
 From thy expiring lips no child receiv'd 
 Thy laft dear blefling and thy laft advice. 
 Friend, father, benefadlor, all at once. 
 In thee forfook me, an unguarded prey 
 For ev'ry ftorm, whofe lawlefs fury roars 
 Beneath the azure concave of the fky. 
 To tofs, and on my head exhaufl: its rage. 
 
 Dejecting profpe£l ! foon the haplefs hour 
 May come'; perhaps this moment it impends. 
 Which drives me forth to penury and cold. 
 Naked and beat by all the ftorms of heav'n, 
 Friendlefs and guidelefs to explore my way -, 
 Till, on cold earth this poor unfhelter'd head 
 Reclining, vainly from the ruthlefs blaft 
 
 Refpite I beg, and in the fliock expire. 
 
 Me 
 
14S P O E M S cN 
 
 Me miferable ! wherefore, O my foul I 
 Wasj on fuch hard conditions, life defir'd ? 
 One flep, one friendly ftep, without thy guilt. 
 Had plac'd me fafe in that profound recefs, 
 Where, undifturb'd, eternal quiet reigns. 
 And fweet forgetfulnefs of grief and care. 
 Why, then, my coward foul ! didft thou recoil ? 
 Why fhun the final exit of thy woe^? 
 Why fhiver at approaching diffolution ? 
 
 Say why, by nature's unrefifted force, 
 Is ev'ry being, where volition reigns 
 And adive choice, impell'd to fliun their fate. 
 And dread deftru6lion as the worft of ills ? 
 Say, why they fhrink, why fly, why fight, why rifk 
 Precarious life, to lesigthen out its date. 
 Which, lengthen'd, is, at befl:, protradted pain ? 
 Say, by what myftic charms, can life allure , 
 Unnumber'd beings, who, beneath me far 
 plac'd in th' extenfive fcale of nature, want 
 Thofe blefTings heav'n accumulates on me ? 
 Bleflings fuperior ; tho' the blaze of day 
 Pours on their I]ght its foul-refrefhing llream, 
 
 Tq 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 149 
 
 To me extind in everlafling fhades : 
 
 Yet heav'n-taught mufic, at whofe powerful voice, 
 
 Corrofive care and anguilli, charm*d to peace, 
 
 Forfake the hearc, and yield it all to joy. 
 
 Ne'er fooths their pangs. To their infenfate view 
 
 Knowledge in vain her faireft treafiire fpreads. 
 
 To them the nobleft gift of bounteous heav'n. 
 
 Sweet converfation, v/hofe enliv'ning force 
 
 Elates, diftends, and, with unfading ftrength, 
 
 Infpires the foul, remains for ever loll. 
 
 The facred fympathy of fecial hearts ; 
 
 Benevolence, fupreme delight of heav'n ; 
 
 Th' extenfive wifli, which, in one wide embrace. 
 
 All beings circles, when the fwelling foul 
 
 Partakes the joys of God ; ne'er warms their breafts. 
 
 As yet my foul ne'er felt th' opprefTive weight 
 Of indigence unaided : fwift redrefs. 
 Beyond the daring flight of hope, approach'd, 
 And ev'ry wifh of nature amply bleft. 
 Tho', o'er the future feries of my fate, 
 111 omens feem to brood, and flars malign 
 To blend their baleful fire : oft, while the fun 
 
 Dart^ 
 
150 P O E M S ON 
 
 Darts boundlefs glory thro* th' expanfe of heav'n, 
 A gloom of congregated vapours rife. 
 Than night more dreadful in her blackeft fliroud. 
 And o'er the face of things incumbent hang. 
 Portending tempelt ; till the fource of day 
 Again afferts the empire of the fky, 
 And, o*er the blotted fcene of nature, throws 
 A keener fplendor. So, perhaps, that care. 
 Thro' all creation felr, but moft by man, 
 Which hears with kind regard the tender figh 
 Of modeft want, may difTipate my fears. 
 And bid my hours a happier flight aflume. 
 Perhaps, enliv'ning hope ! perhaps my foul 
 May drink at wifdom's fountain, and allay 
 Her unextinguifh'd ardor in the ftream : 
 Wifdom, the conftant magnet, where each wifh. 
 Set by the hand of nature, ever points, 
 Reftlefs and faithful, as th' attradlive force 
 By which all bodies to the centre tend. 
 
 What then ! becaufe th' indulgent Sire of all 
 Has, in the plan of things, prefcrib'd my fphere 1 
 Becaufe confumm^te Wifdom thought not fit. 
 
 In 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 151 
 
 In affluence and pomp, to bid me fhine j 
 
 ShalJ I regret my deftipy, and curfe 
 
 That ftate, by heav'n*s paternal care, defign'd 
 
 To train me up for fcenes, with which compar'd, 
 
 Thefe ages, meafur'd by the orbs of hcav'n. 
 
 In blank annihilation fade away ? 
 
 For fcenes, where, finifh'd by almighty art. 
 
 Beauty and order open to the fight 
 
 In vivid glory ; where the fainted rays 
 
 Out-flafh the fplendor of our mid-day fun ? 
 
 Say, fhall the Source of all, who firfl: aflign'd 
 
 To each conftituent of this wond'rous frame 
 
 Its proper powers, its place and adlion due. 
 
 With due degrees of weaknefs, whence refults 
 
 Concord ineffable ; flialj he reverfe. 
 
 Or difconccrt the univerfal fcheme. 
 
 The gen'ral good, to flatter felfifh pride 
 
 And blind defire ? — Before th' Almighty voice 
 
 From non-exiftence call'd me into life. 
 
 What claim had I to being ? what to fhine 
 
 In this high rank of creatures, form'd to climb 
 
 The fleep afcent of virtue, t'nrelax'd. 
 
 Till infinite pertedion crown their toil ? 
 
 Who, 
 
152 POEMS OH 
 
 Who, confcious of their origin divine. 
 Eternal order, beauty, truth and good, 
 Perceive, like their great Parent, and admire. 
 
 Hush ! then, my heart, with pious cares fupprefa 
 This tumid pride and impotence of foul : 
 Learn now, why all thofe multitudes, which crowd 
 This fpacious theatre, and gaze on heav*n^ 
 Invincibly averfe to meet their fate. 
 Avoid each danger : know this facred truth, 
 AU-perteft Wifdom, on each living foul, 
 Engrav'd this mandate, " to preferve their frame^ 
 And hold entire the gen'ral orb of being." 
 Then, with becoming rev'rence let each pow'r, 
 In deep attention, hear the voice of God 5 
 That awful voice, which, fpeaking to the foul, 
 Commands its refignation to his law ! 
 
 For this, has heav'n to virtue's glorious ftage 
 
 Call'd me, and plac'd the garland in my view. 
 
 The wreath of conqueft ; bafely to defert 
 
 The part affign'd me, and, with daftard fear^ 
 
 From prefent pain, the caufe of future blifs. 
 
 To Ihrink into the bofom of the grave ? 
 
 How, 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 153 
 
 How, then, is gratitude's vaft debt repaid f 
 Where all the tender offices of love 
 Due to fraternal man, in which the heart. 
 Each bleffing it communicatf.", enjoys ? 
 How then fliail I obey the fi.fl; great law 
 Of n.iture*s L-^giflator, deep impreft 
 With double Hinftion ; reftlefs fear of cJeathj 
 And fondnefs ftill to brea.he this vital air? 
 Nor is th' injunction hard : who would not fink 
 A while in tears and forrow ; then emerge 
 With tenfold luftre ; triumph o'er his pain ; 
 And, with unfading glory, fhine in heav'n ? 
 
 Come then, my little guardian Genius! cIoath*cl 
 In that familiar form j my Phvlax, come! 
 Let me carefs thee, hug thee to my heart. 
 Which beats with joy of life preferv'd by thee. 
 Had not thy interpofing fondnefs ftaid 
 My blind precipitation, now, ev'n nov^^. 
 My foul, by nature's Iharpeft pangs expell'd. 
 Had left this frame •, had pafs'd the dreadful bounds 
 Which life from death divides 5 divides this fcene 
 From vaft eternity^ whofe deep'ning Ibades^ 
 
154 
 
 POEMS 
 
 ON 
 
 Impervious to the fharpeft mortal fight, 
 
 Elude our keeneft fcarch. But ftiil I err. 
 
 Howe'er thy grateful undefigning heart, 
 
 In ills forcfeen, with promptitude might aid ; 
 
 Yet this, beyond thy utmoft reach of thought, 
 
 Not ev'n remotely diftant could'ft thou view. 
 
 Secure thy fteps the fragile board could prefs. 
 
 Nor feel the leaft alarm where I had funk: 
 
 Nor could'ft thou judge the awful depth below. 
 
 Which, from its watry bottom, to- receive 
 
 My fall, tremendous yawn'd. Thy utmoft fkill. 
 
 Thy deepeft penetration here had ftopt 
 
 Short of its aim ; and, in the ftrong embrace 
 
 Of ruin ftruggling, left me to expire. 
 
 No— heav'n's high Sov'reign, provident of all, 
 
 Thy pafTive organs moving, taught thee firft. 
 
 To check my heedlefs courfe ; and hence I live. 
 
 EteTvNal Providence! whofe equal fway 
 
 Weighs each event ; whofe ever-wakir.g care, 
 
 Connedling high with low, minute with great. 
 
 Attunes the wondrous whole, and bids each part 
 
 In one unbroken harmony confpire : 
 
 Hail! 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 155 
 
 Hail ! facred Source of happinefs and life ! 
 Subftantial Good, bright intclledual Sun \ 
 To whom my foul, by fympathy innate, 
 Unweary'd tends j and finds, in thee alone. 
 Security, enjoyment, and repofe. 
 
 By thee, O God I by thy paternal arm. 
 Through ev'ry period of my infant flate, 
 Suftain'd I live to yield thee praifes due. 
 O ! could my lays, with heav'nly raptures warm. 
 High as thy throne, re-echoe to the fongs 
 Of angels -, thence, O ! could my pray'r obtain 
 One beam of infpiration, to inflame 
 And animate my numbers : heav'n's full choir, 
 In loftier ftrains, th' infpiring God might fing ; 
 Yet not more ardent, more fincere, than mine. 
 But tho' my voice, beneath the feraph's note. 
 Mull check its feeble accents, low depreft 
 By dull mortality -, to thee, great Soul 
 Of heav'n and earth ! to thee my hallow'd flrain 
 Of gratitude ^r-d-ioiiife fliall ftill afcend. 
 
 ELEGY 
 
1^, P O E M S CM 
 
 ELEGY: 
 
 To the M E M O R Y of 
 CONSrJNTIJ. 
 
 His fait em accumulem donis^ et fungar inani 
 Munere. ■ ViRG. 
 
 BY the pale glimmer of rhe confcious moon. 
 When (lumber, on the humid eyes of woe, 
 Sheds its kind lenitive ; what mournful voice 
 So fadly fweer, on my attentive ear, 
 Its moving plaint effufes : like the fong 
 Of Philomel, vv^hen thro' ihe vocal air, 
 Impell d by det-p inconfoiable grief. 
 She breathes her foft, her melancholy fcrain ; 
 And nature with religious filcnce hears ? 
 ^Tis flie •, my wand'ring fenfes recognize 
 The well-known charm, and all my liil'ning foul 
 Is expedation. Oh ! 'tis that dear voice, 
 "Whofe gentle accents charm'd my happier days j 
 Ere fharp affliction's iron hand had preft 
 Her vernal youth, and funk her with the blow. 
 
 Tell 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 157 
 
 Tell me, thou heav*nly excellence ! whofe form 
 Still rifes to my view, whole melting fong 
 For ever echoes on my trembling ear, 
 Delightful ev'n in mifery ; O fay ! 
 What bright diftinguifli'd manfion in the fl.Ly 
 Receives thy fuff'ring virtue from the ftorm. 
 That on thy tender blofTom pour'd its rage ? 
 Early, alas I too early didll thou feel 
 Its nioft tempeftuous fury. From the calm. 
 The foft fcrenity of life how led 
 An unfufpcfting vidim ! Ev'ry blafl: 
 Pierc'd to thy inmoft foul, amidit the vvaftc 
 Of cruel fortune left to feek thy way 
 Unflielter'd and alone -, while to thy groans 
 No gen'rous ear reclin'd, no friendly roof. 
 With hofplrable umbrage, entertain'd 
 Thy drooping fweetnefs uninur'd to pain. 
 That lib'ral hand, which, to the tortur'd fenfe 
 Of anguifli, comfort's healing balm apply'd. 
 To heav'n and earth extended, vainly now 
 Implores the confolation once it gave. 
 Nor fuppliant meets redrefs. That eye benign, 
 The feat of mercy, which to each diftrefs, 
 
 Ev'n 
 
 1 
 
158 P O E M S ON 
 
 Ev'n by thy foe fuftain'd, the gentle tear, 
 A willing tribute, paid, now fruitlefs weeps. 
 Nor gains that pity it fo oft beftow'd. 
 
 Thou lovelieft facrifice that ever fell 
 To perfidy and unrelenting hate ! 
 How, in the hour of confidence and hope. 
 When love and expeftation to thy heart 
 Spoke peace, and plac'd felicity in view ; 
 How fled the bright illufion, and at once 
 Forfook thee plung'd in exquifite defpair ! 
 Thy friends •, the infeds of a fummer-gale 
 That fport and flutter in the mid-day beam 
 Of gay ptofperity, or from the flow'rs, 
 That in her funfliine bloom, with ardor fuck 
 Sweetnefs unearn'd -, thy temporary friends, 
 Or blind with headlong fury, or abus'd 
 By ev'ry grofs impofture, or fupine, 
 Lull'd by the fongs of eafe and pleafure, faw 
 Thy bitter defl:iny with cool regard, 
 Ev'n facred nature pled for thee in vain : 
 Deaf to her tender importuning call. 
 And all the father in his foul extin^j 
 
 Thy 
 
SEVERAL OCCASION So 159 
 
 Thy parent fat ; while on thy guiltlefs head 
 Each various torment, that imbitters life, 
 Exhaufted all their force : and, to infure 
 Their execrable conqueft, black and fell, 
 Ev'n as her native region, Slander join'd ; 
 And o'er thy virtue, fpotlefs as the wifii 
 Of infant fouls, inexorable breath'd 
 Her peftilenrial vapour. Hence fair Truth, 
 Perfuafive as the tongue of feraphs, pled 
 Unheard the caufe of Innocence j the blufh 
 Of fickle friendfhip hence forgot to glow. 
 
 Mean while, from thefe retreats with haplefs fpeed, 
 By ev'ry hope and ev'ry wifh impell'd. 
 Thy fteps (fxplor'd proredion. Whence explor'd ? 
 Ah me ! from whom, and to what curfed arms 
 Wert thou betray'd : unfeeling as the rock 
 Which fplits the vefTel ; while its helplefs crew, 
 With flirieks of horror, deprecate their fate? 
 O earth! O righteous heav'n! could'ft thou behold? 
 While yet thy patient hand the thunder grafp'd. 
 Nor hurl'd the flaming vengeance ; could'ft thou fee 
 The violated vow, the marriage rite 
 Profan'd, and all the facred ties, which bind 
 
 Or 
 
i6o POEMS OI3 
 
 Or God or man, abandon'd to the fconi 
 Oi vice by long impunity confirm'd ? 
 
 But thoin, perfidious ! tremble.— — If on high 
 The Hand of jiiftice with impartial fcale 
 Each word, each aftion poifes, and exa6ls 
 S:^vere atonement from th' offending heart ; 
 Oh ! what haft thou to dread ? what endlefs pangs^ 
 What deep damnation muft thy foul endure ? 
 On earth 'twas thine to perpetrate a crime. 
 From whofc grim vifage guilt of fhamelefs brow, 
 Ev'n in its wild career, might ilirink appall'd : 
 'Tis thine to fear hereafter, if not feel, 
 Plagues that can boaft no precedent in hell. 
 Ev'n in the fiient fafe domellic hour, 
 Ev'n in the fcene of tendernefs and peace, 
 Remorfe, more fierce than all the fiends below, 
 In fancy's ears, fhall, with a thoufand tongues, 
 Thunder defpair and ruin : all her fnakes 
 Shall rear their fpeckled crells aloft in air. 
 With ceafelefs horrid hifs ♦, fhall brandifh quick 
 Their foiky tongues, or roll their kindling eyes 
 With fanguine fiery glare. Ev'n while each fenfe 
 Glows v/ith the rapture of tumultuous joy,- 
 
 Ths 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. i6j 
 
 The tears of injur'd beauty, the complaints 
 
 Of truth immaculate, by thee expos'd 
 
 To wrongs unnumber'd, fhall difturb thy blifs ; 
 
 Shall freeze thy blood with fear, and to rhy fight 
 
 Anticipate th' impending wrrath of heav'n. 
 
 In lleep, kind paufe of being ! when the nerve 
 
 Of toil unbends, when, from the heart of care. 
 
 Retires the fated vulture, when difeafe 
 
 And difappointment quaff leibean draughts 
 
 Of fweet oblivign j from his charge unbiefl-. 
 
 Shall fpeed thy better angel : to thy dreams 
 
 Th* infernal gulph fhall open, and difciofe 
 
 Its latent horrors. O'er the burning lake 
 
 Ot blue fuJphureous gleam, the piercing fhriek, 
 
 The fcourge inceflant, and the clanking chain. 
 
 Shall fear thee ev*n to frenzy. On thy mind 
 
 Its fiercetl flames (hall prey ; while troni ics depth 
 
 Some gnalhmg fury beckons thy approach, 
 
 And, thirfty of perdition, waits to plunge 
 
 Thy naked foul, ten thoufand fathom down, 
 
 Amidfl the boiling furges. Such their fate, 
 
 "Whofe hearts, indocile to the facred Jore 
 
 Of wifdom, truth, and virtue, banifh far 
 
 X The 
 
i62 POEMS ON 
 
 The cry of foft compaffion •, nor can tafte 
 
 Beatitude fupreme in giving joy ! 
 
 Thy race, the product of a lawlefs flame, 
 
 Ev'n while thy fond imagination plans 
 
 Their future grandeur, in thy mock'd embrace 
 
 Shall prematurely perllh ; or furvive 
 
 To feel their father's infamy, and curfe 
 
 The tainted origin from which they fprung. 
 
 For, Oh ! thy foul no foft compundlion knew. 
 
 When that fair form, where all the Graces liv'd, 
 
 Perfc6lion's brighteft triumph, from thy breaft 
 
 The fport of milder winds and feas was thrown, 
 
 To glow or Ihiver in the keen extremes 
 
 Of ev'ry various climate : when that cheek, 
 
 Ting'd with the blufh of heav'n's unfading rofe. 
 
 Grew pale with pining anguifh : when that voice. 
 
 By angels tun'd to harmony and love, 
 
 Tr mbled with agony, and, in thine ear, 
 
 Utter'd the laft extremity of fmart. 
 
 From foreign bounty flie obtain'd tliat aid 
 
 Which friendfhip, love, humanity, at home, 
 
 Deny*d her blafted worth. From foreign hands 
 
 Her glowing lips receiv'd the cooling draught, 
 
 To 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 163 
 
 To footh the fever's rage. From foreign eyes 
 The tear, by nature, love and friendfhip due, 
 FJow'd copious o'er the wreck, whofe charms, in 
 
 death 
 Still blooming, at the hand of ruin fmil'd. 
 Deftin'd, alas ! in foreign climes to leave 
 Her pale remains unhonour'd •, while the herfe 
 Of wealthy guilt emblazon'd boafts the pride 
 Of painted heraldry, and fculptur'd ftone 
 Protects or flatters its detefted fame. 
 Vain trappings of mortality ! When thefe 
 Shall crumble, like the worthlefs dull they hide; 
 Then thou, dear fpirit ! in immortal joy, 
 Crown'd with intrinfic honours, flialt appear ; 
 And God himfelf, to lift'ning worlds, proclaim 
 Thy injur'd tendernefs, thy faith unftain'd. 
 Thy mildnefs long infulted, and thy worth 
 Severely try'd, and found at laft fincere. 
 
 But where. Oh ! where fhall art or nature find. 
 For fmarting forrow's ever -recent wound, 
 Some bleft reftorative •, whofe pow'rful charm 
 May footh thy friend's regret, within his breafl. 
 
 Suf- 
 
164 POEMS ON 
 
 Sufpend the figh fpontaneous, bid the tear, 
 
 By fad reflexion prompted, ceafe to fall ? 
 
 Thefe, llill as moments, days and years revolve, • 
 
 A confecrated off'ring, Ihall attend 
 
 Thy dear idea uneffac'd by time : 
 
 Till the pale night of deftiny o'^fcure 
 
 Life's wafting taper ; rill each torpid fenfe 
 
 Feel death's chill hand, and grief complain no more. 
 
 EPISTLE L 
 To C L 10: 
 
 In anfwer to one, in which fae informed me of her de- 
 parture from Dumfries. 
 
 WHEN Clio feem'd forgetful of my pain, 
 A foft impatience throbb'd in ev'ry vein ; 
 Each tedious hour I thought an age of woe ; 
 So few their pieafures, and their pace fo flow : 
 Bur, when your moving accents reach'd my ear, 
 Jufl:, as your tafte, and as your heart, fincere ; 
 My foul re-echo'd, while the melting fl:rain 
 Beat in each pulfe, and flow'd in ev'ry vein. 
 
 Ah! 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 165 
 
 Ah ! teach my verfe, like your's, to be refin'd ; 
 Your force of language, and your ftrength of mind : 
 Teach me that winning, foft, perfualive art. 
 Which raviflies the foul, and charms the heart : 
 Then evVy heightened pow'r I will employ, 
 To paint your merit, and exprefs my joy. 
 Lefs foft the ftrains, the numbers lefs refin'd. 
 With which great Orpheus polilh'd human kind ; 
 Whofe magic force could lawkfs vice reprove. 
 And teach a world the fweets of focial love. 
 
 When great * Acasto's virtues grac'd your lays, 
 My foul was loft in the effulgent blaze ; 
 Whofe love, like heav'n, to all mankind extends. 
 Supplies the indigent, the weak defends ; 
 Purfues the good of all with fteady aim ; 
 One bright, unwearied, uncxtinguilVd flame. 
 
 What 
 
 * A Gentleman in Gallonvay, diftinguifh'd for hofpitality; 
 for his inviolable attachment to the interefts of his country ; 
 and, in fhort, for all thoi'e virtues which adorned his own an- 
 ceftors, and dignify human nature, 
 
i66 P O E M S ON 
 
 What tranfport felt my foul, what keen delight. 
 When its full blaze of glory met my fight ! 
 But foon, too foon, the happy gleam was o'er ; 
 Wliat joy can reign, where Clio is no more ? 
 
 Ah ! haplefs me ! muft yet more woes infpire 
 The mournful fong, and tune the tragic lyre ? 
 Her Clio's abfence muft the mufe complainj 
 The laft and greateft of the fable train ? 
 From thefe intrufive thoughts all pleafure flies, 
 And leaves my foul beniglited, like my eyes. 
 
 Yet, while abforb'd in thought alone I ftray. 
 On ev'ry fenfe while filent forrows prey. 
 Or from fome arbor, confcious of my pain. 
 While to the fighing breeze I figh in vain ; 
 May each new rpoment, fraught with new delight. 
 Crown your bright day, and blefs your filent night: 
 May height'ning raptures ev'ry fenfe furprife^ 
 Mufic your ears, gay profpe6ts charm your eyes : 
 May all on earth, and all in heav'n confpire 
 To make your pleafures lafting, and entire. 
 "Tis this alone can foorh my anxious breaft. 
 Secure of blifs, while confcious you are bleft. 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 167 
 
 EPISTLE 11. 
 
 To the fame. From Edinburgh. 
 
 FROM where bleak north winds chill the frozen 
 flcies. 
 And lov'd Edina's lofty turrets rife, 
 Sing, heav'niy mufe ! to thy lov'd Clio fing 5 
 Tune thy faint voice, and ftretch thy drooping wing. 
 
 Could I, like Uriel, on fome pointed ray. 
 To your far diftant Eden wing my way, 
 Out-ftrip the moments, fcorn the fwifteft wind. 
 And leave ev'n wing'd defire to lag behind ; 
 So ftrong, fo fwift, I'd fly the port to gain ; 
 The fpeed of angels lhou!d purfue in vain. 
 
 Ah ! whither, whither would my fancy (tray ? 
 Nor hope fuflains, nor reafon leads the way : 
 No, let my eyt-s in fcalding forrows flow, 
 Vaft as my lofs, and endlefs as my woe : 
 Flow, till the torrent quench this vital flame. 
 And, with increafing hours, increafe the ftream. 
 
 Yet, 
 
158 P O E M S ON 
 
 Yet, Clio, hear, in pity to my fmart ; 
 If gentle pity e'er could touch thy heart : 
 Let but one line fufpend my conilant care. 
 Too faint for hope, too lively for defpair : 
 Thee let me ftill with wonted rapture find 
 The mufe's patronefs, and poet's friend. 
 
 EPISTLE III. 
 
 To DoRiNDA ; with Venice Vrefevjfd, 
 
 IF friendfhip gains not pardon for the mufe, 
 Immortal Otway, fare, will plead excufe : 
 For eyes like thine he wrote his moving lays, 
 Which feel the poet, and which weep his pfaife. 
 Whether great Jaffier tender grief infpires. 
 Struggling with cruel fate, and high defires ; 
 Or Belvid era's gentler accents flow. 
 When all her foul (he breathes in love and woe : 
 Drawn from the heart the various pafTions fnine. 
 And v/ounded nature bleeds in tv'^xs line. 
 As v\rhen fome turtle fpies her lovely mare 
 Pierc'd by the bail, or flutt'ring in the net; 
 Her little heart juft buriling with defpair. 
 She droops her wings, and coos her foul to air. 
 
 EPL 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 169 
 
 EPISTLE IV. 
 
 To Mifs Annie Rae : 
 
 t 
 
 ^With the Manual of EpiCTETUS,andTablature oFCebes, 
 
 •^ O, happy leaves ! to Anna's view difclole 
 ^^ What folid joy from real virtue flows ; 
 When, like the world, felf-pois'd, th' exalted foul, 
 Unfhaken, fcorns the ftorms that round her roll ; 
 And, in herfelf colleded, joys to find 
 Th' untainted image of th' Eternal Mind. 
 
 To bid mankind their end fupreme purfue^ 
 On God and nature fix their wand'ring view -, 
 To teach relu6lant pafllon to obey, 
 Check'd, or impell'd by reafon's awful fway ; 
 From films of error purge the mental eye, 
 Till undifTembled good in profpeft lie ; 
 The foul with heav'n-born virtue to inflame : 
 Such was the Sioic's and Socratic*s aim. 
 
 O ! could they view from yon immortal fcene. 
 Where beauty, truth and good, unclouded, reign, 
 Y Fair 
 
170 P O E M S ON 
 
 Fair hands like thine revolve their laboiir'd page. 
 Imbibe their truth, and in their tafk engage ; 
 With rapture would they hail fo fair a fight. 
 And feel new blifs in heav'n's fupreme delight. 
 
 PROLOGUE TO OTHELLO: 
 
 Spoken by Mr. Love, at the opening of the Play-houfe 
 in Dumfries. 
 
 '\T E fouls ! by foft humanity infpir*d, 
 -"- For gen'rous hearts and manners free admir'd j 
 Where tafte and commerce, amicably join'd, 
 ImbelliQi life, and cultivate the mind : 
 Without a blulh. you may fupport our flage ; 
 No tainted joys fhall here your view engage. 
 To tickle fools with proftituted art. 
 Debauch the fancy, and corrupt the heart. 
 Let others ftoop •, fuch meannefs we defpife. 
 And pleafe with virtuous objedls virtuous eyes. 
 
 The tender foul what dire convulfions tear. 
 When whifp'ring villains gain th' uncautious ear 5 
 How heav'nly mild, yet how intenfely bright. 
 Fair Innocence, tho' clouded, ftrikes the fight ; 
 
 What 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 171 
 
 What endlefs plagues from jealous fondnefs flow. 
 This night our faithful fcenes attempt to (how : 
 No new-born whim, no haily flalh of wit ; 
 But nature's diftates by great Shakespear writ. 
 
 Immortal bard ! who, with a mailer hand. 
 Could all the movements of the foul command ; 
 With pity footh, with terror fhake her frame ; 
 In love difTolve her, or to rage inflame. 
 
 To tafl:e and virtue, heav'n-defcended pair ! 
 While pleas'd we thus devote our art and care ; 
 To crown our ardor, let your fav'ring fmile 
 Reward our hopes, and animate our toil : 
 So may your eyes no weeping moments know. 
 But when they fhare fome Desdaemona's woe. 
 
 PRO- 
 
172 
 
 POEMS ON 
 
 PROLOGUE TO HA ML E T; 
 
 Spoken by Mr. LovE, at Dumfries. 
 
 Y N S P I R 'D with pleafmg hope to entertain, 
 ■*■ Oncemore weofFerSHAKESPEAR'sheav'nlyftrain J 
 While, hov'ring round, his laurel'd Ihade furveys 
 What eyes fhall pour their tribute to his praife j 
 What hearts with tender pity fhall regret 
 The bitter grief that clouds Ophelia's fate. 
 
 ONCE^air fhe flourifh'd, nature's joy and pride, 
 J3ut droop'd and wither'd, when a fatlier dy'd. 
 Severe extremes of tendernefs and woe. 
 When love and virtue mourn one common blow j 
 When griefs alternate o'er the bofom reign, 
 And ev'ry fenfe, and ev'ry thought is pain ! 
 Here nature triumph'd, on her throne fublime, 
 And mock'd each pygmy mufe of later time j 
 Till Shakespe AR touch'd the foul with all her imart. 
 And (lamp'd her living image on tlie heart. 
 
 From 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 173 
 
 From his inftruflive fong we deeply feel, 
 How vainly guilt its horrors would conceal. 
 Tho' night and filence with the fraud confpire. 
 To bid the crime from human fearch retire; 
 Tho* yet the traitor feem from harm fecure. 
 And fate a while fufpend th' avenging hour-, 
 Tho' fortune nurfe him with a mother's care. 
 And deck her pageant in a fhort-liv'd glare : 
 In vain he ftruggles to difguile his fmart, 
 A living plague corrodes his ulcer'd heart ; 
 While ev'ry form of ruin meets his eyes. 
 And heav'n's vindidive terrors round him rife. 
 
 Such falutary truths their light diffufe. 
 Where honours due attend the fcenic mufe ; 
 Deep by her facred fignature impreft. 
 They mingle with the foul, and warm the breaft. 
 Hence taught of old, the pious and the fage. 
 With veneration, patroniz'd the ftage. 
 
 But, foft ! methinks you cry with fome furprize, 
 " How long intend you thus to moralize ?" 
 Our prologue deviates from eflablifh'd rules. 
 
 Nor 
 
174 POEMS ON 
 
 Nor fhocks the fair, nor calls the critics fools, 
 'Tis true ; but, dully fond of common fenfe. 
 We ftill think fpleen to wit has no pretence ; 
 Think impudence is far remote from fpirit. 
 And modefty, tho' auk ward, has fome merit. 
 
 The AUTHOR'S PICTURE. 
 
 TTTHILEinmy matchlefs graces wrapt I ftand, 
 ^ ^ And touch each feature with a trembling hand ; 
 Deign, lovely Self ! with art and nature's pride. 
 To mix the colours, and the pencil guide. 
 
 Self is the grand purfuit of half mankind : 
 How vaft a crowd by felf, like me, are blind ! 
 By felf, the fop, in magic colours fiiown, 
 Tho' fcorn'd by evVy eye, delights his own : 
 When age and wrinkles feize the conqu'ring maid. 
 Self, not the glafs, refleds the flatt'ring fhade. 
 Then, wonder-working felf! begin the lay; 
 Thy charms to others, as to me, difplay. 
 
 Straight 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 175 
 
 Straight is my perfon, but of little fize; 
 Lean are my cheeks, and hollow are my eyes : 
 My youthful down is, like my talents, rarej 
 Politely diftant ftands each fingle hair. 
 My voice, too rough to charm a lady's ear ; 
 So fmooth, a child may liften without fear; 
 Not form'd in cadence foft and warbling lays. 
 To footh the fair thro' pleafure's wanton ways. 
 My form fo fine, fo fingular, fo new ; 
 My port fo manly, and fo frefh my hue -^^f 
 Oft, as 1 meet the crowd, they laughing fay, 
 " See, fee Memento mori crofs the way."j 
 The ravilh'd Proserpine at lad, we know. 
 Grew fondly jealous of her fable beau ; 
 But, thanks to nature ! none from me need fly ; 
 One heart the Devil could wound — fo cannot I. 
 
 Yet, tho' my perfon fearlefs may be feen. 
 There is fome danger in my graceful mien : 
 For, as fome vefTel, tofs'd by wind and tide. 
 Bounds o'er the waves, and rocks from fide to fide 5 
 In juft vibration thus I always move : 
 This who can view, and not be forc'd to love ? 
 
 Hail! 
 
176 POEMS ON 
 
 Hail ! charming felf ! by whofe propitious aid 
 My form in all its glory (lands difplay'd : 
 Be prefent ftill ; with infpiration kind, 
 Let the fame faithful colours paint the mind. 
 
 Like all mankind, with vanity I'm blefs'd 5 
 Confcious of wit I never yet polTefs'd. 
 To ftrong defires my heart an eafy prey. 
 Oft feels their force, but never owns their fway. 
 This hour, perhaps, as death I hate my foe ; 
 The next I wonder why I Ibould do fo. 
 Tho' poor, the rich I view with carelefs eye ; 
 Scorn a vain oath, and hate a ferlous lie. 
 I ne'er, for fulre, torture common fenfe ; 
 Nor faow my wit at God's, nor man's expence. 
 Harmlefs I live, unknowing and unknown ; 
 Wifh v/ell to all, and yet do good to none. 
 Unmerited contempt I hate to bear ; 
 Yet on my faults, like others, am fevere. 
 Difhoneft flames my bofom never fire -, 
 The bad I pity, and the good admire : 
 Fond of the mufe, to her devote my days, 
 And fcribble— not for puddingy but for praife. 
 
 These 
 
SEVERAL OCC AS IONS. 1^7 
 
 These carelefs lines if any virgin hears> 
 Perhaps, in pity to my jbylefs years. 
 She may confent a gen'rous flame to own 5 
 And I no longer figh the nights alone. 
 But, fliould the fair, afFetfted, vain^ or nice. 
 Scream with the fears infpir*d by frogs or mice i 
 Cry, Save us, heav'n ! a fpedtre, not a man ! 
 Her hartfliorn fnatch, or interpofe her fan : 
 If I my tender overture repeat \ 
 O ! riiay riiy vows her kind reception meet ! 
 May fhe new graces on my form bellow. 
 And, with tall honours, dignify my brow I * 
 
 Z Apr 
 
 * The fnafiner, in which our Author has conduiSed this 
 piece, is very remarkable. None, but one po&ffed ot Mr. 
 Blacklock's, happy temper of mind, would have been ib 
 plecfant at his own expence. However, left the Ladies of 
 future r.ges ihould think this humorous defcription real, it 
 may not be improper to tell them, that, if the ori;nnal had 
 been in the hands of a faithful Painter, the picture would bjr 
 no means have been fo ludicrous, 
 
 R; H, 
 
178 P O E M S ON 
 
 An Extempore EPIGRAM: 
 On a Girl bringing in a Bottle of Wine. 
 
 ^T^Errestri AL Hebe! come, and banifhwoci 
 •*- Let mighty wine in gen*rous bumpers flow : 
 All flame, all fpirit, let the glafs go round ; 
 Each face be brighten'd, and each wifh be crown'd. 
 Atlas, the prop of Jove*s fublime abodes, 
 Oir groans beneath the weight of fliagg'ring gods : 
 Their great example let us then purfue ; 
 We cannot err in what our authors do : 
 Like them in joys unconfcious of allay. 
 Laugh, drink, and fing eternity away. 
 
 To a Gentleman, who afked my feiiti- 
 ments of him. 
 
 An epigram. 
 
 DEAR F A B I U S 1 me if well you know, 
 You ne'er will take me for your foe j 
 If right yourfelf you comprehend. 
 
 You ne'er will take me for your friend. 
 
 On 
 
 I 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 179 
 
 On P U N C H: 
 An epigram. 
 
 T T E N C E ! reftlefs care, and low defign •, 
 •■- ■*■ Hence ! foreign compliments and wine : 
 Let gen'rous Britons, brave and free, 
 Still boaft their Punch and honefty. 
 Life is a bumper fill'd by fate. 
 And we the guefts who fliare the treat ; 
 Where ftrong, infipid, Iharp and fweet, 
 Each other duly temp'ring, meet. 
 A while with joy the fcene is crown'd ; 
 A while the catch and toaft go round : 
 And, when the full caroufe is o'er. 
 Death puffs the lights, and fhuts the door. 
 Say then, Phyficians of each kind. 
 Who cure the body, or the mind ; 
 What harm in drinking can there be, 
 Since Punch and life fo well agree ? 
 
 On 
 
r 
 
 iSo P O E M S ON 
 
 On MARRIAGE: 
 An epigram. 
 
 YOUNG CELIA, now a blooming bride^. 
 Sat from lier friends apart, and cry'd ; 
 Her faithful Chloe view'd her care, 
 And thus confol'd the weeping fair : 
 
 GooDheav'n! in tears! forfhame! look gay; 
 l^or cloud with grief your nuptial day. 
 If brides in tears receive their fpoufcs. 
 What muft the haplefs wretch who lofes ? 
 Befides, my dear, you know 'tis reafon, 
 That all things have a proper feafon : 
 Now, 'tis in marriage a plain cafe, 
 That crying holds the fecond place. 
 X^et vulgar fouls in forrow fink, 
 Who always adl, and never think : 
 But, to refiefting minds like you. 
 Marriage can fure have nothing new. 
 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. i8i 
 
 On the SAME: 
 An epigram. 
 
 WHOEVER feals the marriage vow, 
 'Tis well agreed, makes one of cwo ; 
 But v/ho can tell, fave G — d alone, 
 What numbers may make two o^ one. 
 
 An E P I T A P H, 
 
 On a Favourite LAP-DOG. 
 
 I NEVER bark'd when out of feafon -, 
 I never bit without a reafon j 
 I ne'er infulted weaker brother -, 
 Nor wrong'd by force nor fraud another. 
 Though brutes are plac'd a rank below, 
 Happy for man, could he fay fo ! 
 
 FINIS.