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••• •* T 1 •••
ALBINA and LOTHARIOj
OR, THE FATAL SEDUCTION.
A MORAL TALE; BY THE EDITORi
ABV^RTISEMENT.
¥he Editor prefents to his Fair PatronelTes this little piece, rather as a fpect- men of that fpecies of poetry he wifhcs to fee cultivated by perfons of fupc- rior genius and learning, than as a produAion initfelf compleat : he is ful- ly feniGble he has much to fear, if judged by the ftri^ rules of fevere criti* cifm ; though he cannot relinquiiii the flattering hope, that thi« little Story^ and it*s intended Moral, may in fome degree contribute to the entertain- ment of his kind Friends— the only idea under which he will attempt to juf«. tify the infertion of any performance of his own, in a Colledtibn fo trul/ reipedable.
The Editor begs leave to add, that his Story has, at leift, the claini of movsl- T Y— and, if it fhould be found to meet with the general approbation of his numerous friends, he means to lay before them, at the commencement of each future volume, fomewhat of a different kind, the beft ht may be able to produce.
E Britiih Fair, whofe gentle bofoms know To ftiare luxurious in another's woe ; '1^ Whofe radiant orbs, when black misfortunes lour^ Refrefli with Pity's dew the drooping flow'r ;
And, Phoebus like, thro' wat'ry clouds lament
'The Waftcful tcmpcit which yc can't prevent ;
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Approach your Poet — fain would he relate,
(To guard from ills like her's) Albina's fate.
And O ye Brilifh Youths, unfkili'd to rove
In the dark hib'rinths of illicit love ; ;'.
Whofe gcn'rous fouls permit not to deQ>ift»^
The pearly drops thr.t glide from Pity's eyes ; <.
Ye too, draw near— and, plac'd by Virtue's fide.
Dare to indulge thofe griefs Ihc fcorns to hide :
Nor let the moral talc my mnfc fupplies, '
No more inftrud wlicn Time hath wip'd your eyes ;
But, to complcat the pnrpofe of thefe rhymes.
And fhun Lothario's woco — avoid his crimes !
—Not far rcmov'd from that fequefter'd bow'r. Where once fccurely dwelt earth's faireft flow'r ; Till the vindidive queen with rage purfu'd. And drench'd her cruel hands in injur'd blood ; High on a hill Earl Elwin's manfion flood. In part fecreted by a neighb'ring wood. Which down the flope thro' fecrct mazes leads. To where the Iiis laves her fav'rite meads: Hither the earl would oft at dawn repair. To breathe the fraG:rance of the vernal air ; To hear the warblers of the vocal grove. And join their drains of gratitude and love.
It chanc'd, one morning, while the earl thus (Iray'd, A wretched fair at diftauce he furvey'd; Whofe carelefs trefies floating in the wind. And various gcftures, fpoke her anguifli'd mind. Sometimes fhe ftcpp'd with hafte among the trees, Look'd wildly round, and dropp'd upon her knees — Now rofe again; and, with uplifted eyes, Scem'd to implore compauion from the Ikies — Then downward bent them, fmote her heaving breaft. And witli her fnowy hand her temples prefs'd — Thus, in defpair, a moment's fpace Ihe Hood, Then ruih'd impetuous tow'rds the chryHal flood :
^>3.\.
BEA^JTIES XPF POETRY. |
But ever as ihe xeaqh'd the river's fide. Sadden ihe flopp'd, apd |;az*d upon the tide ; Glancing from thence, ^uick ey'd the little grove. And backwacd^ew; .1^ oniti^e win^^ of Love.
This fcene the eai^l'behdd ^r twice repeat.; And wonder'A mnfAi tlie cj»iiie q£ her retreat. When now, ftpprpaching f^cseUy behind. He ikw Albina <>n the ground recUn'd ; And inftant knew her for the daughter ifdr Of old Ernefto, tutor to his h^ir : But O how high :Earl £lwin's wonder rofe. To fee her circling arms a i^abe inclofe !
Down her pale cheeks unnumbered ftreams defcend. And broken iighs her lab'ring bofom rend : In vain ihe flops the torrent of her eyes. Her beating breaft continues it's fupplies !
The tender infant, delug'd o'er with woe. Bids with her tears his flreams of forrow flow: As if to heal her poignant grief he ilrpve. And felt, inftindlively^ maternal love !
The anxious mother wip'd his cherub face. And clofely ibain'd him in a fond embrace : Then, whik ihe lull'd his infant griefs to reft. Her pwn fad tale in words like thefe exprefs'd.
* Ah, loft Albina ! wretched, ruin'd fair ! —
* Happ'ly, my babe, thou know'ft not her deipair;
' Elie wouldft thou niix, indeed, thy tears with mine>
* And let a mother's woes be truly thine !
* For fure thy form angelick beauty wears,
* And human woes are wept with angels tears !—
* But thou art man — and m^ht, unmov'd, furvey « The faddeft fcene misfortune can difplay !—
* Yet have I known — too foon to be renew'd !—
* A father's feeling heart by grief fubdu'd ;
' Yet have I known an hufband's ftreaming eyes
* Mock the vain pomp which pageantry fuppliet :
A 2 « ^\«tL
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* When noble Elwin mourn'd his Ella's doom,
* And follow'd weeping to her filent tomb ;
* When good Emcfto fear'd Albina's fate,
* And on her bed of ficknefs mournful fate !—
* O cruel death, to plunge thy keeneft dart
* In happy Ella's breaft, nor touch Albina's heart !* A paufe of woe here ftopp'd the pow'rs of fpeech.
But ftill her iighs the earl's foft bofom reach : The cafual mention of his Ella's name, Emeilo's daughter's obvious lofs of fame, Join'd with the great refpe^ he bore her fire, Firft fwell his breaft with forrow — then with ire ; Nor does he mourn her ills with idle grief. But bends his thoughts, how befl to bring relief} Kefolves th' accurfed caufc with fpeed to find. And let refentment follow clofe behind ; Till his bafe heart, who dar'd her honour flain. Should make a large amends, or fufFer equal pain* And now, while gen'rous Elwin penfive flands. He hears Albina clafp her iv'ry hands ; A deep-drawn flgh's unwelcome found fucceeds, Follow'd by words — at which his bofom bleeds.
* How vainly once, Albina, didft thou dream,
^ That thou fhouldft bafk in Fortune's brightcft beam |
* Enjoy each pleafure of exalted life,
* And be — O fatal charm — Lothario's wife \ ^ Alas ! perfidious youth, he only fbove
? To veil his purpofe in the garb of love 1
' Each fpecious art too well the faithlefs knew,
* Pradiis'd by falfe ones to enfnare the true :
^ Too well he knew the pow'r afFe6lion gave,
* And bafely ruin'd her he fwore to fave !
* And thou, unhappy offspring of my fhame, f Thou too piufl feel a mother's lofs of fame !
* For foon-srrtoo foon ! — thy blighted youth ihall know* f The child of Natures-is the child of Wc^ !
* Then
BEAUTIES OF POETRY, 5
* Then what prevents
* . ? O horrid, horrid thought !
* To what new trials is Albina brought !
' Do thou, O God I* (exclaims the wretched fair) ' Snatch me, in mercy, from this laft defpair ! ' Let inftant death attend by thy command,
* And flop a mother's facrilegious hand :
* Take back, thyfelf, his yet untainted breath, 'Nor let Albina's crimes be multiplied in death!*
Forth from her tortur'd breaft proceeds one figh. And one big tear rolls (lowly from each eye. As, fudden riling with uplifted hands. O'er the fweet babe in lix'd defpair (he ftands. His fleeping beauty once again to view, £re yet (he bids the world and him adieu ! Then, turning quick, with half-averted eyes. To the cold bofom of the river flies ; And, plunging headlong, vainly hopes to find Eternal rcfpite for her wounded mind.
Th* aftonifh'd earl, who this fad fccnc had viewM, With fwifteft fteps the flying fair purfu'd ; But, ah ! too late he reach'd the river's fide. Her form was funk beneath the clofing tide.
y«t flill Earl Elwin o'er the margin bent. And cy'd the circling flood with looks intent ; Till, in the m^dft, the bubbling liquid rofe. As if to mourn the haplefs fair-one's woes ; And inflant, on it's lucid bofom bore Albina's floating form towards the fhore ; Then with an out-llretch'd arm eifay'd to reach The finking fair, and draw her to the beach : But ftill too diftant from the river's fide. Again fhe finks beneath the clofing tide !
Now, in defpair, he rolls his anxious eyes. Till up, again, he fees the babbles rife j
Again
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Again beholds Albina's form appear. And finds the friendly flood has brought her near : With eager joy then ftretches forth his hand. And trembling drags his welcome prize to land.
Long tried the earl each life-renewing aid. No vital fpark his fearching eyes furvey'd ; No flow pulfation lab'ring in her veins. No glow of life to recompenfe his pains : The chilling flream had chcck'd life's crimfon tide. And the rais'd arm dropp'd lifelds by her fide !
Hopelefs to fave — unwilling to refrain- Each life-renewing art he tries again ; / And oft to Heav'n uplifts his fpeaking e^es. As from his heart the warm petition iflies.
At length, a gleam of hope revives his frame : He feels — or thinks he feels — the vital flame ! Cold, fhudd'ring fits, her gentle breafl convulfe. And life, returning, throbs in ev'ry pulfe; Her languid eyes, flow-openintt^ meet the light. And inflant lofe, agaiji, the poi^ of fight ; The refluent blood each formfcr channel feeks. And the warm glow of life fpreads mantling o'er her cheekf.
Now the keen anguifh of Albina's pains. Wakes ev'ry nerve, and fpreads thro' all her veins. She groans— fhc raves — ihe heaves her lab'ring breafl— Gnafhes her teeth — and madly grafps her veft ! — Then, in a moment, quite compos'd appears. And drowns each feature in a flood of tears.
While o'er th' afflidled fair Earl Elwin kneels. And for each pang an equal anguifh feels ; Sudden he hears, among the diftant trees. The vacant mufick of a mind at eafe : And while he liflens with attentive -ears. Full in his view the jocund fwain appears.
Soon as the earl's extended arm he fpies. Swift down the llcep the ilurdy pcafiant flies.
Inflruaed
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Inftl'u£ted now, refames an equal fpeed. And darts like lightning crofs the neighb'ring mead. To where a little farm's neat manfion flood. Hard by the border of Earl Elwin's wood: Thence quick returning, with a fellow-fwain. They bear Albina gently o'er the plain, Clofe by her fide the earl himfelf attends, Direfe their courfe, and kind afliftancc lends ; Nor in his fondling arms difdaiijs to bear The lovely offspring of the wretched fair.
By flow degrees, and with their labour warm. They reach at length the hofpitable farm ; Where the good dame exerts her utmofl care. In due attention to the haplefs fair. Meanwhile the earl for his phyfician fends. And waits the tedious hour till he attends : Nor quits Albina, till from him he learns. No fatal fymptom his befl fkill difccms ; Then lets all know he will thci^^es repay. And homeward bends his folitary way.
From fcenes of forrow turn we now our eyes.
To where Augufla's tow'ring fanes arife :
From fcenes where Vice, deje£led, fhuns the day.
To where fhe flaunts it in the folar ray.
The gay Lothario here his dwelling chofe. Before he fail'd to meet his country's foes ; In tented fields to purchafe deathlefs fame. And raife the honours of an ancient name.
Forgot each precept good Ernefto taught. His bofom freed from ev'ry anxious thought; Where Pleafure leads, he follows in the train. Nor fees how falfe her arts — her joys how vain ! With Wit, mifnam'd, he drains the fpicy bowl. Nor fears the drug that ennervates his foul ; With wanton beauty fpends the laughing hours. Nor {ces the latent thorn beneath the flow'rs ;
WuV
J BEAUTIES OF POETRY^
With defjp'rate wretches joins in fatal play. And lets his fortune be the villain's prey : Nor does the thought of poor Albina's woes, Amidfl his mad career, once interpofe.
While thus the recreant youth his time employs. In wafteful pleafures, and unhallow'd joys ; Surpriz*d he reads the following ftern command, Nor fcarce can hold it in his trembling hand.
* Return, Lothario, by the morning's light ;
• Or never meet, again, thy injur'd father's fight 1'
Late as it was, he mounts his fleetefl ileed. And flies to Elwin Hall with utmoft fpeed : For, well he knewthe -earl brook'd no delays And fear — not duty— taught him to obey.
Arpv'd — Lothario now the earl attends^ And on his knee with due fubmifllon bonds ; Implores forgivehefs, if his youth has err'd — Enquires the crime — begs his defence be heard-— Nor fears— (fo great his art, fo fmall his ihame)— - To clear each blot^ and vindicate his fame.
, * *Tis faid, Lothario,' (thus the earl began^ By (heV of doubt to hide his fettled plan) • « That old ErneHo's daughter, whom you know
* Was chafte as ice, and fair as drifted fnow,
« Some nine months fince, by too much love betray'd^ « Fell in the fnare defigning Vice had laid \
* Awhile, 'tis faid, the bafe afTaflin drove
* To calm her griefs, infulting her with love : . « Till now, her growing fhame, fo long conceal'd^
* The villain knew, muft quickly be reveal'd ;
* Unmindful of his vows, he quits the fair,
* Frantick with grief, the viftim of defpair t
* But ftill Albina's yet unfpotted name
* Efcap'd the tainting breath of bufy Fame ;
iEAUTiEs 6f poetrv; •>
« Till ycftet' morn, unable to fuftain
* The load of woes attendant on her pain,
* Her new-born babe with fainting fteps (he bore,
* To where the Ifis laves her fertile fhore ; ' And ere affiftance could arrive to fave,
* Defp'rate (he plungM in the overwhelming wave ! ' The child yet live«^— and, as I mean to flicw
' How much f Ihare in good Emefto's woe, » Severe refentment fhall the father feel,
* And every wound he gave PU ftrive to heal.
• Now,«1ook, Lothario, that you anfwer true ; ' Thefe are the crimes-^the wretch, they fay, is you ?*
Spite of the lye the perjur*d villain fpeaks,'^ Th« dew of nature damps his blood lefs cheeks, . As, with unmatch'd audacity, he cries,
* Within the confcious breaft no fears arife !
« Once-^let me own ! — I thought Albina's channs
* Might richly fill the prpudefl: monarch's ar;ms ; ' ' And ftill, . ftill more, my inexperienc'd youtji,
* Admir'd her feeming virtue, love, and truth.
* Caught in the fnare, I woo'd her to my fide, ' And meant to aik her as my future bride : 'But foon, in foreign courts, I Icam'd to know
* The fex's arts — and fmil'd at fancied woe ;
* Returning, view'd her with a brother's fight,
* And faw each adlion in it's proper light. ;
* A fecret fomething ftruggling in her breaft,
* The ftiflcd figh, and tear in vain reprefs'd ;
' Spoke plain as language, that the faithlefs fair
* Was now unworthy of Earl Elwin's heir.
* I left her then — nor think I aught of blame
* Can juftly light on my much-injur'd fame !
' Her end I mourn - forgive thefe flowing tears—
* Shrouded in death, her ciime no more appears ; ' Time will unveil the myft'ry of her fate !'
* Nor let, . till then, Lothario feel thy hate/
* B Scarce
lo BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Scorch could th' tlloni(h*d earl with temper hear The fraudful tale prefented to his ear ; For well he faw, thro* all his fpecioas art. The fubtle meannels of Lothario's heart.
Ended — the earl replies, ' Time may reveal ; ' Nor ihall the guiltlefs my rcfentment feel !
' Meanwhile, Lothario, as the morn is fair,
* Suppofe we breathe awhile the fragrant air ;
' The chcarful fun feems, with increaiing heat,
* To aflc our prcfence in yoh green retreat ;
* Where, midSk the cooling frefhnefs of the ihade, ' Pleas'd we may view the beauties he has made.*
This faid. Earl Elwiu fought the mazy wood. That cloath'd the hill on which his manfion flood ; Each fccret winding path, full well he knew. And to what fpots the devious feet they drew.
With no fix'd courfe his footfleps feem to ftray ; Slowly he leads, regardlefs of the way 2 Now mounts the hill, and now defcends the vale. As richer tints or brighter fcenes prevail.
At length, a little manfion meets their view. To which the earl's increafing pace now drew. Lothario follows — but the wakeful fear On guilt attendant, faintly ftartles here : Increaiing dill, he fcarce can keep his feet; Tearful, alike, to follow or retreat.
And now the noble Elwin, ent'ring cries, (The fparks of anger lightning in his eyes)
* The time is come I when poor Albina's fate
« Shall (land revcal'd — thou, wretch, receive my hate!
* Soon (hall the villain my refentment know,
« Who plung'd a bread fo true, fo deep in woe !*
Before Lothario*s fading fight appears The good Erneflo, iilent and in tears ; Within his aged arms Albina lies, Speechlefs her tongue, and dos'd her weeping eyes ;
Strugglinf
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. u
Struggling with Death — unwilling to depart- In all the anguifli of a broken heart : While by their fide her little cherub lay. And afk'd with tears a mother's needful flay. ' There, there, behold-— !' The earl could add no more.
Ere at his feet dropp'd lifelefs on the floor
The late- repentant youth. And now diflrefs'd
With varions paflions warring in his breafl,
A moment's fpace the earl abflrafied flands.
While ev'ry paflion in it's torn commands ;
Till nature's ftrongefl pleas redoubled rife.
And all the father ifTues from his eyes^-
• Too, too fevere ! what has my rafhnefs done !
* Return, return ! my fon, my fbn, my fon 1' Then, with a figh fufficient to divide
The firings of life, funk breathlefs by his fide.
Reliev'd, at length, from this fad flate of woe. From ev'ry eye the flreams of forrow flow : Silent they weep — till now Earl Elwin break$ The melancholy paufe— thus kindly fpeaks.
• Enough of grief be it hencefcfrth our care,
' Much as we may, the ravage to repair ;
» And pleas'd I fee contrition heave the breafl,
« Where vice — the blackefl vice— rfo lately flood confefs*d.
• O fon Lothario— yet I call thee fon— r
* What hai thy guilt, thy guilt and weaknefs done !
* Paffion demands a recompence fevere,
* But love parental drops the lifted fpear ; ' Nor fhall refiedtion interpofe a wound,
« To fink the ftruggling wretch too nearly drow^M.
• True, I had thought to fee my fon allied
* With wealth and titles-— toys of human pride-?— « Sach as his birth might unafTuming claim,
' Among the firfl on Britain's roll of fapie :
B2
l« BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
' But well Albina, with inherent worth,
' Supplies the place of titles, wealth, and birth:
' And greatly injur*d by a prouder name,
* Gains what that lofes, rifes with it's (liame;
* Till, what at firft fuperior fplcndor own'd,
* Thro' guilt's depos'd, and humbler worth enthron'd. ' Look down, Albina, then— the wand'rcr take—
' And O forgive him, for a father's fake!
' Kneel not to me— -fon, daughter, brothiH dear, ^ It is too much to Heav'n be all our priy'r.
'* Father ador'd 1 preferve us in thy way, *' Nor e'er permit our vagrant feet to ftray ! *' But O uplift us, with a parent's care, *' Whene'er we fall in guilt's infidious fnare I *' Let genuine penitence each crime atone ; " And ftill, whate'cr we feel, thy will be done !'*
Long did Albina ftruggle with difcafe. And l.ealth returning ebb'd by How degrees: Nor knew Lothario one Ihort hour of reft. So great the anguiih of his troubled brcaft. Till, quite reliev'd from all the healing train, lie clafp'd his lovely bride, now free from pain.
Each day, by fome new means, Lothario ftrove To gain ftill farther on Albina's love : And never penitent was more fmcere; More griev'd for what was pafl, from future guilt more clear.
The focial con verfe of endearing friends; '
The ruftick fports, where ftrength with ikill contends; The chearing breath that floats aloft in air, And lycnds the lift'ning angel from his fphere; The f|:rightly dance, where grace and beauty join; Each fource of blifs by mor'.als deem'd divine : Difplay in turns variety of charms, And llrive to woo the fair to Pleafure's arms — And oft flie joins her friends in convert fweet, 0:i d2Jg|i3 to vlli: where the ruilicks meet,
; With
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. i|
With ikilful hand oft ftrikes the trembling ftrings. And adds new grace to beauty's gaycft rings : Yet not to her thei'e pleafures fccm diTine; Her heart, rcYolting, dill dirdains to join.
Chiefly (he joys the woodland wilds to trace. To gaze delighted on her infant's face : But moft, the morn and evening fong to raife. In grateful ftrainsto her Creator's praife; Who, when Defpair had fe.z'd her coward heart* Gracious^advanc'd, and fav'd the nobler part.
One day Lothario, from the chace recurn'd» Sarpriz'd Albina, and her grief difccrn'd; Caught her in all the dignity of woe. And faw the bitter ilreams of anguiih flow.
* Ah, my lov'd lord!' exclaim'd the weeping fair,
* Yoa fee a wretch unworthy of your care ;
* A wretch who thought her fullen grief to hide,
* And hop'd, ere this, her forrows would fubfiiel
* Yes, dearefl, beftofmen! Albina ftrovc,
* Much as Ihe could, to recompenfe thy love ;
* To hide her pain from thy too feeling heart — -
* For, ah! (he knew, thou couldll not bear to part!
* And griev'd fhe faw thy tender nefs increafe,
* While each endearment wounded more her peace !—
* Unhappy ftate ! where flill afFedion grows,
* For the dear objedt we muft Ihortly lofe !
* When to the grave Albina (hall defcend,
* Let not our little cherub want a friend.
* Alas ! my love — but O it would not be —
* For him I wiih'd to live — for him and thee.
* Thy inanly heart has fortitude to bear
* The ills of lift — and do not thou defpair !
* For me But O I feel approaching death !
* Receive, my love— my life — this lateil breath !■* ■ « Thanks for thy kindnefs I — O may Heav'n reward
* Thy tender love '.—-Now — now — my pray'r is beard I*
r • TIfce«
14 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
4
Then with a £gh that bard her tortarM breaft. Sank in hit arms—- and gainM eternal reft.
Bat O what agony Lothario felt. As o'er the breathlefs fair he frantick knelt !«-»
He (hriek'd— he rav'd— -he fmote the echoing floor— And from his haplefs head the flowing ringlets tore !
Clofe by her fide he laid a moment's fpace, Prefs'd her cold hands, and kifs'd her pallid face : Chaf 'd ev'ry limb, each feature anxious trac*d, Breath'd on her lips, and then again embracM. Now furioas rofe, rav'd, fhriek'd, and madly tore ; Till nature, quite exhaofted, could no more : Then falling headlong by Albina's fide. The ftruggling maniack groan'd awhile—and died!
THE EPITAPH.
Beneath this Hone a haplefs pair. In early youth to death confign'd.
Together reft from ev'ry care
That deeply wounds the feeling mind.
Albina, like a tender flow'r,
Nipp'd by the though tlefs hand of love. Pines for her native root each hour.
Nor aught of earthly blifs can prove.
Lothario mourns his eager hade.
That fnatch'd too foon the precious bloom ;
Diftra6ted fees the cruel waile,
And joins her in the darkfome tombi
To honour juft, O gen'rous youth !
While now you mourn Albina's fate, Refolveon conftancy and truth.
Nor, like Lothario, .grieve toa late.
tt.
BEAVTIES OF POETRY. THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER.
BY MR. POPE.
SIO 0rT« MAX*
FATHER of All I in ev*ry age. In ev*Ty dime ador'd. By fainty by favage, and by fage» Jehovah^ Jove, or Lord !
Thou Great Firft Caafe, leaft underftood !
Who all my fenfe confined. To know but tkis, that Thon art good*
And that myfelf am blind :
Yet gave me^ in this dark eftate.
To fee the good from ill ; And binding Nature faft in Fate,
Left free the human will.
What confdence di^tes to be done.
Or warns me not to do : This, teach me more than hell to (hun ;
That, more than heav'n purfue.
What bleflings thy free bounty gives.
Let me not ckEt away : For God is paid, when man receives ;
T' enjoy, is to obey.
Yet not to earth's contraded fpan
Thy goodnels let me bound ; Or think thee Lord alone of man.
When thottfand worlds are round :
\^
BEAUTIES OF POETRY*
Let not this weak, unknowing hand» Frefome thy bolts to throw ;
A^d deal damnation round the land,' On each J judge thy foe.
If I am right, thy grace impart.
Still in the tight to flay : If I am wrong, Q teach my heart
To find tSuit better way !
Save me alike from foolifh pride.
Or impious difcontent. At aught thy wifdom has deny'd.
Or aaght thy goodnefs lent. '
Teach me to feel another's woe.
To hide the faiiit I fee ; That mercy I to others fhew.
That mercy fhew to me.
Mean tho' I am ; not wholly fo.
Since quickenM by thy breath : O lead me wherefo'er I go,
, Thro* this day's life or death.
This day, be bread and peace my lot :
AUelfe beneath the fun. Thou know'fl if bcfl beftow'd or not.
And let thy will be done.
To Thee, whofe temple is all fpace, Whofe altar, earth, fea, ikies ;
One chorus let all being raife. All {"lature's incenfc rife !
TH
BBAUTIES OF POETRY. 17
THE CAMPAIGN.
TO HIS GRACS THS DUKE OP MARLBOHOVGd.
BY MR. ADDISON*
I ■ ■■Rbeni pacator ct Iftri. Omnis in hoc uqo variis difcordia ceffit Oidinibusj laeUtur e^ues, plaudltgue fenator^ Votac^ue patricio certant plebeia favori*
CLAUD. SS LAVD. ITILXC. s
EfTe aliquam in terrls gentem qu«/ua impenfa, fuo labore ac periculo bclla gerat pro liberUte aliorum. Ncc ho« finitimis, aut propinqus viciniutis hominibus* aut terns continent! jun^« praeftet. Maria trajiciat: nc quod toto orbe tcr- rarum injuftum imperiaio fit, ct ubique jus, fas, lex, potentiffima fint.
LIT. HIST. Lin* xxxiii.
WHILE crowds of princes your deferts proclaim. Proud in their number to enrol your name ; While emperors to you commit their cauie. And Anna's praifes crown the vaft applaufe; . •Accept, great Leader! what the Mufe recites, That in ambitious verfe attempts your fights. Fir'd and tranfported with a theme fo new, *
Ten thoufand wonders, op'ning to my riew. Shine forth at once : (leges and ftorms appear^ And wars and conquefts fill th' important year ; Rivers of blood I fee, and hills of flain. An Iliad riling out of one Campaign.
The haughty Gaul beheld, with tow'ring pride, Hb ancient bounds enlarg'd on ev'ry fide ; Pyrenees lofty barriers were fubdu'd. And in the midft of his wide empire flood. Aufonia's dates, the viftor to reftrain, Oppos'd their Alps and Apennines in vain; Nor found themfelves, with ftrcngth of rocks immur'd. Behind their everlafting hills fecur'd* The riling I>anube it's long race began.
And half it's courfe thro' the new conquefts ran.
C Amaz'd.
'J8 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Amaz'd and anxious for her fov'reigns fates, Gcrmania trembled thro' a hundred ftates. Great Leopold himfelf was feiz'd with fear ; He gaz'd around, but faw no fuccour near: He gaz'd ; and half-abandon'd to defpair His hopes on Heav'n, and confidence in pray'r.
To Britain's queen the nations turn their «yes ; On her refolves the weftern world relies : Confiding ftill, amidft it's dire alarms. In Anna's councils and in Churchill's arms. Thrice happy Britain ! from the kingdoms rent. To fit the guardian of the continent ! That fees her braveft fon advanc'd fo high. And flouriihing fo near her prince's.eye. Thy fav'rites grow not up by Fortune's (port. Or from the crimes or follies of a court; On the firm bafis of defert they rife. From long-try'd faith, and friendfhip's holy ties. Their fov'reign's well-dillinguiili'd fmiles they fhare. Her ornaments in peace, her ftrength in war. The nation thanks them with a publick voice ; By fliow'rs of bleflings, Heav'n approves their choice ; Envy itfelf is dumb, in wonder lofl; And factions drive who ihall applaud 'em moil.
Soon as foft vernal breezes warm the Iky, Britannia's colours in the zephyrs fly : Her chief already has his march begun, Croiling the provinces himfelf had won; Till the Mofelle, appearing from afar. Retards the progrefs of the moving war. Delightful ftream ! had Nature bid her fall In diftant climes, farfrom the perjur'd Gaul^ But now a purchafe to the fword ihe lies ; Her harveils for uncertain owners rife ; Each vineyard doubtful of it's matter grows. And to the vigor's bowl each vintage flows.
The
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 19
The difcontented fhades of flaughter'd hofts, That wander'd on her banks, her heroes ghofts, Hop'd^ when they faw Britannia's arms appear. The vengeance due to their great deaths was near.
Our godlike leader, ere the flream he pafs'd. The mighty fcheme of all his labours caft ; Forming the wond'rous year within his thought. His bofom glow'd with battles yet unfought. The long laborious march he firft furveys. And joins the diftant Danube to the Maeie ; Between whofe floods fuch pathlefs foretls grow. Such mountains rife, fo many rivers flow : The toil looks lovely in the hero's eyes. And danger ferves but to jcnhance the prize.
Big with the fate of Europe, he renews His dreadful courfe, and the proud foe porfues. Infeded by the burning Scorpion's heat. The fultry gales round his chafd temples beat; Till on the borders of the Mayne he finds Defenflve fhadows and refreflimg winds. Our Britifli youth, with inborn freedom bold, Unnumber'd fceues of fervitude behold ; Nations of flaves, with tyranny debas'd, (Their Maker's image more than half defac'd ;) Hourly infbudled, as they urge their toil. To prize their queen, and love their native foil.
Still to the rifing fun they take their way Thro' clouds of duft, and gain upon the day : When now the Neckar, on it's friendly coaft. With cooling flreams revives the fainting hoft; That chearfully his labours paft forgets. The midnight watches and the noon-day heats.
O'er proftrate towns and palaces they pafs, (Now cover'd o'er with woods, and hid in grafs) Breathing revenge; whilft anger and difdain Fire ev'ry breaft, and boil in ev'ry vein.
C 2 Here
tm BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Here fliatter'd walls, like broken rocks, from far. Rife up in hideous views, the guilt of war ; Whilft here the vine o'er hills of ruin climbs, Indttfhious to conceal great Bourbon's crimes.
At length, the fame of England's hero dr^w Eugenio to the glorious interview. Great fouls by inftind to each other turn, Pemand alliance, and in friendfhip bum : A fudden friendfhip, while with ftretch'd-out nyt They meet each other, mingling blaze with blase. PoUfh'd in courts, and harden'd in the field, Renown'd for conqueil, and in council fkill'd ; Their courage dwells not in a troubl'd flood Of mounting fpirits and fermenting blood : Lodg'd in the foul, with virtue over-ruPd, Inflam'd by reaibn, and by reafon coolM ; In hours of peace content to be unknown. And only in the field of battle fhown'. To fouls like thefe, in mutual friendilhip join'd, Heav'n dares intrufl the canfe of human-kind.
Britannia's graceful foris appear in arms. Her harafs'd troops the hero's prefencc warms; Whilfb the high hills and rivers all around. With thund'ring peals of Britifh fhouts refbund : Doubling their fpeed, they march with frefh delight. Eager for glory, and require the fight. So thie flaunch hound the trembling deer purfues. And fmells his fbotfleps in the tainted dews^ The tedious track unrav'Uing by degrees ; But when the fcent comes warm in ev'ry breeze, Fir'd at the near approach, he fhoots away On his full flretch, and bears upon his prey.
The march concludes, the various realms are paft, Th* immortal Schellcmberg appears at lafl: Like hills th' afpiring ramparts rife on high. Like vallies at their feet the trenches lie ;
• Batt'ries
BEAUTIES OF POETRY* tt
Batt'ries on batt'ries guard each fatal pafs^ Threat'ning delb-iidion ; rows of hollow brafs, Tabe behind tube, the dreadful entrance keep^ Whilft in their wombs ten thoufand thunders deep. Great Churchill owns, charm'd with the glorious iight. His march o^erpdd by fuch a promised fight4
The weftem fun now (hot a feeble ray. And faintly fcatter'd the remans of day : Ev'ning approach'd ; but oh 1 what hoils of foes Were never to behold that cv'ning clofe ! Thick'ning their ranks, and wedg'd in firm array. The clofe-compa£led Britons win their way. In vain the cannon their thronged war defac'd 'With trads of death, and laid the battle wa^. Still prefling forward to the fight, they broke Thro' flames of fulphur and a night of fmoke; Till flaughter'd legions fitPd the trench below. And bore their fierce avengers to the foe.
High on the works the mingling hods engage ; The battle, (kindled into tenfold rage. With fliow'rs of bullets, and with ftorms of fire) Burns in full fury; heaps on heaps expire ; Nations with nations mix'd confus'dly die. And loft, in one promifcuous carnage lie.
How many gen'rous Britons meet their doom. New to the field, and heroes in the bloom ! Th' illuftrious youths, that left their native fhore To march where Britons never march' d before ; (O fatal love of fame ! O glorious heat ! Only deftrudlive to the brave and great !) After fuch toils o'ercome, fuch dangers paft, Stretch'd on Bavarian ramparts breathe their laft. But hold, my Mnfe ! may no complaints appear. Nor blot the day with an ungrateful tear ; While Marlbr6 lives Britannia's ftars difpenfe A friendly light, and fbine in innocence ;
Plunging
Ji BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Plunging thro* feas of blood his fiery fleed. Where'er his friends retire or foes fucceed ; Thofe he fupports, thefe drives to fudden flight. And turns the various fortune of the fight.
Forbear, great man ! renown *d in arms ! forbear To brave the thickeft terrors of the war ; Nor hazard thus, confus'd in crowds of foes, Britannia's fafety, and the world's repofe : Let nations, anxious for thy life, abate This fcom of danger and contempt of fate. Thou liv'ft not for thyfelf ; thy queen demands Conqueft and peace from thy viftorious hands : Kingdoms and empires in thy fortune join. And Europe's defliny depends on thine.
At length, the long-difputed pafs they gain. By crouded armies fortify'd in vain. The war breaks in; the fierce Bavarians yield. And fee their camp with Britifh legions fiU'd. So Belgian mounds bear on their fhatter'd fides. The fea's whole weight increas'd with fwelling tides ; But if the ruftiing wave a pafTage finds, Enrag'd by wat'ry moons and warring winds. The trembling peafant fees his country round Cover'd with tempefts, and in oceans drown'd.
The few furviving foes difpers'd in flight, (Refufe of fwords, and gleanings of a fight) In ev'ry ruftiing wind the viftor hear. And Marlbro's form in ev'ry fliadow fear; Till the dark cope of night, with kind embrace* Befriends the rout, and covers their difgracc.
To Donavert, with unrefifted force. The gay victorious army bends it's courfc. The growth of meadows, and the pride of fields. Whatever fpoils Bavaria's fummer yields, (The Danube's great increafe) Britannia fliares. The food of armies and fupport of wars : .
With
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.' 43
^th magazines of deaths deftruftive balls.
And cannon doom*d to batter Landau's walls.
The vidor finds each hidden cavern ftor'd.
And turns their fury on their guilty lord. Deluded prince ! how is thy greatnefs crofs'd.
And all the gaudy dream of empire lofl;.
That proudly fet thee on a fancyM throne.
And made imaginary realms thy own !
Thy troops, that now behind the Danube join.
Shall fhortly feek for fhelter from the Rhine ;
Nor find it there : furrounded with alarms.
Thou hop'ft th' aiTillance of the Gallick arms.
The Gallick arms in fafety fhall advance.
And croud thy flandards with the pow'r of France ;
While, to ex^t thy doom, th' afpiring Gaul
Shares thy deilrudion, and adorns thy fall. Unbounded courage and compaiHon join'd.
Tempering each other in the viflor's mind.
Alternately proclaim him good and great.
And make the hero and the man compleat.
Long did he flrive th' obdurate foe to gain
By profFer'd grace, but long he drove in vain ;
Till, fir'd at length, he thinks it vain to fpare
His rifing wrath, and gives a loofe to war.
In vengeance rouz'd, the foldier fills his hand
With fword and fire, and ravages the land ;
A thoufand villages to aihes turns.
In crackling flames a thoufand harvelh burns.
To the thick woods the woolly flocks retreat.
And, mix'd with bellowing herds, confus'dly bleat ;
Their trembling lords the common fhade partake.
And cries of infants found in ev'ry brake:
The lift'ning foldier fix'd in forrow Hands,
Loth to obey his leader's jufl commands;
The leader grieves, by gen'rous pity fway*d.
To fee his jull commands fo well obey'd«
But
^ BEAUTIES OF POETRY*
But now the trumpet, terrible from far* In fhriller clangors animates the war ; Confed'rate drums in fuller concert beat. And echoing hills the loud alarm repeat. Gallia's proud ftandards, to Bavaria's join'd. Unfurl their gilded lilies in the wind ; The daring prince his blafled hopes renews. And while the thick embattled hoft he views, Stretch'd out in deep array and dreadful length. His heart dilates, and glories iu his ftrength.
The fatal day it's mighty courfe began. That the griev'd world had long defir'd in vain. States that their new captivity bemoan'd. Armies of martyrs that in exile groan 'd^ Sighs from the depth of gloomy dungeons heard. And pray'rs in bitternefs of foul preferred ; Europe's loud cries, that Providence a/Iail'd, And Anna's ardent vows at length prevail'd : The day was come, when Heav'n deiign'd to (how His care and condud of the world below.
Behold, in awful march and dread array. The long-extended fquadrons fhape their way ! Death, in approaching terrible, imparts An anxious horror to the braveft hearts : Yet do their beating breafts demand the ftrife. And thirll of glory quells the love of life. No vulgar fears can Britifh minds controul ; Heat of revenge, and noble pride of foul, O'erlook the foe, advantag'd by his poft, Leffen his numbers, and contrad his hoft. Tho' fens and floods poflefs'd the middle fpacc. That unprovok'd they would have fear'd to pafs; Nor fens nor floods can (lop Britannia's bands. When her proud foe rang'd on their borders ftands.
But, O I my Mufe, what numbers wilt thou find To fing the furious troops in battle j< in'^ !
Methini
UtA'VTlis OF POETRY. :;
Methinks I hear ^Vclruifis ttiiii'iiitubus (ound. The vi&ors fhoats anil" dying groans' c6hfbund;
The dreadful burft of cimrion rend the'fKiesl
i ..." ... '
And all the thunder of the battle rife !
*Twas then gre^t-lmrmrof^s mighty' Ibul^w prov'd— •
That^ in the fhock of diafging hofts unmov'd^
Amidft conHiHon, horror^ a&'d despair.
Examined all ,tKe'dreadful fcenes of war:
In peaceful tlTought the field oir dea^h furvey^d;
To fainting fcjuadrbns fent the tiihely aid;*
Infpir'd rc^uls^'d battalions to pnga^e.
And taught the douHdiilVatfle wherie tb rage*
So, when an angrf, by Divine command^
With rifing temp^ffs'ffiafces'a'gWty land,
(Such as of late o'erjfale'Britahhia'pafs'dyT
Calm and iefeiie he drives' the furious blaft;
And, ple'Ss*i' th^ Atnughty *8 orders to perform,'
Rides in the whirlwind, ali<i direfb the ftorxnV
But fee ! the Jiaughty'hou1(l|ibld troops advance^ The dread of Europe,' and tie pride' of FVance*; " The war's whole art each pnvate foldier knows. And with a gen'ral's love o^ cbnqueft glows. Proudly he marches on ; anil, void of fear. Laughs at the fliaking of the Sritiih /pear. Vain infolence ! with native freedom brave. The meaneit Briton fcorns the higheA Have ; Contempt and fury iSre their fouls by turns. Each nation's glory in each warrior bums ; Each fights as in lus arm t&' important day. And all the fate of his great monarch, lay : A thoufand glorious a^oiis, that might claim Triumphant laurels and immortal fame, Confus'd in crowds of glorious adions lie. And troops of heroes undiitinguiihM die. O Dormer ! how can I behold thy fate, Axki not the wonders of thy youth relate !
1> How
z^ BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
How can I fee the gay, the brave, the yovng. Fall in the cloud of war, and lie unfung ! In joys of conqiieft he refigns his breath ; And, fill'd with England's glory, fmiles in death!
Th^ rout begins; the Gallick fquadrons run, Compell'd in crowds to meet the fate they ihun ; Thoufands of fiery deeds, with wounds transfix'd. Floating in gore, with their dead mailers mix'd« Midil heaps of %£ars and ftandards driv'n around. Lie in the Danube's bloody whirlpools drowned. Troops of bold youths, borne on the diilant Soane^ Or founding borders of the rapid Rhone ; Or where the Sierte her flow'ry fields divides. Or where the Loire thro* winding vineyards glides. In heaps the rolling billows fweep away. And into Scythian Teas their bloated corfe' convey. From Blenheim's tbw'rs the Gaul, virith wild affright^ Beholds the various havock of the fight : His waving banners, that fo oft had flood Plnted in fields of death and Hreams of blood; So wont the guarded pnemy to reach. And rift trium^l\ant in the fatal breach ; Or pierce the broken foe's remotcft lines; The hardy veteran' with tears reiiigns.
Unfortunate Tallard ! — oh ! who can name The pangs of rage^ of forrow, and of fhame,^ That with mix'd tfumult in thy bofom fwelPd, When fifft thou favfr'ft thy braved troops rcpcil'd ! Thin^ only fon piert'd with a deadly wound, Choak'd in his blood, and gafping on the groundt Thyfelf in bondage by the viftor kept ! The chief, the fether, and the captive, wept. An Englifh Mufe is toach*d with gen'rous woe. And in th' unhappy' man fbrgets the foe. Greatly 4illrefs*d 1 thy loud complaihts forbear ; Blame not the turns of Fate and chance of war:
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. ij
<$ive thy brave foes their dae, nor blu(h to owa The fatal field by fuch great leaders won ; The field whence fam'd Eugenio bore away Only the fecond honours of the day.
With floods of gore that from the vanquifh'd fell. The marihes ftagnate^ and the rivers fwcU. Mountains of flain lie heap'd upon the ground. Or midffc the roarings of the Danube drown'd : Whole captive hofts the conqueror detains In painful bondage and inglorious chains. E'en thofe who 'fcape the fetters and the fword. Nor feek the fortunes of a happier lord ; Their raging king difhonours, to compleat Malbr6's great work, and finifh the defeat.
From Memminghen*s high domes and Augfburg*s walls^ The diftant battle drives th' infulting Gauls : Freed by the terror of the vigor's name. The refcu*d dates his great prote^ion claim ; Whilft Ulme th* approach of her deliverer waits. And longs to open her obfequious gates.
The hero's breaft ftill fwclls with great defigns ; In cv'ry thought the tow'ring genius Ihines : If to the foe his dreadful courfe he bends. O'er the wide continent his march extends ; If £vt%t% in his lab'ring thoughts are form'd. Camps are afiaulted, and an army ftorm'd ; \
If to the fight his aftive foul is bent. The fate of Europe turns on it's event! What diftant land, what region, can affprd An a£Uon worthy his victorious fword ? Where will he next the flyinp; Gaul defeat. To make the feries of his toils compleat ?
Where the fwoln Rhine, rufhing with all it's force, Pivides the hoftilc nations in it's courfe ; While each contradls it's bounds, or wider grows, Enlarg'd or ftraitcn'd as the river flows ;
D 2 On
^8 BEAUTIES Of FOETflY.
On Gallia's fide a mighty 1;>ulw:;u>k ^^dsj That all the wide-extended plain command^. Twice^ fince the war was kindled, has it try'4 The vi6lor*s rage, and twice has chanj^d it's fidp: As oft whole armies, with a p^ize o'e^jojr'd. Have the long fummer on it's walls cmploy'd* Hither our mig)ity chief his pms difeds. Hence fature triumphs from the war exp?£^ ; And, tho' the Do^«fbr had it's courfe i)e^i}n« Curios his arms ftill nearer to the iiip : Fix'd on the glorious a^on, he forgets The change of ieafons and increafe of h^U* J^o toils are painful that cap danger ibpys^j No climes unlovely that conta^fi a foe.
Tiie roving Gaol, to his awfi bounds r^I^f^in!^ Learns to encamp with}n his nativie l^f^d ; But foon as the vi^rious hoi^ lie fpie^. Prom hill to hill^ from ftream to H^eam he Biffi : Such dire imprepions on his heart remain Of Marlbrd's fword a|id Qpck^^'s fat^ pl^in. In vain Britannia's mighty chief befets Their fhady coverts and o^fcure retreats : They fly the conquerqrV approaching fame. That bears the force of arinies in his nan^e.
Attftria's young monarchy whpfe ^perial fi^^y Sceptres and thrones are dei^'d to obey ; Whofe boaftcd anceftry fo high expends. That in the Pagan gods his ^lleage ends ; Comes from afar, in gra^tudc to own The great fupporter of his father's throne. What tides of glory to l^is bofom ran, Cldfp'd in th' embraces of the godlike n^^ ! How were 1^^ eyes with pleafing wonder &x^^ To fee fuch fire with fo njuch fweetnefs mix'd ; Such eafy greatnefs, fuch a graceful poi:t^ So turn'd and finiih'd for t^e punp or court,!
Achillea
?S4J?T«Es OF pdetrt:
Achilles thus was iorm^i with •v'ly |;iMr» And Nireus fhone b.ttt in. )jie fecond |>l«cf t Thus the great f^diff of ?liiugh.ty Ro^^e (Divinely iluih'd w^ 9a i^nUH*^ Mokmb That Cythcrea'? fr?gr<»pf trp»l* hftow'd) In all the c^^^$ pf his bright oiQther gloved.
The royal youth by Mailbr^'s preiiince charmed* Taught ky Us cou^reli, by his anions wiria'd* On Landau with r^Pfibled fury falls, Pifcharges all his th^a^^r on it's wftUs ; O'er mines an$) paves of death provokes the fights And learns to conquer in the hero's fight.
The Britift ch}pf, fpr mghty tpils renown'ds Increased in tit}es, and with ponqHells crowA'dj To Belgian coaib his tedious march renews. And the long windings pf i^9 Rhine purfufs j Clearing it's borders frqm ttftu^pwg <of lU And blefs'd by refcu'd nations as he goes. Treves fears no more, freed from it's dire alarms » And Traerbach feels the terror of his arms : Seated on rocks, her proud fbundatio];is ihak^ While Marlbr6 preiTes to the bald attack ; Plants all his batt'ries, bids his cannon roar. And ihows how Landau might have fall'n bejbre. Scar'd at his near approach, great Louis fears Vengeance rcferv'd for his declining years ; Forgets his thirft of univerfal (way. And fcarce can teach his fubje£b to obey : His arms he finds on vain attempts employ'd» Th' ambitious projects for his race deftroy'd ; The works of ages funk in one Campaign, And lives of millions facrifijc'd in vain.
Such arc th' efFedls of Anna's royal cares. By her Britannia, great in foreign wars. Ranges thro' nations, wherefoe'er disjoin'd,, Without the wontc4 aid of fca an4 wind :
^
30 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
By her th* nnfetter'd Iftcr's ftatcs arc free.
And tafle the fweets of Englifh liberty.
Bat who can tell the joys of thofe that lie
Beneath the conftant influence of her eye !
Whilft in diffuiive (how'rs her bounties fall^
Like Heav'n's indulgence^ and defcend on all ;
Secure the happy, fuccour thq diftrefsM,
Make ev'ry fubjed glad, and a whole people ble&'d.
Thus would I fain Britannia's wars rehearfe. In the fmooth records of a ^thful Tcrfe ; That, if fuch numbers can o'er time prevail^ May tell pofterity the wondrous tale. When aftions, anadom'd, are faint and weak« Cities and countries mull be taught to fpeak ; Gods may defcend in factions from the (lties« And rivers from their oozy beds arife ; Fidion may deck the truth with fpurious rays. And round the hero call a borrowed blaze : Marlbr6's exploits appear divinely bright. And proudly ihine in their own native light ; Kais'd of themfelves, their genuine charms they boaftj. And thofe who paint *em trueft— -praife 'em moft.
THE PASSIONS,
AN ODE. BY MR. COLLINS.
WHEN-Mufick, heavenly maid, was young; While yet in early Greece (be fung ; The Pafllons oft, to hear her fhell, Thsong'd around her magick cell. Exulting, trtnabling, raging, fainting, Poflefs'd beyDnd the Mufe's painting : By turns they felt the glowing mind DifturbM, delighted, rais'd, refin'd.
BEAUTIES OF POETRY, 31
Till once, 'tis faid, when all were fir*d, FilPd with fury, rapt, infpir'd. From the fuppbrting myrtles round. They fnatchM her inflruments of found: And as they oft had heard apart Sweet leilpns of her forceful art. Each (for Madnefs rul'd the hour) Would prove his own expreflive power.
Firft, Fear, his hand, it's ikill to try. Amid the chords bewilder'd laid; • And back recoilM, he knew not why, £*en at the found himfelf had made*
Next, Anger rtifh'd ; his eyes on fire,
Iq lightnings own'd his fecret ftings : In one rude claih he ftrnck the lyre»
And fwept with hurried hand the firings;
With woeftil meafnres, wan Defpair,
Low fullen founds his grief begnil'd: A fol^n, ftrange, -and mingled air;
'Twts fad by fits, by ftarts 'twas wild.
But thou, O Hope, with eyes fo fair.
What was thy delighted meafure^
Still it whifper'd promised pleafure. And bade the lovely fcenes at diftance hail !
Still would her touch the ilrain prolong.
And from the rocks, the woods, the vale^ She call'd on Echo iliU thro' all the fong ;
And where her fweeteft theme ihe chofe,.
A fbft rcfponfive voice was heard at every cloie. And Hope, enchanted, fmil'd, and wav'd her golden hair.
And longer had ihe fuhg— >but, with a frown,
Revehge impatient rofe : He tiutw his bIood*itain*d fwori in thunder down ;
And,
3^ BEAUTIES Ot PtfEtHfYi
And, \^th a withering look; The war-denouncing tmmpct' took. And blew a blail (b loud and dreii. Were ne'er prophedck founds fo full of wbift And ever and anbif Kb b^t The doubling drilih with furious heat: And tho' fometimes; each'dreary paufe'be'fw'e^^ Dejeded Pity, at his fide. Her foul-fubd uingi?Voicer applied ; Yet (till he kept his wild unaltered mdeni- While each fbain'd ball of-fight feein'd burflingtfiMlUs^lfead*
Thy numbers, Jealoufy, to nought were fix'd^
Sad proof of thy* diftfcfiftl ftatcl Of differing lliwnw thV vfedHhg ib'ng \<^i tiiixfJl : And now it courtefd iovt— ubi^, raving; caH'd^ott fibiUSi
With eyes np-raisM, as one infpir'cl^ Pale Melancholyrftt retired ;- And from her wijkl feqnefter'd ieat, InnoteSi by diftance made more fweet,
Pour'd thro* the mellow horn lier pcniive (bul t And dafhinl^oit from'Mcks aioUftdy Bubbling rudnels jotn'dnhefoimd; -
Thro' glades ^nd-glooms the ming^ meaAire'^Iej; Or o'-ef 'fdme4iitfhted>ftfeams with-fdnd^delay^- Rott«daii holyrcakd^difiiifiDg^ liove of peace- and- lonely mufiiig^ ^ In hoUow-iDMihiifir^ died aWay^
^ B«tO, howialtcr*dwarifsfprightliertont! Wheft»eheaffBlnefif, anylHplrbrhtoWiicilhne;
Her bow acrof&her ihoulder flung^ .
Her buflcins gemm'd witH'moming dew. Blew an infpiring air, that4ale and thicket rung! "
The hunter's call "to F'aun and D'lyad Known*
The
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 53
The oak-crown'd SlBtn, and their chafte-ey'd Queen,
Satyn and Sylvan boys were fcen.
Peeping from forth their alleys green ; Brown Exerdfe rejdc'd to hear. And Sport leap'd up, and feiz'd his beechen Ipear.
Laft came Joy*s extatidc trial:
He with viny crown advancing, Firft to the lively pipe hi{|Jiand addrels'd ; Bat foon he faw the brilk awakening viol,
Whoie (weet entrancing voice he lov'd the beft-
They would have thought, who heard the ftrain^
They iaw in Tempe's vale her native maids,
Anudft the feftal founding ihades. To fome unwearied minfbrel dancing. While, as his flying fingers kifs'd the firings. Love, firam'd with Mirth, a gay fantafiick round* Loofe were her trefles feen, her zone unbound;
And he, amidft his frolick play. As if he would the charming air repay. Shook thoufand odours from his dewy wings.
O Mufick, fphere-deicended maid. Friend of pleafure, wifdom's aid« Why, Goddefs, why to us denied? Lay'fi thou thy ancient lyre afide? As in that lov'd Athenian l)Ower, You leam'd an all-commanding power. Thy mimick foul, Oiiymph endeared. Can well recall what then it heard. Where is thy native, fimple heart. Devote to virtue, fancy, art? Ariie, as in that elder time. Warm, energick, chafie, fnblime ! Thy wonders, in that godlike age. Fill thy recording fifter's page— ^
£ 'T5s
?^
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
'Tis (ai4» and I l^Ueve^ the tal^. Thy humbleil reed could more^revail,. Had more of flrcngth^ diviner rage. Than all which charms this laggard age; £'^ 9il at oace together found Cecilia's mingled world of found. — O bid our vain endeavours ceafe ! Revive the jull defigns of Greece ! Return in all thy fimple ftate \ Confirm the tales her fons relate !
THE VISIONS OF FANCY.
}N POUR. ILEGIES* Ify QR. LANOHORNE.
La Ra>(bn l^ait que c*eft an fonge,
J^$ elie ca failit les douceurs i JElle a befoin de ces^faixtdiiiesy Prcfque tous les plaifirs des hommea
Ne. i4jm\ ^u& d« dpuces erreurs. G 1 1 s xt 7,
ELEGY I.
CHILDREN of Fancy, whither are ye fled? Where have ye borne thofe hope-chliven'd hoursj That once with myrtle garlands bound my head. That once beftrew'd my vernal path with flowVs ?
In yon fair vale, where blooms the beechen grove, Wh^re winds -the flow wate thro* the flow'ry plain.
To thefe fond arms you led the tyrant Love, With Fear, and itope, and Folly, in his train.
My lyre, that, left at carelefs diflance, hung Light on fbmie:pal* branch of the ofier flvade.
To lays of am'r(KBibhui(Uftimcrit yo» fhmng. And o'er my fleep ^e lulting xauikl^'play'ii.
« Rc(V
BE AtJTttS^ OF ^ PbEt^ V. f^:
• P.cft, gentle yotith ! while on the qiliv*ring bresire ' Slides to thine iikrthis foftljr breathing ftrain ;
* Sounds that move fi)(ioother than the fteps of eafc, • *
* And poor obHvidft in tiie ear of pain.
' In this fair vale eternal Spring fhall (inile,
' And Time unenvious crown each fofeate hour ;
* > ' Eternal joy fhall ev*ry care beguile,
' Breathe in each gale, and blooin in ev'ry flbwV.
' This filvcr ftream, that down it's cryftal way,
' Frequent has led thy iftufing i^ej^s ilong, ' Shall, fHU the fame, in funny mazes play,
' And with it's murmurs melodize thy ibng.
^ Unfading green ihall thefe fair groves adorn ;
* * Thofe living- meads immortal fldw'rs unfold ; « In rofy fmiles (hall rife each blufliing morn,
* And ev'ry evening Clofe in douds of gold,
' The tender loves that Watch thy (kimVriftg reft, ^
* And round thee flow'rs and balitty myrtles ftrew ;
* Shall charm, thro* all approaching life, thy brcaft,
* With joys for ever pure, for ever new.
' The genial power that fpeeds the golden dart, •
* Each charm of tender paflion fhall infpire ;
* With fond affedtion- fill the mutual heart,
* And feed tiie flame of ever-young Defire,
* Come, gentle loves! your myrtle.garlands bring ; ' * The fmilbg bow'r with clufter'd rofes fpread ;
* Come, gentle airs ! with incenfe-dropping wing, ' "*
* The breathing fweets of vernal odout ihed.
•E a • Mark!
S« BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* Hark! as the ftrains of. fwelling mufick rife, ' How the notes vibrate on the &v'ring gale !
* , Aofpicioas glories beam along the ikies» ' And pow'rs unfeen^ the happy moments hail !
« Extatick hours ! fo ty^ry diftant day, ' like this ferene, on downy wbgs ihall move;
^ JUfe crown'd with joys that triumph o'er decay, ^ The faithful joys of Fancy and of Love.'
i L E G y n.
AND were they vain, thofe iobthing lays ye fang ? ^^ Children of Fancy ! yes, your fong was vain; On each foft air though rapt Attention hong. And Silence lifien'd on the ileeping plain.
The ilrains yet vibrate on my ravift'd car. And ftill to finile the mimick beauties fcem %
Though now the vifionary fcenes appear Like the faint traces of a vaniih'd dreamt
Mirror of life ! the glories thus depart
Of all that Youth and Love and Fancy frame;
When painful Anguifh ipecds the piercing dart^ Or Envy blalls the blooming flow'rs of Fame,
Nurie of wild wifhes, and of ibnd defires. The prophctefs of Fortune, falft and vain ;
To fcenes where Peace in Ruin'^ arms expireSji Fallacious Hope deludes her haplefs train*
Go, Syren, go-^-thy cliarms on others try ;
My beaten bark at length has reach'd the fhoY« : Vet on the rock my dropping garments lie ;
And let me |>erifii» if I tn|ft thee more !
ComQj
BEAUTIES OF POfiTRY*
Come, gentle Qaiet f long-negleded maid !
O come, and lead me to thy moffy cell i There unregarded in the peaceful (hade*
With calm Repofe and Silence let me dwell.
Come, luppier hours of fweet unannous reH, When all the ftrnggling paffions Ihall fubfide ;
When Peace fhall clafp me to her plumy breaft. And finooth my filent minutes as they glide«
Bat chief, thou goddefs of the thoughtlefs eye. Whom never cares or paffions difcompofe,
O, bleft Infenfibility, be nigh.
And with thy foothing hand my weary eyelids c1q&!
Then (hall the cares of Love and Glory ceaie.
And all the fond anxieties of Fame ; Alike regardlefs in the arms of Peace,
If thef^ extol, or thofe debafe a name.
In Lyttelton, though all the Mufes praife.
His generous praife ihall then delight no more;
Nor the fweet magick of his tender lays.
Shall touch the bofom which it charm'd before.
Nor then, tho* Malice, with infidious guife Of friendship, ope the unfurpefting breaft ;
Kor then, tho' Envy broach her blackening lyeS;, Shall thefe deprive me of a moment's reft.
O ftate to be defir'd ! when hoftile rage
Prevails in human more than favage haunts ;
When man with man eternal war will wage, Ani ncytr yield that mercy which he wants.
n
When
» BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
When dark Deiign inrades the chearftil hoar. And draws the h^art with foci&l freedom wanii>
It's cares, it's wiihes, and it's thoaghts to povr^ Smiling iniidlotis with the hopes of harm.
Vain man ! to others failings fUU fevere. Yet not one foible in himfelf can find ;
Another's faults to Folly's eye are dear. But to her own e'en Wifdom's felf is blind !
O let me ftill, from thefe low follits free. This fordid malice, and inglorious flrife,
Myfelf the fubjedl of my cenfure be.
And teach my heart to comment on my life.
With thee, Philofophy, ftill let me dwell. My tutor'd mind from -vulgar meannefs fave ;
Bring Peace, bring Quiet to my humble cell. And bid them lay the green turf on my grave.
ELEGY III.
T3 RI G HT o'er the green hills rofe the morning ray.
The woodlark's fong refounded on the plain ; Fair Nature felt the warm embrace of day. And fmil'd thro' all her animated reign.
When young Delight, of Hope and Fancy bdrn.
His head on tufted wild-thyme half reclin'd. Caught the gay colours of the orient morn.
And thence of life this pidure vain defign'd.
♦ O bom to thoughts, to pleafures moreTubiime, • ■ • • " * Than beinfgy of* inferior nature prove h . *
• To triumph in the golden hours of Time,
*• And f(?el the pharms of Fancy and of Love !
• High.
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* Ifigh-^YOur'd ma& ! for him unfolding fair
* In orient Ught this native landicapc iiniies ;
* For him fWect Hope difarms the hand of Care» ' * Exalts his pleafures^ and his grief beguiles.
^ Blows not a blo^bm on the breaft of Springs
* Breathes npt a gale along the bending meadj ' Trills not a fbngiler of the ibaring wing^
* But firagratice, health and melody^ facceed.
* O lei me ftitt with fimple Nature live,
* My lowly field-flowers on her altar lay;
* Enjoy the bleflings that ihe meant to give«
* And calmly wafie my inoffenfive day i
* No titled name^ no envy-teazing domCji
5 No gUtt'ring wealth my tutored wiihes cnre ; « So Health and Peace be near my humble home,
* A cool ilceam murmur, and a green tree wave*
' So may the fweet Euterpe not diidain
' At Eve's chafte hour her fUver lyre to bring;
* The mufe of pity wake her foothing ftrain,
' And tune to fympathy the trembling ibing.
' Thus glide the penfive moments o'er the vale, ' While floating (hades of duiky night deicend ;
* Not left untold the lover's tender tale,
* Nor unenjoy'd the heart-enlargipg friend.
^ To love and fricndfhip flow the focial bowl i
* To'attick wit and elegance of mind ;
* To all the native beauties of the foul,
« The fmiple charms of Unth, and fenfe refin'd !
Then
» BEAUTIES OF POETRY*
* Then to explore whatever ancient fage,
* Studious^ from Nature's early volame drew ;
* To chaie fweet Fidion thro* her golden age>
^ And mark how fair the fan-flower. Science, blew I
« Haply to catch iom^ fpark of eaflem fire,
* Hefperian fancy, or Aonian eafe ;
* Some melting note from Sappho's tender lyre,
* Some fb-ain that Love and Phccbus taught to pleaie.
* When waves the grey light o'er the mountain's head,
* Then let mc meet the mom's firft beauteous ray ;
* Carelcfsly wander from my fylvan (hed,
* And catch the fweet breath of the rifing day.
« Nor fcldom, loit'ring as 1 mule along, ' Mark from what flow'r the breeze it's fweetnefs bore ;
* Or liilen to the labour-foothing fbng
* Of bees that range the thymy uplandao'er.
* Slow let me climb the mountain's airy brow,
< The green height gain'd, in mufefnt rapture lie;
* Sleep to the murmur of the woods below,
* Or look on Nature with a lover's eye.
* Delightful hours ! O, thus for ever flow !
* Led by fair Fancy round the varied year :
* So fliall my bread with native raptures glow,
' Nor feel one pang from folly, pride, or fear*
* Firm be my heart to Nature and to Truth,
* Nor vjunly wander from their didates fage ;
* So Joy fliall triumph on the brows of youth,
* So Hope ihall fmooth the dreary paths of age*
ELEG^
BEAUTIES OF POETRV. 41
ELEGY IV.
/^ H ! yet> ye dear, deluding vifions, ftay ! ^^ Fond hopes, of Innocence and Fancy born ! For you I'll caft thefe waking thoughts away ; For one wild dream of life's romantick morn.
Ah ! no : the funfhine o'er each objeft fpread By flatt'ring Hope^ the flow'rs that blew fo fair ;
Like the gay gardens of Armida fled, ,
And vanilh'd from the powerful rod of Care*
So the poor pilgrim, who, in rapt'rous thought.
Plans his dear journey to Loretto's fhrine : Seems on his way l^y guardian feraphs brought ;
Sees aiding angels favour his defign. '
Ambrofial bloflbms, fuch of old as bkw
By thofe frefh founts on Eden^ happy plain. And Sharon's rofes all his paflage ftrew !
So Fancy dreams — but Fancy's dreams are vain*
Wafted and weary, on the mountain's fide.
His way unknown, the haplefs pilgrim lies ; Or takes fome ruthlefs robber for his guide.
And prone beneath his cruel fabfe dies.
Life's morning-landfcape, gilt with orient light. Where Hope, and Joy, and Fancy, hold their reign ;
The grove's green wave, the blue ftream fparkling bright. The blythe hours dancing round Hyperion's wain j
in radiant colours Youth's free hand pourtrays.
Then holds the flattering tablet to his eye; Nor thinks how foon the vernal grove decays.
Nor fees the dark cloud gathering o'er the iky.
F Hence.
43 BEAUTIES OF POETRY*
Hence Fancy, conquer'd by the dart of Pain, And wand 'ring far from her Platonick (hade.
Mourns o'er the ruins of her tranfient reign. Nor unrepining fees her viiions fade.
Their parent banifli'd, hence her children fly ;
The fairy race that filPd her feflive train s Joy tears his wreath, and Hope inverts her eye.
And Folly wonders that her dream was vain.
THE IGNORANCE (# MAN,
BY THE .REV. MR. MERRICK.
BEHOLD yon ncwftom infant, griev'd With hunger, third, and plm ; That aiks to have the wants reliev'd. It knows not to complain. * t
Aloud the fpeechlefs fuppliant cries.
And utters, as it can. The woes that in it's bofom rife.
And fpeak it's i^ure— >man.
That infant, wlidfe advancing hour
Life's various forrows try, (Sad proof of fin's tranfmiflive pow'r !)
That infants Lord ! am I.
A childhood yet my thoughts confefs,
Tho' long in years mature ; Unknowing whence I feel diftrefs^
And where, or what it's core* ,
Author
BEAUTIES OFPOETRY. 43
Author bf Good ! to thee I turn :
Thy ever wakeful eye Alone can all my wants difcern^
Thy hand alone fupply.
O let thy fear within me dwells
Thy love my footfteps guide ; That love fhall vainer loves expel, ^
That fear all fears befide, • .
And O ! by Error's force fqbdu'd.
Since oft my flubbwi wi^, Prepoft'rous, Jfcuns tlfe latent good, M
And grafjil|pie fpecious ill ;
Not to my wifli, Bui to my want,^
Do thou thy gifts ^.pplfff ^
Unaik'd, w^at gc0lf, thou knowefl grant ;
What ml tho' aifd, deny.* r
i
AN ELEGIACK EPISTLE
TO A FRIEKD. "i
BY MR. GJ0*.
FRIEND of my youths fhedd'ft th(fi:^e pitying tear O'er the fad reliques of my happier days ? Pf nature tender, as of foul iincere^ Pour'ft thou for me the inelancholy lays ?
0h, truly faid !— the diftant landfcape bright,
Whofc vivid colours giitter'd on the eye, Js £uied now, and funk in fhades of night.
As on fome chilly eve the clofing flow'rets die.
* l/yriftea when he laboured under a deje^lon of fplrits.
F 2 y ct
44 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Yet had I hop'd, when firft, in happier times, I txod the magick paths where Fancy led.
The Mufe to folter in more friendly climes. Where never Mis'ry rear'd it's hated head. ' .
How vain the thought ! hope after hope expires ! Friend after friend, joy after joy, is loft 1 ^ My deareft wifhes feed the fiui'ral fires. And life is purchased at too dear a coft !
Yet, could my heart the f^fh copafort know, ||^ That not alone I piurmur and complain, , Well might I find companions in my wo^^ . All born to grief-^the family of Jfain I w
Jpull well I know, in life's li^^ertain road. The thorns of mis'ry are profufelJPfovyn ;
Full well I know, in thillow vile abode.
Beneath the duft'ning rod what nqmbersggroan.
Born to a h^pier flate, how many pine
Beneath th' oppreiTor's pow'r — or feel the fmart
Of bitter want — or foreign evils join To the fad fymptoflkof a broken he^t !
How many, fateXIfrom their birth to view Misfortunes growing with their rip'ning years.
The fame fad track, thro',yarious fcenes, purfue. Still journeying onward thro' a vale of tears.
To them, alas ! what boots the light of heav'n. While ftill new miseries mark their deftin'd way ;
Whether to their unhappy lot be giv'n
Peath's long fad night, pr life's fliort bufy day !
Mc
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 45
Me not fuch themes delight ! — I more rejoice. When chance fome happier, better change I fee ;
Tho* no fuch change awai^jny lucklefs choice, And mountauiis rife between my hopes and me.
For why fliould he who roves the dreary wafte.
Still joy oA ev*ry fide to view the gloom ? Or, when upon the couch of ficknefs plac'd.
Well pleas 'd farvey a haplefs neighbour's tomb ?
If e'er a gleam of comfort glads my foul, ||
If e'er my brow to wonted fmiles unbends ; 'Tis*when the He^bg minutes, as they roll.
Can add ^pp gl^m of pleafure to my friends !
I.
£'en in thefe fhades, the laf! retreat of grief, ^nbe traniient bleffings wiffthat thought beftow ;
To Melancholy's felf yield fome relief.
And eafe the breaft furcharg'd With mortal woe.
Long has my bark in rudeft tempeft tofs'd,
Buffetted feas, and ftemm'd life's hodile wave ;
Suffice it now, in all my wifhes crofs'd. To feck a peaceful harbour in the grave.
And when that hour fhall come, (as come it mufl. Ere many moons their waning horns Ihcreafe !)
When this frail frame Ihall mix with kindred duft. And all it's fond purfuits and troubles ceafe 5
When thofe black gates that ever' open ftand.
Receive me oh th' irremeable (hore ; When life's frail glafs has run it's lateft fand.
And the dull jcft, repeated, charms no more :
#Then
i BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Then may my friend weep o'er the fun'ral hearfe ;
Then may his prefeiice gild the awful gloom j; And his laft tribute be fome mournful verfe.
To mark the fpot that holds my filent tomh !
This, and no more — ^the reft let Heav'n provide : To which y rciign'd, I truft my weal or woe ;
Affur'd, howe'er it's juftice (hall decide. To find nought worfe than I have left below.
ODE TO MELANCHOLY,
BY DR. OGILVIE. ^
HAIL, queen of thought fublime ! propitious Pow'r, Who o'er th' unbounded wafte art joy'd to roaoj^ Led by the Moon, when at the midnight hour Her pale rays tremble thro' the dufky gloom.
O'bear me, goddefs, to thy peaceful feat !
Whether to Hecla's cloudfWrapt brow conveyed. Or lodg*d where mountains fcreen thy deep retreat.
Or wand'ring wild thro' Chili's boundlefs (hade^
Say, rove thy fteps o'er Libia's naked wafte?
Or feek fome diftant folitary (horc ? Or on the Andes' topinoft mountain plac'd^
Do'ft fit and hear the folemn th^n4^r roar}
Fix'd on fome hanging rock's projefted brow, Hear'ft thou low murmurs from the diftant dome ?
Or ftray thy feet where pale dejeded Woe fours her long wail from fome lamented tomb ?
H^rk!
BfiAUTllES OF POETRY. 47
Hark ! yon deep echo ftrikes the trembling car !
See Night's dun curtain wraps the darkfbme pok I O'er heav'n's blue arch yon rolling worlds appear.
And rouze to folemn thought th' afpiring foul.
O lead my ileps beneath the moon's dim ray.
Where Tadmor Hands all defart and alone ! While from her time-fliook tow'rs, the bird (^ pfey
Sounds thro' the night her long-refounding moan :
Or bear me far to yon bleak difmal plain.
Where fell-ey'd tygers, all athirft for blood. Howl to the ^art— %hile the horrid train
Roams o'er The wild where once great Babel ftood 1
That fpeen of nations 1 whofe fuperior call
Roiiz'd the broad eaft, and bid her arms deftroy !
When warm'd to mirth — let Judgment mark her fall. And deep Refledion dafh the lip of Joy.
Short is Ambition's gay, deceitful dream ;
Though Wreaths of blooming laurel bind her brow. Calm Thought diipels the vifionary fcheme.
And Time's cold breath difiblves the with'ring boagh«
Slow as fome lAiner fapis th' afpiring toWV,
When working fecret with deftf uftive aim : Unfeen, unheard, thus moves the Healing hour.
Bat work^ the fall of empire, pomp, and name«
Then let thy pencil lAark the tJraits of mart ;
Full in the draught be keen-ey'd Hope pourtiray'd : t»et flutt'ring Cupids croud the growing plaii ;
Then give one touch, and dafh it deep with ihade.
Beneath
48 BEAUTIES OF POETlfY.
Beneath the pl4ime that flames with glaiicing rays^ Be Care's deep engines on the foul imprefs'd ;
Beneath the helmet's keen refulgent blaze.
Let Grief .fit pining in the canker'd breail. •
Let Love's gay fons, a fmiling train, appear. With Beauty. pierc'd-^yct heedlefsof the dart :
While clofely «0Qch*d, pale fick'n|ng Envy near» Whets her fell fling, and points it at the heart.
Pcrch'd like a raven on fome blafted yew, « Let Guilt revolve the though t-diftra£Ung fin ;
Scar'd — while her eyes forvey th' etherial blue,
Lefl heav'n's ftrong lightning burfi the dark within*
Then paint — impending o'er the madd'ning 4eep
That rock, where heart-ilruck Sappho, vainly brave^
Stood firtn. of foul — then from the dizzy fteep Impetuous fprung, and dafli'd the boiling wave.
Here, rapt in ftudious thought, let Fancy rove. Still prompt to mark Sufpicion's fecret fnare;
To fee where Anguifh hips the bloom of Love, Or trace proud Grandeur to the domes of Care^
Should e'er Ambition's tow'ring hopes infjame. Let judging Reafon draw the veil afide ;
Or fir'd with finvy at fome mighty name.
Read o'er the monument that tells — ^He dy'd !
What are the enfigns of imperial fway ?
What all that Fortune's, lib'ral l^and has brought i Teach they the voice to pour a fweeter lay ?
Or rou%e the foul to more exalted thought?
Whc
AEAUttfeS dF POETftV. 4f
IVhen bleeds the heart as Genius blooms unknov^^ When melts the eye o'er Virtue's mournful bier :
Not wealthy but Pity, fwells the burfting groan; Not pow'l", but whifpering Nature, prompts the'tear;
Say, gentle mourner, in yoii mbuldv vault;
Where the Worm fattens on feme fcepter'd brow; Beneath that roof with fculptur'd marble fraughtji^
Why fleeps unmov'd the breathlefs duft below }
Sleeps it more fweetly than the iimple fwain,
Beneatk fome mofl^ turf that refb his h^ad ; Where the lone widow tells the night her pslini
And eve with dewy tears embalms the dead
The lily, fcreen*d £rom ev'ry ruder gale.
Courts not the cultur'd fpot where rofes ipring ;
Bat blows negleAed in the peaceful vale.
And fcents the zephyrs balmy breathing Wing.
The bafts of grandeur, and the pomp of pow'r^ Can theie bid Sorrow's gufhing tears fubiide ?
Can thefe avail, in that tremendous hour.
When Death's cold hand congeals the purple tide ?
Ah, no ! — ^the mighty names are heard no more :
Pride's thought fublime, and Beauty's kindling blcom>
Serve but to fport one flying moment o'er.
And fwell with pompous verfe the fcutcheon'd toimb.
For me— may Paffion ne'er my foul invade^
Nor be the whims of tow'ring Frenay giv'n ; Let Wealth ne'er court me from the peaceful fhade.
Whew Contemplation wings the foul to heav'nl
G Ogoaid
^0 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
O guard me fafe from Joy^s enticing fnare. With each extreme that Pleafure tries to hidej
The poifon'd breath of (low-confuming Care, The noifc of Folly^ and the dreams of Pride!
But oft, when midnight's (adly folemn knell
Sounds long and didant from the fky-topp*d towers
Calm let n^ fit in Profper's lonely cell*. Or walk with Milton thro* the dark obfcure«
Thus, when the traniient dream of life is fled, Mayfome fad friend recal the former years;
Then, ibetck^d in filence o'er my dufty bed, Poilir the warm gufh of fympatketick tears«
P H I L L I S;
OR, THE PROGRESS OF LOV& BY DEAN SWIFT.
DESPONDING PhiUis was endued With ev'ry talent of a prude : She trembled when a man drew near; Salute her, and ihe turn'd her ear. If o'er againft her you were plac'd. She durft not look above your waift: She'd rather take you to her bed. Than let you fee her drefs her head. In church you hear her, thro' the crowds Repeat the Abfolution loud : ^^
In church, fecure behind her fan, She durft behold that monfter, man.
^ Soe Shftkefpeare^s Tempeft.
There
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 51
There pradis'd how to place her head. And bite her lips to make them red; Or on thtf mat devoutly kneeling. Would lift her eyes up to the deling. And heave her bofom unaware. For neighb'ring beaus to fee it bare. At length, a lucky lover came, s
And foun(i admittance to the dame.
Suppofe air parties now agreed. The writings drawn, the lawyer fee'd. The vicar and the ring be|poke ; Guefs^ how could fuch a match be broke ? See then, what mortals place their blifs in ! Next mom betimes, the bride was miffing. t
The mother fcream'd, the father chid ;
* Where can this idle wench be hid ?
• No news of Phil !' — The bridegroom came. And thought his bride had fculk'd for fhame; Becauie her fiither us'd to fay.
The girl had fuch a bafhful way.
Now John the butler muft be lent To learn the road that Phillis went : •
The groom was wilh'd to faddle Crop, For John muft neither light nor ftop; But find Her,, wherefoe'er (he fled. And bring her back, alive or dead.
See here again, the devil to do ! For truly John was miffing too ; The horfe and pillion both were gone— Phillis, it f^pis, was fled with John !
Old Madam, who went up to find What papers Phil had left behind, A letter on the toilette {^t%, ** To my much honoured father — thefe," ('Tis always done, romances tell us. When daughters run away with fellows)
51 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Fill'd with the choiceft common-places, , By others us'd in the like cafes : " That long ago a fortune-teller Exadly faid what now befel her. And in a glafs had made her fee A ferving-man of low degree. It was her fate, mull be forgiv'n. For marriages were made in heav'n. His pardon begg'd; but, to be plain. She'd do't, if 'twere to do again : Thank'd God 'twas neither fhame nor fin. For John was come of honcft kin. Love never thinks of rich and poor ; She'd beg with John from door to door. Forgive her, if it be a crime ; She'll never do't another time : She ne'er before, in all her life. Once difobey'd him, maid nor wife.'* One argument fhe fumm'd up all in ; ** The thing was done, and paft recalling; And therefore hop'd fhe (hould recover His favour, when his p..ffion's over: She valu'd not what others thought her. And was — his moft obedient daughter.'*
Fair maidens all, attend the Mufe, Who now the wand'ring pair purfues ! Away they rode in homely fort. Their journey long, their money fhort. The loving couple well bemir'd. The horfe and both the riders tir'd; Their vidluals bad, their lodging worjf; Phil cry'd, and John began to curfe : Phil wifli^d that fhe had ftrain'd a limb. When firft fhe ventured out with him ; John wifh'd that he had broke a leg. When firft for her he quitted Peg.
But
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 53
But what adventures more befel 'em. The Mufe hath now no time to tell 'em : How Johnny whee41edy threaten'd, fawn'd. Till Phillis all her trinkets pawn'd; How oft ftie broke her marriage-vows. In kindnefs, to maintain her fpoufe. Till fwains unwholfome fpoil'd the trade ; For now the furgeons muft be paid. To whom thofe perquifites are gone. In Chriilian jullice due to John. When food and raiment, now grew fcarcc. Fate put a period to the farce ; And with exadl poetick juftice — For John is landlord, Phillis hoftefs : They keep at Staines the Old Blue Boar, Are cat and dog, and rogue and whore.
ELEGY,
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR ,
WHEN THE RIGHTS OF SEPULTURE WERE 80 f,RE(^UENTLY yiOLATEO.
BY W. SHENSTONE, E S (^
SAY, gentle Sleep ! that lov'ft the gloom of night j Parent of dreams ! thou great magician ! fay. Whence my late vifion thus endures the light. Thus haunts my fancy thro' the glare of day.
The filcnt moon had fcal'd the vaulted fkies.
And anxious care reiign'd my limbs to reft ; A fadden luftre ftrijck my wond'ring eyes.
And Silvia ftood before my couch confefs'd.
Ah ! not the nymph, fo blooming and fb gay. That led the dance beneath the feftive (hade ;
Bat fhe that, in the morning of her day,
Bntomb'd beneath the grafs-green fod was l^d.
No
|4 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
No morfc her eyes their wonted radiance catt ;
No more her brcaft infpir'd the lover's flaiiic ; No more her cheek the Pasftan rofe farpafs'd;
Yet feem'd her lip's ethereal fmilc the fame.
Nor fuch her hair, as deck'd her living face ;
Nor fuch her voice, as charm'd the lill'ning crowd ^ Nor fuch her drefs, as heightened ev'ry^grace ;
Alas ! all vanilh'd for the mournful Ihroud !
Yet feemM her lip's ethereal charm the fame | That dear diftindion ev'ry doubt rcmov'd :
Perifh the lover, whofe imperfed flame
Forgets one feature of the nymph he lov'd !
* Damon,' (he faid, ' mine hour allotted flies ;
* Oh ! do not waile it with a fruitlefs tear !
* Tho' griev'd to fee thy Silvia's pale difguife;
* Sufpend thy forrow, and attentive hear.
* So may thy Mufe with virtuous fame be blejfs'd I ' So be thy love with mutual love repaid !
* So may thy bones in facred filence reft
' Faft by the reliques of fome happier maid I
* Thou know'ft how, lingering on a diftant fhore, ' Difeafe invidious nipp'd my flow'ry prime ;
' And, oh ! what pangs my tender bofom tore, ' To think I ne'er muft view my native clime \
' No friend was near to raife my drooping head,
* No dear companion wept to fee me die : ** Lodge me within my native foil," I faid,
" There my fond parents honour'd reliques lie.
y
BEAUTIES OF l^OETRY. ^3
^^ Tko* now debarred of each domeftick teaiv *• Unknown, forgot, I meet the fatal blow ;
** There many a friend ihall grace my woeful bier, *' , And many a figh fiiall rife, and tear ihall flow/*
* I fpoke^ nor Fate Ibrebore his trembling fpoil :
* Some venal moamer lent his carelefs aid ; '
* And foon they bote me to my native foil»
< Where my fond parents dear remains were laid*
* 'Twas then the youths^ from cJv'ry plain and grove^
* Adoni'd widi mournful verfe thy Silvia's bier ;
* 'Twas then the liymphs their votive garlands wove^
* And ftrew*d the frag;ranee of the youthful year.
'But why^ alas 1 the teiidei* fcene difplay ?
* Could Damon's foot the pious path decline ?
* Ah, no ! 'twas Damon firft attun'd his lay, ' And {}iiit no foiinet was fo dear as thine !
* Thus was I bofomM in the peaceful grave,
* My placid ghoft- aa longer wept it's doom; ' When favage robbers ev'ry fanftion brave,
* And with outrageous guilt defraud the tomb \
« Shall my poor corfe, from hoftile realms couvey'd^
* Lofe the cheap portion of my native £uic|s ? « Or, in my kindred's dear embraces laid,
* Moom the vile ravage of barbarian hands f
* Say, would thy breafi no death-like torture feel,
* To fee my limbs the felon's gripe obey ?
* To fee them gafti'd beneath the daring fteel ?
* To crowds a fpedre, and to dogs a prey ?
' If
56 BEAUTIES OF PQETRY^
• If Paean's foos thefe horrid rites r^uiife,
* If Health's fair fcience be by thefe refin'd;^
• Let guilty coovids for their ufe expire,
' And let their breathlefs corfe avail mankinds
' Yet hard it feems, when Guilt's laft fine is paid,
* To fee the viftim's corfe deny'd repofe ;
• Now, more fevcre, the poor ofFencelefs maid ' Dreads the dire outrage of inhuman foes.
• Where is the faith of ancient Pagans fled?
' Where the fond care the wand'ring manes claim ?
• Nature, inftindive, cries, ** Proteft the dead;
<* And (acred be their afhes and their fame 1"
• Arife, dear youth ! e'en now the danger calls ;
* E'en now the villain fnulFs his woilted prey : < See ! fee ! I lead thee to yon facred walls-^
' Oh, fly to chafe thefe human wolves away I*
WRITTEN AT MIDNIGHT
IN A THUNDER STORM.
BY MISS CARTER.
LE T coward Guilt, with pallid Fear, To ihelt'ring caverns fly. And jullly dtiead the Vengeful Fate That thunders through the iky;
Proteacd by that Hand, whofe law
The threatening ftorms obey. Intrepid Virtue fmiles fecure. As in the blaze of day.
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 57
In the thick cloud's tremendous gloom.
The lightning's lurid glare; It views the fame all-gracious Power
That breathes the vernal air.
Thro' Nature's ever-varying fcene^
By different ways purfu'd. The one eternal end of Heaven
Is univerfal good.
With like beneficent effect
O'er-fiaming aether glows. As when it tunes the linnet's voice.
Or blttihes in the rofe.
By Reafon taught to fcorn thofe fears
That vulgar minds moleft ; Let no fantaftick terrors break
My dear Narcifla's reih
Thy life may all the tend'reft care
Of Providence defend ; And delegated angds round
Their guardian wings extend !
When, thro' creation's vaft expanfe.
The laft dread thunders roll. Untune the concord of the inheres.
And fhake the rifing foul ;
Unmov'd, may'fi thou tKe final fiorm
Of jarring worlds furvey^ That ttfhers in the glad ferene
Of everlailing day I
H SOLOMON,
si BEAUTIES OF POETRY^.
SOLOMON, ON THE VANITY OF THE WOKLET.
ifJ THREE B60KS.
BY MATTHEW PRIOR.
*0 Eiof ^*p ovo^' £;(^Et, TTovof y Ipya; 4rlXii» XORIF*
Siquis Dens mibi largiatur, ut«x hac atate repuera£cam> ct in ctinjs.vagiamy valdc recufem. cic. Di s^nkct.
The bewailing of man^s mifiines hath been elegantly an^ coploufly fet forth by many, in the writings as well of philofophers as divines, and it is both a pleafant and a profitable contemplatioh. ' "
LORD BACOM^S ADVAMCXMXNT 07 tZA&NIKG.
BOOK r.
1 ■ •
KNOWLEDGE.
THE ARGUMENT.
Solomony feeking happinefii from knowledge, convenes the Icarntf^'rflcfl of hisr kingdom} requires them to explain to him the various opcpatlofis and et^e^s of Nature} difcourfes of vegetables! ^nunals, and man $ propojfes (oxne quetlions concerning the origin and fituation of the habi tattle earth 5 pro- ceeds to examine the fyfterti of the vilHJlc'ficayth j doubtS if tfiere may not be a plurality of worlds ; inquires into the nature of (^irits and angels ; and wiihes to be more fully jjiformed as to the iittributes of the Supriiltfe Being. Ke is imperfedly anlwered by the Rabbins and Dodlorsj bkmes his own curiofityj and concludes that, as to human fcience, all *is vANITY.^
^^E fons of men, with juHfegard attend; - • J^ Obferve the Preacher, and believe the foiend: Whofe ferious Muffeinrpires himtb e^^plain, Tliat all we act, and all we thitlk, iis Vain I That, in this pilgrimage o'f feventy years. O'er rocks of perils, and thro' vales 6f -tears, ' "^ Deflin'd to march, our doubtful fteps we tend, *■ Tir'u wltTi fTie*'toiI, yet fearful oTit's end:
That
1
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 59
That from the womb we take our fatal fharcs Of follies, paifionsy labours, tumults, cares ; And at approach of death iliall only know The truths which from thefe penfivc numbers flpw, ThaCt we^urfae falfe joy, and fuffer real woe.
Happinefs ! objedt of that waking dream Which we call life, miftaking ; fugitive theme Of my purfuing verfe ; ideal ihade ; Notional good ; by fancy only made. And by tradition nurs'd ; fallacious fire, Whofe dancing beams miilead our fond defire ; Canfe of our care, and error of our mind ; Oh ! hadft thou ever been by Heav'n defign'd To Adam, and his mortal race, the boon Entire had been referv'd for Solomon ; On me the partial lot had been beftow'd. And in my cup the golden draught had ilow'd.
But, O ! .ere yet orig'nal man was made. Ere the foundations of this earth were laid, Jt was, opponent to our fearch, ordain 'd That joy, dill fought, fhould never be attain'd : - This fad experience tites me to reveal; And what I di£late is from what* I feel.
Born, as I was, great David's fav'rite fon. Dear to my people on the Hebrew throne ; Sublime my court, with Ophir's treafures blefs'd. My name extended to the fartheft eaft; My body cloth'd with ev'ry outward grace. Strength in my limbs, and beauty in my face; My (hining thought with fruitful notions crown'd. Quick my invention, and my judgment found—
* Arife,' I commun'd with myfelf, * arife !
* Think, to be happy ; to be great, be wife :
* Content of fpirit muft from fcience flow,
* For 'tis a gpdlike attribute— to know.'
H 2 I faid.
k> BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
I faid^ and fent my ediA thro' the land: Around my throne the lettered Rabbins (land ; Hiflorick leaves revolve, long volumes fpread. The old difirourfing as the younger read ; Attent I heard, propos'd my doubts, and faid
* The vegetable world, each plant and tree,
* It*t feed. It's name, it's nature, it's degree,
* I amallow'd, as Fame reports, to know;
* From the'fair cedar on the craggy brow ' Of Lebanon nodding fupremely tall,
' To creeping mofs^ and hyflbp on the wall :
* Yet, juft and confcious to myfelf, I find
' A thoufand doubts oppofe the fearching mind.
* I know not why the beech delights the glade, < With boughs extended and a rounder fliadc ;
' Whilft tow'ring firs in conick forms arife, ' And with a pointed fpear divide the ikies :
* Nor why, again, the changing oak fhould (hed
* The yearly honour of his (lately head;
' Whilft the didinguilh'd yew is ever feen,
* Unchanged his branch, and permaraent his green.
* Wanting the fun why does the caltha fade ?
* Why does the cyprefs flourifh in the (hade ?
* The fig and date, why love they to remain •
* In middle ftation, and an even plain;
* While in the lower marfh the gourd is found,
* And while the hill with olive-fhade is crown'd ?
* Why does one climate and one foil endue
* The blufhiug poppy with a crimfon hue,
' Yet leave the lily pale, and tinge the violet blue?
* Why does the fond carnation love to fhoot
* A various colour from one parent root ;
* While the fantadick tulip flrives to break
* In two-fold beauty and a parted flreak ?
* The twining jafmine, and the blulhing rofe,
* With lavifh grace their morning fcents difclofe ;
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 6i
' The fmelling tub'rofe and jonquil declare,
• The. ftronger impulfe of an evening air.
• Whence has the tree (refolvc me) or the flow'r,
• A various inftinft or a diff'rent pow'r?
' Why (hould one earth, one clime, one ftreara, one breath, ' Raife this to ih-ength, and ficken that to death ? ' Whence does it happen, that the plant which well
* Wc name the feniitive, fhould move and feel ?
* Whence know her leaves to anfwer her command,
* And with quick horror fly the neighboring hand ?
* Along the funny bank or wat'ry mead,
' Ten thoufand flalks their various bloHToms fpread ;
* Peaceful and lowly, in their native foil,
* They neither know to fpin, nor care to toil :
* Yet with confefs'd magnificence deride
* Our vile attire, and impotence of pride.
' The cowflip fmiles in brighter yellow drefs'd,
* Than that which veils the nubile virgin's breaft ; ' A fairer red Hands blufliing in the rofe,
* Than that which on the bridegroom's veftment flows. ' Take but the humbleft lily of the field ;
* And, if our pride will to our reafon yield,
* It muft, by fure comparifon, be fliown,
* That, on the regal feat, great David's fon, ' Array'd in all his robes and types of pow'r,
' Shines with lefs glory than that Ample flow'r.
* Of fiflies next, my friends, I would inquire: ' How the mute race engender, or refpire ;
' From the fmall fry that gHde on Jordan's dream
' Unmark'd, a multitude without a name ;
' To that Leviathan, who o'er the feas
' Immenfe rolls onward his impetuous wayf?,
^ And mocks the wind, and in the tempell plays ?
f How they in warlike bands march greatly forth,
' From freezing waters and the colder north,
' To
}
]
62 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
To fouthern climes direding their career. Their ftation changing with th' inverted year ? How all with careful knowledge are endu'd. To chufe their proper bed, and wave, and food; To guard their fpawn, and educate their brood?
* Of birds, how each, according to her kind. Proper materials for her neft can find. And build a frame which deepefl thought in man Would or amend, or imitate, iu vain ? How in fmall flights they know to try their young. And teach the callow child her parent's fong ? Why ihefe frequent the plain, and thofe the wood ? Why ev'ry land has her fpecifick brood ? Where the tall crane or winding fwallow goes. Fearful of gathering winds, and falling fuows : .' If into rocks or hollow trees they creep. In temporary death confin'd to fleep ; Or, confcious of the coming evil, fly To milder regions, and a fouthern fky ? '
* Of beads and creeping infers fhall we trace The wondrous nature and the various race ; Or wild or tame, or friend to man or foe. Of us what they, or what of them wc know ?
* Tell me, ye ftudious ! who pretend to fee Far into Nature's bofom, whence the bee Was firll informed her vent'rous flight to fteer Thro' tradlefs paths, and an abyfs of air ? Whence Ihe avoids the (limy marfti, and knows - '% The fertile hills, where fweeter herbage grows, > And honey-making flow'rs their op'ning buds difclofe ? -J How, from the thicken'd mill and fetting fun. Finds fhe the labour of her day is done ? Who taught her againft winds and rains to ftrive. To bring her burden to the certain hive ; And thro' the liquid fields agaja to pafs. Duteous, and hark'ning to the founding brafs ?
* And,
BEAUTIES OF POETRY* 63
' And, O thou fluggard ! tell me why the ant, Midft fummer's plenty thinks of winter's wantj By conftant journies careful to prepare Her ftores ; and, bringing home the corny ear,
By what inftrudtion does fhe bite the grain.
Left, hid in earth, and taking root again.
It might elude the forcfight of her care ?
Diftinft, in either infeft's deeds, appear
The marks of thought, contrivance, hope, and fear.
• Fix thy corporeal and internal eye On the young gnat, or new-engender'd fly ; Or the vile worm, that yefterday began To Crawl; thy fellow-creatures, abjeft man ! Like thee they breathe, they move, they tafte, they feei They ihow their paffions, by their ads, like thee : Darting their ftings, they previoufly declare Defign'd revenge, and fierce intent of war. Laying their eggs, they evidently prove The genial pow'r and full effeft of love. Each, then, has organs to digeft his food; One to beget, and one receive the brood ; Has limbs and finews, blood, and heart, and brain. Life and her proper funftions to fuftain, Tha' the wliole fabrick fmaller than a grain ! What more can our penurious reafon grant
To the large whale or caftled elephant? To thofe enormous terrors of the Nile, The crefted fnake, and long-tail'd crocodile; Than that alKdifFcr but in fliape and name. Each deftin'd to a lefs or larger frame ?
• For potent Nature loves a various aft. Prone to enlarge, or ftudious to contradl ;
Now forms her work too fmall, now too inamenfe. And fcoms the meafures of our feeble fcnfe. The obje6l> fpread too far, or rais'd too fciigh. Denies it's real image to the eye ;
• Too
64
BEAUTIES OF POETRY,
Too little^ it eludes the dazzled fight.
Becomes mix'd blacknefs or unparted light:
Water and air the varied form confound ;
The ilraight looks crooked, and the fquare grows roun(
* Thus, while with fruitlefs hope and weary pain. We feek great Nature's power, but feek in vain. Safe fits the goddefs in her dark retreat; Around her myriads of ideas wait.
And eiidlefs fhapes, which the myfterious queen Can take or quit, can alter or retain. As from our loft purfuit flie wills to hide Her clofe decrees, and chaften human pride.
* Untam'd and fierce the tiger ftill remains, ' He tires his life in biting on his chains ;
For the kind gifts of water and of food
Ungrateful, and returning ill for good.
He feeks his keeper's flefh, and thirds his blood :
While the ftrong camel, and the gen'rous horfe,
Reflrain'd and aw*d by man's inferior force.
Do to the rider's will their rage fubmit.
And anfwer to the fpur, and own the bit ;
Stretch their glad mouths to meet the feeder's hand,
Pleas'd with his weight, and proud of his command.
* Again — the lonely fox roams far abroad. On fecret rapine bent and midnight fraud; Now haunts the cliff, now traverfes the lawn. And fiies the hated neighbourhood of man : While the kind fpaniel, and the faithful hound, (Likeil that fox in fhape and fpedes found) Refafes thro' thefe cliffs and lawns to roam, Purfues the noted path, and covets home; Does with kind joy domelHck faces meet. Takes what the glutted child denies to eat. And dying, licks his long-lov'd mailer's feet.
* By what immediate caufc they are indin'd. In many acts, 'tis hard> I own, to find«
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 6^
I Tee in others, or I think I fee, A^hat ftrid, their principles and ours agree. Evil, like us, they (hun, and covet good. Abhor the poifon, and receive the food. Like us they love or hate ; like us they know To joy the friend, or grapple with the foe :
* With feeming thought their aftion they intend,
* And ufe the means proportioned to the end.
* Then vainly the philofopher avers
* That Reafon guides our deed, and Inflind theirs.
* How can we julUy different caufes frame,
* When the efFefts entirely are the fame ?
* Inftindt and Reafon how can we divide ?
* Tis the fool's ignorance, and the pedant's pride.
' With the fame folly, fure, man vaunts hia fway,
* If the brute beaftrefufes to obey.
* For, tell me, when the empty boafter's word ' Proclaims himfelf the univerfal lord,
* Does he not tremble left the lion's paw
* Should join his plea againft the fancy 'd law ?
* Would not the learned coward leave the chair, ' If in the fchools or porches Ihould appear
* The fierce hyaena or the foaming bear ?
* The combatant too late the field declines,
* When now the fword is girded to his loins. ' When the fvvift veffel flies before the wind,
* Too late the failor views the land behind :
* And 'tis too late now back again to bring ' Inquiry, rais'd and tow'ring on the wing ;
* Forward flie flrives, averfe to be witheld
* From nobler objedls and a larger field.
• Confider with me this aetherial fpace,
* Yielding to earth and fea the middle place:
* Anxious, I alk ye how the penfile ball
* Should never drive to rife, nor never fear to fall?
I • When
}
66 REAUTIES OF FOETVLY^
* When I reflcft how the revolving fun ' Does round our globe his crooked journics run, ' I doubt of many lands, if they contain ' Or herd of beaft or colony of man :
* If any nation pafs their deftinM days ' Beneath the neighboring fun's diredter rays ; ' If any fufFer on the polar coaft,
* The rage of Ardos and eternal froft. * May not the pleafure of Omnipotence,
' To each of thefe fome fecret good difpenfe ?
* Thofe who amidft the torrid regions live,
* May they not gales unknown to us receive?
* See daily ihow'rs rejoice the thirfty earth, ' And blefs the fiow'ry buds fucceeding birth ? ' May they not pity us, condemn'd to bear ' The various heav'n of an obliquer fphere ;
* While, by fix'd laws, and with a juft return,
* They feel twelve hours that (hade for twelve that barn ; ' And praife the neighb'ring fun, whofe canftant fiame
* Enlightens them with feafons ftill the fame ? ' And may not thofe, whofe diftant lot is caft
* North beyond Tartary's extended wafte, ' Where thro' the plains of one continual day, ' Six fhining months purfue their even way,
* And fix fucceeding urge their duiky flight,
* Obfcur'd with vapours, and o'erwhelm'd in night ;
* May not, I aflc, the natives of thefe climes,
* (As annals may inform fucceeding times)
* To our quotidian change of hcav'n prefer ' Their own viciflltude and equal fliare
* Of day and night difparted thro' the year ?
* May they not fcom our fan's repeated race,
' To narrow bounds prefcrib'd and little fpace;
* Haft'ning from morn, and headlong driv'n from noon, ' Half of our daily toil yet fcarcely done i
• May
}
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 6y
May they not juftly to our climes upbraid
* Shortnefs of night and penary of ihade ;
* That, ere our wearied limbs are juftly blefsM ' With wholefome fleep and neceflary reft,
' Another fun demands return of care,
* The remnant toil of ycfterday to bear ?
' Whilft, when the folar beams falute their fight,
* Bold and fecure in half a year of light, ' Uninterrupted voyages they take
* To the remoteft wood and fartheft lake,
* Manage the fifliing, and purfae die courfe
* With more extended nerves and more continn'd force ; ' And when declining day forfakes their fky,
* When gathering clouds fpeak gloomy winter nigh,
* With plenty for the coming feafon blefs'd,
' Six folid months (an age !) they live, released
* From all the labour, procefs, clamour, woe,
* Which our fad fcenes of daily aftion know :
* They light the fhining lamp, prepare the feaft,
' And with fViU mirth receive the welcome gueft ;
* Or tell their tender loves (the only care
' Which now they fuffer) to the lift'ning fair ;
* And, rais'd in plcafure, or repos'd in eafe, ' (Grateful alternates of fubftantial peace !)
' They blefs the long nofturnal influence, ihed
* On the crown'd goblet and the genial bed.
« In foreign iflcs which our difcov'rers find,
* Far from this length of continent disjoin'd,
* The rugged bear's or fpotted lynx's brood,
* Frighten the vallies and infeft the wood ;
* The hungry crocodile and hiffing fnake,
* Lurk in the troubled ftream and fenny brake ;
* And man untaught, and rav'nous as the beaft,
' Does valley, wood, and brake, and ftream, infeft :
' Deriv'd thefe men and animals their birth
f From trunk of oak or pregnant wonA'of earth?
I z « Whence
68 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* Whence then the old belief, that all began
* In Eden's (liade and one created man ? ' Or grant this progeny was vvafteJ o'er
' By coalUng boats from next adjacent ihore ;
* Would thofc, from whom we will fuppofe they fpring,
* Slaughter to harmlefs lands and poifon bring?
* Would they on board, or bears or lynxes take,
* Feed the (lie-adder and the brooding fnakc ?
* Or could they think the new-difcover'd ifle
* Pleas'd to receive a pregnant crocodile ?
* And lince the favage lineage we muft trace ' From Noah fav'd, and his dillinguidi'd race ;
* How fhould their fathers happen to forget
* The arts which Noah taught, the rules he fet,
* To fow the glebe, to plant the gen'rous vine, 'And load with grateful flames the holy flirine?
* While the great fire's unhappy fons are found,
* Unprefs'd their vintage, and untill'd their ground;
* Straggling o'er dale and hill in queft of food,
* And rude of arts, of virtue, and of God.
' How fliall we next o'er earth and feas purfue
* The vary'd forms of ev'ry thing we view ;
* That all is chang'd, tho' all is flill the fame,
* Fluid the parts, yet durable the frame ?
* Of thofe materials which have been confefs'd
* The pridine fprings and parents of the reft,
* Each becomes other. Water ftopp'd gives birth
* To grafs and plants, and thickens into eatth ; ' Diffiis'd, it rifes in a higher fphere,
f Dilates it's drops, and foftens into air:
* Thpfe finer parts of air again afpire,
* Move into warmth, and brighten into fire.
* That fire once more, by thicker air o'ercome,
* And downward forc'd, in earth's capacious womb
* Alters it's particles ; is fire no more,
* But lies refplendent duft and ihining ore;
' Or
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 69
Or, running thro* the mighty mother's veins. Changes it's fhape, puts ofF it's old remains ;
* With wat'ry parts it's leflen'd force divides, ' Flows into waves, and rifes into tides.
* Difparted ftreams fhall from their channels fly,
* And, deep furcharg'd, by fandy mountains lie ' Obfcurely fepulcher'd. By eating rain
* And furious wind, down to the diftant plain,
* The hill that hides his head above the fkies,
' Shall fall : the plain, by flow degrees, ihall rife ' Higher than erft had Hood the fummit hill ;
* For Time muft Nature's great beheil fulfil.
* Thus, by a length of years and change of fate,
* All things are light or heavy, fmall or great;
* Thus Jordan's waves (hall future clouds appear,
* And Egypts pyramids refine to air ;
* Thus later age ihall afk for Pifon's flood,
* And travellers inquire where Babel flood.
* Now where we fee thefe changes often fall,
* Sedate we pafs them by as natural ;
* Where to our eye more rarely they appear,
* The pompous name of prodigy they bear:
* Let adlive thought thefe clofe meanders trace,
* Let human wit their dubious bound'ries place.
* Are all things miracle, or nothing fuch ? ' And prove we not too little or too much ?
' For that a branch cut off, a wither'd rod, ' Should at a word pronounc'd revive and bud ; ' Is this more ftrange than that the mountain's brow, ' Stripp'd by December's froft and white with fnow, ' Should pufh in fpring ten thoufand thoufand buds, ' And boaft returning leaves and blooming woods? ' That each fucceflive night from op'ning heav'n ' The food of angels ihould to man be giv'n ; ' Is this more ftrange than that with common bread ^ Our fainting bodies cv'ry day are fed?
• Than
70 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
' Than that each grain and ictd, confum'd in earthy
* Raifes it's flore, and multiplies it's birth ?
* And from the handful which the tiller ibws,
* Thfe labour'd fields rejoice, and future harveft flows ?
' Then from whate'er we can to fenfe prodace^ ' Common and plain, or wondrous and abflrufe ;
* From Nature's conftant or excentrick laws
' The thoughtful foul this gen'ral influence draws* ' That an EfFeft muft pre-fuppofe a Caufe :
* And while fhe does her upward flight fuflain^
* Touching each link of the continu'd chain>
* At length fhe is oblig'd and forc'd to fee
* A Firft, a Source, a Life, a Deity ;
' What has for ever been, and muft for ever be.
* This Great Exiftence, thus by Reafon found,
* Blefs'd by all pow'r, with all perfection crown'd,
* How can we bind or limit his decree
* By what our ear has heard or eye may fee ?
* Say, then, is all in heaps of water lofl,
* Beyond the iflands and the mid-land coaft ?
< Or has that God, who gave our world it's birth,
* Sever'd thofe waters by fome other earth ?
* Countries by future plough-lhares to be torn, ' And cities rais'd by nations yet unborn ?
' Ere the progreffive courfe of reftlefs age
* Performs three thoufand times it's annual ftage,
* May not our pow'r and learning be fupprefs'd, ' And arts and empire learn to travel weft?
* Where, by the flrength of this idea charm'd, f Lighten'd with glory, and with rapture warm'd,
* Afcends my foul ? what fees (he white and great
* Amidft fubjeded feas ? An ifle, the feat
* Of pow'r and plenty ; her imperial throne
* For juftice and for mercy fought and known :
* Virtues fublime, great attributes of Heav'n,
. • From thence to this diftinguifti'd nation giv'n.
1
r
Ye^
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 71
Yet farther well the weftern ifle extends Her happy fame ; her armed fleets fhe fends To climates folded yet from human eye. And lands which we imagine wave and (ky : From pole to pole fhe hears her adb refound^ And rales an empire by no ocean bound ; Knows her ihips anchor'd, and her fails unfurl'd» In other Indies and a iecond world.
* Long (hall Britannia (that muft be her name) Be firfl in. conqaeft, and prefide in fame ; Long fliall her fkvonr'd monarchy engage The teeth of Envy, and the force of Age: , Reyer'd and happy, ihe (hall long remain.
Of human things, leaft changeable, leaft vain ;
Yet all muft with the gen'ral doom comply.
And this great glorious pow'r, tho' laft, muft die !
* Now let us leave this earth, and lift our eye To the large convex of yon' azure fky : Behold it like an. ample curtain fpread.
Now ftreak'd and glowing with the morning red ;
Anon at noon in flaming yellow bright.
And chafing fable for the peaceful night.
Alk Reafon, now, whence light and fhade were giv*n>
And whence this great variety of heav'n ? *
Reafon our guide, what can fhe more reply.
Than that the fun illuminates the fky ?
Than that night rifes from his abfent ray.
And his returning luftre kindles day ?
' But we expcft the morning red in vain ;
'Tis hid in vapours, or obfcur'd by rain :
The noon-tide yellow we in vain require ;
'Tis black in fbrm, or red in lightning fire.
Pitchy and dark the night fometimes appears.
Friend to our woe, and parent of our fears ;
Our joy and wonder fometimes fhe excites.
With ftars unnumbered and eternal lights.
' Send
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
'' Send forth, ye wife, fend forth your lab 'ring thought j Let it return, with empty notions fraught. Of airy columns ev*ry moment broke. Of circling whirlpools, and of fpheres of. fmoke : Yet this folution but once more affords New change of terms, and fcafFolding of words ; ' In other garb my queftion I receive. And take the doubt the very fame I gave.
* Lo 1 as a giant ftrong, the lufty fun Multiply'd rounds in one great round docs run ; Two-fold his courfe, yet conftant his career. Changing the day, and finiihing the year. Again, when his defcending orb retires.
And earth perceives the abfcnce of his fires.
The moon affords us her alternate ray.
And with kind beams difbibutes fainter day.
Yet keeps the flages. of her monthly race ;
Various her beams, and changeable her face :
Each planet, fliining in his proper fphere.
Does with juft fpeed his radiant voyage fteer;
Each fees his lamp with different luflre crown'd ;
Each knows his courfe with diff 'rent periods bound ;
And in his paflage thro* the liquid fpace.
Nor hailens nor retards his neighbour's race.
Now, fhine thefe planets with fubftantial rays ?
Docs innate luflre gild their meafur'd days ?
Or do they (as your fchemes, I think, have fhowii)
Dart furtive beams and glory not their own ;
All fervauts to that fource of light, the fun ?
* Again ! I fee ten thoufand thoufand fbrs. Nor cafl in lines, in circles, nor in fquares, (Poor rules, with which our bounded mind is flll'd When we would plant, or cultivate, or build !) But fhining with fuch vafl, fuch various light.
As fpeaks the Hand that forxb'd them infinite.
I
How
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 73
^ow mean the order and perfeddon fought -In the beft j>rodad of the human thought.
Compared to the great harmony that reigns
In what the Spirit of the world ordains ! ' Now if the fun to earth tranfmits his ray, ^ Yet does not fcorch us with too fierce a day^ '* How {mall a portion of his pow'r is giv'n ♦ ^ To orbs more diftant, and remoter heav'n ? ' And of thofe ftars which our imperfed eye
* Has doom'd and fix'd to one eternal fky,
* Each by^ native ftock of honour great,
' May dart ftrong influence, and diffufe kind heat^
* Itfelf a fun, and with tranfmiffive light ^ Enliven worlds deny'd to human fight ;
* Around the circles of their ambient ikies 'y -* New moons may grow or wane^ may fct or rife, . : J ^ And other ftars may to thofe funs be earths,
* Give their own elei^ents their proper births,
* Divide their climes, or elevate their pole,
* See their lands flourifh, and their oceans roll :
* Yet thefe great orbs, thus radically bright,
* Primitive founts and origins of light,
* May each to other (as their diff'rent fphere
* Makes or their diftance or their height appear) ' Be feen a nobler or inferior ftar ;
* And in that fpace which we call air and (ky,
* Myriads of earths, and moons, and funs, nuy lie
* Unmeafur*d and unknown by human eye. ' In vain we meafure this amazing fphere,
' And find and fix it's centre here or there,
' Whilft it's circumference, fcoming to be brought
* E'en into fancy'd fpace, illudes our vanquifh'd thought. * Where, then, are all the radiant mongers driv'n,
* With which your guefles fiU'd the frighten'd heav'n ? ' Where will their fidious images remain ?
' In paper £bhemes, and the Chaldean's brain I
K *This
74 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* This problem yet, this ofFspring of a guefs^ Let us for once a child of Truth confefs ; Tliat thefe fair ftars, thefe objc^ of delight^ AnJ terror to our fearching dazzled fight. Are worlds immenfe, unnumber'd, infinite ! But do thefe worlds difplay their b^ams, or guide Their orbs to fervc thy ufe, to pleafe thy pride ? Thyfclf but%[ufl, thy ftature but a fpan, A moment thy duration » foolifh mkn ! As well may the roinuteft emmet (ay That Caucafus "was rais'd to pave his way ; The fnail, that -Lebanon's extended wood Was deftin'd only for his walk and food : The vileft cockle, gaping on the coaft. That rounds the ample feas, as well may boafl The craggy rock projefts above the fky. That he in fafety at it's foot may lie ; And the whole ocean's confluent waters fwell. Only to quench his thirft, or move and blanch his fliell.
* A higher flight the vent'rous goddeis tries^ Leaving material worlds and local fkies 5 Inquires what are the beings, where the fpace^ That form'd and held the angels ancient race : For rebel Lucifer with Michael fought, (I offer only what tradition taught) Embattl'd cherub againll cherub rofe. Did fhield to fhield, and pow'r to pow'r oppofe ; Heaven rung with triumphs, hell was iill'd with woes. What were thefe forms, of which your volumes tell. How fome fought great, and others recreant fell ? Thefe bound to bear an everlalting load. Durance of chain, and baniihment of God ; By fatal turns their wretched flrength to tire. To fwim in fulph'rous lakes, or land on folid fire : While thofe, exalted to primseval light, Exccfs of bleifing, and fupreme delight,
. • Or
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
n
\
' Only perceive fomc little paufc of joys,
' In thofe great moments when their God employs
* Their miniftry, to pour his threatened hate ' On the proad king, or the rebellious flate ; ' Or to reverfe Jehovah's high command,
* And fpeak the thunder falling from his hand, ' When to his duty the proud king returns,
* And the rebellious ftate in a(hes mourns ?
* How can good angels be in heav'n confin'd,
* Or view that Prefence which no fpace can bind ? ' Is God above, beneath, or yon', or here ?
* He who made^all, is he not ev'ry where ? ' Oh ! how can wicked angels find a night ' So dark to hide 'em from that piercing light
* Which form'd the eye, and gave the pow'r of fight ? * What mean I now of angel, when I hear
' Firm body, ijpirit pure, or fluid air ? ' Spirits, to a£tion fpiritual confin'd,
* Friends to our thought, and kindred to our mind,
* Should only aft and prompt us from within,
* Nor by external eye be ever feen.
* Was it not therefore to our fathers known,
* That tliefe had appetite, and limb, and bone ?
* Elfe how could Abram wafh their weary 'd feet,
* Or Sarah pleafe their tafle with fav'ry meat ?
' Whence fhould they fear ? or why did Lot engage
* To fave their bodies from abufive rage ?
* And how could Jacob, in a real fight,
* Feel or rejifl the wreftling angel's might?
' How could a form it's (h^ngth with matter try ?
* Or how a fpirit touch a mortal's thigh ?
' Now are they air condens'd, or gather'd rays ; ' How guide they then our pray'r, or keep our ways ?
* By ilronger blafls flill fubjeft to be tofs'd,
* By tempeib fcatter'd, and in whirlwinds lofl ?
K a * Have
6 BEAUTIES OF POETRY,
* Have they again, (as facred fong proclaims)
* Subftances real, and cxifHng frames ?
* How comes it, fince with them we jointly fhare
* The great efFeft of one Creator's care,
* That whilft our bodies (icken and decay,
* Theirs are for ever healthy, young, and gay?
* Why, whilft we ftrugglte, in this vale beneath, ' With want and forrow, with difeafe and deadr„ ' Do they, more blefs'd, perpetual life employ,,
' On ibngs of pleasure, and in fcenes of joy? ' Now^ when my mind has all" this world- furvcyM^
* And found that nothing by itfelf was made ;
* When thought has r^s'd itfelf by juft degrees,
' From vallies crown'd with flow'rs, and hills with trees ; ' From fmoking^min'rals, and from rifmg ftreams^ *^ From fett'ning Nilus, or vidorious Thames ;
* From all the living, that four-footed move
' Along the fhore, the meadow, or the grove ;
* From all that can with fins or feathers fiy
* Thro' the aerial or the wat'ry iky ;
' From the poor reptile with a reas'ning foul^
* That miferable mafter of the whole;
* From this great objedl of the body's eye„
* This fair half-round, this ample azure fky,
* Terribly large, and wonderfully bright,
* With ftars unn umber 'd, and unmeafur'd light ; ' From eil^ces unfeen, celeftial names,
* Enlight'ning fpirits, and miniflerial flames,
' Angels, dominions, potentates, and thrones,
* All that in each degree the name of creature owns j
* Lift we our reafon to that Sovereign Caufe
* Who blefs'd the whole with life, and bounded it with lawsf « Who forth from nothing calPd this comely frame,
' His will and adt, his word and work the fame : ' To whom a Uioufand years are but a day ;
* Who bade the Kght her genial beam» difplay,
* And fet the moQiu aA4 taught die run his way;
« Wlwb
I
f
I
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BEAU TIES OF POETRY. 77
Who, waking Time, his creature, from the fource
PiimaeFal, order'd his prcdeftin'd courfc ;
Himfelf, as in the hollow of his hand.
Holding, obedient to his high command*
The deep abyfs, the long continued ftore ;
Where mtonths, and days, and hours, and minutes, poor
Their floating parts, and thenceforth are no more.
TMs Alpha and Omega, Firft and Laft,
Who^ like the potter, in a mould has caft
The world's great frame, commanding it to be
Such as the eyes of Senfc and Reafon fee ;
Yet, if he wills, may change or fpoil the whole ;
May take yon beauteous, myftick, flarry roll.
And bum it like an ufelefs parchment fcroU ;
May from it's bafis in one moment poor
This melted earth- Like liquid metal, and like burning ore ;
Who, fble in pow'r, at the beginning faid.
Let fea, and air, and earth, and heav*n, be made,*'
And it was fo. — And when he fhall or4ain
In other fort, has but to fpeak again.
And they fhall be no more : of this great theme.
This glorious, hallow'd, everlafting Name,
This God, I would difcourfe— ^^*
The learned elders fat appall'd, amaz'd. And each with mutual look on other gaz'd j Nor fjpeech they meditate, nor anfwer frame : . Too plain, alas ! their filence fpake their fhame } Till one, in whom an outward mien appeared. And turn fuperior to the vulgar herd.
Began that human learning's fartheft reach
Was but to note the doctrines I could teach ; That mine to (peak, and theirs was to obey. For I in knowledge more than pow'r did fway ; , And the ailoniih'd world in me beheld Mofe? fcli|>s'd^ and Jeffe's fon exc^l)'dt
Humble
7»' BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Humble a fecond bow'd^ and took the word^ Forefaw my name fey future age ador'd : • O live,* faid he, * thou wifcft of the wife ! ^ As none has equall'd^ none fhall ever rife ' Excelling thee '
Parent of wicked, bane of honefl deeds. Pernicious Flatt'ry ! thy malignant feeds In an ill hour, and by a fatal hand. Sadly difFus*d o'er Virtue's gleby land. With rifing pride amidft the corn appear. And choak the hopes and harveft of the year.
And now the whole perplex'd ignoble crowd. Mute to my queilions, in my praifes loud, Echo'd the word : whence things arofe, or how They thus exift, the apteft nothing know ; What yet is not, but is ordain'd to be. All vail of doubt apart, the dullefl fee.
My Prophets and my Sophifts finiih'd here Their civil efforts of the verbal war :
i
Not fo my Rabbins and Logicians yield ; Retiring, (till they combat : from the field Of open arms nnwilling they depart. And fculk behind the fubterfuge of art. To fpeak one thing, mix'd diale£b they join« Divide the fimple, and the plain define ; Fix fancy'd laws, and form imagin'd rules. Terms of their art, and jargon of their fchools ; Ill-grounded maxims, by falfe glofs cnlarg'd. And captious Science againft Reafon charg'd.
Soon their crude notions with each other fought j The adverfe feft deny'd what this had taught ; And he at length the ampleft triumph gain'd. Who contradidted what the laft maintain'd.
O wretched impotence of human mind ! We, erring, ftill excufe for error find, And darkling grope, not knowing we are blind«
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 79
Vain man ! fince fi/ft the blufhing fire cflay*d His folly with conne£led leaves to (hade. How does the crime of thy refembling race, Vith like attempt, that prilline error trace ? Too plain thy nakednefs'of foul efpyM, Why doft thou ftrive the confcious fliamc to hide.
}
fiymalks of eloquence and veils of pride? With outward fmiles their flatt'ry I received,
OWd my iick mind by their difcourfe relieved ;
^«t bent, and inward to myfelf, again
^rplex'd, thefe matters I revolv'd in vain.
Myfcarch ftill tir'd, my labour ftill renew'd,
At length I Ignorance and Knowledge v^ew'd
Impartial ; both in equal balance laid,
Ught Hew the knowing fcale, the doubtful heavy weigh'd*
Forc'd by refleftive Reafon, I confefs That human fcience is uncertain guefs. Alas ! we grafp at clouds, and beat the ^r. Vexing that fpirit we intend to clear. Can thought beyond the bounds of matter climb? Or who (hall tell me what is fpace or time ? In vain we lift up our prefumptuous eyes ^
To what our Maker to their ken denies : C
The fearcher follows faft, the objeft fafter flies, J
The little which imperfedly we find. Seduces only the bewilder'd mind To fruitlefs fearch of fomething yet behind. Various difcu^ons tear our heated brain : Opinions often turn; ftill doubts remain; And who indulges thought increafes pain.
How narrow limits were to Wifdom giv'n ! Earth (he furveys ; fhe thence would meafure heav'n : Thro* mifts obfcure, now wings her tedious way. Now wanders, dazzPd with too bright a day; And from the fummit of a pathlefs coafl. Sees infinite, and in that fi^ht is loH.
Remember
> BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Remember that the curs'd delire to know. Offspring of Adam, was thy fource of woe ; Why wilt thou, then, renew the vain purfuit. And rafhiy catch at the forbidden fruit? With empty labour and eluded flrife. Seeking, by knowledge, to attain to life ; For ever from that fetal tree debarred. Which flaming fwords and angry cherubs guard.
BOOK n.
2>L£ASURE.
THE ARGUMENT.
Solomon again feeking happlnefs, inquires if wealth and greatnefs can produce it: begins with the magnificence of gardens and buildings j the luxury of mufick and feafting ; and proceeds to the hopes and defires of love. In two epifodes are ihewn the follies and troubles of that pafiion. Solomon, ftiU difappointedy falls under the temptations of libertinifm and idolatry; reco- vers his thought i reafons aright; and concludes that, as to the purfuitof pleafure and fenfual delight, all is vanity and vxxatxon or ariKiT*
' npR Y then, O man ! the moments to deceive
•^ ' That from the womb attend thee to the grave : ' For wcary'd Nature find fome apter fcheme ;
* Health be thy hope, and Pleafure be thy theme. ' From the perplexing and unequal ways
* Where Study brings thee ; from the endlefs maze
* Which Doubt peifnades to run, fore warn'd, recede
* To the gay field and flow'ry path, that lead
* To jocund mirth, foft joy, and carelefs eafe :
* Forfake what may inflruft for what may pleafc ; ^ Effay amofing ah and proud expence,
« And make thy reafon fubjed to thy fenfe !*
I communM thuy. The pow'r of wealth I try*d, And^l the various luxe of coilly pride ;
Ardib
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. |i
Artifts and plans relierM my folemn liottrs i I founded palaces, and planted bow'rs* Sirds, (idles, beafts, of each exotkk kind^ X to the limits of my court con£n'd. *ro trees transferred I gave a fecond birth, And bid a foreign ihade grace Jndah's etrth. Fifh- ponds were made^where former forefts g<tw» And hills were levetl'd to extend the view. Hivers, diverted from their native conrfe* And boand with chains of artificial force. From large cafcades in pleaiing taraalt rolPd, Or rofe thro* figar'd ftone w breathing gold, l^rom jGntheft Africa's tormented womb
The marble brought^ ereds the (pndons dome»
Or forms the pillars IoRg-<xtended rows.
On which the planted grove and penfile garden grows* The workmen here obey the mailer's call«
To gild the turret and to paint the wall ;
To mark the pavement there with varioos Aone»
And on the jafper fteps to rear the throne :
The fpreading cedar, that an age had ftood,
Snpreme of trees, and mxftrefs of the wood.
Cut down and carv'd, my ihining roof adorns^
And Lebanon his minM hononr monms. A thonfand artifts ihew their conning pow'r.
To raife the wonders o£ the iv'ry tow'r:
A thonfand maidens ply the pnq)le loom.
To weave Ithe bed and deck the regal room ;
Till Tyre confeffes her cxhanfted ftore.
That on her coaft the mnrex * is no more i
Till from the Parian ifle and Lybia's coaft
The mountains griove their hopes of marble loft | . And Indul's woods retorn their jnft complaint.
Their brood decay'd, and want of elephant.
^ The marcs it a IhtU-fiih, of the liquor whereof a purple colour It made.
I. M^
•2 EEAUTIES OF POETRY.
My full defign with vaft cxpencc achieved, I came, beheld, admirM, reflefted, gricv'd : I chid the folly of my though tleis hafte ; For, the work perfeded, the joy was paft. •
To my new courts fad Thought did iHll repair. And round my gilded roofs hung hov'ring Care. In vain on iilken beds I fought repofe. And refUefs oft from purple couches rofe ; Vexatious Thought ftill found my flying mind. Nor bound by limits, nor to place confinM ; Haunted my nights, and terrify 'd my days, Stalk'd thro' my gardens, and purfuM my ways. Nor (hut from artful bow'r, nor loft in winding maze.
Yet take thy bent, my foul ! another fenfe Indulge ; add mufick to magnificence : Eflay if harmony may grief controul. Or pow'r of found prevail upon the foul. Often our feers and poets have confefs'd. That mufick's force can tame the furious bcail ; Can make the wolf or foaming boar reftrain His rage, the Hon drop his crefted main. Attentive to the fong ; the lynx forget His wrath to man, and lick the minibel's feet. Are we, alas ! lefs favage yet than thefc ? Elfe muiick, fure, may human cares appeafe ! I fpake my purpofe ; and the chearful choir Farted their fhares of harmony : the lyre Soften 'd the timbrel's noife ; the trumpet's found Provok'd the Dorian flute, (both iweeter found When mix'd ;) the fife the viol's notes refin'd ; And ev'ry llrength with ev*ry grace was join'd. Each morn they wak'd me with a fprightly lay ; Of op'ning heav'n they fung, and gladfome day : Each evening their repeated ikill exprefs'd Scenes of repofe, and images of reil.
Tct
BEAUTIES: OF POETRY. 9)
Yet fiill in vain : for mufick gathered thought ;
But how unequal the cffc^s it brought ?
The foft ideas of the chearful note, . ^
Lightly received, were eafily forgot ;
The folemn violence of the graver found
Knew to ftrike deep, and leave a lading wound. And now refleding, I with grief defcry
The fickly luft of the fantaftick eye ;
How the weak organ is with feeing cloy'd.
Flying ere night what it at noon enjoy'd.
And now (unhappy fearch of thought !) I found
The fickle car foon glutted with the found ;
Condemned eternal changes to purfue,
Tir*d with the laft, and eager of the new. I bade the virgins and the youth advance.
To temper mufick with the fprightly dance.
In vain ! too low the mimick motions feem ;
What takes our heart mufl merit our eileem.
Nature, I thought, performed too mean a part. Forming her movements to the rules of art ; And vex'd, I found that the mufician's hand Had o'er the dancer's mind too great command.
I drank ; I lik'd it not : 'twas rage ; 'twas noife ; An airy fcene of tranfitory joys. In vain I trufled that the flowing bowl Would baniih forrow and enlarge the foul. To the late revel and protrafted feaft Wild dreams fucceeded, and diforder'd reft ; And as at dawn of morn fair Reafon's light Broke thro' the fumes and phantoms of the night; What had been faid, I afk'd my foul— what done ? How flow'd our mirth, and whence the fource begun ? Perhaps the jeft that charm'd the fprightly crowd. And made the jovial table laugh Co loud. To fome falfe notion ow'd it's poor pretence ; To au ambiguous word's perverted fenfe j
t z To
( BEAUTIES OF POBTRT*
To a wild foAnet, or a wanton air ; Oflfence and torture to the fober car. Perhaps, alas ! the pleafing ftream was broogbt From this man's error, from another's faalt ; From topicks which good-natare would forget. And prudence mention with the laft regret.
Add yet unnumber'd ills, that lie unfeen In the pernicious draught ; the word obfcene. Or harfh, which once elanc'd muft ever fly Irrevocable ; the too prompt reply. Seed of fevere diftruft and fierce debate. What we fhould (hun, and what we ought to hate.
Add, too, the blood impov'rifh'd, and the courTe Of health fupprefs'd, by wine's continu'd force.
Unhappy man ! * whom forrow thus, and rage» To difF'rent ills alternately engage : Who drinks, alas ! but to forget ; nor fees That melancholy floth, fevere difeafe, Mem'ry confbs'd, and interrupted thotight, (Death's harbingers) lie latent in the draught ; And in the flow'rs that wreath the fparkling bowl. Fell adders hifs, and pois'nous ferpeuts roll.
Remains there aught untry'd that may remove Sicknefs of mind, and heal the bofom ? — Love I Love yet remains I indulge his genial fire ; Cherifh fair Hope, folicit young Defire, And boldly bid thy anxious foul explore This laft great remedy's myfterious pow'r.
Why, therefore, hefitates my doubtful breaft f Why ceafes it one moment to be blefs'd ?
• Fly fwift, my friends! my fcrvants, fly ! empky
• Your inihint pains to bring your mailer joy.
• Let all my wives and concubines be drefs'd ; ' Let them to night attend the royal feaft ;
• All Ifrael's beauty, all the foreign fair, .
• Tho iji.lb of princes, or the ipoils of war :
Beic
I
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* Before their monarch they (hall fingly pafs,
* And the moft worthy iliall obtain the grace.' J faid — the feail was ferv'd ; the bowl was crown'd ;
To the king's pleafure went the mirthful round.
The women came : as caflom wills, they pafs'd.
On one (O that diflinguifli'd one !) I call
The fav'rite glance — O ! yet my mind retains
That fond beginning of my infant pains!
Mature the virgin was, of Egypt's race,
Grace (hap'd her limbs, and beauty deck'd her face :
Eafy her motion feem'd, ferene her air ;
Full, tho* unzon'd, her bofom rofe; her hair
Unty'd, and ignorant of artful aid,
Adov/n her fhoulders loofely lay difplay'd.
And in the jetty curls ten thoufand Cupids play'd.
Fix'd on her charms, and pleas'd that I could love, ' Aid me, my friends, contribute to improve ' Your monarch's blifs !' I faid : * frefli rofes bring
* To ftrew my bed, till the impov'rifh'd Spring
* Confefs her want ; around my am'rous head
* Be dropping myrrh and liquid amber (bed,
* Till Arab has no more ; from the foft lyre,
' Sweet flute, and ten-ftring'd inftrument, require
« Sounds of delight— and thou, fair nymph, draw nigh !
* Thou, in whofe graceful form and potent eye
' Thy matter's joy, long fought, at length is found ; ' And as thy brow, let my deiircs be crown'd. ' O fav'ritc virgin, that haft warm'd the bread: ^ Whofe fov'rcign diaates fubjugate the Eaft !' I faid ; and fudden from the golden throne. With a fubmiffive ftep, I hafted down. The glowing garland from my hair I took, liove in my heart, obedience in my look ; Prcpar'd to place it on her comely head— « ^ O f^^y'ritc virgin !' yet again I faid,
• Receive
16 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* Receive tlic honours deftin'd to thy brow ;
• And O, above ihy fellows, happy thou !
* Their duty muft thy fov'reign word obey —
• Rife up, my love; my fair-one, come away I* What pang, alas ! what extafy of fmart
Tore up my fenfes and transfix'd my heart.
When fhe, with modeft fcorn, the wreath rcturn'd,
Reclin'd her beauteous neck, and inward moum*dl
Forc'd by my pride, I my concern fupprefs'd. Pretended drowzinefs, and wi(h of reft ; And fullen, I forfook th' imperfect feaft : Ordering the eunuchs, to whofe proper care Our eaftcrn grandeur gives th' imprifon'd fair. To lead her forth to a diftinguifli'd bow'r. And bid her drefs the bed and wait the hour.
Reftk'fs I followed this obdurate maid, (Swift are the fteps that Love and Anger tread !) Approach'd her perfon, courted her embrace, Renew'd my flame, repeated my difgrace : By turns put on the fuppliant and the lord ; Threaten'd this moment, and the next implor'd j Offer 'd again the unaccepted wreath. And choice of happy love, or inftant death.
Averfe to all her amVous king defir'd. Far as flie might (he decently retir'd ; And darting fcorn and forrow from her eyes—
• What means,' faid (he, * King Solomon the wife?
• This wretched body trembles at your pow'r;
* Thus far could Fortune, but Ihe can no more.
* Free to herfelf my potent mind remains,
• Nor fears the vidlor's rage, nor feels his chains.
• 'Tis faid that thou canft plaufibly difpute,
* (Supreme of feers !) of angel, man, and brute ; « Canft plead, with fubtle wit and fair difcourfe,
• Of paflion's folly and of reafon's fofce.
I
That
BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
That to the tribes attentive, thou canft know Whence. their misfortunes or their bleifings flow: That thou in fcience as in pow'r art great. And truth and honour on thy edi6ls wait. Where is .that knowledge now, that regal thought. With jufl advice and timely counfel fraught ?
Where now, O Judge of Ifrael, does it rove ?
What in one moment doft thou offer ? Love
Love ? why, 'tis joy or forrow, peace or ftrife ; *Tis all the colour of remaining life ; And human mis'ry muft begin or end. As he becomes a tyrant or a friend. Would David's fon, religious, juft, and grave. To the firft bride-bed of the world receive A foreigner, a heathen, and a flave ? Or, grant thy'paflion has thefe names deftroy'd. That Love, like Death, makes all diilindion void ; Yet in his empire o'er thy abje£t breaft. His flames and torments only are exprefs'd ; His rage can in my fmiles alone relent. And all his joys folicit my confent. * Soft love, fpontaneous tree, it's parted root Muft from two hearts with equal vigour fhoot ; Whilft each delighted, and delighting, gives The pleafing extafy which each receives : Cheriih'd with hope, and fed with joy, it grows ; It*s chearful buds their op'ning bloom difclofe. And round the happy foil diiFufive odour flows. If angry Fate that mutual care denies. The ^ding plant bewails it's due fupplies ; Wild with defpair, or lick with grief, it dies. ' By force beafts a£t, and are by force reftrain'd ; The human mind by gentle means is gain*d. Thy ufelefs ftrength, miftaken king, employ : Sated with ^age, and ignorant of joy.
\
Thou
BEAUTIES OF POETRT.
' Thou (halt not gain wkat I deny to yields
« Nor reap the karveft, tho' thoa fpoil'ft the field.
' Know, Solomon, thy poor extent of Iway ;
* Contract thy brow, and Ifrael (hall obey ;
' But wiifa) Love thou mnfl with fmiles appeafe^ ' Approach his awful throne by j oft degrees, ' And if thou woukift be happy, learn to pleafe.
* Not that thofe arts can here fuccefsful prove, ' For I am deftin'd to another's love.
' Beyond tlie cruel bounds of thy command,
* To my dear equal, in my native land,
* My plighted vow I gave ; I his receiv'd :
* Each fwoi*e with truth, with pleafnre each believ'd ; t
* The mutual contra£k was to heaven convey'd ;
* In equal fcales the bnfy angels weigh'd
* It's folemn force, and dapp'd their wings, and fyiewi
* The lafting roll, recording what we faid.
* Now in my heart behead thy poniard ftain'd ; ' Take tne fad life which I have long difdain'd ;
* End, in a dying virgin's wretched fate,
* .Thy ill-ftarr'd paffion, and my ftedfaft hate :
* For long as blood informs thefe drding veins,
* Or fleeting breath it's lateft pow'r retains,
* Hear me to Egypt's vengeful gods declare, .
* Hate is my part ; be thine, O king, deipaS*
* Now ftrike!' (he faid, and open'd bare her breaft.
* Stand it in Jndah's Chronicles confefs'd,
* That David's fon, by impious paffion moT*d,
* Smote a (he-flave, and murder'd what helov'd I* Alham'd, conftis'd, I ftarted from the bed.
And to my foul, yet uncollefted, faid,
* Into thyfelf, fond Solomon, rfetum ;
* Reflect again, and thou again fhalt mourn.' When I thro' number 'd years have pleafureibttght. And in vain hope the wanton phantom caught.
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. S9
To mock my fenfe and mortify my pride, 'Tis in another's pow'r, and is deny'd. Am I a king, great Heav'n ! does life or death Hang on the wrath or mercy of my breath. While kneeling I my fervant's fmiles implore. And one mad damfel dares difpnte my pow'r ?
To raviili her !— that thought was foon depreisM, Which muft debafe the monarch to the bead. To fend her back !— O whither, and to whom ? To lands where Solomon muft never come ? To that infalting rival's happy arms. For whom, difdaining me, fhe keeps her charms ?
Fantaftick tyrant of the am'rous heart. How hard thy yoke ! how cruel is thy dart ! Thofe 'fcape thy anger who refufe thy fway, . j . .
And thofe are pnniih'd moft who moft obey. See Jadah's king revtrt thy greater pow*r ; What canft thon covet, or how triumph more ? Why then, O Love, with an obdurate ear. Does this proud nymph rejeA a monarch's pray'r? Why to fome (imple ihepherd does (he run.
From the fond arms of David's fav'rite fon?
Why flies (he from the glories of a court.
Where wealth and pleafuie may thy reign fuj^rt ;
To fome poor cottage on the mountain's brow.
Now bleak with winds, and cover'd now with fnofv.
Where pinching want muft curb her warm de(lres«
And hou(hold cares fupprefs thy genial fires ? Too aptly the affli^d heathens prove
The force, while they ered the (hrines of Love*
His myftick form the artizans of Greece
In wounded (bne or molten gold exprefs ;
And Cyprus to his godhead pays her vow.
Paft in his hand the idol holds his bow|
A quiver by his fide fufbuns his (bre
Of pointed darts, fad emblems of his pow'r!
M A pair
^ BEAUTIES OF POETRY,
A pair of wings he has, which he etten<}s New to be gone ; which now again he bends. Prone to retam, as beft may fcrve his wanton ends. Entirely thus I find the fiend pourtray'd. Since firfl, alas ! I faw the beauteous maid. I felt him (hike, and how I fee him fly : Curs'd daemon ! O for ever broken He Thofe fatal fhafts by which I itiward bleed !
0 can my fifties yet overtake thy fpecd !
Tir'd may'fl thou pant, and hang thy flagging wing. Except thou turn'fl thy conrfe; refolv'd to brmg The damiM back, and fave the love-fick king.
My foul thus flruggling in the fatal net. Unable to enjoy or to forget,
1 reaibn'd much, alas ! but more I lov'd. Sent and rQcalPd, ordainM and difapprovM ; Till, hopelefs, plung'd in an abyfs of grief, I from neceflity received relief;
Time gently aided to aflbage my p^n.
And Wifdom took once more the flacken*d rein.
But O how fh'ort my interval of woe! Our griefs how fwift, our remedies how flow ! Another nymph, (for fo did Heav*n ordain. To change the manner but renew the pain;) Another nymph, amongft the many fair That made my fofter hours their folemn care. Before the reft affefted ftill to ftand^ And watch'd my eye, preventing my command. Abra — Ihe fo was call'd — did fooneft haftc To grace my prefence — Abra went the lafl : Abra was ready ere I call'd her name ; And tho' I call'd another, Abra came*
Her equals firft obfcrv'd her growing zeal,. And laughing glofs'd, that Abra ierv'd fo welU To me her aftions did unheeded die. Or were remark'd bat with a common eye ;
i
TiU
BEAUTIES OF PQETRY- 91
Till more apprized of what the mxnour faid» More I obferv'd peculiar in the maid.
The fan declin'd had ihot his weilem ray« When, tir'd with baiineis of the folemn day, I parpos'd to uilbend the ev'ning hoors^ And banquet private in thfi women's bow'rs. I caird before I fat to w^fh my hands. For fo the precept of the W commands ; Love had ordain'd that it was Abra's turn To mix the fweets and minifter the urn.
With awful homage and fubmiffive dread The maid approach'd, on my declining head To pour the oils : fbc trembled as (he poux'd ; With an unguarded look (he now devonr'd My nearer face; and now recall'd her eye. And heav'd, and ftrove to hide a fudden iigh. ' And whence,' iaid I, ' cafid thou have dread or pain ? ' What can thy imag'ry of forrow jpean?
* Secluded from the world and ;adl it's care,
* Haft thou to gneve or joy, to hope or fear ?
* For fure,' I added, * fure thy little heart
* Ne'er felt Love's anger, or receiv'd his dart?' Abaih'd (he blu(h'd, and with diforder fpoke;
Her riiing fhame adoru'd the words it broke. ' If the great mafter will defcend to hear ' The humble feries of his handmaid's care, ' 0 1 while (he tells it let him not put on ' The look that awes the nations from the throne : ' 0 ! let not death fevere in glory lie ' In the king's frown and teixor of his eye* ' Mine to obey, thy part is to ordain ; . ' And tho' to mention be to fufer pain, ' If the king fmiles whilft I my woe recite^
* If weeping I &nd favour in his fight,
* Flow faft my tears^ full rifing his delight.
M2 .< Owit*
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91 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
' O witnefs earth beneath, and heav'n above, ' For can I hide it! I am fick of love: ' If madnefs may the name of paflion bear, ' Or love be calPd what is indeed defpair.
• Thou fov'reign Pow'r, whofe fecrct will controols ^ The inward bent and motion of oar fouls !
* Why haft thou placed fuch infinite degrees ' Between the caufe and cure of my diieafe ?
* The mighty object of that raging fire
* In which unpity'd Abra muft expire,
* Had he been born ibme fimple fhepherd's heir,
* The lowing herd or fleecy flieep his care,
' At morn with him I o'er the hills had run,
* Scornful of winter's froft and fummer's fun,
' Still afking where he made his flock to reft at noon.
' For him at night, the dear expeded gueft,
' I had with hafty joy prepared the feaft,
' And from the cottage, o'er the diftant plain,
' Sent forth my longing eye to meet the fwain,
* Wav'ring, impatient, tofs'd by Hope and Fear^
* Till he and Joy together (hould appear,
' And the lov'd dog declare his mafter near.
' On my declining neck and open breaft
' I fhould have lull'd the lovely youth to reft,
* And from beneath his head at dawning day,
* With fofteft care, have ftol'n my arm away,
* To rife and from the fold releafe the (heep,
* Fond of his flock, indulgent to his fleep.
' Or if kind Heav'n, propitious to my flame,
* (For fure from Heav'n the faithful ardour came !)
* Had blefs^d my life, and deck'd my natal hour, ' With height of title and extent of pow'r,
* Without a crime my paffion had afpir'd,
' Found the lov'd prince, and told what I defir'd.
• Then I had come, preventing Sheba's queen,
* To fee the comelieft of the fons of men ;
!
I
To
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BEAUTIES OF POETRY, 93
To hear the charming poet's amVoiis fong, ^nd gather honey, falling from his tongue ; To take the fragrant kiffes of his mouth, [ Sweeter than breezes of her native fouth ;
* Likening his grace, his perfon, and his mien,
* To all that great or beauteous T had fecn.
* Serene and bright his eyes, as folar beams,
* Refieding tempered light from chryftal dreams ;
* Ruddy as gold his cheek ; his bofom fair
* As filver ; the curl'd ringlets of his hair
' Black as the raven's wing ; his lip more red
* Than eaftcm coral, or the fcarlet thread ; ' Even his teeth, and white like a young flock, "
* Coeval, newly fliom, from the clear brook ' Recent, and blanching on the funny rock, ' Iv'ry, with fapphires inter(pers'd, explains ' How white his 'hands, how blue the manly veins 5
* Columns of polifh'd marble, firmly fet
* On golden bafes, are Jiis legs and feet ; « His ftature all majeftick, all divine,
* Straight as the palm-tree, ftrong as is the pine ; ' Saffron and myrrh are on his garments fhed, ' And everlafling fweets bloom round his head.— f What utter I ! where am I ! wretched maid ! ' Die, Abra, die ! too plainly haft thou faid,
* Thy foul's defire to meet his high embrace,
* And bleffing ftamp'd upon thy future race ; ' To bid attentive nations blefs thy womb, ^ With unborn monarchs charg'd, and Solomons to come V
Here o'er her fpeech her flowing eyes prevail. ' Q foolifh maid ! and, O unhappy tale ! ^ My fuflF'ring heart for ever fhali defy ' New wounds, and danger from a future eye*
* O ! yet my tortur'd fenfes deep retain ' The wretched mem'ry of my former pain, ' The dire affront, and my Egyptian chain,
* A*
94 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
« As'time,' I faid, * may happily efface ' That cruel image of the king's difgrace^ ^ Imperial Reafon fhall refume her ieat, ' And Solomon, once faH'n^ again be great* ' Betray'd by paflioDy as fabdu'd in war,
* Wc wifely (hould exert a double care ;
• Nor ever ought a fecond time to err.' This Abra then
I (aw her : 'twas humanity j it gave Some refpite to the fomows of my flavc. Her fond excefs proclaimed her paffion true. And gen'roas pity to that truth was due. Well I entreated her who well deferv'd ; I call'd her often, for flie always ferv'd : Ufe made her perfon eafy to my fight. And eafe infcnfibly produc'd delight.
Whene'er I revell'd in the women's bow*r^, (For firft I fought her but at loofer hours) The apples fhe had gather'd fmelt moft fwect. The cake (he kneaded was the fav'ry meat ; But fruits their odour loft, and meats their taile> If gentle Abra had not deck'd the feaft : Difhonour'd did the fparkling goblet iland, Unlcfs receiv'd from gentle Abra's hand j And when the virgins form'd the evening choir, Kaifing their voices to the mafter-lyre. Too flat I thought this voice, and that too fhrill ; One ihcw'd too much, and one too little fkill : Nor could my foul approve the mufick's tone. Till all was hufh'd, and Abra fung alone. Fairer fhe feem'd diflinguifh'd from the icft. And better mierv difclos'd, as better drefs'd : A bright tiara round her forehead ty'd. To jufler bounds confip'd it's rifmg pride i The blufhing ruby on her ihowy brcaft, Rcndcr'd it's panting whitenefs more confefs'd jt
Brae
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. $5
^cclets of pearl gtve roundnefs to her ann, ^t>d cv'jy gem augmented ev*iy charm : ^er fenfes pleas'i, her beauty dill imjwov'd. And flie more lovely grew ai more belov'd.
And now I ooaki behold, avo^, and blame. The feveral follies of my former flame ; Willing my heart for recompenfe to prove The certain joys that lie in proip'rous love.
* For what/ (aid I, * from Abra can I fear,
' Too humble to infuit, too foft to be fevere f
* The damfePs'fole ambition is to pleafe ;
* With freedom I may like, and quit with eafe : ' She (bothes, but never can enthral my mind.
* Why may not peace and love for once be join'd ?* Great Heav'n ! how frail thy creature man is made !
How by himfelf infenfibly betray'd4
In our own fbength unhappily fecure.
Too little cautious of the adveHe pow*r,
And by the biaft of felf. opinion mOvM,
We wilh to charm, and feek to be belov'd.
On Pleafure*s flowing brink we idly llray,
Mafters as yet of our return ing way :
Seeing no danger, we difarm our mind.
And give our condu£l to the waves and wind;
Then in the flow'ry mead or verdant ftiade, •
To wanton dalliance negligently laid.
We weave the chaplet and we crown the bowl.
And fmiling ice the nearer waters roll.
Till the flrong gufts of raging paflion rife.
Till the dire tempcft mingles earth and ikies.
And fwift into the boundlefs ocean borne.
Our foolifh confidence too late we mourn ;
Round our devoted heads the billows beat.
And from our troubled view the leflen'd lands retreat.
O mighty Love ! -from thy unbounded pow'r How (hall the human bofom rell fecure i
How
S BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
How (hall our thought avoid the various ihare. Or wiidom to our caudon'd fool declare The different ftapes thoa pleafeft to employ^ When bent to hiirt» and certain to dcftroy ?
The haughty nymph, in open beaaty drefi»*d. To-day encounters our unguarded breafi f She looks with nujeHy, and moves with ftate : Unbent her foul, and in misfbrtone great. She fcorns the world* and daics the rage of Fate.
Here whilft we take ftem manhood for our guide* And guard our conduft with becoming pride* Charm'd with the courage in her afdon ihown* We praife her mind* the image of our own. She that can pleaie is certain to perfuade ; To-day bclov'd, to-morrow is obey'd. We think we fee thro* Reafon's opticks right* Nor find how Beauty's rays elude our fight : Struck with her eye whilil we applaud her mind ; And when we fpeak her great, we wiih her kind*
To-morrow, cruel Pow'r I thou arm'ft the fair With flowing forrow and difheveird haijr : Sad her complaint, and humble is her tale ; Ker fighs explaining where her accents fail. Here gen*rous foftnefs warms the honeil breaft ; We raife the (ad, and faccour the diflrefs'd ; And whilil our wi(h prepares the kind relief* Whilfl pity mitigates her rifing grief. We fickcii foon from her contagious care. Grieve for her forrows, groan for her defpair* And againft love, too late, thofe bofoms arm. Which tears can foftcn, and which fighs can warm*
Againft this nearefl, cruellefl of foes. What fhall wit meditate, or force oppoft ? Whence, feeble Nature, fhall we fumaon aid* If by our pity and our pride betray'd i
5EAIJTI5S PF, POETRY. ^7
l^xternal remedy (hall we hope to find ^
When the clofe fiend has gain'd our treacherous miad.;
ilnfaltlng there does Reafon's power deride.
And. i}lifid hbifelf, condndU the dazzled guide ?
My conqu'ror now^ my lovely Abra^ held My freedom in her chains ; my heart was fill'd With her, with her alone ; in her alone it fought it's peace and joy: while ihe was«gone it figh'd, and griev'd, ijinpatient of her ftay t %
^etum'd, file chas'd thofe'iighs. that g]:ief» away.; y
Her abfence made the night ; her prefence brought the day. J
The ball^ the pl^» 'th^ inafk. by turns fucceed : For her I make the fong ; the dance with her I lead. I court hQr> various, in each ihape and drofs That luxury may form or thought exprefs.
To-day 43eneath the palm-tree> on the plains, In Deborah's arms and habit Abra reigns : The wreath, denoting cpnqneft, guides her brow, ^nd low, li^e jBarak, at her feet I bow. The mimick Chorus (iues her profp'rous hand^ As fhe )iad flain t|ie foe aiid fav'd the land.
To-morrp^ fhe approves a fosfter air, «Forfakes the pomp and pageantry of war j The form of peaceful Abigail afTumes, And fromthe village with the .prefent comes : The youthful band depofe their glittering arms^ Receive her 'bounties ^nd rfcite her charms, iVhilft I aflume my father^s Hep and mien. To meet, with due regard, my future queen.
If haply Abra's will be now inclin'd To range the woods or chace the flying hind, £oon as the fun awakes^ the fprightly court Leave their repofe, and haflen to the fport. Jn leflen'd royalty, and humble flate, ^hy king, Jerufalem ! defcends to wait **■"'•■ ^ ' N * JSl
98 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Till Abra comes. She comes ! a milk-white (iecd^ Mixture of Perfia's and Arabia's breed, Suflains then^ph : her garments flying loofe, (As the Sydonian maids or Thracian ufe) And half her knee and half her bread appear» By art, like negligence, difclos'd, and bare. Her left-hand guides the hunting courfer's fligh^ A filver bow (he carries in her right. And from the golden quiver at her fide, Rvftles the ebon arrow's feather'd pride ; Saphires and diamonds on her front difplay An artificial moon's increafing ray. Diana, huntrcfs, mi^ftrefs of the groves, The-fav'rite Abra fpeaks, and looks, and moves. Her, as the prefent goddefs, I obey ; Beneath her feet the captive game I lay : The mingled Chorus fmg Diana's fame ; Clarions and horns in louder peals proclaim Hfer myftick praife; the vocal triumphs bound Againft the hills ; the hills reflect the found.
If, tir'd this ev'ning with the hunted woods^ To the large fifh -pools or the glaffy floods Her mind to-morrow points, a thoufand hands. To-night emplqy'd, obey the king's commands. Upon the wat'ry beach an artful pile Of planks is join'd, and forms a moving ifle ; A golden chariot in the mid ft is fet. And filver cygnets feem to feel it's weight. Abra, bright queen ! afcends her gaudy throne. In femblance of the Grecian Venuf. known ; Tritons and fea-green Nai'ads round her move. And fing in moving ftrains the force of love ; Whilft, as th* approaching pageant does appear. And echoing crowds fpeak mighty Venus near^, J, her adorer, too, devoutly ftand Faft on the utmoft margin of the land.
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 99
With arms and hopes extended, to receive The fancy'd goddefs riiing from the wavd. O fabjfed Reafon ! O imperious Love! "Whither yet farther would my folly rove? Is it enough that Abra fhould be great In the wall'd palace or the rural feat ; That malking habits, and a borrow'd name^ Contrive to hide my plenitude of fhame? No, no : Jerufalem combined mull fee My open fault and regal infamy. Solemn a month is deftin'd for the feaft ; Abra invites ; the nation is the gueft ! To have the honour of each day fuftain'd. The woods are travers'd, and the lakes are drain'd : Arabia's wilds and Egypt's are explor'd ; The edible creation decks the board. Hardly the phoenix 'fcapes— The men their lyres, the maids their voices raife. To iing my happinefs and Abra's praife. And (lavilh bards our mutal loves rehearfc In lying llrains and ignominious Vcrfe ; While from the bauquc!: leading forth the bride. Whom prudent Love from publick eyes fhould hide, I (how her to the world, confefs'd and known Queen of my heart, and partner of my throne. And now her friends and flatt'ror: fill the court; From Dan and from Beerfheba they refort; They barter places and difpofe of grants. Whole provinces unequal to their wants ; They teach her to recede or to debate ; With toys of love to mix affairs of ftate ; By praftis'd tales her empire to fecure. And in my pleafure make my ruin fure. They gave, and Ihe transferr'd the curs'd advice. That monarchs fhould their inward fou*l difguife, Diifemble and command, be falfe and wife i
N2 By
I
Ud BEAUTIES OP POfiTRt.
By ignominious arts, for fcrvile ends,
Shonld compliment their foes, and ihim their friends.'
And now I leave the true and juft fupports
Of legal princes and of honeft courts ;
Fardllai's and the fierce Benaiah't Kieirsy
Whofe firies, great pamers in My father's cares.
Saluted their' ybuhg king, at Hebron crown'd.
Great by their toil, and glorious by their wound :
And now, tmhappy counfel ! I prefer
Thofe whom my follies only made me fear ;
Old Corah's brood and taunting Shimei's race,
Mifcreants I who ow'd their livei to David's grace,
Tho' they had fpum'd his rule, and curs'd hiih to his face.
Still Abra's pow'r, my fcandal ^11 increas'd y Juftice fubmitted to what Abra pleas'd : Her will alone could fettle or revoke. And law was fix'd by what ihe lateft (poke.
Ifrael negle&ed, Abra was my care; I only adled, thought, and' liv'd for her. I durU not reafon with my wounded heart : Abra pofTcfs'd ; (he was it's better part. 6 ! had I now r'eview'd the famous caufc Which gave my righteous youth fo jiift applaaf<efy III v^ih on the diffembled mother's tongue Had cunning art and fly perfuaflon hiing. And real care in Vain, and native love. In the trxxc parent's panting breaft had ftrovc. While both deceived had feen the deftin'd child" Or flain or fav'd, as Abra frown'd or ftoil'd.
Unknowing to command, proud to obey, A lifelefs king, a royal ihkdc I liay. Unheard, the injur'd orphans now complain y The widows' &s addrefs the throne in vain.^ Caufes unjudg'd difgjrace the loaded file, . Arid fleeping laws the king's negle£t revile. No niore the elders throng'd around my throne,* To hear my Hiwims a«d reform th^ir oWn ;
BEAUTtfiS OP fOETRY. icl
J^o more the young nobility were taught How Mofes governed and how David fought. JLoofe and undifciplin'd the foldier lay. Or loft in drink and game the folid day ; Porches and fchools, deiign'd for publick good^ XJncovcr'd, and with fcafFolds cutAber'd fbod^ Or nodded, thteat'riing ruin — ^ Half pillars wanted their expefted height, And roofs imperfedk prejudic'd the light. ^he artifts grieve ; thtf lab'ring people droop : My father's legacy, my country's hope, God's temples, lie unfinilh'd—
The wife and grave deplof'd their monarch's fat^^ And future mifchiefs of a linking ftate. ^ Is this,' the feiious faid, ' is this the man
* Whofe a^ivc foul thro' ev'i^ fcience ran ?
* Who by juft rule and elevated Ikill,
* Prefcrib'd the dubious bounds of good and ill ?
* Whole golden layings, and immortal wit,
* On large phylaAeries e^xpreffive writ,
* Were to the forehead of the Rabbins ty'd,
* Our youth's inftrudlion, and our age's pride ?
* Could not the wife his wild defires reftrain ?
^ Then was our hearing, and his preaching vain ! ' What from his life and letters were we taught, ' But that his knowledge aggravates his fault ?' In lighter mood, the hum'fbus and the gay, (As crown'd with rofes at their feafls they lay) Sent the full goblet charg'd with Abra's name. And clarms fuperior to their matter's fatne. laughing, fom'e praife the king, who let 'em fee How aptly luxe and empire might agree : Some glofs'd how Love and Wifdom were at ftrifc. And brought my Prorcrbs to confront my life. ' However, friend, here's to the king !' one cries. ' To him who was the king !' the friend replies.
' Thf
t6i BEAUTIES OF POETRV.
* The king, for Judah's and for Wifdom's curfc
* To Abra yields : could I or thou do worfe ?
* Our loofer lives let Chance or Folly fleer,
* If thus the prudent and determined err.
* Let Dinah bind with flow'rs her flowing hair,
' And touch the lute, and found the wanton air ; ' Let us the blifs without the (ling receive,
* Free as we will, or to enjoy or leave.
* Pleafures on Levity's fmooth furface flow 5
* Thought brings the weight that finks the foul to Woe#
* Now be this maxim to the king convey'd,
* And added to the thoufand he has made.'
* Sadly, O Reafon I is thy pow'r e.vprefs'd,
* Thou gloomy tyrant of the frighted breafl !
* And harfh the rules which v.e from thee receive, J
* If for our wifdom we our pleafure give, ? ^ And more to think be only more to grieve ; J
* If Judah's king, at thy tribunal try*d,
* Forfixkes his joy to vindicate his pride,
* And, changing forrows, I am only found
* Loosed from the chains of Love, in thine more ftriflly boundt
* But, do I call thee tyrant, or complain
* How hard thy laws, how abfolute thy reign ? « While thou, alas ! art but an empty name,
* To no two men, who e'er difcours'd, the fame; •The idle produ£l of a troubled thought,
« In borrowed fnapes and airy colours wrought ;
* A fancy'd line, and a rcileded fhade ;
* A chain which man to fetter man has made,
* By artifice impos'd, by fear obey'd.
* Yet, wretched name, or arbitrary, thing,
* "Whence-cvcr I thy cruel eflTeiice bring,
* I own thy influence, for 1 feel thy (ling.
* Pelidant I perceive thee in my foul,
* Fsrm'd to command, and dellin'd to controuU ' Yes, thy infulting dilates fliall be heard;
« Virtue for once ftiall be her own reward.
• Yes,
i
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 105
Yes, rebel Ifrael, this unhappy maid
* Shall be difmifs'd; the crowd fhall be obey'd ;
* The king his paffion and his rule fhall leave, '^ No longer Abra's, but the people's (lave : T My coward fpul fhall bear it's wayward fate j ^ I will, alas I be wretched to be great, ^ And figh in royalty, and grieve in flate.*
I faid, refolv*d to plunge into my grief At once, fo far as to expert relief From my defpair alone— ^ I chofe to write the thing I durfl not fpejik To her I lov'd, to her I mufl forfake. The harfh epiflle laboured much to prove How inconfiflent majefly and love. I always ihould (it faid) efteem her well. But never fee her more : it bid her feel No future pain for me ; but inftant wed A lover more proportion'd to her bed. And quiet dedicate her remnant life To the juft duties of an humble wife*
She read, and forth to me fhe wildly ran ; To me, the eafe of all her former pain. . She kncePd, entreated, ftruggled, threatened, cry'd. And with alternate paffion liv'd and dy'd ; Till now, deny'd the liberty to mourn. And by rude Fury from my prefence torn^ This only objedl of my real care Cut off from hope, abandoned to defpair. In fome few' polling fatal hours is hurPd From wealth, from pow'r, from love, and from the world. ' ' Here tell me, if thou dar'ft, my confcious foul,
* What difPrent forrows did within thee roll?
* What pangs, what fires, what racks, didft thou fuHain ?
* What fad viciffitudes of fmarting pain ?
* How oft ftom pomp and flate did I remove, f To feed defpair^ and cheriih hopelefs love ?
* How
i©4 BEAUTIES OF POETRV,
• How oft, all day, recall'd I Abra's charms,
• Her beauties prefs'd, and panting in my arms f
• How oft, with fighs, view'd cv'ry female face,
• Where mimick Fancy might her likenefs trace ? « How oft defir'd to fly frona JfraePs throne,
• And live iu (hades with her and Love alone ?
« How oft, all night, purfu'd her in my dreams,
• O'er flow'ry vallies and thro' cryftal ftreams ;
• And, waking, view'd with grief the rifing fun, f And fondly mourn'd the dear deluiion gone ?'
When thus the gathcr'd ftorms of wretdied love. In my fwoll'n bofom with long war had ftrove. At length they broke their bounds; at length their force Bore down whatever met it's ftronger courfe : jLaid all the civil bonds of manhood wafle. And fcatter'd ruin as the torrent pafs'd. So from the hills, whofe hollow caves contain J
The congregated fnow and fwelling rain, ?
Till the full ftores their ancient bounds difdain, f
Precipitate the furious torrent flows : In vain would fpeed avoid or ftrength oppofe ; Towns, forefts, herds, and men, promifcuous drown'd; 1 With one great death deform the dreary ground ; r
The echo'd woes from diftant rocks refound. t
And now what impious ways my wiflies took. How they the monarch and the man forfook ; And how I followed an abandon'd will. Thro' crookcVl paths and fad retreats of ill ; How Judah's daughters jnow, now foreign flaves. By turns my proftitutcd bed receives ; Thro' tribes of women how I loofely rang'd Impatient ; lik'd to-night, to-morrow chang'd ; And, by the infUndl of capricious luft, Enjoy'd, difdain'd, was grateful or unjull. • O, be thefe fcenes from human eyes conccal'd, ' In clouds of deceit t iilcixce juftly veird !
' O, be
frEAUTIES OF POETRYv ^
O^ be the wanton images donvey'd
To black oblivion and eternal ihade I
Or let their fad epitome alone>
And outward lines^ to future age be known |
* Enough to propagate the lure belief,
* That vice iengenUers ihame^ and folly broods o*er grief/ Bury'd in iloth^ atid loft in eafe^ I lay;
The night I revelPd, and I ilept the day. New heaps of fuel damp'd my kindling fircs^ And daily change extiuguifli'd young defircs. By it*s own force deftroy'd, fruition ceas'd i And always weary'd, I was never pleasM. No longer, now* does my liegledled mind It's wonted ilores and old ideas find : Fix'd Judgment there no longer does abidei To take the true, or fet thei falfe afide. No longer does fwifc Mem'ry trace the cells> Where fpringing Wit or young Invention dwells i
Frequent debauch to habitude prevails |
Patience of toil and love of virtue fails.
By fad degrees impaired, my vigour dies>
Till I command no longer, e'en in vice^
The women on my dotage build their fway t
They aflfe, I grant ; they threaten, I obey*
In regal garments now I gravely flride,
Aw'd by the Perfian damfels' haughty pride |
Now with the loofer Syrian dance and iing#
In robes tuck'd up, opprobrious to the king. Charm'd by their eyes, their manners I acquire.
And (hape my foolilhnefs to their defire ;
Seduc'd and aw'd by the Philiftine dame.
At D agon's (hrine I kindle impious flame*
With the Chaldean's charms her rites prcvafl^
And curling frankincenfe afcends to Baal.
To each new harlot I new altars drefs.
And ferve her god whofe perfon I cart&
O Wtcre,
io6 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
Where, my deluded Senfe, was Reafon flown f Where the high majefty of David's throne ? Where all the maxims of eternal truth. With which the living God inform'd my youth ; When with the lewd Egyptian I adore Vain idols, deities that ne'er before In Ifrael's land had fix'd their dire abodes, Beaflly divinities, and droves of gods : Oiiris, Apis, pow'rs that chew the cud ; And dog Anubis, flatt'rcr for his food ? When in the woody hills' forbidden (hade . I carv'd the marble, and invok'd it's aid ? When in the fens to fnakes and flies, with zeal Unworthy human thought, I proflrate fell ; To fhrubs and plants my vile devotion paid. And fet the bearded leek to which I pray'd ? When to all beings facred rites were giv'n. Forgot the Arbiter of earth and heav'n ?
Thro' thefe fad fhades, this chaos in my foul. Some feeds of light at length began to roil : The riiing motion of an infant ray Shot glimm'ring thro' the cloud, and promis'd day. And now, one moment able to refiedt, I found the king abandon'd to negled. Seen without awe, and ferv'd without refped. I found my fubjeds amicably join To leflTen their defeds by citing mine. The prieft with pity pray'd for David^s race. And left his text to dwell on my difgrace. The father, whilft he warn'd his erring fon> The fad examples which he ought to (liun Defcrib'd, and only nam'd not Solomon. Each bard, each fire» did to his pupil fing, • A wife child better than a foolifti king 1'
Into myfelf my reaibn's eye I turn'd. And as I much reflected, much I mourn'd.
1
• A mighty
BEAUTIES OF POETRY, 107
A mighty king I am^ an earthly god ;
T^Jations obey my word, and wait my nod :
I raife or fink, imprifon or iet free ;
-/\nd life or death depends on my decree.
Pond the idea, and the thought is vain ;
O'er Judah's king ten thoafaiid tyrants reign :
Xegions of lull, and various pow'rs of ill,
-Infult the matter's tributary will ;
^nd he from whom the nations (hould receive Joftice and freedom, lies himfelf a flave ; Tortur'd by cruel change of wild defires, Xafh'd by mad rage, and fcorch'd by brutal fires.
* O Reafon ! once again to thee I call ; Accept my forrow, and retrieve my fall.
Wifdom, thou fay'ft, from Heav'n receiv*d her birth.
Her beams tranfmitted to the fubjeft earth : ^ Yet this great emprefs of the human foul ' Does only with imagined pow'r controul ; ■ If reliefs paffion, by rebellious fway,
* Compels the weak ufurper to obey.
' O troubled, weak^ and coward, as thou art !
• Without thy poor advice the laboring heart
* To worfe extremes with fwifter fleps would run ;
• Not fav'd by virtue, yet by vice undone !
• Oft have I faid, ** the praife of doing well " Is to the ear as ointment to the fmell.
•' Now if (bme flies perchance, however fmall,
** Into the alabafter urn (hould fall ;
" The odours of the fweets inclosed would die,
'* And ftench corrupt (fad change !) their place fupply :
'* So the leaft faults, if mix'd with faireft deed,
" Of future ill become the fatal feed ;
" Into the balm of purell virtue call,
" Annoy all life with one contagious blaft."
* Loft Solomon ! purfuc this thought no more ; * Of thy paft errors recoiled the ftore ;
O 2 * And
s
108 BEAUTIES OF POETRY,
* And filent weep— that while the deathlefs Mufe < Shall iing the juft^ (hall o*er their head diiFuib
^ Perfames with laviih hand, (he fhall proclaim
* Thy crimes alone ; and to thy evil fame
^ Impartial, fcatter damps and poifons on thy name/
Awaking therefore, as who long had dream'd.
Much of my wojnen and their gods afham'd*
From this abyfs of exemplary vice
KefolvM, as time might aid my thought, to rifoj
Again I bid the mournful goddefs write
The fond purfuit of fugitive delight ;
Bid her exalt her melancholy wing ;
And, rais'd from earth, and fav'4 from ps^on, fing
Of human hope by crofs event deftroy'd.
Of ufelefs wealth, and greatnefs unenjoy'd ;
Of lufl and love, with their fantailick train,
f heir wifhes, fmiles, and looks — deceitful all and y^.
BOOK m,
POWER. 'I>HS ARGUMENT.
Solomon confiders man through the fcvcral ftages and conditions of life, an<i concludes, in general, that we are all miferable. ' He refleds more particu- larly, upon the trouble and uncertainty of greati^efs and power ; gives fome inftances thereof from Adam down to himfelf j and ftill concludes that ALL ^8 VANITY. Hc rcafons again upon life, death, and a future being j finds human wifdani too imperfeft to refolve his doubts ; has recourfc to religion j is informed by an angd what fliall happpn to himfelf, his family, and his kingdom, tillthe redemption of Ifrael : and, upon the whole, rc- folvcs to fubmit his inquiries and anxieties to the will of his Creator.
^ 00 ME, then, my foul ! I call thee by that name;
' Thou bufy thing, from whence I know I am : ' For knowing that I am, I know thou art ; f SJacc jh^t m^ft needs exift, which can impart !
f But:
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. i^^
' iiit how thou cam'il to be, or whence thy fpriag? ' For various of thee priefts and poets fing.
* Hear'ft thou, fubmilTive, but a lowly birth, ' Some feparate particles of finer earth ;
' A plain efFeft which Nature mull beget, ' As motion orders, and as atoms meet ; ' Companion of the body's good or ill, ' From force of inftinft more than choice of will ; ConfcioDS of fear or valour, joy or pain. As the wild courfes of the blood ordain : Who as degrees of heat and cold prevail. In you^h dofl flouriih, and with age ihalt fail $ ^ Till mingled .with thy partner's latell breath, ^ Tho^ fly'ft difFolv'd in air and loll in death ?
* Or if thy great exillence would aipire ^ To caufes more fublime, of heav'nly fire f
^ Wer't thou a fjpark ftruck off, a fep'rate ray, "* Ordain'd to njingle wifh terJ-ellrial clay ; ' With it condem'd for certain years to dwell, ^ To grieve it's frailties, and it's pains to feel ;
* To teach it good and ill, difgrace or fame, ' Pale it with rage, or redden it with ihame ;
* To guide it's anions with informing care,
* In peace to judge, to conquer in the war ;
* Render it agile, witty, valiant, fage,
^ As fits the various courfe of human age ; ' Till as the earthly part decays and falls,
* The captive breaks her prifon's mould'ring walls^
* Hovers a while upon the fad remains,
^ Which now the pile or fepulchre contains, f And thence with liberty unbounded flies, f Impatient to regain her native ikies ?
* Whate'er thou art, where'er ordain'd to go,
* (Points which we rather may difpute than know) ' Come on, thqu little inmate of this breafl ;
^ Which, for thy fake, from paflions I diyefl:
? For
no BEAUTIES OF POETTRY.
' For ihcfc, thou fay'il, raife all the llormy ftrife
' Which hinder thy repofe, and trouble life !
* Be the fair level of thy aftions laid,
* As temp'rance wills, and prudence may perfuade j ' Be thy afTe^ions undiftnrb'd and clear,
* Guided to what may great or good appear,
* And try if life be worth the liver's care. ' Amaf:>*d in man there juftly is beheld
* What thro' the whole creation has excell'd ;
* The life and growth of plants, of beads the fenfe,
* The angels forccaft and intelligence :
' Say, from thrfe glorious feeds what harveft flows ;
' Recount our bleffings, and compare our woes ?
f In it's true light let cleareft Reafon fee
* The man dragg'd out to aft, and forc'd to be ;
* Helplefs and naked, on a woman's knees
* To be expos'd or rear'd as (he may pleafe,
* Feel her negleft, and pine from her dif^afe :
* His tender eye by too direft a ray
- ' Wounded, and flying from unpradlis'd day ;
* His heart aflaulted by invading air,
' And beating fervent to the vital war j
* To his young fenfe how various forms appear,
* That ftrike his wonder and excite his fear :
* By his diftortions he reveals his pains ;
' He by his tears and by his fighs complains ;
* Till time and ufe affift the infant wretch,
^ By broken words and rudiments of fpeech,
' His wants in plainer chara£lers to fliow, 'And paint more perfefl figures of his woe i
' Condemn'd to facrifice his childilh years
f To babbling ign 'ranee and to empty fears ;
' To pafs the riper period of his age,
^ A6ling his part upon a crouded ftage ;
^ To lalling toils expos'd, and endlefs cares,
f To open dangers, and to fecret fnarcs ; '*
To
BEAUTIES OP POETRY. in
To malice which the vengeful foe intends.
And the more dang'roas love of feeming friends. ' His deeds examined by the people's will.
Prone to forget the good, and blame the ill ; ' Or, fadly cenfnr'd in their curs'd debate, ' Who in the fcorner's or the judge's feat ^ Dare to condemn the virtue which they hate. ^ Or would he rather leave this frantick fcene, ' And trees and beafls prefer to courts and men; ^ In the remoteft wood and lonely grot ^ Certain to meet that worll of evils. Thought ; ^ Different ideas to his mem'ry brought — ^ Some intricate, as are the pathlefs woods, ^ Impetuous fome, as the defcending floods ; ' With anxious doubts, with raging paffions torn.
No fweet companion near with whom to mourn, ^ He hears the echoing rock return his fighs, ^ And from himfelf the frighted hermit flies.
* Thus, thro* what path foe'er of life we rove, ^ Rage companies our hate, and grief our love ; ' Vex'd with the prefent moment's heavy gloom, ^ Why feek we brightnefs from the years to come ? ' Diflnrb'd tnd broken, like a fick man's fleep, 'Our troubled thoughts to diflant profpeds leap,
* Deiirous ftillwliat flies us to overtake ; « For hope is but the dream of thofe that wake :
* But, looking back, we fee the dreadful train
* Of woes a-new, which, were we to fuflain, ' We fliould refufe to tread the path again ;
* Still adding grief, ftill counting from the firft, ' Judging the lateft evil ilill the worft,
* And fadly finding eaoh progreflive hour
* Heighten tjieir number and augment their pow'r ;
* Till by one countlefs fum of woes opprefs'd,
* Hoary witlf cares, and ignorant of reft,
* We
112 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
• We find the vital fprings relax'd and worn,
• Compell'd our common impotence to mourn«
• Thus thro' the round of age to childhood we retufn }
• Refleding find, that naked from the womb
• We yefterday came forth ; that in the tomb
• Naked again we muft to-morrow lie,
• Born to lament, to labour, and to die-
* Pafs we the ills which each man feels or dreads^
• The weight or fall'n or hanging o'er our heads ;
• The bear, the lion, terrors of the plain,
• The fhecpfold fcatter'd, and the fhephcrd flain 5
• The frequent errors of the pathlefs wood,
• The giddy precipice, and the dang'rous flood }
• The noifome peft'lence, that in open war
• Terrible, marches thro' the mid -« day air,
• And fcatters death ; the arrow that, by nighty
• Cuts the dank mift, and fatal wings it's flight;
• The billowing fnow, and violence of the fnower,
• That from the hills difperfe their dreadful ftore,
• And o'er the vales colledied ruin pour ;
• The worm that gnaws the ripening fruit, fad gueft;
• Canker or locuft, hurtful to infeft
• The blade ; while hufks elude the tiller's care,
• And eminence of want diftinguifhes the year.
* Pafs we the flow difeafe, and fubtle pain,
' Which our weak frame is deftin'd to fuftain ; 'The cruel ftone, with congregated war
• Tearing his bloody way ; the cold catarrh,
• With frequent impulfe and continu'd ftrife,
• Weak'ning the wafted feats of irkfome life ;
• The gout's fierce rack, the burning fever's rage, ' The fad experience of decay ; and Age,
« Herfelf the foreft ill ; while Death and Eafe,' ' Oft and in vain invok'd, or to appeafe
• Or end the grief, with hafty wings recede
• From the vex'd patient and the fickly bed.
* Nouj
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 113
^ Nought ihall it profit that the charming hlr^ ^ Angelickj fofteH work of Heav'n, draws near
* To the cold (baking, paralytick handj
* Senfelefsof Beaaty*s- touch, or Love's command;
* Nor longer apt or able to fulfil
* The diaates of it's feeble mafter's wilL
' Nought ihall the pfaltry and the harp avail, "• The pleafing fong, or well-repeated tale, ^ When the quick fpirits their warm march forbear,
* And numbing coldnefs has unbrac'd the ear.
* The verdant riling of the flow'ry hill,
* The vale enamell'd, and the ckryftal rill,
* The ocean rolling, and the ihelly ihorc,
* Beautiful obje6b ! ihall delight no more;
* When the lax'd fiaews of tfce ^eaken'd cye> ' In wat'ry damps or dim fnfiFuiton lie.
^ I>ay follows night ; the clouds return agdn> ' After the falling of the latter rain ;
* But to the agtd blind ihall ne'er rtlum
' Grateful vidifitnde : he ilill muft mourn ' The fua, and moon, and ev'ry ftarry light,
* Eclips'd to him, and loft in everlailing night*
* Behold where Age's wretched vi6tim lies !
' See his head trembling, and his half-clos'd eyes ! .
* #il||Qeat for breath his panting bofom heaves ; ■* To broken ileep his remnant fenfe he gives,
* And only by his pains, awaking, finds he lives* ' Loos'd by devouring Time, the filver cord
' DiiTever'd lies ; unhonour'd from the board, ' The chryilal urn, when broken, is thrown by,
* And apter utenfils their place fupply. ^ ' Thefe Aillgs and thou muft fhare one equal lot ; ' Die, and be lofl; corrupt, and be forgot : ' While ilill another, and another race, ' Shall now fupply, and now give up the place.
P - Fro:
1
114 BBAUTIES OF POETRY.
' From eartk all came, Co earth miiil all retono^
* Frail as the cord, and brittle as the am.
' But be the terror of thefe ills fupprcfs'ci, ' And view we man with health and tigotrr blefs'd. ' Ho;ne he returns with the declining futt,
* His deftin'd taik of* labOtfr K^fdly doAe ;
* Goes forth sigain Witfc th^ afcending ray,
* Again his travail for his bread to pay,
* And find the ill-ftiffioient to the day.
* Haply at night he does witfc horror ihun
* A widow'd daughter, ot a dyi«^ f^n J
* His neighbour's offspring lie to-morrow (ees>
* And doubly feels his want m thdr increafe :
< The next day, aifd the nesft, he mM attend
* His foe triumj^stnt. Or his li^nMed friends
* In €v'ry aft and turn of life he feels ' Publick calamities or honfhold iHs :
* The due reward to juft defert refuald;
* The truft betrayM, tll^ nuptial bed abus^df^ «
* The judge corrupt, the long-depending caafe^
« And doubtful ifTue of mif-conftru'd laws f'- .m
* The crafty turns of a diftionell ftate,
* And violent v^ill 6f the Wrong-doing great ;
* The venom'd tongue injurious to his faiiie,
* Which nor cafl Wifdom Ihun, nor fair advice i^laint* ' Efteem we thfefe, my friends, event and chance,
* Produc'd a^ atofns form their fluttering dance ?
* Or higher yet their effence may we draw
* Fr(^'deftin*d order and eternal law ?
* Again, ray Mufe, the cruel doubt repfcat ?
* Spring they, I fay, from accident or Fate ?
< Yet fuch we find they are, as can conth)ul *^*
* The fervile adions of our wavering foal ;
* Can fright, can alter, or can ch£ri the will ;
< Their ills all built on life^ that fiihdaiheAtal ill.
\
6 fatal
I
BEAUTIES OF POETRY- 115
« O fatal fcipjGh4 in which t;he l^b'ring mind, ^ Still prefsM with weight of woe, ftill hope$ jto fiod " A fliadow of delight, a dream of peace,
* From years of pain one momeut of relcafc:
* Hoping, at leaft, (he ma^ herfelf deceive 1
* Againfl experience willing to believe; ' Defirous to rejoice, (;on4eaui'd to grieve.
' Happy the mortal man, )vho nowj at laA,
* Has thro* this doleful valcof mis'ry pafs'd;
* Who to his dcftin'd ftage has carry 'd on
' The tedious load, aiid laid his burden down ;
* Whom the cut br^fi^ or ij^unded marble, ihows
* Viftor o'er jLife. ^Oid all her train of woes :
* He happier yet, who, iprivileg'd by Fate, ' To fhortcr labo|l and fi, lighter weight,
* Recciy'd but ycftcrday the gift of breath,
* Ordered to*morrow to return to death,
* But, O ! beyond dcfcription, happieft he
* Who ne'er muft roll^ UIjr's tumultuovis Tea ;
* Who, with blefs'd freedom, frooitthe gen'ral doom ^ ' £xeii\pt, muft never force the teeming womb, * C ' Norifle tJMlfon, Jior fmk into the tomb. t J
* Who breathes mufl fufFer, and who thinks muft mourn ;
* And he alone is blefs'd who ne'er was bo*n.' »
* Yet, in thy turn, thou frowning Preacher, hear ;
* Are not thefe general maxims too feverei
* Say, cai^not Pow'r fecure it's owner'^ blifs ? ^
* And is no.t Wealth the potent fire of Peace ? J.
* Arc viftors blefs'd with fame, or kings with.eafci' J
* I tell thee, life isrbut one common care,
* And man was born to fufFer and to fear.'
* But is no rank, i^p flation,-no degree,
' From this contagipus taint of forrow frtcV ' None, mortal ! none ! yet in a bolder Urain,
* Let me this i^ela^qhply -truth maintain,
,P 2 • ' * But
Ii6 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
* But hence, ye worldly, and prophane, retire j ' For I adapt my voice, and raifc my lyre ' To notions not by vulgar ear received—
* Ye ftill mufi covet life and be deceived ; ^ ' Your very fear of death (hall make ye try « To catch the fliade of immortality, - ^
* Wifliing on earth to linger, and to fave **
* Part of it's prey from the devouring grave ; ' ' To thofe who may furvive you to bequeath ' Something entire, in fpite of Time and Death ;
* A fimcy'd kind of being to retrieve,
^ And in a book, or from a buij^ing. Jive.
' Falfe hope ! vain labour ! let fome age| fly ;
' The dome (hall moulder, and the volume die.
« Wretches, ftill Uught, ftill will ye thiiMc it ftrange,
* That all the parts of this great fabrick chai^ge, /■ ^ Quit their old ftation and primiKval frame,
* And bfc their fhape, their eflcnce, and their name ?
* Reduce the fong ; our hop«, oi^ joys are vain ; * ' Our lot is forrow, an4 our portion pain.
* What paufe from woe, what hopes of comfort bring ' Tht name of wife or great, of judge or kTtfjff '♦
' What is a king? — a man condemned to bear
* The publick burden of the nation's care : I
* Now crown'd, fome angry fadion to appeafe; •
* Now falls a vi^Um to the people's eafe.
* From the firft blooming of his ill-taught youth,
* Nourifli'd in flatt'ry, and eftrang'd from truth j ' • At home furrounded by a fervile crowd,
* Prompt to abufe, and in detraftion loud;
* Abroad begirt with men, and fwords, and fpears ;
* His very ftate acknowledging his fear« }
' Marching amidft a thoufand guards, he fliows
* His fecret terror of a thoufand foes ;
, • In war, however prudent, great, or brave, ^ To blind events and fickfe chance a flavc ;
-, < Seeking
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. ,117
* Seeking to fettle what for ever flies,
* Sure of the toil, uncertain of the prize.
* But he retiHjj^ with conqueH on his brow; ' Brings tfraie mumph, and abfolves the vow : ' The captive generals to his car are ty'd; ' The jjl^funRtizens' tumultuous tide.
\
* Echttng his glory, gratify his pride. FWHk is this triumph! madnefs, fhouts, and noife; ' One great colleftion of the people's voice.
* The wretches he brings^ack, in chains relate ^ ' * What may to-morrow be the viftor's fate : '
* The fpoils and trophies, borne before him, fhew ^
* National lofs, and cpidemick woe ; ' /^ . t
* Various diftrefs, which he and his may knoi^ 3 ' Does he not mourn the valiant thoufands fl»^;^
* The heftes, once the glory of t^plain^ - ' Left in the conflift of the fltal day,
* Or the wolPs portion, or the vulture's prey ?
* Docs he not weep the laurel which he wea|^
* Wet with the foldiers blood and widbws tears!
* See, where he comes, the darling of the war !
* See millions crouding round the gilded car ! ' In the vafl joys of this extatick hour,
* ^d full fruition of fuccefsful pow'r, - ^
' One moment and one thought might let him uran ' The various tarns of life, and fickle ftate of man, ' Are the dire images of fad diftruft, ' And popular change, obfcur'd amid the duft * ' That rifes from thft vidlor's rapid wheel?
* Can the loud clarion or flirill fife repel
* The inward cries of Care ? can Nature's voice,
* Plaintive, be drown'd, or leffen'd in the noife; ' Tho' fhouts, as thunder loud, afflift the air,
' Stun the birds, now released, and Ihake. the iv'ry chair?
* Yon crowd, (he might refled) yon joyful crowd, $ ' Pleas'd with my honours, in my prsdfes loud,
% • (Should
Il8 BEAUTIES OF POETRY.
• (Should fleeting ViA'ry to tlie vanquilh'd go, ' Sho4d ihe deprefs my arms, and raife the foe) ' Woim for that foe with equal ardour wjk
• At the high palace or the crouded gatc^ 0^
• With relllefs rage would pull my ftatucs down,
^ And cafl the brafs anew to his renown. t^ ^ ' O impotent defire of worldly fway ! ** ^
• That I, who make the triumph of to-day, W
• May of to-morrow's pomp one part appear, ~ f • Ghaflly with wounds, and lifelds on the bier ?
• Then, (Tilenefs of mankind !) th«ltof all thcfe
• Whom my dihted eye with labour fees,
. / Woi||d one, alas ! repeat me good or great,
• Wa(h my j^Be bodf , or bewul my fate ?
' Or, majjchV I chain'd behind the hoftile car, .
' The viflor's p|^ime, a|^ the fport of ^var, *
• Would one, would one his |fcying forrow lend,
• Or be fo poor, to own he was my wien^l ?
' Avails it lj|»), O Reafon, to be wife ? ^
• To fee thil.cruel ioBJIie with quicker eyes ?
• To know witlv^ore diftindtion to complain,
• And have fuperior fenfe in feeling pain ?
* Let us revolve, that rolli^dth /Iridl^fteye
• Where fafi^rom Time diftingu9h'd a6lions lie;
• And judge if grpatnefs be exempt from pain,
• Or pleafure e^er may with pow'r remain.
* Adam, great type, for whom the world was made,
• The f^efl blefling to his arms cpnvey'd,
- ' A charming wife ! and air, and fea, Ind land,
• And all that move therein, to his command / Render'd obedient : fay, my peniive Mufe,
• What did thcfe golden promifes produce ?
' Scarce tafting life, he was of ,Jpy bereav'd ;
• One day, I thinly in Paradife he liv*d, ' Deftin'd the next his journey to purfue,
- * Where wounding thorns and curfed thiftles grew.
BEAUTIES OF POETRY. 119
' £re yet he earte Kfs hrtt.6y a-dowB his brow, ^
' Inclin'd to earthy kis lah^itng ^eat muft flow ; M ' Kis limbs fivft Wie, with daily Coils opprdpkl;^ "
' Ere long-wifh'd night brings neceffary reft : V ' Still viewing^ith regret his darling Eve,
£[e fdr Bor follies and his own m^ft grieve. itfiw^bg ft^l afirefli their haplefs choice, His edkofLfrighted with the imag'd voice Of Heav'n,' wien firft it thander'd ; oft hit view -Afhtffty afr nh6n the infant lightning flew, ^ |^
J^nd the fterU cherftb ftojpp'd the fatal road, ^ Arm'd with the flsimes of art ftvenging God. *
His younger fon 6n the |)oU»ted g*>vmd, Firft-fruit of deathti lies plamtive of JwovitiA '■ Giv'n b]ii a^ brother's hand ; his eldeft birth '.^ Flics, mark'd by Heav'n, |^#Bgifi>e o'er iarth : Yet why th«f0 fbnows 4>eap'd npon the fire, Cecomes nor man noi' afigel to enquire.
* Each age linn'd on, and guilt advanc'd ♦ith time ; ^ The fon ftill added to the father's crime :
*^ Till God arofe ; and, great in anger, faid,
^* Lo ! it repenteth me that nian was made.
** Withdraw thy light, thou fun 1 be dark, ye ikies!
*' And, from your defip abyfs, ye waters, rife !^
* The frighted angels heard th* Almighty Lord,
* And o'er the earth, from wrathful viols, pour'd ^ Tempefts anfl iormn, obedient