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RURAL ELEGANCE: An ODE to the late Ducheſs of SOMERSET. Written 1750.
By WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Eſq
I.
WHILE orient ſkies reſtore the day,
And dew-drops catch the lucid ray;
Amid the ſprightly ſcenes of morn,
Will aught the Muſe inſpire?
Oh! peace to yonder clamorous horn
That drowns the ſacred lyre!
[2]II.
Ye rural Thanes that o'er the moſſy down
Some panting, timorous hare purſue;
Does nature mean your joys alone to crown?
Say, does ſhe ſmoothe her lawns for you?
For you does Echo bid the rocks reply,
And urg'd by rude conſtraint reſound the jovial cry?
III.
See from the neighbouring hill, forlorn
The wretched ſwain your ſport ſurvey;
He finds his faithful fences torn,
He finds his labour'd crops a prey;
He ſees his flock—no more in circles feed;
Haply beneath your ravage bleed,
And with no random curſes loads the deed.
IV.
Nor yet, ye ſwains, conclude
That Nature ſmiles for you alone;
Your bounded ſouls, and your conceptions crude,
The proud, the ſelfiſh boaſt diſown:
Yours be the produce of the ſoil;
O may it ſtill reward your toil!
Nor ever the defenceleſs train
Of clinging infants, aſk ſupport in vain!
V.
But tho' the various harveſt gild your plains,
Does the mere landſchape feaſt your eye?
Or the warm hope of diſtant gains
Far other cauſe of glee ſupply?
[3]Is not the red-ſtreak's future juice
The ſource of your delight profound,
Where Ariconium pours her gems profuſe,
Purpling a whole horizon round?
Athirſt ye praiſe the limpid ſtream, 'tis true:
But tho', the pebbled ſhores among,
It mimick no unpleaſing ſong,
The limpid fountain murmurs not for you.
VI.
Unpleas'd ye ſee the thickets bloom,
Unpleas'd the Spring her flowery robe reſume;
Unmov'd the mountain's airy pile,
The dappled mead without a ſmile.
O let a rural conſcious Muſe,
For well ſhe knows, your froward ſenſe accuſe:
Forth to the ſolemn oak you bring the ſquare,
And ſpan the maſſy trunk, before you cry, 'tis fair.
VII.
Nor yet ye learn'd, not yet ye courtly train,
If haply from your haunts ye ſtray
To waſte with us a ſummer's day,
Exclude the taſte of every ſwain,
Nor our untutor'd ſenſe diſdain:
'Tis Nature only gives excluſive right
To reliſh her ſupreme delight;
She, where ſhe pleaſes kind or coy,
Who furniſhes the ſcene, and forms us to enjoy.
[4]VIII.
Then higher bring the fair ingenuous mind,
By her auſpicious aid refin'd;
Lo! not an hedge-row hawthorn blows,
Or humble hare-bell paints the plain,
Or valley winds, or fountain flows,
Or purple heath is ting'd in vain:
For ſuch the rivers daſh their foaming tides,
The mountain ſwells, the dale ſubſides;
Ev'n thriftleſs furze detains their wandering ſight,
And the rough barren rock grows pregnant with delight.
IX.
With what ſuſpicious fearful care
The ſordid wretch ſecures his claim,
If haply ſome luxurious heir
Should alienate the fields that wear his name!
What ſcruples leſt ſome future birth
Should litigate a ſpan of earth!
Bonds, contracts, feoffments, names unmeet for proſe,
The towering Muſe endures not to diſcloſe;
Alas! her unrevers'd decree,
More comprehenſive and more free,
Her laviſh charter, Taſte, appropriates all we ſee.
X.
Let gondolas their painted flags unfold,
And be the ſolemn day enroll'd,
[5]When, to confirm his lofty plea,
In nuptial ſort, with bridal gold,
The grave Venetian weds the ſea:
Each laughing Muſe derides the vow;
Ev'n Adria ſcorns the mock embrace,
To ſome lone hermit on the mountain's brow,
Allotted, from his natal hour,
With all her myrtle ſhores in dow'r.
His breaſt to admiration prone
Enjoys the ſmile upon her face,
Enjoys triumphant every grace,
And finds her more his own.
XI.
Fatigu'd with form's oppreſſive laws,
When SOMERSET avoids the Great;
When cloy'd with merited applauſe,
She ſeeks the rural calm retreat;
Does ſhe not praiſe each moſſy cell,
And feel the truth my numbers tell?
When deafen'd by the loud acclaim,
Which genius grac'd with rank obtains,
Could ſhe not more delighted hear
Yon throſtle chaunt the riſing year?
Could ſhe not ſpurn the wreaths of fame,
To crop the primroſe of the plains?
Does ſhe not ſweets in each fair valley find,
Loſt to the ſons of pow'r, unknown to half mankind?
[6]XII.
Ah can ſhe covet there to ſee
The ſplendid ſlaves, the reptile race,
That oil the tongue, and bow the knee,
That ſlight her merit, but adore her place?
Far happier, if aright I deem,
When from gay throngs, and gilded ſpires,
To where the lonely halcyons play,
Her philoſophick ſtep retires:
While ſtudious of the moral theme,
She, to ſome ſmooth ſequeſter'd ſtream
Likens the ſwain's inglorious day;
Pleas'd from the flowery margin to ſurvey,
How cool, ſerene, and clear the current glides away.
XIII.
O blind to truth, to virtue blind,
Who ſlight the ſweetly-penſive mind!
On whoſe fair birth the Graces mild,
And every Muſe prophetick ſmil'd.
Not that the poet's boaſted fire
Should Fame's wide-echoing trumpet ſwell;
Or, on the muſick of his lyre
Each future age with rapture dwell;
The vaunted ſweet of praiſe remove,
Yet ſhall ſuch boſoms claim a part
In all that glads the human heart;
Yet theſe the ſpirits, form'd to judge and prove
All nature's charms immenſe, and Heav'n's unbounded love.
[7]XIV.
And oh! the tranſport, moſt ally'd to ſong,
In ſome fair villa's peaceful bound,
To catch ſoft hints from Nature's tongue,
And bid Arcadia bloom around:
Whether we fringe the ſloping hill,
Or ſmoothe below the verdant mead;
Whether we break the falling rill,
Or thro' meandering mazes lead;
Or in the horrid bramble's room
Bid careleſs groups of roſes bloom;
Or let ſome ſhelter'd lake ſerene
Reflect flow'rs, woods and ſpires, and brighten all the ſcene.
XV.
O ſweet diſpoſal of the rural hour!
O beauties never known to cloy!
While worth and genius haunt the favour'd bow'r,
And every gentle breaſt partakes the joy!
While Charity at eve ſurveys the ſwain,
Enabled by theſe toils to chear
A train of helpleſs infants dear,
Speed whiſtling home acroſs the plain;
Sees vagrant Luxury, her hand-maid grown,
For half her graceleſs deeds attone,
And hails the bounteous work, and ranks it with her own.
[8]XVI.
Why brand theſe pleaſures with the name
Of ſoft, unſocial toils, of indolence and ſhame?
Search but the garden, or the wood,
Let yon admir'd carnation own,
Not all was meant for raiment, or for food,
Not all for needful uſe alone;
There while the ſeed of future bloſſoms dwell,
'Tis colour'd for the ſight, perfum'd to pleaſe the ſmell.
XVII.
Why knows the nightingale to ſing?
Why flows the pine's nectareous juice?
Why ſhines with paint the linnet's wing?
For ſuſtenance alone? for uſe?
For preſervation? Every ſphere
Shall bid fair Pleaſure's rightful claim appear.
And ſure there ſeem, of human kind,
Some born to ſhun the ſolemn ſtrife;
Some for amuſive taſks deſign'd,
To ſoothe the certain ills of life;
Grace it's lone vales with many a budding roſe,
New founts of bliſs diſcloſe,
Call forth refreſhing ſhades, and decorate repoſe.
XVIII.
From plains and woodlands; from the view
Of rural Nature's blooming face,
Smit with the glare of rank and place,
To courts the ſons of Fancy flew;
[9] There long had Art ordain'd a rival ſeat;
There had ſhe laviſh'd all her care
To form a ſcene more dazling fair,
And call'd them from their green retreat
To ſhare her proud controul;
Had giv'n the robe with grace to flow,
Had taught exotick gems to flow;
And emulous of nature's pow'r,
Mimick'd the plume, the leaf, the flow'r;
Chang'd the complexion's native hue,
Moulded each ruſtick limb anew,
And warp'd the very ſoul!
XIX.
Awhile her magick ſtrikes the novel eye,
Awhile the faery forms delight;
And now aloof we ſeem to fly
On purple pinions thro' a purer ſky,
Where all is wonderous, all is bright:
Now landed on ſome ſpangled ſhore
Awhile each dazled maniac roves
By ſaphire lakes, thro' em'rald groves,
Paternal acres pleaſe no more;
Adieu the ſimple, the ſincere delight—
Th' habitual ſcene of hill and dale,
The rural herds, the vernal gale,
The tangled vetch's purple bloom,
The fragrance of the bean's perfume,
Be theirs alone who cultivate the ſoil,
And drink the cup of thirſt, and eat the bread of toil,
[10]XX.
But ſoon the pageant fades away!
'Tis Nature only bears perpetual ſway.
We pierce the counterfeit delight,
Fatigu'd with ſplendour's irkſome beams,
Fancy again demands the ſight
Of native groves, and wonted ſtreams,
Pants for the ſcenes that charm'd her youthful eyes,
Where Truth maintains her court, and baniſhes diſguiſe.
XXI.
Then hither oft ye ſenators retire,
With Nature here high converſe hold;
For who like STAMFORD her delights admire,
Like STAMFORD ſhall with ſcorn behold
Th' unequal bribes of pageantry and gold;
Beneath the Britiſh oak's majeſtick ſhade,
Shall ſee fair Truth, immortal maid,
Friendſhip in artleſs guiſe array'd,
Honour, and moral Beauty ſhine
With more attractive charms, with radiance more divine.
XXII.
Yes, here alone did higheſt Heav'n ordain
The laſting magazine of charms,
Whatever wins, whatever warms,
Whatever fancy ſeeks to ſhare,
The great, the various, and the fair,
For ever ſhould remain!
[11]XXIII.
Her impulſe nothing may reſtrain—
Or whence the joy 'mid columns, tow'rs,
'Midſt all the city's artful trim,
To rear ſome breathleſs vapid flow'rs,
Or ſhrubs fuliginouſly grim:
From rooms of ſilken foliage vain,
To trace the dun far diſtant grove,
Where ſmit with undiſſembled pain,
The wood-lark mourns her abſent love,
Borne to the duſty town from native air,
To mimick rural life, and ſoothe ſome vapour'd fair.
XXIV.
But how muſt faithleſs Art prevail,
Should all who taſte our joy ſincere,
To virtue, truth or ſcience dear,
Forego a court's alluring pale,
For dimpled brook and leafy grove,
For that rich luxury of thought they love!
Ah no, from theſe the publick ſphere requires
Example for it's giddy bands;
From theſe impartial Heav'n demands
To ſpread the flame itſelf inſpires;
To ſift Opinion's mingled maſs,
Impreſs a nation's taſte, and bid the ſterling paſs.
XXV.
Happy, thrice happy they,
Whoſe graceful deeds have exemplary ſhone
Round the gay precincts of a throne,
[12]With mild effective beams!
Who bands of fair ideas bring,
By ſolemn grott, or ſhady ſpring,
To join their pleaſing dreams!
Theirs is the rural bliſs without alloy,
They only that deſerve, enjoy.
What tho' nor fabled Dryad haunt their grove,
Nor Naiad near their fountains rove,
Yet all embody'd to the mental ſight,
A train of ſmiling Virtues bright
Shall there the wiſe retreat allow,
Shall twine triumphant palms to deck the wanderer's brow.
XXVI.
And though by faithleſs friends alarm'd,
Art have with Nature wag'd preſumptuous war;
By SEYMOUR'S winning influence charm'd,
In whom their gifts united ſhine,
No longer ſhall their counſels jar.
'Tis hers to mediate the peace:
Near Percy-lodge, with awe-ſtruck mien,
The rebel ſeeks her lawful Queen,
And havock and contention ceaſe.
I ſee the rival pow'rs combine,
And aid each other's fair deſign;
Nature exalt the mound where Art ſhall build;
Art ſhape the gay alcove, while Nature paints the field.
[13]XXVII.
Begin, ye ſongſters of the grove!
O warble forth your nobleſt lay;
Where SOMERSET vouchſafes to rove
Ye leverets freely ſport and play.
—Peace to the ſtrepent horn!
Let no harſh diſſonance diſturb the morn,
No ſounds inelegant and rude
Her ſacred ſolitudes profane!
Unleſs her candour not exclude
The lowly ſhepherd's votive ſtrain,
Who tunes his reed amiſt his rural chear,
Fearful, yet not averſe, that SOMERSET ſhould hear.
An irregular ODE after SICKNESS, 1749.
[28]By the Same.
‘—Melius, cum venerit Ipſa, can [...]mus.’
I.
TOO long a ſtranger to repoſe,
At length from Pain's abhorred couch I roſe,
And wander'd forth alone;
To court once more the balmy breeze,
And catch the verdure of the trees,
Ere yet their charms were flown.
II.
'Twas from a bank with panſies gay
I hail'd once more the chearful day,
The ſun's forgotten beams:
O ſun! how pleaſing were thy rays,
Reflected from the poliſh'd face
Of yon refulgent ſtreams!
III.
Rais'd by the ſcene my feeble tongue
Eſſay'd again the ſweets of ſong:
And thus in feeble ſtrains and ſlow,
The loitering numbers 'gan to flow.
[29]IV.
"Come, gentle air! my languid limbs reſtore,
"And bid me welcome from the Stygian ſhore:
"For ſure I heard the tender ſighs,
"I ſeem'd to join the plaintive cries
"Of hapleſs youths, who thro' the myrtle grove
"Bewail for ever their unfiniſh'd love:
"To that unjoyous clime,
"Torn from the ſight of theſe etherial ſkies;
"Debarr'd the luſtre of their Delia's eyes;
"And baniſh'd in their prime.
V.
"Come, gentle Air! and while the thickets bloom,
"Convey the jaſmin's breath divine,
"Convey the woodbine's rich perfume,
"Nor ſpare the ſweet-leaft eglantine.
"And may'ſt thou ſhun the rugged ſtorm
"Till Health her wonted charms explain,
"With rural pleaſure in her train,
"To greet me in her faireſt form.
"While from this lofty mount I view
"The ſons of earth, the vulgar crew,
"Anxious for futile gains beneath me ſtray,
"And ſeek with erring ſtep Contentment's obvious way.
VI.
"Come, gentle Air! and thou celeſtial Muſe,
"Thy genial flame infuſe;
"Enough to lend a penſive boſom aid,
"And gild Retirement's gloomy ſhade;
[30]"Enough to rear ſuch ruſtic lays
"As foes may ſlight, but partial friends will praiſe."
VII
The gentle Air allow'd my claim;
And, more to chear my drooping frame,
She mix'd the balm of op'ning flowers;
Such as the bee, with chymic powers,
From Hybla's fragrant hill inhales,
Or ſcent Sabea's blooming vales.
But ah! the Nymphs that heal the penſive mind,
By preſcripts more refin'd,
Neglect their votary's anxious moan:
Oh, how ſhould They relieve?—the Muſes all were flown.
VIII.
By flowery plain, or woodland ſhades,
I fondly ſought the charming maids;
By woodland ſhades, or flow'ry plain,
I ſought them, faithleſs maids! in vain!
When lo! in happier hour,
I leave behind my native mead,
To range where zeal and friendſhip lead,
To viſit *****'s honor'd bower.
Ah fooliſh man! to ſeek the tuneful maids
On other plains, or near leſs verdant ſhades;
IX.
Scarce have my footſteps preſs'd the favor'd ground,
When ſounds etherial ſtrike my ear;
At once celeſtial forms appear;
My fugitives are found!
[31]The Muſes here attune their lyres,
Ah partial! with unwonted fires;
Here, hand in hand, with careleſs mien,
The ſportive Graces trip the green.
X.
But whilſt I wander'd o'er a ſcene ſo fair,
Too well at one ſurvey I trace,
How every Muſe, and every Grace,
Had long employ'd their care.
Lurks not a ſtone enrich'd with lively ſtain,
Blooms not a flower amid the vernal ſtore,
Falls not a plume on India's diſtant plain,
Glows not a ſhell on Adria's rocky ſhore,
But torn methought from native lands or ſeas,
From their arrangement, gain freſh pow'r to pleaſe.
XI.
And ſome had bent the wildering maze,
Bedeckt with every ſhrub that blows;
And ſome entwin'd the willing ſprays,
To ſhield th' illuſtrious Dame's repoſe:
Others had grac'd the ſprightly dome,
And taught the portrait where to glow;
Others arrang'd the curious tome;
Or 'mid the decorated ſpace,
Aſſign'd the laurel'd buſt a place,
And given to learning all the pomp of ſhow,
And now from every taſk withdrawn,
They met and friſk'd it o'er the lawn.
[32]XII.
Ah! woe is me, ſaid I;
And ***'s hilly circuit heard me cry,
Have I for this, with labour ſtrove,
And laviſh'd all my little ſtore
To fence for you my ſhady grove,
And ſcollop every winding ſhore;
And fringe with every purple roſe,
The ſaphire ſtream that down my valley flows?
XIII.
Ah! lovely treacherous maids!
To quit unſeen my votive ſhades,
When pale diſeaſe, and torturing pain
Had torn me from the breezy plain,
And to a reſtleſs couch confin'd,
Who ne'er your wonted taſks declin'd.
She needs not your officious aid
To ſwell the ſong, or plan the ſhade;
By genuine Fancy fir'd,
Her native Genius guides her hand,
And while ſhe marks the ſage command,
More lovely ſcenes her ſkill ſhall raiſe,
Her lyre reſound with nobler lays
Than ever you inſpir'd.
Thus I my rage and grief diſplay;
But vainly blame, and vainly mourn,
Nor will a Grace or Muſe return
Till LUXBOROUGH lead the way.
VERSES to a FRIEND.
[49]HAVE you not ſeen, my gentle ſquire,
The humours of our kitchin fire?
Says Ned to Sal—I lead a ſpade;
Why don't ye play?—the girl's afraid—
Play ſomething—any thing—but play—
'Tis but to paſs the time away.
Pho! how ſhe ſtands—biting her nails—
As tho' ſhe play'd for half her vails—
Sorting her cards, haggling and picking—
We play for nothing, do us, chicken?
That card will do—blood!—never doubt it—
'Tis not worth while to think, about it.
Sal thought and thought, and miſs'd her aim;
And Ned, ne'er ſtudying, won the game.
Methinks, old friend, 'tis wond'rous true,
That verſe is but a game at Loo.
While many a bard, that ſhews ſo clearly
He writes for his amuſement merely,
Is known to ſtudy, fret, and toil,
And play for nothing all the while;
Or praiſe at moſt (for wreaths of yore
Ne'er ſignify a farthing more:)
Till having vainly toil'd to gain it,
He ſees your flying pen obtain it.
Thro' fragrant ſcenes the trifler roves,
And hallow'd haunts that Phoebus loves;
[50]Where with ſtrange heats his boſom glows,
And myſtic flames the God beſtows.
You, who none other flame require
Than a good blazing parlour fire,
Write verſes—to defy the ſcorners,
In cake houſes, and chimney corners.
Sal found her deep-laid ſchemes were vain;
The cards are cut—come deal again—
No good comes on it when one lingers—
I'll play the card comes next my fingers—
Fortune could never let Ned loo her,
When ſhe had left it wholly to her.
Well, now, who wins?—Why, ſtill the ſame—
For Sal has loſt another game.
I've done, ſhe mutter'd—I was ſaying,
It did not argufy my playing.
Some folks will win they cannot chuſe;
But think or not think—ſome muſt loſe,
I may have won a game, or ſo—
But then it was an age ago—
It ne'er will be my lot again—
I won it of a baby then—
Give me an ace of trumps, and ſee,
Our Ned will beat me with a three.
'Tis all by luck that things are carry'd —
He'll ſuffer for it when he's marry'd.
Thus Sal, with tears in either eye,
While victor Ned ſat tittering by.
Thus I, long envying your ſucceſs,
And bent to write, and ſtudy leſs,
[51]Sate down and ſcribbled in a trice;
Juſt what you ſee—and you deſpiſe.
You who can frame a tuneful ſong,
And hum it as you ride along;
And, trotting on the king's high-way,
Snatch from the hedge a ſprig of bay;
Accept the verſe, howe'er it flows,
From one, who is your friend in proſe.
What is this wreath, ſo green! ſo fair!
Which many wiſh; and few muſt wear?
Which one man's indolence can gain,
Another's vigils ne'er obtain?
For what muſt Sal or Poet ſue,
Ere they engage with Ned or you?
For luck in verſe? for luck at Loo?
Ah no! 'tis Genius gives you fame,
And Ned thro' ſkill ſecures the game.
To * * * * * *
[60]By ANTHONY WHISTLER, Eſq
RESOLVE me, Strephon, what is this,
I think you cannot gueſs amiſs.
'Tis the reverſe of what you love,
And all the men of ſenſe approve.
None of the Nine e'er gave it birth;
The offspring firſt of fooliſh mirth,
The nurs'ry's ſtudy, children's play,
Inferior far to Namby's lay.
What vacant Folly firſt admir'd,
And then with emulation fir'd,
Gravely to imitate, aſpir'd.
'Tis oppoſite to all good writing,
In each defect of this delighting.
Obſcurity its charms diſplays,
And inconſiſtency, its praiſe.
No gleam of ſenſe to wake the ſoul,
While clouds of nonſenſe round it roll.
No ſmooth deſcription to delight;
No fire the paſſions to excite;
Not joke enough to ſhake the pit:
A jeſt obſcene wou'd here be wit.
What train of thought, tho' e'er ſo mean,
Of black-ſhoe-boy or cynder-quean,
But far out-ſhines Sir Fopling's mind
While bent this ſecret charm to find!
[61]The greateſt charm as yet remains,
Beſt ſuited to the ſearcher's brains,
That when he ſeems on it to fall,
He finds there is no charm at all.
Th' appearance, firſt, of Nothing's fine,
To find it Nothing is divine!
But Batho is the flow'r, to ſink
Below what mortal man can think—
Well, now what is't?—what is't—a fiddle!—
Yes, do be angry—'tis a Riddle.
The Pepper-box and Salt-ſeller. A FABLE.
To * * * * * Eſq By the ſame.
THE 'ſquire had din'd alone one day,
And Tom was call'd to take away:
Tom clear'd the board with dextrous art:
But, willing to ſecure a tart,
The liquoriſh youth had made an halt;
And left the pepper-box and ſalt
Alone, upon the marble table:
Who thus, like men, were heard to ſquabble.
Pepper began, "Pray, Sir, ſays he,
What buſineſs have you here with me?
Is't fit that ſpices of my birth
Should rank with thee, thou ſcum of earth?
I'd have you know, Sir, I've a ſpirit
Suited to my ſuperior merit—
[64]Tho' now, confin'd within this caſtre,
I ſerve a northern Gothic maſter;
Yet born in Java's fragrant wood,
To warm an eaſtern monarch's blood,
The ſun thoſe rich perfections gave me,
Which tempted Dutchmen to enſlave me.
Nor are my virtues Here unknown,
Tho' old and wrinkled now I'm grown.
Black as I am, the faireſt maid
Invokes my ſtimulating aid,
To give her food the poignant flavour;
And to each ſauce, its proper ſavour.
Paſties, ragouts and fricaſſees,
Without my ſeaſoning, fail to pleaſe:
'Tis I, like wit, muſt give a zeſt,
And ſprightlineſs, to every feaſt.
Phyſicians too my uſe confeſs;
My influence ſageſt matrons bleſs:
When drams prove vain, and cholics teaze,
To me they fly for certain eaſe.
Nay I freſh vigour can diſpenſe,
And cure ev'n age and impotence:
And, when of dulneſs wits complain,
I brace the nerves, and clear the brain,
But, to the 'ſquire here, I appeal—
He knows my real value well:
Who, with one pepper-corn content,
Remits the vaſſal's annual rent —
Hence then, Sir Brine, and keep your diſtance:
Go lend the ſcullion your aſſiſtance;
[65]For culinary uſes fit;
To ſalt the meat upon the ſpit:
Or juſt to keep our meat from ſtinking—
And then—a ſpecial friend to drinking!"
"Your folly moves me with ſurprize,
(The ſilver tripod thus replies)
Pray, maſter Pepper, why ſo hot?
Firſt couſin to the muſtard-pot!
What boots it how our life began?
'Tis breeding makes the gentleman.
Yet would you ſearch my pedigree,
I roſe like Venus from the ſea:
The ſun, whoſe influence you boaſt,
Nurs'd me upon the Britiſh coaſt.
The chymiſts know my rank and place,
When nature's principles they trace:
And wiſeſt moderns yield to me
The elemental monarchy.
By me all nature is ſupplied
With all her beauty, all her pride!
In vegetation, I aſcend;
To animals, their vigour lend;
Corruption's foe, I liſe preſerve,
And ſtimulate each ſlacken'd nerve.
I give jonquils their high perfume;
The peach its flavour, roſe its bloom:
Nay, I'm the cauſe, when rightly trac'd,
Of Pepper's aromatic taſte.
[66]Such claims you teach me to produce;
But need I plead my obvious uſe?
In ſeaſoning all terreſtrial food?
When heav'n declares, that ſalt is good.
Grant then, ſome few thy virtues find;
Yet ſalt gives health to all mankind:
Phyſicians ſure will ſide with me,
While cooks alone ſhall plead for thee.
In ſhort, with all thine airs about thee,
The world were happier far without thee."
The 'ſquire, who all this time ſate mute,
Now put an end to their diſpute:
He rung the bell—bade Tom convey
The doughty diſputants away—
The ſalt, refreſh'd by ſhaking up,
At night did with his maſter ſup:
The pepper, Tom aſſign'd his lot
With vinegar, and muſtard-pot:
A fop with bites and ſharpers join'd,
And, to the ſide-board, well confin'd!
MORAL.
Thus real genius is reſpected!
Conceit and folly thus neglected!
And, O my SHENSTONE! let the vain,
With miſbecoming pride, explain
Their ſplendor, influence, wealth or birth;
—'Tis men of ſenſe are men of worth.
The SCAVENGERS. A Town Eclogue. In the Manner of SWIFT.
By the Same.
AWAKE my Muſe, prepare a loftier theme:
The winding valley and the dimpled ſtream
Delight not all; quit, quit the verdant field,
And try what duſty ſtreets and alleys yield.
[79]Where Avon wider flows, and gathers fame,
A town there ſtands, and Warwick is its name,
For uſeful arts, entitled once to ſhare
The Mercian dame, Elfleda's guardian care.
Nor leſs for feats of chivalry renown'd
When her own Guy was with her laurels crown'd.
Now indolence ſubjects the drowſy place,
And binds in ſilken bonds her feeble race.
No buſy artiſans their fellows greet,
No loaded carriages obſtruct the ſtreet;
Scarce here and there a ſauntring band is ſeen,
And pavements dread the turf's incroaching green.
Laſt of the toiling race there liv'd a pair,
Bred up in labour, and inur'd to care,
To ſweep the ſtreets their taſk from ſun to ſun,
And ſeek the naſtineſs that others ſhun.
More plodding hind, or dame, you ne'er ſhall ſee,
He gaffer Peſtel hight, and gammer ſhe.
As at their door they ſate one ſummer's day,
Old Peſtel firſt eſſay'd the plaintive lay,
His gentle mate the plaintive lay return'd,
And thus alternately their grief they mourn'd.
O. P.
Alas! was ever ſuch fine weather ſeen!
How duſty are the roads, the ſtreets how clean!
How long, ye almanacks, will it be dry?
Empty my cart how long, and idle I?
Once other days, and diff'rent fate we knew,
That ſomething had to carry, I to do.
[80]Now e'en at beſt the times are none ſo good,
But 'tis hard work to ſcrape a livelihood.
The cattle in the ſtalls reſign their life,
And baulk the ſhambles, and the bloody knife.
Th' affrighted farmer penſive ſits at home,
And turnpikes threaten to compleat my doom.
WIFE.
Well! for the turnpike, that will do no hurt▪
The roads, they ſay, are n't much the better for't.
But much I fear this murrain, where 'twill end,
For ſure the cattle did our door befriend.
Oft have I prais'd them as they ſtalk'd along,
Their fat the butchers pleas'd, but me their dung.
O. P.
See what a little dab of dirt is here!
But yields all Warwick more, O tell me where?
Lo! where this ant-like hillock ſcarce is ſeen,
Heaps upon heaps, and loads on loads have been:
Bigger and bigger the proud dunghill grew,
'Till my diminiſh'd houſe was hid from view.
WIFE.
Ah! gaffer Peſtel, what brave days were thoſe,
When higher than our houſe, our muck-hill roſe?
The growing mount I view'd with joyful eyes,
And mark'd what each load added to its ſize.
Wrapt in its fragrant ſteam we often ſate,
And to its praiſes held delightful chat.
Nor did I e'er neglect my mite to pay,
To ſwell the goodly heap from day to day;
For this each morn I plied the ſtubbed-broom;
'Till I ſcarce hobbled o'er my furrow'd room:
[81]For this I ſquat me on my hams each night,
And mingle profit ſweet with ſweet delight?
A cabbage once I bought, but ſmall the coſt,
Nor do I think the farthing all was loſt:
Again you ſold its well digeſted ſtore,
To dung the garden where it grew before.
O. P.
What tho' the boys, and boy-like fellows jeer'd,
And at the ſcavenger's employment ſneer'd,
Yet then at night content I told my gains,
And thought well paid their malice and my pains.
Why toils the merchant but to ſwell his ſtore?
Why craves the wealthy landlord ſtill for more?
Why will our gentry flatter, trade, and lie,
Why pack the cards, and—what d'ye call't the die?
All, all the pleaſing paths of gain purſue,
And wade thro' thick and thin, as we folk do.
[...]weet is the ſcent that from advantage ſprings,
[...]nd nothing dirty that good intereſt brings.
[...]Tis this that cures the ſcandal, and the ſmell,
The reſt—e'en let our learned betters tell.
WIFE.
When goody Dobbins call'd me filthy bear,
[...]nd nam'd the kennel and the ducking chair:
With patience I cou'd hear the ſcolding quean,
[...]or ſure 'twas dirtineſs that kept me clean.
[...]lean was my gown on Sundays, tho' not fine,
[...]or miſtreſs ***'s cap ſo white as mine.
[...] ſlut in ſilk or kerſey is the ſame,
[...]or ſweeteſt always is the fineſt dame.
[82]Thus wail'd they pleaſure paſt, and preſent cares,
While the ſtarv'd hog join'd his complaint to theirs.
To ſtill his grunting different ways they tend
To Weſt-gate one, and one to Cotton-end.
* VACUNA.
By Mr. D—.
SCEPTRE of eaſe! whoſe calm domain extends
O'er the froze Chronian, or where lagging gales
Fan to repoſe the Southern realms. O! whom
More ſlaves obey than ſwarm about the courts
f Pekin, or
g Agra—univerſal
queen! Me hap'ly ſlumb'ring all a ſummer's day,
Thy meaneſt ſubject, often haſt thou deign'd
Gracious to viſit. If thy poppy then
Was e'er infus'd into my gifted quill,
[96]If e'er my nodding Muſe was bleſt with pow'r,
To doze the reader with her opiate verſe—
Come, goddeſs; but be gentle; not as when
On ſtudious heads attendant thou art ſeen
Faſt by the twinkling lamp, poring and pale
Immers'd in meditation, ſleep's great foe?
Where the clue-guided caſuiſt unwinds
Perplexities; or Halley from his tower
Converſes with the ſtars: In other guize
Thy preſence I invoke. Serene approach,
With forehead ſmooth, and ſauntring gait; put on
The ſmile unmeaning, or in ſober mood
Fix thy flat, muſing, leaden eye: as looks
Simplicius, when he ſtares and ſeems to think.
Prompted by thee, Reſervo keeps at home,
Intent on books: he when alone applies
The needle's reparation to his hoſe,
Or ſtudious ſlices paper. Taught by thee
Dullman takes ſnuff, and ever and anon
Turns o'er the page unread. Others more ſage,
Place, year, and printer not unnoted, well
Examine the whole frontiſpiece, and if
Yet ſtricter their enquiry, e'en proceed
To leaves within, and curious there ſelect
Italicks, or conſult the margin, pleas'd
To find a hero or a tale: all elſe,
The obſervation, maxim, inference
Diſturb the brain with thought—It ſure were long
[97]To name thy ſev'ral vot'ries, Pow'r ſupine,
And all thy various haunts. Why ſhould I ſpeak
Of coffee-houſe? or where the eunuch plays,
Or Roſcius in his buſkin? Theſe and more
Thy crowded temples, where thou ſit'ſt enſhrin'd
Glorious, thy incenſe ambergris, and time
Thy ſacrifice.—About thee cards and dice
Lie ſcatter'd, and a thouſand vaſſal beaux
Officiate at thy worſhip.—Nor mean while
Is ſolitude leſs thy peculiar ſphere;
There unattended you vouchſafe to ſhroud
Your beauties, gentle Potentate; with me
By vale or brook to loiter not diſpleas'd:
Hear the ſtream's pebbled roar, and the ſweet bee
Humming her fairy-tunes, in praiſe of flowers;
Or clam'rous rooks, on aged elm or oak,
Aloft the cawing legiſlators ſit,
Debating, in full ſenate, points of ſtate.
My bower, my walks, my ſtudy all are thine,
For thee my yews project their ſhade: my green
Spreads her ſoft lap, my waters whiſper ſleep.
Here thou may'ſt reign ſecure, nor hoſtile thought,
Nor argument, nor logick's dire array
Make inroad on thy kingdom's peace.—What tho'
Malicious tongues me harmleſs repreſent,
A traitor to thy throne: or that I hold
Forbidden correſpondence with the Nine,
Plotting with Phoebus, and thy foes! What tho'
[98]Of ſatire they impeach me, ſtrain ſevere!
Thou know'ſt my innocence: 'tis true indeed
I ſometimes ſcribble, but 'tis thou inſpir'ſt:
In proof accept, O goddeſs, this my verſe.
On J. W. ranging PAMPHLETS.
By the Same.
WHAT ken mine eyes, enchanted? man of eaſe,
In elbow chair, and under brow of thought
Intenſe, on ſome great matter fixt, no doubt:
What mean the myrmidons on either hand
In paper-coats, and orderly array,
Spread far and wide, on table, deſk, and ſtool,
Variety of troops, white, purple, pied,
And grey, and blue's battalion trim; and who
In marbled regimentals, ſome in veſt
Gay edg'd with gold; of various garb, and tongue,
And clime; extended o'er the wooden plain.
Not force more numerous from her teeming loins
Pours forth Hungaria to the Danube's bank
Croats and Pandeurs: nor the ſwarming war
Of Turk and Nadir, nodding oppoſite
With particolour'd turbans. Sing, O Muſe,
Their marſhal'd numbers, and puiſſance. Firſt,
With ſable ſhield, and arms opaque, advance
[99]Divinity polemic, ſober rage,
Yet deadly! (and can rage in minds divine
Inhabit!) councils, ſynods, cloyſters, ſchools,
Cowl beats off cowl, and mitre mitre knocks.
Preſbyt'ry here with wither'd face aſkew,
Vengeance demure; and there devoutly fierce
Catholicos, in lawn ſprinkled with blood.
Not far behind with her divided troops
Comes Policy, with democratic ſhouts
On one hand, on the other loud acclaim
For pow'r hereditary, and right divine:
I ſee the various portraiture diſplay'd,
Brutus and Nimrod, libertines, and ſlaves,
And crowns, and
h breeches flutter in the air.
Who next with aſpect ſage and parchment wav'd
Voluminous come on? I know their beards
Hiſtoric, ſee the ſtyle acute, with which
They fight old Time, maugre his deſp'rate ſcythe,
And as he cleaves the pyramid, apply
Their puny prop. Hence annals, journals hence,
And memoirs, doubtful truth, and certain lies,
And tales, and all the magazines of war.
What Muſe, O Poetry, can paſs unſung
Thy flowing banners, and gay tent, adorn'd
With airy trophies? or would leave thy name
Uncatalogu'd, were it but Nereus-like
[100]To beautify the liſt. Not that thou want'ſt
Th' offenſive dart, 'till Satire's quiver fails.
All theſe, and more came flocking;—but await
The dread commander's voice, and dare no more
Start from their place, than did the Theban ſtone,
Ere yet Amphion ſung.—From ſide to ſide
The ſedentary chief, in ſtudious mood,
And deep revolve, darts his experienc'd eye.
Forth from his preſence hies his aid-de-camp,
A ſturdy Cambro-Briton, to ſurvey
The poſture of the field; from rank to rank
Poſting ſuccinct. He gives the word, which way
The ſquadrons to advance, where wheel their courſe.
"Vanguard to right and left." Forthwith the bands,
As at the ſound of trump, obedient move
In perfect phalanx. Each their ſtation knows
And quarters, as the general's will ordains.
Firſt to its place ſpontaneous Verſe repairs,
Knowing the call, and practis'd to obey
His ſummons. Peaceful Controverſy ſheaths
Her claws, contracted to make room for Scot
And Tom. Aquinas, ſlumb'ring ſide by ſide;
And Bellarmine, and Luther, heard no more
Than Delphi's ſhrine, or Memnon's ſtatue dumb.
All, all, in order due and ſilence, look
A modern convocation. Hiſt'ry lies
By hiſt'ry,—Hyde and Oldmixon agree.
[101]Which when the marſhal, from his eaſy chair
Of callimanco, ſaw; knit his calm brows
Thoughtful, and thus th' aſſembled leaves beſpoke.
Ye hierarchies, and commonweals, and thrones,
Folios, octavos, and ye minor pow'rs
Of paper, ere to winter-quarters ſent,
Hear me, ye liſt'ning books. Firſt I direct
Submiſſion to your lord and faith entire.
Did I not liſt you, and enroll your names
On parchment? See the volume; look at me.
Did I not mark you (as the Pruſſian late
His ſubjects) badge of ſervice when requir'd?
'Tis well,—and let me next, ye flimſy peers,
Love brother-like and union recommend:
Live peaceful, as by me together tied
In bands of ſtricteſt amity: ſhou'd then
Your maſter lend you to ſome neighb'ring ſtate
Auxiliaries; remember ye preſerve
Your firſt allegiance pure, and chearful home
Return, when ſummon'd by your natural prince.
Be humble, nor repine, tho' ſmear'd with ink
And duſt inglorious; know your birth and end,
For rags ye were, and muſt to rags return.
EPITHALAMIUM.
[102]By the Same.
YE nymphs, that from Diana's ſport retir'd,
Yon foreſt leave awhile, and love to haunt
The bord'ring vallies; ſaw ye, as they paſs'd,
A choſen pair, the glory of your plains,
Array'd in youth's full bloom, and nature's prime?
Saw ye the glance of beauty, when the fair,
Quiver'd with charms, and by the Graees dreſs'd,
March'd on: with joy the bridegroom fluſh'd, beyond
What livelieſt fancy, unpoſſeſs'd, can dream?
Heard ye the muſic of the groves around
Warbling, while choirs of gratulation rung
From ev'ry ſpray; and nightingales, ſoft tun'd,
In notes peculiar thrill'd the nuptial ſong!
Such as in neighb'ring Windſor's fav'rite ſhade
They chaunt; and, if their Handel's ear be true,
No where on ſilence ſteal with lay ſo ſweet.
Auſpicious omens brood on the fair hour!
Did ever Hymen's look more freſh appear,
Or his bright veſt with deeper yellow flow?
The veſt that on occaſions high and rare
[103]Pontifical he wears, when hearts ſincere
Combine; of healthy cheek, and ſparkling eye
As in the ſtate of nature, ere his ſhafts
By gold were blunted. How the blazing torch,
Fann'd by love's pinion, ſheds unuſual fire!
Lo! by the trail of light, he left behind,
As from the ſhrine his jubilee return'd,
The Muſe, invited gueſt, attends her theme
Right to the nuptial bow'r. There ent'ring, thrice
She hemm'd, thrice bleſt the threſhold with a ſneeze,
Prelude of happineſs to come. Her lyre
She ſtrung,—a friendly, voluntary ſtrain.
"Hail (ſhe began) diſtinguiſh'd pair! how fit
To join in wedded love, each other's choice!
Bridegroom, thy taſte is elegant indeed,
And fingers nice, that on ſome ſunny bank
In beauty's garden cull'd ſo fair a flow'r,
To thine tranſplanted from her native ſoil.
Cheriſh beſure thy blooming charge; keep off
Each blaſt unkind, and Zephyr's gale alone
Blow there, and genial ſuns for ever ſmile.
Who not applaud thy vow? hereafter who
Diſpute thy palate, judging and exact,
Owner of curious bliſs?—Nor thou, fair bride,
Repine, nor homeward caſt thy longing eye;
'Twas time to ſever from the virgin choir.
What joy in lonelineſs to waſte the hours
Unfruitful? ſee, hard by, Loddona's ſtream
[104]Cold and inactive creep along; her face
Shaded with penſive willow,—till anon
Married to jovial Thames, briſkly ſhe glides
O'er many a laughing mead.—'Tis nature wills
Such union: bleſt ſociety! where ſouls
Move, as in dance, to melody divine
Fit partners. (How unlike the noiſy broils
Of wedded ſtrife!) Hence friendſhip's gen'rous glow
At love's high noon; and hence the ſober flame
Steady, as life declines.—All comforts hence
Of child and parent, ſtrongeſt, deareſt ties!
Think not the fair original deſign'd
To flouriſh and be loſt. The world expects
Some copies to adorn another age.—
Thank the kind gods; be happy, live and love.
A WINTER THOUGHT.
[107]By J. EARL.
I.
THE man whoſe conſtitution's ſtrong,
And free from vexing cares his mind,
As changing ſeaſons paſs along
Can in them all freſh pleaſures find.
II.
Not only in the teeming bud,
The opening leaf, and following bloom,
(Urg'd by the ſap's aſcending flood)
And fruit fair knitting in its room;
III.
Not only when the ſmiling fields
In all their gaity appear,
And the perfumes their boſom yields
On balmy wings the zephyrs bear.
IV.
In morning fair, in evening mild,
The murm'ring brook, and cooling ſhade,
Birds airy notes in conſorts wild,
And Philomela's ſerenade.
V.
Not only in the waving ear,
And branches bending with their load,
Or whilſt the produce of the year
Is gathering, and in ſafety ſtow'd.
[108]VI.
He pleas'd, in days autumnal ſees
The ſhadowy leaf diverſify'd
With various colours, and the trees
Stripp'd, and ſtand forth in naked pride.
VII.
Each hollow blaſt, and haſty ſhow'r,
The rattling hail, and fleecy ſnow,
The candy'd rime, and ſcatter'd hoar,
And icicles which downward grow.
VIII.
The ſhining pavement of the flood,
To which the youthful tribes reſort,
And game, which the diſcover'd wood
Expoſes to the fowler's ſport.
IX.
The greens, which wintry blaſts defy,
Thro' native ſtrength, or human care,
In hedge, or cloſe arrangery,
All theſe a ſource of pleaſure are.
X.
The ſun which from the northern ſigns
Scorch'd with unſufferable heat,
Now in a milder glory ſhines,
And every glancing ray is ſweet.
XI.
The ſilver morn, and each fair ſtar
Forth to the beſt advantage ſhine,
And by the richeſt ſcene prepare
For noble thoughts th' enlarged mind.
[109]XII.
He, when the mornings ſloweſt riſe,
Can ſweetly paſs the nights away
In lucubration with the wiſe,
Or converſation with the gay.
XIII.
And when the winter tedious grows,
And length'ning days cold ſtronger bring,
A new increaſing pleaſure flows,
From expectation of the ſpring.
XIV.
So he whoſe faculties are ſound,
His heart upright and conſcience clean,
Agreeably can paſs his round
Of life, in ev'ry ſhifting ſcene.
XV.
Not only in his youthful prime,
And whilſt his pow'rs continue firm,
But when he feels th' effect of time,
And age prepares him for the worm.
XVI.
Grateful for every bleſſing paſt,
Patient in every preſent ill;
And on whatever ground he's plac'd,
Hope does with pleaſing proſpects fill;
XVII.
And faith in heav'n's enchanting love
(From whence that Sun will ſoon appear
Whoſe ſmiles make endleſs ſpring above)
Does all his damps, and darkneſs clear,
VERSES ſpoken at WESTMINSTER School.
[111]J. F.
HOW like you, Sir, the ſplendor of the day?
What! has your lordſhip not a word to ſay?
Can neither verſe, nor proſe your praiſes move?
He ſure diſlikes who cares not to approve.
You view with ſcorn our antiquated ways,
Queen Beſs's golden rules and golden days.
No powder'd liveries attend us here,
Hunger's our ſauce, and mutton is our cheer.
Our worn-out cuſtoms may provoke your ſport,
How long the graces, and the meals how ſhort!
Nor can our mouldy college-life afford
A bed more faſhionable than its board.
No ſtate-alcove, no wainſcot can you ſee
Of cedar old, or new mahogany:
To us, poetic furniture is given,
Curtains of night and canopy of heaven:
Our youths, whom well-bred gentlemen deſpiſe,
Sleep with the lamb, as with the lark they riſe.
Nay, prayers each day (ſtrange things to modern beaux)
Open our morning, and our evening cloſe:
Nor yet content with what at home we do,
Our laws preſent us to the publick view;
[112]We to the Abbey march in white array
Thrice every week, beſide each holy day.
What boys of rank cou'd brook ſuch hard commands?
Like meaneſt choriſters to take their ſtands,
Or penitents, with tapers in their hands?
But theſe objections nobles may diſown,
Who ſeldom ſtoop to wear the daggled gown:
The ſchool itſelf unmannerly they call,
Like death a general leveller of all;
Which ne'er regards the priv'lege of a peer,
What race you ſpring from, or what arms you bear.
Boys on themſelves, not anceſtors, rely,
Diſtinguiſh'd by intrinſic quality:
A ſaucy commoner may take his place,
Who is a lord, and is to be his grace.
Not ſo at home—there due diſtinction's made,
And full obeiſance to degree is paid:
Far milder treatment does his honour meet,
From handmaid gentle, and from ſiſter ſweet:
With footmen romps (which finely muſt improve him)
And kiſs his couſins that his aunts may love him.
There the whole kindred join to form an heir,
And uncles, grandſires, grandmothers are there:
But oh! th' enchanting bleſſings who can ſhew,
Which from the kennel, and the ſtable flow!
When honour quits the cloſet for the fields,
And all the ſtudent to the ſportſman yields.
[113]Perhaps ſome glorious hunting-match deſign'd,
E'en now, tho' abſent, riſes to your mind;
If not prevented by this luckleſs day,
How had you ſcower'd o'er hills and dales away,
By foxes murder'd glory to obtain,
And boaſt three vixens in a fortnight ſlain!
Or had the generous ſtag with winged ſpeed
Acroſs whole countries urg'd the ſtraining ſteed,
[...]ach Yorkſhire Riding might have view'd the race;
Your horn perhaps had rung thro' Chevy-Chace.
[...]ore cou'd I ſay—
LORD C.
— But hold, 'tis time you end,
Who for a renegade miſtake a friend.
And cou'd you think one ſon ſo void of grace,
[...]' abjure his Alma Mater to her face?
[...]ow ſhou'd not ſhe with irony diſpenſe,
Who lends us figures to adorn our ſenſe?
Why, 'tis to gain her ſmiles our parts we prove,
[...]o ſhew our genius is to ſhew our love:
[...]nd you the judges, ſince yourſelves inſpire,
[...] our pacific or prolific fire,
[...] candid, and abſolve the general aim,
[...]e argue different, but we think the ſame.
[...] Parents, when fondeſs, or the faſhion ſway,
[...]ill breed their child themſelves, the modern way:
[...]o pedant ſchemes, that abject minds controul,
[...]ou'd thwart the native freedom of his ſoul:
[114]Him their own eye o'erlooks, own modes refine,
And maſter's powder'd ev'ry day to dine.
As for his pretty head, mamma takes care
The comb's well fix'd, and nicely curl'd the hair,
And not one thing, I'll warrant you, breeds there.
E'en let the dirty boys, ſo doom'd, be fools,
And walk thro' thick and thin to crowded ſchools,
Leſt ſuch rude noiſe ſhou'd hurt his tender brain,
In his own hall Sir Timothy they train.
Moll tells him ſtories while ſhe ſweeps the room,
And he imbibes his morals from the groom.
At twelve years old the ſprightly youth is able
To turn a pancake, or dry-rub a table.
Soon as the clerk has taught him all he can,
They ſend to London for ſome abler man.
Down comes a Frenchman: Sire, me ſwear and vow,
Me be ſurpriz'd you make no better bow:
But will make you un brave ſcholar, no fear,
Better den my own ſelf, in two, tree year.
The knight begins, and in a literal ſenſe,
Turns French to Engliſh, and makes Latin French.
Three years my lady mother has the joy
To hear the Frenchman and to ſee the boy;
To her it is a comfort (above all)
That Tim ſhould learn ſo faſt, and grow ſo tall.
Kitty, my lady's waiting maid, was ſiſter
To Tom the groom, who knew the knight had kiſs'd her;
[115]Tom manages his knight at ſuch a rate,
He beats the Frenchman, and he marries Kate.
So fondly the wiſe mother lov'd the child,
She quite undid him, leſt he ſhou'd be ſpoil'd.
This news the widow of the neighb'ring grange
Heard with ſurprize— But I, ſaid ſhe, will change
This unſucceſsful method, and my Jerry,
I'll anſwer for't, ſhall never thus miſcarry.
Prate with the maid! No—him I'll breed up ſhyly,
And every ſervant ſhall reſpect him highly.
No trifling monſieur here ſhall give advice;
I'll have ſome ſenior-fellow, grave and wiſe,
From either of our univerſities.
She ſaid—'Tis done—The honeſt man with pains
Gender and number, mood and tenſe explains;
Jerry goes thro' his daily taſk and thrives,
From in ſpeech be to th' apple-tree arrives.
Then ſtudious reads what Belgian authors writ,
And drains whole nomenclators for their wit:
From thence apace he grows accompliſh'd fully,
Has read Corderius, and has heard of Tully.
Shou'd Oxford next, or Paris be his chance?
The laſt prevails, and he's equip'd for France.
He goes—ſees every thing that rare and new is,
And hunts like any alderman, with Lewis;
Till ſome great fortune, or mamma's command,
Again reſtores him to the Britiſh ſtrand,
Then, welcome Sir, to bleſs your native land.
[116]But ſee the proper vacancy preſent,
And up he comes full fraught for parliament.
Then firſt his noble heart begins to ſink,
Fain would he ſpeak, but knows not how to think:
Howe'er he'll needs launch out beyond his reach,
Fer who ne'er made a theme, makes no good ſpeech.
Hence the loud laugh, and ſcornful ſneer ariſe,
Hence round and round the piquant raill'ry flies,
And thus (ſad ſhame) tho' now he's twenty-four,
He's finely laſh'd that ne'er was laſh'd before.
While each mean time, or commoner or peer,
Who paſs'd the diſcipline in practice here,
Convinc'd applauds the doctor's wholſome plan,
Who made the youngſter ſmart to ſave the man.
For what tho' ſome the good old man deſert,
Grow learn'd with eaſe, and graſp the ſhade of art,
For us, we foſter here no vain pretence,
Nor fill with empty pride the void of ſenſe;
We riſe with pains, nor think the labour light
To ſpeak like Romans, and like Romans write.
'Tis ours to court with care the learned throng,
To catch their ſpirit as we gain their tongue;
To enjoy the charms in Caeſar's works that ſhine,
And learn to glow at Virgil's lofty line.
'Twas thus you mov'd, and thus in riper years,
With ſuch ſuperior luſtre fill your ſpheres;
'Twas thus you learn'd to riſe, nor can you blame
If as we tread your ſteps we hope your fame.
[117]And oh! may Weſtminſter for ever view
Sons after ſons ſucceed, and all like you;
May every doubt your great examples clear,
And Education fix her empire here.
An EPISTLE from the Elector of BAVARIA to the FRENCH King, after the Battle of RAMILLIES.
[119]IF yet, great Sir, your heart can comfort know,
And the returning ſighs leſs frequent flow;
If yet your ear can ſuffer ANNA'S fame,
And bear, without a ſtart, her MARLBRO'S name;
If half the ſlain o'er wide Ramillia ſpread,
Are yet forgot, and in your fancy dead:
Attend, and be yourſelf, while I recite
(Oh! that I only can of loſſes write!)
To what a mighty ſum our ills amount,
And give a faithful, tho' a ſad account.
Let not Bavaria be condemn'd unheard,
Nor, 'till examin'd, have his conduct clear'd;
Charge not on me alone that fatal day,
Your own commanders bore too great a ſway.
Think! Sir, with pity think! what I have loſt,
My native realms and my paternal coaſt,
All that a firm confed'rate could beſtow,
Ev'n faith and fame, if you believe the foe.
Think what a heavy load o'erwhelms my breaſt,
With its own ſorrows and with yours oppreſt;
[120]After one battle loſt, and country gone,
Vanquiſh'd again, alas! and twice undone.
Oh! where ſhall I begin? what language find
To heal the raging anguiſh of your mind?
Or if you deign a willing ear to lend,
Oh! where will my diſaſtrous ſtory end?
Conqueſt I often promis'd, I confeſs,
And who from ſuch a pow'r could promiſe leſs?
There Gallia's force, and here Bavaria's ſhines,
Th' experienc'd houſhold fills our crowded lines;
Already had our tow'ring thoughts o'erthrown
The Belgian hoſt, while we ſurvey'd our own,
Deſtroy'd their provinces with ſword and flame,
Let in their ſeas, and ſack'd their Amſterdam;
Already had we ſhar'd the fancy'd ſpoil,
(Imaginary trophies crown'd our toil)
Batavian ſtandards to this temple gave,
In that the Britiſh croſſes doom'd to wave,
A rural ſeat aſſign'd each captive chief,
In flow'ry gardens to aſſuage his grief,
And by his arts, and firſt eſcape prepar'd,
On MARLBRO had beſtow'd a double guard.
Paris impatient for the conquer'd foe,
Haſten'd the tuneful hymn and ſolemn ſhow;
Triumphal chariots for the victor ſtay'd,
And finiſh'd arches caſt a pompous ſhade;
With niceſt art the bards had dreſs'd their lays,
Of nothing fearful but to reach our praiſe;
[121]But all our hopes and expectation croſt,
What lines have we? what fame has Boileau loſt?
Your army now, fixt on its high deſigns,
Ruſh forth like vernal ſwarms, and quit their lines;
Eager the Dyle they paſs to ſeek the fight,
Judoina's fields with ſudden tents are white,
The foe deſcends, like torrents from the hills,
And all the neighb'ring vale tumultuous fills:
Preluding cannons tell th' approaching ſtorm,
And working armies take a dreadful form.
Soon your victorious arms, and ſtronger force,
Tore all the left, and broke the Belgian horſe;
Their ſcatter'd troops are rally'd to the fight,
But only rally'd for a ſecond flight:
As when high heav'n on ſome aſpiring wood,
Which in cloſe ranks, and thickeſt order ſtood,
Pours its collected ſtores of vengeance down,
Cedars are ſeen with firs and oaks o'erthrown,
Long ravages and intervals of waſte!
So gor'd their lines appear'd, and ſo defac'd.
The third attack had ended all the war,
Sunk their whole force, and ſav'd your future care,
Had MARLBRO, only MARLBRO, not been there.
As ſome good genius flies, to ſave the realms
Which, in his abſence born, a plague o'erwhelms,
Through op'ning ſquadrons did the hero haſte,
And rais'd their drooping courage as he paſt.
[122]Amidſt the routed Belgians he arriv'd,
Turn'd the purſuit, the fainting fight reviv'd,
Supply'd each rank, fill'd ev'ry vacant ſpace,
And brought the battle to its former face.
With trembling hearts we ſee our fate decreed;
Where MARLBRO fights how can a foe ſucceed?
To reach his life our boldeſt warriors ſtrive,
On him the ſtorm with all its thunder drive;
He ſtems the war, and half encompaſs'd round
Still clears his way, and ſtill maintains his ground:
Amaz'd I ſaw him in ſuch dangers live,
And envy'd him the death I wiſh'd to give.
But how our riſing pleaſure ſhall I tell?
The thund'ring ſteed, and the great rider, fell:
We thank'd kind heav'n, and hop'd the victor ſlain,
But all our hopes, and all our thanks were vain:
Free from the guilt of any hoſtile wound
Alive he lay, and dreadful on the ground.
As when a lion in the toils is caſt,
That uncontroul'd had laid the country waſte,
Th' inſulting hinds ſurround him, who before
Fled from his haunts, and trembled at his roar;
So round beſet the mighty Briton lies,
And vulgar foes attempt the glorious prize.
'Till freſh battalions to his ſuccour brought,
Contending armies for the hero fought;
The wanted ſteed ſome friendly hand prepar'd,
And met a fatal, but a great, reward:
[123]A glorious death; of his lov'd lord bereft,
The pious office unperform'd he left.
The reſcu'd chief, by the paſt danger warm'd,
Our weaken'd houſhold with new fury ſtorm'd:
While all around to our admiring eyes
Freſh foes, and undiſcover'd ſquadrons, riſe.
The boaſted guards that ſpread your name ſo far,
And turn'd where'er they fought the doubtful war,
With heaps of ſlaughter ſtrow'd the fatal plain,
And did a thouſand glorious things in vain;
Broke with unequal force ſuch numbers die,
That I myſelf rejoic'd to ſee them fly.
But oh! how few preſerv'd themſelves by flight?
Or found a ſhelter from th' approaching night?
Thouſands fall undiſtinguiſh'd in the dark,
And five whole leagues with wide deſtruction mark.
Scarce at Ramillia did the ſlaughter end,
When the ſwift victor had approach'd Oſtend;
Took in whole ſtates and countries in his way,
Bruſſels, nor Ghent, nor Antwerp gain'd a day;
Within the compaſs of one circling moon,
The Lis, the Demer, and the Scheld his own.
What in the foe's, and what in William's hand,
Did for an age the power of France withſtand;
Tho' each campaign ſhe crowded nations drain'd,
And the fat ſoil with blood of thouſands ſtain'd;
Thoſe forts and provinces does MARLBRO gain
In twice three ſuns, and not a ſoldier ſlain;
[124]None can ſuſpend the fortune of their town,
But who their harveſt and their country drown;
Compell'd to call (his valour to evade)
The leſs deſtructive ocean to their aid.
Oh! were our loſs to Flandria's plains confin'd!
But what a train of ills are ſtill behind!
Beyond the Adige Vendome feels the blow,
And Villars now retires without a foe,
The fate of Flanders ſpreads in Spain the flame,
And their new monarch robs of half his fame;
But France ſhall hear, in ſome late diſtant reign,
An unborn Lewis curſe Ramillia's plain.
Whither, oh! whither ſhall Bavaria run?
Or where himſelf, or where the victor ſhun?
Shall I no more with vain ambition roam,
But my own ſubjects rule in peace at home?
Thence an abandon'd fugitive I'm driven,
Like the firſt guilty man by angry heav'n
From his bleſs'd manſions, where th' avenging lord
Still guards the paſſage with a brandiſh'd ſword.
Or ſhall I to Brabantia's courts retire,
And reign o [...]er diſtant provinces for hire?
Shall I with borrow'd government diſpenſe,
A royal ſervant and another's prince?
Theſe countries too (oh my hard fate!) are loſt,
And I am baniſh'd from a foreign coaſt;
Now may I ſight ſecure of future toils,
Of no new countries a third battle ſpoils.
[125]Oh, Tallard! once I did thy chains deplore,
But envy now the fate I mourn'd before;
By bondage bleſs'd, protected by the foe,
You live contented with one overthrow;
Her captive, Britain kindly kept away
From the diſgrace of the laſt fatal day.
How does my fall the haughty victor raiſe,
And join divided nations in his praiſe;
Grateful Germania unknown titles frames,
And CHURCHILL writes amongſt her ſov'reign names.
Part of her ſtates obey a Britiſh lord,
Small part! of the great empire he reſtor'd.
From the proud Spaniard he extorts applauſe,
And rivals with the Dutch their great Naſſaus.
[...]n ev'ry language are his battles known,
The Swede and Pole for his, deſpiſe their own.
A thouſand ſects in him their ſafety place,
[...]nd our own ſaints are thank'd for our diſgrace.
England alone, and that ſome pleaſure gives,
[...]nvies herſelf the bleſſings ſhe receives.
My grief each place renews where-e'er I go,
[...]nd ev'ry art contributes to my woe;
[...]amillia's plain each painter's pencil yields,
[...]avaria flies in all their canvas fields:
[...]n me, young poets their rude lays indite,
[...]nd on my ſorrows practiſe how to write;
[...] in their ſcenes with borrow'd paſſion rage,
[...]nd act a ſhameful part on ev'ry ſtage.
[126]In Flandria will the tale be ever told,
Nor will it grow, with ever telling, old:
The liſping infants will their MARLBRO raiſe,
And their new ſpeech grow plainer in his praiſe;
His ſtory will employ their middle years,
And in their lateſt age recall their fears,
While to their children's children they relate
The buſineſs of a day, their country's fate:
Then lead them forth, their thoughts to entertain,
And ſhew the wond'ring youth Ramillia's plain;
'Twas here they fought, the houſhold fled that way,
And this the ſpot where MARLBRO proſtrate lay.
Here they, perhaps, ſhall add Bavaria's name,
Cenſure his courage, and his conduct blame:
'Tis falſe, 'tis falſe, I did not baſely yield,
I left indeed, but left a bloody field:
Believe not, future ages, ne'er believe
The vile aſperſions which theſe wretches give;
If you too far my injur'd honour try,
Take heed, my ghoſt, it will, it ſhall, be nigh,
Riſe in his face, and give the ſlave the lie.
Why ſhould the ſtars thus on Britannia ſmile,
And partial bleſſings crown the fav'rite iſle?
Holland does her for their great founder own;
Britannia gave to Portugal a crown:
Twice by her queens does proud Iberia fall;
Her Edwards and her Henrys conquer'd Gaul:
[127]The Swede her arms from late oppreſſion freed,
And if he dares oppreſs, will curb the Swede.
She, from herſelf, decides her neighbours fates,
Reſcues by turns, by turns ſubdues their ſtates;
In the wide globe no part could nature ſtretch
Beyond her arms, and out of Britain's reach:
Who fear'd, ſhe e'er could have Bavaria ſeen?
Such realms, and kingdoms, hills, and ſeas between?
Yet there,—oh ſad remembrance of my woe!
Diſtant Bavaria does her triumphs ſhow.
Proud ſtate! muſt Europe lie at thy command,
No prince without thee riſe, without thee ſtand!
What ſhare? what part is thine of all the ſpoil?
Thine only is the hazard and the toil.
An empire thou haſt ſav'd and all its ſtates,
Iberia's realms have felt ſeverer fates:
What wou'dſt thou more? ſtill do thy arms advance?
Heav'n knows what doom thou haſt reſerv'd for France!
From whoſe wiſe care does all the treaſure riſe,
That ſlaughter'd hoſts and ſhatter'd fleets ſupplies?
From whence ſuch boundleſs conqueſt does ſhe reap,
Purchas'd with all her boaſted millions cheap?
O bleſs'd! oh envy'd QUEEN! that does command
At ſuch a time, in ſuch a happy land;
Great in her armies and her pow'rful fleet!
Great in her treaſures! in her triumphs great!
But greater ſtill! and what we envy moſt,
That can a MARLBRO for her ſubject boaſt!
[128]Oh, Gallia! from what ſplendors art thou hurl'd?
The terror once of all the weſtern world;
Thy ſpreading map each year did larger grow,
New mountains ſtill did riſe, new rivers flow;
But now ſurrounded by thy ancient mounds,
Doſt inward ſhrink from thy new-conquer'd bounds.
Why did not nature, far from MARLBRO'S worth,
In diſtant ages bring her Louis forth?
Each uncontroul'd had conquer'd worlds alone,
Happy, for Europe, they together ſhone.
Ceaſe! Louis, ceaſe! from wars and ſlaughter ceaſe!
Oh! ſue at laſt, 'tis time to ſue, for peace!
Urge not too far your twice unhappy fate,
Nor MARLBRO'S ſtronger arm confeſs too late:
Who never camps nor rough encounters ſaw,
Can no juſt image of the hero draw:
He muſt, alas! that MARLBRO truly knows,
Face him in battle, and whole armies loſe.
Believe me, Sir, on my unwilling breaſt,
Fate has his virtues one by one impreſt:
With what a force our Schellemberg he ſtorm'd?
And Blenheim's battle with what conduct form'd?
How great his vigilance; how quick his thought;
What his contempt of death, Ramillia taught.
Theſe nature cool for peace and counſel forms,
For battle thoſe with rage and fury warms;
But to her fav'rite Britain does impart
The cooleſt head at once and warmeſt heart;
[129]So does Sicilia's lofty mountains ſhow
Flames in her boſom, on her head the ſnow.
My youth with flatt'ring ſmiles did Fortune crown,
The more ſeverely on my age to frown?
Of Pleaſure's endleſs ſtores I drank my fill,
Officious Nature waited on my will;
The Auſtrian reſcu'd, and the Turk o'erthrown,
Europe and Aſia fill'd with my renown:
[...]aſted are all my glories and my fame,
[...]oſt is my country and illuſtrious name;
[...]he titles from their preſent lord are torn,
Which my great anceſtors ſo long had borne;
[...]o native honours ſhall my offspring grace,
The laſt elector with a num'rous race.
[...]alf my unhappy ſubjects loſt by wars,
[...]he reſt for a worſe fate the victor ſpares:
[...]ere they for this entruſted to my care?
[...]his the reward the brave, the faithful ſhare?
[...]y ſons lament, in diſtant dungeons thrown,
[...]nacted crimes, and follies not their own;
[...]ut oh! my comfort!—my o'er-flowing eyes
[...]uſh forth with tears, and all my ſorrows riſe,
[...]hile the dear tender exile I bemoan;
[...]h royal bride! oh daughter of a throne!
[...]ot thus I promis'd when I ſought thy bed,
[...]hou didſt the brave, the great Bavaria wed:
[...]irſt be ambition! curſt the thirſt of pow'r!
[...]nd curſt that once-lov'd title Emperor!
[130]Excuſe, great Sir, the ravings of a mind,
That can ſo juſt a cauſe for ſorrow find;
My words too rudely may a monarch greet,
For oh! was ever grief like mine diſcreet!
No ſuff'rings ſhall my firm alliance end,
An unſucceſsful, but a faithful friend.
ODE to DEATH. Tranſlated from the FRENCH of the King of PRUSSIA.
By Dr. HAWKSWORTH.
YET a few years, or days perhaps,
Or moments paſs with ſilent lapſe,
And time to me ſhall be no more;
No more the ſun theſe eyes ſhall view,
Earth o'er theſe limbs her duſt ſhall ſtrew,
And life's fantaſtic dream be o'er.
Alas! I touch the dreadful brink,
From nature's verge impell'd I ſink,
And endleſs darkneſs wraps me round!
Yes, Death is ever at my hand,
Faſt by my bed he takes his ſtand,
And conſtant at my board is found.
[139]Earth, air, and fire, and water, join
Againſt this fleeting life of mine,
And where for ſuccour can I fly?
If art with flatt'ring wiles pretend
To ſhield me like a guardian friend,
By Art, ere Nature bids, I die.
I ſee this tyrant of the mind,
This idol Fleſh to duſt conſign'd,
Once call'd from duſt by pow'r divine;
Its features change, 'tis pale, 'tis cold—
Hence dreadful ſpectre! to behold
Thy aſpect, is to make it mine.
And can I then with guilty pride,
Which fear nor ſhame can quell or hide,
This fleſh ſtill pamper and adorn!
Thus viewing what I ſoon ſhall be,
Can what I am demand the knee,
Or look on aught around with ſcorn?
But then this ſpark that warms, that guides,
That lives, that thinks, what fate betides?
Can this be duſt, a kneaded clod!
This yield to death! the ſoul, the mind,
That meaſures heav'n, and mounts the wind,
That knows at once itſelf and God?
[140]Great Cauſe of all, above, below,
Who knows thee muſt for ever know,
Immortal and divine!
Thy image on my ſoul impreſt,
Of endleſs being is the teſt,
And bids Eternity be mine!
Tranſporting thought!—but am I ſure
That endleſs life will joy ſecure?
Joy's only to the juſt decreed!
The guilty wretch expiring, goes
Where vengeance endleſs life beſtows,
That endleſs mis'ry may ſucceed.
Great God, how aweful is the ſcene!
A breath, a tranſient breath between;
And can I jeſt, and laugh, and play!
To earth, alas! too firmly bound,
Trees deeply rooted in the ground,
Are ſhiver'd when they're torn away.
Vain joys, which envy'd greatneſs gains,
How do ye bind with ſilken chains,
Which aſk Herculean ſtrength to break!
How with new terrors have ye arm'd
The pow'r whoſe ſlighteſt glance alarm'd?
How many deaths of one ye make!
[141]Yet, dumb with wonder, I behold
Man's thoughtleſs race in error bold,
Forget or ſcorn the laws of death;
With theſe no projects coincide,
Nor vows, nor toils, nor hopes, they guide,
Each thinks he draws immortal breath.
Each blind to fate's approaching hour,
Intrigues, or fights, for wealth, or pow'r,
And ſlumb'ring dangers dare provoke:
And he who tott'ring ſcarce ſuſtains
A century's age, plans future gains,
And feels an unexpected ſtroke.
Go on, unbridled deſp'rate band,
Scorn rocks, gulphs, winds, ſearch ſea and land,
And ſpoil new worlds wherever found.
Seize, haſte to ſeize the glitt'ring prize,
And ſighs, and tears, and pray'rs deſpiſe,
Nor ſpare the temple's holy ground.
They go, ſucceed, but look again,
The deſp'rate hand you ſeek in vain,
Now trod in duſt the peaſant's ſcorn.
But who that ſaw their treaſures ſwell,
That heard th' inſatiate vow rebel,
Would e'er have thought them mortal born?
[142]See the world's victor mount his car,
Blood marks his progreſs wide and far,
Sure he ſhall reign while ages fly;
No, vaniſh'd like a morning cloud,
The hero was but juſt allow'd
To fight, to conquer, and to die.
And is it true, I aſk with dread,
That nations heap'd on nations bled
Beneath his chariot's fervid wheel,
With trophies to adorn the ſpot,
Where his pale corſe was left to rot,
And doom'd the hungry reptile's meal?
Yes, Fortune weary'd with her play,
Her toy, this hero, caſts away,
And ſcarce the form of man is ſeen:
Awe chills my breaſt, my eyes o'erflow,
Around my brows no roſes glow,
The cypreſs mine, funereal green!
Yet in this hour of grief and fears,
When aweful Truth unveil'd appears,
Some pow'r unknown uſurps my breaſt;
Back to the world my thoughts are led,
My feet in Folly's lab'rynth tread,
And fancy dreams that life is bleſt.
[143]How weak an empreſs is the mind,
Whom Pleaſure's flow'ry wreaths can bind,
And captive to her altars lead!
Weak Reaſon yields to Phrenzy's rage,
And all the world is Folly's ſtage,
And all that act are fools indeed.
And yet this ſtrange, this ſudden flight,
From gloomy cares to gay delight,
This fickleneſs, ſo light and vain,
In life's deluſive tranſient dream,
Where men nor things are what they ſeem,
Is all the real good we gain.
The Hymns of DIONYSIUS: Tranſlated from the Greek.
By the Rev. Mr. MERRICK.
To the MUSE.
LEND thy voice, celeſtial maid:
Through thy vocal grove convey'd,
Let a ſudden call from thee.
Wake my ſoul to harmony.
Raiſe, oh! raiſe the hallow'd ſtrain,
Miſtreſs of the tuneful train.
[144]And thou ſacred ſource of light,
Author of our myſtic rite,
Thou whom erſt Latona bore
On the ſea-girt Delian ſhore,
Join the fav'ring Muſe, and ſhed
All thy influence on my head.
II. TO APOLLO.
Be ſtill, ye vaulted ſkies! be ſtill
Each hollow vale, each echoing hill,
Let earth and ſeas, and winds attend;
Ye birds awhile your notes ſuſpend;
Be huſh'd each ſound; behold him nigh,
Parent of ſacred harmony;
He comes! his unſhorn hair behind
Looſe floating to the wanton wind,
Hail, ſire of day, whoſe roſy car,
Through the pathleſs fields of air,
By thy winged courſers borne,
Opes the eyelids of the morn.
Thou, whoſe locks their light diſplay
O'er the wide aetherial way,
Wreathing their united rays
Into one promiſcuous blaze.
Under thy all-ſeeing eye
Earth's remoteſt corners lie;
While, in thy repeated courſe,
Iſſuing from thy fruitful ſource,
[145]Floods of fire inceſſant ſtray,
Streams of everlaſting day.
Round thy ſphere the ſtarry throng,
Varying ſweet their ceaſeleſs ſong,
(While their vivid flames on high
Deck the clear untroubled ſky,)
To the tuneful lyre advance,
Joining in the myſtic dance,
And with ſtep alternate beat
Old Olympus' lofty ſeat.
At their head the wakeful Moon
Drives her milkwhite heifers on,
And with meaſur'd pace and even
Glides around the vaſt of heaven,
Journeying with unwearied force,
And rejoicing in her courſe.
Time attends with ſwift career,
And forms the circle of the year.
III. TO NEMESIS.
Nemeſis, whoſe dreaded weight
Turns the ſcale of human fate;
On whoſe front black terrors dwell,
Daughter dire of Juſtice, hail!
Thou whoſe adamantine rein
Curbs the arrogant and vain.
Wrong and Force before thee die,
Envy ſhuns thy ſearching eye,
And, her ſable wings outſpread,
Flies to hide her hated head.
[146]Where thy wheel with reſtleſs round
Runs along th' unprinted ground,
Humbled there, at thy decree
Human greatneſs bows the knee.
Thine it is unſeen to trace
Step by ſtep each mortal's pace:
Thine the ſons of Pride to check,
And to bend the ſtubborn neck,
Till our lives directed ſtand
By the meaſure in thy hand.
Thou obſervant ſit'ſt on high
With bent brow and ſtedfaſt eye,
Weighing all that meets thy view
In thy balance juſt and true.
Goddeſs, look propitious down,
View us, but without a frown,
Nemeſis, whoſe dreaded weight
Turns the ſcale of human fate.
Nemeſis be ſtill our theme,
Power immortal and ſupreme,
Thee we praiſe, nor thee alone,
But add the partner of thy throne.
Thee and Juſtice both we ſing,
Juſtice, whoſe unwearied wing
Rears aloft the virtuous name
Safe from hell's rapacious claim;
And when thou thy wrath haſt ſhed
Turns it from the guiltleſs head.
A SATIRE in the Manner of PERSIUS, in a Dialogue between ATTICUS and EUGENIO.
[147]By the late Lord HERVEY.
ATTICUS.
WHY wears my penſive friend that gloomy brow?
Say, whence proceeds th' imaginary woe?
What proſp'rous villain haſt thou met to-day?
Or hath afflicted Virtue croſs'd thy way?
Is it ſome crime unpuniſh'd you deplore,
Or right ſubverted by injurious Power?
Be this or that the cauſe, 'tis wiſely done
To make the ſorrows of mankind your own:
To ſee the injur'd pleading unredreſs'd,
The proud exalted, and the meek oppreſs'd,
Can hurt thy health, and rob thee of thy reſt.
Your cares are in a hopeful way to ceaſe,
If you muſt find perfection to find peace.
But reck thy malice, vent thy ſtifled rage,
Inveigh againſt the times and laſh the age.—
Perhaps juſt recent from the court you come,
O'er public ills to ruminate at home:
Say, which of all the wretches thou haſt ſeen
Hath thrown a morſel to thy hungry ſpleen?
[148]What worthleſs member of that medley throng,
Who baſely acts, or tamely ſuffers wrong?
He, who to nothing but his int'reſt true,
Cajoles the fool he's working to undo:
Or that more deſpicable timorous ſlave,
Who knows himſelf abus'd, yet hugs the knave?
Perhaps you mourn our ſenate's ſinking fame,
That ſhew of freedom dwindled to a name:
Where hireling judges deal their venal laws,
And the beſt bidder hath the juſteſt cauſe;
What then?
They have the pow'r, and who ſhall dare to blame
The legal wrong that bears Aſtraea's name?
Beſides, ſuch thoughts ſhou'd never ſtir the rage
Of youthful gall;—reflection comes with age:
'Tis our decaying life's autumnal fruit,
The bitter produce of our lateſt ſhoot,
When ev'ry bloſſom of the tree is dead,
Enjoyment wither'd, and our wiſhes fled:
Thine ſtill is in its ſpring, on ev'ry bough
Fair Plenty blooms, and youthful Odours blow;
Seaſon of joy, too early to be wiſe,
The time to covet pleaſures, not deſpiſe:
Yours is an age when trifles ought to pleaſe,
Too ſoon for reaſon to attack thy eaſe.
Tho' ſoon the hour ſhall come, when thou ſhalt know
'Tis vain fruition ull, and empty ſhew.
[149]But late examine, late inſpect mankind,
If ſeeing pains, 'tis prudence to be blind.
Let not their vices yet employ thy thoughts,
Laugh at their follies, ere you weep their faults:
And when (as ſure you muſt) at length you find
What things men are, reſolve to arm your mind.
Too nicely never their demerits ſcan,
And of their virtues make the moſt you can.
Silent avert the miſchief they intend,
And croſs, but ſeem not to diſcern, their end:
If they prevail, ſubmit, for prudence lies
In ſuffering well.—'Tis equally unwiſe,
To ſee the injuries we won't reſent,
And mourn the evils which we can't prevent.
EUGENIO.
You counſel well to bid me arm my mind.
Wou'd the receipt were eaſy, as 'tis kind;
But hard it is for miſery to reach
That fortitude proſperity can teach.
Cou'd I forbid what has been to have been,
Or lodge a doubt on truths myſelf have ſeen;
Cou'd I diveſt remembrance of her ſtore,
And ſay, collect theſe images no more;
Cou'd I diſlodge ſenſation from my breaſt,
And charm her wakeful faculties to reſt;
Cou'd I my nature and myſelf ſubdue,
I might the method you preſcribe purſue.
[150]But if unfeign'd afflictions we endure,
If reaſon's our diſeaſe, and not our cure,
Then ſeeming eaſe is all we can obtain;
As one, who long familiariz'd to pain,
Still feels the ſmart, but ceaſes to complain.
Tho' young in life, yet long inur'd to care,
Thus I ſubmiſſive every evil bear:
If unexpected ills alone are hard,
Mine ſhou'd be light, who am for all prepar'd:
No diſappointments can my peace annoy,
Diſuſe has wean'd me from all hopes of joy:
The vain purſuit for ever I give o'er,
Repuls'd I ſtrive, betray'd I truſt no more:
Mankind I know, their nature, and their art,
Their vice their own, their virtue but a part;
Ill play'd ſo oft, that all the cheat can tell,
And dang'rous only where 'tis acted well.
In different claſſes rang'd, a different name
Attends their practice, but the heart's the ſame.
Their hate is intereſt, intereſt too their love,
On the ſame ſprings theſe different engines move:
That ſharpens malice, and directs her ſting,
And thence the honey'd ſtreams of flattery ſpring.
Long I ſuſpected what at laſt I know:
I thought men worthleſs, now I've prov'd 'em ſo;
Reluctant prov'd it, by too ſure a rule,
I learn'd my ſcience in a painful ſchool.
[151]He buys e'en wiſdom at too dear a price,
Who pays my ſad experience to be wiſe.
Why did I hope, by ſanguine views poſſeſs'd,
That Virtue harbour'd in a human breaſt?
Why did I truſt to Flattery's ſpecious wile,
The April ſunſhine of her tranſient ſmile?
Why diſbelieve the leſſons of the wiſe,
That taught me young to pierce her thin diſguiſe?
[...] thought their rancour, not their prudence, ſpoke,
That age perverſe in falſe invectives broke;
[...] thought their comments on this gaudy ſcene
The effects of phlegm, and dictated by ſpleen;
That jealous of the joys themſelves were paſt,
Their envy try'd to pall their children's taſte:
Like the deaf adder to the charmer's tongue,
[...] gave no credit to the truths they ſung;
But, happy in a viſionary ſcheme,
[...]till ſought companions worthy my eſteem:
The tongue, the heart's interpreter I deem'd,
And judg'd of what men were by what they ſeem'd;
[...] thought each warm profeſſor meant me fair,
Each ſupple ſycophant a friend ſincere.
The ſolemn hypocrite, whoſe cloſe deſign
[...]lirth never interrupts, nor love, nor wine,
Who talks on any ſecret but his own,
Collecting all, communicating none;
Who ſtill attentive to what others ſay,
Obſerves to wound, or queſtions to betray;
[152]Of him as guardian of my private thought,
In morning counſels cool reſolves I ſought;
To him ſtill open, cautiouſly conſign'd
The inmoſt treaſures of my ſecret mind;
My joys, and griefs delighted to impart,
In ſacred confidence unmix'd with art;
That dangerous pleaſure of the honeſt heart!
Whene'er I purpos'd to unbend my ſoul
In ſocial banquets, where the circling bowl
To gladneſs lifts all ſorrows but deſpair,
And gives a tranſient Lethe to our care;
I choſe the men whoſe talents entertain
And ſeaſon converſe with a lively ſtrain;
Who thoughtleſs ſtill, by hope, nor fear perplex'd,
Enjoy the preſent hour, and riſque the next.
Theſe not the luxury of ſlothful eaſe,
Soft downy beds, nor balmy ſlumbers pleaſe;
While wakeful kings on purple couches own
The ſecret ſorrows of their envy'd crown,
And wait revolving light, with ſhorter reſt
Than e'en thoſe wretches by their power oppreſt:
This jocund train, devoted to delight,
In chearful vigils ſtill protract the night,
Nor dread the cares approaching with the day;
Thro' each viciſſitude for ever gay.
With ſuch I commun'd, pleas'd that I cou'd find
Receſs ſo grateful to the active mind:
[153]And while the youths in ſprightly conteſt try,
With humorous tale, or appoſite reply,
Or amorous ſong, or inoffenſive jeſt,
(The teſt of wit) to glad the lengthen'd feaſt;
My ſoul, ſaid I, depend upon their truth,
For fraud inhabits not the breaſt of youth;
Indulge thy genius here, be free, be ſafe,
Mirth is their aim, they covet but to laugh;
Pure from deceit, as ignorant of care,
Their friendſhip, and their joys are both ſincere.
I judg'd their nature, like their humour good;
As if the ſoul depended on the blood;
And that the ſeeds of honeſty muſt grow
Wherever health reſides, or ſpirits flow.
I ſee my error: but I ſee too late:
'Tis vain inſpection to look back on Fate.—
What are the men who moſt eſteem'd we find,
But ſuch whoſe vices are the moſt refin'd?
Blind preference! for vice like poiſon ſhews,
The ſureſt death is in the ſubtleſt doſe.—
To ſuch reflections when I turn my mind,
I loath my being, and abhor mankind.
What joy for truth, what commerce for the juſt,
If all our ſafety's founded on diſtruſt;
If all our wiſdom is a mean deceit,
And he who proſpers but the ableſt cheat!
ATTICUS.
[154]O early wiſe! how well haſt thou defin'd
The worth, the joys, the friendſhip of mankind!
EUGENIO.
Bleſt be the pow'rs, I know their abject ſtate.
ATTICUS.
Yet bear with this, and hope a better fate.
Thrice happy they, who view with ſtable eyes
The ſhifting ſcene, who temp'rate, firm, and wiſe,
Can bear its ſorrows, and its joys deſpiſe;
Who look on diſappointments, ſhocks, and ſtrife,
And all the conſequential ills of life,
Not as ſeverities the gods impoſe,
But eaſy terms indulgent Heav'n allows
To man, by ſhort probation to obtain
Immortal recompence for tranſient pain.
Th' intent of Heav'n thus rightly underſtood,
From every evil we extract a good:
This truth divine implanted in the heart,
Supports each drudging mortal thro' his part;
Gives a delightful proſpect to the blind;
The friendleſs thence a conſtant ſuccour find:
The wretch by fraud betray'd, by pow'r oppreſs'd,
With this reſtorative ſtill ſoothes his breaſt;
This ſuffering Virtue chears, this Pain beguiles,
And decks Calamity herſelf in ſmiles.
When Mead and Freind have ranſack'd ev'ry rule,
Taught in Hippocrates' and Galen's ſchool,
[155]To quiet ills that mock the leech's art,
Which opiates fail to deaden in the heart,
This cordial ſtill th' incurable ſuſtains:
He triumphs in the ſharp inſtructive pains,
Nor like a Roman hero, falſely great,
With impious hand anticipates his fate;
But waits reſign'd the ſlow approach of death;
Till that great Power who gave, demands his breath.
Such are thy ſolid comforts, love divine,
Such ſolid comforts, O my friend, be thine.
On this firm baſis thy foundation lay,
Of happineſs unſubject to decay.
On man no more, that frail ſupport, depend,
The kindeſt patron, or the warmeſt friend;
The warmeſt friend may one day prove untrue,
And intereſt change the kindeſt patron's view.
Hear not, my friend, the fondneſs they profeſs,
Nor on the trial grieve to find it leſs:
With patience each capricious change endure;
Careful to merit where reward is ſure.
To Providence implicitly reſign'd,
Let this grand precept poiſe thy wavering mind:
With partial eyes we view our own weak cauſe,
And raſhly ſcan her upright equal laws:
For undeſerv'd ſhe ne'er inflicts a woe,
Nor is her recompence unſure, tho' ſlow.
Unpuniſh'd none tranſgreſs, deceiv'd none truſt,
Her rules are fixt, and all her ways are juſt.
The GROTTO.
[159]Written by the late Mr. GREEN of the Cuſtom-Houſe, under the Name of PETER DRAKE, a Fiſherman of BRENTFORD. Printed in the Year 1732, but never publiſhed.
Scilicet hic poſſis curvo dignoſcere rectum,
Atque inter ſilvas Academi quaerere verum.
HOR.
Our wits Apollo's influence beg,
The Grotto makes them all with egg:
Finding this chalk-ſtone in my neſt,
I ſtrain, and lay among the reſt.
ADIEU awhile, forſaken flood,
To ramble in the Delian wood,
And pray the God my well-meant ſong
May not my ſubject's merit wrong.
Say, father Thames, whoſe gentle pace
Gives leave to view what beauties grace
Your flow'ry banks, if you have ſeen
The much ſung GROTTO of the queen.
Contemplative, forget awhile
Oxonian towers, and Windſor's pile,
[160]And Woolſey's pride (his greateſt guilt)
And what great William ſince has built;
And flowing faſt by Richmond ſcenes,
(Honour'd retreat of two great queens)
From Sion-houſe, whoſe proud ſurvey
Brow-beats your flood, look croſs the way,
And view, from higheſt ſwell of tide,
The milder ſcenes of Surry ſide.
Though yet no palace grace the ſhore,
To lodge that pair you ſhou'd adore;
Nor abbies, great in ruin, riſe,
Royal equivalents for vice;
Behold a Grott, in Delphic grove,
The Graces' and the Muſes' love.
(O might our laureat ſtudy here,
How would he hail his new-born year!)
A temple from vain glories free,
Whoſe goddeſs is Philoſophy,
Whoſe ſides ſuch licens'd idols crown
As ſuperſtition wou'd pull down;
The only pilgrimage I know
That men of ſenſe wou'd chuſe to go:
Which ſweet abode, her wiſeſt choice,
Urania chears with heavenly voice,
While all the Virtues gather round,
To ſee her conſecrate the ground.
If thou the God with winged feet,
In council talk of this retreat,
[161]And jealous gods reſentment ſhow
At altars rais'd to men below;
Tell thoſe proud lords of heaven, 'tis fit
Their houſe our heroes ſhould admit;
While each exiſts, as poets ſing,
A lazy lewd immortal thing,
They muſt (or grow in diſrepute)
With earth's firſt commoners recruit.
Needleſs it is in terms unſkill'd
To praiſe whatever Boyle ſhall build;
Needleſs it is the buſts to name
Of men, monopoliſts of fame;
Four chiefs adorn the modeſt ſtone,
For virtue as for learning known;
The thinking ſculpture helps to raiſe
Deep thoughts, the genii of the place:
To the mind's ear, and inward ſight,
Their ſilence ſpeaks, and ſhade gives light:
While inſects from the threſhold preach,
And minds diſpos'd to muſing teach:
Proud of ſtrong limbs and painted hues,
They periſh by the ſlighteſt bruiſe;
Or maladies begun within,
Deſtroy more ſlow life's frail machine;
From maggot-youth thro' change of ſtate
They feel like us the turns of Fate;
Some born to creep have liv'd to fly,
And change earth-cells for dwellings high;
[162]And ſome that did their ſix wings keep,
Before they dy'd been forc'd to creep.
They politics like ours profeſs,
The greater prey upon the leſs:
Some ſtrain on foot huge loads to bring;
Some toil inceſſant on the wing;
And in their different ways explore
Wiſe ſenſe of want by future ſtore;
Nor from their vigorous ſchemes deſiſt
Till death, and then are never miſt.
Some frolick, toil, marry, increaſe,
Are ſick and well, have war and peace,
And broke with age, in half a day
Yield to ſucceſſors, and away.
Let not profane this ſacred place,
Hyprocriſy with Janus' face;
Or pomp, mixt ſtate of pride and care;
Court kindneſs, Falſhood's poliſh'd ware;
Scandal diſguis'd in Friendſhip's veil,
That tells, unaſk'd, th' injurious tale;
Or art politic, which allows
The jeſuit-remedy for vows;
Or prieſt, perfuming crowned head,
Till in a ſwoon Truth lies for dead;
Or tawdry critic, who perceives
No grace, which plain proportion gives,
And more than lineaments divine
Admires the gilding of the ſhrine;
[163]Or that ſelf-haunting ſpectre Spleen,
In thickeſt fog the cleareſt ſeen;
Or Prophecy, which dreams a lie,
That fools believe and knaves apply;
Or frolick Mirth profanely loud,
And happy only in a crowd;
Or Melancholy's penſive gloom,
Proxy in Contemplation's room.
O Delia, when I touch this ſtring,
To thee my Muſe directs her wing.
Unſpotted fair, with downcaſt look
Mind not ſo much the murm'ring brook;
Nor fixt in thought, with footſteps ſlow
Through cypreſs allies cheriſh woe:
I ſee the ſoul in penſive fit,
And mopeing like ſick linnet ſit,
With dewy eye and moulting wing,
Unperch'd, averſe to fly or ſing;
I ſee the favourite curls begin
(Diſus'd to toilet diſcipline,)
To quit their poſt, loſe their ſmart air,
And grow again like common hair;
And tears, which frequent kerchiefs dry,
Raiſe a red circle round the eye;
And by this bur about the moon,
Conjecture more ill weather ſoon.
Love not ſo much the doleful knell;
And news the boding night-birds tell;
[164]Nor watch the wainſcot's hollow blow;
And hens portentous when they crow;
Nor ſleepleſs mind the death-watch beat;
In taper find no winding ſheet;
Nor in burnt coal a coffin ſee,
Tho' thrown at others meant for thee:
Or when the coruſcation gleams,
Find out not firſt the bloody ſtreams;
Nor in impreſt remembrance keep
Grim tap'ſtry figures wrought in ſleep;
Nor riſe to ſee in antique hall.
The moon-light monſters on the wall,
And ſhadowy ſpectres darkly paſs
Trailing their ſables o'er the graſs.
Let vice and guilt act how they pleaſe
In ſouls, their conquer'd provinces;
By heaven's juſt charter it appears,
Virtue's exempt from quartering fears.
Shall then arm'd fancies fiercely dreſt,
Live at diſcretion in your breaſt?
Be wiſe, and pannic fright diſdain,
As notions, meteors of the brain;
And ſighs perform'd, illuſive ſcene!
By magic lanthorn of the ſpleen.
Come here, from baleful cares releas'd,
With Virtue's ticket, to a feaſt,
Where decent mirth and wiſdom join'd
In ſtewardſhip, regale the mind.
[165]Call back the Cupids to your eyes,
I ſee the godlings with ſurprize
Not knowing home in ſuch a plight,
Fly to and fro, afraid to light.—
Far from my theme, from method far,
Convey'd in Venus' flying car,
I go compell'd by feather'd ſteeds,
That ſcorn the rein when Delia leads.
No dawb of elegiac ſtrain
Theſe holy walls ſhall ever ſtain;
As ſpiders Iriſh wainſcot flee,
Falſhood with them ſhall diſagree:
This floor let not the vulgar tread,
Who worſhip only what they dread;
Nor bigots who but one way ſee
Through blinkers of authority;
Nor they who its four ſaints defame
By making virtue but a name;
Nor abſtract wit, (painful regale
To hunt the pig with ſlippery tail!)
Artiſts who richly chaſe their thought,
Gaudy without but hollow wrought,
And beat too thin, and tool'd too much
To bear the proof and ſtandard touch;
Nor fops to guard this ſilvan ark
With necklace bells in treble bark;
Nor Cynics growl and fiercely paw,
The maſtiffs of the moral law.
[166]Come Nymph with rural honours dreſt,
Virtue's exterior form confeſt,
With charms untarniſh'd, innocence
Diſplay, and Eden ſhall commence:
When thus you come in ſober fit,
And wiſdom is prefer'd to wit;
And looks diviner graces tell,
Which don't with giggling muſcles dwell;
And beauty like the ray-clipt ſun,
With bolder eye we look upon;
Learning ſhall with obſequious mien
Tell all the wonders ſhe has ſeen;
Reaſon her logic armour quit,
And proof to mild perſuaſion fit;
Religion with free thought diſpenſe,
And ceaſe cruſading againſt ſenſe;
Philoſophy and ſhe embrace,
And their firſt league again take place;
And morals pure, in duty bound,
Nymph-like the ſiſter chiefs ſurround;
Nature ſhall ſmile, and round this cell
The turf to your light preſſure ſwell,
And knowing beauty by her ſhoe,
Well air its carpet from the dew.
The Oak, while you his umbrage deck
Lets fall his acorns in your neck:
Zephyr his civil kiſſes gives,
And plays with curls, inſtead of leaves:
[167]Birds, ſeeing you, believe it ſpring,
And during their vacation ſing;
And flow'rs lean forward from their ſeats
To traffic in exchange of ſweets;
And angels bearing wreaths deſcend,
Preferr'd as vergers to attend
This fane, whoſe deity intreats
The Fair to grace its upper ſeats.
O kindly view our letter'd ſtrife,
And guard us through polemic life;
From poiſon vehicled in praiſe,
For ſatire's ſhots but ſlightly graze;
We claim your zeal, and find within,
Philoſophy and you are kin.
What Virtue is we judge by you,
For actions right are beauteous too:
By tracing the ſole female mind,
We beſt what is true Nature find:
Your vapours bred from fumes declare,
How ſtreams create tempeſtuous air,
Till guſhing tears and haſty rain
Make heaven and you ſerene again:
Our travels through the ſtarry ſkies
Were firſt ſuggeſted by your eyes;
We by the interpoſing fan,
Learn how eclipſes firſt began;
The vaſt ellipſe from Scarbro's home,
Deſcribes how blazing comets roam;
[168]The glowing colours of the cheek
Their origin from Phoebus ſpeak;
Our watch how Luna ſtrays above
Feels like the care of jealous love;
And all things we in ſcience know
From your known love for riddles flow.
Father! forgive, thus far I ſtray,
Drawn by attraction from my way.
Mark next with awe, the foundreſs well
Who on theſe banks delights to dwell;
You on the terraſs ſee her plain,
Move like Diana with her train.
If you then fairly ſpeak your mind,
In wedlock ſince with Iſis join'd,
You'll own, you never yet did ſee.
At leaſt in ſuch a high degree,
Greatneſs delighted to undreſs;
Science a ſcepter'd hand careſs;
A queen the friends of freedom prize;
A woman wiſe men canonize.
The BEE, the ANT, and the SPARROW: A FABLE. Addreſs'd to PHEBE and KITTY C. at Boarding School.
[169]MY dears, 'tis ſaid in days of old,
That beaſts cou'd talk, and birds could ſcold.
But now it ſeems the human race
Alone engroſs the ſpeaker's place.
Yet lately, if report be true,
(And much the tale relates to you)
There met a Sparrow, Ant, and Bee,
Which reaſon'd and convers'd as we.
Who reads my page will doubtleſs grant
That Phe's the wiſe induſtrious Ant.
And all with half an eye may ſee
That Kitty is the buſy Bee.
Here then are two—but where's the third?
Go ſearch your ſchool, you'll find the Bird.
Your ſchool! I aſk your pardon fair,
I'm ſure you'll find no Sparrow there.
Now to my tale—One ſummer's morn
A Bee rang'd o'er the verdant lawn;
[170]Studious to huſband every hour,
And make the moſt of every flow'r.
Nimble from ſtalk to ſtalk ſhe flies,
And loads with yellow wax her thighs;
With which the artiſt builds her comb,
And keeps all tight and warm at home:
Or from the cowſlip's golden bells
Sucks honey to enrich her cells:
Or every tempting roſe purſues,
Or ſips the lilly's fragrant dews;
Yet never robs the ſhining bloom,
Or of its beauty or perfume.
Thus ſhe diſcharg'd in every way
The various duties of the day.
It chanc'd a frugal Ant was near,
Whoſe brow was wrinkled o'er by care:
A great oeconomiſt was ſhe,
Nor leſs laborious than the Bee;
By penſive parents often taught
What ills ariſe from want of thought;
That poverty on ſloth depends,
On poverty the loſs of friends.
Hence every day the Ant is found
With anxious ſteps to tread the ground;
With curious ſearch to trace the grain,
And drag the heavy load with pain.
The active Bee with pleaſure ſaw
The Ant fulfil her parents' law.
[171]Ah! ſiſter-labourer, ſays ſhe,
How very fortunate are we!
Who taught in infancy to know
The comforts, which from labour flow,
Are independent of the great,
Nor know the wants of pride and ſtate.
Why is our food ſo very ſweet?
Becauſe we earn, before we eat.
Why are our wants ſo very few?
Becauſe we nature's calls purſue.
Whence our complacency of mind?
Becauſe we act our parts aſſign'd.
Have we inceſſant taſks to do?
Is not all nature buſy too!
Doth not the ſun with conſtant pace
Perſiſt to run his annual race?
Do not the ſtars, which ſhine ſo bright,
Renew their courſes every night?
Doth not the ox obedient bow
His patient neck, and draw the plough?
Or when did e'er the generous ſteed
Withhold his labour or his ſpeed?
If you all nature's ſyſtem ſcan,
The only idle thing is man!
A wanton Sparrow long'd to hear
Their ſage diſcourſe, and ſtrait drew near.
The bird was talkative and loud,
And very pert and very proud;
[172]As worthleſs and as vain a thing,
Perhaps as ever wore a wing.
She found, as on a ſpray ſhe ſat,
The little friends were deep in chat;
That virtue was their favourite theme,
And toil and probity their ſcheme:
Such talk was hateful to her breaſt,
She thought them arrant prudes at beſt.
When to diſplay her naughty mind,
Hunger with cruelty combin'd;
She view'd the Ant with ſavage eyes,
And hopt and hopt to ſnatch her prize.
The Bee, who watch'd her opening bill,
And gueſs'd her fell deſign to kill;
Aſk'd her from what her anger roſe,
And why me treated Ants as foes?
The Sparrow her reply began,
And thus the converſation ran.
Whenever I'm diſpos'd to dine,
I think the whole creation mine;
That I'm a bird of high degree,
And every inſect made for me.
Hence oft I ſearch the emmet brood,
For emmets are delicious food:
And oft in wantonneſs and play,
I ſlay ten thouſand in a day.
For truth it is, without diſguiſe,
That I love miſchief as my eyes.
[173]Oh! fie, the honeſt Bee reply'd,
I fear you make baſe man your guide;
Of every creature ſure the worſt,
Tho' in creation's ſcale the firſt!
Ungrateful man! 'tis ſtrange he thrives,
Who burns the Bees, to rob their hives!
I hate his vile adminiſtration,
And ſo do all the emmet nation.
What fatal foes to birds are men
Quite to the Eagle from the Wren!
Oh! do not men's example take,
Who miſchief do for miſchief's ſake;
But ſpare the Ant—her worth demands
Eſteem and friendſhip at your hands.
A mind with every virtue bleſt,
Muſt raiſe compaſſion in your breaſt.
Virtue! rejoin'd the ſneering bird,
Where did you learn that gothic word?
Since I was hatch'd, I never heard,
That virtue was at all rever'd.
But ſay it was the ancients' claim,
Yet moderns diſavow the name;
Unleſs, my dear, you read romances,
I cannot reconcile your fancies.
Virtue in fairy tales is ſeen
To play the goddeſs or the queen;
But what's a queen without the pow'r,
Or beauty, child, without a dow'r?
[174]Yet this is all that virtue brags,
At beſt 'tis only worth in rags.
Such whims my very heart derides,
Indeed you make me burſt my ſides.
Truſt me Miſs Bee—to ſpeak the truth,
I've copyed men from earlieſt youth;
The ſame our taſte, the ſame our ſchool,
Paſſion and appetite our rule.
And call me bird, or call me ſinner,
I'll ne'er forego my ſport or dinner.
A prowling cat the miſcreant ſpies,
And wide expands her amber eyes:
Near and more near Grimalkin draws,
She wags her tail, protends her paws;
Then ſpringing on her thoughtleſs prey,
She bore the vicious bird away.
Thus in her cruelty and pride,
The wicked wanton Sparrow dy'd.
ISAIAH XXXIV.
COME near, ye nations! and give ear, O earth!
Ye diſtant iſles, and continents remote,
Where-e'er diſpers'd beneath the vaſt expanſe
Of heav'n's high roof, attend! Attend, and hear
[...]our doom tremendous ratify'd above,
[...]d retribution of enormous guilt,
[178]Which calling loud for juſtice and revenge,
Flew ſwift as light up to the throne of God,
And pull'd down dire deſtruction on the earth.
The mighty God, with all his thunder arm'd,
Will caſt abroad the terrors of his wrath;
And ſhow'r down vengeance on the guilty land.
The Lord of hoſts amidſt a night of clouds,
And with the majeſty of darkneſs crown'd,
Thunder'd aloft; and from the inmoſt heav'n
Hurl'd down impetuous fury ſwift as thought
Through th' azure void, wide-ſtretch'd from pole to pole,
To ravage all the boundleſs univerſe.
As when a bluſt'ring wind rolls from the north,
And ſhakes all autumn with the driving blaſt;
So ſhall the fury of th' Omnipotent
Deſtroy the nations, and confound their arms,
Swords, ſhields, and ſpears, and all the pow'rs of war;
With eager ſpeed ruſh o'er th' embattled ranks,
And thro' the thick battalions urge its way.
JEHOVAH'S arm will ſhake the vaſt convex,
And wrap the whole circumference around
In waſting deſolation, ruin wide.
Deſtructive ſlaughter, ghaſtly to behold,
Dire ſpecimen of wrath omnipotent,
Shall march tremendous o'er the burden'd earth,
Oppreſs'd, and conſcious of unuſual weight,
Shrinking beneath the heavy load of death.
The purple piles, and mountains of the ſlain,
[179]Expiring wretches, pouring out their ſouls
With burſts of groans, ſhall fill the lab'ring world.
Each ſlaughter'd corps ſhall breath a peſtilence;
And wide around diffuſe the ſcents of death.
Th' eternal hills ſhall float in ſeas of blood;
And mountains vaniſh in the crimſon tide.
Nature's huge volume ſhall be folded up
Like a vaſt ſcroll; and all the glittering orbs
Drop from the heavens like autumnal leaves,
Or the ripe fig, when ſultry Sirius reigns;
While peals of thunder rattling in the ſkies,
Shall roll inceſſant o'er th' aſtoniſh'd world.
Death and deſtruction threat'ning all below,
And in ſubſtantial darkneſs high enthron'd,
Shall draw the curtains of eternal night,
And ſpread confuſion hideous o'er the earth,
As when the embryo world ere time began,
In one rude heap, one undigeſted maſs
Of jarring diſcord, and diſorder lay.
The ſun, amaz'd to ſee the wild obſcure,
No more with radiant light ſhall gild the ſkies;
No more diffuſing his all genial beams
On the high mountains ſpread the ſhining morn;
But downwards flaming thro' the vaſt immenſe,
Shall hide his glory in eternal night,
Thus in loud thunder ſpeaks th' Almighty Sire—
In copious ſlaughter will I take my ſword,
[180]And, Idumea! thou ſhalt ſwim in blood.
The Lord ſhall haſten from the lofty ſkies;
Deſtruction on his aweful footſteps waits;
Death ſtalks before, ruin on every ſide
Proclaims the terror of an angry God.
The ravenous ſword, pamper'd with reeking gore,
Drunk with the blood of half the rebel world,
Shall there be ſheath'd in Iſrael's ſtubborn foes.
Bozrah with human ſacrifice ſhall ſmoke,
And Idumea, thoughtleſs of her fate,
Shall feel the ſmart of heav'n's avenging rod.
The great, the ſmall, th' oppreſſor, and th' oppreſs'd,
Shall join promiſcuous in the common heap;
And one vaſt ruin ſhall involve them all.
For Iſrael's God is girt with burning rage,
And vows a laſt revenge to Zion's foes.
The ſilver ſtreams, that ſhine along the plain,
And chide their banks, and tinkle as they run,
Shall ſtop, and ſtagnate to a ſable pool;
And, black with mud, unconſcious of a tide,
No more ſhall charm the ſenſe, or lull the ſoul,
Or in ſoft murmurs die upon the ear:
But in crude ſtreams and deadly ſtench exhale,
And with contagious vapours load the ſky.
Rapacious flames, in pyramids of fire,
Shall burn unquenchable; and ſulph'rous ſmoke,
[181]Advancing o'er the horizontal plain,
In duſky wreaths roll ever to the ſkies.
Th' inhoſpitable land, left deſolate,
Unfruitful, but in ev'ry noxious weed,
Shall be a lonely deſart, waſte and wild;
Within whoſe ſilent confines none ſhall dwell;
Nor ever more be heard th' harmonious voice
Of warbling birds, that heretofore were wont
In vocal choir to animate the grove,
And from the ſhady covert of the trees
Diſpenſe ſweet muſic to the liſt'ning vale:
But hooting owls, that ſpread their lazy wings
O'er the dark gloom, and with their boding ſcreams
Double the native horrors of the night;
Theſe with the cormorants ſhall dwell therein,
Securely in the upper lintels lodge,
And in the windows direful dirges ſing.
God ſhall extend, and bare his thund'ring arm;
And with confuſion circumſcribe the land.
Where are the nobles, and the mighty chiefs,
That in ſoft eaſe their ſilken moments waſte;
To whom their proſtrate vaſſals throng in crowds,
[...]triving who firſt ſhall aweful homage pay,
And adoration! Them ſhall they invoke;
But all in vain; their names ſhall be no more,
But in their ſtead more worthy ſavages,
With rapine uncontrouble ſhall reign;
[182]And nobler brutes ſhall canton out the land,
Thoſe regal domes, and tow'ring palaces,
That high in clouds exalt their impious heads,
Reflecting thro' the liquid firmament
Home to the diſtant ken a dazling blaze,
Thorns ſhall ſurround, and nettles grow within:
Ivy ſhall creep along the painted walls:
The matted graſs o'erſpread the poliſh'd floor;
And brambles vile entwine the empty throne.
While beaſts from different climes, joyous to find
A place of reſt to man alone denied,
Shall take poſſeſſion of the gilded domes:
The ſhaggy ſatyrs, that old foreſts haunt,
The oſtrich and his mate, and dragons huge
Shall ſport, and revel in the dreary waſte.
There the hoarſe ſcreech-owls, that in dead of night
Upon the chimney tops perch ominous,
While ſongs obſcene the ſilent hours diſturb,
Shall in loud ſhrieks their ſad preſages tell,
Shall unmoleſted ſolitude enjoy,
And deſolation make more deſolate.
Ravens, and vulturs, ſcenting from afar
The univerſal ſlaughter, ſhall come forth
From the high mountain, and the humble vale,
Croaking in hideous concert, as they fly,
Dark'ning the heavens with their ghaſtly train;
And glut their hungry jaws with human prey,
[183]Not one of theſe ſhall fail; none want her mate;
But ſhall for ever, ſuch the Lord's decree,
In Edom's ruins wanton undiſturb'd.
This is the fate, ordain'd for Zion's foes.
ISAIAH XXXV.
WHEN Idumea, and the nations round,
Th' inveterate foes of Iſrael, and of God,
Lie vanquiſh'd, dormant on the dreary waſte
Of far extended ruin; and involv'd
In hideous woe, and deſolation wide,
Then ſhall Judea lift her cheerful head;
Put forth the leaves of glad proſperity;
And, after all the gloomy ſcene of grief
And ſad affliction, flouriſh and revive
In all the bright ſerenity of peace.
As the gay roſe, when winter ſtorms are paſt,
Warm'd with the influence of a kinder ſun,
Comes from the bud with a vermilion bluſh,
Cheering the ſight, and ſcattering all around
A balmy odour, that perfumes the ſkies.
She ſhall rejoice with joy unſpeakable,
And, fraught with richeſt bleſſings from above,
Spring forth in all the pride of Lebanon,
Whoſe lofty cedars, wond'rous to behold,
In bodies huge, and to the ſkies erect
Stand eminent, branch over branch out-ſpread
[184]In reg'lar diſtances, and verdant ſhades,
Emblem of happy ſtate. Nor ſhall the hills
Of fragrant Carmel, rich in fruitful ſoil;
Nor Sharon's flow'ry plain in all its bloom,
Array'd in Nature's goodlieſt attire,
And breathing freſh a gale of heav'nly ſweets,
Spring forth in greater glory. For the Lord
His goodneſs will declare, that knows no bounds;
And all the people ſhall behold his might,
And ſee the wonders of omnipotence.
Strengthen the languid nerves, ye ſeers! and bid
The trembling hand be ſtrong. Call into life
The diſſipated ſpirits; and confirm
The feeble knees; th' unactive joints ſupport;
And bid the lazy blood flow briſkly on,
And circulate with joy thro' every vein.
Comfort th' oppreſs'd; and ſmooth the ruffled mind;
Say to th' afflicted heart, devoid of hope,
Behold! th' Almighty ruſhes from the ſkies,
Ev'n Iſrael's God from his refulgent throne
Of glory comes, but not with radiant blaze
Of light, ev'n light inviſible, as when
To Moſes on Mount Horeb he appear'd,
And ſent his faithful ſervant to redeem
Ungrateful Iſrael from Egyptian bonds;
Nor with the muſic of a ſtill, ſoft voice,
As when h' inform'd the prophet of his will;
But in a black and dreadful hemiſphere
[185]Of darkneſs, arm'd with flaming thunderbolts,
And flaſhes of red lightning to increaſe
The woe, and make ev'n darkneſs viſible.
The hills ſhall tremble at his dire approach;
And fearful mountains, pil'd up to the clouds,
Fall down precipitant with rapid force,
And ſpread a plain immenſe. For God will come
Full fraught with vengeance to conſume your foes;
You in his bounteous mercy to protect.
Then ſhall the eyes long clos'd in blackeſt night.
To whom no gladſome dawn of light appear'd,
But comfortleſs, impenetrable ſhade,
Shake off the film of darkneſs, and behold
The long-expected day. New ſcenes of joy.
Shall then appear, and various proſpects riſe
To cheer the new-born ſight. The deafen'd ear,
On whoſe dull nerves ſad-moping Silence dwelt,
And lock'd from muſic's note, or voice of man,
Shall open glad its labyrinths of ſound,
Again the ſtringed inſtrument ſhall feel,
And the ſweet words of ſocial converſe hear.
The lame, infirm, creeping with ſlow advance,
Dragging with pain reluctant feet along,
And ſcarcely by the friendly crutch ſuſtain'd,
Shall throw th' unſerviceable prop aſide,
And ſtand erect, exulting like a roe
Upon Mount Tabor, friſking nimbly round
On the ſoft verdant turf, with wanton tread
[186]Skimming along the ſurface of the plain,
Or lightly bounding o'er the riſing ground.
The dumb for melancholy ſilence fram'd,
Cut off from friendly converſe with mankind,
Striving in vain the ſad defect to mend
With gabb'ring noiſe of broken ſyllables
Confus'd, ſhall talk in dialects compleat;
And tongues, that knew not how to ſpeak, ſhall ſing.
New ſcenes of joy ſhall gladden ev'ry face;
And univerſal peace o'erſpread the land.
The glowing ground, gaping with burning thirſt,
Shall greedily ſuck in the humid tide,
Pouring from caverns of the craggy hills
In limpid ſtreams, ſtill warbling, as they fall,
Melodious murmurs down the ample glade,
And cryſtal ſprings refreſh the thirſty land.
Where heretofore the curling ſerpent lay
In many a wily labyrinth ſelf-roll'd,
Or ſwept deceitful o'er the duſty plain
In horrid ſpires, and many a tow'ring maze,
The trembling reed ſhall wave his fringed top;
And the tall ruſh in ſlender ſpires up-riſe.
The ſwampy marſh ſhall its broad flag produce,
With bending willow, ſport of every wind;
And vegetable earth new bloom diſplay
Delightful, with prolific verdure cloth'd,
A waſteful deſart now, and barren ſoil.
[187]A way ſhall be prepar'd, a path direct,
Mark'd out by line with an unerring hand,
Ev'n a ſtreight path, which God himſelf ſhall make;
It ſhall be call'd, THE WAY OF HOLINESS;
A way to ſacred footſteps only known,
Where the unhallow'd ſhall no entrance find,
Nor impious feet profane the ſacred ground.
God ſhall attend the motions of the juſt,
Watch o'er their ſteps, and guide them as they go;
And none ſhall wander from the obvious path,
For who can err, when God directs the way?
The rampant lion ſhall not wander there,
Nor fiery tiger, roaring for his prey;
Nor prowling wolf, that howls along the plain,
With the keen pangs of raging hunger ſtung;
Nor ſurly bear in Nebo's mountains bred,
Or Carmel's foreſt ranging mercileſs;
Such as came furious from the neighb'ring groves
Of ancient Bethel with voracious ſpeed,
Grinning deſtruction as they roam'd along,
And ſlew the mockers of the good old ſeer.
But free, and unmoleſted ſhall they walk
Whom heav'n protects, and God vouchſafes to guide.
The ranſom'd captives, weary of the yoke,
The heavy yoke of long oppreſſive thrall,
Shall cheerfully return to happier climes,
In melody break forth the gladden'd heart,
That ſpeaks deliverance, and the voice of joy.
[188] Judah ſhall witneſs to the grateful ſong;
And faithful Zion echo back the ſound.
No ſigns of woe ſhall hang upon the cheek,
No ſhuddering fear, nor horrible deſpair;
But grief with all its melancholy train
Of huge diſmay ſhall fly from ev'ry face.
Gladneſs ſhall crown the head, peace fill the heart,
And endleſs rapture dwell on ev'ry brow.
WOODSTOCK PARK. A POEM.
By WILLIAM HARRISON. 1706.
‘Habitarunt Di quoque ſilvas. VIRG.’
KIND heav'n at length, ſucceſsfully implor'd,
To Britain's arms her hero had reſtor'd:
And now our fears remov'd, with loud applauſe
Jointly we crown'd his conduct, and his cauſe.
Tranſporting pleaſure rais'd each drooping tongue,
The peaſants ſhouted, and the poets ſung.
The poets ſung, tho' Addiſon alone
Adorns thy laurels, and maintains his own;
In him alone, great MARLBOROUGH, is ſeen,
Thy graceful motion, and thy godlike mien:
[189]Each action he exalts with rage divine,
And the full Danube flows in ev'ry line.
But we in vain to that ſublime aſpire;
So heatleſs glow-worms emulate the fire,
Shine without warmth: another ſong prepare,
My Muſe; the country is the Muſe's care;
Thither thy much-lov'd MARLBOROUGH purſue
With eager verſe, and keep thy theme in view.
But oh! what joyful numbers can diſcloſe
The various raptures his approach beſtows;
How vales reſound, how crowds collected ſhare
The radiant glories of the matchleſs pair?
The gen'rous youths, within whoſe boſoms glow
Some ſecret unripe longings for a foe,
Surveying here the favourite of Fame,
Conceive new hopes, and nurſe the growing flame:
While ſofter maids confeſs a pleaſing pain,
And ſighing wiſh he had been born a ſwain.
So when the pow'rs appeas'd bade diſcord ceaſe,
And Greece obtain'd from jarring gods a peace,
The god of war, and beauteous queen of love,
To Cyprian ſhades their peaceful chariot drove:
Shepherds and nymphs attending form'd the train,
And mirth unuſual revell'd on the plain.
And ſhould the gods once more their heav'n forego,
To range on earth, and bleſs mankind below,
O'er all the globe no region would be found,
With nobler ſoil, or brighter beauty crown'd.
[190]Phoebus for this would change his Delphic grove,
Juno her Samos, and his Ida Jove.
Olympic games no longer ſhould delight,
But neighb'ring plains afford a nobler ſight.
Where England's great Aeneas ſtanding by,
Impatient youths on winged courſers fly:
Urg'd by his preſence they outſtrip the wind
Involv'd in ſmoke, and leave the Muſe behind.
But ſee! once more returns the rival train,
And now they ſtretch, now bending looſe the rein,
And fears and hopes beat high in ev'ry vein,
'Till one (long ſince ſucceſsful in the field)
Exerts that ſtrength he firſt with art conceal'd;
Then ſwift as light'ning darted through the ſkies,
Springs forward to the goal, and bears away the prize.
By arts like theſe all other palms are won,
They end with glory, who with caution run.
We neither write, nor act, what long can laſt,
When the firſt heat ſees all our vigour paſt;
But, jaded, both their ſhort-liv'd mettle loſe,
The furious ſtateſman, and the fiery Muſe.
The conteſt ended, night with gloomy face
O'erſpreads the heav'n; and now with equal pace
The victor, and the vanquiſh'd, quit the place:
Sleep's friendly office is to all the ſame,
His conqueſt he forgets, and they their ſhame.
Next morning, ere the ſun with ſickly ray
O'er doubtful ſhades maintains the dawning day,
[191]The ſprightly horn proclaims ſome danger near,
And hounds, harmonious to the ſportſman's ear,
With deep-mouth'd notes rouſe up the trembling deer.
Startled he leaps aſide, and liſt'ning round,
This way and that explores the hoſtile ſound,
Arm'd for that fight, which he declines with ſhame,
Too fond of life, too negligent of fame;
For Nature, to diſplay her various art,
Had fortify'd his head, but not his heart:
Thoſe ſpears, which uſeleſs on his front appear'd,
On any elſe had been ador'd and fear'd.
But honours diſproportion'd are a load,
Grandeur a ſpecious curſe, when ill beſtow'd.
Thus void of hope, and panting with ſurprize,
In vain he'd combat, and as vainly flies.
Of paths myſterious whether to purſue
The ſcented track informs the lab'ring crew:
With ſpeed redoubled, they the hint embrace,
Whilſt animating muſic warms the chace:
Fluſh'd are their hopes, and with one gen'ral cry
They echo thro' the woods, and ſound their conqueſt nigh.
Not ſo the prey; he now for ſafety bends
From enemies profeſs'd, to faithleſs friends,
Who to the wretched own no ſhelter due,
But fly more ſwiftly than his foes purſue.
This laſt diſgrace with indignation fires
His drooping ſoul, and gen'rous rage inſpires;
[192]By all forſaken, he reſolves at length
To try the poor remains of waſted ſtrength;
With looks and mien majeſtic ſtands at bay,
And whets his horns for the approaching fray:
Too late alas! for, the firſt charge begun,
Soon he repents what cowardice had done,
Owns the miſtake of his o'er-haſty flight,
And aukwardly maintains a languid fight;
Here, and there, aiming a ſucceſsleſs blow,
And only ſeems to nod upon the foe.
So coward princes, who at war's alarm
Start from their greatneſs, and themſelves diſarm,
With recollected forces ſtrive in vain
Their empire, or their honour, to regain,
And turn to rally on ſome diſtant plain,
Whilſt the fierce conqu'ror bravely urges on,
Improves th' advantage, and aſcends the throne.
Forgive, great Denham, that in abject verſe,
What richly thou adorn'ſt, I thus rehearſe.
Thy noble chace all others does exceed,
In artful fury, and well-temper'd ſpeed.
We read with pleaſure, imitate with pain,
Where faney fires, and judgment holds the rein.
Goddeſs, proceed; and as to relicks found
Altars we raiſe, and conſecrate the ground,
Pay thou thy homage to an aged ſeat,
Small in itſelf, but in its owner great;
[193]Where Chaucer (ſacred name!) whole years employ'd,
Coy Nature courted, and at length enjoy'd;
Mov'd at his ſuit, the naked goddeſs came,
Reveal'd her charms, and recompens'd his flame.
Rome's pious king with like ſucceſs, retir'd,
And taught his people, what his Nymph inſpir'd.
Hence flow deſcriptions regularly fine,
And beauties ſuch as never can decline:
Each lively image makes the reader ſtart,
And poetry invades the painter's art.
This Dryden ſaw, and with his wonted fate
(Rich in himſelf) endeavour'd to tranſlate;
Took wond'rous pains to do the author wrong,
And ſet to modern tune his ancient ſong.
Cadence, and ſound, which we ſo prize, and uſe,
Ill ſuit the majeſty of Chaucer's Muſe;
His language only can his thoughts expreſs,
Old honeſt Clytus ſcorns the Perſian dreſs.
Inimitable bard!
In raptures loud I would thy praiſes tell,
And on th' inſpiring theme for ever dwell,
Did not the maid, whoſe wond'rous beauty ſeen,
Inflam'd great Henry, and incens'd his queen,
With pleaſing ſorrow move me to ſurvey
A neighb'ring ſtructure, aweful in decay,
For ever ſacred, and in ruin bleſt,
Which heretofore contain'd that lovely gueſt.
[194]Admiring ſtrangers, who attentive come
To learn the tale of this romantic dome,
By faithful monuments inſtructed, view
(Tho' time ſhould ſpare) what civil rage can do.
Where landſkips once, in rich apartments high,
Through various proſpects led the wand'ring eye:
Where painted rivers flow'd through flow'ry meads,
And hoary mountains rear'd their aweful heads:
Or where by hands of curious virgins wrought,
In rich array embroider'd heroes fought:
Now hemloek thrives, and weeds of pow'rful charms
O'er ragged walls extend their baleful arms.
Monſters obſcene their pois'nous roots invade,
And bloated pant beneath the gloomy ſhade.
Thus nobleſt buildings are with eaſe effac'd,
And what's well wrote alone, will always laſt.
Ev'n Vanbrugh's frame, that does ſo brightly ſhine
In rules exact, and greatneſs of deſign,
Would fall a victim to devouring age,
Had not that hand, which built, adorn'd the ſtage.
Wit ſo refin'd without the poet's pain,
Such artful ſcenes in ſuch a flowing vein,
O'er lateſt aeras deathleſs will prevail,
When Doric and Corinthian orders fail;
When each proud pyramid its height foregoes,
And ſinks beneath the baſe on which it roſe.
Ye Britiſh fair, whoſe names but mention'd, give
Worth to the tale, and make the poem live;
[195]Vouchſafe to hear, whilſt briefly I relate
Great Henry's flame, and Roſamonda's fate.
Pierc'd to the ſoul by her reſiſtleſs eyes,
Lo! at her feet the ſcepter'd vaſſal lies,
Now big with hopes, now tortur'd with deſpair,
Nor toils, nor pleaſures, can divert his care.
Her voice, her look, ten thouſand wounds impart,
And fix the pleaſing image in his heart;
Such as (if Fame has drawn the picture true,
Her native luſtre ſung, nor added new)
Might tempt the thund'rer from his bleſs'd abode,
To court that beauty which himſelf beſtow'd.
Features ſo wrought not Venus' ſelf diſplays,
When dreſs'd by youthful pens in vocal lays;
Not equal charms in all the Graces join,
And only Sunderland is more divine.
Thus fatally adorn'd, the hapleſs fair
Receives his ſuit, and liſtens to his prayer;
Fond of her ruin, pleas'd to be undone,
She reaps the conqueſt that her eyes had won.
Tho' tongues obſcure, at humble diſtance plac'd,
May cenſure joys which they deſpair to taſte;
Whene'er th' attack is made, all jointly own
What bright temptations ſparkle from a throne:
Could love no entrance find, ambition can,
They claſp the monarch who deſpiſe the man;
Beyond his boldeſt wiſh the hero bleſs'd,
Riots in joys too great to be expreſs'd;
[196]And now, with caution, does the means purſue,
As they are great, to make them laſting too.
'Mid ſhades obſcure, remote from vulgar eye,
An artful edifice is rear'd on high,
Through which inextricable windings run,
Loſt in themſelves, and end where they begun.
Maeander thus, as ancient ſtories feign,
In curling channels wander'd o'er the plain;
Oft by himſelf o'ertook, himſelf ſurvey'd,
And backward turning, to his fountain ſtray'd.
Nor much unlike to theſe are mazes found,
By loit'ring hinds imprinted on the ground;
Who, when releas'd by ſome diſtinguiſh'd day,
Lead ruddy damſels forth to rural play;
And on the flow'ry vale, or mountain's brow,
The yielding glebe in wanton furrows plow.
Ye Sylvan Nymphs, who with a pleaſing pride,
O'er ſhady groves, and ſecret vows preſide,
On this myſterious pile with care attend,
Protect the miſtreſs, and the prince befriend:
With both conſpire to blind the wary dame,
And ſcreen th'important tale, from babbling Fame.
Ah faithleſs guards! in vain with od'rous ſmoke
We feaſt your altars, and your aid invoke;
When nuptial debt's are now no longer paid,
More ways than one the rover is betray'd:
Affected paſſion does no more ſuffice,
And aukward kindneſs proves a weak diſguiſe.
[197]Woman, by nature arm'd againſt deceit,
With indignation ſmiles upon the cheat;
Looks down with ſcorn, and only burns to know
Th' uncertain author of her certain woe.
As a fierce lioneſs of Lybian race,
Struck by the hunter's hand, with furious pace
Strides o'er the ſands, and red with recent gore
Yells out her pain, and makes the foreſt roar:
[...]o raves the queen incens'd; and loudly tells
The reſtleſs grief that in her boſom dwells,
For her lov'd lord from her embraces fled,
Her ſlighted beauty, and her widow'd bed.
What dire effects her kindled fury wrought,
Whether by pointed ſteel, or poiſon'd draught,
Th' unguarded rival fell, forbear to aſk,
Th' unwilling Muſe declines the mournful taſk,
Recoils with anguiſh, wounded to the ſoul,
Feels ev'ry ſtab, and drinks th' invenom'd bowl.
Thee, beauteous fair, Love made a pris'ner here,
But great Eliza's doom was more ſevere;
By hate implacable to ſhades confin'd,
Where ſtill the native grandeur of her mind
Clear and unſully'd ſhone, with radiant grace
Gilding the duſky horrors of the place.
No nobler gifts can heav'n itſelf pour down,
Than to deſerve, and to deſpiſe a crown.
In ſome dark room, for pompous ſorrow made,
Methinks I ſee the royal virgin laid;
[198]With anxious thoughts employ'd on former times,
Their various fate, their glory, and their crimes;
Th' ill-boding place a juſt concernment gives,
Since Elinora in Maria lives.
Maria—but forgotten be her name,
In long oblivion loſt, o'erlook'd by fame.
Do thou, O Albion, from remembrance chace
Thy perſecuted ſons, thy martyr'd race:
And freed at length by ANNA'S milder ray,
From furious zeal, and arbitrary ſway,
Enjoy the preſent, or the future ſcene,
With promis'd bleſſings fraught, without one cloud ſerene.
Stop, goddeſs, ſtop, recall thy daring flight,
I cannot, muſt not tempt the wond'rous height.
Themes ſo exalted, with proportion'd wing,
Let Addiſon, let Garth, let Congreve ſing;
Whilſt liſt'ning nations crowd the vocal lyre,
Foretaſte their bliſs, and languiſh with deſire.
To thee thy ſong, thy province is aſſign'd,
And what ſhould foremoſt ſtand, is yet behind.
Silenc'd be all antiquity could boaſt,
And let old Woodſtock in the new be loſt.
No more her Edwards, or her Henrys pleaſe;
Their ſpoils of war, or monuments of peace:
By CHURCHILL'S hand ſo largely is out-done,
What either prince has built, and both have won.
With admiration ſtruck, we gaze around,
The fancy entertain, the ſenſe confound:
[199]And whilſt our eyes o'er the foundation roam,
Preſage the wonders of the finiſh'd dome.
Thus did our hero's early dawn diſplay
Th' auſpicious beams of his advancing day.
We, who in humble cells, and learn'd retreat,
Are ſtrangers to the ſplendor of the great,
On barren cliffs of ſpeculation thrown,
Of all beſides unknowing, and unknown,
Pronounce our fabrics juſt in ev'ry part,
And ſcorn the poor attempts of modern art;
(Proud of his cottage ſo exults the ſwain,
Who loves the foreſt, and admires the plain,)
'Till here convinc'd, unwillingly we find
Our Wickhams, and our Wainfleets, left behind;
Far as the molehill by the mountain's brow,
Or ſhrubs by cedars, in whoſe ſhade they grow.
Riſe, glorious pile, the princeſs bids thee riſe,
And claim thy title to her kindred ſkies:
Where ſhe preſides all muſt be nobly great,
All muſt be regular, and all compleat;
No other hand the mighty work requires,
Art may inform, but ſhe alone inſpires.
When lab'ring Tyrians, with united toil,
Advanc'd their Carthage on the deſtin'd ſoil,
So ſate their queen, and look'd auſpicious down,
Herſelf the Genius of the riſing town.
Thrice happy he, to whom the taſk ſhall fall,
To grace with ſhining images the wall;
[200]And in bold colours ſilently rehearſe,
What ſoars above the reach of humble verſe.
No fam'd exploits, from muſty annals brought,
Shall ſhare his art, or furniſh out the draught;
No foreign heroes in triumphant cars,
No Latian victories, nor Graecian wars:
Germania's fruitful fields alone afford
Work for the pencil, harveſt for the ſword.
Her well-drawn fights with horror ſhall ſurprize,
And clouds of ſmoke upon the canvas riſe;
Rivers diſtain'd ſhall reeking currents boaſt,
And wind in crimſon waves the plunging hoſt;
Each mortal pang be ſeen, each dying throe,
And Death look grim in all the pomp of woe.
But far, oh far diſtinguiſh'd from the reſt!
By youth, by beauty, and a waving creſt,
Like young Patroclus, Dormer ſhall be ſlain,
And great Achilles' ſoul be ſhock'd again.
Succeſsful Kneller, whoſe improving air
Adds light to light, and graces to the fair,
Thus may compleat the glories of his age,
And in one piece the whole ſoft ſex engage;
Who ſhall in crowds the lovely dead ſurround,
And weep rich gems upon his ſtreaming wound;
By ſad remembrance urg'd to fruitleſs moan,
And loſt in Dormer's charms, neglect their own.
Yet artiſt ſtop not here, but boldly dare
Next to deſign, what next deſerves thy care.
[201]'Midſt Britiſh ſquadrons awefully ſerene,
On riſing ground let MARLBOROUGH be ſeen,
With his drawn faulchion light'ning on the foe,
Prepar'd to ſtrike the great deciſive blow;
While phlegmatic allies his vengeance ſtay,
By abſence theſe, and by their preſence they.
Ill-fated Gauls to 'ſcape his thunder ſo,
And by a ſhort reprieve inhance their woe!
When they in arms again the combat try,
Again their troops in wild diſorder fly,
No uſual ties of clemency ſhall bind,
No temper ſhall aſſuage the victor's mind:
But heaps on heaps attone the fatal wrong,
And rage unbounded drive the ſtorm along.
Legions of foes reſiſtleſs ſhall advance
O'er proſtrate mounds, to ſhock the power of France,
Their loud demands to proud Lutetia tell,
And rouze th' inglorious tyrant from his cell.
Then provinces releas'd ſhall break their chain,
Forego their bondage, and forget their pain.
Iberia, with extended arms, ſhall run
To liberty, to life, to Auſtria's ſon;
And by mild councils generouſly ſway'd,
Own thy example, ANNA! and thy aid;
Whole kingdoms ſhall be bleſs'd, all Europe free,
And lift her hands unmanacled to Thee.
HYMN to Miſs LAURENCE, in the PUMP-ROOM. BATH, 1753.
[204]NAIAD of this healthful ſtream,
Fair LAURENTiA, if I deem
Rightly of thy office here,
If the theme may pleaſe thine ear,
Liſten gracious to my lays,
While the ſprings of HEALTH I praiſe:
Nor will leſs thy glory ſhine,
If their praiſe I blend with thine.
For of their renown of old
Stories many FAME hath told:
Ancient bards their name have ſung
Heroes, kings, and gods among,
And with various titles grac'd,
While their fountain-head they trac'd.
Whether
a BLADUD, king of yore,
Skill'd in philoſophic lore,
Mingling various kinds of earth,
Metallic, gave the waters birth,
[205]KING'S-BATH nam'd, beneath thy feet
Boiling ay with mineral heat:
Or, whether from his car on high
Phoebus ſaw with amorous eye
The fountain-nymph, with humid train,
Light of foot, trip o'er the plain;
Strait the god, inflam'd with love,
Swift deſcending from above,
All in fervors bright array'd
Preſs'd her boſom; and the maid
Gladly to his warm embrace
Yielded: whence the happy place,
Where the nymph he woo'd and won,
Was call'd the
b WATERS OF THE SUN.
FAME that title widely ſpred;
Yet, ere Roman legions fled
The wrath of ſturdy Britiſh knights,
Pallas claim'd religious rights;
Britiſh
c PALLADOUR then roſe,
From the goddeſs nam'd, who choſe
Near the favourite ſtreams to dwell,
Guardian of the ſacred well.
[206]But long ſince
d HYGEIA fair
Under her peculiar care
Receiv'd the ſprings; for well ſhe knows
Each ſalubrious rill that flows
Forth from ſubterranean vaults,
Stor'd by NATURE'S hand with ſalts,
Steel, or ſulphur: for her uſe
NATURE opens every ſluice,
Which HYGEIA gives in charge
To ſev'ral nymphs: herſelf at large
Roams o'er hill, and dale, and plain,
Lacky'd by a duteous train;
Oreads, Naiads, Dryads pay
Service glad: ſome ſmooth her way,
Or miſts diſperſe, or bruſh the trees;
Others waft the morning-breeze
From mountain-tops: adown the hills
Others pour refreſhing rills,
Or bathe her limbs in fountain neat,
Aiding, all, her influence ſweet.
SHE with ſmiling eye ſurveys
Ruſtic labours, and conveys
STRENGTH to the active threſher's arm,
To village-maidens BEAUTY'S charm.
Happy are the ſons of earth
Whom the goddeſs at their birth
[207]Shin'd on. Yet, her heavenly ray
Numbers, not reſpecting, ſtray
From her preſence, and purſue
LUXURY'S paths, whoſe ſordid crew,
LUST inordinate, and SLOTH,
And GLUTTONY'S unwieldy growth,
Lead them on to SHAME, and PAIN,
And MALADIES, an endleſs train.
Oft with pangs diſtracting torn
They HYGEIA'S abſence mourn;
Bitter change! their languid eyes
Feel not joy in ſunny ſkies;
Nor doth NIGHT, with ſlumber bleſt,
Cloſe them at the hour of reſt.
And oft with ſighs, and tears, and pray'r
Half-ſuppreſs'd by ſad deſpair,
They the queen of health implore
Her wiſh'd preſence to reſtore.
Nor unmindful of their woes
Is the goddeſs; for me choſe
Thee, LAURENTIA, lovelieſt maid
Among thy ſiſter nymphs, who play'd
On the banks of
e Avon, Thee,
Bright-ey'd nymph, ſhe choſe to be
Her ſubſtitute, and pow'r ſhe gave
Sov'reign o'er the healing wave
[208]Which thou rul'ſt with gentle ſway.
Thee the ſmoaking tides obey
Joyous; and at thy command
Waſh thy
f roſy-finger'd hand;
Thence in cryſtal cups convey'd
Yield their ſalutary aid
To all, whom Thou with look benign
Smil'ſt on round HYGEIA'S ſhrine;
All of appetite deprav'd,
Thoſe whom pale-ey'd SPLEEN enſlav'd,
Cripples bent with gouty pain,
Whom JAUNDICE ting'd with muddy ſtain,
Or whoſe frame of nerves, with ſtroke
Benumming, tremulous PALSY broke.
Theſe the balmy, cordial ſtream
Quaff, rejoicing; Thee, their theme
Of praiſe, extol; thy tender care,
Thy ſoft addreſs, and courteous air:
And while
g HARMONY, the friend
Of HEALTH, delights to recommend
Thy miniſtry, thy charms inſpire
Love and joy, and gay deſire:
For the goddeſs, when ſhe gave
Rule imperial o'er the wave,
To adorn the gift, and grace thy ſtate,
On Thee bade YOUTH and BEAUTY wait.
[209]Nor doſt thou not taſte delight
Where thou ſit'ſt in duteous plight;
For the joy, thy hand beſtows,
Back to thee redounding flows,
When the cheek of faded hue,
Thou ſeeſt diſplaying roſes new.
Thee ſuſpended
g crutches pleaſe,
Signal trophies from DISEASE
Won to HEALTH victorious. Hail,
Comfort, and ſupport of frail
Human ſtate! Hail, blooming maid!
Nymph belov'd! without thy aid,
He, who, greeting thee, his lays
Now attunes to notes of praiſe,
Mute had been, oppreſs'd with pain
Of ſpaſm rheumatic. Hail again,
Prieſteſs of HYGEIA'S ſhrine!
Sitll diſpenſe her gift divine,
Still her vot'ries lead to HEALTH;
Elſe, what profits Marlborough's wealth,
h Eliza's form, and Stanhope's wit,
And all the eloquence of Pitt?
A LETTER to CORINNA from a CAPTAIN in Country Quarters.
[210]MY earlieſt flame, to whom I owe
All that a captain needs to know;
Dreſs, and quadrille, and air, and chat,
Lewd ſongs, loud laughter, and all that;
Arts that have widows oft ſubdued,
And never fail'd to win a prude;
Think, charmer, how I live forlorn
At quarters, from Corinna torn.
Nor more diſtreſs the cornet feels
From gruel, and Ward's popiſh pills.
What ſhall I do now you're away,
To kill that only foe, the day?
The landed 'ſquire, and dull freeholder,
Are ſure no comrades for a ſoldier;
To drink with parſons all day long,
Miſaubin tells me wou'd be wrong:
Sober advice, and Curl's Dutch whore
I've read, 'till I can read no more.
At noon I riſe, and ſtrait alarm
A ſempſtreſs' ſhop, or country farm;
Repuls'd, my next purſuit is a'ter
The parſon's wife, or landlord's daughter:
At market oft for game I ſearch,
Oft at aſſemblies, oft at church,
[211]And plight my faith and gold to-boot;
Yet demme if a ſoul will do't —
In ſhort our credit's ſunk ſo low,
Since troops were kept o'foot for ſhew,
She that for ſoldiers once run mad,
Is turn'd republican, egad!
And when I boaſt my feats, the ſhrew
Aſks who was ſlain the laſt review.
Know then, that I and captain Trueman
Reſolve to keep a miſs—in common:
Not her, among the batter'd laſſes,
Such as our friend Toupét careſſes,
But her, a nymph of poliſh'd ſenſe,
Which pedants call impertinence:
Train'd up to laugh, and drink, and ſwear,
And railly with the prettieſt air—
Amidſt our frolicks and carouſes
How ſhall we pity wretched ſpouſes!
But where can this dear ſoul be found,
In garret high, or under ground?
If ſo divine a fair there be,
Charming Corinna, thou art ſhe.
But oh! what motives can perſuade
Belles, to prefer a rural ſhade,
In this gay month, when pleaſures bloom,
The park, the play—the drawing room—
Lo! birthnights upon birthnights tread,
Term is begun, the lawyer fee'd;
[212]My friend the merchant, let me tell ye,
Calls in his way to Farinelli;
Add that my ſattin gown and watch
Some unfledg'd booby 'ſquire may catch,
Who, charm'd with his delicious quarry,
May firſt debauch me, and then marry;
Never was ſeaſon more befitting
Since conv—ns laſt were ſitting.
And ſhall I leave dear Charing-croſs,
And let two boys my charms ingroſs?
Leave play-houſe, temple, and the rummer?
A country friend might ſerve in ſummer!
The town's your choice—yet, charming fair,
Obſerve what ills attend you there.
Captains, that once admir'd your beauty,
Are kept by quality on duty;
Cits, for attoning alms diſburſe
A teſter—templars, ſomething worſe:
My lord may take you to his bed,
But then he ſends you back unpaid;
And all you gain from generous cully,
Muſt go to keep ſome Iriſh bully.
Pinchbeck demands the tweezer caſe,
And Monmouth-ſtreet the gown and ſtays;
More miſchiefs yet come crowding on,
Bridewell,—Weſt Indies—and Sir John—
Then oh! to lewdneſs bid adieu,
And chaſtly live, confin'd to two.
A TALE.
[213]By Mr. MERRICK.
IF Virtue prompt thy willing mind
To actions gen'rous, good and kind;
Fortune beyond thy hopes ſhall bleſs
Thy toils, and crown them with ſucceſs:
But he whoſe bounties only riſe
From proſpects of a future prize,
With ſorrow ſhall compute his gains,
And reap repentance for his pains.
Precepts are often found to fail,
So take inſtruction from my tale.
In ancient days there liv'd a prieſt,
Inſhrin'd within whoſe pious breaſt
Fair Virtue ſhone; his open look
Gave ſanction to each word he ſpoke.
Fix'd to no home, in mean array,
From place to place he took his way,
Inſtructing as he went along,
And dealing bleſſings to the throng.
The truth he labour'd to expreſs,
In language plain as was his dreſs;
Yet all with ſecret rapture hung
On every accent of his tongue:
[214]A ſilent eloquence there ran
Through all the actions of the man;
They mark'd his ſoul's unblemiſh'd frame,
His precept and his life the ſame.
It chanc'd, as muſing once he ſtray'd,
Around him night's deſcending ſhade
Unheeded ſtole; through paths unknown
With darkling ſteps he wander'd on,
And wiſh'd to ſhroud his weary head
Beneath ſome hoſpitable ſhed.
When through the gloom a ſudden ray
Sprung forth, and ſhot acroſs the way,
Led by the light, a cott he found:
A pious dame the manſion own'd,
Whoſe open heart, tho' ſmall her ſtore,
Ne'er turn'd the ſtranger from her door.
Think at the ſight of ſuch a gueſt,
What tranſport roſe within her breaſt:
With joy the friendly board ſhe ſpread,
And plac'd him in her warmeſt bed.
Deep ſunk in ſleep the trav'ler lay,
Tir'd with the labours of the day.
'Tis beſt, as ableſt critics deem,
To ſuit your language to your theme;
Obſequious to their rules, the Muſe
In humbler ſtrain her tale purſues.
The matron, while her thankful gueſt
Had ſhar'd with her the ſlender feaſt,
[215]With curious eye had view'd him o'er,
Had mark'd the tatter'd garb he wore,
And through the yawning frieze had ſeen
No traces of a ſhirt within.
And now her hands with pious care
A ſhirt of home-ſpun cloth prepare:
'Twas coarſe, but would the longer hold,
And ſerve to fence him from the cold.
The toil employ'd her all the night,
And ended with the riſing light.
The prieſt aroſe at break of day,
And haſten'd to purſue his way;
With thanks he took the finiſh'd veſt,
The hoſpitable dame he bleſs'd,
"And that thy charity, he ſaid,
"May fall with int'reſt on thy head,
"May thy firſt work, when I am gone,
"Continue 'till the ſetting ſun."
She heard; but ſoon her houſhold care
Had baniſh'd from her thoughts the pray'r;
The remnant of her cloth ſhe took,
And meaſur'd out her little ſtock.
Beneath her hands the length'ning piece
Surpriz'd her with a vaſt increaſe;
Aſtoniſh'd at a ſight ſo new,
She meaſur'd ſtill and ſtill it grew.
As when in ſleep, with winged pace
O'er hills and plains we urge the race,
[216]With eager hopes we onward bend,
And think our labour near its end;
But mimick Fancy ſoon ſupplies
New ſcenes to cheat our wond'ring eyes:
Before our feet new plains extend,
New vallies ſink, new hills aſcend,
And ſtill the goal, when theſe are o'er,
Appears as diſtant as before.
In ſuch a dream with ſuch ſurprize,
From morn to eve the woman plies
Her taſk; but when the ſetting ray
Had clos'd her labour with the day,
With joy the wond'rous heap ſurvey'd,
And ſaw her bounty well repay'd.
A neighb'ring dame, the ſtory known,
Much wiſh'd to make the caſe her own;
For tho' ſhe ne'er was ſeen before
To lodge the ſtranger or the poor,
She wiſely thought on one ſo good
Her charity were well beſtow'd.
As by her door his journey lay,
She ſtop'd the trav'ler on his way;
Beg'd him to enter and receive
Such welcome as her houſe could give:
The prieſt comply'd, and ent'ring found
The board with various plenty crown'd;
On heaps of down he paſt the night,
And ſlumber'd 'till the morning light.
[217]At break of day the dame addreſs'd
In friendly guiſe her rev'rend gueſt:
Linen ſo coarſe, ſhe ſaid, was ne'er
Deſign'd for Chriſtian backs to wear;
And as it griev'd her to ſurvey
Such virtue in ſo mean array,
Herſelf had toil'd with ſleepleſs eyes
To furniſh him with freſh ſupplies:
Fine was the texture, ſuch as comes
From wealthy Holland's ſkilful looms.
The prieſt accepts the proffer'd boon,
He thanks her for her kindneſs ſhown,
And grateful as he leaves her door,
Repeats the pray'r he made before.
Juſt parted from the holy man,
With eager haſte the matron ran
To reach her cloth, and had deſign'd
To meaſure what was left behind;
But thinking firſt, that as the pray'r
For the whole day had fix'd her care,
One labour would employ it all,
And leave no time for Nature's call,
Ere to the deſtin'd work ſhe goes,
She deems it beſt to pluck a roſe.
The hiſſing geeſe, as forth ſhe went,
Gave omens of the dire event;
The herds, that graz'd the neighb'ring plain,
Look'd up, and ſnuff'd the coming rain;
[218]The bird that ſcreams at midnight hours,
(Diviner of approaching ſhow'rs)
Full on the left, with hideous croak,
Stood flutt'ring on a blaſted oak.
Amazement ſeiz'd the trembling dame,
When firſt ſhe ſaw the plenteous ſtream:
She wonder'd much, and much ſhe fear'd;
And think how Niobe appear'd,
When chang'd into a rock ſhe ſtood,
And at her feet the headlong flood,
With downward force impetuous ran,
High foaming, o'er the delug'd plain;
So look'd the dame, when all around
The torrent ſmoak'd upon the ground:
Still ſpreading wider than before,
It ſeem'd a ſea without a ſhore.
Your bards that wrote in heathen days,
Had ſuch a theme employ'd their lays,
Had tortur'd their inventive brain,
With dire portents to fill the ſtrain;
Had bid the neighb'ring river mourn
His alter'd ſtream and tainted urn;
Or made the Naiads lift their heads,
Aſtoniſh'd from their wat'ry beds,
And, ſeated on the river's ſide,
Squeeze from their locks the briny tide.
But little ſkill'd in Pagan lore;
I paſs ſuch idle fancies o'er:
[219]Truth is my care, whoſe lovely face
Shines brighteſt in the plaineſt dreſs.
At eve the torrent ſtopt its courſe;
Stung with vexation and remorſe;
The dame laments her fruitleſs coſt,
Her hopes deceiv'd, her labour loſt.
Nor think that here her ſuff'rings end,
Reproach and infamy attend:
Surrounding boys, where-e'er ſhe came,
With inſults loud divulge her ſhame;
And farmers ſtop her with demands
Of recompence for damag'd lands.
The CAMELION: A FABLE after Monſieur DE LA MOTTE.
[223]By the Same.
OFT has it been my lot to mark
A proud, conceited, talking ſpark,
With eyes, that hardly ſerv'd at moſt
To guard their maſter 'gainſt a poſt,
Yet round the world the blade has been
To ſee whatever cou'd be ſeen,
Returning from his finiſh'd tour,
Grown ten times perter than before;
Whatever word you chance to drop,
The travell'd fool your mouth will ſtop,
"Sir, if my judgment you'll allow—
"I've ſeen—and ſure I ought to know—
So begs you'd pay a due ſubmiſſion,
And acquieſce in his deciſion.
Two travellers of ſuch a caſt;
As o'er Arabia's wild they paſt,
And on their way in friendly chat
Now talk'd of this and then of that,
Diſcours'd awhile 'mongſt other matter
Of the Camelion's form and nature.
[224]"A ſtranger animal, cries one,
"Sure never liv'd beneath the ſun.
"A lizard's body lean and long,
"A fiſh's head, a ſerpent's tongue,
"Its tooth with triple claw disjoin'd;
"And what a length of tail behind!
"How ſlow its pace, and then its hue—
"Who ever ſaw ſo fine a blue?"
"Hold there, the other quick replies,
"'Tis green—I ſaw it with theſe eyes,
"As late with open mouth it lay,
"And warm'd it in the ſunny ray;
"Stretch'd at its eaſe the beaſt I view'd,
"And ſaw it eat the air for food."
"I've ſeen it, Sir, as well as you,
"And muſt again affirm it blue.
"At leiſure I the beaſt ſurvey'd
"Extended in the cooling ſhade."
"'Tis green, 'tis green, Sir, I aſſure ye—
"Green! cries the other in a fury—
"Why, Sir—d'ye think I've loſt my eyes?"
"'Twere no great loſs, the friend replies,
"For, if they always ſerve you thus,
"You'll find 'em but of little uſe."
So high at laſt the conteſt roſe,
From words they almoſt came to blows:
When luckily came by a third —
To him the queſtion they refer'd;
[225]And beg'd he'd tell 'em, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue.
"Sirs, cries the umpire, ceaſe your pother—
"The creature's neither one nor t' other.
"I caught the animal laſt night,
"And view'd it o'er by candle-light:
"I mark'd it well—'twas black as jet—
"You ſtare—but Sirs, I've got it yet,
"And can produce it." "Pray, Sir, do:
"I'll lay my life, the thing is blue."
"And I'll be ſworn, that when you've ſeen
"The reptile, you'll pronounce him green."
"Well then, at once to eaſe the doubt,
"Replies the man, I'll turn him out:
"And when before your eyes I've ſet him,
"If you don't find him black, I'll eat him."
He ſaid; then full before their ſight
Produc'd the beaſt, and lo! 'twas white.—
Both ſtar'd, the man look'd wond'rous wiſe—
"My children," the Camelion cries,
(Then firſt the creature found a tongue)
"You all are right, and all are wrong:
"When next you talk of what you view,
"Think others ſee, as well as you:
"Nor wonder, if you find that none
"Prefers your eye-ſight to his own."
IMMORTALITY: or, the Conſolation of HUMAN LIFE. A MONODY.
[226]By THOMAS DENTON, M. A.
— Animi natura videtur
Atque animae claranda meis jam verſibus eſſe:
Et metus ille foras praeceps Acheruntis agendus
Funditus, humanam qui vitam turbat ab imo,
Omnia ſuffundus mortis nigrore.
LUCR.
I.
WHEN black-brow'd Night her duſky mantle ſpread,
And wrapt in ſolemn gloom the ſable ſky;
When ſoothing Sleep her opiate dews had ſhed,
And ſeal'd in ſilken ſlumbers ev'ry eye:
My wakeful thoughts admit no balmy reſt,
Nor the ſweet bliſs of ſoft oblivion ſhare;
But watchful woe diſtracts my aching breaſt,
My heart the ſubject of corroding care:
From haunts of men with wand'ring ſteps and ſlow
I ſolitary ſteal, and ſooth my penſive woe.
II.
Yet no fell paſſion's rough diſcordant rage
Untun'd the muſic of my tranquil mind;
Ambition's tinſell'd charms could ne'er engage,
No harbour there could ſordid av'rice find:
[227]From luſt's foul ſpring my grief diſdains to flow,
No ſighs of envy from my boſom break,
But ſoft compaſſion melts my ſoul to woe,
And ſocial tears faſt trickle down my cheek;
Ah me! when nature gives one general groan,
Each heart muſt beat with woe, each voice reſponſive moan.
III.
Where'er I caſt my moiſt'ned eyes around,
Or ſtretch my proſpect o'er the diſtant land,
There foul Corruption's tainted ſteps are found,
And Death grim-viſag'd waves his iron hand.
Tho' now ſoft Pleaſure gild the ſmiling ſcene,
And ſportive Joy call forth her feſtive train,
Sinking in night each vital form is ſeen,
Like air-blown bubbles on the wat'ry plain;
a Fell
Death, like brooding
Harpy, the repaſt
Will ſnatch with talons foul, or ſour its grateful taſte.
IV.
Ye ſmiling glories of the youthful year,
That ope your fragrant boſoms to the day,
That clad in all the pride of ſpring appear,
And ſteep'd in dew your ſilken leaves diſplay:
In Nature's richeſt robes tho' thus bedight,
Tho' her ſoft pencil trace your various dye,
Tho' lures your roſeate hue the charmed ſight,
Tho' odours ſweet your nect'rous breath ſupply,
Soon on your leaves Time's cank'rous tooth ſhall prey,
Your dulcet dews exhale, your beauteous bloom decay.
[228]V.
Ye hedge-row elms, beneath whoſe ſpreading ſhade
The grazing herds defy the ratt'ling ſhower;
Ye lofty oaks, in whoſe wide arms diſplay'd
The clam'rous rook builds high his airy bower;
Stript by hoar Winter's rough inclement rage,
In mournful heaps your leafy honours lie,
Ev'n your hard ribs ſhall feel the force of age,
And your bare trunks the friendly ſhade deny;
No more by cheerful vegetation green,
Your ſapleſs bolls ſhall ſink, and quit th' evanid ſcene.
VI.
Ye feather'd warblers of the vernal year
That careleſs ſing, nor fear the frowns of fate,
Tune your ſad notes to death and winter drear!
Ill ſuit theſe mirthful ſtrains your tranſient ſtate.
No more with cheerful ſong nor ſprightly air
Salute the bluſhes of the riſing day,
With doleful ditties, drooping wings repair
To the lone covert of the nightly ſpray:
Where love-lorn Philomela ſtrains her throat,
Surround the budding thorn, and ſwell the mournful note.
VII.
Come, ſighing Elegy, with ſweeteſt airs
Of melting muſic teach my grief to flow,
I too muſt mix my ſad complaint with theirs,
Our fates are equal, equal be our woe.
[229]Come, Melancholy, ſpread thy raven wing,
And in thy ebon car, by Fancy led,
To the dark charnel vault thy vot'ry bring,
The murky manſions of the mould'ring dead,
Where dank dews breathe, and taint the ſickly ſkies,
Where in ſad loathſome heaps all human glory lies.
VIII.
Wrapt in the gloom of uncreated night
Secure we ſlept in ſenſeleſs matter's arms,
Nor pain could vex, nor pallid fear affright,
Our quiet fancy felt no dream's alarms.
Soon as to life our animated clay
Awakes, and conſcious being opes our eyes,
Care's fretful family at once diſmay,
With ghaſtly air a thouſand phantoms riſe,
Sad Horror hangs o'er all the deep'ning gloom,
Grief prompts the labour'd ſigh, Death opes the marble tomb.
IX.
Yet life's ſtrong love intoxicates the ſoul,
And thirſt of bliſs inflames the fev'rous mind,
With eager draughts we drain the pois'nous bowl,
And in the dregs the cordial hope to find.
O heav'n! for this light end were mortals made,
And plac'd on earth, with happineſs in view,
To catch with cheated graſp the flitting ſhade,
And with vain toil the fancied form purſue,
Then give their ſhort-liv'd being to the wind,
As the wing'd arrow flies, and leaves no track behind!
[230]X.
Thus lonely wand'ring thro' the nightly ſhade
Againſt the ſtern decrees of ſtubborn Fate,
To mockful Echo my complaints I made,
Of life's ſhort period, or its toilſome ſtate.
'Tis death-like ſilence all, no ſound I hear,
Save the hoarſe raven croaking from the ſky,
Or ſcaly beetle murm'ring thro' the air,
Or ſcreech-owl ſcreaming with ill-o men'd cry;
Save when with brazen tongue from yon high tow'r
The clock deep-ſounding ſpeaks, and counts the paſſing hour.
XI.
Pale Cynthia mounted on her ſilver car
O'er heav'n's blue concave drives her nightly round:
See a torn abbey, wrapt in gloom, appear
Scatter'd in wild confuſion o'er the ground.
Here rav'nous Ruin lifts her waſteful hands
O'er bri'ar-grown grots and bramble-ſhaded graves;
Safe from her wrath one weeping marble ſtands,
O'er which the mournful yew its umbrage waves;
Ope, ope thy pond'rous jaws, thou friendly tomb,
Cloſe the ſad deathful ſcene, and ſhroud me in thy womb!
XII.
Forth iſſuing lovely from the gloomy ſhade,
Which ſtately pines in phalanx deep compoſe,
Fair above mortals comes a ſmiling maid
To ſooth my ſighs, and cheer my heart-felt woes.
[231]Here nurs'd by Contemplation, matron ſage,
Where with mute Solitude ſhe loves to dwell,
In truth's fair lore ſhe form'd her early age,
And trim'd the midnight lamp in lonely cell,
Here learn'd clear reaſon's heav'n-ſprung light to raiſe
O'er paſſion's low-born miſts, or pleaſure's ſpurious blaze.
XIII.
Her azure mantle flows with eaſy grace,
Nor faſhion's folds conſtrain, nor cuſtom's tye;
An optic tube ſhe bears, each ſphere to trace
That rolls its rapid orbit round the ſky:
Yet not to heav'n alone her view's confin'd;
A clear reflecting plane ſhe holds, to ſhow
The various movements of the reas'ning mind,
How ſtrange ideas link, and habits grow,
Paſſion's fierce impulſe, will's free power to ſcan,
To paint the featur'd ſoul, and mark th' internal man.
XIV.
Whence theſe ſad ſtrains, ſaid ſhe, of plaintive grief,
Which pierce the ſleep-clos'd ear of peaceful reſt?
Oft has the ſick'ning mind here found relief,
Here quell'd the throbbing tumults of the breaſt:
Lift up thy loaden eyes to yon fair cloud,
Where moon-ſprung
b Iris blends her beauteous dyes:
I lift them ſoon, and as I gazing ſtood,
The fleeting phantom in a moment flies;
[232]Where beam'd the gilded arch of gaudy hue,
Frowns the dark lou'ring cloud all gloomy to the view.
XV.
Life's emblem fit, ſaid I, that roſcid bow!
The gay illuſive pageant of an hour
To real ſemblance tricks her air ſhew,
Then ſinks in night's dull arms, and is no more!
Ah! fool, ſaid ſhe, tho' now to fancy's ſight
The violet pale, the bluſhing red decays,
Tho' now no painted cloud reflect the light,
Nor drops priſmatic break the falling rays,
Yet ſtill the colours live, tho' none appear,
Glow in the darting beam that gilds yon cryſtal ſphere.
XVI.
Then let not Fancy with her vagrant blaze
Miſlead in trackleſs paths of wild deceit;
On Reaſon's ſteady lamp ſtill ardent gaze;
Led by her ſober light to Truth's retreat.
Tho' wond'ring Ign'rance ſees each form decay,
The breathleſs bird, bare trunk, and ſhrivel'd flow'r:
New forms ſucceſſive catch the vital ray,
Sing their wild notes, or ſmile th' allotted hour,
And ſearch creation's ample circuit round,
Tho' modes of being change, all life's immortal found.
XVII.
See the ſlow reptile grov'ling o'er the green,
That trails thro' ſlimy paths its cumbrous load,
Start in new beauty from the lowly ſcene,
And wing with flutt'ring pride th' aetherial road;
[233]Burſt their ſhell-priſons, ſee the feather'd kind,
Where in dark durance pent awhile they lie,
Diſpread their painted plumage to the wind,
Bruſh the briſk air, ſwift ſhooting thro' the ſky,
Hail with their choral hymns the new-born day,
Diſtend their joy-ſwoln breaſts, and carol the ſweet lay.
XVIII.
See man by varied periods fixt by fate
Aſcend perfection's ſcale by ſlow degree;
The plant-like foetus quits its ſenſeleſs taſte,
And helpleſs hangs ſweet-ſmiling on the knee;
Soon outward objects ſteal into the brain,
Next prattling childhood liſps with mimic air,
Then mem'ry links her fleet ideal train,
And ſober reaſon riſes to compare,
The full-grown breaſt ſome manly paſſion warms,
It pants for glory's meed, or beats to love's alarms.
XIX.
Then ſay, ſince nature's high beheſt appears
That living forms ſhould change of being prove,
In which new joy the novel ſcene endears,
New objects riſe to pleaſe, new wings to move;
Since man too, taught by ſage experience, knows
His frame revolving treads life's varying ſtage,
That the man-plant firſt vegetating grows,
Then ſenſe directs, then reaſon rules in age;
Say, is it ſtrange, ſhould death's all-dreaded hour
Waft to ſome unknown ſcenes, or wake ſome-untried pow'r?
[234]XX.
The wiſe Creator wrapt in fleſhly veil
The ray divine, the pure aetherial mate;
Tho' worn by age the brittle fabric fail,
The ſmiling ſoul ſurvives the frowns of fate:
Each circling year, each quick-revolving day
Touches with mould'ring tooth thy flitting frame,
With furtive ſlight repairs th' unſeen decay;
For ever changing, yet in change the ſame,
Oft haſt thou dropt unhurt thy mortal part,
Dare the grim terror then, nor dread his guiltleſs dart.
XXI.
The twinkling eye, whoſe various-humour'd round
Takes in ſoft net th' inverted form behind,
The liſt'ning ears, that catch the waving ſound,
Are but mere organs of the feeling mind:
External matter thus can lend its aid,
And diſtant ſhapes with foreign pow'r ſupply;
Thus the long tube by Galilaeo made
Brings home the wonders of the peopled ſky:
The pow'r percipient then feels no decay,
Tho' blind the tube, and darkneſs blot the viſual ray.
XXII.
When lock'd in ſhort ſuſpence by ſleep's ſoft pow'r
In temporary death the ſenſes lie,
When ſolemn ſilence reigns at midnight hour,
Deaf the dull ear, and clos'd the curtain'd eye;
[235]Objects of ſenſe, each conſcious ſenſe aſleep,
With lively image ſtrike the wakeful ſoul,
Some frowning rock that threats the foaming deep,
Or wood-hung vale, where ſtreams meand'ring roll,
Some long-loſt friend's returning voice you hear,
Claſp the life-pictur'd ſhade, and drop the pleaſing tear.
XXIII.
Each outward organ, as ideas riſe,
Gives eaſy entrance to the motley train;
Reflection calm, with retroſpective eyes
Surveys her treaſures in the formful brain;
Tho' Death relentleſs ſhed his baleful dew,
In Lethe dip each form-conveying pow'r,
Unhurt Reflection may her themes purſue,
Smile at the ruin, ſafe amidſt her ſtore;
Without one ſenſe's aid in life's low vale,
Fancy can furniſh joys, and reaſon lift her ſcale.
XXIV.
Thus the lone lover in the penſive ſhade
In day-dreams rapt of ſoft ecſtatic bliſs,
Purſues in thought the viſionary maid,
Feaſts on the fancy'd ſmile, and favour'd kiſs:
Thus the young poet at the cloſe of day
Led by the magic of ſome fairy ſong
Thro' the dun umbrage winds his heedleſs way,
Nor hears the babbling brook that brawls along:
Thus deathleſs Newton deaf to nature's cries
Would meaſure Time and Space, and travel 'round the ſkies.
[236]XXV.
When juſt expiring hangs life's trembling light,
And fell diſeaſe ſtrikes deep the deadly dart,
Reaſon and mem'ry burn with ardour bright,
And gen'rous paſſions warm the throbbing heart;
Oft will the vig'rous ſoul in life's laſt ſtage
With keeneſt reliſh taſte pure mental joys:
Since the fierce efforts of diſtemper's rage
Nor 'bates her vigour, nor her pow'rs deſtroys,
Say, ſhall her luſtre death itſelf impair?
When in high noon ſhe rides, then ſets in dark deſpair?
XXVI.
Tho' through the heart no purple tide ſhould flow,
No quiv'ring nerve ſhould vibrate to the brain,
The mental pow'rs no mean dependence know;
Thought may ſurvive, and each fair paſſion reign;
As when Lucina ends the pangful ſtrife,
Lifts the young babe, and lights her lambent flame,
Some pow'rs new-waking hail the dawning life,
Some unſuſpended live, unchang'd, the ſame;
So from our duſt freſh faculties may bloom,
Some poſthumous ſurvive, and triumph o'er the tomb.
XXVII.
This fibrous frame by nature's kindly law,
Which gives each joy to keen ſenſation here,
O'er purer ſcenes of bliſs the veil may draw,
And cloud reflection's more exalted ſphere.
[237]When Death's cold hand with all-diſſolving pow'r
Shall the cloſe tie with friendly ſtroke unbind,
Alike our mortal as our natal hour
May to new being raiſe the waking mind:
On death's new genial day the ſoul may riſe,
Born to ſome higher life, and hail ſome brighter ſkies.
XXVIII.
The moſs-grown tree, that ſhrinks with rolling years,
The drooping flow'rs that die ſo ſoon away,
Let not thy heart alarm with boding fears,
Nor thy own ruin date from their decay:
The bluſhing roſe that breathes the balmy dew,
No pleaſing tranſports of perception knows,
The rev'rend oak, that circling ſprings renew,
Thinks not, nor by long age experienc'd grows;
Thy fate and theirs confeſs no kindred tie:
Tho' their frail forms may fade, ſhall ſenſe and reaſon die?
XXIX.
Nor let life's ills, that in dire circle rage,
Steal from thy heaving breaſt thoſe labour'd ſighs;
Theſe, the kind tutors of thy infant age,
Train the young pupil for the future ſkies:
Unſchool'd in early prime, in riper years
Wretched and ſcorn'd ſtill ſtruts the bearded boy;
The tingling rod bedew'd with briny tears
Shoots forth in graceful fruits of manly joy:
The painful cares that vex the toilſome ſpring
Shall plenteous crops of bliſs in life's laſt harveſt bring.
[238]XXX.
She ceas'd, and vaniſh'd into ſightleſs wind—
O'er my torn breaſt alternate paſſions ſway,
Now Doubt deſponding damps the wav'ring mind,
Now Hope reviving ſheds her cheerful ray.
Soon from the ſkies in heav'nly white array'd,
Faith to my ſight reveal'd, fair Cherub! ſtood,
With life replete the volume ſhe diſplay'd,
Seal'd with the ruddy ſtains of crimſon blood;
Each fear now ſtarts away, as ſpectres fly
When the ſun's orient beam firſt gilds the purple ſky.
XXXI.
Mean while the faithful herald of the day
The village cock crows loud with trumpet ſhrill,
The warbling lark ſoars high, and morning grey
Lifts her glad forehead o'er the cloud-wrapt hill:
Nature's wild muſic fills the vocal vale;
The bleating flocks that bite the dewy ground,
The lowing herds that graze the woodland dale,
And cavern'd echo, ſwell the cheerful ſound;
Homeward I bend with clear unclouded mind,
Mix with the buſy world, and leave each care behind.
Captain T— of BATTEREAU'S Regiment in the Iſle of SKIE to Captain P— at Fort AUGUSTUS.
—COME, Thomas, give us t'other ſonnet—
Dear captain, pray reflect upon it.
Was ever ſo abſurd a thing?
What, at the pole to bid me ſing!
Alas! ſearch all the mountains round,
There's no Thalia to be found;
And Fancy, child of ſouthern ſkies,
Averſe the ſullen region flies.
I ſcribble verſes! why you know
I left the Muſes long ago,
[241]Deſerted all the tuneful band
To right the files, and ſtudy Bland.
Indeed in youth's fantaſtic prime
Miſled I wander'd into rhime,
And various ſonnets penn'd in plenty
On ev'ry nymph from twelve to twenty;
Compar'd to roſes, pinks and lillies,
The cheeks of Chloe and of Phillis;
With all the cant you find in many
A ſtillborn modern miſcellany.
My lines—how proud was I to ſee 'em
Steal into Dodſley's new Muſaeum,
Or in a letter fair and clean
Committed to the Magazine.
Our follies change— that whim is o'er—
The bagatelles amuſe no more.
Know by theſe preſents, that in fine
I quit all commerce with the Nine.
Love ſtrains, and all poetic matters,
Lampoons, epiſtles, odes, and ſatires,
Theſe toys and trifles I diſcard,
And leave the bays to poet Ward.
Know, now to politics conſign'd
I give up all the buſy mind;
Curious each pamphlet I peruſe,
And ſip my coffee o'er the news.
But a propos—for laſt Courant,
Pray thank the lady governante.
From Aix—pho! what is't—la Chapelle,
Of treaties now the gazettes tell;
[242]A peace unites the jarring powers,
And ev'ry trade will thrive, but our's.
Farewel, as wrong'd Othello ſaid,
The plumed troops, and neighing ſteed!
The troops! alas! more havock there
A peace will make, than all the war.
What crowds of heroes in a day
Reduc'd to ſtarve on half their pay!
From Lowendhal 'twou'd pity meet,
And Saxe himſelf might weep to ſee't.
Already Fancy's active pow'r
Foreruns the near approaching hour,
Methinks, curs'd chance! the fatal ſtroke
I feel, and ſeem already broke.
The park I ſaunter up and down,
Or ſit upon a bench alone
Penſive and ſad—le juſte portrait
D'un pauvre capitaine reforme.
My wig, which ſhun'd each ruder wind,
Toupee'd before, and bag'd behind,
Which John was us'd with niceſt art
To comb, and teach the curls to part,
Loſt the belle air and jaunty pride,
Nor lank depends on either ſide:
My hat grown white and ruſted o'er
Once bien trouſſe with galon d'or;
My coat diſtain'd with duſt and rain,
And all my figure quite campaign.
Tavern and coffee-houſe unwilling
To give me credit for a ſhilling:
[243]Forbid by ev'ry ſcornful belle
The precincts of the gay ruelle.
My vows tho' breath'd in ev'ry ear,
Not e'en a chambermaid will hear:
No ſilver in my purſe to pay
For opera-tickets, or the play:
No meſſage ſent to bid me come
A fortnight after to a drum:
No viſits or receiv'd or pay'd,
No ball, ridotto, maſquerade:
All penſive, heartleſs, and chagrine
I ſit, devoted prey to ſpleen;
Shabbily fine with tarniſh'd lace,
And hunger pittur'd in my face.
To you, dear P—, indulgent heav'n
A gentler, happier lot has giv'n;
To you has dealt with bounteous hands
Palladian ſeats, and fruitful lands:
Then in my ſorrows have the grace
To take ſome pity on my caſe;
And as you know the times are hard,
Send a ſpruce valet with a card—
Your compliments, and beg I'd dine,
And taſte your mutton and your wine;
You'll find moſt punctual and obſervant,
Your moſt obliged humble ſervant,
To Mr. J. H. at the TEMPLE, occaſioned by a Tranſlation of an Epiſtle of HORACE. 1730.
[244]By the Rev. Mr. S—, of Magdalen College, OXFORD.
TIME flies—ſo you and Horace ſing,
From whence you many a moral bring,
To teach us how to ſteer our lives,
T' enjoy our bottles and our wives.
Young man, I will approve your notions,
And wholly am at your devotions.
I hate your ſour, canting raſcals,
That talk of Ember-weeks and Paſcals;
Black villains, who deſire to wean us,
From Bacchus' pleaſures, and from Venus',
To gain themſelves a larger ſhare,
And fob us off with faſt and prayer:
And tell us none to Elyſium go,
Who do not plague themſelves below.
Can mis'ry raiſe the grateful heart,
Or tuneful ſongs of praiſe impart?
The great Creator's work we view
And trace it out by Wiſdow's clue;
Nothing is good but what is true.
[245]With cautious and with thankful eye
We ſcan the great variety:
Each good within our reach we taſte,
And call our neighbour to the feaſt.
Our ſouls do gen'rouſly diſown
All pleaſure that's confin'd to one;
The only rational employment
Is, to receive and give emjoyment:
To ev'ry pleaſure we attend,
Not to enjoy is to offend.
But ſtill, amidſt the various crowd
Of goods, that call with voices loud,
Our nat'ral genius, education,
Parents, companions, or our ſtation,
Direct us to ſome ſingle choice,
In which we chiefly muſt rejoice.
Pleaſures are ladies—ſome we court
To paſs away an hour in ſport:
We like them all for this or that,
For ſilence ſome, and ſome for chat;
For ev'ry one, as Cowley ſings,
Or arrows yields, or bows, or ſtrings.
But, after all this rambling life,
Each man muſt have his proper wife.
You know my meaning—ſome one good,
Felt, heard, or ſeen, or underſtood,
Will captivate the heart's affection,
And bring the reſt into ſubjection.
[246]Pray mind the tenor of my ſong;
It holds together, tho' 'tis long.
You've made an early choice, and wiſe one;
The beſt I know within th' horizon.
My lady Law is rich and handſome:
May ſhe be worth you a king's ranſom!
But I muſt tell you, (you'll excuſe
My friendly, tho' plain dealing Muſe)
In her own hands is all her dower;
There's not a groat within your power;
And yet you're whoring with the Nine;
With them you breakfaſt, ſup and dine,
With them you ſpend your days and nights—
Is't fitting ſhe ſhou'd bear ſuch ſlights?
Beggarly, ballad-ſinging carrions,
Can they advance you to the barons?
You've made me too an old Tom Dingle,
And I, forſooth, muſt try to jingle.
Your lady wou'd not do you wrong;
She owns you're tender yet, and young—
She'd wink at now and then a ſong:
But ſtill expects to ſhare the time,
Which now is all beſtow'd on rhime.
Read in the morning Hobbes de Homine,
At noon, e'en ſport with your Melpomene.
Youngſter, I've ſomething more to ſay,
To wean you from this itch of play.
[247]In his Officiis old Marc Tully,
'Mongſt certain points he handles fully,
(A book I ever muſt delight in
Far beyond all that ſince is written!)—
He tells us there, our parents' praiſe
Their children's virtue ought to raiſe:
Their worth and praiſe ſhou'd prick us on
To labour after like renown.
Who but thy father has been able,
Since Hercules, to cleanſe a ſtable?
About his ears how ſtrange a rattle!
Who ever ſtood ſo tough a battle?
H' has tam'd the moſt unruly cattle.—
Juſt two ſuch jobbs as yet remain
To be diſpatch'd by you and B—.
Your father with Herculean club
The tyrants of our ſouls did drub;
B—for our bodies, you our chattels,
Muſt undertake the ſelf-ſame battles.
The world on you have fix'd their eyes,
'Tis you muſt quell theſe tyrannies:
So ſhall ſome title, now unknown,
Bangorian-like your labours crown.
Raviſh'd, methinks, in thought I ſee
The univerſal liberty.
But after all, I know what's in you:
You'll do't, a thouſand to one guinea.
[248] Time flies—the work and pleaſure's great;
Begin, before it grows too late.
Where the plays ſtand the ſtatutes lodge;
And dance not, 'till you dance a judge;
Then, tho' you are not half ſo taper,
My Lord, you'll cut a higher caper.
To the Rev. Mr. J. S. 1731.
By J. H.
PROMISES are different caſes
At various times, in various places.
In crowded ſtreet of Arlington,
Where ſlaves of hope to levées run,
A promiſe ſignifies no more,
Than in the chamber of a whore.
And when the good deceiv'd Sir Francis
With madam up from Yorkſhire dances,
To claim the great man's promiſe given
Some ſix years ſince, or (ſome ſay) ſeven;
No one can blame that curious writer,
That ſays, they'll both return the lighter.
But can we hence affirm that no miſs
Of all the ſex can keep a promiſe?
[249]Or ſay, from what our courtier ſpeaks,
That all men's faiths are wafer-cakes?
That courts make rogues is my belief,
As 'tis the mill that makes the thief.
But 'cauſe one limb is none o' th' beſt,
Shall I for that cut off the reſt?
Sure it may be with ſafety ſaid,
A parſon's promiſe duely made
Beneath a prelate's holy roof,
Muſt ſtand 'gainſt all aſſaults a proof.
Yet he, who thinks the church unſhaken,
May find himſelf in time miſtaken.
I know the man, and grieve to ſay't,
Who ſo did fail—and that was S—
And can we then no more depend on
Our good forgetful friend at Findon,
Than on a courtier promiſeful,
Or a whore's oath to cheat her cull?
Can S— no better promiſe keep?
If that were true—I e'en ſhou'd weep.
In Sarum's town when laſt we met,
I told you 'mongſt much other prate,
That my deſign was to withdraw,
And leave the craggy paths of law:
And as the ſkilful pilot ſteers
Wide of the dreadful rocks he fears,
And in the ſafer ocean rides,
Nor fears his veſſel's bulging ſides;
[250]So I from Coke's and Croke's reports,
And ſpecial pleadings of the courts,
Had veer'd about to bury dead,
And 'gainſt a pulpit run my head.
Didſt thou not promiſe then and there,
(But promiſes are china-ware)
Didſt thou not promiſe, as I ſpoke,
That you'd ere long your Muſe invoke,
And cloath'd in ſtrong harmonious line,
Send counſel to the young divine?
Where of thy word then is the troth,
Which I thought good as any oath?
Or where that ſtrong harmonious line,
Bleſs'd by each ſiſter of the Nine?
That whore we ſpeak of i' th' beginning,
Hath ſome excuſe to make for ſinning:
Her tongue and tail are taught deceit
From her not knowing where to eat.
The courtier too hath ſome excuſe
To think word-breaking ſmall abuſe:
And 'midſt the hurry, noiſe, and buſtle,
Of crowds, that at his levée joſtle,
No man can be in ſuch a taking
To ſee a little promiſe-breaking.
But what indulgence, what excuſe
Can plead for thee, or for thy Muſe?
For thee, on whom the ſiſters wait
Pleas'd with the taſk impos'd by S—;
[251]Whom at his chriſt'ning they did dip
O'er head and ears in Aganip;
For thee, at mention of whoſe ſtrain
Their winged courſer courts the rein,
Bounds e'en through Suſſex-roads along,
Proud of the burthen of thy ſong?
KAMBROMYOMAXIA: OR THE MOUSE-TRAP; Being a Tranſlation of Mr. HOLDSWORTH'S * MUSCIPULA, 1737.
[258]By * * * *.
THE Mountain-Brim, firſt of men who fram'd
Bonds for the Mouſe, firſt who the tiny thief
In priſon clos'd vexatious—fatal wiles,
And death inextricate—ſing, heav'nly Muſe.
Thou PHOEBUS, (for to Mice thyſelf waſt erſt
A foe, in antique lore thence SMINTHEUS
† call'd,)
Inſpire the Song; and 'mongſt the Cambrian Hills
[259]Thy Pindus chooſing, ſmile upon the Muſe,
Whom lowly themes and humble verſe delight.
The Mouſe, an hoſtile Animal, enur'd
To live by rapine, now long time had rov'd
Where'er his luſt innate of ſpoil led on;
And unaveng'd his wicked craft purſu'd;
Long fearleſs, unaveng'd—All things on earth
Felt his fell tooth, while ſafe in nimble ſpeed
Evaſive, he in ev'ry dainty diſh
His revels held ſecure. Nought was untouch'd,
But ev'ry feaſt wail'd the domeſtic foe,
A conſtant gueſt unbidden. Nor ſtrong walls
His thefts obſtruct, nor maſſy bars avail,
Nor doors robuſt, to ſave the luſcious cates:
Through walls, and bars, and doors he eats his way
Contemptuous, and regales with unbought fare.
Thus wail'd the helpleſs world the general foe,
But Cambria moſt; for Cambria's od'rous ſtores
Moſt ſtimulate the curious taſte of Mouſe:
Not with a taſte content, or lambent kiſs,
(The fate of common cheeſe,) he undermines
And hollows with reiterated tooth
Eatable Palaces.
The Nation ſaw,
And rag'd—Revenge and grief diſtract their minds—
What ſhou'd they do? They foam, they gnaſh their teeth,
And o'er their pendant rocks in fury rove,
Reſtleſs with rage—for Nature prone to rage
[260]The Cambrians form'd, and bade their fiery breaſts
Burſt into ſudden flame—that men would deem
Their ſouls were with their fingers ſulphur-ting'd.
It is decreed—Rage prompts them to revenge
Unſated but with blood—Yet by what means,
What art the cautious felon to enſnare,
They doubt: for, Cambria, thy Grimalkin race
Nor to the houſe defence, nor in diſtreſs
So imminent, cou'd aught of ſuccour bring.
Oft had the Cat plac'd at the cavern's mouth
The various ambuſcade; as oft with paw
Soft-ſilent creeping, near the hollow cell
Kept wary watch—In vain—The little Mouſe
In little bulk ſecure, (advantage great
Over a Giant Foe!) if chance he ſpy
Her watching at his door intent on prey,
Inward he flies, his ſerpentine receſs
Purſues, and caves impervious to Cat:
Nor dares again thruſt out his head in air,
Nor form new ſallies, till the ſiege be rais'd,
And danger with the watchful foe withdrawn.
The Cambrians thus, (if Cambrians with the Mouſe
We may compare,) when Roman JULIUS ſought
To join the Britons to the world ſubdu'd,
Eluded his vain toil.—To their retreat
At once a nation vaniſh'd; in their rocks,
Rampires impregnable, lay ſafe obſcur'd
'Mid circling ruin; and of conqueſt though
[261]Deſpairing, to be conquerable ſcorn'd.
Their long, unbroken lineage hence they boaſt,
Their country unſubdued, and ancient tongue.
Thus did the Mouſe, by cuſtom tutor'd, oft
Evade the hoſtile paw; nor Cambria's ſons
Had hope from their confederate of the war:
When ſtrait, on th' utmoſt frontiers of their Land,
Where now Menevia the ſhrunk honours mourns
Of her divided mitre, of whoſe walls
Half-buried but an empty name remains,
Behold a Council ſummons'd. From each ſide
See Nobles, Fathers, and the vulgar throng
Of ſtench ſulphureous, mix.
An ancient Sage,
Whoſe length of beard oft from his native hills
The goat with envy ey'd; his hands, his face
With ſcurf of ancient growth encruſted o'er;
Broken with years, againſt a poſt reclin'd,
(By Cambrian backs ſtill ſhaken) in the midſt
Stood viſible to all, and with deep tone
Theſe words precipitating, gutt'ral ſpake.
"Of open war we treat not, but ſly theft—
"No foreign foe, but a too inmate gueſt
"(That heavier evil) ſummons us to meet.
"Still ſhall the bold inſulter lord it thus,
"The tyrant Mouſe? Rouſe, aweful Fathers, rouſe;
"Ye, to whoſe breaſts your country's good is dear,
"By counſel end theſe horrors; and if aught
[262]"Of hope remain, now lend propitious aid:
"So ſhall your glory grow, your names be known
"Immortal as CAIDWALADER'S in fame."
He ſpake, and ſtrait the fragments, mouldy ſcraps,
Reliques of rapine, monuments of theft,
High in their ſight uprearing, rous'd their rage.
Now thirſt of dire revenge, now luſt of fame
Burns emulous, and fires each Patriot breaſt;
Each meditates to Mouſe unheard of fate,
And ev'ry brain is hamm'ring on a TRAP.
But one 'bove all by th' honour-added name
Of TAFFY fam'd, far more for wit renown'd:
Cambria ne'er bred his peer, whether at forge,
Or council; Senator and Blackſmith He.
Thus 'gan the Sage—"Should Cheeſe, our Nation's boaſt,
"In Cambria be extinct, I fear our hinds
"Wou'd mourn their whole meals ſunk, and Nobles grieve
"The honours loſt, that crown'd the ſecond courſe.
"Since then nor Cambria's courage, nor her Cats
"Againſt the monſters can prevail, we'll try
"If this mechanic hand, if craft, deceit,
"Can aught advantage: in a foe none aſks
"If force prevail, or fraud."
Strait at this boaſt,
All fix on TAFFY their expecting eyes,
All in glad murmurs ſpeak their promis'd joy,
Wait whence the bliſs; queſtion, and burn to know.
Scratching his head, (as Britiſh heads demand,)
He ghaſtly ſmil'd, and ſtrait with freer air
[263]Proceeded thus—"When wearied, at the cloſe
"Of yeſter ſun I gave my limbs to reſt,
"And ſlumber deep my eyes had quench'd; a Mouſe
"Bold and purſuing, as I gueſs, the trail,
"Which unconnected Cheeſe recent exhal'd
"From out my viſcous jaws, ſtole down my mouth
"Then diſcontinuous; and reaching now
"My very entrails, ſtrait their crude contents
" 'Gan gnaw, and through my throat ill-fortified
"My yeſter's meal, alas! triumphant drags.
"When ſudden rous'd from ſleep, in his retreat
"I 'twixt my teeth the felon ſnap'd, and bound
"Vainly rebellious in the biting chain.
"Inſtructed thus that Mouſe might be enthrall'd,
"New viſionary priſon-houſes riſe
"In my revolving mind, and ſuch reſtraints,
"As the late captive of my jaws ſuggeſts.
"By what myſterious laws the hand of JOVE
"Moves ſublunary things! By what hid rules
"The chain of cauſes acts! the Mouſe himſelf
"To us involuntary ſuccour brings,
"And for the wounds he gave himſelf preſcribes.
"Bluſh not by ſuch a maſter to improve;
"From foes to learn, honour nor right forbids."
Theſe ſaid, homeward he his. Th' applauding throng
Accompany his route, and to his toil
Propitious omens beg. Each to his houſe
Bends his ſwift courſe; each to his Lares flies,
[264]Glad harbinger of this expected birth
From TAFFY'S brain: and whilſt they tell the tale,
Whilſt to the Gods for glad event they bend
Of the great enterprize, the Mouſing Kind
(Prophetic inſtinct!) ſhew unwonted joy
Gameſome; and (if we credit Fame) beneath
The matron's hand dances the embryo cheeſe.
TAFFY mean while with head, and hand, and heart,
Plies his great work, with PALLAS' aid divine
The MOUSE-TRAP builds. A wonderful machine
Now ſtood confeſs'd; and form 'till then unknown
The Tragi-comic edifice indu'd.
Now ſmile, ſweet Muſe, and to our ſight diſcloſe
The infant fabric; each particular
Dilate, and join them in the finiſh'd pile.
Of oblong form twin planks of wood compoſe
The baſe and roof; a wiry paliſade
Fences each ſide, on whoſe ſmall columns rais'd
The fabric ſtands: th' inſi'dious gate invites
With friendly-ſeeming welcome; but on high,
Depending from a ſlender thread, the vaſt
Portcullis threats, to thoughtleſs Mice ſure death.
(Such is the thread of life, ſpun by the FATES
To Mouſe and Man—All on a thread depend.)
Amidſt the level roof ſhoots up a maſt
Erect, in whoſe cleft head a ſlender beam
Tranſverſe inſerted plays, and on each ſide
Extends its poiſed arms; whoſe one extreme
[265]Depreſs'd, one equally the pendent door
Exalts. Within, let through a ſlender bore,
A wire depends that fluctuates with a touch;
The lower part is cramp'd into a hook,
Tenacious of the bait; while th' upper gripes
Th' extremeſt handle of the treach'rous beam.
But ſoon as e'er it feels the foe to 've touch'd
The fatal food, the looſen'd portal ſtrait
Lets fall, and ſpeaks the firſt attack reveng'd.
Things thus diſpos'd, inſtant the pendent hook
TAFFY with treaſon cloaths, and turns to death
The very food of Mouſe: but, that his cheeſe
More fragrant may from far the Foe invite,
Toaſts the fell bait, and ſtrengthens the perfume.
And now appear'd the memorable night,
When on his bed TAFFY his limbs fatigu'd
Repoſing, near his pillow's downy ſide
His Minion MOUSE-TRAP ſet, and all-ſecure
I' th' faithful centry, ſlumber ſweet indulg'd.
The frolic Mice, (a tribe audacious they)
Safe in the covert of the ſilent night,
Now ſport abroad: when one, a leader Mouſe,
Of noſe ſagacious, born the Gods his foes,
The hoſtile ambuſh ſeeks, led by the ſcent
Of toaſted cheeſe delicious. The Grate reſiſts
His ſwift career, and entrance firſt denies—
But he, to ſuffer ſuch ſevere repulſe
Indignant, round the wiry fortreſs ſcours,
And criſps his noſe, and with ſagacious beard
[266]A paſs explores; and enter'd now the lines,
Impaſſable again, of all his wiſh
At length poſſeſs'd, the deadly bait ſecures,
Feaſts on his ruin, and enjoys his fate.
TAFFY, whom ſtrait the pendulous door, ſcarce drop'd,
With ſudden clap had wak'd, you might behold
Now on his elbow prop'd, now from his bed
Skipping triumphant, fir'd with thirſt to know
What new-come gueſt. The Mouſe ridiculous
Rages within, batters with front and foot,
Proves with his head each wiry interval,
And wears with raging tooth his iron hold.
Driv'n to the toils ſo raves the Marſian boar
Horrid, and ſhakes his waving bonds, the ſport
Of circling dogs; he flings about his foam,
And on his front erect the briſtles ſtare.
The morrow came, and from her rocky highths,
Precipitant, whole Cambria pours; for ſtrait
In ev'ry ear the novel tale was rife—
Nor wonder, for the Aſs, his ſolemn wont
Relax'd, nor mindful of his late ſlow pace,
The mountain climbs more wanton than the kid:
Thence with ſonorous din from ruſty throat,
(The Cambrian Herald ſimulating,) thrice
Thee, TAFFY, bray'd; thrice told the public joy.
Nor leſs the Owl; (from that great Aera term'd
Cambria's Embaſſador:) for through her towns,
And utmoſt limits wand'ring wild that night,
She ſcratch'd the windows with her ominous beak,
[267]Grating harſh diſſonance, and ſung in ſhrieks
The inſtant fate of Mouſe. The lab'ring rocks
Bring forth, and Pembroke's, and Mervinia's ſons
In ſwarms condens'd ruſh down; and whom the walls
Of Bonium hold, and Maridunum fam'd
For their prophetic bard, MERLIN; and whom
Fruitful Glamorgan feeds, and he that drinks
Of Vaga's ſtream, with the rough hardy clown
Montgomery manures.—Then TAFFY, 'midſt
The crowded ring, his raging prey inſults.
"Vain are thy efforts—fix'd thy doom of death,
"On this my altar the firſt victim thou,
"To dye with memorable blood the frame.
"No hope remains: thy flight theſe wiry poſts
"Inexorable bar—Dread, wicked wight,
"The fate thy merits aſk; for theſe thy bonds
"Thou quit'ſt not but with life."
The fatal words
Scarce had he ſpoke, when from the ſunny thatch,
(Her wonted haunt, when with extended limbs
She baſks luxurious, winking in ſoft eaſe,)
Down leap'd the playful Cat.—Her ſwift approach
The captive eyes, and pricks his ears, and ſtiff
Briſtles his gibbous back, nor dares attempt
The portal now up-drawn; but his ſole hope
Of freedom only in his priſon fix'd,
With hooked talons graſps his bonds, and hangs
Tenacious by his feet—At length he drops
Out-ſhaken: inſtant to her prey the Cat
[268]Flies rapid, and With rude, embrace enfolds,
And ſavage kiſſes on her ſtruggling foe
(Vain efforts!) cruelly imprints. No pauſe
Her rage admits; her ſinuous-twirling tail
Denotes the Victor's joy; her body moves
Agil in wanton frolicks, watching now
Prone on the earth intent the deſtin'd Mouſe;
His neck now lightly pats with hurtleſs paw,
Diſſembling love; but ruminates the while
To tear him limb from limb. The Mouſer thus,
Witty in tyranny, with various art
Wanton barbarity enjoys: but now,
Tir'd with the ſportive mockery, no more
Conceals her rage, but o'er her trembling prey
Like the ſtarv'd lion hangs, and growling tears
His gory entrails, and convulſive limbs.
The circling croud, ſoon as his hated blood
Sprinkled they ſpy, fill with glad ſhouts the air;
And ECHO, tenant of the Cambrian hills,
Their clam'rous joy repeats; Plinlimmon's highth,
And Brechin with the loftier Snowdon join:
To th' neighb'ring ſtars the loud acclaim aſcends,
And OFFA'S Ditch rebellows to the din.
TAFFY, for ever live—Ev'n to this day
Thy gift the Cambrian celebrates; and Thee
Commemorates each circling year. The land
Grateful, its native honours to maintain,
Each joyful head crowns redolent with Leek.
The COUNTRY PARSON.
[298]I.
BETWEEN the ſmooth deſcent of yonder hills,
Deep in the vale with tufted trees beſet;
Whoſe antique roots are waſh'd with brawling rills,
Whoſe leafy arms the ſummer's rage defeat,
There ſtands a country parſon's calm retreat.
View well the ſilent ſhade with ſober eye,
And wonder at the courtier's ſwollen luxury.
II.
See to his garden's pale where cloſe ally'd
A decent church the neighbouring glebe commands;
Whoſe ſteeple's ſtock'd with bells, (the country's pride)
Whoſe beams are wreath'd about with virgin bands,
Wove on the bridal day by virgin hands.
The ſurplice clean, and chancel newly whited,
That with the good man's neatneſs all muſt be delighted.
III.
His houſe ſtands near, (this church's younger brother)
Whoſe furniture ſhews houſewifely, and neat;
A little garden runs from one to t' other,
Stately in uſe, excluding uſeleſs ſtate,
In which a yew tree ſtands of ancient date:
And near it roſemary climbs up the wall;
Or elſe imperfect were the rites of funeral.
[299]IV.
Him liveth near in gentle neighbourhood
An heartſome friend, replete with bounteous love,
Whoſe generous wine long time hath corked ſtood,
(Not to avoid the taſte but to improve;)
With him the good man's moments ſoftly move:
Nor yet compleat, if I ſhou'd leave untold
The dame who of his joys ſweet partnerſhip doth hold.
V.
Well knows me when to govern, when obey,
Vers'd in the rights and laws of womanhood;
Nor hath ſhe too much wiſdom to be gay,
Nor hath ſhe ſo much wit to be o'er-loud:
Nor hath ſhe ſo much beauty to be proud;
But cheerful ſenſe and decent mirth impart
The ſweet domeſtic joys of a well-natur'd heart.
VI.
Eight years hath heav'n poſſeſs'd them of a boy,
Who loves a ſiſter younger by a year;
And as they prank about, with ſilent joy
They ſit and ſmile upon the prattling pair,
(Who two ſweet roſes on one ſtalk appear)
And think upon themſelves once fair and young,
Before ſoft Cupid's golden bow became unſtrung.
[300]VII.
Each ſun ariſes freſh with ſweet content,
And leads them on a courſe of new delight;
With the ſame joy the ſummer's day is ſpent,
And o'er a cheerful fire their winter night.
Such are their joys who ſpend their lives aright:
Tho' ſeaſons change, no ſenſe of change they know,
But with an equal eye view all things here below.
VIII.
When th' amorous earth is woo'd with ſmiling weather,
To wear the verdant mantle of the ſpring;
Forth walk the little family together
To ſee the wood, and hear its natives ſing;
The flow'rs ſweet odours to their ſenſes bring:
The world appears in bloſſom, far and near
Joyful they view the purple promiſe of the year.
IX.
Summer beholds the good man near his bride,
In ſweet contentment ſmoaking in his chair;
He views the flocks nibbling the mountain's ſide,
And ev'ry tenth he reckons to his ſhare.
Now to the hay field walk the happy pair,
And with ſuch kindneſs greet the country folk,
The parſon's buſh is plac'd upon the biggeſt cock.
[301]X.
The promis'd fruit now fills the teeming ſoil,
And certain plenty all his doubts relieves;
The peach he planted pays his honeſt toil,
The farmer brings him home his yellow ſheaves,
And his ſtuff'd barn the willing tax receives.
His ſervants to his loaded orchards hye,
To lay in liquid ſtores for future jollity.
XI.
When icy bands the ſtiffened wave enfold,
Still is the parſon with contentment crown'd;
The cheerful blaze chaces the chilly cold,
In circling cups all winter thoughts are drown'd,
And no ill nature ſends the laugh around;
Or he, in ſtudy pent, thinks what to ſay,
May touch, yet not offend the ſquire next ſabbath day.
XII.
Thus, ſtill in age the ſame, he journeys on,
Till envious Fate o'ertake him on the road;
For the calm pleaſures of the holy man
Claim not the madneſs of a youthful blood.
For many winters thus ſerenely ſtood,
Strong in its ſmooth decline, the ſturdy oak,
Till came from heav'n th' unfear'd and unreſiſted ſtroke.
PLAIN TRUTH.
[302]By HENRY FIELDING, Eſq
AS Bathian Venus t'other day
Invited all the Gods to tea,
Her maids of honour, the miſs Graces,
Attending duely in their places,
Their godſhips gave a looſe to mirth,
As we at Butt'ring's here on earth.
Minerva in her uſual way
Rallied the daughter of the ſea.
Madam, ſaid ſhe, your lov'd reſort,
The city where you hold your court,
Is lately fallen from its duty,
And triumphs more in wit than beauty;
For here, ſhe cried; ſee here a poem—
'Tis Dalſton's; you, Apollo, know him.
Little perſuaſion ſure invites
Pallas to read what Dalſton writes:
Nay, I have heard that in Parnaſſus
For truth a current whiſper paſſes,
That Dalſton ſometimes has been known
To publiſh her works as his own.
[303]Minerva read, and every God
Approv'd—Jove gave the critic nod:
Apollo and the ſacred Nine
Were charm'd, and ſmil'd at ev'ry line;
And Mars, who little underſtood,
Swore, d—n him, if it was not good.
Venus alone ſat all the while
Silent, nor deign'd a ſingle ſmile.
All were ſurpriz'd: ſome thought her ſtupid:
Not ſo her confident 'ſquire Cupid;
For well the little rogue diſcern'd
At what his mother was concern'd,
Yet not a word the urchin ſaid,
But hid in Hebe's lap his head.
At length the riſing choler broke
From Venus' lips,—and thus ſhe ſpoke,
That poetry ſo cram'd with wit,
Minerva, ſhou'd your palate hit,
I wonder not, nor that ſome prudes
(For ſuch there are above the clouds)
Shou'd wiſh the prize of beauty torn
From her they view with envious ſcorn.
Me poets never pleaſe, but when
Juſtice and truth direct their pen.
This Dalſton—formerly I've known him;
Henceforth for ever I diſown him;
For Homer's wit ſhall I deſpiſe
In him who writes with Homer's eyes.
[304]A poem on the faireſt fair
At Bath, and Betty's name not there!
Hath not this poet ſeen thoſe glances
In which my wicked urchin dances?
Nor that dear dimple, where he treats
Himſelf with all Arabia's ſweets;
In whoſe ſoft down while he repoſes
In vain the lillies bloom, or roſes,
To tempt him from a ſweeter bed
Of fairer white or livelier red?
Hath he not ſeen, when ſome kind gale
Has blown aſide the cambric veil,
That ſeat of paradiſe, where Jove
Might pamper his almighty love?
Our milky way leſs fair does ſhew:
There ſummer's ſeen 'twixt hills of ſnow.
From her lov'd voice whene'er ſhe ſpeaks,
What ſoftneſs in each accent breaks!
And when her dimpled ſmiles ariſe,
What ſweetneſs ſparkles in her eyes!
Can I then bear, enrag'd ſhe ſaid,
Slights offer'd to my fav'rite maid,
The nymph whom I decreed to be
The repreſentative of me?
The Goddeſs ceas'd—the Gods all bow'd,
Nor one the wicked bard avow'd,
Who, while in beauty's praiſe he writ,
Dar'd Beauty's Goddeſs to omit:
[305]For now their godſhips recollected,
'Twas Venus' ſelf he had neglected,
Who in her viſits to this place
Had ſtill worn Betty Dalſton's face.
A POEM to the Memory of THOMAS, late Marquiſs of WHARTON, Lord Privy Seal.
VAIN are theſe pomps, thy funeral rites to grace,
And blazon forth thy long Patrician race;
Theſe banners mark'd with boaſted feats of old,
And ſtreamers waving with diſtinguiſh'd gold.
Proud hieroglyphics! where are darkly ſhown
Thy brave forefathers merits, not thy own.
Herald forbear! theſe painted honours give
To names that only in thy paint can live.
Thy colours fade near this illuſtrious clay,
And all thy gaudy gildings die away.
See,
* heaven diſpleas'd thy fond attempt upbraids,
And claims the province thy bold hand invades;
Untimely darkneſs gathering round the ſkies,
Blackens the morn to grace his obſequies.
The ſick'ning ſun ſhines dim, and in the ſight
Of gazing crowds, reſigns his waning light;
Mark how he labours with relapſe of night!
[317]How his diminiſh'd face a creſcent ſeems,
Like Cynthia newly ſilver'd with his beams.
But as in full eclipſe his light expires,
Back to its ſource our gelid blood retires;
Chill'd with ſurprize, our trembling joints unbrace,
And pale confuſion ſits on every face.
The bleating flocks, no more the ſhepherd's care,
Stray from thoſe folds to which they wou'd repair.
Home to his young the raven wings his way,
And leaves untaſted his yet bleeding prey.
While tow'ring larks their rival notes prolong,
They drop benighted in their morning ſong.
Darkneſs and horror reign o'er earth and ſkies,
And nature for awhile with WHARTON dies.
O! ſpeak, refulgent parent of the day!
With beamy eye who doſt the globe ſurvey;
Thou radiant ſource of wit's diviner fire!
Thou trueſt judge of what thou doſt inſpire!
Say, haſt thou ſeen in any age, or clime,
Since thy bright race began to meaſure time,
So great a genius riſe? in ev'ry part
So form'd by nature, finiſh'd ſo by art?
Such manly ſenſe, with ſo much fire of mind?
Judgment ſo ſtrong, to wit ſo lively join'd?
No prepoſſeſſion ſway'd his equal ſoul,
Steady to truth ſhe pointed as her pole:
Convinc'd of varying in the leaſt degrees,
Her pliant index ſhe reclaim'd with eaſe.
[318]Early thro' cuſtom's and preſcription's yoke,
Tyrants of weaker ſouls, his reaſon broke.
Good ſenſe revering from the meaneſt hand,
He durſt authority in robes withſtand.
Determin'd always on maturer thought,
Still by new reaſons, to new meaſures brought;
Firm, but not ſtubborn; thoughtful, not involv'd;
Swift to perform what ſlowly he reſolv'd.
No tempeſts rag'd within his peaceful breaſt,
Where kindling paſſion reaſon ſoon ſuppreſt.
'Midſt all events his firmneſs he maintain'd,
Struggled with great, but ſlighter ills diſdain'd.
Thus what philoſophers could only preach,
His inborn virtue did in practice reach.
Nature deſign'd him maſter of addreſs;
None knew it more, nor ſeem'd to know it leſs.
It work'd like magic on your yielding heart,
Sure was the charm, but ſecret was the art.
In human nature moſt exactly learn'd,
The artful man he through his maſque diſcern'd.
With choſen baits that every temper take,
He knew of knave or fool good uſe to make.
His eaſy breeding free from form and rules,
That ſtiffen the civility of fools,
Of various turn, for all occaſions fit,
Was ſquar'd with judgment, and well touch'd with wit.
Free of acceſs, from affectation clean,
Great without pride, nor when familiar, mean.
[319]Obliging always with good-natur'd ſenſe,
Nor apt to give nor apt to take offence.
Nor fond when kind, nor harſh when moſt ſevere,
Betwixt extremes he juſtly knew to ſteer.
In converſation wond'rous was his art
To guard his own, and ſift another's heart.
To mirth and wit he led the cheerful way,
Reſerv'dly open and diſcreetly gay;
Nor could the ſofteſt hour his ſecret ſoul betray.
Bright as the youngeſt, as the oldeſt wiſe,
In both extremes, alike he gave ſurprize.
In body active, yet his ſprightly mind
Within that body felt herſelf confin'd.—
When thoughts important claim'd no longer place,
Then building, planting, and the ſpeedy race,
Paintings, and books ſucceſſive took their round,
No blanks of time were in his journal ſound.
Skill'd in the ends of his exiſtence, he
To be unuſeful thought was not to be.
Polite his taſte of arts, but vain was art
Where nature had ſo greatly done her part.
Through tireſome mediums we at truth arrive;
His eaſy knowledge ſeem'd intuitive.
No copy'd beauties meanly form'd his mind,
By heav'n a great original deſign'd.
The ſeeds of ſcience in his blood were ſown,
Born with philoſophy, 'twas all his own
†.
[320]Nor bribes nor threat'nings could his zeal abate
To ſerve his country, and avert her fate.
Firm to her laws and liberties he ſtood,
Submitting private views to public good.
Who could obſequious with the current ſwim,
Whigs might be call'd, but tories were to him.
Perſons or parties he no longer knew,
When ſwerving once from honeſt, juſt, and true.
Oft has he ſtem'd the rage of impious times,
When patriot virtues bore the brand of crimes.
To check proud tyrants born, and factions awe,
But moſt devoted to good kings and law.
Twice his dear country was on ruin's brink,
Reſolv'd to ſave her, or with her to ſink,
His brave attempts ſucceſsful twice he ſaw,
Once in wiſe BRUNSWICK, once in great NASSAU.
No bolder champion in religion's cauſe;
None fought more battles, nor with more applauſe.
To arms he flew as danger preſs'd her home,
And ſnatch'd the hopeleſs prey from France and Rome.
But as from conſcience pure, religion ſprings,
He freedom preſs'd in uneſſential things.
Coercive laws, he rightly underſtood,
Might make men hypocrites, but never good.
All genuine virtue is by nature free;
And will, when forc'd, no longer virtue be.
Who juſtly would his eloquence declare,
Himſelf muſt WHARTON'S fertile genius ſhare.
[321]Would you conceive it? ſee how o'er the ſands
Fair Thames advances where Auguſta ſtands.
Gentle he flows, but with reſiſtleſs force,
Not like the rapid Rhone's impetuous courſe;
Tho' deep, ſo clear are his tranſparent ſtreams,
His bottom riſing to his ſurface ſeems.
Full is his ſpreading current, but reſtrain'd.
And ſtill within its flow'ry banks contain'd.
Alternate wealth his two extremes unfold,
Downwards he ſends us bread, and upwards gold.
Flow, ſweeteſt river! ſtill thy courſe prolong!
Thus deep and clear, thus gentle, full and ſtrong,
That diſtant ages may the image ſee
Of WHARTON'S flowing eloquence in thee.
So ſhall no torrents ſoil thy cryſtal ſtream,
Thou patriot's emblem, and thou poet's theme!
Ye nobles who ſurround the Britiſh throne,
Reflect its luſtre, and improve your own;
You who reſemble, in rich robes of ſtate,
That majeſty auguſt on which you wait,
Witneſs how often his deciſive ſenſe,
His wit, his art, and copious eloquence,
Have ſingly won the queſtion to his ſide,
Made Oxford bluſh, and St. John drop his pride;
Whilſt every ear was with his accents charm'd,
As every breaſt was with his ardour warm'd:
Faction was touch'd and felt the ſecret force,
Dumb, and convicted, but without remorſe,
[322]Envy with rage contending in her face,
To ſee his triumph and her juſt diſgrace.
Nor leſs in council did his weight appear,
The ableſt ſtateſman, as the brighteſt peer.
Thou mighty prince, who from perfidious power
Didſt ſpeed to ſave us in a timely hour;
Whilſt beauty join'd with valour form'd thy train,
To grace our court, and raiſe our martial vein;
Whoſe riſing beams made drooping Credit thrive,
Religion ſpring, fair Liberty revive:
Say, if thy choſen miniſters, who ſate
With thee to guide the great machine of ſtate,
A more conſummate character could boaſt,
Than that which Britain in her WHARTON loſt.
Oh! had kind heaven (if prayers were not too late)
Another luſtrum added to his date,
How would his head, his heart, his hand conſpire,
To puniſh traitors as their crimes require!
To cruſh rebellion, bridle factious rage,
And quell the monſters of an impious age!
How would his boſom beat with joy to ſee,
Great GEORGE! the Britiſh legend true in thee!
To ſee thee o'er the vanquiſh'd dragon ride,
And free thy kingdoms from his rage and pride!
Whilſt peace and plenty ſpread their golden wings
Around the beſt of men, the beſt of kings,
And every tide ſhall waft into thy ports
Wealth from all lands, and homage from all courts.
[323]But ſov'reign heav'n, whoſe ways are ever wiſe,
‖ Juſt drew the glorious dawn before his eyes;
And for his happier ſon reſerv'd the ſight
Of Brunſwick's power in its meridian light.
GEORGE ſhall in him prove honour, courage, truth,
And find the father in the pregnant youth.
Thus the great leader of the Hebrew bands,
Through opening billows and o'er burning ſands,
From Egypt's yoke, and haughty Pharaoh's chains,
To Canaan's fruitful hills, and flow'ry plains,
From Piſgah's height the promis'd land deſcry'd;
More was forbid; he ſaw, rejoic'd, and dy'd.
THE TOMB of SHAKESPEAR. A VISION.
[325]By JOHN GILBERT COOPER, Eſq
WHAT time the jocund roſie-boſom'd HOURS
Led forth the train of PHOEBUS and the SPRING,
And ZEPHYR mild profuſely ſcatter'd flowers
On Earth's green mantle from his muſky wing,
Thr MORN unbarr'd th' ambroſial gates of light,
Weſtward the raven-pinion'd Darkneſs flew,
The Landſcape ſmil'd in vernal beauty bright,
And to their graves the ſullen Ghoſts withdrew.
The nightingale no longer ſwell'd her throat
With love-lorn plainings tremulous and ſlow,
And on the wings of Silence ceas'd to float
The gurgling notes of her melodious woe:
[326]The God of ſleep myſterious viſions led
In gay proceſſion 'fore the mental eye,
And my free'd ſoul awhile her manſion fled,
To try her plumes for immortality.
Thro' fields of air, methought, I took my flight,
Thro' ev'ry clime, o'er ev'ry region paſs'd,
No paradiſe or ruin 'ſcap'd my ſight,
HESPERIAN garden, or CIMMERIAN waſte.
On AVON'S banks I lit, whoſe ſtreams appear
To wind with eddies fond round SHAKESPEAR'S tomb,
The year's firſt feath'ry ſongſters warble near,
And vi'lets breathe, and earlieſt roſes bloom.
Here FANCY ſat, (her dewy fingers cold
Decking with flow'rets freſh th' unſullied ſod,)
And bath'd with tears the ſad ſepulchral mold,
Her fav'rite offspring's long and laſt abode.
Ah! what avails, ſhe cry'd, a Poet's name?
Ah! what avails th' immortalizing breath
To ſnatch from dumb Oblivion other's fame?
My darling child here lies a prey to Death!
Let gentle OTWAY, white-rob'd PITY'S prieſt,
From grief domeſtic teach the tears to flow,
Or SOUTHERN captivate th' impaſſion'd breaſt
With heart-felt ſighs and ſympathy of woe.
[327]For not to theſe his genius was confin'd,
Nature and I each tuneful pow'r had given,
Poetic tranſports of the madding mind,
And the wing'd words that waft the ſoul to heaven:
The fiery glance of th' intellectual eye,
Piercing all objects of creation's ſtore,
Which on this world's extended ſurface lie;
And plaſtic thought that ſtill created more.
O grant, with eager rapture I reply'd,
Grant me, great goddeſs of the changeful eye,
To view each Being in poetic pride,
To whom thy ſon gave immortality.
Sweet FANCY ſmil'd, and wav'd her myſtic rod,
When ſtrait theſe viſions felt her pow'rful arm,
And one by one ſucceeded at her nod,
As vaſſal ſprites obey the wizard's charm.
Firſt a celeſtial form
a (of azure hue
Whoſe mantle, bound with brede aetherial, flow'd
To each ſoft breeze its balmy breath that drew)
Swift down the ſun-beams of the noon-tide rode.
Obedient to the necromantic ſway
Of an old ſage to ſolitude reſign'd,
With fenny vapors he obſcur'd the day,
Launch'd the long lightning, and let looſe the wind.
[328]He whirl'd the tempeſt thro' the howling air,
Rattled the dreadful thunderclap on high,
And rais'd a roaring elemental war
Betwixt the ſea-green waves and azure ſky.
Then, like heav'n's mild embaſſador of love
To man repentant, bade the tumult ceaſe,
Smooth'd the blue boſom of the realms above,
And huſh'd the rebel elements to peace.
Unlike to this in ſpirit or in mien
Another form
b ſucceeded to my view;
A two-legg'd brute which Nature made in ſpleen,
Or from the loathing womb unfiniſh'd drew.
Scarce cou'd he ſyllable the curſe he thought,
Prone were his eyes to earth, his mind to evil,
A carnal fiend to imperfection wrought,
The mongrel offspring of a Witch and Devil.
Next bloom'd, upon an ancient foreſt's bound,
The flow'ry margin
c of a ſilent ſtream,
O'er-arch'd by oaks with ivy mantled round,
And gilt by ſilver CTNTHIA'S maiden beam.
On the green carpet of th' unbended graſs,
A dapper train of female fairies play'd,
And ey'd their gambols in the watry glaſs,
That ſmoothly ſtole along the ſhad'wy glade.
[329]Thro' theſe the queen TITANIA paſs'd ador'd,
Mounted aloft in her imperial car,
Journeying to ſee great OBERON her lord
Wage the mock battles of a ſportive war.
Arm'd cap-a-pee forth march'd the fairy king,
A ſtouter warrior never took the field,
His threat'ning lance a hornet's horrid ſting,
The ſharded beetle's ſcale his ſable ſhield.
Around their chief the elfin hoſt appear'd,
Each little helmet ſparkled like a ſtar,
And their ſharp ſpears in pierceleſs phalanx rear'd,
A grove of thiſtles, glitter'd in the air.
The ſcene then chang'd, from this romantic land,
To a bleak waſte by bound'ry unconfin'd,
Where three ſmart ſiſters
d of the
weird band
Were mutt'ring curſes to the troublous wind.
Pale Want had wither'd every furrow'd face,
Bow'd was each carcaſe with the weight of years,
And each ſunk eye-ball from its hollow caſe
Diſtill'd cold rheum's involuntary tears.
Hors'd on three ſtaves they poſted to the bourn
Of a drear iſland, where the pendant brow
Of a rough rock, ſhagg'd horribly with thorn,
Frown'd on the boiſt'rous waves which rag'd below.
[330]Deep in a gloomy grot remote from day,
Where ſmiling Comfort never ſhew'd her face,
Where light ne'er enter'd, ſave one rueful ray
Diſcov'ring all the terrors of the place,
They held damn'd myſt'ries with infernal ſtate,
Whilſt ghaſtly ſpectres glided ſlowly by,
The ſcritch-owl ſcream'd the dying call of fate,
And ravens croak'd their baleful augury.
No human footſtep cheer'd the dread abode,
Nor ſign of living creature could be ſeen,
Save where the reptile ſnake, or ſullen toad,
The murky floor had ſoil'd with venom green.
Sudden I heard the whirlwind's hollow ſound,
Each weïrd ſiſter vaniſh'd into ſmoke.
Now a dire yell of ſpirits
e underground
Thro' troubled Earth's wide yawning ſurface broke;
When lo! each injur'd apparition roſe;
Aghaſt the murd'rer ſtarted from his bed;
Guilt's trembling breath his heart's red current froze,
And Horror's dew-drops bath'd his frantic head.
More had I ſeen—but now the God of day
O'er earth's broad breaſt his flood of light had ſpread,
When Morpheus call'd his fickle dreams away,
And on their wings each bright illuſion fled.
[331]Yet ſtill the dear ENCHANTRESS of the brain
My waking eyes with wiſhful wand'rings ſought,
Whoſe magic will controuls th' ideal train,
The ever-reſtleſs progeny of THOUGHT.
Sweet pow'r, I ſaid, for others gild the ray
Of Wealth, or Honor's folly-feather'd crown,
Or lead the madding multitude aſtray
To graſp at air-blown bubbles of renown.
Me (humbler lot!) let blameleſs bliſs engage,
Free from the noble mob's ambitious ſtrife,
Free from the muck-worm miſer's lucrous rage,
In calm Contentment's cottag'd vale of life.
If frailties there (for who from them is free?)
Thro' Error's maze my devious footſteps lead,
Let them be frailties of humanity,
And my heart plead the pardon of my head.
Let not my reaſon impiouſly require
What heav'n has plac'd beyond its narrow ſpan,
But teach it to ſubdue each fierce deſire,
Which wars within its own ſmall empire, man.
Teach me, what all believe, but few poſſeſs,
That life's beſt ſcience is ourſelves to know,
The firſt of human bleſſings is to bleſs,
And happieſt he who feels another's woe.
[332]Thus cheaply wiſe, and innocently great,
While Time's ſmooth ſand ſhall regularly paſs,
Each deſtin'd atom's quiet courſe I'll wait,
Nor raſhly break, nor wiſh to ſtop the glaſs.
And when in death my peaceful aſhes lie,
If e'er ſome tongue congenial ſpeaks my name,
Friendſhip ſhall never bluſh to breathe a ſigh,
And great ones envy ſuch an honeſt fame.