CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 WORDSWORTH COLLECTION 
 

 Yide SIM MAIL C OILM g: AIL LA. p.a-s . 
 
 LondoTi,PubUs}yi July 74^7fi^,b^y G.G^J.Bobuuon,Paternostefn 
 

 POEMS, 
 
 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 
 
 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 
 SIR MALCOLM AND ALLA/ 
 
 
 A TALE, 
 
 
 
 Shewing to all the world 
 
 
 
 What woman's love can do. 
 
 
 
 WAR A FRAGMENT. 
 
 
 
 WITH 
 
 
 
 A MONODY 
 
 
 
 TO 
 
 
 
 JOHN HENDERSON ; 
 
 
 
 A ND A 
 
 
 
 SKETCH OF HIS CHARACTER. 
 
 
 
 /^^ J^^^^-^c V^-#^,... 
 
 
 
 BRISTOL : 
 
 
 
 PRINTED BY BULGIN AND ROSSER 
 
 
 
 For J. Co rx i.e. Bookseller, High-street, 
 
 
 And G 
 
 G. and I. Robinsons , Pater-noster-Row, 
 
 MDCCXCV. 
 
 [Entered at Stationers' Hall,] 
 
 London, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A 
 
 CONVICTION that a detailed ac- 
 count of one murder, occurring either on the 
 high-road, or on the field of battle, more 
 intereJls the heart, and leaves on it a longer 
 impreffion, than the general account of 
 flaughtered thoufands ; occafioned the Au- 
 thor to Introduce the Tale of Orlando 
 and Henry in War a Fk.agment; and 
 while the reader fighs over individual de- 
 ftruftion, he fhould remember that War is 
 but another name for deftruftion in the 
 vail : in every conteft thoufands of fucli 
 A inftances 
 
inftances as Henry occur ; fons torn from 
 their parents, and fathers from their fa- 
 milies, from the tranquil cot and peaceful 
 dwelling, doomed to traverfe flormy feas 
 and defert regions, conflifting with diffi- 
 culties and dangers, not to benefit, but 
 devour mankind ; probably without know- 
 mg the caufe of the diffention, in fupport 
 of which they hazard their exiftence. 
 
 This fmall volume is prefented to the 
 Public, not from a fond perfuafion of its 
 merit, but from a belief, that it is the duty of 
 every man to raife his feeble voice in fup- 
 port of finking humanity, and not to be 
 content with thanking God, that he feels 
 indignant at the enormities of war, without 
 labouring to infpire the fame abhorrence in 
 the breafts of others. 
 
 It 
 
( i" } 
 
 It is this motive which induced the author 
 to venture his puny bark upon the ocean 
 of Criticifm, whofe inhofpitable waves are 
 flrewed with nobler wrecks and bolder ma- 
 riners : this urged him for a moment to 
 leave the fequeftered vale of Life, where he 
 has been permitted to wander unmolefted ; 
 and where, from afluming little, he has be- 
 come the rival of none. May the fame caufe 
 continue to produce the fame effeft ! 
 
 To War a Fragment are prefixed two 
 other pieces. The imaginary tale of Sir 
 Malcolm and Alia was firfl attempted 
 in the language of the fifteenth century ; 
 but the author, not fucceeding to the 
 extent of his wifhes in the peculiarities 
 of its ftile, gave it its prefent form, by ex- 
 punging the orthography and moil obfolete 
 expreflions, though unwilling entirely to 
 deprive it of the ancient charafter, it origi- 
 nally poffefled. 
 
 A 2 It 
 
( iv ) 
 
 It may be deemed rather Ilrange, that one 
 who has reprobated war, its authors, and 
 inftruments, fhould ftill, in one part of his 
 volume, chufe a warrior for the hero of his 
 piece : in order to combat this charge, 
 the author hopes, that the fentiments ex- 
 prefled by his hero will mark him different 
 from the generality of heroes, and that no 
 opportunity has been omitted of introducing 
 juft and ufeful reflections ; yet, indepen- 
 dently of thefe palliatives, he acknowledges 
 Sir Malcolm to have been written prior to the 
 eftablifhment in his mind of thofe principles 
 which diftated War a Fragment, and 
 which would now prevent him from aflb- 
 ciating with the military charaGter thofe 
 amiable qualities, which from their affinity 
 with the virtuous heart, might tempt it in the 
 ardor of admiration almofl to forget the pro- 
 feflion, from which they unnaturally emanate. 
 
 It 
 
( V ) 
 
 It has been the author's endeavour, in 
 the War Piece, to give a faint image 
 of that word: of fcourges ; which has 
 too frequently defolated the world, con- 
 verted the feats of comfort into the haunts 
 of defpair, and fcattered wretchednefs and 
 murder over the faireft portions of the 
 earth. It is not his intention to invefti- 
 gate the fancied benefits or concomitant 
 evils of war in their pofTible extents, but to 
 enquire if the benevolent mind can contem- 
 plate its horrors, without afking, with the 
 energy of honeft indignation, " wherefore 
 are all thefe things ?" Are men naturally fo 
 fond of fliedding the blood of their fellow 
 creatures, as to feek for pretences of fo 
 doing, at the hazard of their lives ? or does 
 it not proceed from the prevalence of that 
 barbarifm and ignorance, which, by con- 
 tra£ling the boundaries of humanity, pre- 
 A 3 vent 
 
( vi ) 
 
 vent man from extending his arms to the 
 inhabitants of either pole, and embracing all 
 mankind as friends and brethren ? Where 
 is the nation that was ever benefited by war ? 
 Ruin marks its progrefs ; and the viflories 
 that have been blazoned through the world, 
 from their attendant calamities, even to the 
 viftorious, have deferved no other title than 
 fplendid defeats. 
 
 The ages of chivalry are indeed to be re- 
 gretted ; for, noble were the aftions they 
 difplayed, when contrafted with the daf- 
 tardly conduft of after times ; the Poten- 
 tate of thofe days, in the fervour of re- 
 fentment, bravely challenged his offender 
 to a perfonal combat, and with the con.- 
 flifl; fubfided the indignation of the gene- 
 rous competitors ; but modern Princes, in- 
 heriting the titles of their anceflors, without 
 
 their 
 
( vii ) 
 
 their princely fpirits, fhrink from the barbed 
 dart, and clafhing fhield, and whilfl yawning 
 over their many-flavoured banquet, fend ob- 
 fequious fubjefls to fight their monarchs 
 battles, and to bleed, and die, in fupporting 
 their capricious refentments, or arrogated 
 authority. 
 
 If we trace the origin of thofe wars, which 
 defolated the earth in the zenith of Roman 
 refinement, or during the triumph of Gothic 
 barbarifm, we fhall find them generally to 
 have arifen from the haughty pride, or bound- 
 lefs ambition of a few individuals. Whether 
 it was confiftent with thofe laws, which 
 ought to regulate mankind, that one man 
 with his corrupt advifcrs fhould (port 
 with the lives and well being of a people, by 
 plunging them into wars, in which, frprn 
 fuccefs, they had nothing to hope, and from 
 A 4 failure 
 
( viii ) 
 
 failure, much to dread ; thofe ages had 
 not learnt to determine. 
 
 The peafantry of a country are unacquainted 
 with what is termed the political interefts of 
 different Hates, and from their occupations, 
 neceflarily imbibe fentiments of benevolence; 
 and yet, thefe are the inftruments in the hands 
 of tyranny for propagating war, and all its hor- 
 rid confequences. Such will ever be the cafe, 
 while the underftandings of men are level- 
 led with brutes ; while they are interdifted 
 by ignorance from eftimating the re£litude 
 oi their fuperior's aftions ; and while the 
 glare of artificial diftinftions appears to lef- 
 fen their importance in the fcale of fo- 
 ciety, and prompts them to believe, that, 
 like the Spaniel, they were formed, implicitly 
 to fubmit, and not to judge. 
 
 What 
 
( ix ) 
 
 What can be more repugnant to the fpirit 
 of humanity, than the contemplation of 
 thoufands of deluded fellow creatures, for 
 fome trifling reward, plighting themfelves 
 to obey one mafter, and that mailer a tyrant ; 
 following their Chief with fpears and fwords, 
 to obey his pleafure, and to execute his man- 
 date, by killing thofe, whofe only crime, 
 like their own, is that of fubmitting, to be 
 led like fheep to the flaughter ? 
 
 Why, ye peaceful inhabitants of the cot- 
 tage, do ye deftroy the happinefs oi your 
 fellow cottagers, and perpetuate your own 
 mifery ? Why do ye enlifl; under the ban- 
 ners of tyranny, and ftain your inftruments 
 of death with a brother's blood ? Know ye 
 not that all mankind are brethren ? the ofF- 
 fpring of one common Parent, who has 
 placed his children in this world in order to 
 
 prepare 
 
( X ) 
 
 prepare them for a better, by cherifhing 
 univerfal benevolence ? not by tyrannizing 
 over, and like wolves, worrying each other, 
 but by foftening the incidental afperities 
 of life, and by the interchange of kind 
 and beneficent attentions. Remember, that 
 with your proudeft Lord you are equal can- 
 didates for immortality ; barter not youx' 
 precious lives for a hard earned penny ; 
 join not the horde of' murderers, who are 
 paid for murdering thofe, whom they know 
 not, and whom, if they did know 
 might love. 
 
 It is pofTible, that the author's mind may 
 be fufceptible of higher indignation on the 
 fubjeft of War, from the circumflance of 
 his having been an eye witnefs, on the 
 Continent, of a part of thofe horrors which 
 ever attend it ; the feeing of which, con- 
 
 taminates 
 
( xi ) 
 
 taminates the mind ; and the very hear- 
 ing ot which, imperceptibly petrefies the 
 heart. 
 
 By whom is it that the moft inveterate 
 and deftruftive wars are encouraged ? By 
 Chriftians ? Nay, not Chriftlans ; the fpirit 
 of War is oppofite to that fpirit, which the 
 Divine Founder of our Religion came to 
 eftablifh : His doftrines are thofe of humility 
 and peace, not of pride and contention. The 
 author hopes not toincur the charge of incon- 
 fillency in the following obfervations, though 
 their tendency may be different from the 
 expeftation of the Reader. It appears to 
 him, that the objeft of our Saviour's miffion, 
 was not to extinguifn the proper gradations 
 of fociety, and fuddenly diffolve the obliga- 
 tions of the bond-man, but rather from a well 
 ordered adminiftration of affliftions and con- 
 
 folations. 
 
( xii ) 
 
 folations, to feparate his afFeftions from this 
 world, and to fix them on an incorruptible 
 inheritance. 
 
 Though he means not to defend, the juftly 
 exploded doftrines of non-refiftance, and 
 paflive obedience ; or affirm, that we are to 
 relax our efforts to attain the good that is 
 attainable, yet he is humbly perfuaded, that 
 amid the corruptions of Governments, and 
 the revolutions of States, the true Chriftian 
 will be diftinguiflied more by refignation 
 than turbulence, and will fubmit to the 
 ordinances of man, rather than violate the 
 precepts of God ; being infl:ru6ied not to 
 build his happlnefs upon any frail con- 
 ilitution, or his comfort upon any human 
 eftablifhment : he is told, that it is poffible, 
 in whatever fituation he may be placed, 
 therein to be content ; and that even the 
 
 aggravations 
 
( xlll ) 
 
 aggravations of a corrupt judge, or wicked 
 ruler, may become the means ot correfting 
 his underflanding, and of improving his 
 heart, by enlarging his apprehenfions, or 
 affording him opportunities for the exerclfe 
 ot thofe virtues which the purity of his Re- 
 ligion enjoins. The firftages of Chriftianity 
 were diflinguifhed for unprincipled impo- 
 fitions, and intolerant perfecutions, yet the 
 primitive Chriftians found their way through 
 them to a better Country ; though defpotifra 
 cxifted in its vileft forms while our Saviour 
 fojourned on earth, yet his anathemas were 
 direfted, not againll the errors of the Go- 
 vernment, but the vices of the Heart; not 
 that he palliated oppreflion, or juftified the 
 oppreffor, both of which he came finally to 
 extirpate ; but in the glance of divine pre- 
 fcience, and by appretiating the efficacy of 
 caufes to effefts, he faid unto bis difclples, 
 
 " Go 
 
( xiv ) 
 
 " Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 Gofpd unto every creature ;" well know- 
 ing, that with fuperior benefits, it contained 
 alfo the immortal feeds of Liberty, and the 
 undecaying ftamina of Peace. 
 
 In proportion only to the fpread of 
 Chriflianity will be the permanency of Peace ; 
 as it prefents the only principle, which can 
 efFeftually countera6l the influence of pride 
 and ambition, thofe prominent features in 
 the human charafter : a concurrence of 
 fortunate circumftances may tranfiently fup- 
 prefs that love of power, which intoxicates 
 the rulers of the world, tho' the fubtle fpirit 
 will be ever ready to efcape, and fcatter over 
 the earth its baneful influence : but whilft 
 we afcribe thefe foothing or fubduing pro- 
 perties to Chriflianity, we are not enjoined to 
 fupprefs our indignation of tyrants, or abhor- 
 rence 
 
( XV ) 
 
 fence of tyranny, yet, in declaiming on the 
 poifon, we fhould remember the antidote. 
 
 It is Chriftianity alone, which direfts man 
 to refign vengeance to his Maker ; which 
 infl;ru£ls him to return good for evil ; to 
 love his enemies, and to adminifter unto 
 their wants. The prevalence of this fpirit 
 would reconcile the contentions of men, 
 exterminate that felfifh principle, which is 
 the bane of public and private virtue, and 
 transform the inhabitants of the world into 
 beings of a nobler order. Chriftianity alone 
 is adequate to produce Peace on earth, and 
 Good-will amongft men ; its firft annuncia- 
 tion was accompanied with a promife of 
 thefe bleflings ; and though the powers of 
 darknefs combine to fruftrate, they fhall 
 finally be accompliftied. 
 
 It 
 
( xvi ) 
 
 It may not be amifs to inform the reader, 
 that War a Fragment was extra6led 
 from a didaftic Poem of fome extent on 
 Happiness. If the fpecimen given Ihould 
 be approved of, the remainder of the piece 
 will probably appear in a fecond edition. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
JOHN 
 
 THE 
 
 BAPTIST. 
 
JOHN 
 
 BAPTIST. 
 
 'ER Jordan's wave and wild Bethabara's plain, 
 Where rocks on rocks in clouded grandeur reign; 
 Dark-fhaded forefts fpread their empire wide, 
 And whiten'd torrents lave the mountain's fide ; 
 The Prophet John retir'd from mortal fight, c 
 
 To baik at large in Heaven's refulgent light : 
 
 B 2 
 
4 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 Arouftd his loins a leathern belt he wore^ 
 
 Of Camel's hair a fhaggy veftment bore ; 
 
 Amid the foliag'd gloom he pafs'd his time, 
 
 Or o'er the mountain crag eflay'd to climb, 19 
 
 No filken couch or ftoried roof he found ; 
 
 A flone his pillow, and his bed the ground ; 
 
 No note harmonious fwell'd the defert blaft, 
 
 No coftly changes lengthen'd his repafl ; 
 
 The God of Abraham tun'd his mental ear, 15 
 
 The God of Ifaac fent his locufhs near, 
 
 The God of Jacob calm'd the angry wind, 
 
 And the wild honey taught him where to find, 
 
 Pour'd on his foul the ray prophetic, giv'n 
 
 To point to man the dawning path to Heav'n, 2© 
 
 When fame had rais'd amid th' unletter'd throng 
 A wifh to hear the heaven-born Prophet's fong, 
 
JOHN THE baptist; 5 
 
 Borne o'er the fultry glebe and pathlefs wild. 
 The anxious parent and the wondering child. 
 
 Fill'd with celeftial zeal he wav'd his hand ; 
 
 ZK 
 
 O 
 
 And thus with folemn awe addrefs'd thelifl'ningband. 
 
 There fhandeth one amongfb you, yet unknown. 
 The Eternal's Son, and Partner of his throne ; 
 Before the world was fafhion'd into form, 
 And o'er the wat'ry chaos pafs'd the florm, 30 
 
 His fecret thought the ruthlefs winds obey, 
 He fpake and darknefs brighten'd into day, 
 Afpiring trees from fheril clods arife, 
 And Eden's richeft fragrance fills the fkies. 
 
 The heav'n- anointed Prophets oft have told, 35 
 What diflant, favour'd ages fhould unfold ; 
 . B 3 
 
6 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 This is that age, behold falvation nigh! 
 
 Let every heart rejoice, let every tear be dry. 
 
 Long have mankind in pagan bondage lain ; 
 
 Your race full long fuftain'd a ritual chain ; 40 
 
 Long has the Toul in darknefs pin'd away, 
 
 With here and there a folitary ray ; 
 
 But now the fun of righteoufnefs fhall rife, 
 
 And beams refulgent burft upon your eyes. 
 
 Your fathers faw with extacies untold, 4^ 
 
 The joyful day your eyes fhall foon behold, 
 By faith enrich'd, their opening views fublime, 
 With blooming years beyond the bound of time ; 
 But now no longer cherifli'd by a few. 
 Each thirfty fhrub fliall fip the heavenly dew, 50 
 From winter's ftorm-beat grave exulting rife ; 
 And with new verdure hail ferener fkies. 
 
JOHN THE BAPTIST. 7 
 
 Of whom I fpeakj foon fhall you fee him near. 
 No flaming God to rouze his creature's fear. 
 No potent Chief viftorious arms to guide, 55 
 
 Born to controul, and nurs'd in royal pride 1 
 But in the promis'd feed, with afpe£t mild. 
 Your eyes fhall greet the fpirit of a child. 
 
 'Tis not to grafp the laurels of the great 
 Your Saviour comes, to blaze in regal ftate, 60 
 
 Kingdoms invade, and conqueft's curfes fhower, 
 Nations to fcourge,or fruitful climes devour; 
 Peafants unwrong'd infpire with ardour dread, 
 To rob fome diftant peafants of their bread ; 
 But to condemn ambition's ruthlefs fway, Gj^ 
 
 To tell mankind no more on man to prey, 
 To teach humility, bid difcord ceafe, 
 And plant the feeds of univerfal peace, 
 B 4 
 
8 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 Thefe hands unworthy of fo great a charge, 
 Dare not prefume his latch et to enlarge ; 7'^ 
 
 From the pure bofom of his Father, fee ! 
 (Wonder oh Heavens ! thou Earth aftonilh'd be I) 
 Affuming mortal form, the Prince of Peace 
 Defcends to bid the powers of darknefs ceafe : 
 To fpeak his might my tongue would ftrivein vain, 75 
 To paint his worth exceeds an Angel's flrain, 
 Wide as created bounds his goodnefs proves, 
 Vafb as the range of thought his Spirit moves, 
 From him the Pleafures run their fmiling race. 
 And every joy which cheers creation's face. 80 
 
 Glance on the heavens above, the earth beneath. 
 See fportive life in forms ten thoufand breathe. 
 Amid the fun-beam's warmth what myriads fair. 
 Charm the mus'd ear, or wanton through the air : 
 
JOHN THE BAPTIST. 9 
 
 Say what untutor'd energy of thought, 85 
 
 This countlefs train of fhapes to being brought, 
 All form'd to ferve fome feparate end aright 
 Beyond the narrow verge of human fight. 
 
 Learn v/ith delight through heaven's ethereal fpace. 
 What fecret hand fupports the feather 'd race ; go 
 What feeling heart provides a full fupply, 
 And arms with piercing glance the vulture's eye : 
 That power firft bade the plumy tribes appear, 
 That God fupports them in their fhort career ; 
 From guiding comets round the orb of day, 95 
 
 From pointing ftorms their defolating way. 
 His ear regards the hungry raven's call, 
 His eye defcends to mark the fparrow fall ; 
 To grant the vegetating world his aid. 
 To guard from ambient ill each rifing blade, 100 
 
lO JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 Whofe flrains of filent eloquence proclaim 
 
 The power, which Angels vainly ftrive to name. 
 
 If nature's lower works your plaudit raife, 
 If finite objefts claim unbounded praife; 
 Exalt your wilder'd glance to feenes on high, 105 
 Where Heaven's fair offspring charms the wand 'ring eye. 
 See rolling worlds in ftated paths abide. 
 See countlefs fyftems round their centres glide, 
 Stars ever glorious blazing on their way, 
 Or dimly clad in fancy's doubtful ray, no 
 
 And thefe but atoms of that boundlefs whole, 
 Which ether fweeps beyond the vifual pole. 
 
 Know ye, ye liftening tribes, to what ye tend ? 
 Seek ye to know where life her race fharll end ? 
 Count ye the lingering moments long, that bind 1 15 
 To earth's low confines man's immortal mind ? 
 
JOHN THE BAPTIST. 14 
 
 This world unworthy you too highly rate, 
 A thorn-ftrew'd paflage to a better ftate ; 
 The joys which vibrate now your raptur'd brain, 
 Compar'd with joys eternal, are but pain. lao 
 
 Let not the veil of fenfe your profpeft hide, 
 Nor Satan's wiles from heaven your fteps divide ; 
 Ten thoufand mortal foes around you roam, 
 Ten thoufand reftlefs minds, who want a home, 
 An anchorage for their fouls, whofetongues areled 1 25 
 To blaft the narrow path, tlicy fcorn to tread ; 
 Ingenious trifles gain their thoughtlefs fmilc ; 
 The block. that fpeaks, the fhell that charms awhile, 
 The flirub that bloffoms, and the itrcam that winds, 
 The bird that twitters, and the gem that fliines ; 130 
 With glowing zeft their ravifli'd eyes explore, 
 But, the illumin'd fpirit pants for more : 
 
12 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 If only here, our fhort-liv'd fleps remain. 
 If endlefs fleep fucceed to years of pain, 
 Then will we feek our forrows to beguile, 135 
 
 And count the pafling moments with a fmile ; 
 But, if ere long from little more than night, 
 Our fpirits take their everlafting flight ; 
 Launch to fome blifsful hemifphere afar, 
 Beyond the full-orb 'd fun and twinkling ftar ; 140 
 Or dwell where nought enliv'ning cheers the foul, 
 Where howling winds and deaf 'ning thunders roll, 
 Where fick'ning mifls and groans unceafing rife, 
 Where hatred reigns, and hope for ever flies. 
 Indignant lightnings endlefs as their doom, 145 
 
 In quick fucceffion dart along the gloom ; 
 Ordain'dthe realms to taint with fulphurous breath: 
 And light the dying gafp of vanquilh'd Death : 
 
JOHH THE BAPTIST. I3 
 
 If, through Thee, Life ! this fatal verge we tread, 
 If fuch diftinftions hang upon thy thread ; 150 
 
 Far other thoughts immortal fouls fhould fway, 
 And deathlefs minds far nobler calls obey : 
 But thoughtlefs man, to weak deception prone, 
 Fancies all lives uncertain but his own, 
 Or ftill more wild, purfues delufion's tide, 255 
 
 Owns the great truth, yet calls the cares afide. 
 
 Oh ! all ye liftening tribes, who this to hearj 
 Have dar'd the Jordan wide and defert drear, 
 Think when a few revolving years are fled, 
 To death ordain' J, where each fhall lay his head ; 260 
 When the fcar'd fpirit hovering o'er the tomb. 
 On diftant fhores awaits her lading doom; 
 Forc'd on the venturous furge to launch alone. 
 The vain hope faded and the ftrong heart flown, 
 
14 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 The bleak winds Howling, and the bark untry'd, 165 
 
 The ocean ftormy, and the paffage wide ; 
 
 O'er the black wave the eye reluftant toils, 
 
 From the cold glance the fick'ning foul recoils : 
 
 But hear, ye tribes, the truth from heaven receiv'd, 
 
 To Abraham promis'd and with joy believ'd, 170 
 
 Your great Mefliah foon fhall be your guide. 
 
 And fafely bear you o'er this boifterous tide ; 
 
 Glory to God, th' angelic chorus fang. 
 
 Good will to man, the ethereal concave rang, 
 
 And whilfh the tidings vibrate on your ear, 175 
 
 The meek and lowly Jefus drav/eth near : 
 
 What though your Prince in humble ftate be born, 
 
 What though no crown the Saviour's head adorn ; 
 
 For fallen man he lays his fceptre by. 
 
 For your redemption leaves his native fky, 180 
 
JOHN THE BAPTIST. IJ 
 
 No more fliall Death the king of terrors reign, 
 And o'er creation cad his icy chain, 
 Defpair no longer heave the rending figh, 
 And hope revolting cloud th' expiring eye ; 
 But Faith defcending from the realms of light, 185 
 Difpel your fears, and aid your heaven-bound flight ; 
 Lead you through him, whofe miflion I proclaim, 
 From man's applaufe to feek eternal fame ; 
 To fhun the paflin^ trifles of a day, 
 To call from earth your wand'ring thoughts away, 1 90 
 To fee beyond the dreary vale of time, 
 A profpefl; opening cloudlefs and fublime. 
 Where mind fhall bloom, and thoughtunfhackl'd grow. 
 Where pain no more the new-born foul fhall know, 
 Where joys fubflantial, lading, and refin'd, 195 
 
 Shall feall the fenfes, and tranfport the mind. 
 
16 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 Beyond what eye hath feen or heart conceiv'd, 
 
 Prophet foretold or Patriarch believ'd : 
 
 Where God fhall cleanfe the heart, no more to figh 
 
 And wipe the final tear from every eye. 200 
 
 Soon fhall your black horizon gleam with day, 
 Nor death o'er nature caft a fickly ray, 
 Soon fhall your mental darknefs take, its flight, 
 And IMMORTALITY be brought to light. 
 
 But know, tho' all fhall fee the eternal ftate, 205 
 Far different fcenes will difi^erent fouls await ; 
 Many, who here have gone with honors crown'd, 
 Through life applauded, and in death renown'd. 
 Have gain'd the monarch's fmile, the vulgar gaze, 
 The ftatefman's honors, or the warrior's bays, 210 
 
JOHN THE BAPTIST. I7 
 
 Robb'd of their tinfel charms, and borrow'd light, 
 Shall then their fruits receive in endlefs night : 
 Yet hear with joy each heavy laden foul, 
 O'er whom affliftion's fwelling furges roll ; 
 Others opprefs'd, and poor, who here below, 215 
 Have drank their cup of bitternefs and woe ; 
 Whofe heads corroding cares have bent to earth, 
 And roam'd dejeftion's viftim from their birth ; 
 To death defcended by a gloomy way. 
 Have found beyond the grave eternal day. 220 
 
 If ye unting'd by prejudice receive 
 Your coming Saviour, and his words believe, 
 His precepts bind delighted to your heart, 
 And life refign before you bid them part, 
 
l8 JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 His meeknefs imitate, his patience fhare, 225 
 
 Love what he lov'd, and what he fuffer'd bear ; 
 
 Tho' anguifli finite your path, or wafting pain, 
 
 The poor man's lot be your's, the captive's chain ; 
 
 A better portion waits in yonder {kies, 
 
 A golden harveft in reverfion lies, 230 
 
s 
 
 iR MALCOLM 
 
 
 AND 
 
 
 ALL A, 
 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 
 Shewing to all the World, 
 
 
 What Woman's Love can do. 
 
 
 Cz 
 
Sir MALCOLM 
 
 AND 
 
 ALL A, 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 VV HERE Clyde tumultuous burfts his fource, 
 
 The theme of Scottifli long, 
 And near a mountain's craggy bafe. 
 Meandering rolls along ; 
 
 A venei-able Lord of Ayre, 
 
 With every virtue fraught, 
 To (hun the fenfelefs noife of life, 
 
 A tranquil refuge fought ; 
 C3 
 
12 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 His Caftle (landmark from afar,) 
 
 In matchlefs pride appear'd, 
 And plenty round his wide domain^ 
 
 Each vaffal's bofom cheer'd, 
 
 When wint'ry clouds the Iky conceal'd, 
 
 And fnow defcending faft, 
 Wav'd with the gently curling breezCj 
 
 Or hurry'd with the blaft; 
 
 To foothe the foul of penury, 
 
 He left his manfion warm 5 
 To cheer the peafant's ice-bound cot, 
 
 Withftood the ruthlefs ftorm, 
 
 Heard, when carefs'd by guardian eafe, 
 The poor man's cheerlefs figh, 
 
AND ALLA. ^3 
 
 And anfwer'd to the tender call, 
 Of God-like Chanty, 
 
 This goodly Lord a Daughter had, 
 
 Fairer than fummer's morn ; 
 And joy prevail'd the country round. 
 
 When Scotland's Pride was born; 
 
 Her Mother in the bloom of years, 
 
 Relentlefs death afTail'd, 
 And whilft her fuUen death-bell toll'd, 
 
 Refponfive fighs prevail'd : 
 
 For with each ftorm-beat child of woe. 
 
 Her bofom bore a part : 
 
 Each noble paffion had prepar'd 
 
 The future Angel's heart, 
 C4 
 
24 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 And when from earth's inferior foil, 
 
 Her ripen'd fpirit flew, 
 From Court to rear his infant charge. 
 The drooping Sire withdrew ; 
 
 Where, when revolving fancy roll'd, 
 O'er fleeping virtue's fhrine, 
 
 And earth unheeded fhrank to nought, 
 Before her form divine. 
 
 Defpair fat rankling at his heart. 
 
 Till Alia, peerlefs maid, 
 Subdu'd the agonizing Fiend, 
 
 And clear'd the mental fliade ; 
 
 For as the bud's unfolding leaf, 
 The future flower pourtrays, 
 
AND ALLA. a^ 
 
 So Alia rlfing into youth, 
 
 Her Mother's worth difplays. 
 
 The well-tun'd bagpipe ceas'd to play. 
 
 When AUa's fong arofe, 
 The breathing zephyr fofter blew. 
 
 Or melted to repofe ; 
 
 When with her nineteenth natal mom, 
 
 She grac'd the village green, 
 The warmth of each admiring eye, 
 
 Proclaimed her beauty's queen. 
 
 Full many a youth of high renown, 
 
 Attentive homage paid. 
 And fought by every art to gain, 
 
 This lovely blooming maid ; 
 
26 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 But one alone of all the throng, 
 
 Her envy'd fmile obtain'd, 
 Who vow'd full oft the love he bore, 
 
 Nor was his paffion feign'd : 
 
 Each virtue kindred to her own, 
 Sir Malcolm's heart poffefs'd, 
 
 The fire of heroes filL'd his eye, 
 The worth of faints his breaft t 
 
 A Chieftain of a veteran band, 
 Sir Malcolm long had been, 
 
 And one whofe valor brighter fhone, 
 Had Scotland never feen; 
 
 The fouthem warriors of the ifle, 
 Beheld his frown with dread. 
 
AND ALLA, 2/ 
 
 Rebellion ftarting at his fhade, 
 Conceal'd her haggard head : 
 
 Tho' rough where war the tafk requir'd, 
 
 To urge a Chief's controul, 
 Yet from the clang of arms afar. 
 
 He own'd a feeling foul, 
 
 Where all the fofter virtues bloom' d, 
 
 Unruffl'd and fedate, 
 Which fwell the triumphs of the brave, 
 
 And form the hero great ; 
 
 His well-ear n'd fame fair Alia priz'd, 
 
 And he her worth rever'd, 
 By mutual tendernefs improv'd, 
 
 In mutual friendfliip rear'd. 
 
28 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 The Sire perceiv'd his Daughter's choice, 
 
 Whilft joy infpir'd his breaft, 
 And thus, by fage experience taught. 
 
 Sir Malcolm brave addrefs'd: 
 
 " Your merit at an early age, 
 
 " Your generous Country fcann'd, 
 
 " And not confin'd to rule, but right, 
 «« Bade Malcolm guard the land ; 
 
 *' But Oh ! beware infatiate pride, 
 
 " Defpifc its tinfel glare, 
 " Behold it taint each heaven-born foul, 
 
 *' And poifon all that's fair ; 
 
 " Whilft meek humility adorns 
 « The Monarch or the Clown, 
 
29 
 
 AND ALLA. 
 " Shines in a foft celeftial garb, 
 *' Tho' fortune fmile or frown 
 
 " Pride is the fecret refllefs fource, 
 
 '• Whence all contentions rife, 
 " And the fierce Fiend, from whofe dread glare, 
 
 " Affrighted Virtue flies; 
 
 " Therefore, brave youth, if fpotlefs fame 
 
 " Thine ardent bofom warm, 
 "If zeal to gain a nation's praife, 
 
 " Thy ravifh'd fancy charm ; 
 
 " Let grovelling paffions rear'd on pride, 
 
 " No refuge find with thee, 
 " But honor, modefty, and truth, 
 
 " Thy lov'd companions be ; 
 
go SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " So Ihall thy foul's beft feeds expand, 
 
 " Thy latent virtues fhine, 
 " And fhe who mofb thy love deferves, 
 
 " Be blefs'd in being thine; 
 
 " To-morrow's dawn fhall join their hands, 
 " Whofe hearts have long been tied, 
 
 " To-morrow's dawn the Pride of day, 
 " Become Sir Malcolm's bride:" 
 
 And when the morn ferenely fair, 
 
 Unveil "d her blufhing face, 
 The raptured youth in Alla's form, 
 
 Beheld a chafher grace; 
 
 Whilfl gentle tumults heav'd her breaft, 
 Or fond emotions fir'd. 
 
AND ALLA. 31 
 
 Till on the fhrine of love divine. 
 The veftal flame expir'd. 
 
 The wedding of Sir Malcolm brave, 
 
 Had days been only twain, 
 When adverfe fortune call'd him forth, 
 
 To wield his fpear again ; 
 
 For as-thetwilight Queen arofe. 
 
 And beam'd her placid ray ; 
 Commanding by its torpid charm, 
 
 All mortal cares away ; 
 
 Swift as a dart by Malcolm hurl'd, 
 
 A meffenger did bring, 
 To Scotia's Bulwark of defence, 
 
 A mandate from the King, 
 
32 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 To call his bold Clans to the field; 
 
 For England's royal head, 
 Had fcourg'd the confines of the Tweedj 
 
 And onward daring fped. 
 
 When thus the Chief to Alia fpake, 
 Let firmnefs guard thine heart ; 
 
 To arms my monarch calls me hence, 
 I mourn, but mufl depart ! 
 
 Tho' when with battle I have done, 
 And gain'd this glorious fray ; 
 
 No more from happinefs and thee 
 Shall wretched Malcolm flray. 
 
 " And wilt thou to the battle go^ 
 " To combat, blood, and ftrife ? 
 
AND ALLA 33 
 
 *' And wilt thou from thine home depart, 
 " And leave thy loving wife ?" 
 
 I muft, the fighing Knight reply'd, 
 
 Or Scotland is undone; 
 My country calls, and Malcolm's foul 
 
 Difdains her call to fhun. 
 
 "When forth amid the martial ranks, 
 
 He urg'd his rapid way. 
 And bade the war-drum loudly roar, 
 
 The hoftile clarion bray. 
 
 " Let each his well-try'd arms prepare ; 
 
 " For, at the morning break, 
 " We all mull hye to Edinburgh, 
 
 " For good King Bruce's fake. 
 D 
 
34 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " For, England's haughty Edward comeSj 
 
 " From London, (mighty town,) 
 " To wafte fair Scotland's fruitful land, 
 " And pull her Monarch down." 
 
 When all, their brazen bucklers feiz'dj 
 And clofer grafp'd their fpears. 
 
 By rage tranfported, as the tale 
 Thrill'd on their lifl'ning ears : 
 
 For, much their country's weal they lov'dj 
 And much their monarch too, 
 
 And felt their breafts with ardour glow. 
 To face the ruffian crew; 
 
 Sir Malcolm then fair Alia fought^ 
 And thus forlorn did fay, 
 
AND ALLA 35 
 
 " Misfortune envious feeds her fpleen, 
 " In tearing us away ; 
 
 " Yet thou in Malcolm's heart fhalt dwell 5 
 
 " ThoUj only thou, flialt reign, 
 " Till triumph in her blazon'd car 
 
 " Condufts him back again." 
 
 Now roar'd the trumpet's warlike note, 
 
 When through the founding hall, 
 He hurl'd his pond'rous fpear, and fwore, 
 
 " Thus fhall proud Edv/ard fall ;" 
 
 Quoth Alia, " If prefiding heaven, 
 (" Tho' well I know thy might,) . . 
 
 " Sir Malcolm brave fhould doom to fall, 
 " Amid the raging fight ; 
 D 2 
 
3^ SIR MALCOLM 
 
 « The world with every charm it yields. 
 
 " Could not difpel my woe : 
 
 " Forgive the frailty of the heart. 
 
 " That cannot let thee go." 
 
 «' Tho' cheer'd to find," the Knight reply'd, 
 
 " Such love thy bofom warm ; 
 
 " The' hard the conflift in my breaft, 
 
 " I muft outbrave the ftorm; 
 
 " For, when my country danger dreads, 
 
 " Should ought engage my heart ? 
 
 " Tho' much my bleeding foul recoils, 
 
 " Sir Malcolm muft depart." 
 
 When from the trembling fair he burft, 
 
 Impetuous for the fight; 
 
AND ALL A. "37 
 
 Whilft Alia mark'd his diftant Ihade, 
 Wane on her aching light. 
 
 Sir Malcolm now with hafty ftep, 
 
 His fovereign's will obey'd, 
 And march'd with twice five thoufand men, 
 
 In brazen garb array'd ; 
 
 With glittering pomp and dauntlefs ftride. 
 
 They hye to meet the foe, 
 By indignation's fpirit fir'd, 
 
 To Rofland's caftle go. 
 
 Where flood King Bruce with fadden'd eye. 
 
 By anxious care opprefs'd, 
 But when he faw them marching in, 
 
 Hope cheer'd his drooping bread j 
 D3 
 
38 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " Approach," faid he, " ye valiant bands, 
 
 « Your monarch greets ye true ; 
 " Let tyrant Edward by your might, 
 
 " His wild ambition rue." 
 
 When thus Sir Malcolm brave reply'd, 
 " Behold thefe fhining fpears, 
 
 " And us who wield them fworn to-day, 
 *' To chace thy people's fears; 
 
 '' By the fam'd crofs, St. Andrew bore, 
 
 " To give the deadly blow, 
 " And what indignant Scots can do, 
 
 '^ To let proud Edward know." 
 
 When Bruce exultingly reply'd, 
 " I know your hearts full well 5 
 
AND ALLAi 39 
 
 5» And that the hero's choiceft gifts 
 " Within thy bofom dwell j 
 
 " March then againft my daring foes, 
 
 " And let King Edward feel, 
 " What injur'd Scotland can perform, 
 
 " When Juilice points the Heel i 
 
 " The tardy morrow's earlieftdawn 
 
 «' Shall light thee on the way, 
 *'f Prepare thy yet unconquer^d arms, 
 
 " And Scotland's fcourge difmay; 
 
 'f Mean while thy monarch will afTert 
 
 " The power which fortune gave, 
 " To call each patriot to his arms, 
 
 " When hoftile banners wave i 
 D 4 
 
40 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " And when fuccefs rewards his toil, 
 
 " Sure as the north ftar's courfe, 
 
 " Shall one overwhelming ruin fmitCj 
 
 « The faithlefs Edward's force." 
 
 The morn drew nigh, Sir Malcolm brave, 
 
 Arouz'd his fleeping train, 
 From dreams of flaughter, ranks o'erpower'd, 
 
 To tread th' embattled plain ; 
 
 Each heart with martial zeal infpir'd, 
 
 Preferr'd the foldier's prayer, 
 To fall by glory crown'd, or live, 
 
 The conqueror's plume to wear; 
 
 And when oppos'd the armies came,- 
 Each rent his bofom barcj 
 
AND ALLA. 
 Of all the high and lowland lads, 
 
 And felt a hero there. i 
 
 Grim vengeance now from ev'ry face, 
 Beam'd forth in dread array, 
 
 Vultures of war in fhadowing crowds 
 Invoke their coming prey. 
 
 Till piercing cries and dying groans 
 The cloudlefs concave rend, 
 
 And force the frighted birds of blood, 
 Their farther courfe to bend j 
 
 Loud houl'd the ilorm, as o'er the plain 
 Its fweeping pinions pafs'd ; 
 
 Whilfl; broken founds of harmony 
 Rode on the deathful blafl; : 
 
42 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 Where ere Sir Malcolm's helmet fhonc, 
 
 Oppofing ranks withdrew ; 
 Fir'd by the fury of their Chief, 
 
 His men more furious grew j 
 
 But ftill King Edward's haughty foul 
 
 Difdain'd to quit the field ; 
 And tho' his choicefh troops were flain, 
 
 The vift'ry fcorn'd to yield. 
 
 When rouz'd to agony of rage, 
 Sir Malcolm's valiant train, 
 
 Difdaining doubtful darts to guide. 
 And madd'ning ire reftrain. 
 
 Their thirfty blades refentful drew, 
 The fcabbards caft away, 
 
AND ALLA. 40 
 
 Refolv'd in death their eyes to clofe, 
 Or gain the ling'ring fray. 
 
 Now by indignant paffions fir'd, 
 
 Each fword to flaughter led, 
 With thirft infatiate, round the plain 
 
 Vindiftive carnage fpread ; 
 
 The deaf 'ningclafli of arms arofe, 
 
 Expiring, legions lie, 
 Whilft o'er their heads contending fpears, 
 
 For death-bought honors vie : 
 
 Through nine long hours each angry chief, 
 
 Suftain'd the deadly fight, 
 Impending vift'ry hovering o'er, 
 
 Stood dubious where to light ; 
 
44 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 Till at the tenth a fudden hoft, 
 From Edward's yielding fide, 
 
 Of brafs clad fpearmen burfting forth. 
 The hard fought day decide ; 
 
 The Scots encircled unawares. 
 
 In wild diforder fly, 
 The refonance of rallying troops, 
 
 Ran thundering through the Iky ; 
 
 In vain Sir Malcolm brave appear'd, 
 And ftrove to quell the ftorm ; 
 
 Tho' palling brave, he could not more 
 Than mortal man perform ; 
 
 And tho' to ftem the conqueror's courfe, 
 He combat fcorn'd to fhun; 
 
AND ALLA. 45 
 
 Full many an hoftile champion met, 
 Full many a laurel won. 
 
 Yet left alone, to brave the fight, 
 
 For Scotland's haplefs ftate, 
 To earth he hurl'd his blufhing fpear, 
 
 And greatly bent to fate. 
 
 Sir Malcolm now with fhouts was led, 
 
 To Edward's prefence nigh, 
 His brow the blood-red path furvey'd, 
 
 His bofom heav'd a figh : 
 
 " And what," faid Edward, as he came, 
 
 " Could prompt thy puny might ; 
 " Thy bands the fport of every breeze, 
 
 «' With England's arms to fight ? 
 
46 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 
 " Shall I the mightier of the two, 
 
 
 " From Scotland's vengeance fly ? 
 
 
 " Or ought that Edward floops to aflc— 
 
 - 
 
 " Thy monarch dare deny ? 
 
 
 « Thou flialt be told ; difturber bold 
 
 
 " Of Scotland's happy land ; 
 
 
 " Think not unfcourg'd, thy neighbour' 
 
 S right. 
 
 " To grafp with barbarous hand ; 
 
 
 " Behold around this tent of thine, 
 
 
 " What breathlefs viftims lie, 
 
 
 " Read in the portion of the flain, 
 
 
 '« Thy pendent deftiny. 
 
 
 '« Thefe mangl'd forms for juflice call. 
 
 
 " And heaven their call will hear : 
 
 
AND ALLA. 47 
 
 Said brave Sir Malcolm as his eye. 
 Shone through the pitying tear* 
 
 " Reprefs thy rage," faid Edward's guard, 
 
 " Nor thusinfult our Lord ; 
 '' Thy tongue reftrain," cry'd England's King, 
 
 " Or death is thy reward : 
 
 " Shall Malcolm ceafe the truth to fpeak, 
 
 " Becaufe his power is fled ? 
 *' Behold this blood-ftain'd plain and fee, 
 
 " What lull of power hath fhed : 
 
 " In wild ambition's baneful flrife, 
 
 " What flaughter'd thoufands die! 
 " Around proud war's imperious march, 
 
 *' What boding horrors fly I 
 
48 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 « Each parent, brother, kindred, friend. 
 
 " Torn by impending fate ; 
 
 « And what the darknefs of that foul, 
 
 «« Which can fuch pangs create ! 
 
 " Think not to bribe my peace by threats, 
 
 " Of death, or clanking chains ; 
 
 " Sir Malcolm vanquifli'd fcorns his life, 
 
 " Thy vengeance he difdains ; 
 
 " Eternal fcourge of every clime. 
 
 " Where fofter'd virtues reft, 
 
 " Oppreffion ftalks around thy tent, 
 
 " The furies gore thy breaft. 
 
 " Prepare the block," King Edward cry'd. 
 
 *' Shall thus a prifoner fay ? 
 
AND ALLAj 
 Thy neck to-morrow's dawn fhall cleavcj 
 The ravens on thee prey. 
 
 But now the mufe attempts to paint 
 
 The wars of AUa's mind ; 
 Who when Sir Malcolm brave was gone, 
 
 No happinefs could find ; 
 
 And thus fhe moan'd her lonely lot ; 
 
 " If in the conteft, he 
 " Of all mankind I moft approve, 
 
 " Should forely wounded be ; 
 
 " No Alia near, his wants to afk, 
 " And foft endearment blend, 
 
 " With every ruthlefs pang, that needs 
 '^ The folace of a friend. 
 E 
 
5© Sm MALCOLM 
 
 
 " Perhaps the hand of death may feize. 
 
 
 " Amid the battle fore, 
 
 
 " Nor I with joy unfpeakable, 
 
 
 " Behold Sir Malcolm more. 
 
 
 " And can my heart its Lord refign. 
 
 
 " To war's untimely death ? 
 
 
 " And not afFeftion fervent glow 
 
 
 « To footh his parting breath ? 
 
 
 «« I mu ft unto Sir Malcolm fly. 
 
 
 " Nor can I brook delay ; 
 
 
 «' It is but danger to depart, 
 
 
 " And certain death to ft.ay ; 
 
 
 " The torch of love fhall light me on^ 
 
 
 « To trace the reeking field ; 
 
 
AND ALL A. ,51 
 
 " Affeftion's zeal endue mine arm, 
 " The warrior's lance to wield • 
 
 «' My ftrength might not with men's compare, 
 
 " Nor o'er a hoft prevail ; 
 " But yet my feeble aid might help, 
 
 " If nothing turn'd the fcale." 
 
 Fair Alia now with fandals lac'd, 
 
 And trufly fervants four, 
 Refolv'd with heart and hand right well, 
 
 Sir Malcolm to explore ; 
 
 Set out before the rifing lark 
 
 Proclaim'd the haft'ning day, 
 And onward prefs'd, till dying eve 
 
 Withdrew her parting ray ; 
 E 2 
 
53 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 And when through five long toilfome days, 
 Chill'd with tempeftuous fear ; 
 
 To Scotland's far fatn'd fons of war. 
 Fair Alia journey 'd near ; 
 
 She faw with agony untold. 
 
 The nearer banners fly, 
 Whilft dread fufpence and deadly fears 
 
 Beam'd from her eager eye. 
 
 Said Alia fair, «« Oh what the news ?" 
 
 To him who firfl rode near, 
 " Oh fad to fay, oh fad to fay, 
 
 " Afk not the news to hear ;" 
 
 " But I v/ill know," the Fair reply'd, 
 *^ Nor thus my bofom freeze, 
 
AND ALLA. 
 
 " Heav'n will uphold my feeble heart 
 <' To bear what Heav'n decrees." 
 
 " Then oh! my Lady fair, 'tis hard, 
 " 'Tis hard for us and thee ; 
 
 " Sir Malcolm is a prifoner made, 
 " His army forc'd to flee :" 
 
 " Then I will be a prifoner too ;" 
 
 (Said Alia fill'd with woe,) 
 " Nor will I reft another day^ 
 
 " Until to him I go. 
 
 " But where are all thofe waniors bold, 
 " Whom Scotland's Chief did lead ? 
 
 " Can thofe be they o'er yonder plain, 
 '- Running with cowards fpeed ?" 
 E3 
 
 53 
 
54 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " Thofe are the men, my lady fair^ 
 
 " Who running come this way, 
 " All of Sir Malcolm brave depriv'd, 
 
 " They fhun the lucklefs fray ;" 
 
 " Then from thy milk-white charger fpring, 
 
 " Refign its aid to me, 
 " And what a female arm can do, 
 
 " Shall Edward wondering fee ;" 
 
 When with a leap fhe caught the reinSj 
 
 And flew to meet the train 
 Of horfe and archers, as they forth 
 
 Came fcouring o'er the plain ; 
 
 And thus to all fair Alia fpoke^ 
 «' Behold ^ friend in me ; 
 
AND ALLA 
 " Sir Malcolm's loving wife arriv'd, 
 " Your conqu'ring chief to be ; 
 
 " Refume your hearts, ye valiant tribes, 
 " Your finking country fave, 
 
 " Diffever from the tyrant's grafp, 
 " Your chief Sir Malcolm brave ; 
 
 " Whofe budding laurels, but for you, 
 " May now untimely fade ; 
 
 " And Edward's refute of mankind, 
 " Your choiceft rights invade." 
 
 When quick as lightning's rapid flight, 
 
 Confufion pierc'd each eye, 
 Whilft one and all repentant cry'dj 
 
 We further fcorn to fly : 
 
 E 4 
 
 55 
 
^6 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " Yet curb your wrath/' faid Alia fair, 
 
 " Until the morning light, 
 " The rally'd troops of Scotland's King 
 
 " Shall then refume the fight." 
 
 Now each on future vengeance bent, 
 Prepar'd his fhining blade ; 
 
 Indignant flrung his ftubborn bow. 
 Or mighty javelin made. 
 
 And long before the bright-ey'd morn 
 
 Enflam'd the orient fky, 
 Fair Alia and her daring troops 
 
 In filent ambufh lie ; 
 
 Prepar'd to deal the fatal blow, 
 And fave from keen difgrace 
 
AND ALLA 57 
 
 The name of Bruce, to Scotland dear, 
 And Malcolm's fpotlefs race. 
 
 And now the valiant hofts proceed, 
 
 As led by Alia fair, 
 Till bordering on the Englifh camp, 
 
 For battle they prepare. 
 
 The fentence of Sir Malcolm brave, 
 
 Which England's Monarch fpoke, 
 Was now about to be perform'd. 
 
 As morn her flumber broke. 
 
 Sir Malcolm, dignify'd in chains,. 
 
 The folemn fcene (urvey'd ; 
 The murd'rous axe, and grov'iing fledge, 
 
 Undaunted, undifmay'd ; 
 
^8 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 He backward to the fatal block 
 
 With fteady heart did ride, 
 King Edward and his army both. 
 Attending by his fide : 
 
 When like the fweeping blaft of heaven^ 
 Which lays the foreft bare, 
 
 The arms of Alia, from the plain 
 The Englifli ftandards tear 5 
 
 With fudden vengeance hurl the dart. 
 
 Or fling the mafl"y fpar 5 
 And with o'erwhelming fury roll 
 
 Deftruftion's crimfon car ; 
 
 Ranks in confufion fall on ranks. 
 Armies of horrors rife ; i 
 
AND ALLA, gg 
 
 King Edward, feiz'd with panic fear^ 
 From conquering Alia flies : 
 
 Thus England's glory felt a wound, 
 
 A mortal wound indeed, 
 Whilft fame, the genius of her clime, 
 
 Seem'd at each pore to bleed. 
 
 The wild confufion of the fray 
 
 A timely offer gave 
 For brave Sir Malcolm to efcape, 
 
 And further carnage fave, 
 
 " Forbear," faid he, " ye more than men, 
 
 " A flying foe revere, 
 *' For when compell'd to flay, alone, 
 
 " Should Scotfinen prove fevere ; 
 
6o SIR MALCOLM 
 
 " The palm is won, the honor firmj 
 
 " Proud Edward yields the day : 
 " His fate may ev'ry conqueror meet, 
 
 " Till conqueft dies away. 
 
 " But whom that Nymph whofe might prevail'd, 
 
 «« When ev'ry hope was gone ? 
 " On milk-white charger form'd your ranks, 
 
 " And urg'd your footfleps on ?" 
 
 Rejoic'd to tell our wond'ring Lord, 
 
 A Ihouting hoft reply'd. 
 The Nymph who led thy conquering bandsj 
 
 Was brave Sir Malcolm's bride. 
 
 Scarce had his eye, with fond furprife, 
 DifFus'd a darting ray. 
 
AND ALLA. 6l 
 
 When Alia at Sir Malcolm's feet. 
 In fpeechlefs tranfport lay ; 
 
 " And art thou flie," the Knight exclaim'd, 
 
 " To whom I owe my life ? 
 '« And art thou, as thou feem'ft to be, 
 
 " Truly xny loving wife ?" 
 
 When thus the rifing fair one fpoke, 
 
 " From thefe thy life receive, 
 '' But that I am thy loving wife, 
 
 '•'• Full faithfully believe." 
 
 Cry'd brave Sir Malcolm, " can my foul 
 
 " Such crouded tranfports bear ? 
 *• Preferv'd by thee, my life fball be 
 
 '• Devoted to thy care. 
 
^2 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 *' Thou monument of wedded worth, 
 
 " Thou firft of woman kind, 
 " Thy brow unfading wreaths fhall graccj 
 " Immortal laurels bind." 
 
 A bending herald now arriv'd. 
 From England's vanquifh'd King, 
 
 And did a letter from his Lord 
 To brave Sir Malcolm bring, 
 
 Imploring peace with might and main. 
 
 Bought with a proffer'd fum, 
 Imploring pardon for the paft, 
 
 And right good-will to come. 
 
 Sir Malcolm to the breathlefs man 
 Thus courteoufly did fay. 
 
AND ALLA, 6g 
 
 " With England's king a peace to make. 
 '• I do not anfwer nay ; 
 
 " Tho' foul revenge, with clatnour loud, 
 
 " Requires thy Monarch's death ; 
 " The life of him, who conquering dar'd 
 
 *' Demand Sir Malcolm's breath : 
 
 " Yet fway'd by honor's high controul, 
 
 *• This heart fliall ever be ; 
 '•'• A generous viftor knows to blend 
 
 '• Succefs with modefty ; 
 
 " So take thy gift. Sir Malcolm's foul 
 
 " So mean a boon difdains, 
 *' But longs with equal zeal to flop 
 
 " Each bleeding CQuntry's veins ^ 
 
64 
 
 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 i{ 
 
 I only want him to be juft, 
 
 
 " To mould his foul anew ; 
 
 a 
 
 That foil where proud ambition grows, 
 
 
 " "Which would a world fubdue. 
 
 ii 
 
 When war's enfanguin'd banners wave, 
 
 
 " And thoufands fall around, 
 
 S( 
 
 What fhall avail each viftim'd corfe, 
 
 
 " Tho' reafonlatebe found ? 
 
 ti 
 
 Peace may return as ftatefmen chufe, 
 
 
 " And commerce rear its head ; 
 
 , *' 
 
 But where the ftatefman, who the prince. 
 
 
 " Can raife the injur'd dead ? 
 
 a 
 
 Yet ceafe ; — if Edward will reform. 
 
 
 " And be in future kind, 
 
AND ALL A. 65 
 
 "' A faithful friend, till time doth end, 
 " He fliall in Scotland find." 
 
 The herald now with fpeed return'd. 
 
 And all Sir Malcolm faid 
 Recounted with an accent bold, 
 
 Without difguife or dread. 
 
 Quoth Edward, " Princely are his words, 
 
 " We will in truth be fair ; 
 '' That firfl of heroes, bed of men, 
 
 '• Shall hence my friendfhip fhare ; 
 
 " The Foe, who thus can bravely adl, 
 
 " Can better play the Friend ; 
 '• To gain his love, reward his worth, 
 
 " My future hfe ihall tend." 
 F 
 
66 SIR MALCOLM 
 
 Then England's king and Scotland's knight, 
 
 All on Cromarty's plain,1 
 With faith did there, agree to fwear 
 
 Right conduft to maintain ; 
 
 From ev'ry hoftile aft to fly, 
 
 Which jealoufy might name, 
 As caufe fufEcient to provoke 
 
 Contention's dying flame. 
 
 And now they both with one confent, 
 
 Full cordially did meet ; 
 It would have done one's heart's-blood good 
 
 To fee how they did greet ; 
 
 With promis'd care, good will to bear, 
 And be for ever true : 
 
AND ALL A. 67 
 
 And thus 'twas fhown to all the world, 
 What woman's love could do. 
 
 Let ev'iy generous youth revere, 
 
 His every eflFort move, 
 To merit firft, and then poffefs, 
 
 The pearl of woman's love. 
 
 Oil ! woman rare, and woman fair. 
 
 From whom fuch ble (Tings flow ; 
 May ev'ry bonny Scottifh lad 
 
 Tliy blooming virtues know. 
 
 F 2 
 
WAR, 
 
 A FRAGMENT. 
 
WAR, 
 
 A FRAGMENT. 
 
 JrloW much abhoir'dfhould hell-fed Paffion be ! 
 How much fhould man foul Anger's ocean flee ! 
 High on wViofe furge his giddy bark is tofs'd, 
 His rudder broken, and his anchor loft ; 
 Whilft hidden fires his frantic bofom fcorch, 5 
 
 Whilft to his eye the Furies hold their torch ; 
 Adjuft each feature with fatanic grace, 
 And dance their orgies round his kindred face. 
 F4 
 
72 WAR, 
 
 Oh ! Charity, fair daughter of the fkies, 
 How many a hateful form before Thee flies, jq 
 
 On whofe dark brow, and grinning fmile, and yell, 
 Thou might'ft, if juftice reign'd, for ever dwell ! 
 Yet thou hafl; mark'd their faults, whilft pity figh'd, 
 And to diflurb thy peace, their little powers defy'd. 
 
 But whilfl of happinefs we feebly tell, 15 
 
 And praife her worth, and paint her halcyon cell ; 
 Declare of joys that round their parent twine, 
 And fpeak of fhores where funs perpetual fhine; 
 How many pence-bought engines wield the fpear, 
 Whofe flavifh breafts this fun muft never cheer ! 20 
 How many myriads of the human race. 
 On carnage bent, the name of man difgrace ! 
 Some lazy tyrant's hireling tool obey, 
 Andrufli like blood-hounds on their unknown prey. 
 
A FRAGMENT. 73 
 
 If on the flaughter'd field fome mind humane, 25 
 Should flop to footh a gaTping Soldier's pain ; 
 Enquire the caufethat urg'd him to engage 
 In war's fell clangor, and infernal rage ; 
 " I know no caufe," his trembling tonjue replies, 
 And with a hollow groan diftends his frame, and dies, 
 
 Orlando, urg'd by Pity, whlfp'ring near, 
 The viftims of a ftubborn fight to cheer; 
 When a fam'd City hail'd the viftor band, 
 And c-eas'd to glut with blood th' neighbouring land ; 
 At midnight's folemn hour withdrew to tread 35 
 The plain beftrew'd with dying and with dead : 
 Long had it flood the thundering blafl of war. 
 And long dcfy"d Britannia's tow'ring car, 
 Till ftalking Famine in her haggard form, 
 Wifhftood the longer fight, andhufh'd the dorm : 40 
 
74 WAR, 
 
 Sad o'er the carnage of the finifli'd fray, 
 
 Caftits red gleams, the fun's departing ray ; 
 
 The hollow-founding zephyr floating near, 
 
 Wont to convey the fhout or clafhing fpear ; 
 
 Now bears the trembling accents of defpair, 45 
 
 And wafts alone the wounded wretch's prayer. 
 
 As the pale moon difclos'd her filver beam, 
 Orlando pafs'd the town's encircling ftream, 
 That on its furface many a carcafsbore, 
 Staining the fliatter'd walls with patriot gore. 50 
 
 Penfive, and flow, Orlando bent his way. 
 Through the wide carnage of the deadly fray ; 
 Thoufandsof bloodlefs trunks the ground hadftain'd, 
 Whilfh forely wounded thoufands ftill reraain'd ; 
 Wailing in broken groans a foldier's fate, 55 
 
 As on their faded cheeks grim Anguifli fate : 
 
A FRAGMENT. 75 
 
 Chill'd by the wizard horror's icy dart. 
 The life blood ftagnates in Orlando's heart. 
 
 Unnumber'deyes, juft glimm'ring on the verge 
 Of death's dark precinfts, and o'erwhelming furge, 60 
 Seem'd to implore his aid, and gently fay, 
 " Oh ! wand'ring flranger, hither bend thy way.'* 
 *' One moment help a wounded wretch forlorn." 
 " Pluck the deep bullet from my bofom torn." 
 '• Screen from my quiv'ring limbs the nightly dew." 
 Or, '' bear to fomelov'dname, a lafh adieu." 
 Such countlefs claims on foft companion's aid, 
 Such pallid forms in clotted garb array'd, 
 All panting for a friend to footh their breath, 
 Or trembling in the iron grafp of death ; 7© 
 
 With bleeding pity fill'd the wand'rer's heart : 
 Unknowing where afTiftance firft to dart, 
 
7^ WAR, 
 
 Awhile lie paus'd ; till, near a murder'd heap. 
 
 Where flones might grieve, or tyrants learn to weep, 
 
 He faw a Youth bare to the evening gale, 75 
 
 Silent and fad, and as the fnow-drop pale, 
 
 Feebly withftanding life's expiring tide. 
 
 As lying on the ground, he prefs'd his wounded fide : 
 
 One hand, tho' cold, and rudely fmear'd with gore, 
 
 In the faint grafp a Female's pifture bore ; 80 
 
 And as his eye-Fd feem'd to heave its laft, 
 
 Dead to the future, heedlefs of the paft, 
 
 On the fond maid (as death itfelf might move). 
 
 He fix'd the lingering look of faithful love. 
 
 With lightning's fpeed, Orlando rufli'd to fave 85 
 
 So fair a victim from the gaping grave ; 
 
 Upheld his finking head, and footh'd his pain, 
 
 And fought to bear him from the blood-moift; plain. 
 
 Call'd from the fhore of death's unebbing tide. 
 
 With fickly fmile the Youth Orlando ey'd, qo 
 
A FRAGMENT. ']'J 
 
 Wav'd his weak hand, and utter'd with a figh, 
 *' In peace, oh! gen'rous ftranger, let me die ; 
 •' Others there are who more require thy aid, 
 " Mine eyes, low finking, court the hov'ring fliade." 
 Orlando cry'd, (whilft dropt the pitying tear), 95 
 " Oh ! heed a friend, if friendfhip's voice can cheer 
 " On the cold confines of the dark-wav'd lake, 
 " And let mine heart thy rending pangs partake ; 
 " Say, bleeding Youth, what urg'd thee thus to ftray 
 <' Far from thy kindred and thy coaft away ? 100 
 " To dare the fight with indignation blind, 
 " To lift the fpear againftthy fellow kind ? 
 " Know'fl thou the caufe for which the crimfon tide 
 " Deferts thine heart, and oozes from thy fide ? 
 " Perchance feme ftatefman's pique, fome fhrineprofan 
 '« A flag infulted, o.r a fl<.iflFdetain'd ; 
 " Thefeblovv^theblafts of war ; whofe noxious breath 
 " Fills the wide earth with difcord, dread, and death. 
 
78 WAR, 
 
 " Speak ; gently fpeak, that fome may mark thy grave, 
 « And flee from blood, the nurture tyrants crave." uq 
 
 As tho' a Power endu'dwithfov'reign might 
 Had call'd his fpirit from the fhades of night, 
 The dying Youth appear'd ; uprofe in part, 
 And tore the tale of anguifh from his heart : 
 
 ' An Englifh Cot firft gave me birth, and fed, ng 
 Till nineteen fummer funs their courfe had fped, 
 Contented then, my foul no forrow knew, 
 With heart untainted, and with bofom true, 
 Join'd I the village dance, the circle gay, 
 And jocund pafs'd the fmiling hours away ; 120 
 (The fond remembrance of my native plain. 
 Darts wilder anguifh through my throbbing brain ; 
 I fee the wolves, that once like lambs did bleat, 
 I fee the ferpents coiling at my feet, 
 
A FRAGMENT. 79 
 
 < Whofefoftperfuafive words, and fatal craft, 125 
 ' Led me from home to drink this bitter draught : 
 ' Mark you the caufe that laid me bleeding here, 
 ' And warn mankind to fhun the hollile fpear ; 
 ' Rais'd but to pleafe fome haughty Lordling's pride, 
 ' Made but to pierce theharmlefs Peafant's fide.) 130 
 
 ' Whilft o'er the ftubborn glebe I urg'd my team, 
 ' Or led my flocks behde the pebbl'd flream, 
 ' Or with my reeden-pipe, at break of day, 
 ' Pour'dthe rude warblings of a fliepherd's lay ; 
 ' Some Soldiers came ; clad in a dazzling drefs, 135 
 ' Laugh'd at my garments, dwelt on my diftrefs ; 
 ' Said, " fpurn your plough, and all luch grov'ling toys, 
 " And know the value of a Soldier's joys, 
 " No little Mafter do we deign to greet, 
 " My Lord or Duke dircfts our playful feet ; 140 
 
8o WAR, 
 
 " No ruflic rags are we compell'dto wear, 
 
 " We drefs like Princes, and like Princes fare ; 
 
 " Behold our cloaths, gay as autumnal trees, 
 
 " Behold our plumes nod to the pafTing breeze ; 
 
 " But what are fplendid garbs to deathlefs fame? 
 
 " We figh for honors of a nobler name ; 
 
 " We pant for Glory ; and afpire to gain, 
 
 " Immortal laurels from the blood-red plain, 
 
 " Stain'd with the gore of Britain's flaughter'd prey, 
 
 " Whilft o'er their heads exulting clarions play." 150 
 
 ' The fiiadowy profpeft chaim'd my foolifh heart, 
 ' Urg'd me with home and happinefs to part ; 
 ' To leave my aged Sire, with anguifli wild, 
 ' To leave my Mother, frantic for her child, 
 ' To leave the Maid I lov'd. . ^B5 
 
A FRAGMENT. 8l 
 
 * Full well my mind retains the fatal day, 
 « Which tore me from my Cath'rlne's arms away i 
 « And wilt thou go ? (all wildly pale, flie cry'd), 
 " And mull the wars our faithful loves divide? 
 " Oh ! flay with Kate, nor crofs the t reach' rousfea! 
 «« Let others fight, who are not lov'd like thee." 
 « When, on the foaming margin of the flood, 
 « Grafping my hand, the lovely maiden flood, 
 « And mark'd the fatal barge approaching fall, 
 ' And faw the fhip, roll to the howling blafl ; 165 
 ' Chill'd with foreboding fears of future woe, 
 « Adown her cheek the tears began to flow ; 
 « When thus fhe fpake, (with more than mortal grace, 
 « Tumultuous pafTions flruggling in her face), 
 *« Since to the batde's din thou wilt depart, 170 
 
 ♦' Nor heed the pangs, that rend thy Cath'rlne's heart | 
 G 
 
^2 WAR, 
 
 " Receive this likenefs of a maid fincere, 
 
 '• And ever to thy bofom bear it near ; 
 
 » And when thou mark'ft it, o'er the billows borne, 
 
 " Think on thy Kate, who dies for thy return. "175 
 
 ' Oh ! Cath'rine ! could'fh thou witnefs my diftrefs, 
 
 \ Gafping, and cold, e'en as the clods I prefs ; 
 
 ' No friend to drop the fympathizing tear, 
 
 ' No hand to fuccour, and no heart to cheer ; 
 
 ' Till now, too late.' 180 
 
 He faid : and heaving his laft lab'ring breath, 
 
 Exhaufted funk into the arms of death. 
 
 Oh ! when fhall earth enjoy perpetual Peace ? 
 Oh ! when fhall War, that worffc of fcourges, ceafe? 
 On whofe dark ftage, black as the Murderer's heart, 
 Ten thoufand Vices aft a diff'rent part ; 
 
A FRAGMENT. 83 
 
 When fhall the time arrive for man to gaze 
 On reafon's fun, unfhrinking from the blaze ? 
 Her heart-expanding voice has often cry'd, 
 " Let hoftile jars no longer lands divide ; 190 
 
 ' " Let vengeful arms no more direfctthe fword, 
 '' And Hell's vicegerents guide the ruffian horde : 
 " Why fhould the children of one Common Sire, 
 " See with delight each other't lamp expire ? 
 " Why, rapt in joy, llride o'er the vital flood, 195 
 <« Feaft on the fight, and drench theirfpears in blood :" 
 
 The dawn will burft, the glorious fun arife, 
 When as the night, will fade each dark difguife ; 
 No more deflruftion's thunderbolts be hurl'd, 
 Nor tyrants longer defolate the world ; 200 
 
 No more pale murder raife her ftandards high, 
 And blood-llain'd trophies charm the jaundic'd eye, 
 G 2 
 
84 WAR, 
 
 That time fhall come, bleft be the profpefl; fair ! 
 When friendftiip'sfliout fhall rend the ambient air, 
 When no dark policy fhall difcord fan, 2O5 
 
 But man behold a brother's face in man. 
 
 That time fhall alfo come, nor flowly creep. 
 When Juflice, ftarting from her couch of fleep, 
 Shall feizeher adamantine fword of fate, 
 And call to vengeance earth's voluptuous great ; 21© 
 Terror fhall then the conqueror's brow o'ercaft, 
 The war-delighting monarch ftand aghafl; 
 Difmay, corrode the fharting defpot's breaft, 
 When doom'd to meet the Ghofts, his chains opprefs'd: 
 Then fhall the Chieftains, men fo much admir'dj2i5 
 Difplay their crowns with gorgon fnakes attir'd ; 
 The Death head Movjler, and the Northern Bear, 
 Sink to the canker'd regions of defpair; 
 
A FRAGMENT. % 
 
 While hofls, oh! Poland, of thy. children flain, 
 Shall view their. crell-funk Murderers with difdain; 
 And, as they downward wailing bend their way. 
 Spirits of love fhall round them fondly play. 
 Till, near the confines of the raylefs fphere, 
 Congenial Imps Ihall hail their brethren dear. 
 
 Amid the brave, the gen'rous, and the pure, 225 
 
 Thy name, oh ! injur'd Patriot,* fhall endure ; 
 
 Succeeding ages mourn thy haplefs fate, 
 
 And loathe the mem'ry of Imperial Kate : 
 
 And, though to gain a people equal laws, 
 
 Thy weary'd limb a clanking fetter di'aws, 230 
 
 Yet, what fuftains the good man's fuff 'ring bread. 
 
 Shall, tho' endungeon'd, give thy fpirit reft ; 
 
 * Kosciusko, confined by order of the Empvefs iq a Ruflia,n, 
 dungeon.. 
 
 G 3 
 
86 WAR, 
 
 Sleep on, thy moment of deferted eafe. 
 
 And, by thy patience, fcorn her pow'r to teize ; 
 
 Whom neither laws of God or man can bind ! 235 
 
 Who warSj as intereft ferves, on all mankind. 
 
 For thee fhall found Companion's fofteft dirge. 
 Thy name defcend to Time's remoteft verge 
 With growing honors crown'd, and, o'er thy grave 
 The Bay fhall bloom, the drooping Willow wave. 24O 
 
 It is not he, who, forc'd to wield the fpear, 
 Robs of his life the firft oppofer near, 
 Nor, thofe compell'd by defpots iron chain, 
 Who fack the town, or drench with gore the plain 
 To whom the crimes apply : — to higher fprings, 245 
 To crafty Statefmen, and vindi£tive Kings 
 
A FRAGMENT. 8/ 
 
 The caufes muft we trace ; to thefe belong 
 Each foldier's murder, and each peafant's wrong. 
 
 The Little murderer ends his days in fhame, 
 The Great one triumphs, idoliz'd by fame ; 250 
 
 The Lefs, fociety combines to fpurn, 
 The Greater, dies his punifliment to learn; 
 Too foul his turpitude for mortal woe. 
 Too huge his crimes for cognizance below, 
 
 "What is your choicefl hero's boafted claim 25^ 
 On pure-ey'd reafon, and applauding fame ? 
 The waiter's rude of Chili's happy land ? 
 The blood-drunk Conqueror's of Indoftan's ftrand ? 
 And all the train of Warriors, as they rofe, 
 Feafling, from age, to age, on human vv'oes ? 260 
 What the fierce Rival's of Mofcovian Czar, 
 Or His, who tore Darius from his car ? 
 
88 WAR, 
 
 Scourgers of earth, and Heralds of difmay, 
 
 Pefts of mankind, and Whirlwinds of their day ; 
 
 From whofe example blufhing Hill'ry rakes 265 
 
 Her nefl of Scorpions, and her brood of Snakes ; 
 
 Who,plac'donthroneslikethefe,likethefehavehurrd 
 
 War's waiting firebrands o'er a fuff 'ring world. 
 
 What countlefs pangs to fuch have ow'd their birth ! 
 What blood and murder ftrew'd the reeking earth ! 
 To grant thefe Tyrants unexplor'd domain, 
 How many a fruitful clime has defert lain ! 
 To pleafe thefe monllers in their lordly pride, 
 How many an eye hath wept, and bofom figh'd ! 
 Shepherds, unfkill'd in war's accurfed trade, 275 
 
 Torn from their cots, and human butchers made : 
 Peafants, with hearts revolting at the fight, 
 Compell'd to wield the fpear, and dare the fight ; 
 
A FRAGMENT. 89 
 
 Till War's infernal craft, and wizard fpell, 
 Transform them, faints of light, to fiends of hell. 280 
 
 The hoftile Chief, in conquefl's laurels drefs'd, 
 Sporting the trophy'd car and pompous creft, 
 But little thinks, or, thinking, little cares, 
 Plow hard the tenant of the cottage fares ; 
 By him depriv'd of all his former toil, 285 
 
 And left to ftarve upon his fruitful foil : 
 Laughs at the Churl, and revels o'er his wine, 
 Whilll flatt'rershail each licndlike deed divine. 
 
 On the red plain, where, heaps for ravens wait. 
 Each leaves a friend, to mourn his injur'd fate, 290 
 Some wife, or child, perchance, his lot to tell, 
 To name the fatal country where he fell ; 
 What fcar-crown'd warrior led him to his doom, 
 Togain, he knew not what, to fight, he knew not whom. 
 
go WAR, 
 
 Tales, that might once have gain'd companion's figh. 
 Or rous'd refentment, darting from the eye, 
 Of blooming maiden, o'er the hoftile plain, 
 Seeking her love amid the high-heap'd flain ; 
 Till, in the flaughter'd rank flie eyes his face, 
 And, dying, clafps him in her fond embrace. 300 
 Or, of lorn children who fome food defire. 
 And, lifping call upon their death-cold fire ; 
 Whilft the rack'd mother vents her anguifh deep, 
 And weeping, bids her baby ceafe to weep : 
 But thefe fad tales no longer melt the breaft, 305 
 Loft in the lapfe of time, with heav'n they reft. 
 
 Are they more innocent with plenty crown'd. 
 Who, at the head of flaught'ring hordes are found ? 
 Whom dire Neceflity's remorfelefs hand, 
 Forc'd not to join the defolating band ? 310 
 
A FRAGMENT. g| 
 
 (To bear the mandates of a junto far, 
 And wafte the world, and fpread the bane of war ; 
 That when fierceDeath, ten thoufand eyes has chain'd, 
 Courtiers may fhout fome glorious Feather gain'd ; 
 Or mid deHruftion, tell of purpofe croft, 315 
 
 Some bay-leaf wither'd, or, fome bauble loft.) 
 If thefe from choice, the favage path purfue, 
 And in the blood of man their fpears embrue ; 
 Tho' juftice fpare their lives, and fame declare 
 In many a hard campaign their god-like fhare ; 320 
 With war's black authors fhall they combat hate, 
 And equal dooms, their equal crimes await. 
 
 Yet, if invaded rights the talk demand, 
 If men behold opprefs'd their native land. 
 By foreign defpots, wand'ring far for prey, 325 
 
 Who, locufts like, with ruin mark their way ; 
 
92 WAR, 
 
 Or, fee their Prince direfl: the nation's helm, 
 
 In ruin's furge, his People to o'erwhelm : 
 
 Reward for fouleft deeds a venal tribe, 
 
 Nor fhun to blacken whom he cannot" bribe ; 330 
 
 Engage hismeaneftfubjefts to defend. 
 
 Yet, prove their tyrant, rather than their friend; 
 
 On pow'r defpotic, rear a rufh-built throne. 
 
 And, crown'd for all, live to himfelf alone : 
 
 If ever, Albion, fuch an hour arrive, 335 
 
 If ever, Slav'ry on thy border thrive. 
 
 Stalk through thy vineyard with gigantic flride, 
 
 Death in her rear, and Famine by her fide, 
 
 Which heaven avert ! (and all the crimes we fee,) 
 
 That ftain a nation ftruggling to be fiee !) 34O 
 
 'Twill then be right to grafp the blazing fpear, 
 
 Be duty then the banner'd ftaffto rear. 
 
 To dare the fight at Freedom's facred call, 
 
 And, if, by heav'n decreed^ exulting falL 
 
A FRAGMENT. go 
 
 But, if embark'd to urge oppreflion's claim, 
 For love of vengeance, or for thirft of fame 
 Men heed the trumpet's bray, the clarion's call, 
 Rufli on to battle, and untimely fall ; 
 Fall, whilft extending War's tartarean brand ! 
 Fall with the Murderer's dagger in their hand ! 350 
 — Companion draws a veil, and leaves their wrongs 
 With Heav'n, to whom decifion's right belongs. 
 
 H 
 
MONODY 
 
 OK THE DEATH OF 
 
 JOHN HENDERSON, A. B. 
 
 PEMBROKE COLLEGE, OXFORD. 
 
MONODY 
 
 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 Y 
 
 E Flowers ! that bow beneath the tears of eve, 
 Ye Gales ! that murm'ring feem like me to grieve, 
 Shall only ye o'er Merit's grave forlorn 
 Murmur and weep ? nor I be there to mourn ? 
 
 A fketch of John Henderson's charafter is fubjoinjed, 
 and the' in fome pans it muft neceffarily become an echo 
 to that which precedes it, yet it is prefumed a further illuf- 
 tration of fo diftinguilhed a perfon will not prove unaccep- 
 table to the reader. 
 
98 MONODY ON THE DEATH 
 
 As o'er thy Tomb, my Henderson ! I bend, 5 
 Shall I not praife thee, Scholar! Chriftian ! Friend! 
 The grief which o'er a Brother's recent grave 
 Forc'd Nature fheds, that copious grief I gave : 
 But now that time his foft'ning hues has brought 
 And mellow'd anguifh into penfive thought ; 10 
 
 Since through the varied fcenes of life I've pafs'd, 
 And flill compar'd the former with the laft ; 
 I prize thee more ! theGREAT. the Learn'd I fee, 
 Yet mem'ry turns from little men to thee, 
 And views, with fmiles thatlight her trembling tear, 
 Thy Genius, deflin'd for a nobler fphere. 
 
 If human fpirits then begin to live 
 "When they mortality's frail robe receive ; 
 And born to endlefs being urge their way, 
 Progreffive Travellers through the eternal Day ; 20 
 
OF JOHN HENDERSON. 99 
 
 Dart wide the glance, yet dart on GOD a'one, 
 Approaching flill his ever-diftant throne; 
 If e'en the unlctter'd Peafant in that flight 
 Soon foar beyond a Newton's earthly Pieight ; 
 What height fhall he attain, whofe infant fcan 25' 
 Pierc'd through the frames of Nature and of Man ? 
 
 'Twas his the times of elder fame to view, 
 And all that Greece or Rome e'er v/rit or knew ; 
 Now on bold pinion float mid Plato's blaze, 
 Now patient tread the Sci-iooLMAN'sthornymaze. 30 
 In thrice ten years his foul had run the round 
 Of human knowledge, fimple or profound ; 
 Alike could fhape the log, or glance his eye 
 To where V/ith Suns the Zodiac belts the fky : 
 E'en as the, Lark, that groundling builds its neft, 35 
 Now bends the ftalk beneath its fpeckled breaft, 
 
lOO MONODY ON THE DEATH 
 
 Now pierces clouds, and with a ftartling trill 
 Salutes the day-ftar glittering o'er the hill! 
 
 Not fouls from him lay ambufh'd ; he could trace 
 The mute, unlying language of the face ; 40 
 
 In manhood's fafhion'd features knew to read, 
 The ruling paffion ftamp'd, the habitual deed ; 
 And in the acorn's fibrils, with keen eye, 
 Beheld the oak's florm-fwinging branches high. 
 
 So vaft a mind did I dare venture near ? 45 
 
 O yes ! for perfeft Love excluded Fear. 
 Tho' like an eagle he could ftand fublime 
 On fummits which no toil might hope to climb : 
 And tho' whene'er he fpake, the fage was mute 
 As maiden hft'ning to her lover's lute ; 50 
 
 Yet did kind Heaven one worthier gift impart, 
 The pricelefs treafure of a lowly heart, 
 
OF JOHN HENDERSON. lOl 
 
 O hear thou proud one ! thou whofe foul affumes 
 Or Wifdom's robe, or Wit's aye-dancing plumes; 
 Tho' Learning's alpine height before him fhone, 55 
 He on the footftool fix'd a nobler throne. 
 E'en children doated on his accent mild. 
 And fported carelefs round their fellow child. 
 
 Ye fons of calumny ! go, hide your head ! 
 Away, ye Vampires ! * that devour the dead ! 60 
 Who fain would force thclong-clos'd wound to bleed, 
 And hunt through Paradife to find a weed. 
 When droop'd his frame beneath its refllefs lord, 
 And cut its fheath the keenly-temper'd fword ; 
 What if an artificial aid he fought, 65 
 
 Worn out with prodigality of thought ? 
 
 * The Vampires (in the mythology of the Hungaiian fuper- 
 ftitioh) are loathly Spirits who delight to enter the graves o£ 
 the newly-buiied, and mangle their bodies. 
 
102 MONODY ON THE DEATH 
 
 What if, his frail car driven with heedlefs force, 
 He fir'd the wheels in his too rapid courfe? 
 'lis true, the midnight bowl he lov'd to fhare,* 
 Yet never cloud it rais'd, it fhot no. glare ; 70 
 
 But only made, with ftimulation kind, 
 The body wakeful to the unfleeping mind ; 
 But only (till unmechaniz'd by death) 
 Kept the pipe vocal to the player's breath. 
 With wonted thought, with loftier eloquence, 'j^ 
 Truth's pure beheftments would he thtn difpenie : 
 So fair the efFeft that Virtue made a paufe. 
 And only not forgave the faulty caufe. 
 
 * " The partiality of friendfliip muft give place to the fjcrcd- 
 nefs of truth : his friends lamented this failing," which was both 
 a solitary and short-lived one, "and hehimfelf fmccrely repented 
 of it. — Of his fallen creatures ! the God of Heaven does not re- 
 quire more," 
 
 Agutter's Sermon on his Death. 
 
OF JOHN HENDERSON. I03 
 
 Ye fons of calumny T go, hide your head ! 
 Away ! ye Vampires that devour the dead. 80 
 
 In mem'ry let thofe holy hours be kept, 
 When by his couch of pain I watch'd, and wept ; 
 And heard his lips with faultering tone difclaim 
 The cymbal-tinkling praife of human fame. 
 The fimplefl: truths, that elfe had quickly fled, 85 
 Are oracles, heard from a fick friend's bed ; 
 How deeply then his precepts mufb I prize, 
 {Lov'd by the good and echo'd by the wife) 
 Who while he writh'd beneath difeafe's rod, 
 Still fpake of Faiih, * of Mercy, and of God. 90 
 
 * " I faw him in his lad fufFeiings, I heard his laft words, 
 he then prayed with uncommon feivour to his good God, even 
 tojefus Chrift, in wliom all his hopes were placed." 
 
 Agutter's Sermon. 
 
104 MONODY ON THE DEATH 
 
 O hither come, all ye ! whofe fmoky lamps 
 Burn dim and foul mid doubt's unwholefome damps 5 
 O hither come ! from me, the mourner, hear 
 What fmiles a dying Chriftian's lips can wear, 
 When fome kind Angel foothes the lab 'ring breath, 
 And lifts th' emancipating wand of Death. 
 
 Then only not the friend of all mankind, 
 When tothyfelf a foe — farewell, great mind ! 
 We wander tearful through this vale below. 
 But thou art gone where tears forget to flow ; lOo 
 Where Love and Joy eternal vigils hold. 
 And fcatter healing as their wings unfold ; 
 Where Souls their radiant courfe for ever run, 
 And move like Planets round the Almighty Sun. 
 
 If Friendfliip be a flower, whofe am'ranth bloom ,105 
 Endures that heavenly clime ; beyond the tomb 
 
OF JOHN HENDERSON. I05 
 
 I, haply I (low fcenes of earth, retreat !) 
 Am doom'd once more thy honor'd form to meet ; 
 Behold thee (land " girt in a Harry zone" 
 WhereWifdom wells beneath th'Otnnifcient's throne; 
 And thou to me with outftretch'd arm fhalt bring 
 Neftar ebullient from that living fpring. 
 
SKETCHES 
 
 LIFE AND CHARACTER 
 
 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
SKETCHES 
 
 CHARACTER 
 
 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 J 
 
 OHN HENDERSON, the fubjeft of the 
 preceding Monody, was born at Limeric, but 
 came to England at an early age with his 
 parents : difcovering from his infancy the 
 prefagesof a great mind. Without retracing 
 the fteps of his progreflion, a general idea 
 may be formed of them, from the clrcum- 
 ftance of his hdivmgprofejjionally taught 
 Greek and Latin in a public Seminary 
 at the age of twelve years. 
 
 I Some 
 
110 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 Some time after, his Father (a man of a 
 moll expanded heart and enlightened under- 
 ftanding, every way worthy of his Son) 
 commencing a Boarding-fchool in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Brijlol, young Henderson 
 engaged with him to teach the Claflics, which 
 he did with much reputation ; extending at 
 the fame time his own knowledge in the 
 fciences and general literature to a degree 
 that rendered him a prodigy of intelligence 
 to all around him ; and his abilities will 
 appear the more eminent, when it is under- 
 ftood that the only regular fource of im- 
 provement he poffeffed, was, books, and the 
 - energy of his own mind. 
 
 At the age of eighteen he had not only 
 thoughtfully perufed the popular Englifh 
 authors, but taken an extenfive furvey of 
 foreign literature, as well as fcrutinized 
 with the minutefl attention into the obfo- 
 
 lete 
 
JOHN HENDERSON. Ill 
 
 ]ete writers of the two preceding centuries ; 
 preferving at the fame time a diftinguifliing 
 fenfe of their refpeftive merits, particular 
 fentiments, and charafteriftic traits ; whicli 
 on proper occafions he commented upon in a 
 manner that aftonifhed the learned lillner, 
 not more by his profound remarks than his 
 cool and fententious eloquence. So fur- 
 prifingly retentive was his memory, that 
 he rendered likely and almoft furpaffed the 
 hitherto incredible narrations of Creichton 
 aud Pfalmanazor : whilft the ideas he had 
 been fo rapidly accumulating were not in his 
 mind a tangled foreft, or huge chaos, but 
 were organized into fyftems, and laid out in- 
 to fertile gardens. It was this quality which 
 made him fo fuperior a difputant ; for as his 
 mind had inveftigated the various fyftems and 
 hypothefes of men, as promulgated in different 
 ages, fo had his almoft intuitive difcrimina- 
 tion ftript them of their deceptive appen- 
 1 2 uages, 
 
il2 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 dages, and feparated fallacy from truth ; 
 marflialling their arguments fo as to eluci- 
 date or deteft each other : yet he never 
 interrupted the moft tedious or confufed 
 opponent, tho' from his pithy queftions, he 
 made it evident, that from the firfl, he had 
 anticipated the train and confequences of 
 their reafonings. His favourite fludies were 
 Mathematics, Aftronomy, Theology, Che- 
 miftry, and Metaphyfics ; and that his attain- 
 ments were not fuperficial will be readily 
 admitted by thofe who knew him beft. — As 
 aLinguifthe was acquainted with the Perfian, 
 Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Saxon 
 languages ; together with the French, Spa- 
 uifh, Italian, and German ; and not only 
 knew their rulingprinciples and predominant 
 diftinftions, fo as to read them with fa- 
 cility, but in the greater part conversed 
 fluently. 
 
 Like 
 
JOHN HENDERSON. 113 
 
 Like Servin (as recorded by Sully) 
 he was of a difpofition to do as well as to 
 know all things, and confequently diftin- 
 guifhed himfelf for his fkill in many of the 
 mechanic arts. Though not of the higher 
 order of attainments, it may not be improper 
 tomentionhisringulartalentforlMlTATlON. 
 He could not only alTume the diale£l of every 
 nation in Europe, but the accent of particular 
 dlftrifts fo completely, that he might have 
 pafTed for an inhabitant of either : and of 
 the variations of the human voice in diffe- 
 rent individuals, his recolleftion was fo 
 acute, and the modulation of his voice fo 
 extended, that having once converfed with 
 a perfon, he moft accurately imitated his 
 geflures and articulation for ever after. 
 
 He was alfo a warm advocate for the 
 fcience of Physiognomy, and difcovered 
 in his frequent, decifions not an occafional 
 
 develope- 
 
114 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 developement of charafter, but a clear per- 
 ception of the ferondary, as well as predomi- 
 nant tendencies of the mind, 
 
 " Making his eye the inmate of each bofom." 
 
 His converfation was fuch as might have 
 been expe£ied from a man whofe fancy was 
 fo creative, whofe knowledge omnifarious, 
 and whofe recolleftion fo unbounded. He 
 combined fcholaftic accuracy with unaffefted 
 eafe; condenfed and pointed, yet rich and 
 perfpicuous. Were it poflible for his nume- 
 rous friends by any energy of reminifcencc 
 to colleft his difcourfe, John Henderson 
 would be diflinguifhed as a voluminous 
 author, who yet preferved a Spartan frugality 
 of words. 
 
 In all companies he led the converfation : 
 yet, though he was perpetually encircled by 
 
 admirers. 
 
JOHN HENDERSON. 115 
 
 admirers, his fleady mind decreafed not its 
 charms, by a fupercilious felf-opinion of 
 them : nor did he affume that as a Right, 
 which the wiflies of his friends rendered a 
 Duty : he led the converfation ; for filence or 
 diminifhed difcourfe would have been de- 
 'fervedly deemed vanity, as though he had de- 
 fired to make his friends feel the value of his 
 inflruftions from the temporary lofs of them. 
 But in no inflance was his fuperiority oppref- 
 five : calm, attentive, and chearful, he con- 
 futed more gracefully than others compli- 
 ment : the tone of docrmatifm and the fmlle 
 of contempt were equally unknown to him. 
 Sometimes indeed he raifed himfeif ftronger 
 and more lofty in his eloquence, then chiefly, 
 when fearful for his weaker brethren, he 
 oppofed the arrogance of the illiterate 
 Deill, or the worfe jargon of fenfual and 
 cold-blooded Atheifm. The clouds of Igno- 
 rance, which enveloped their underftandings, 
 {learned up from the pollutions of their hearts : 
 
 he 
 
Il6 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 he crouded his fails and bore down upon 
 
 with falutary violence. 
 
 But the qualities which moft exaltedJoHN 
 Henderson in the eftimation oi his 
 friends, were his high fenfe of honor, and the 
 benevolence of his heart : not that honor 
 which originates in a jealous love of the 
 world's praife, nor that benevolence which 
 delights only in publicity of well-doing. 
 His honor was the anxious Delicacy of a 
 Chriftian, who regarded his foul as a facred 
 Pledge, that muft fome time be re-delivered 
 to the Almighty Lender : his benevolence 
 a circle in which Self indeed mig-ht be the 
 center, but all that lives was the cir- 
 cumference. — This tribute of refpeft to thy 
 nameandv'irtues, my beloved Henderson ! 
 is paid by one, who was once proud to call 
 thee Tutor, who once enjoyed thy friend- 
 
 Ihip, 
 
JOHN HENDERSON. 11/ 
 
 iliip, and who will do honor to thy memory 
 til his fpirit refts with thine. 
 
 By thofe who were unacquainted with 
 John Henderson's charafter, it may 
 naturally be afked, " What tell has he left 
 to the world of the diftinguifhed talents afcri- 
 
 bed to him ?" None. 1 am however 
 
 happy in having it in my power to difclofe 
 a fentiment he cherifhed, which, whilll it 
 teaches humility to the proud, explains the 
 caufe of that filence fo generally regretted. 
 Upon my expreffing to him fome concern 
 at his not having benefited mankind by the 
 refult of his deep and varied inveltigations 
 — he replied, " More men becotne writers 
 " from Ignorance than from knowledge. — 
 " Many claims to originality mail be pro- 
 " nounced null, unlefs the Authors can 
 " convift their forefathers of plagiarifm. 
 " — Let us think flowly and write late." 
 
 Thus 
 
Il8 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 Thus the vaftnefs and variety of his acquire- 
 ments, and the diffidence of his own mental 
 maturity alike prevented him from illumina- ; 
 ting mankind, till Death called him to gra- 
 duate in a fphere more favourable to the range 
 of his foaring and comprehenfive mind. — He 
 died at Oxford in November, 1788, in the 
 32d year ot his age ; of which Univerfity for 
 fome years he had been the pride and orna- 
 ment. 
 
 It would be wrong to clofe this brief 
 account of John Henderson without 
 naming two other qualities with which he 
 was eminently endowed ; firll, the afcen- 
 dancy he had acquired over his temper. 
 There are moments in which, from a variety 
 ofcaufes, moft perfons are fufceptible ol a 
 tranfient irritability ; but the oldeft of his 
 friends never beheld him otherwife than 
 calm and collefted : it was a Hate of mind 
 
 he 
 
JOHN HENDERSON. iig 
 
 he retained under all circumftances, * and 
 which to his Pupils he never failed forcibly 
 to inculcate, together with that unfhaken 
 firmnefs of mind which encounters the un- 
 avoidable misfortunes of this life without 
 repining, and that from the nobleil principle, 
 from a conviftion that they are regulated by 
 Him who cannot err, and who in his feverefl 
 allotments defigns only our ultimate good ; in 
 a letter to one of them he expreffes himfelf, 
 " See tnat you govern your Padions. What 
 " fhould grieve us but our infirmities ? what 
 " make us angry but our own faults ? a man 
 " who knows he is mortal, and that all the 
 
 " world 
 
 * As a Proof of his felf command, the following cir- 
 cumftance may be adduced ; during his refidence at 
 Oxford. A Student of a neighbouring College, proud 
 of his logical acquireinents, was folicitous of a private 
 difputation with the lenowned Henderson ; fome 
 mutual fiiends introduced him ; and having chofen his 
 fubjeft, they converfed for fome time with equal candor 
 
 and 
 
120 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 " world will pafs away, and by and by feem 
 " only like a tale — a finner who knows his 
 " fufFerings are all lefs than his fins, and de- 
 " figned to break him from them — one who 
 " knows that every thing in this world is a 
 " feed that will have its fruit in Eternity — 
 " that GOD is the bell — the only good 
 " Friend — that in him is all we want — that 
 " every thing is ordered for the befl — fo 
 " that it could not be better, however we 
 " take it ; he who believes this in his heart 
 " is happy. Such be you — may you always 
 
 " farewell, 
 
 and moderation; but Henderson's Antagonift per- 
 ceiving his confutation inevitable (forgetting the charac- 
 ter of a Gentleman, and with a refeatment engendered 
 by his former arrogance) threw a full glafs of wine in his 
 face : He nde rson without altering his features or chan- 
 ging his pofuion, gently wiped his face, and then coolly re- 
 plied, " This Sir is a digression : now for the Argument." 
 It is hardly necelTary to add, the infult was refented bv 
 the Company's turning the agrellor out of the room. 
 
JOHN HEMDERSON. I21 
 
 "farewell, — be the friend oi GOD! again 
 '' farewell." 
 
 The other quality referred to, was, the 
 simplicity and condescension of his manners : 
 from the gigantic ftature of his mind, he was 
 enabled to trample down his pigmy com- 
 petitors ; and qualified to enforce his un- 
 queftioned fuperiority ; but his mind was 
 SOFT, his manners unassuming, and his 
 bofom the receptacle of all the social 
 
 AFFECTIONS. 
 
 It is thefe virtues alone which can difarm 
 Superiority of its terrors, and make the 
 eye, which is raifed in wonder, beam at the 
 fame moment with affeftion. There have 
 been intelleftual as well as civil defpots, 
 whofe motto feems to have been, *' Let them 
 *' hate provided they fear." Such men may 
 
 triumph 
 
122 JOHN HENDERSON. 
 
 triumph in their tremendous pre-eminence ; 
 but they will never, as was John Hender- 
 son, be followed by the Child, loved by 
 
 the Ignorant, yet emulated by the Wife. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 •* 
 Preface, page 3, line ai, for two other pieces read thne. 
 Page 41, line 11, for houl'd lead howl'd. 
 Page &o^ \\x\t r^.,iQXXuhoni\tzdiWh0,