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BARBAULO ■ (Anna Laetitia) ^743-1825). Poems. A new edition, corrected, to 
 
 which is added, An Epistle to William Wilberforce, Esq. ist ed., thus. 
 London (Johnson), 1792 _ £,'*-M- 
 
 Coarse morocco-grain green cl., label, gilt, Good copy. . 
 
POEMS 
 
 BX 
 
 ANNA LiETITIA BARBAULD. 
 
 Haec fat ent, Divae, veftrum cecinifle poetam, 
 Dum fedet, et gracili fiicellam texit hibifco4 
 
 ViRGir.. 
 
 A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED. 
 
 .,i7 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO WILLIAM WILBER^ORCE, Esq. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRiilTKD FOR JOSEPH JOHNSON, ST. PACL's CHURCH-YARD. 
 MDCCXCII. 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2012 witii funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Mil 
 
 http://archive.org/details/poemsOObarb 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Corsica. _ _ _ , - j. 
 
 The Invitation, to Mifs B . - - 13. 
 
 The Groans of the Tankard. - - 25. 
 
 On the Backwardnefs of the Spring 1771. 31. 
 
 Verfes written in an Alcove. - - ^^. 
 
 The Moufe's Petition. - - - 37. 
 
 To Mrs. P , with Drawings of Birds 
 
 and Infedts, - - - - 41. 
 
 ■Characters. -*-.,- - - SO. 
 
 On a Lady's Writing. - - - 53. 
 
 Hymn to Content. - - - - 54. 
 
 To Wifdom. ----- 58. 
 
 The Origin of Song- Writing. - - 60. 
 
 Songs - - - - - - 67. 
 
 Deha, an Elegy. - - _ - g^. 
 
 Ovid to his Wife. - - _ - 89. 
 
 To a Lady, with painted Flowers. - 96. 
 
 Ode to Spring. - - - - . 98. 
 
 «-4rerfes on Mrs. Rowe. - - - J02. 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 To Mifs R , on her Attendance upon her 
 
 Mother at Buxton. _ - - io«;. 
 
 On the Death of Mrs. Jennings. - - io8. 
 
 Hymns. - - - - - « ill. 
 
 An Addrefs to the Deity. - - - 131, 
 
 A Summer Evening's Meditation. - 137, 
 
 Epiflle to W. Wilberforce, Efq. « 145. 
 
CORSICA. 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1769., 
 
 A manly race 
 
 Of unfubmitting fpirit, wife and brave; 
 Who ftill thro' bleeding ages ftn.iggled hard 
 To hold a generous undiminilh'd ftate ; 
 Too much in vain 1 
 
 Thomson. 
 
 Hail generous Corsica ! unconquer'd ifle 
 The fort of freedom ; that amidft the waves 
 Stands hke a rock of adamant, and dares 
 The wildeft fury of the beating ftorm. 
 
 And are there yet, in this late fickly age, 
 Unkindly to the tow'ring growths of virtue, 
 Such bold exalted fpirits ? Men whofe deeds, 
 To the bright annals of old Greece oppos'd, 
 
2 CORSICA. 
 
 Would throw in fhades her yet unrival'd name, 
 And dim the luftre of her faireft page \ 
 And glows the flame of Liberty fo ftrong 
 In this lone fpeck of earth ! this fpot obfcure, 
 Shaggy with woods, and crufted o'er with rock, 
 By flaves furrounded, and by flaves opprefs'd ! 
 What then fhould Britons feel ? fhould they not catch 
 The warm contagion of heroic ardour, 
 And kindle at a fire fo like their own ? 
 
 Such were the working thoughts which fwell'd the breaft 
 Of generous Boswel ; when with nobler aim 
 And views beyond the narrow beaten track 
 By trivial fancy trod, he turn'd his courfe 
 From polifh'd Gallia's foft delicious vales. 
 From the grey reliques of imperial Rome, 
 From her long galleries of laurel'd ftpne, 
 Her chifel'd heroes and her marble gods, 
 
CORSICA. 3 
 
 Whofe dumb majeftic pomp yet awes the world, 
 To animated forms of patriot zeal ; 
 Warm in the living majefty of virtue j 
 Elate with fcarlefs fpirit ; firm ; refolv'd ; 
 By fortune nor fubdu'd, nor aw'd by power. 
 
 How raptur'd fancy burns, while warm in thought 
 I trace the pi6lur'd landfcape ; while I kifs 
 With pilgrim lips devout, the facred foil 
 Stain'd with the blood of heroes. Cyrnus, hail! 
 Hail to thy rocky, deep indented fhores. 
 And pointed cliffs, which hear the chafing deep 
 Inceflant foaming round their fhaggy fides. 
 Hail to thy winding bays, thy fhelt'ring ports 
 And ample harbours, which inviting ftretch 
 Their hofpitable arms to every fail : 
 Thy numerous ftreams, that burfting from the cliitFs 
 Down the fteep channel'd rock impetuous pour 
 
 B 2 
 
'4 CORSICA* 
 
 With grateful murmur : on the fearful edge 
 Of the rude precipice, thy hamlets brown 
 And ftraw-roof 'd cots, which from the level vale 
 Scarce feen, amongft the craggy hanging clifFs 
 Seem like an eagle's neft aerial built. 
 Thy fwelling mountains, brown with foleran fliadc 
 Of various trees, that wave their giant arms 
 O'er the rough fons of freedom ; lofty pines, 
 And hardy fo, and ilex ever green, 
 And fpreading chefnut, with each humbler plant, 
 And fhrub of fragrant leaf, that clothes their fides 
 With living verdure ; whence the clufl'ring bee 
 ■ Extra6ls her golden dews : the fhining box, 
 And fweet-leaved myrtle, aromatic thyme, 
 The prickly juniper, and the green leaf 
 Which feeds the fpinning worm ; while glowing bright 
 Beneath the various foliage, wildly fpreads 
 The arbutus, and rears his fcarlet fruit 
 
CORSICA. 
 
 Lnxuriant, mantling o'er the craggy fteeps ; 
 And thy own native laurel crowns the fcene. 
 Hail to thy favage forefls, awful, deep : 
 Thy tangled thickets, and thy crowded woods, 
 The haunt of herds untam'd ; which fullen bound 
 From rock to rock with fierce unfocial air. 
 And wilder gaze, as confcious of the power 
 That loves to reign amid the lonely fcenes 
 Of unquelled nature : precipices huge. 
 And tumbling torrents ; tracklefs deferts, plains 
 Fenc'd in with guardian rocks, whofe quarries teem 
 With fhlning fteel, that to the cultur'd fields 
 And funny hills which wave with bearded grain 
 Defends their homely produce. Liberty, 
 The mountain Goddefs, loves to range at large 
 Amid fuch fcenes, and on the iron foil 
 Prints her majeflic flep. For thefe fhe fcorns 
 The green enamel'd vales, the velvet lap 
 
 B 3 
 
"6 CORSICA. 
 
 Of fmooth favannahs, where the pillowM head 
 Of luxury repofes ; balmy gales. 
 And bowers that breathe of blifs. For thefe, when firft 
 This ifle emerging like a beauteous gem 
 From the dark bofom of the Tyrrhene main 
 Rear'd its fair front, fhe mark'd it for her own, 
 And with her fpirit warm'd. Her genuine fons, 
 A broken remnant, from the generous ftock 
 Of ancient Greece, from Sparta's fad remains. 
 True to their high defcent, preferv'd unquench'd 
 The facred fire thro' many a barbarous age • 
 Whom, nor the iron rod of cruel Carthage, ^ 
 
 Nor the dread fceptre of imperial Rome, 
 Nor bloody Goth, nor grifly Saracen, 
 Nor the long galling yoke of proud Liguria, 
 Could crufh into fubjedtion. Still unquell'd 
 They rofe fuperior, buriling from their chains. 
 And claim'd man's deareft birthright, Liberty : 
 
CORSICA. 
 
 And long, thro' many a hard unequal ftrife 
 Maintain'd the glorious conflifl ; long withftood 
 With fmgle arm, the whole colle£ted forc« 
 Of haughty Genoa, and ambitious Gaul. 
 And fhall withftand it — Truft the faithful Mufe ! 
 It is not in the force of mortal arm, 
 Scarcely in fate, to bind the ftruggling foul 
 That gall'd by wanton power, indignant fwells 
 Againft oppreffion ; breathing great revenge, 
 Carelefs of life, determin'd to be free. 
 And fav'ring heaven approves : for fee the Man, 
 Bom to exalt his own, and give mankind 
 A glimpfe of higher natures : jufl, as great ; 
 The foul of council, and the nerve of war ; 
 Of high unfhaken fpirit, tempered fweet 
 With foft urbanity, and poUfh'd grace. 
 And attic wit, and gay unftudied fmiles : 
 Whom heaven in fome propitious hour endow !4 
 
 B 4 
 
8 CORSICA. 
 
 With every purer virtue : gave him all 
 
 That hfts the hero, or adorns the man. 
 
 Gave him the eye fubUmc ; the fearching glance 
 
 Keen, fcanning deep, that fmites the guilty foul 
 
 As with a beam from heaven ; on his brow 
 
 Serene, and fpacious front, fet the broad feal 
 
 Of dignity and rule ; then fmil'd benign 
 
 On this fair pattern of a God below, 
 
 High wrought, and breath'd into his fwelling breaft 
 
 The large ambitious wifli to fave his 'country. , 
 
 Oh beauteous title to immortal fame ! 
 
 The man devoted to the public, ftands 
 
 In the bright records of fuperior worth \[ . 
 
 A ftep below the fkies : if he fucceed, 
 
 The firft fair lot which earth affords, is his ; 
 
 And if he falls, he falls above a throne. 
 
 When fuch their leader, can the brave defpair ? 
 
 Freedom the caufe, and Paoli the chief ! 
 
CORSICA. ^ 
 
 Succefs to your fair hopes 1 a Britiih Mufe, 
 Tho* weak and powerlefs, lifts her fervent voice, 
 And breathes a prayer for your fuccefs. Oh could 
 She fcatter bleflings as the morn fheds dews. 
 To drop upon your heads ! but patient hope 
 Muft wait th' appointed hour ; fecure of this, 
 That never with the indolent and weak 
 Will freedom deign to dwell ; fhe muft be feiz'd 
 By that bold arm that wreftles for the blefling : 
 'Tis heaven's beft gift, and muft be bought with blood. 
 When the ftprni thickens, when the combat burns. 
 And pain and death in every horrid fliape 
 That can appal the feeble, prowl around. 
 Then virtue triumphs ; then her tow'ring form 
 Dilates with kindling majefty ; her mien 
 Breathes a diviner fpirit, and enlarg'd 
 Each fpreading feature, with an ampler port 
 And bolder tone, exulting, rides the ftorm, 
 
fO CORSICA. 
 
 And joys amidft the tempefl. Then flie reaps 
 
 Her golden harveft ; fruits of nobler growth 
 
 And higher relifh than meridian funs 
 
 Can ever ripen ; fair, heroic deeds. 
 
 And godlike a6lion. 'Tis not meats, and drinks. 
 
 And balmy airs, and vernal funs, and fhowers 
 
 That feed and ripen minds ; 'tis toil and danger ; 
 
 And vvreftling with the ftubborn gripe of fate ; 
 
 And war, and fliarp diftrefs, and paths obfcure 
 
 And dubious. The bold fwimmer joys not fo 
 
 To feel the proud waves under him, and heat 
 
 With ftrong repelling arm the billowy furge ; 
 
 The generous courfer does not fo exult 
 
 To tofs his floating mane againft the wind. 
 
 And neigh amidft the thunder of the war, 
 
 As virtue to oppofe her fwellin'g breaft 
 
 Like a firm fliield againft the darts of fate. 
 
 And when her fons in that rough fchool have learn'd 
 
CORSICA. It 
 
 To fmile at danger, then the hand that raisM 
 
 Shall hufh the ftorm, and lead the fhining train 
 
 Of peaceful years in bright proceffion on. 
 
 Then ihall the fhepherd's pipe, the mufe's lyre, 
 
 On Cyrnus' fhores be heard : her grateful fons A 
 
 With loud acclaim and hymns of cordial praifc 
 
 Shall hail their high deliverers ; every name 
 
 To virtue dear be from oblivion fnatch'd 
 
 And plac'd among the ftars : but chiefly thine, 
 
 Thine, Paoli, w^ith fweeteft found fhall dwell 
 
 On their applauding lips ; thy facred name, 
 
 Endear'd to long pofterity, fome Mufe, 
 
 More w^orthy of the theme, fhall confecrate 
 
 To after-ages, and applauding worlds 
 
 Shall blefs the godlike man who fav'd his country. 
 
 So vainly wifh'd, fo fondly hop'd the Mufe : 
 Too fondly hop'd. The iron fates prevail, 
 
W CORSICA. 
 
 And Cyrnus is no more. Her generous fons, 
 Lefs vanquifh'd thano'erwhelm'd, by numbers crufh'd, 
 Admir'd, unaided fell. So ftrives the moon 
 In dubious battle with the gathering clouds, 
 And llrikes a fplendour thro' them ; till at length 
 Storms roU'd on florms involve the face of heaven • 
 And quench her ftruggling fires. Forgive the zeal 
 That, too prefumptuous, whifper'd better things, 
 And read the book of defliny amifs. 
 Not with the purple colouring of faccefs 
 Is virtue beft adorn'd : th' attempt is praife. 
 There yet remains a freedom, nobler far ' 
 Than kings or fenates can deftroy or give ; 
 Beyond the proud oppreffor's cruel grafp 
 Seated fecure , uninjur'd ; undeftroy'd; 
 Worthy of Gods : The freedom of the mind. 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 THE INVITATION. 
 
 TO MISS B* ••****. 
 
 Hie gelidi fontes, hie mollia prata, Lycori, 
 Hie nemus : hie ipfo tecum confumerer aevo. 
 
 Virgil. 
 
 Health to my friend, and long unbroken years. 
 By ftorms unruffled and unflain'd by tears . 
 Wing'd by new joys may each white minute fly ; 
 Spring on her cheek, and funfliine in her eye : 
 O'er that dear breaft, where love and pity fprings, 
 May peace eternal fpread her downy wings : 
 Sweet beaming hope her path illumine Hill, 
 And fair ideas all her fancy fill. 
 From glittering fcenes which ftrike the dazzled fight 
 With mimic grandeur and illufiYe light, 
 
14 THE INVITATION. 
 
 From idle hurry, and tumultuous nolfe, 
 From hollow friendfliips, and from fickly joys, 
 Will Delia, at the Mufe's call, retire 
 To the pure pleafiires rural fcenes infpire ? 
 Will fhe from crowds and bufy cities fly, 
 Where wreaths of curling fmoke involve the fky. 
 To tafte the grateful fhade of fpreading trees, 
 And drink the fpirit of the mountain breeze ? 
 
 When winter^s hand the rough'ning year deforms, 
 And hollow winds foretel approaching ftorms, 
 Then Pleafure, like a bird of paflage, flies 
 To brighter climes, and more indulgent Ikies : 
 Cities and courts allure her fprightly train, 
 From the bleak mountain and the naked plain ; 
 And gold and gems with artificial blaze. 
 Supply the fickly fun's declining rays. 
 
THE INVITATION* f^ 
 
 B\Jt foon, returning on the weftern gale,. 
 
 She feeks the bofom of the graffy vale : 
 
 There, wrapt in carelefs eafe, attunes her lyre 
 
 To the wild warblings of the woodland quire : 
 
 The dailied turf her humble throne fupplies. 
 
 And early primrofes around her rife. 
 
 We'll follow where the fmiling goddefs leads, 
 
 Thro' tangled forefts or enamel'd meads ; 
 
 O'er pathlefs hills her airy form we'll chafe. 
 
 In filent glades her fairy footfleps trace : 
 
 Small pains there needs her footfleps to purfue. 
 
 She cannot fly from friendihip, and from you. 
 
 Now the glad earth her frozen zone unbinds. 
 
 And o'er her bofom breathe the weftern winds. 
 
 Already now the fnow-drop dares appear. 
 
 The firft pale blollbm of th' unripen'd year ; 
 
 As Flora's breath, by fome transforming power. 
 
 Had chang'd an icicle into a flower : 
 
l6 THE INVITATIOir. 
 
 Its name, and hue, the fcentlefs plant retains. 
 And winter Hngers in its icy veins. 
 To thefe fucceed the violet's dufky blue, 
 And each inferior flower of fainter hue ; 
 Till riper months the perfeft year difclofe. 
 And Flora cries exulting, See my Rofe ! 
 
 The Mufe invites, my Delta hafte away, 
 And let us fweetly wafte the carelefs day. 
 Here gentle fummits lift their airy brow ; 
 Down the green flope here winds the labouring plow ; 
 Here, bath'd by frequent fliow'rs cool vales are feen, 
 Cloth'd with frefh verdure, and eternal green ; 
 Here fmooth canals, acrofs th' extended plain. 
 Stretch their long arms to join the diftant main * : 
 
 * The Duke of Bridgewater's canal, which in many places croffes the 
 road, and in one is carried by an aqtieduft over the river Irwell. Its 
 head is at Worfley, where it is conveyed by deep tunnels under the coal 
 pitSj for the purpofe of loading the boats. , 
 
THE INVITATION. I7 
 
 The fons of toil with many a weary ftroke 
 Scoop the hard bofom of the fohd rock ; 
 Refiftlefs, thro' the ftifFoppoUng clay, • 
 With fteady patience work their gradual way ; 
 Compel the genius of th' unwilling flood 
 Thro' the brown horrors of the aged wood ; 
 'Crofs the lone wafte the lilver urn they pour, 
 And cheer the barren heath or fullen moor. 
 The traveller with pleafing wonder fees 
 The white fail gleaming thro* the duiky trees ; 
 And views the alter'd landfcape with furprife, 
 And doubts the magic fcenes v/hich round him rife. 
 Now, like a flock of fwans, above his head 
 Their woven wings the flying veflTels fpread ; 
 Now meeting ftreams in artful mazes glide. 
 While each unmingled pours a feparate tide ; 
 Now through the hidden veins of earth they flow, . 
 And vifit fulphurous mines and caves below ; 
 
l8 THE INVITATION. 
 
 The dufbile ftreams obey the guiding hand, 
 And focial plenty circles round the land. 
 
 But nobler praife awaits our green retreats ", 
 The Mufes here have fix'd their faCred feats. 
 Mark where its fimple front yon manfion rears, 
 The nurfery of men for future years ! 
 Here callow chiefs and embryo ftatefmen lie, 
 And unfledg'd poets fhort excurfions try : 
 While Merfey's gentle current, which too long 
 By fame negle6i:ed, and unknown to fong. 
 Between his rufhy banks, (no poet's theme) 
 Had crept inglorious, like a vulgar flream. 
 Reflects th' afcending feats with confcious pride. 
 And dares to emulate a claffic tide. 
 Soft mufic breathes along each op'ning fliade, 
 And fooths the dafhing of his rough cafcade. 
 
THE INVITATION. IQ 
 
 With myftic lines his fands are figur'd o'er, 
 And circles trac'd upon the letter'd fhore. 
 Beneath his willows rove th' inquiring youth, 
 And court the fair majeflic form of truth. 
 Here nature opens all her fecret fprings. 
 And heav'n-born fcience plumes her eagle-wings : 
 Too long had bigot rage, with malice fwell'd, 
 Crufh'd her ftrong pinions, and her flight with-held ; 
 Too long to check her ardent progrefs llrove : 
 So writhes the ferpent round the bird of Jove ; 
 Hangs on her flight, reftrains her tow 'ring wing, 
 Twifts its dark folds, and points its venom'd fting. 
 Yet ftill (if aught aright the Mufe divine) 
 Her rifmg pride ihall mock the vain defign ; 
 On founding pinions yet aloft ihall foar. 
 And thro' the azure deep untravel'd paths explore. 
 Where fcience fmiles, the Mufes join the train ; 
 And gentleft arts and purefl manners reign. 
 c 2 
 
20 T»E INVITATION. 
 
 Ye generous youth who love this ftudious fhade, 
 
 How rich a field is to your hopes difplay'd ! 
 
 Knowledge to you unlocks the claffic page ; 
 
 Aud virtue bloflbms for a better ag^. 
 
 Oh golden days ! oh bright unvalued hours ! 
 
 What blifs (did ye but know that blifs) were yours ? 
 
 With richeft floras your glowing bofoms fraught, 
 
 Perception quick, and luxury of thought ; 
 
 The high defigns that heave the labouring foul, 
 
 Panting for fame, impatient of controul ; 
 
 And fond enthufiaftic thought, that feeds 
 
 On pidlur'd tales of vaft heroic deeds ; 
 
 And quick afFe6lions, kindling into flame 
 
 At virtue's, or their country's honour'd name ; 
 
 Anil fpirits light, to every joy in tune ; 
 
 And friendfhip, ardent as a fummer's noon ; ' 
 
 And generous fcorn of vice's venal tribe ; 
 
 And proud difdain of intereft's fordid bribe ; 
 
THE INVITATION. 5^1 
 
 And confeious honour's quick inftinftive fenfe ; 
 And fmiles unforc'd ; and eafy confidence ; 
 And vivid fancy ; and clear Ample truth ; 
 And all the mental bloom of vernal youth. 
 
 How bright the fcene to fancy's eye appears, 
 Thro' the long perfpeftive of diftant years, 
 When this, this little group their country calls 
 From academic fhades and learned halls. 
 To fix her laws, her fpirit to fuftain, 
 And light up glory thro' her wide domain ! 
 Their various taftes in different arts difplay'd. 
 Like temper'd harmony of light and lliade, 
 With friendly union in one mafs fhall blend, 
 And this adorn the flate, and that defend. 
 Thefe the fequefter'd ihade fhall cheaply pleafe. 
 With lear^ed labour, and inglorious cafe ; 
 
 c 3 
 
22 THE INVITATION, 
 
 While thofe, impell'd by fome reflftlefs force, 
 
 O'er feas and rocks fhall urge their vent'rous courfe ; 
 
 Rich fruits matur'd by glowing funs behold, 
 
 And China's groves of vegetable gold ; 
 
 From every land the various harveft fpoil, 
 
 And bear the tribute to their native foil : 
 
 But tell each land (while every toil they fliare, 
 
 Firm to fuftain, and refolute to dare,) 
 
 MAN is the nobler growth our realms fupply, 
 
 And SOULS are ripen'd in our northern fky. 
 
 Some, penlive creep along the flielly fliore. 
 Unfold the filky texture of a flower ; 
 With fharpen'd eyes infpe6l an hornet's fling, 
 And all the wonders of an infedl's wing. 
 Some, trace with curious fearch the hidden caufe 
 Of nature's changes, and her various laws > 
 
THE INVITATION. 23 
 
 Uiitwift her beauteous web, difrobe her charms, 
 And hunt her to her elemental forms : 
 Or prove what hidden powers in herbs are found 
 To quench difeafe and cool the burning wound ; 
 With cordial drops the fainting head fuftain. 
 Callback the flitting foul, and ftill the throbs of pain. 
 
 The patriot paflion this fhall flrongly feel ; 
 Ardent, and glowing with undaunted zeal. 
 With lips of fire fhall plead his country's caufe, 
 And vindicate the majefly of laws. 
 This, cloth'd with Britain's thunder, fpread alarms 
 Thro' the wide earth, and fliake the pole with arms, 
 That, to the founding lyre his deeds rehearfe, 
 Enfhrine his name in fome immortal verfe. 
 To long pofterity his praife confign, 
 And pay a life of hardfliips by a line. 
 . c 4 
 
24 THE INVITATION. 
 
 While others, confecrate to higher aims, 
 Whofe hallow'd bofoms glow with purer flames. 
 Love in their heart, perfuafion in their tongue, 
 With words of peace fhall charm the lift'ning throng. 
 Draw the dread veil that wraps th' eternal throne, 
 And launch our fouls into the bright unknown. 
 
 Here ceafe my fong. Such arduous themes require 
 A mailer's pencil and a poet's fire : 
 Unequal far fuch bright defigns to paint, 
 Too weak her colours, and her lines too faint. 
 My drooping Mufe folds up her fluttering wing. 
 And hides her head in the green lap of fpring. 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 THE GROANS OF THE TANKARD. 
 
 Dulci digne mero ! Hosat. 
 
 Of ftrange events I ling, and portents dire ; 
 The wondrous themes a reverent ear require : 
 Tho' ftrange the tale, the faithful Mufe believe, 
 And what fhe fays with pious awe receive. , 
 
 'Twas at the folemn, fUent, noon-tide hour, 
 When hunger rages with defpotic power. 
 When the lean ftudent quits his Hebrew roots 
 For the grofs nourishment of Englilh fruits, 
 And throws unfinilh'd airy fyftems by 
 For folid pudding and fubftantial pye. 
 When hungry poets the glad fummons own. 
 And leave fpare Faft to dine with Gods alone ; 
 Our fober meal difpatch'd with filent hafte. 
 The decent grace concludes the (hort repaft : 
 
tS GROANS OF THE TANKARD. 
 
 Then, urg'd by thirfl, we caft impatient eyes 
 ^ Where deep, capacious, vaft, of ample flze. 
 The TANKARD ftood, replenifh'd to the brink 
 With the cold beverage blue-ey'd Naiads drink. 
 But lo ! a fudden prodigy appears^ 
 And our chill'd hearts recoil with ftartling fears ; 
 Its yawning mouth difclos'd the deep profound, 
 , And in low murmurs breath'd a fullen found ; 
 Cold drops of dew did on the fides appear ; 
 No finger touch'd it, and no hand was near ; 
 At length th' indignant vafe its fllence broke, 
 Firft heav'd deep hollow groans, and then diftindlly fpoke. 
 
 ' ' How chang'd the fcene ! for what unpardon'd crimes 
 " Have I furviv'd to thefe degenerate times? 
 *' I, who was wont the feftal board to grace, 
 *' And 'midft the circle lift my honefl face, 
 
GROANS OF THE TANKARD. 27 
 
 * ' White o'er with froth, like Etna crown'd with fnow, 
 
 " Which mantled o'er the brown abyfs below, 
 
 *' Where Ceres mingled with her golden ftore 
 
 " The richer fpoils of either India's fhore, 
 
 " The dulcet reed the Weftern iflands boaft, 
 
 *' And fpicy fruit from Banda's fragrant coaft. 
 
 " At folemn feafts the ne£tar'd draught I pour'd, 
 
 " And often journey 'd round the ample board : 
 
 " The portly Alderman, the ftately Mayor, 
 
 ^' And all the furry tribe my worth declare ; 
 
 " And the keen Sportfman oft, his labours done, 
 
 ** To me retreating with the fetting fun, 
 
 *' Deep draughts imbib'd, and conquer'd land and fea, 
 
 *' And overthrew the pride of France — by me. 
 
 *' Let meaner clay contain the limpid wave, 
 *' The clay for fuch an office nature gave; 
 
J^8 liROANS OF THE TANKARD-* 
 
 ** Let China's earth, enrich'd with coloured ftains, 
 
 ** Pcncird with gold, and ftregk'd with azure veins, ■ 
 
 *• The grateful flavour of the Indian leaf, 
 
 *' Or. Mocho's funburnt berry glad receive ; 
 
 " The nobler metal claims more generous ufe, 
 
 •' And mine fhould flow with more exalted juice. 
 
 *' Did I for this my native bed refign, 
 
 *' In the dark bowels of Potofi's mine ? '' 
 
 *' Was I for this with violence torn away, 
 
 *' And dragg'd to regions of the upper day ? 
 
 " For this the rage of torturing furnace bore, 
 
 *' From foreign drofs to purge the bright'ning ore ? 
 
 " For this have I endur'd the fiery tefl:, 
 
 *' And was I ftamp'd for this with Britain's lofty creft? 
 
 " Unbleft the day, afid lucklefs was the hour 
 ** Which doom'd me to a Prelbyterian's power: 
 
GROANS OF THE TANKARD. -2g 
 
 *' Fated to fen^e the Puritanic race, 
 
 ** Whofe flender med is fhorter than their grace ; 
 
 ** Whofe moping fons no jovial orgies keep; 
 
 *' Where evening brings no fummons — but to ileep; 
 
 *' No Carnival is even Chriftmas here, 
 
 *' And one long Lent involves the meagre year. 
 
 *' Bear me, ye pow^'rs ! to fome more genial fcenc, 
 
 ** Where on foft cufhions lolls the gouty Dean, 
 
 ** Or rofy Prebend, with cherubic face, 
 
 *' With double chin, and paunch of portly grace, 
 
 *' Who lull'd in dovs^ny flumbers fhall agree 
 
 *' To ow^n no infpiration but from me. 
 
 " Or to fome fpacious manfion, Gothic, old, 
 
 *' Where Comus' fprightly train their vigils hold; 
 
 *' There oft exhaufted, and replenifli'd oft, 
 
 ** Ohi let me flill fupply th' eternal draught; 
 
 *' Till care within the deep abyfs be drown'd, 
 
 "■ And thought grows giddy at the vaft profound.'"* 
 
30 GROANS OF THE TANKARD. 
 
 More had the goblet fpoke, but lo ! appears 
 An ancient Sibyl furrow'd o'er with years. 
 Her afpe6l four, and ftern ungracious look 
 With fudden damp the confcious vefTel ftruck : 
 Chill'd at her touch its mouth it flowly clos'd. 
 And in long filence all its griefs repos'd : 
 Yet ftill low murmurs creep along the ground. 
 And the air vibrates with the fxlver found. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 ON THE BACKWARDNESS OF THE 
 SPRING 1771. 
 
 Eftatem increpitans feram, zephyrofque morantes. 
 
 Virgil, 
 
 In vain the fprightly fun renews his courfe. 
 Climbs up th' afcending figns and leads thf day, 
 While long embattled clouds repel his force. 
 And lazy vapours choak the golden ray. 
 
 In vain the fpring proclaims the new-born year ; 
 No flowers beneath her lingering footfteps fpring. 
 No rofy garland binds her flowing hair. 
 And in her train no feather'd warblers fing, 
 
 Her opening breaft is ftain'd with frequent fhowers, 
 Her ftreaming treflTes bath'd in chilling dews. 
 And fad before her move the penfive hours, 
 Whofe flagging wings no breathing fweets difFufe, 
 
^2 BACKWARDNESS OF SPRING. 
 
 Like fome lone pilgrim, clad in mournful weed, 
 Whofe wounded bofom drinks her falling tears, 
 On whofe pale check relentlefs forrows feed, 
 Whofe dreary way no fprightly carol cheers* 
 
 Not thus fhe breath'd on Arno's purple fhore, 
 And call'd the Tufcan Mufes to her bowers ; 
 Not this the robe in Enna's vale fhe wore, 
 When Ceres' daughter fill'd her lap with flowers. 
 
 Clouds behind clouds in long fucceffion rife, 
 And heavy fnows opprefs the fpringing green ; 
 The dazzling wafte fatigues the aching eyes, 
 And fancy droops beneath th' unvaried fcene. 
 
 Indulgent nature, loofe this frozen zone ; 
 Thro' opening fkies let genial fun-beams play ; 
 Dijflblving fnows fhall their glad impulfe own. 
 And melt upon the bofom of the May, 
 
( S3 ) 
 
 VERSES 
 
 WRITTEN IN AN ALCOVE. 
 
 pm Cytherea chores duck VenUs imminente Luna. 
 
 HoRAT. 
 
 Now the moon-beam's trembling lufbre 
 Silvers o'er the dewy green. 
 
 And in foft and ihadowy colours 
 Sweetly paints the chequer'd fcenc. 
 
 Here between the opening branches 
 Streams a flood of foften'd light, 
 
 There the thick and twiiled foliage 
 Spreads the browner gloom of night. 
 
34 VERSES iN AN ALCOVE,* 
 
 This is fure the haunt of fairies. 
 In yon cool alcove they play ; 
 Carp can never crofs the threfhold, 
 Care was only made for day* 
 
 Far from hence be noify clamour, 
 Sick difguft and anxious fear ; 
 
 Pining grief and wafting anguifh 
 Never keep their vigils here. 
 
 Tell no tales of fheeted fpedtres 
 Riling from the quiet tomb ; 
 
 Fairer forms this cell fhall vifit. 
 Brighter vilions gild the gloom. 
 
 Choral fongs and fprightly voices 
 Echo from her cell Ihall call ; 
 
 Sweeter, fweeter than the murmur 
 Of the diftant water-fall. 
 
VERSES IN AN ALCOVE. 
 
 Every ruder guft of paflion 
 Lull'd with mufic dies away. 
 
 Till within the charmed bofom 
 None but foft afFedions play : 
 
 Soft, as when the evening breezes 
 Gently ftir the poplar grove; 
 
 Brighter than the fmile of fummer, 
 Sweeter than the breath of love. 
 
 Thee, th' enchanted Mufe {hall follow, 
 
 LissY ! to the ruftic cell. 
 And each carelefs note repeating 
 
 Tune them to her charming fhell. 
 
 Not the Mufe who wreath'd with laurel 
 Solemn ftalks with tragic gait, 
 
 And in clear and lofty viiion 
 Sees the future births of fate; 
 
 D Z 
 
36 VERSES IN AN ALCOVE. 
 
 Not the maid who crown'd with cyprefs 
 
 Sweeps along in fcepter'd pall. 
 And in fad and folemn accents 
 ■ Mourns the crefted hero's fall ; 
 
 But that other fmiling fifter. 
 With the blue and laughing eye. 
 
 Singing, in a lighter meafure. 
 Strains of woodland harmony ; 
 
 All unknown to fame and glory, 
 
 Eafy, blithe and debonair, 
 Crown'd with flowers, her carelefs trefles 
 
 Loofely floating on the air. 
 
 Then, when next the ftar of evening 
 
 Softly fheds the filent d&Wy 
 Let jne in this ruftic temple, 
 
 LissY ! meet the Mufe and you. 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 THE MOUSE'S PETITION*. 
 
 Parcere fubjcftis, & debellare fuperbos. 
 
 Virgil. 
 
 Oh ! hear a penfive prifoner's prayer. 
 For liberty that fighs , 
 And never let thine heait be fliut 
 Againft the wretch's cries. 
 
 For here forlorn and fad I fit. 
 Within the wiry grate ; 
 And tremble at th' approaching morn, 
 Which brings impending fate. 
 
 * Found in the trap where he tiad been confined all night by Dr. Prieftley, 
 for the fake of making experiments with different kinds of air. 
 
 » 3 
 
38 THE mouse's petition. 
 
 If e'er thy breaft with freedom glow*d. 
 And fpurn'd a tyrant's chain, 
 Let not thy ftrong oppreffive force 
 A free-born moufe detain. 
 
 Oh ! do not ftain with guiltlefs blood 
 Thy hofpitable hearth ; 
 Nor triumph that thy wiles betray'd 
 A prize fo little worth. 
 
 The fcatter'd gleanings of a feaft 
 My frugal meals fupply ; 
 But if thine unrelenting heart 
 That flender boon deny. 
 
 The chearful light, the vital air, 
 Are bleffings widely given ; 
 Let nature's commoners enjoy 
 The common gifts of heaven. 
 
THE mouse's petition. 39 
 
 The well-taught philofophic mind * 
 
 To all compaflion gives ; 
 Cafts round the world an equal eye, 
 And feels for all that lives. 
 
 If mind, as ancient fages taught, 
 
 A never dying flame. 
 
 Still fhifts thro' matter's varying forms, 
 
 In every form the fame, 
 
 Beware, left in the worm you crufli 
 A brother's foul you find ; 
 And tremble left thy lucklefs hand 
 Diflodge a kindred mind. 
 
 Or, if this tranflent gleam of day 
 Be all of life we ftiare, 
 Let pity plead within thy breaft 
 That little all to fpare. '' 
 
 D4 
 
4© THE mouse's PETITIOjr. 
 
 » So may thy hofpitable board 
 
 With health and peace becrowu'd* 
 j^ind every charm of heartfelt eafb 
 Beneath thy roof be found. 
 
 So, when deftruftion Inrks unfeen. 
 Which men, lilce mice, may ^fliare. 
 May fome kind angel clear thy path. 
 And break the hidden (hare. 
 
( 41 I 
 
 TO MRS. P 
 
 WITH SOME DRAWINGS OF BIRDS AND INSpCTS* 
 
 The kindred arts to pleafe tliee ftiall con^ire. 
 One dip the pencil, and one firing the lyre. 
 
 Pope, 
 
 Amanda bids ; at her comman,d again 
 I feize the pencil, or refume the pen; 
 No other call my willing hand requires, 
 And friendlhip, better than a Mufe hifpires. 
 
 « 
 Painting and poetry are near allied ; 
 
 "The kindred arts two fifter Mufes guide ; 
 
42 TO MRS. P --, 
 
 This charms the eye, that fteals upon the ear; 
 
 There founds are tun'd ; and colours blended here. 
 
 This, with a filent touch enchants our eyes, 
 
 And bids a gayer, brighter world arife : 
 
 That, lefs aUied to fenfe, with deeper art 
 
 Can pierce the clofe recedes of the heart ; 
 
 By well fet fyllables, and potent found. 
 
 Can roufe, can chill the breaft, can footh, can wound; 
 
 To life adds motion, and to beauty foul, 
 
 And breathes a fpirit through the finifh'd whole : 
 
 Each perfefis each, in friendly union join'd ; 
 
 This gives Amanda's form, and that her mind. 
 
 But humbler themes my artlefs hand requires, 
 Nor higher than the feather'd tribe afpires. 
 Yet who the various nations can declare 
 That plough with bufy wing the peopled air? 
 
WITH DRAWINGS; 43 
 
 Thefe cleave the crumbling bark for infed food; 
 Thofe dip their crooked beak in kindred blood ; 
 Some haunt the rufhy moor, the lonely woods ; 
 Some bathe their filver plumage in the floods ; 
 Some fly to man, his houfliold gods implore, 
 And gather round his hofpitable door ; 
 Wait the known call, and find prote6lion there 
 From all the leflTer tyrants of the air. 
 
 " The tawny Eagle feats his callow brood 
 High on the cliff, and feaflis his young with blood. 
 On Snowden's rocks, or Orkney's wide domain, 
 . Whofe beetling cliffs o'erhang the weflern main, 
 The royal bird his lonely kingdom forms 
 Amidfl the gathering clouds, and fullen florms : 
 Thro' the wide wafte of air he darts his fight. 
 And holds his founding pinions pois'd for flight ; 
 
44 "TO MRS. P , 
 
 With cruel eye premeditates the war. 
 And marks his deftin'd vidtim from afar : 
 Defcending in a whirlwind to the ground. 
 His pinions Hke the ni/h of waters found j 
 The fairefl: of the fold he bears away. 
 And to his neft compels the flruggling prey. 
 He fcoms the game by meaner hunters tore. 
 And dips his talons m no vulgar gore. 
 
 With lovelier pomp along the grafly plain 
 The Jiher Pheasant draws his fhining train- 
 On Afia's myrtle fhores, by Phafis* ftream. 
 He fpreads his plumage to the funny gleam ; 
 But where the wiry net his flight confines. 
 He lowers his puiple creft, and inly pines ; 
 The beauteous captive hangs his ruffled wing, 
 Oppreft by bondage, and our chilly fpring. 
 
WITH DRAWINGS. 4$ 
 
 To claim the verfe, unnumber'd tribes appear 
 That fwell the mufic of the vernal year : 
 Seiz'd with the fpirit of the kindly May 
 They lleek the gloffy wing, and tune the lay ; 
 With emulative ftrife the notes prolong, 
 And pour out all their little fouls in fong. 
 When winter bites upon the naked plain. 
 Nor food nor {helter in the groves remain ; 
 By inftindl led, a firm united band, 
 As marihal'd by fome Ikilful general's hand. 
 The congregated nations wing their way 
 In dufky cotumns o'er the tracklefs fea ; 
 In clouds unnumber'd annual hover o'er 
 The craggy Bafs, or Kilda's utmoft Ihore ; 
 Thence fpread their fails to meet the fouthern wind. 
 And leave the gathering tempeft far behind ; 
 Purfue the circhng fun's indulgent ray, 
 Courfe the fwift feafons, and o'ertake the day. 
 
4^ TO MRS. P -, 
 
 Not fo the infe6l race, ordain'd to keep 
 The lazy fabbath of a half-year's fleep : 
 Entomb'd, beneath the filmy web they lie, 
 And wait the influence of a kinder fky. 
 When vernal fun-beams pierce their dark retreat 
 The heaving tomb diflends with vital heat; 
 The full-form'd brood, impatient of their cell. 
 Start from their trance, and burft their filken ihell ; 
 Trembling awhile they ftand, and fcarcely dare 
 To launch, at once upon the untried air : 
 At length aflur'd, they catch the favouring gale. 
 And leave their fordid fpoils, and high in Ether faiU 
 So when Rinaldo ftruck the confcious rind 
 He found a nymph in every trunk confin'd ; 
 The foreft labours with convulfive throes. 
 The burfting trees the lovely births difclofe. 
 And a gay troop of damfels round him flood. 
 Where late was rugged bark and lifelefs wood. 
 
WITH DRAWINGS. 47 
 
 Lo, the bright train their radiant wings unfold ! 
 With filver fring'd, and freckl'd o'er with gold: 
 On the gay bofom of fome fragrant flower. 
 They, idly fluttering, live their little hour ; 
 Their life all pleafure, and their tafls. all play. 
 All fpring their age, and funfhine all their day. 
 Not fo the child of forrow, wretched many 
 His courfe with toil concludes, with pain began ; 
 That his high deftiny he might difcern, 
 And in misfortune's fchool this leflbn learn, 
 Pleafure's the portion of th' inferior kind ; 
 But glory, virtue, Heaven for Man defign'd. 
 
 What atom-forms of infe£t life appear ! 
 And who can follow nature's pencil here ? 
 Their wings with azure, green, and purple glofs'd. 
 Studded with colour'd eyes, with gems embofs'd. 
 
4? TO MftS. F *-, 
 
 Inlaid with pearl, and mark'd with various flains 
 
 Of lively crimfon through their dufky veins. 
 
 Some fhcot like living ftars athwart the night, 
 
 And fcatter froiu their wings a vivid light, 
 
 To guide the Indian to his tawny loves, 
 
 Ms thro*^ the woods with cautious ftep he moves. 
 
 See the proud giant of the beetle race ; 
 
 What fhining arms his polifh'd limbs enchafe f 
 
 Like fbme flern warrior formidably bright 
 
 His fteely fides refledi a gleaming light: 
 
 On his large forehead fpreading horns he wears. 
 
 And high in air the branching antlers bears : 
 
 O'er many an inch extends his wide domain, 
 
 Aiid his rich treafury fwells with hoarded grain. 
 
 Thy friend thus ftrives to cheat the lonely hour. 
 With fong or paint, an infe«Si: or a flower r 
 
WITH DRAWINGS. ' 49 
 
 Yet, if Amanda praife the flowing line, 
 
 And bend delighted o'er the gay defign, 
 
 I envy not, nor emulate the fame 
 
 Or of the painter's, or the poet's name . 
 
 Could I to both with equal claim pretend, 
 
 Yet far, far dearer were the name of FRIEND. 
 
i so ) 
 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 femper amabilem. 
 
 HoRAT. 
 
 O BORN to footh diftrefs, and lighten care. 
 Lively as foft, and innocent as fair ! 
 Blelt with that fweet fimplicity of thought 
 So rarely found, and never to be taught ; 
 Of w^inning fpeech, endearing, artlefs, kind. 
 The lovelieil: pattern of a female mind ; 
 Like fome fair fpirit from the realms of reft 
 With all her native heaven w^ithin her breaft ; 
 So pure, fo good, /he fcarce can guefs at fin, 
 But thinks the world without like that within ; 
 Such melting tendernefs, fo fond to blefs, 
 Her charity almoft becomes excefs. 
 
eHARACTERS. ^1 
 
 Wealth may be courted, wifdom be rever'd, 
 And beauty prais'd, and brutal flrength be fear'd ; 
 But goodnefs only can affe£l:ion move ; 
 And love muft owe its origin to love. 
 
 *********** 
 
 Illam quicquid agit, quoquo veftigia fledlit, 
 Componit furtim, fubfequiturque decor. 
 
 TiBUL. 
 
 Of gentle manners, and of tafte refin'd. 
 With all the graces of a polifli'd mind ; 
 Clear fenfe and truth ftill fhone in all fhe fpoke, 
 And from her lips no idle fentence broke. 
 Each nicer elegance of art fhe knew ; 
 Corredlly fair, and regularly true. 
 Her ready fingers plied with equal Ikill 
 The pencil's talk, the needle, or the quill ; 
 
 E 2 
 
52 CHARACTERS. 
 
 So pois'd her feelings, fo compos'd her foul, 
 So fubjetft all to reafon's calm controul, 
 One only paflion, ftrong and unconfin'd, 
 Difturb'd the balance of her even mind : 
 One paflion rul'd defpotic in her breaft. 
 In every v\rord, and look, and thought confefl : 
 But that was love, and love delights to blefs 
 The generous tranfports of a fond excefs. 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 ON A LADY'S WRITING. 
 
 Her even lines her fteady temper fhow. 
 Neat as her drefs, and polifh'd as her brow ; 
 Strong as her judgment, eafy as her air ; 
 Correct though free, and regular though fair : 
 And the fame graces o'er her pen prefide 
 That form her manners and her footfteps guide. 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 HYMN TO CONTENT. 
 
 « . _ ._ natura beatis 
 
 Omnibus efle dedit, (i quis cognoverit uti. 
 
 Claudian, 
 
 O THOU, the Nymph with placid eye ! 
 O feldom found, yet ever nigh ! 
 
 Receive my temperate vow : 
 Not all the ftorms that fhake the pole 
 Can e'er difturb thy halcyon foul. 
 
 And fmooth unalter'd brow. 
 
 O come, in fimple veft array'd, 
 With all thy fober cheer difplay'd, 
 To blefs my longing fight ; 
 
HYMN TO CONTENT. 55 
 
 Thy mien compos'd, thy even pace, 
 Thy meek regard, thy matron grace, 
 And chafte fubdued delight. 
 
 No more by varying paffions beat, 
 O gently guide my pilgrim feet 
 
 To find thy hermit cell ; 
 Where in fome pure and equal fky 
 Beneath thy foft indulgent eye 
 
 The modeft virtues dwell. 
 
 Simplicity in Attic veft, 
 
 And Innocence with candid breaft. 
 
 And clear undaunted eye ; 
 And Hope, who points to diftant years. 
 Fair opening thro' this vale of tears 
 
 A villa to the fky. 
 
 E4 
 
56 HYMN TO CONTENT. 
 
 There Health, thro' whofe calm bofotn glide 
 The temperate joys in even tide, 
 
 That rarely ebb or flow ; 
 And Patience there, thy fifter meek, 
 Prefents her mild unvarying cheek 
 
 To meet the ofFer'd blow. 
 
 Her influence taught the Phrygian fage 
 A tyrant mailer's wanton rage 
 
 With fettled fmiles to meet : 
 Inur'd to toil and bitter bread 
 He bow'd his meek fubmitted head, 
 
 And kifs'd thy fainted feet. 
 
 But thou, oh Nymph retir'd and coy ! 
 In what brown hamlet dofl: thou joy 
 To tell thy tetider tale ; 
 
HYMN TO CONTENT. 57 
 
 The lowlieft children of the ground, 
 
 Mofs-rofe, and violet bloffom round. 
 
 And lily of the vale. 
 
 fay what foft propitious hour 
 
 1 beft may choofe to hail thy power, 
 
 And court thy gentle fway ? 
 When Autumn, friendly to the Mufe, 
 Shall thy own modeft tints diffufe, 
 
 And fhed thy milder day. 
 
 When Eve, her dewy ftar beneath, 
 Thy balmy fpirit loves to breathe. 
 
 And every ftorm is laid ; 
 If fuch an hour was e'er thy choice. 
 Oft let me hear thy foothing voice 
 
 Low whifpering thro' the fhade. 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 TO WISDOM. 
 
 Dona praefentis rape laetus horae, ac 
 Lin^ue fevera. 
 
 HoRAT. 
 
 O wisdom! if thy foft controul 
 Can footh the ficknefs of the foul, 
 Can bid the warring paffions ceafe, 
 And breathe the calm of tender peace ; 
 Wisdom ! I blefs thy gentle fway, 
 And ever, ever will obey. 
 
 But if thou com'fl with frown auftere 
 To nurfe the brood of care and fear ; 
 To bid our fweeteft paffions die. 
 And leave us in their room a figh ; 
 
TOWISDOM. 59 
 
 O if thine afpedl ftern have power 
 
 To wither each poor traniient flower 
 
 That cheers this pilgrimage of woe. 
 
 And dry the fprings whence hope fhould flow ; 
 
 Wisdom, thine empire I difclaim, 
 
 Thou empty boaft of pompous name ! 
 
 In gloomy fhade of cloifters dwell, 
 
 But never haunt my chearful cell. 
 
 Hail to pleafure's frolic train ! 
 
 Hail to fancy's golden reign ! 
 
 Feflive mirth, and laughter wild, 
 
 Free and fportful as the child ! 
 
 Hope with eager fparkling eyes. 
 
 And eafy faith, and fond furprxfe 1 
 
 Let thefe, in fairy colours dreft. 
 
 For ever fhare my carelefs breaft : 
 
 Then, tho' wife I may not be, 
 
 The wife themfelves ihall envy me. 
 
 m- 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 THE 
 
 ORIGIN 
 
 OF 
 
 SONG- WRITING 
 
 lUic indofto primum fe excrcuit arcu • 
 Hei mihi quam dodtas nunc habet Ule manus ! 
 
 TiBUL. 
 
 When Cupid, wanton boy, was young. 
 His wings unfledg'd, and rude his tongue, 
 He loiter'd in Arcadian bowers, 
 And hid his bow in wreaths of flowers; 
 
 * Addreffed to the Author of Effays on Song-Writing, 
 
ORIGIN OF SONG-WRITINC. 6l 
 
 Or pierc'd fome fond unguarded heart. 
 With now and then a random dart; 
 But heroes fcorn'd the idle boy. 
 And love was but a /hepherd's toy : 
 When Venus, vex'd to fee her child 
 Amid the forefts thus run wild, 
 Would point him out fome nobler game, 
 Gods, and godlike men to tame. 
 She feiz'd the boy's relu(Stant hand. 
 And led him to the virgin band, 
 Where the filler Mufes round 
 Swell the deep majeftic found; 
 And in folemn ftrains unite. 
 Breathing chafte, fevere delight ; 
 Songs of chiefs, and heroes old. 
 In unfubmitting virtue bold: 
 Of even valour's temperate heat, 
 And toils, to ftubborn patience fwcet; 
 
m ORIGIN OF SONG-WRITING. 
 
 Of nodding plumes, and bumifh'd arms. 
 And glory's bright terrific charms. 
 
 The potent founds like lightning dart 
 Refiftlefs thro' the glowing heart ; 
 Of power to lift the fixed foul 
 High o'er fortune's proud controul ; 
 Kindling deep, prophetic mufing ; 
 Love of beauteous death infufing j 
 Scorn, and unconquerable hate 
 Of tyrant pride's unhallow'd flate. 
 The boy abafh'd, and half afraid, 
 Beheld each chafte immortal maid : 
 Pallas fpread her Egis there ; 
 Mars flood by with threat'ning air; 
 And flern Diana's icy look 
 With fudden chill his bofom flruck. 
 
ORIGIN OF SONG-WRITING. 6iJ 
 
 Daughters of Jove receive the child. 
 The queen of beauty faid, and fmil'd ; 
 (Her rofy breath perfum'd the air. 
 And fcatter'd fweet contagion there ; 
 Relenting nature learn 'd to languifli. 
 And ficken'd with delightful anguiih :) 
 Receive him, artlefs yet and young ; 
 Refine his air and fmooth his tongue : 
 Condudl him thro' your fav'rite bowers, 
 Enrich'd with fair perennial flowers 
 To folemn fliades, and fprings that lie 
 Remote from each unhallow'd eye ; 
 Teach him to fpell thofe myftic names 
 That kindle bright immortal flames ; 
 And guide his young unpra£tis'd feet 
 To reach coy learning's lofty feat. 
 
64 ORIGIN OF SONG-WRITING. 
 
 Ah, lucklefs hour ! miftaken maids. 
 When Cupid fought the Mufe's fhades ! 
 Of their fweeteft notes beguil'd, 
 By the fly infidious child, 
 Now of power his darts are found 
 Twice ten thoufand times to wound. 
 Now no more the flacken'd firings 
 Breathe of high immortal things, 
 But Cupid tunes the Mufe's lyre 
 To languid notes of foft defu^e. 
 In every clime, in every tongue, 
 'Tis love infpires the poet's fong : 
 Hence Sappho's foft infedious page ; 
 Monimia's woe ; Othello's rage ; 
 Abandon'd Dido's fruitlefs prayer ; 
 And Eloifa's long defpair j 
 
ORIGIN OF SONG-WRITING. 65 
 
 The garland bleft with many a vow. 
 For haughty SacharHTa's brow ; 
 And, wafh'd with tears, the mournful verfe 
 That Petrarch laid on Laura's herfe. 
 
 But more than all the fifter quire, 
 Mufic confefs'd the pleafing fire. 
 Here fovereign Cupid reign'd alone ; 
 Mulic and fong were all his own. 
 Sweet, as in old Arcadian plains, 
 The Britifh pipe has caught the ftrains : 
 And where the Tweed's- pure current glides, 
 Or Liffy rolls her limpid tides. 
 Or Thames his oozy waters leads 
 Thro' rural bowers or yellow meads, 
 With many an old romantic tale 
 Has chear'd the lone fequefter'd vale ; 
 
 F 
 
66 ORIGIN OF SONG-WRrtlNG. 
 
 With many a fweet and tender lay 
 Deceiv'd the tirefome fummer-day. 
 
 'Tis yours to cull with happy art 
 Each meaning verfe that fpeaks the heart ; 
 And fair array'd, in order meet. 
 To lay the wreath at beauty's feet. 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 SONGS. 
 
 SONG I. 
 
 Come here, fond youth, whoe'er thou be, 
 
 That boafts to love as well as me ; 
 And if thy breaft have felt fo wide a wound, 
 
 Come hither and thy flame approve; 
 
 I'll teach thee what it is to love. 
 And by what marks true pafllon may be found. 
 
 It is to be all bath'd in tears ; 
 To live upon a fmile for years ; 
 To lie whole ages at a beauty's feet • 
 
 F 2 
 
68 SONGS. 
 
 To kneel, to languifh and implore ; 
 And ftill tho' (he difdain, adore : 
 It is to do all this, and think thy fufFerings fweet. 
 
 It is to gaze upon her eyes 
 
 With eager joy and fond furprife ; 
 Yet temper'd with fuch chafte and awful fear 
 
 As wretches feel who wait their doom ; 
 
 Nor muft one ruder thought prefume 
 Tho' but in whifpers breath'd, to meet her ear. 
 
 It is to hope, tho' hope were loft ; 
 
 Tho' heaven and earth thy paflion croft ; 
 Tho' fhe were bright as fainted queens above, 
 
 And thou the leaft and meaneft fwain 
 
 That folds his flock upori the plain. 
 Yet if thou dar'ft not hope, thou dofl not love. 
 
SONGS. 69 
 
 It is to quench thy joy in tears ; 
 
 To nurfe ftrange doubts and groundlefs fears : 
 If pangs of jealoufy thou haft not prov'd, 
 
 Tho' ftie were fonder and more true 
 
 Than any nymph old poets drew. 
 Oh never dream again that thou haft lov'd. 
 
 If when the darhng maid is gone, 
 
 Thou doft not feek to be alone, 
 Wrapt in a pleafmg trance of tender woe ; 
 
 And mufe, and fold thy languid arms, 
 
 Feeding thy fancy on her charms, 
 Thou doft not love, for love is nourifh'd fo. 
 
 If any hopes thy bofom fhare 
 But thofe which love has planted there. 
 Or any cares but his thy breaft enthrall, 
 ^3 
 
* 
 
 yo SONGS. 
 
 Thou never yet his power haft known ; 
 "^ Love fits on a defpotic throne, 
 
 And reigns a tyrant, if he reigns at all. 
 
 Now if thou art fo loft a thing. 
 Here all thy tender forrows bring, 
 
 And prove whofe patience longeft can endure . 
 We'll ftrive whofe fancy fhall be loft 
 In dreams of fondeft paffion moft ; 
 
 For if thou thus haft lov'd, oh never hope a cure ! 
 
 SONG II. 
 
 If ever thou didft joy to bind 
 Two hearts in equal paflion join'd. 
 
SONGS. 71, 
 
 O fon of Venus ! hear me now,. 
 And bid Florella blefs my vow. 
 
 If any blifs referv'd for me 
 Thou in the leaves of fate fhould'ft fee ; 
 If any white propitious hpur. 
 Pregnant with hoarded joys in ftore ; 
 
 Now, now the mighty treafure give, 
 In her for whom alone I live ; 
 In fterling love pay all the fum, 
 And I'll, abfolve the fates to come. 
 
 In all the pride of full-blown, charms 
 Yield her, relenting, to my arms : 
 Her bofom touch with foft defires, 
 And let her feel what fhe infpires. 
 F4 
 
72 SONGS. 
 
 But, Cupid, if thine aid be vain 
 The dear relu6tant maid to gain ; 
 If flill with cold averted eyes 
 She dafh my hopes, and fcorn my fighs ; 
 
 O ! grant ('tis all I afk of thee) 
 That I no more may change thaa flie ; 
 But flill with duteous zeal \o\>e on. 
 When every gleam of hope is gone. 
 
 Leave me then alone to languifli ; 
 Think not time can heal my anguiih ; 
 Pity the woes which I endure ; 
 But never, never grant a cure. 
 
SONGS. 
 
 73 
 
 SONG III. 
 
 Sylvia. Leave me, fimple fhepherd, leave me ; 
 Drag no more a hopelcfs qhain : 
 I cannot like, nor would deceive thee ; 
 Love the maid that loves again. 
 
 CoRiN. Tho' more gentle nymphs furround me, 
 Kindly pitying what I feel, 
 Only you have power to wound me ; 
 Sylvia, only you can heal. 
 
 Sylvia. Corin, ceafe this idle teallng; 
 
 Love that's forc'd is harfh and four : 
 If the lover be difpleafmg, 
 To perfift difgufts the more. 
 
74 so N G S. 
 
 CoRiN. 'Tis in vain, in vain to fly mc, 
 Sylvia, I will ftill purfue; 
 Twenty thoufand times deny me, 
 I will kneel and weep anew. 
 
 Sylvia. Cupid ne'er fhall make me languifli, 
 
 I was^ bora av,erfe-to love ; 
 
 • ■ ■ ■■ 
 
 Lovers' fighs, and tears, and anguifh,. 
 Mirth and paftime to rae prove. 
 
 CoRiN. Still I vow with patient duty 
 
 Thus to meet your proudeft fcorn -, 
 
 You for unrelenting beauty, 
 
 I for conflant love was born. 
 «' 
 
 But the fates had not Gonfented, 
 Since they both did fickle prove; 
 
 Of her fcorn the maid repented. 
 And the fliepherd — of his love. . 
 
SONGS. 
 
 n 
 
 SONG IV. 
 
 When gentle Celia firft I knew, 
 A breafl fo good, fo kind, fo true, 
 
 Reafon and tafte approv'd ; 
 Pleas'd to indulge fo pure a flame, 
 I cail'd it by too foft a name. 
 
 And fondly thought I lov'd. 
 
 Till Chloris came : with fad furprife 
 I felt the light'ning of her eyes 
 
 Thro' all my fenfes run ; 
 All glowing with refiftlefs charms, 
 She fill'd my breaft with new alarms, 
 
 I faw, and was undone. 
 
*j6 SONGS. 
 
 Celia ! dear unhappy maid, 
 Forbear the weaknefs to upbraid 
 
 Which ought your fcorn to move ; 
 
 1 know this beauty falfe and vain, 
 I know fhe triumphs in my pain, 
 
 Yet ftill I feel I love. 
 
 Thy gentle fmiles no more can pleafe, 
 Nor can thy fofteft friendfhip eafe 
 
 The torments I endure ; 
 Think what that wounded breaft mufl feel 
 Which truth and kindnefs cannot heal, 
 
 Nor even thy pity cure. 
 
 Oft fhall I curfe my iron chain, 
 And wifh again thy milder reign 
 With long and vain regret; 
 
SONGS. 77 
 
 All that I can, to thee I give. 
 And could I ftill to reafon live 
 I were thy captive yet. 
 
 But paffion's wild impetuous fea 
 Hurries me far from peace and thee ; 
 
 'Twere vain to ftruggle more ' 
 Thus the poor failor flumbering lies. 
 While fwelling tides around him rife, 
 
 And puih his bark from fhore. 
 
 In vain he fpreads his helplefs arms> 
 His pitying friends with fond alarms 
 
 In vain deplore his ftate ; 
 Still far and farther from the coaft, 
 On the high furge his bark is toft. 
 
 And foundering yields to fate. 
 
78 SONGS. 
 
 SONG V. 
 
 As near a weeping fprlng reclin'd 
 The beauteous Araminta pin'd. 
 And mourn'd a falfe ungrateful youth: 
 "While dying echoes caught the found. 
 And fpread the foft complaints around 
 Of broken vows and alter'd truth ; 
 
 An aged fliepherd heard her moan, 
 And thus in pity's kindeft tone 
 Addrefs'd the loil defpairing maid : 
 Ceafe, ceafe unhappy fair to grieve, 
 For founds, tho' fweet, can ne'er relieve 
 A breaking heart by love betr^y'd. 
 
SONGS. 9g 
 
 Why fhouldll thou wafte fuch precious Ihowers, 
 That fall like dew on wither'd flowers, 
 But dying paffion ne'er reftor'd? 
 In beauty's empire is no mean. 
 And woman, either flave or queen, 
 * Is quickly fcorn'd when not ador'd. 
 
 Thofe liquid pearls from either eye, 
 
 Which might an eaftern. empire buy, 
 
 Unvalued here and fruitlefs fall ; 
 
 No art the feafon can renew 
 
 When love was young, and Damon tme ; 
 
 No tears a wandering heart recall. 
 
 Ceafe, ceafe to grieve, thy tears are vain. 
 Should thofe fair orbs in drops of rain 
 Vie with a weeping fouthern iky : 
 
8o SONGS, 
 
 For hearts o'crcome with love and grief 
 All nature yields but one relief; 
 Die, haplefs Araminta, die. 
 
 SONG VI. 
 
 When firft upon your tender cheek 
 I faw the morn of beauty break 
 
 With mild and chearing beam, 
 I bow'd before your infant flirine, 
 The earlieft iighs you had were mine, 
 
 And you my darling theme. 
 
 I faw you in that opening morn 
 For beauty's boundlefs empire born, 
 And firft confefs'd your fwayj 
 
SONGS. 8l 
 
 And ere your thoughts, devoid of art, 
 Could leam the value of a heart, 
 I gave my heart away. 
 
 I watch'd the dawn of every grace. 
 And gazed upon that angel face, 
 
 While yet 'twas fafe to gaze ; 
 And fondly blefs'd each rifing charm, 
 Nor thought fuch innocence could harm 
 
 The peace of future days. 
 
 But now defpotic o'er the plains 
 The awful noon of beauty reigns, 
 
 And kneeling crowds adore ; 
 Its beams arife too fiercely bright. 
 Danger and death attend the fight^ 
 
 And I muft hope no mor^. 
 
 G 
 
84 SONGS, 
 
 Thus to the riflng God of day 
 Their early vows the Perfians pay, 
 
 And blefs the fpreading fire, 
 Whofe glowing chariot mounting foon 
 Pours on their heads the burning noonj 
 
 They ficken and expire. 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 DELIA, 
 
 AN ELEGY. 
 
 «■ - - tecum ut longx fociarem gaudia vit3e, 
 IiKjue tuo caderet noftra fenedta finu. 
 
 TiBUL. 
 
 Yes, Delia loves ! My fondeft vows are bleft; 
 Farewell the memory of her paft difdain ; 
 One kind relenting glance has heal'd my breaft, 
 And balanc'd in a moment years of pain. 
 
 O'er her foft cheek confenting bluflies move, 
 And with kind flealth her fecret foul betray ; 
 Blufhes, which ufher in the morn of love. 
 Sure as the red'ning eaft foretels the day, 
 
 C 2 
 
84 DELIA. 
 
 Her tender fmiles fhall pay me with delight 
 For many a bitter pang of jealous fear; 
 For many an anxious day, and fleeplefs night, 
 For many a flifled figh, and filent tear. 
 
 Delia fliall come, and blefs my lone retreat; 
 She does not fcorn the fhepherd's lowly life ; 
 She will not blulh to leave the fplendid feat. 
 And own the title of a poor man's wife. 
 
 Xhe fimple knot fhall bind her gather'd hair, 
 The ruffet garment clafp her lovely breaft : 
 Delia fhall mix among the rural fair. 
 By charms alone diftinguifti'd from the reft. 
 
 And meek Simplicity, negle6led maid. 
 Shall bid my fair in native graces ililne : 
 She, only flie, fhall lend her modeft aid, 
 Chafte, fober prieftefs, at fweet Beauty's fhrine 
 
DELIA. 85 
 
 How fweet to mufe by murmuring fprings reclin'd; 
 Or loitering carelefs in the fhady grove, 
 Indulge the gentleft feelings of the mind, 
 And pity thofe who live to aught but love ! 
 
 When Delia's hand unlocks her fhining hair, 
 And o'er her fhoulder fpreads the flowing gold, 
 Bafe were the man who one bright trefs would fpare 
 For all the ore qf India's coarfer mold. 
 
 By her dear fide with what content I'd toil, 
 Patient of any labour in her fight ; 
 Guide the flow plough, or turn the ftubborn foil. 
 Till the laft ling'ring beam of doubtful light. 
 
 But fofter tafks divide my Delia's hours ; 
 To watch the firftlings at their harmlefs play ; 
 With welcome fhade to fcreen the languid flowers, 
 That ficken in the fummer's parching ray. 
 
 G3 
 
86 DELIA. 
 
 Oft will {he (loop amidft her evening walk. 
 With tender hand each bruifed plant to rear ; 
 To bind the drooping lily's broken ftalk. 
 And nurfe the bloflbms of the infant year. 
 
 When beating rains forbid our feet to roam, 
 We'll fhelter'd fit, and turn the ftoried page ; 
 There fee what paffions fliake the lofty dome 
 With mad ambition or ungovern'd rage ; 
 
 What headlong ruin oft involves the great ; 
 What confcious terrors guilty bofoms prove ; 
 What ftrange and fudden turns of adverfe fate 
 Tear the fad virgin from her plighted love. 
 
 Delia fliall read, and drop a gentle tear; 
 Then caft her eyes around the low-roof 'd cot, 
 And own the fates have dealt more kindly here. 
 That blefs'd with only love our little lot. 
 
DELIA. 87 
 
 For love has fworn (I heard the awful vow) 
 The wav'ring heart fhall never be his care 
 That ftoops at any bafer fhrine to bow ; 
 And what he cannot rule, he fcorns to fhare, 
 
 -My heart in Delia is fo fully blell, 
 It has no room to lodge another joy ; 
 My peace all leans upon that gentle breaft. 
 And only there misfortune can annoy. 
 
 Our lilent hours ihall fteal unmark'd away 
 In one long tender calm of rural peace ; 
 And meafure many a fair unblemifh'd day 
 Of chearfijl leifure and poetic cafe. 
 
 The proud unfeeling world their lot fliall fcorn 
 Who 'midft: inglorious ihades can poorly dwell : 
 Yet if fome youth, for gentler paflions born, 
 Shall chance to wander near our lowly cell, 
 
 G4 
 
88 DELIA. 
 
 His feeling breaft with purer flames Ihall glow ; 
 And leaving pomp, and ftate, and cares behind, 
 Shall own the world has little to beftow 
 Where two fond hearts in equal love are join'd. 
 
( % ) 
 
 OVID TO HIS WIFE: 
 
 iMITATED FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF HIS TRISTIA. 
 
 Jam mea cygneas imitantur tempora plumas,' 
 Inficit & nigras alba fene£la comas. 
 
 Trist. Lib. iv. Ekg. 
 
 My aged head now (loops its honours low, 
 Bow'd with the load of fifty winters' fnow ; 
 And for the raven's glofly black affumes 
 The downy whitenefs of the cygnet's plumes . 
 Loofe fcatter'd hairs around my temples ftray, 
 And fpread the mournful fhade of fickly grey: 
 I bend beneath the weight of broken years, 
 Averfe to change, and chill'd with caufelefs fears. 
 
^ ,' OVID TO HIS WIFE. 
 
 The feafon now invites me to retire 
 To the dear lares of my hoxifehold fire ; 
 To homely fcenes of calm domeftic peace, 
 A poet*s leifure, and an old man^s eafe j 
 To wear the remnant of uncertain life 
 In the fond bofom of a faithful wife ; 
 In fafe repofe my lafl: few hours to fpend. 
 Nor fearful nor impatient of their end. 
 TEus a fafe port the wave-worn veflels gain. 
 Nor tempt again the dangers of the main ; 
 Thus the proud fteed, when youthful glory fades, 
 And creeping age his ftifFening limbs invades. 
 Lies flretch'd at eafe on the luxuriant plain, 
 And dreams his morning triumphs o'er again. 
 The hardy veteran from the camp retires. 
 His joints unftrung, and feeds his houfehold fires ; 
 Satiate with fame enjoys well-earn 'd repofe. 
 And fees his ftormy day ferenely clofe. 
 
OVID TO HIS WIFE. 9I 
 
 Not fuch my lot ! Severer fates decree 
 My fhatter'd bark muft plough an unknown fea. 
 Forc'd from my native feats and facred home, 
 Friendlefs, alone, thro' Scythian wilds to roam ; 
 With trembling knees o'er unknown hills I go. 
 Stiff with blue ice and heap'd with drifted fnow. 
 Pale funs there ftrike their feeble rays in vain, 
 Which faintly glance againft the marble plain : 
 Red Ifter there, which madly lafh'd the Ihore, 
 His idle urn feal'd up, forgets to roar : 
 Stern winter in eternal triumph reigns. 
 Shuts up the bounteous year and ftarves the plains. 
 My failing eyes the weary wafte explore. 
 The lavage mountains and the dreary ihore, 
 And vainly look for fcenes of old delight ; 
 No lov'd familiar objeds meet my fight; 
 No long remember'd ftreams nor confcious bowers, 
 Wake the gay memory of youthful hours. 
 
92 OVID TO HIS WIFE. 
 
 I fondly hop'd, content with learned eafe, 
 
 To walk amidft cotemporary trees ; 
 
 In every fcene fome fav'rite fpot to trace. 
 
 And meet in all fome kind domeftic face ; 
 
 To ftretch. my limbs upon my native foil, 
 
 With long vacation from unquiet toil ; 
 
 Refign my breath where firft that breath I drew, 
 
 And fink into the fpot from whence I grew. 
 
 But if my feeble age is doom'd to try 
 
 Unufual feafons and a foreign flcy. 
 
 To fome more genial clime let me repair, 
 
 And talle the healing balm of milder air; 
 
 Near to the glowing fun's dire6ler ray, 
 
 And pitch my tent beneath the eye of day. 
 
 Could not the winter in my veins fuffice, 
 
 Without the added rage of Scythian (kies? 
 
 The fnow of time my vital heat exhauft, 
 
 And hoary age without Sarmatian froft ? 
 
OVID TO HIS WIFE. 93 
 
 Yet ftorm and tempeft are of ills the leafl 
 Which this inhofpitable land infefl : 
 Society than folitude is worfe, 
 And man to man is iHll the greateft curfe* 
 A favage race my fearful fteps furroundj 
 Pra£lis'd in blood and difciplin'd to wound ; 
 Unknown alike to pity as to fear, 
 Hard as their foil, and as their fkies fevere. 
 Skill'd in each myftery of direft art, 
 They arm with double death the poifon'd dart ; 
 Uncomb'd and horrid grows their fpiky hair ; 
 Uncouth their vefture, terrible their air : 
 The lurking dagger at their fide hung low, 
 Leaps in quick vengeance on the haplefs foe. 
 No ftedfaft faith is here, no fure repofe ; 
 An armed truce is all this nation knows : 
 The rage of battle works, when battles ceafe ; 
 And wars are brooding in the lap of peace. 
 
94- O^'fD TO HIS WIFE. 
 
 Since CiESAR wills, and I a wretch muft be, 
 
 Let me be fafe at leaft in mifery ! 
 
 To my fad grave in calm oblivion fteal, 
 
 Nor add the woes of fear to all I feel'! 
 
 Ye tuneful maids ! who once in happier days, 
 
 Beneath the myrtle grove infpir'd my lays. 
 
 How fliall I now your wonted aid implore ; 
 
 Where feek your footfteps on this favage fhore, 
 
 Whofe ruder echoes ne'er were taught to bear 
 
 The poet's numbers or the lover's care ? 
 
 Yet here, for ever here, your bard mull dwell. 
 Who fung of fports and tender loves fo well. 
 Here muft he live : but when he yields his breath 
 O let him not be exil'd even in death ! 
 Left mix'd with Scythian fliades, a Roman ghoft 
 Wander on this inhofpitable coaft. 
 
OVID TO HIS WIFE. 95 
 
 C>€SAR no more fhall urge a wretch's doom; 
 The bolt of Jove purfues not in the tomb. 
 To thee, dear wife, fome friend with pious care 
 All that of Ovid then remains fhall bear; 
 Then will thou weep to fee me fo return. 
 And with fond pafllon clafp my filent urn. 
 O check thy grief, that tender bofom fpare. 
 Hurt not thy cheeks, nor foil thy flowing hair, 
 Prefs the pale marble with thy lips, and give 
 One precious tear, and bid my memory live. 
 The filent duft fhall glow at thy command. 
 And the warm afhes feel thy pious hand. 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 TO A LADY, 
 
 WITH SOM? PAINTED FLOWERS. 
 
 -..___ tibi lilia plenis 
 
 Ectfe ferunt nymphae calathis. 
 
 Virgil. 
 
 Flowers to the fair : To you thefe flowers I bring, 
 And ftrive to greet you with an earher fpring. 
 Flowers fweet, and gay, and delicate like you ; 
 Emblems of innocence, and beauty too. 
 With flowers the Graces bind their yellow hair, 
 And flowery wreaths confenting lovers wear. 
 Flowers, the fole luxury which nature knew, 
 In Eden's pure and guiltlefs garden grew. . 
 
TO A LADY. 97 
 
 To loftier forms are rougher tafks affign'd ; 
 The fhehering oak relifts the ftormy wind, 
 The tougher yew repels invading foes, 
 And the tall pine for future navies grows; 
 But this foft family, to cares unknown. 
 Were born for pleafure and delight alone. 
 Gay without toil, and lovely without art. 
 They fpring to cheer the fenfe, and glad the heart. 
 Nor blufh, my fair, to own you copy thefe ; 
 Your bcft, your fweeteft empire is—to pleafe. 
 
 H 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 ODE TO SPRING. 
 
 Hope waits upon the flowery primct 
 
 Wallik. 
 
 Sweet daughter of a rough and ftormy fire, 
 Hoar Winter's blooming child ; delightful Spring 1 
 
 Whofe unfhom locks with leaves 
 
 And fwelling buds are crown'd ; 
 
 From the green illands of eternal youth, 
 
 (Crown'd with frefli blooms, and ever fpringing fliade) 
 
 Turn, hither turn thy ftep, 
 
 O thou, whofe powerful voice 
 
ODE TO SPRING. 
 
 More fweet than foftefl touch of Doric reed, 
 Or L) iian flute, can footh the madding winds, 
 
 And thro' the ftormy deep 
 
 Breathe thy own tender cahn. 
 
 Thee, beft belov'd ! the virgin train await 
 With fongs and feftal rites, and joy to rove 
 
 Thy blooming wilds among. 
 
 And vales and dewy lav/ns. 
 
 With untIrM feet ; and cull thy earlieft fweets 
 To weave freih garlands for the glowing brow 
 Of him, the favour'd youth 
 That prompts their whifper'd iigh. 
 
 Unlock thy copious flores ; thofe tender Ihower^ 
 That drop their fweetnefs on the infant buds^ 
 
 And filent dews that fwell 
 
 The milky ear's green Item, 
 H 2 
 
 99 
 
100 ODETOSPRING. 
 
 Aiid feed the flowering oiler's early fhoots ; 
 
 And call thofe winds which thro' the whifpering boughs 
 
 With warm and pleafant breath 
 
 Salute the blowing flowers. 
 
 Now let me fit beneath the whitening thorn, 
 And mark thy fpreading tints fteal o'er the dale ; 
 
 And watch with patient eye 
 
 Thy fair unfolding charms. 
 
 O nymph approach ! while yet the temperate fun 
 With bafhful forehead, thro' the cool moifl: air 
 
 Throws his young maiden beams. 
 
 And with chafle kiffes wooes 
 
 The earth's fair bofom ; while the flreaming veil 
 Of lucid clouds with kind and frequent lhad& 
 
 Prote6ls thy modeft blooms 
 
 From his feverer blaze. 
 
ODE TO SPRING, lOj 
 
 Sweet is thy reign, but Jhort : The red dog-flar 
 Shall fcorch thy treiTes, and the mower's fcythe 
 
 Thy greens, thy flow'rets all, 
 
 Remorfelefs fhall dellroy. 
 
 Reluflant ihall I bid thee then farewell ; 
 For O, not all that Autumn's lap contains, 
 
 Nor fummer's ruddieft fruits, 
 
 Can aught for thee atone. 
 
 Fair Spring ! whofe fimpleft promife more delights 
 Than all their largeft wealth, and thro' the heart 
 
 Each joy and new-born hope 
 
 With fofteft influence breathes. 
 
 HS 
 
'C 102 1 
 
 VERSES ON MRS. ROWE. 
 
 How from the fummit of the grove fhe fell. 
 
 And left it unharmonious 
 
 YovvG, 
 
 Such were the notes our chafler Sappho fung, 
 And every Mufe drop'd honey on her tongue. 
 Blefl fhade ! how pure a breath of praife was thine, 
 Whofe fpotlefs Hfe was faultlefs as thy line : 
 In whom each worth and every grace confpire. 
 The chriflian's meeknefs and the poet's fire* 
 Learn'd without pride, a woman without art ; 
 The fweeteft manners and the gentleft heart. 
 Smooth hke her verfe her paffions learn'd to move. 
 And her whole foul was harmony and love, 
 
ON MRS. ROWE, 102 
 
 Virtue that breafl without a conflid gain'dj 
 And eafy, like a native monarch reign'd. 
 On earth ftili favour'd as by Heaven approv'd, 
 The world applauded, and Alexis lov'd. 
 With love, with health, with fame, and friendfhip blcft. 
 And of a chearful heart the conftant feaft, 
 What more of bllfs fmcere could earth beflow ? 
 What purer heaven could angels talle below ? 
 But blifs from earth's vain fcenes too quickly flies ; 
 The golden cord is broke — Alexis dies. 
 Now in the leafy fhade, and widow'd grove, 
 Sad Philomela mourns her abfent love. 
 Now deep retir'd in Frome's enchanting vale. 
 She pours her tuneful forrows on the gale ; 
 Without one fond referve the world difclaims, 
 And gives up all her foul to heavenly flames. 
 Yet in no ufelefs gloom fhe wore her days ; 
 She lov'd the work, and only fhun'd the praife. 
 '84 
 
104 ON MRS. ROWE. 
 
 Her pious hand the poor, the mourner bleft ; 
 Her image liv'd in every kindred breaft. 
 
 THYNN,CARTERET,BLACKMORE,ORRERYapprOv'd,'^ 
 
 And Prior prais'd, and noble Hertford lov'd; 
 Seraphic Kenn, and tuneful Watts were thine. 
 And virtue's noblefl: champions fill'd the line. 
 Blefl in thy friendihips ! in thy death too bleft ! 
 Receiv'd without a pang to endlefs reft. 
 Heaven call'd the faint matur'd by length of days, 
 And her pure fpirit was exhal'd in praife. 
 Bright pattern of thy fex, be thou my Mufe ; 
 Thy gentle fweetnefs thro' my foul difFufe ; 
 Let me thy palm, tho' not thy laurel fhare, 
 And copy thee in charity and prayer. 
 Tho' for the bard my lines are far too faint, 
 Yet in my life let me tranfcribe the faint. 
 
C 105 ) 
 
 TO MISS R - » - -, 
 
 ON HER ATTENDANCE UPON HER MOTHER AT 
 BUXTON. 
 
 With lenient arts extend a mother's breath. 
 
 Pope, 
 
 When blooming beauty in the noon of power, 
 While oiFer'd joys demand each fprightly hour, 
 With all that pomp of charms and vvinning mien 
 Which fare to conquer needs but to be feen ; 
 When fhe, whofe name the foftefh love infpires, 
 To the hufh'd chamber of difeafe retires. 
 To watch and weep befide a parent's bed, 
 Catch the faint voice, and raife the languid head. 
 
■ 1C5 TO MISS 1. — --, 
 
 What mlxt delight each feeHng heart muil warm ! 
 An angel's office fuits an angel's form. 
 Thus the tall column graceful rears its head 
 To prop fome mould'ring tower with mofs o'erfpreai!, 
 Whofe ftately piles and arches yet difplay 
 The venerable graces of decay : 
 Thus round the wither'd trunk freih fhoots are fecii 
 To ihade their parent with a chearful gi'een. 
 More health, dear maid ! thy foothing prefence brings 
 Than pureft Ikies, or falutary fprings. 
 That voice, thofe looks fuch healing vutues bear, 
 Thy fweet reviving fmiles might cheer defpair ; 
 On the pale lips detain the parting breath, 
 And bid hope bloflbm in the fhades of death. 
 Beauty, like thine, could never reach a charm 
 So powerful to fubdue, fo fare to warm. 
 On her lov'd child behold the mother gaze. 
 In weaknefs pleas 'd, and fmiling thro' decays, 
 
TO MISS E.-— . X^U 
 
 And leaning on that breaft her cares aflwage ; 
 How foft a pillow for declining age ! 
 
 For this, when that fair frame mufi: feel decay, 
 (Ye fates protra6t it to a diilant day) 
 fiVhen thy approach no tumults fhall impart, 
 Nor that commanding glance ftrike thro' the heart, 
 When meaner beauties fhall have leave to Ihine, 
 And crowds divide the homage lately thine. 
 Not with the tranfient praife thofe charms can boaft 
 Shall thy fair fame and gentle deeds be loft : 
 Some pious hand fhall thy weak limbs fuftain. 
 And pay thee back thefe getierous cares again ; 
 Thy name fhall ilourifh by the good approv'd, 
 Thy memory bonour'd, and thy dull belov'd. 
 
soS 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF MRS. JENNINGS* 
 
 Eft tam«n qujete, & pure, & eleganter afla stads^ 
 placida ac lenis feneftus. 
 
 Cicero de Senect^ 
 
 'Tis part: dear venerable fhade, farewell [ 
 Thy blamelefs life thy peaceful death fliali telL 
 Clear to the lafl thy fetting orb has run; 
 Pure, bright, and healthy like a frofty fun: 
 And late old age with hand indulgent fhed 
 Its mildeft winter on thy favour'd head. 
 
 ^ The Author's Grandmother, 
 
PN THE DEATH OF MRS. JENNINGS. iO^ 
 
 For Heaven prolong'd her life to fpread its praife, 
 
 And blefs'd her with a patriarch's length of days. 
 
 The tnieft praife was hers, a chearful heart. 
 
 Prone to enjoy, and ready to impart. 
 
 All Ifraelite mdeed,^and free from guile. 
 
 She fhow'd that piety and age could fmile. 
 
 Religion had her heart, her cares, her voice ; 
 
 *Twas her laft refuge, as her earliefl: choice. 
 
 To holy Anna's fpirit not more dear 
 
 The church of Ifrael, and the houfe of prayer. 
 
 Her fpreading offspring of the fourth degree 
 
 Fill'd her fond arms, and clafp'd her trembling knee. 
 
 Matur'd at length for fome more perfect fcene. 
 
 Her hopes all bright, her profpe6ls all ferene, 
 
 Each part of life fuftain'd with equal worth. 
 
 And not a wifh left unfulfiU'd on earth, 
 
 Like a tir'd traveller with fleep oppreft, 
 
 "\'V"ithin her children's arms flie dropt to reft. 
 
ItO ON THE DEATH OF MRS. JENNINGS^ 
 Farewell ! thy cherifti'd image, ever dear. 
 Shall many a heart with pious love revere ; 
 Long, long fhall mine her honour'd memory blcfs^ 
 Who gave the dearefl bleffing I pofTefs, 
 
( III ) 
 
 HYMNS. 
 
 "Quid prius dicam folitis parentis 
 Laudibus ? qui res hommum, ac Deorum^ 
 Qui inare> ac terras, variifque mundum 
 Temperat horis i 
 
 HYMN I. 
 
 Jehovah reigns: let every nation hear. 
 And at his footftool bow with holy fear; 
 Let heaven's high arches echo with his name. 
 And the wide peopled earth his praife proclaim; 
 Then fend it down to hell's deep glooms refounding. 
 Thro' all her caves in dreadful murmurs founding. 
 
 He rules with wide and abfolute command 
 O'er the broad ocean and the ftedfaft land : 
 
112 HYMNS. 
 
 Jehovah reigns, unbounded, and alone. 
 And all creation hangs beneath his throne r 
 He reigns alone ; let no inferior nature 
 Ufurp, or fhare the throne of the Creator. 
 
 He faw the flruggling beams of infant light 
 Shoot thro' the mafly gloom of ancient night; 
 His fpirit hufh'd the elemental ftrife, 
 And brooded o'er the kindhng feeds of hfe : 
 Seafons and months began the long proceffion, 
 And meafur'd o'er the year in bright fucceffion. . 
 
 The joyful fun fprung up th' ethereal way. 
 Strong as a giant, as a bridegroom gay ; 
 And the pale moon difFus'd her fhadowy light 
 Superior o'er the dulky brow of night ; 
 Ten thoufand glittering lamps the fldes adorning. 
 Numerous as dew-drops from the womb of morning. 
 
HYMNS. 1 LC 
 
 Earth's blooming face with rifing flowers he draft, 
 And fpread a verdant mantle o'er her breaft ; 
 Then from the hollow of his hand he pours 
 The circling water round her winding fhores. 
 The new-born world in their cool arms embracing, 
 And with foft murmurs ftill her banks careffing. 
 
 At length flie rofe complete in finifh'd pride, 
 All fair and fpotlefs, like a virgin bride ; 
 Frefh with untarnifti'd luftre as flie ftood 
 Her Maker blefs'd his work, and call'd it good ; 
 The morning-ftars with joyful acclamation 
 Exulting fung, and hail'd the new creation. 
 
 Yet this fair world, the creature of a day, 
 TIio' built by God's right hand, muft pafs away; 
 And long oblivion creep o'er mortal things, 
 The fate of empires, and the pride of kings : 
 
 I 
 
114 HYMNS. 
 
 Eternal night {hall velUheir proudeft ftory, 
 And drop the curtain o'er all human glory. 
 
 The fun himfelf, with weary clouds opprefl. 
 Shall in his filent dark pavilion refl ; 
 His golden urn fhall broke and ufelefs lie, 
 Amidft the common ruins of the fky ; 
 The ftars rufh headlong in the wild commotion, 
 And bathe their glittering foreheads in the ocean. 
 
 But fix'd, O God ! for ever Hands thy throne ; 
 
 Jehovah reigns, a univerfe alone; 
 
 Th' eternal fire that feeds each vital flame. 
 
 Collected, or difFus'd, is ftill the fame. 
 He dwells within his own unfathom'd effence, 
 And fills all fpace with his unbounded prefence. 
 
HYMNS. 115 
 
 But oh ! our higheft notes the theme debafe. 
 And fUence is our leaft injurious praife : 
 Ceafe, ceafe your fongs, the daring flight controul. 
 Revere him in the ftiUnefs of the foul ; 
 With filent duty meekly bend before him, 
 And deep within your inmoft hearts adore him. 
 
 HYMN II. 
 
 Praise to God, immortal praife*, 
 For the love that crovvrns our days ; 
 Bounteous fource of every joy, 
 Let thy praife our tongues employ ; 
 
 ■* Although the fig-tree fhall not bloffom, neither ihall fruit be in 
 the vines, the labour of the olive ftiall fail, and the fields fhall yield no 
 meat, the flocks fhall be cut off from the fold, and there fhall b; no herd in 
 the ftalls : Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my 
 ialvation. 
 
 Habakkuk, iii. 17, 18, 
 
 I 2 
 
Il6 'HYMN S, 
 
 For the bleffings of the field. 
 For the ftores the gardens yield, 
 For the vine's exalted juice, 
 For the generous olive's ufe : 
 
 Flocks that w^hiten all the plain, 
 Yellow /heaves of ripen'd grain ; 
 Clouds that drop their fatt'ning dews. 
 Suns that temperate warmth diflufe : 
 
 AU that Spring with bounteous hand 
 Scatters o'er the fmiling land : 
 All that liberal Autumn pours 
 From her rich o'erflowing ftores : 
 
 Thefe to thee, my God, we owe ; 
 Source whence all our bleffings flow ; 
 And for thefe my foul fhall raife 
 Grateful vows and folemn praife. 
 
H Y M N S. : 117 
 
 Yet fhould rifing whirlwinds tear 
 
 From its ftem the ripening ear ; ' 
 
 Should the fig-tree's blalled fhoot 
 
 Drop her green untimely fruit ; 
 
 Should the vine put forth no more. 
 Nor the olive yield her ftore ; 
 Though the fick'ning flocks fhould fall. 
 And the herds defert the ftall j 
 
 Should thine alter'd hand reftrain 
 The early and the latter rain ; 
 Blaft each opening bud of joy, 
 And the rifing year deftroy : 
 
 Yet to thep my foul fhould ralfe 
 Grateful vows, and folemn praife ; 
 And, when every blefling's flown, 
 Love thee — for thy felf alone. 
 
 13 
 
ItS' HYMNS. 
 
 HYMN III. 
 
 roR EASTER SUNDAY. 
 
 Again the Lord of life arid light 
 
 Awakes the kindling ray ; 
 Unfeals the eyelids of the morn, 
 
 And pours increafing day. 
 
 O what a night was that, which wrapt 
 The heathen world in gloom I 
 
 O what a fun which broke this day. 
 Triumphant from the tomb ! 
 
 This day be grateful homage paid, 
 
 And loud hofannas fung ; 
 Let gladnefs dwell in eveiy heart. 
 
 And praife oh every tongue. 
 
HYMNS, 119 
 
 Ten thoufand differing lips fhall join 
 
 To hail this welcome morn, 
 Whjch fcatters bleflings from its wings. 
 
 To nations yet unborn. 
 
 Jesus, the friend of human kind. 
 
 With ftrong corapaffi.on m^ov'd, 
 Defcended like a pitying God, 
 
 To fave the fouls he lov'd. 
 
 The powers of darknefs leagued in vain 
 
 To bind his foul in death ; 
 He iliook their kingdom when he fell. 
 
 With his expiring breath. 
 
 Not long the toils of hell could keep 
 
 The hope of Jub ah's line ; 
 Corruption never could take hold 
 
 On aught fo much divine. 
 I 4 
 
iko' nv M N s. * 
 
 And nov^ his conquering chariot wheels 
 
 Afcend the lofty Ikies ; 
 While broke, beneath his powerful crofs, 
 
 Death's iron fceptre lies. 
 
 Exalted high at God's right hand, 
 
 The Lord of all below, 
 Thro' him is pardoning love difpens'dj 
 
 And boundlefs bleffings flow. 
 
 And Hill for erring, guilty man, 
 
 A brother's pity flows ; 
 And Hill his bleeding heart is touch'd 
 
 With memory of our woes. 
 
 To theei my Saviour, and my King, 
 
 Glad homage let me give ; 
 And Hand prepar'd like thee to die, 
 
 With thee that I may live. 
 
a y M N s. ■ 121 : 
 
 HYMN IV. 
 
 Behold, where breathing love divine, 
 
 Our dying Mafter ftands ! 
 His weeping followers gathering round 
 
 Receive his laft commands. 
 
 From that mild teacher's parting lip^ 
 
 What tender accents fell ! 
 The gentle precept which he gave 
 
 Became its author well. 
 
 ** Blell is the man, whofe foftening heart 
 
 ** Feels all another's pain 3 
 *' To whom the fupplicating eye 
 
 *' Was never rais'd in vain. 
 
J22 _ HYMNS. 
 
 '* Whofe breaft expands with generous warmtli 
 
 *' A ftranger's woes to feel ; 
 ** And bleeds in pity o*er the wound 
 
 ** He wants the power to heal. 
 
 ^' He fpreads his kind fupporting arms 
 
 '* To every child of giief ; 
 *' His fecret bounty largely flows, 
 
 *' And brings unafk'd relief. 
 
 *' To gentle offices of love 
 
 " His feet are never flow ; 
 ** He views thro' mercy's melting eye 
 
 *' A brother in a foe. 
 
 *' Peace from the bofom of his God, 
 
 " My peace to him I give ; 
 " And when he kneels before the throne, 
 
 *' His trembling foul fliall live. 
 
HYMNS. 123 
 
 *< To him protedlion fhall be flievvn, 
 
 " And mercy from above 
 *' Defcend on thofe who thus fulfil 
 
 ** The perfedl layir of love." 
 
 HYMN V. 
 
 Awake, my foul ! lift up thine eyes, 
 See where thy foes againft thee rife, 
 In long array, a numerous hoft ; 
 Awake, my foul, or thou art loft. 
 
 Here giant danger threat' ning ftands 
 Muftering his pale terrific bands ; 
 There pleafure's filken banners fprf ad, 
 And willing fouls are captive led. 
 See where rebellious paflions rage, 
 And fierce defires and lufts engage; 
 
124 HYMNS/ 
 
 The meaneft foe of all the train 
 Has thoufands and ten thoufands flain. 
 
 Thou tread'f^ upon enchanted ground. 
 Perils and fnares befet thee round ; 
 Beware of all, guard every part, 
 But moft, the traitor in thy heart. 
 
 * Come then, my foul, now learn to wield' 
 
 * The weight of thine immortal fhield ;* 
 JPut on the armour from above; 
 
 Of heavenly truth and heavenly love. 
 
 The terror and the charm repel. 
 And powers of earth, and powers of hell ; 
 The Man of Calvary triumph'd here ; 
 Why fhould his faithful followers fear ? 
 
HYMNS. ' «25 
 
 HYMN VI. 
 
 FIOUS FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 How bleft the facred tie that binds 
 I 
 
 In union fweet according minds ! 
 
 How fwift the heavenly courfe they run 
 
 Whofe hearts, whofe faith, whofe hopes are one ! 
 
 To each, the foul of each how dear, 
 What jealous love, what holy fear ! 
 How doth the generous flame within. 
 Refine from earth and cleanfe from fm ! 
 
 Their ftreaming tears together flow 
 For human guilt and mortal woe ; 
 Their ardent prayers together rife, 
 Like mingling flames in facrifice. 
 
taS HYMNS. 
 
 Together both they feek the place 
 Where God reveals his awful face ; 
 How high, how ftrong, their raptures fwell. 
 There's none but kindred fouls can tell. 
 
 Nor fhall the glowing flame expire 
 When nature droops her flckening fire ; 
 Then fhall they meet in realms above 
 A heaven of joy — ^becaufe of love. 
 
 HYMN VII. 
 
 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and 1 mil give 
 you reft.» 
 
 Come, faid Jesijs' facred voice, 
 Come and make my paths your choice ; 
 I will guide you to your home j 
 Weary pilgrim, hither come ! 
 
HYMNS. 1^7 
 
 Thou, who houfelefs, fole, forlorn, 
 Long hall borne the proud world's fcom. 
 Long haft roamed the barren wafte. 
 Weary pilgrim, hither hafte ! 
 
 Ye who, tofled on beds of pain. 
 Seek for eafe, but feek in vain. 
 Ye whofe fwoUen and fleeplefs eyes 
 Watch to fee the morning rife ; 
 
 Ye, by fiercer anguifti torn, 
 
 In ftrong remorfe for guilt who mourn. 
 
 Here repofe your heavy care, 
 
 A wounded fpirit who can bear ! 
 
 Sinner, come ! for here is found 
 Balm that flows from every wound ; 
 Peace, that ever ftiall endure, 
 Reft eternal, facred, fure. 
 
'1*? H Y M N S-, 
 
 ^YMN viir. 
 
 The •vfoAi is liot their friend, nor iht world's iatv. 
 
 Lo where a crowd of Pilgrims toil 
 
 Yon craggy fteeps among f 
 Strange their attire, and ftrange their mien. 
 
 As wild they prefs along. 
 
 Their eyes with bitter ftreaming tears 
 Now bend towards the ground. 
 
 Now rapt, to heaven their looks they raife. 
 And burfts of fong refound. 
 
 .And hark ! a voice from 'midfk the throng 
 Cries, * Stranger, wouldft thou know 
 
 ' Our name, our race, our deftined home, 
 ' Our caufe of joy or woe. 
 
HYMNS. ' 129 
 
 < Our country is Emanuel's land, 
 
 * We feek that promifed foil ; 
 
 ' The fongs of Zion chear our hearts, 
 
 * Wliile ftrangers here we toil • 
 
 * Oft do our eyes with joy o'erflow, 
 
 * And oft are bathed in tears, 
 
 * Yet nought but heaven our hopes can raife, 
 
 * And nought but fm our fears. 
 
 * The flowers that fpring along the road 
 
 * We fcarcely ftoop to pluck, 
 
 * We walk o'er beds of fhining ore, 
 
 * Nor wafte one wifhful look : 
 
 * We tread the path our Mafter trod, 
 
 * We bear the crofs he bore ; 
 
 * And every thorn that wounds our feet 
 
 * His temples pierced before : 
 
130 HYMNS, 
 
 * Our powers are oft diffolved away 
 
 * In ecftafies of love, 
 
 *■ And while our bodies wander here, 
 
 * Our fouls are fixed above :■ 
 
 * We purge pur mortal drofs away, 
 
 * Refining as we run ; 
 
 * But while we die to earth and fenfe, 
 
 * Our heaven is begun.' 
 
(131 ) 
 
 AN ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. 
 
 Dcus eft quodcunque videsj cjiiQCunque moveris- 
 
 / LvCATSt. 
 
 God of my life ! and author of my days ! 
 Permit my feeble voice to lifp thy praife ; 
 And trembling, take upon a mortal tongue 
 That hallowed name to harps of Seraphs fung. 
 Yet here the brighteft Seraphs could no more 
 Than veil their faces, tremble, and adore. 
 Worms, angels, men, in every different fphere 
 Are equal all, for all are nothing here. 
 All nature faints beneath the mighty name, 
 Which nature's works thro' all her parts proclaim, 
 K 2 
 
132 ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. 
 
 I feel that name my inmoft thoughts controul, 
 And breathe an awful ftillnefs thro' my foul ; 
 As by a charm, the waves of grief fubfide ; 
 Impetuous paflion ftops her headlong tide : 
 At thy felt prefence all emotions ceafe, 
 And my hulh'd fpirit finds a fudden peace, 
 Till every worldly thought within me dies, 
 And earth's gay pageants vanilh from my eyes ; 
 Till all my fenfe is loft in infinite. 
 And one vaft obje£l fills my aching fight. 
 
 But foon, alas ! this holy calm is broke ; 
 My foul fubmits to wear her wonted yoke ; 
 With fhackled pinions ftrives to foar in vain, 
 And mingles with the drofs of earth again. 
 But he, our gracious Mafiier, kind, as juft. 
 Knowing our frame, remembers man is duft. 
 
ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. 
 
 His fpirit, ever brooding o'er our mind. 
 Sees the firft wilh to better hopes inclin'd ; 
 Marks the young dawn of every virtuous aim, 
 And fans the fmoaking flax into a flame. 
 His ears are open to the foftefl: cry, 
 His gra<^ defcends to meet the Ufted eye ; 
 He reads the language of a filent tear. 
 And fighs are incenfe from a heart flncere * 
 Such are the vows, the facrifice I give ; 
 Accept the vow, and bid the fupphant hve : 
 From each terrefl:rial bondage fet me free ; 
 Still every wifh that centers not in tliee ; 
 Bid my fond hopes, my vain difquiets ceafe, 
 And point my path to everlafting peace. 
 
 If the foft hand of winning pleafure leads 
 By living vyaters, and, thro' flow'ry meads, 
 K3 
 
 ^33 
 
134 ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. 
 
 When all is fmiling, tranquil, and feiene, 
 And vernal beauty paints the flattering fcene, 
 Oh ! teach me to elude each latent fnare, 
 And whifper to my Aiding heart — beware ! 
 With caution let me hear the Syren's voice, 
 And doubtful, with a trembling heart, rejoice. 
 
 If friendlefs, in a vale of tears I ftray, 
 Where briars wound, and thorns perplex my Way, 
 Still let my fteady foul thy goodnefs fee, 
 And with ftrong confidence lay hold on thee ; 
 With equal eye my various lot receive, 
 Refigned to die, or refolute to live ; 
 Prepared to kifs the fceptre or the rod. 
 While God is feen in all, and all in God, 
 
 I read his awful name, emblazoned high 
 With golden letters on tlje illumined Iky j 
 
ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. I35 
 
 Nor lefs the myftic charafters I fee 
 
 Wrought in each flower, infcribed in every tree ; 
 
 In every leaf that trembles to the breeze 
 
 I hear the voice of God among the trees ; 
 
 With thee in fhady folitudes I walk. 
 
 With thee in bufy crowded cities talk. 
 
 In every creature own thy forming power, 
 
 In each event thy providence adore. 
 
 Thy hopes fhall animate my drooping foul. 
 
 Thy precepts guide me, and thy fears controul : 
 
 Thus ihall I reft, unmoved by all alarms, 
 
 Secure within the temple of thine arms ; 
 
 From anxious cares, from gloomy terrors free, 
 
 And feel myfelf omnipotent in thee. 
 
 Then when the lall, the clohng hour draws nigh, 
 And earth recedes before my fwimming eye ; 
 K4 
 
136 ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. 
 
 When trembling on the doubtful edge of fate 
 I ftand, and flretch my view to either ftate; 
 Teach me to quit this tranfitory fcene 
 With decent triumph and a look ferene ; 
 Teach me to fix my ardent hopes on high. 
 And having lived to thee, in thee to diev 
 
( 137 ) 
 
 SUMMER EVENING'S MEDITATION. 
 
 One fun by day, by nigbt ten thonfand fiiine. 
 
 YOUNC. 
 
 'Tis paft ! The fultry tyrant of the fouth 
 
 Has fpent his fhort-Uv'd rage ; more grateful houis 
 
 Move filent on ; the Ikies no more repel 
 
 The dazzled fight, but with mild maiden beams 
 
 Of tempered luflre, court the cherifhed eye 
 
 To wander o'er their fphere ; where hung aloft 
 
 Dian's bright crefcent, like a filver bow 
 
 New fining in heaven, lifts high its beamy horns 
 
338 SUMMER evening's AlEDITATIOK', 
 
 Impatient for the night, and feems to puih 
 Her brotlier down the Iky. Fair Venus (hines 
 'Even in the eye of day ; with fweetefl beam 
 Propitious fliines, and fhakes a trembhng flood 
 Of foftened radiance firom her dewy locks. 
 The Ihadows fpre^d apace ; while meekened Eve, 
 Her cheek yet warm with blufhes, flow retires 
 Thro' the Hefperian gardens of the wefl:. 
 And fliuts the gates of day. 'Tis now the hour 
 When Contemplation, from her funlefs haunts. 
 The cool damp grotto, or the lonely depth 
 Of unpierc'd woods, where wrapt in folid fliade 
 She mufed away the gaudy hours of noon. 
 And fed on thoughts unripened by the fun, 
 Moves forward ; and with radiant finger points 
 To yon blue concave fwelled by breath divine, 
 Where, one by one, the living eyes of heaven 
 Awake, quick kindling o'er the face of ether 
 
SUMMER evening's MEDITATION. 13^ 
 
 One boundlefs blaze ; ten thoufand trembling fires. 
 
 And dancing luftres, where the nnfteady eye, 
 
 Reftlefs and dazzled, wanders unconfin'd 
 
 O'er all this field of glories ; fpacious field. 
 
 And worthy of the Mafter : he, whofe hand 
 
 With hierqglyphics elder than the Nile 
 
 Infcribed the myftic tablet ; hung on high 
 
 To public gaze, and faid. Adore, O man I 
 
 The finger of thy God. From what pure wells 
 
 Of milky light, what foft o'erflowing urn, 
 
 Ai"e all thefe lamps fo fill'd ? thefe friendly lamps, 
 
 For ever flreaming o'er the azure deep 
 
 To point our path, and light us to our home. 
 
 How foft they Hide along their lucid fpheres ! 
 
 And filent as the foot of time, fulfil 
 
 Their deftined courfes • Nature's felf is hufhed. 
 
 And, but a fcattered leaf, which ruftles thro' 
 
140 ■ SUMMER EVENING S MEDITATIOW. 
 
 The thick-wove foliage, not a found is heard 
 J To break the midnight air ; tho' the raifed ear, 
 Intenfely liftening, drinks in every breath. 
 Haw deep the filence, yet how loud the praife ! 
 But are they filent all? or is there not 
 A tongue in eve'"y ftar that talks with man, 
 And wooes him to be wife ? nor wooes in vain : 
 This dead of midnight is the noon of thought, 
 And wifdom mounts her zenith with the flars. 
 At this ftill hour the felf-colledled foul 
 Turns inward, and beholds a ftranger there 
 Of high defcent, and more than mortal rank ; 
 An embryo God ; a fpark of fire divine. 
 Which mull: burn on for ages, when the fun 
 (Fair tranfitory creature of a day !) 
 Has clofed his golden eye, and wrapt in lliades 
 Forgets his wonted journey thro' the eaft. 
 
SUMMER EVENING S MEDITATION. 141 
 
 Ye citadels of light, and feats of Gods ! 
 Perhaps my future home, from whence the foul 
 Revolving periods paft, may oft look back. 
 With recolle£l;ed tendernefs, on all 
 The various bufy fcenes flie left below. 
 Its deep laid proje6ls and its ftrange events. 
 As on fome fond and doting tale that footh'd 
 Her infant hours — O be it lawful now 
 To tread the hallow'd circle of your courts. 
 And with mute wonder and delighted awe 
 Approach your burning confines. Seiz'd in thought. 
 On fancy's wild and roving wing I fail. 
 From the green borders of the peopled earth, 
 And the pale moon, her duteous fair attendant; 
 From folitary Mars ; from the vaft orb 
 Of Jupiter, whofe huge gigantic bulk 
 Dances in ether like the lighteft leaf; 
 To the dim verge, the fuburbs of the fyftem, 
 
142 SUMMER evening's MEDITATION-* 
 
 Where cheerlefs Saturn 'midft his wat'ry moons 
 Girt with a lucid zone, in gloomy pomp. 
 Sits like an exiled monarch : fearlefs thence 
 I launch into the tracklefs deeps of fpace. 
 Where, burning round, ten thoufand funs appear^ 
 Of elder beam, which alk no leave to fhine 
 Of our terreftrial ftar, nor borrow light 
 From the proud regent of our fcanty day ; 
 Sons of the morning, firft-born of creation, 
 And only lefs than Him who marks their track, 
 And guides their fiery wheels. Here muft I flop. 
 Or is there aught beyond ? What hand unfeen 
 Impels me onward thro' the glowing orbs 
 Of habitable nature, far remote. 
 To the dread confines of eternal night. 
 To folitudes of vafi: unpeopled fpace, 
 The defarts of creation, wide and wild ; 
 Where embryo fyftems and unkindled funs 
 
SUMMER evening's MEDITATION. I43 
 
 Sleep in the womb of chaos? fancy droops, 
 And thought aftonifla'd flops her bold career. 
 But oh thou mighty mind ! whofe powerful word 
 Said, Thus let all things be, and thus they were, 
 Where ihall I feek thy prefence ? how unblamed 
 Invoke thy 4read perfedlion ? 
 Have the broad eye-lids of the mom beheld thee ? 
 Or does the beamy ilioulder of Orion 
 Support thy throne ? O look with pity down 
 On erring, guilty man ; not in thy names 
 Of terror clad ; not with thofe thunders armed 
 That confcious Sinai felt, when fear appalled 
 The fcatter'd tribes ; thou haft a gentler voice. 
 That whifpers comfort to the fwelling heart, 
 Abafh'd, yet longing to behold her Maker. 
 
 But now my foul, unufed to ftretch her powers 
 In flight fo daring, drops her weary wing, 
 
t44 SUMMER evening's MEDITATI01T< 
 
 And feeks again the known aCcuftomed fpot, 
 Dreft up with fun^ and fhade, and lawns, and ftreams, 
 A manfion fair and fpacious for its gueft. 
 And full replete with wonders. Let me here. 
 Content and grateful wait the appointed time. 
 And ripen for the fkies : the hour will come 
 When all thefe fplendors burfling on my fight 
 Shall ftand unveiled, and to my ravifh'd fenfc 
 Unlock the glories of the world unknown. 
 
( 445 > 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 TO 
 
 WILIIAM WILBERFORCE, Esc^ 
 
 ON THE REJECTION OF THE BILL FOR ABOLISHING 
 
 THE SLAVE TRADE. 
 
 Cease, Wilberforce, to urge thy generous aim ! 
 Thy Country knows the fin, and ftands the fhame ! 
 The Preacher, Poet, Senator, in vain 
 Has rattled in her fight the Negro's chain ; 
 With his deep groans affail'd her ftartled ear, 
 And rent the veil that hid his conftant tear ; 
 Forc'd her averted eyes his ftripes to fcan, 
 j^eneath the bloody fcourge laid bare the man, 
 
146 EPISTLE TO W. WILBERFORCJi, tsvi^ 
 
 Clalm'd Pity's tear, urged Confcience' ftrong controul 
 
 And flafh'd convi6i:ion on her fhrinking foul. 
 
 The Mufe, too foon awaked, with ready tongue 
 
 At Mercy's fhrine applaufive peans rung; 
 
 And Freedom's eager fons, in vain foretold 
 
 A new Aftrean reign, an age of gold : 
 
 She knows and fhe perfiUs — Still Afric bleeds, 
 
 Unchecked, the human traffic ftill proceeds ; 
 
 She ftamps her infamy to future time, 
 
 And on her hardened forehead feals the crime. 
 
 In vain, to thy white ftandard gathering round. 
 Wit, Worth, and Parts and Eloquence are found : 
 In vain, to pufh to birth thy great deflgn, 
 Contending chiefs, and hoftile virtues join ; 
 All, from conflicting ranks, of power poflefl: 
 To roufe, to melt, or to inform the breaft. 
 
EPISTLE TO W. WILBERFORCE, ESQ^ I47 
 
 Where feafoned tools of Avarice prevail, 
 
 A Nation's eloquence, combined, muft fail; 
 
 Each flimfy fophiftrj' by turns they try ; 
 
 The plauUve argument, the daring lye, 
 
 The artful glofs, that moral fenfe confounds, 
 
 Th' ackn9ivledged thirft of gain that honour wounds ! 
 
 Bane of ingenuous minds ! th' unfeeling fneer, 
 
 Which, fudden, turns to ftone the falling tear: 
 
 They fearch affiduous, with inverted Ikill, 
 
 For forms of wrong, and precedents of ill ; 
 
 With impious mockery wreft the facred page, 
 
 And glean up crimes from each remoter age : 
 
 Wrung Nature's tortures, fhuddering, while you tell, 
 
 From fcofling fiends burfts forth the laugh of hell ; 
 
 In Britain's fenate, Mifery's pangs give birth 
 
 To jefts unfeemly, and to horrid mirth 
 
 Forbear ! — thy virtues but prpvoke our doom. 
 
 And fwell th' account of vengeance yet to come ; 
 
 L 2 
 
148 EPISTLE TO W. WILBERFORCE, ESQ^ 
 
 For, not unmarked in Heaven's impartial plan, 
 
 Shall man, proud worm, contemn his fellow-man ? 
 
 And injured Afric, by herfelf redreft, 
 
 Darts her own ferpents at her Tyrant's breafl. 
 
 Each vice, to minds depraved by bondage known, 
 
 With fure contagion faftens on his own ; 
 
 In fickly languors melts his nervelefs frame. 
 
 And blows to rage impetuous Paflion's flame : 
 
 Fermenting fwift, the fiery venom gains 
 
 The milky innocence of infant veins ; 
 
 There fwells the ftubborn will, damps learning's fire, 
 
 The whirlwind wakes of uncontrouled defire, 
 
 Sears the young heart to images of wo, 
 
 And blafls the buds of Virtue as they blow. 
 
 Lo ! where reclined, pale Beauty courts the breeze, 
 Difiufed on fofas of voluptuous eafe ; 
 
EPISTLE TO W. WILBERFORCE, ESQj_ I49 
 
 With anxious awe, her menial train around. 
 Catch her faint whifpers of half-utter'd found ; 
 See her, in monllrous fellowfliip, unite 
 At once the Scythian, and the Sybarite ; 
 Blending repugnant vices, mifally'd. 
 Which yra^fl/ nature purpofed to divide ; 
 See her, vyrith indolence to fiercenefs join'd. 
 Of body delicate, infirm of mind, 
 With languid tones imperious mandates urge ; 
 With arm recumbent v\rield the houfehold fcourge ; 
 And with unruffled mien, and placid founds, 
 Contriving torture, and inflidtihg wounds. 
 
 Nor, in their palmy walks and fpicy groves. 
 The form benign of rural Pleafure roves ; 
 No milk-maids' fong, or hum of village talk. 
 Sooths the lone poet in his evening walk : 
 
l^O EPISTLE TG W. WILBERFORCE, I.SQ1 
 No willing arm the flail unwearyed plies, 
 Where the mixed founds of chearful labour rife j 
 No blooming maids, and frolic fwains are feen 
 To pay gay homage to their harveft queen : 
 No heart-expanding fcenes their eyes muft prove 
 Of thriving induftry, and faithful love : 
 But fhrieks and yells difturb the balmy air, 1 
 
 Dumb fallen looks of w^o announce defpair, 
 
 And angry eyes thro' dulky features glare. 
 Far from the founding lafh the Mufes fly, 
 And fenfual riot drowns each finer joy. 
 
 Nor lefs from the gay Eaft, on efl*enced wings,, 
 Breathing unnamed perfumes, Contagion fprings ; 
 The foft luxurious plague alike pervades 
 The marble palaces, and rural fhades ; 
 Hence throng'd Augufla builds her rofy bowers, 
 And decks in fummer wreaths her fmoky towers i 
 
 r 
 
And hence, in fummer bow'rs, Art's coftly hand 
 Pours courtly fplendours o'er the dazzled land : 
 The manners melt — One undiftinguifh'd blaze 
 O'erwhelms the fober pomp of elder days ; 
 Corruption follows with gigantic flride. 
 And feared vouchfafes his fliamelefs front to hide* 
 The fpreading leprofy taints ev'ry part, 
 Infe6ls each limb, and fickens at the heart. 
 Simplicity ! moft dear of rural maids, 
 Weeping refigns her violated fhades : 
 Stern Independence from his glebe retires. 
 And anxious Freedom eyes her drooping fires ; 
 By foreign wealth are Britifh morals chang'd, 
 And Afric's fons, and India's, fmile avenged. 
 
 For you, whofe temper'd ardour long has borne 
 Untired the labour, jind unmoved the fcorn ; 
 
In Virtue's fafli be infcribed your fame. 
 And uttered yours with Howard's honour'd name. 
 Friends of the friendlefs — Hail, ye generous band I 
 Whofe efforts yet arreft Heaven's lifted hand. 
 Around whofe fteady brows, in union bright. 
 The civic wreath, and Chriftian's palm unite : 
 Your merit ftands, no greater and no lefs, 
 Without, or with the varnifti of fuccefs ; 
 But feek no more to break a Nation's fall, 
 For ye have fav'd yourfelves — and that is all. 
 Succeeding times your ftruggles, and their fate, 
 With mingled fhame and triumph Ihall relate. 
 While faithful Hiftory, in her various page, 
 Marking the features of this motley age, , 
 To flied a glory, and to fix a ftain. 
 Tells how you flrove, and that you ftrove in vain. 
 
 THE END. 
 
This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the 
 last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be 
 renewed by bringing it to the Hbrary. 
 
 DATE ppT- 
 DUE ^^^ 
 
 DATE 
 
 DUE ***^*- 
 
 m^um- 
 
 MAR2 17»