PREFACE.
[]CONTEMPLATIONS on the fluctuating Uncertainty of Temporal Things, and the various Evils and Viciſſitudes of Human Life, as they have in all Ages claimed the Attention of the good and ſerious Part of Mankind, ſo are, in a more particular Manner, beneficial to the INTERESTS of CHRISTIANITY.
They may be conſidered, I preſume, as ſo many Addenda, to throw Light and moral Confirmation upon thoſe VOLUMES of REVEALED WILL, which, tho' preſented to us in the Medium of a critically im⯑perfect Tranſlation, proceed, in their divine ORIGINALS, from the immediate Inſpiration of unerring and eternal WISDOM.
By Way of Preface to theſe ELEGIAC ESSAYS, I have choſen to premiſe a few Obſervations of this Kind, which, to me at leaſt, appear the natural Reſult of every candid and impartial Enquiry after Truth.
Whoſoever takes an unprejudiced Survey of the FACULTIES of the HUMAN MIND, muſt neceſſarily acknowledge their Conſtitution to be in many Reſpects ENIGMATICAL and CONTRADICTORY; and indeed, whether we examine the Public Annals of Society or have Regard to the Private Information of our own Conſciences; whether the Characters of the Learned or Illiterate, become Objects of our Conſideration; the Truth of this Aſſertion is made equally clear and conſpicuous:—Separately we may diſcern the ſame longing Deſires after Happineſs, and yet voluntary Subjection to Miſery; the ſame boaſted imaginary Strength and Weakneſs, when teſted by Experience;—the ſame Love of Truth, and leaning Credulity towards Error:—In a Word, the ſame diametrically oppoſite Inclinations of Virtue and Vice, (tho' varied in Proportion to an endleſs Variety of Circumſtances pro⯑ducing them) may be eaſily traced through the general Tenor of the Actions of Mankind: and, upon the whole, form ſo intricate a Knot of Contraricties, as unaſſiſted Reaſon ſhall by no Means be able to unlooſe.
If we further add to this ſeemingly unaccountable Compoſition of the MIND, that Multiplicity of Diſorders, Pains, and diſaſtrous Ac⯑cidents to which the BODY ſtands particularly expoſed, we may with Hippocrates almoſt venture to affirm, [...]. "The whole Man from his Birth is a Diſeaſe." We may exclaim with the Poet, []
O LIFE! tremendous Interval of Birth and Death!
Who ſhall recount thy ILLS? what Hand ſhall pen
Th' immeaſurable Logarithm of Woes,
Mental Anxieties, corporeal Pains,
That 'twixt theſe ſolemn Periods intervene.
And, with all poſſible Juſtneſs and Propriety, may denominate MAN, the RIDDLE of the CREATION.
I would infer from theſe Obſervations the apparent Neceſſity of DIVINE REVELATION; how highly it behoves us to liſten to the infallible Dictates of this great CONDUCTRESS, whoſe peculiar Pro⯑vince it is to point out the hidden Cauſes of all the inevitable Miſeries and Misfortunes of Human Life; as alſo how diffident we ought to be in truſling ſolely to the Directions of this ſo much boaſted Rational Faculty, which is but mole-ey'd at beſt, and whoſe chief Conſtituent ſeems to be an inherent Pride, which refuſes to put on the CHRISTIAN YOKE; and of conſequence ſecludes us from being Objects of the Fa⯑vour of the SUPREME BENIGNITY.—This blind Reli⯑ance on our own Strength looſens inſenſibly the Ties of our De⯑pendance upon him who is ALL-SUFFICIENT.—We imperceptibly become aſhamed of converſing with him by Prayer;—regard, as Superflui⯑ty, the tributary Incenſe of Gratitude and Praiſe;—and at length, wilfully ſhut our Eyes againſt the mid-day Beams of the SUN OF RIGHT⯑EOUSNESS. —Hence Irreligion, Profaneneſs, groveling Senſuality, and all that black Catalogue of Crimes, which are the evident Marks of the benighted unregenerate Mind;—hence the Beau Monde, the Papilios of the Human Race, place their chief Happineſs in contem⯑plating the Finery of their own Dreſs; the Prude, or Coquette, is more ſolicitous of Admiration in a brilliant Aſſembly upon Earth, than ſtudious to adorn herſelf for the inexpreſſibly magnificent Aſſem⯑bly of the FIRST-BORN in HEAVEN.
Upon the whole, PRIDE may be juſtly ſtiled the Primum Mobile of Evil, the Sire of Sin, the Source of Miſchief, and the Bane both of Temporal and Eternal Felicity.
AN ELEGY ON A PILE of SACRED RUINS.
[]The ſolemn TEMPLES,
Yea! the great Globe itſelf, and all which it inherit,
Shall diſſolve; and, like the baſeleſs Fabrick of a Viſion,
Leave not a Wreck behind.
SHAKESP.
I.
IN a lone VILLA, the once-lov'd Retreat,
Where, cloy'd with Crouds, Wealth ſought the ſilvan Shade;
Near the fall'n Rubbiſh of ſome rural Seat,
A ruin'd TEMPLE tow'rs its tott'ring Head.
II.
The Moſs-grown Walls, high pil'd in Gothic Pride,
Stand, Time-defac'd with many a wide-rent Flaw;
Nor fails the Proſpect view'd on every Side,
T'imprint the muſing Mind with ſolemn Awe.
III.
Sadly ſequeſter'd, 'mid the dreary Waſte,
A Row of blaſted Yew Trees gloom around;
Redoubling Terror, and the Peaſant's Haſte,
That treads perforce the long-untrodden Ground.
[2]IV.
Soon as cool Ev'ning clos'd the Sun-ſcorch'd Day,
I left the laughing Throng in thoughtful Mood;
And, where the ſacred Scene before me lay,
Thus ſigh'd, in aw'd Attention as I ſtood:
V.
"Ah me! that hoary Time's all-changing Pow'r,
Should this proud Dome, with ſtealing Pace, pervade;
Where erſt Devotion, at th'inraptur'd Hour,
Thro' Faith's fix'd Glaſs her promis'd Bliſs ſurvey'd.
VI.
Ah pitying Change! the ſwift-wing'd Hours have brought,
To blaſt the Beauty of devoted Stones;
Which once induſtrious the firſt Founder wrought;
A ſhrin'd Sepulchre to his honour'd Bones!
VII.
Hence now no more ſhall pious Pray'r aſcend,
Nor Sigh repentant from the guilt-gnaw'd Breaſt;
RELIGION here her ſolemn Rites ſhall end,
Nor more th' intruding Spade this Mould moleſt.
VIII.
Hence now no more the ſadd'ning Death-Bell's Note,
Shall knell th' Alarum from this ſhatter'd Spire;
Nor Song harmonious ſwell the thrilling Throat,
With praiſeful Tribute from th' adoring Choir.
IX.
Where warbled Melody, harſh Ravens brood,
And duſky Bats that ſhun the lengthen'd Light;
And Eloquence, whence the rais'd Roſtrum ſtood,
Has ceas'd her Charms, and ſoar'd her baniſh'd Flight.
[3]X.
Still Silence reigns where once the ſocial Croud
Reſponſive chaunted to the lauding Lay;
Save when the ſolitary Owl ſcreams loud,
Or thro' the dun Ile wings her flutter'd Way.
XI.
This labour'd Font mov'd from its marble Baſe;
(Where once weak Nature lav'd her ſpotted Stain,
Tho' lower now, ſtill ſtands a needed Vaſe,
Whence chatt'ring Sparrows ſip the roof-fall'n Rain.
XII.
This high-arch'd Altar, from the rais'd Aſcent,
Rears, awf'ly ruinous, its hallow'd Head;
Whence the ſwift Spider, on wiſh'd Prey intent,
Now ſports her, ſalient, on the ſelf-ſpun Thread.
XIII.
Th' Angelic Hoſt, in glittering Gold array'd,
Fictitious colour'd on its pannel'd Oak,
Amid the Triumph ranc'rous Time has made,
'Scapes not the Tyrant's ſacreligious Stroke.
XIV.
This Iron Door, faſt wedg'd with ranking Ruſt,
Scarce creaks an Entrance to the vaulted Cave:
Where, wrapt in Lead, the more ennobled Duſt
Of MAMMON's Vot'ries found a peaceful Grave.
XV.
A ſhad'wy Pre-eminence yet remains
In this lone Manſion of illuſtrious Dead;
Tho' Death, regardleſs of their wide Demeſnes,
Urg'd the ſhun'd Summons with impartial Dread.
[4]XVI.
This mould'ring Pillar, on its ſable Baſe,
Supports a Mon'ment of ſuperior Art;
Time-unadorn'd from ev'ry finiſh'd Grace,
Induſtrious Elegance had deign'd t'impart.
XVII.
Ah what avails it! though ambitious rear'd,
T' aggrandize ſome honour'd Heroe's Fame;
Where martial Weapons pompouſly appear'd,
And ſculptur'd Sorrow wept the Warrior's Name.
XVIII.
Like all the Pageantry of earth-born Pride,
Like Night-ſtill'd Dew-drops at the ſolar Ray,
'T hath ſhrunk oblivious, and on ev'ry Side,
Nods totter'd Ruin from its pillar'd Stay.
XIX.
Vain are the Trophies of a Fun'ral Pile;
The motto'd Monument, or gilded Buſt:
Fame's flatt'ring Tale, deep grav'd in golden Stile,
Time ſhall eraſe, and moulder into Duſt.
XX.
Devouring Time! thou immaterial Space!
That ſwall'weſt moving what thy Motion breeds;
Whate'er of viſible the Eye can trace,
Or ſoon, or late, thy deſtin'd Prey ſucceeds.
XXI.
The ſleecy Moments from thy fruitful Womb,
Tho' teem'd unnum'rous, ſhort liv'd Victims fall;
Alike the rock-reard Tow'r, and trophied Tomb,
Meet Diſſolution at thy crumbling Call.
[5]XXII.
Thrice happy he! in calm Contentment's Dale,
Far from Ambition, and Pride's noxious Noiſe;
That peacef'lly journ'ying thro' Life's varied Vale,
Ne'er war'd thy Worth on empty air-blown Toys.
XXIII.
Not the wiſh'd Wreath of popular Applauſe,
Nor all the Joys precarious Wealth e'er lent,
Afford ſo pleaſing, ſo ſerene a Pauſe,
As one reflected Hour in VIRTUE ſpent.
XXIV.
The tort'ring Rack, the Faggot's fierceſt Rage;
Nor all the Engines CRUELTY can deviſe,
Are half ſo horr'ble as time-waſted Age,
When grim DEATH's Terrors meet th' enfeebled Eyes.
XXV.
Thou Stage inviſible! we all muſt tread;
Thy ever-varying Scenes anon ſhall end;
When, awf'ly rouſing the long-ſlumber'd Dead,
Th' ALL-RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, GREAT JESU ſhall deſcend.
XXVI.
Him comp'nying from th' empyreal Throne,
A Choir celeſtial ſhall in Pomp ſurround:
The Thoughts ſecreted of all Hearts be known;
And Thou, in vaſt Eternity be drown'd.
XXVII.
On that Day, joyous from their atom'd Tomb,
The once-fam'd Founders of this Dome ſhall riſe:
Their duſt-blent Bodies from Earth's teeming Womb,
Shall gain, re-animate the bliſsful Skies.
ELEGIAC REFLECTIONS, Wrote in the VAULT of ST NICHOLAS' CHURCH, NEWCASTLE.†
[]Miſta Senum ac Juvenum denſantur Funera, nullum
Saeva Caput Proſerpina fugit.
HOR.
I.
HERE, CONTEMPLATION! to thy Vot'ry's Aid,
Propitious, ſooth the moralizing Soul;
While Melancholy, from the ſacred Shade,
Bids mournf'ly ſlow, the ſullen Moments roll.
II.
As penſive thro' the ſcutcheon'd Iles I ſtray,
That high o'er-arch'd this hallow'd Temple bound,
Oft lead me on the long-untrodden Way,
Where ſleeps fall'n Grandeur on the gloom-wrapt Ground.
III.
Pride's Look elated, and her lofty Mien,
That Sight ſhall ſadden from th'exulting Soar;
And Envy ſoften'd o'er the ſolemn Scene,
Shall drop a Tear from plaintive Pity's Lore.
[7]IV.
Pale Terror trembles thro' each curdling Vein,
While harſhly opes the iron-bolted Door;
While timid Fancy from the teeming Brain,
Glides fear-form'd Phantoms 'long the letter'd Floor.
V.
How dread lowr's Darkneſs o'er the low-brow'd Cell!
Where liſtleſs Silence unmoleſted reigns;
Save when ſlow-ſounding from the echoed Bell,
Time knells his Hours in mournf'ly pleaſing Strains.
VI.
Save Meditation! when thy moral Muſe,
From the ſhrin'd Porches of St Nicholas' Dome,
This Vault's illuſtrious Records would peruſe,
And ſigh her Speculations o'er the Tomb.
VII.
Here ſable Solitude has fix'd her Seat,
Sequeſter'd from the ſocial Scenes of Day;
And mild Humil'ty from this hoar Retreat,
Pours on the tear-thaw'd Soul her lev'ling Lay.
VIII.
DEATH, vengef'ly trampling on the Neck of Pride,
Here grins terrific o'er his triumph'd Spoil;
And Horror guards, with dread-impoſing Stride,
Th'unnotic'd Tenants of this lonely Soil.
IX.
Ah how unnotic'd! ſince the Pomp of Pow'r
No more ſhall wait them, on attendant Wing;
Nor more convey them to the ſcented Bow'r,
Where wantons Pleaſure on the Lap of Spring.
[8]X.
Nor pamper'd LUXURY, Fiend of Hell!
That wilef'ly poiſons as ſhe-pleaſures Senſe;
Nor Memry's Wail, nor wild-ey'd Sorrow's Yell,
Shall rouſe the Lethe-drench'd Slumberers hence.
XI.
The moulder'd Bones this loos'ning Lead unbares,
Wore once, perhaps, the purple Robe of State;
E'er Time had ſilver'd o'er their honour'd Hairs,
Or weeping Elegy bemoan'd their Fate.
XII.
Or mov'd ſome ſofter Female's fair Machinc,
Vibrated ſweetly to the Springs of Thought;
Tho' low lies now that lofty-bearing Mien,
Vain Value once and prideful Paſſion taught.
XIII.
Ah me! how fall'n thy vermeil-tinted Cheek,
Where Beauty bid her bluſhing Roſes glow;
Where Joy in dimpled Smiles had learnt to ſpeak,
Or ſalt Tears trickled to the Plaint of Woe.
XIV.
E'en back retorted from the crumbling Clay,
To Silence now, and ſullen Darkneſs doom'd:
Loath'd Viſion ſhrinks,—nor heeds the blaſted Spray,
Where vivid once ſoul-thrilling Charms have bloom'd.
XV.
Say, faſhion'd Heav'n her featur'd Form in vain,
To ſleep the Victim of eternal Death;
Or, ſettled on her Soul's etherial Train,
The ſhort-liv'd Tenure of moment'ry Breath?
[9]XVI.
Not ſo Intuition, from th'unbias'd Mind
Shallows the Sapience of omniſcient Love;
Nor e'er rapt Revelation thus confin'd
Th' illimitable Bounty from above.
XVII.
His;—who, from Chaos and the Climes of Night,
Where crude Confuſion's jarring Atoms howl'd,
Hail'd new-born Beauty to the radiant Light,
That glitter'd from the bright Sun's beamy Gold.
XVIII.
Whoſe cloud-wrapt Ways, unſearchably ſecure,
None may unfold, or caſt a Glance ſo high;
Nor pierce th'unbounded Proſpect of his Pow'r,
Save rapturing FAITH's perſpicient Eye.
XIX.
What then avails vain Sophiſtry's Debate,
That proudly ſoars 'bove boaſted Reaſon's Ken;
That impiouſly intrudes the Realms of Fate,
To pour Deception on the SONS OF MEN.
FRAGMENT, Suppoſed to have been written among the RUINS of * TINMOUTH CASTLE and MONASTERY, NORTHUMBERLAND.
[]**************** Lonely indeed!
'Tis awful! 'tis ſuperbly ruinous!
How chang'd this Scene! ***********
In Lethean Years long, long elaps'd,
The ſwift-wing'd Bullet of Deſtruction,
Loud-lab'ring from the brazen Cannon's Womb,
Pierc'd hence with Light'ning Speed, the perv'ous Air,
And roar'd, re-ecchoed from yon murm'ring Main,
Death's thund'ring Summons, and ſulphur'ous Call.
How level'd now the lofty Battlements!
The ſky-topt Towers and rock-rear'd Batteries!
Impregnable to Military Art!
That ever and anon Time totters now,
And ruſhes down with dread Precipitation!
********************
[11]********** Uninterrupted Solitude!
The ſacred Tenant of this cheerleſs Shade,
Sequeſter'd reigns in ſaddening Silence,
'Amid the hoary Heaps and weed-wrapt Ruins
Of yon old venerable
Monaſt'ry: *Where Times unnumer'd Offspring ceaſeleſs ply,
Hours, Minutes, Moments, in their envious Round,
Defacing the proud Dome Devotion rear'd,
With all its loneſome, long-untrodden Iles,
By erring Superſtition erſt adorn'd,
With many a Croſs and crumbling Relique.
More ſolemn ſtill the dread-impoſing Gloom
This vaulted Cloiſter yields, pale Terror's Cell!
That traverſes now the bramble-wild'ring Waſte,
Ev'n unappall'd, tho' Cynthia's ſilvering Beam
Bright burniſhes the Hemiſphere of Heav'n.
Ye blaſted Efforts of aſpiring Art!
Piles! Pillars! ſhatter'd with a Weight of Years,
Afford, beneath your mould'ring Arches' Shade,
Unenvied, unmoleſted Privacy,
To the moſt wretched of the Sons of Woe,
Or ſuff'ring Victims of ſupernal Fate,
High o'er whoſe dreading and diſtemper'd Head
The Angel of Affliction torrents down
His fierceſt Vial of unpit'ying Wrath.
************** call forth
The ſaline Tear from ſullen Sorrow's Eye,
[12]And mournf'ly ſmooth the haggard, frightful Frown
Of raven-veſted Melancholy.
Ah me! that deep o'erwhelms, oppreſſes dire,
Shocks, ſinks, and ſaddens down my moping Mind,
'Spite of FAITH's Balm, and ev'ry chearful Ray
Of hope-inſpiring CHRISTIANITY;
RELIGION's Meſſenger! laſt-born and beſt,
To rouſe the ſin-ſtain'd Race of Adam fall'n.
*****************
************
Charnel Ground! *This Place of Skulls, and low-laid Mortals' Graves,
Where ſable Mem'ry pours her mourning Wail,
And ſlowly walks her moralizing Round
'Mong letter'd Stones and marbled Monuments!
Hark! from the leafy Thicket of yon Grove,
What ſerenading Choriſter awakes
The ſlumb'ring Stillneſs that ſurrounds me,
And far 'yond TINMOUTH's Villa diſtant ſounds
To the dull, drowſy Ear of ſilent Night?
'Tis PHILOMEL!
That ſweetly thrills her melodizing Notes,
(Love-lengthen'd) to the liſtening Moon;
While, ſave herſelf, each feather'd Songſter ſleeps:
— Peace! warbling Innocence!
Thy ſhrill-tun'd Symphony is loſt on me,
Nor aught accords my ſolitary Taſte,
[13]Save the nocturnal Owl's ill-omen'd Scream,
The day-ſkreen'd Bat, or croaking Raven's Cry,
Frequenting the obſcene and ragg'd Retreats,
Where Ruin low'rs, and ven'ming Vermin dwell,
The baneful Aſp, and poiſon-bloated Toad,
Inſeparable 'ſſociats of DESPAIR,
That ev'n now maddens in my phrenzied Brain,
And points the deſp'rate, diſobedient Sting
Of Hell-ſuggeſted SUICIDE.
— Triumphing o'er me,
Save that the heav'n-born Beam of radiant Hope,
Like this tall
Turret's
† air-illuming
Flame,That blinks to the benighted Mariner
A glimm'ring Paſſage o'er yon pathleſs Wave,
Cheers, ſoothes, ſupports —
Caetera deſunt.
ODE, FOR THE NATIVITY of the MESSIAH.
[]‘Jam nova Progenies Coelo demittitur alto. VIRG.’
I.
SEE, Light ſtreaks the lengthening Lawn!
See, th' auſpicious Morning dawn,
That hail'd MESSIAH to our Earth.
When Bethlehem's unnotic'd Plains
Reſounded to the Angel Strains
That ſolemniz'd his BIRTH.
What Time the orient Sun aroſe,
To chaſe the Shadows of infernal Night;
To beam Deſtruction on our Foes,
And chear the Nations with celeſtial Light.
Blow then the Trump of Joy, ye favour'd Throng!
Since JESU's BIRTH demands our choral Song.
II.
Long-wiſh'd he comes to ſolve Sin's Chain,
T'eraſe the Bond of penal Pain,
That hapleſs Adam's Fall had wrote;
To ſheath the Sword by Juſtice wav'd,
Thro' Sorrow's Pool his Paths he lav'd,
And PARDON with his BLOOD has bought.
[15]He ſhuns all Pomp, all Pride diſdains,
No Cradle Down his Infant Boſom preſt!
Rough Oxen heard his plaintive Strains;
An hay-ſtuff'd Manger was his ſofteſt Reſt.
Blow then the Trump of Joy, ye favour'd Throng!
Since JESU's BIRTH demands our choral Song.
III.
And lo! his CHRISTIAN BANNER rear'd,
By Millions lov'd, by Myriads fear'd,
Still waves us to the Rock of Reſt;
Come, Criminal, that's ſmit by Sin,
(He only bids th' Unworthy in)
Soft Pity's Tears bedew his Breaſt.
He ſhall waſh thine Aethiop Stain,
In ſwan-plum'd Innocence thou ſhall appear,
When Time gives up his meaſur'd Reign,
And vaſt ETERNITY begins her Year.
Blow then the Trump of Joy, ye choral Throng!
Since JESU's BIRTH demands our annual Song.
MIRA's DESPAIR, An ELEGY.
[]Each Moment has its Sickle, emulous
Of Time's enormous Scythe; each Moment plays
Its little Weapon in the narrower Sphere
Of ſweet Domeſtic Comfort, and cuts down
The faireſt Bloom of ſublunary Bliſs.
YOUNG.
I.
'TWAS the ſtill Hour of Veſper's ſhining,
When MIRA ſought a Rock's Retreat;
Where oozy Sea-Weeds hang entwining,
And wept ſalt Tricklings at her Feet.
II.
The wat'ry Waſte, Heav'us Concave bounding,
'Gan now with laſhing Foam to flow;
And duſky Twilight all-ſurrounding,
Mourn'd ſympathetic to her Woe.
III.
A while in ſullen Silence muſing,
She lay reflecting Scenes behind:
'Till tort'ring Thought Grief's Rage arouſing,
Sigh'd thus her Sorrows to the Wind:
IV.
"Ye clifted Rocks! with Summits ſoaring,
That high o'erhang this ſandy Plain;
Whence ſofter Streams, in Cat'racts roaring,
Conjoin the ſalt, caerulean Main.
[17]V.
Within your wave-worn, lone Receſſes,
Entomb a Grief-diſtracted Maid;
Where Terror ſtalks with ſtartling Treſſes,
And Darkneſs frowns a pitchy Shade.
VI.
And thou, O Deep! that hear'ſt my Pining,
(Th' unvailing Fume of phrenzied Breath)
'Twas conſcious Thou and Fate combining,
That vail'd my Damon's Eyes in Death.
VII.
Him howling Storms, of Life diveſted,
Have made ſome hungry Fiſhes Prey;
And from my Eyes for ever wreſted,
On this Side Time's ſhort-during Day.
VIII.
With Light'ning's Speed ev'n now I'll follow
His Shade beyond the Reach of Pain;
Ev'n now the heaving Surge I'll hollow,
And preſs the Bottom of the Main.
IX.
So icy Death, Heav'n's awful Envoy,
Long-wiſh'd, ſhall change my ſick'ning State;
And lend a fear-form'd fleeting Convoy,
And waft me to the Realms of Fate.
X.
She ceas'd—for Night's dark Mantle ſpreading,
Had ſably veil'd the vaulted Sky;
Nor ſocial Sound her Sorrows heeding,
Save mocking Echo made Reply.
[18]XI.
DESPAIR her beauteous Boſom rending,
Had now ſuffus'd Hope's glimm'ring Ray;
When from the rude Rock's Summit bending,
She deſp'rate plung'd her headlong
Way. 6 ODE TO PEACE
[]I.
HAIL-Born of Heav'n! thou Source of ſocial Store,
Britannia hails thee to her Sea-girt Shore,
With laurel'd Wreaths and Conqueſt crown'd;
Her Rights regain'd by Vict'ry's valiant Band,
She bows obedient to thine Olive Wand,
And courts firm Concord all around.
II.
Fan'd by Ambition Gallia's tow'ring Pride,
Sought o'er her envicd Empire to preſide,
And with deſpotic Rigour reign;
On Indian Plains the wide-waved Banner rear'd
Of hoſtile Diſcord, and in Arms appear'd
To diſcompoſe thy mild Domain.
III.
But awful Juſtice, Heav'n's Vice-gerent, weigh'd.
The faithleſs Inſult, and her Sword diſplay'd,
As th' impartial Balance hung:
Forc'd collcagu'd Monarchs, drench'd in Sorrow's Brine,
To cringe as Suppliants at thy ſacred Shrine,
And Slaughter's Blood-ſtain'd Bow unſtrung.
IV.
Then hence dire War! to ſavage Shores retreat,
Where Tyranny ſupports the Tartar's Seat,
Or Slav'ry clanks her Ott'man Chain:
Henceforth no more thy firm-embattled Bands,
Shall ſtain with Crimſon Gore Europa's Lands.
But laſting Peace irruptur'd reign.
TO HUMILITY.
[]HAIL Humility, Virgin pure!
From thy roſy rural Bower,
Deign thy Influence t' impart:
From Wiſdom's Lore thy Leſſon lend,
That can'ſt Delight with Knowledge blend,
And bow the Iron-ſinew'd Heart.
So ſhall for thee the plaited Primroſe twine,
And ſcented Sweet-Briar deck thy ſacred Shrine.
EPIGRAPH, ON THE GRAVE, A BEAUTIFUL POEM, ſo called.
WHEN EPITAPHS, Etch'd upon Braſs,
Shall quit their worn Charge, and deeline;
And Time the tall Tablets eraſe,
Where Fame's gilded Flatt'ries ſhine:
The Lines of this Truth-letter's GRAVE,
(Where Frailty diſtills the ſad Tear,)
Juſt Judgment and Merit ſhall ſave,
And MEM'RY tranſmitted, revere.
FINIS.