I lai T H E WORKS I N VERSE and PROSE O F WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Efq; IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLUME I. • ■ ■ " - His ego longos Cant an do puerum memini me condere foies. ViRC, EDINBURG Hi Printed for Alexander Donaldson, MDCCLXV. advertise m e n t. UR author Mr Shenstone, was eldeft fon of a Shropfhire Gentle- man, who lived upon his own eilate* The father, early difcovering the fon s capacity, refolved to give him a liberal education, and for this purpofe fenthim to Pembroke college in Oxford, defign- ing him for the church.— But though he had the moll awful conceptions of a fupreme Being, he could never be pre- vailed on to enter into orders. He was of no particular fedt or opi- nion, and hated all religious difputes. Whatever his own ier.liments were, his lenity was great to inch as filtered from him. Tenderncis, indeed, in every fenfe of the word, was his peculiar charac- ter] flic [ iv ] teriilic. His friends, his domeftics, and poor neighbours, had daily experience of his benevolence. This virtue he often carried to excefs ; but when he found that any of thofe whom he had ranked a- mongfc his friends, uled him ungenteel- ly, he was hardly reconcileable. His maxim, on fuch occafions, defervcs par- ticular notice : “ I never will be a re- vengeful enemy ; but I cannot, it is not in my nature, to be half a friend.” Al- though quite unfufpicious in his temper; yet if his fufpicion was once rcufed, it was not eafily laid aileep. . II is generous temper would not per- mit him to regard the proper ufe of mo- ney. This made him exceed the yearly income of his paternal edate, which was about three hundred pounds. But when one recolledts the paradife he raifed a- round him, his hofpitality, and indul- gence [ V } gencc to his fervants, and charities to the indigent, there is more reafcn to wonder O that he left any thing behind him, than to blame his want of oeconomy. How- ever, as much remained as was fufficient to pay his whole debts, for which he ap- propriated his eftate by his will. Though fome have imagined that his narrow circumftanc.es prevented him from marrying, yet he had a high opinion of many among the fair fex, and difcovered no averfion to wedlock. Love-affairs in his youth with much difficulty he fur- mounted. It wjas this gave occaflon to that fweet paftoral, in four parts, which has alw/ys been univerfally admired, and might, one would think, fubdue the moft obdurate heart. His chara&er, as a writer, may be diftinguiftied by an elegant fimplicity, a 3 and [ Vi ] and a correct genius. His greatefl diffi- culty, in all his compofitions, was, to pleafe himfelf. Mr Shenftone’s talents were not wholly confined to poetry. His profe works give the bed: difplay of his judgment and penetration, his great knowledge of the human heart, and his fuperiour underftanding. — Some things are left unfinifhed, others as fingle thoughts ; but even thefe, like the fparks of diamonds, ihew the richnefs of the mine to which they belong.- — Our Au- thor’s character being fufficiently efta- bliffied, any attempt to recommend his writings would be fuperfluous. CON- CONTENTS. ELEGIES on feveral occafions. Prefatory efay on elegy ELEGY I. He arrives at his retirement in the country , and takes occafion to expatiate in praife of f implicit y . To a friend - - - 13 ELEGY II. On pof humous reputation. To a friend 15 ELEGY III. On the untimely death of a certain learned acquain- tance . - - 1 7 ELEGY IV. Ophelia’s urn. To Mr G - 20 ELEGY V. He compares the turbulence of love -with the tran- quillity of friendjhip. To Meliffa his friend 2 2 ELEGY VI. To a lady on the language of birds - 24 ELEGY VII. He defcribes his vifion to an acquaintance 26 E L E- CONTENTS. He dcfcribes his early love of poetry , and its confe quences. To' Mr G 1745 - 3c vlii Page ELEGY VIII. E L E G Y IX. He dcfcribes his difintereftednefs to a friend 33 E L E GY X. To fortune, fuggefting his motive for repining at her difpenfations - 35 E L E G Y XI. He complains how foon the pleafing novelty of life is over. To Mr J— — \ 35 E L E G Y XII. His recantation - 4 * E L E G Y XIII. To a friend , on forne fight occafon eft ranged from him - - - - 4Z ELEGY XIV. Declining an invitation to vif.t foreign countries , he takes occafon to intimate the advantages of his own. To Lord Temple - - 44 ELEGY XV. In memory of a private family in Worceft erf sire 47 ELEGY XVI. He fuggefts the advantages of birth to a perfon of merit , and the folly of a fupercilioufnefs that is built upon that foie foundation . - 51 ELEGY XVII. He indulges the fuggeftions of fpleen : an elegy to the winds - - - - - E LI - CONTENTS. IX Page ELEGY XVIII. He repeats the Jong of Colin , a difee rning foep- herd ; lamenting the fate of the ’woollen manu- factory - - - "59 ELEGY XIX. Written in fpring 1743 - - - 63 ELEGY XX. He compares his humble fortune with the diflrefs of others ; and his fubjeCtion to Deha, with the rai- ferable fervitude of an African fave - 66 ELEGY XXI. Taking a view of the country from his retirement, he is led to meditate on the characters of the ancient Britons. Written at the time of a rumour- ed tax upon luxury. 1746 6 9 ELEGY XXII. Written in the year when the rights of fe- pulture were Jo frequently violated 73 ELEGY XXIII. RefeClions fuggefed by his fituation - 77 ELEGY XXIV. He takes occafion from the fate of Eleanor of Bre- tagne, to fuggef the imperfeCl pleafures of a fo- litary life - - - - - 81 ELEGY XXV. To Delia, with fame f ewers ; complaining how much his benevolence ficffers on account of his humble fortune - - - - 85 ELEGY XXVI. Defcribing the forrow of an ingenuous mind, on the melancholy event of a licentious amour 87 ODES, X CONTENTS. ODES, SONGS, BALLADS, & c . Rural elegance : an ode to the late Duchefs cf So- 7 "he Princefs Elifabeth : a ballad alluditig to a Jlo- ry recorded of her , when fhe was prifoner at Woodfock, 1554 - - - - 105 Ode to a young lady, fomewhat too folicitous about To a lady of quality , fitting up her library. 1738 - - - 1 17 Upon a vifit to the fame in winter. 1748 1 19 An irregular ode after ficknefs . 1749 - 121 Written in a flower-book of my own colouring, de- fgned for Lady Plymouth. 1753-4 126 Anacreontic. 1738 - - - - 127 Ode. Written in 173 9 - - - 129 The dying kid - - - 131 Songs, written chief y between the year 1737 and A pajhral ode, to the Honourable Sir Richard Lyt- telton - - - - 1 C4 Verfes written towards the clofe of the year 1748, merfet. Written in 1750 Ode to memory. 1748 her manner of exprcffion Nancy of the vale, A ballad Ode to indolence. 1750 Ode to health. 1730 108 109 1 12 114 1742 The halcyon 1 33 * — * 5 ° 151 152 Ode to William Lyttelton, Efq; CONTENTS. XI Page Jemmy Davjfon, a ballad; ’written about the time cf his execution, in the year 1745 164 A pajloral ballad, in four parts. Written in 1743 • • 168 LEVITIES, or PIECES of HUMOUR. Flirt and Phil ; a dccifion for the ladies 177 Stanzas to the memory of an agreeable lady , buried in marriage to a perfon undeferving her 178 Colemira. A culinary eclogue - 179 The rape of the trap. A ballad. 1737 i8 3 On certain pajl orals - - - 186 On Mr C of Kidderminfer's poetry 186 To the virtuofos - - - 187 The extent of cookery - - 189 The progrefs of advice. A common cafe 190 A ballad - 191 Slender's ghojl - 192 The invidious - - - - 193 The price of an equipage - - 194 Hint from Voiture - - - 195 Infcription - - - 196 To a friend - - - - - 197 A folemn meditation - - - 200 The poet and the dun. 1741 - - 201 Written at an inn at Henley - - 203 A fmile - - - 204 The charms of precedence. A tale - 205 Ode - . - - 212 Epilogue to the tragedy of Cleone - 213 MORAL Page The judgment of Hercules - - 215 The progrefs of tajle ; or. The fate of delicacy 233 Oeconomy. A rhapfody, addreffed to young poets - - - 248 The ruin'd abbey • or, The effects of fuptrjlition 276 Love and honour .... 289 The fchool-mifirefs ■ - - 300 Many different OCCASIONS Tantun i inter denfas umbrofa cacumina fagot ■Afidue veniebat ; ibi haec incond'tta , folut , Montibus et filvis Jiudio jaftabat inani ! Virg Vol. I. A A PREFATORY ESSAY o N ELEGY. I T is obfervable , that difcourfcs prefixed to poe- try are contrived very frequently to inculcate fitch tenets as may exhibit the performance to the greatejl advantage . The fabric is very commonly raifed in the firft place, and the meafures by which we are to judge of its merit , arc afterwards ad- j ujted. There have been few rules given us by the cri- tics concerning the fruElure of elegiac poetry ; and far be it from the author of the following trifes, to dignify his own opinions with that denomination. He would only intimate the great variety of fub- jedts, and the different * ftyles in which the wri- ters of elegy have hitherto indulged themfelves, and endeavour to fhield the following ones by the latitude of their example. If we confider the etymology of the f word, the ipithet which \ Horace gives it , or the confejjicn * This efiay was written near twenty years ago, i-Xiysiv, t-jianiculam dolendi. • $ Mifcrabiles elegos. A 2 which 4 A- Prefatory Essay on ELEGY. which * Ovid makes concerning it,- 1 think we may conclude thus much however , that elegy, in its trice and genuine acceptation , includes a tender and querulous idea s that it looks upon this as its peculiar charaUeriflic,, and, fo long as this is thoroughly fuf- tained,, admits of a variety of fubjeds, which, by its manner of treating them, it renders its own. It throws its melancholy ftole over pretty different objects, which, like the drefjes at a funeral procef- j on, gives them all a kind of folemn and uniform ap- pearance. It is probable that elegies were written at firft upon the death of intimate friends and near rela- tions ; celebrated beauties, or favourite miftreflesq beneficent governors and illuftrious men : one may add perhaps if all thofe who are placed by Virgil in the laurel-grove of his Ely f inn, ( Tide Hurde’; Differtation on Horace’s Epiflle ), Quique fui memores alios fecere naerendo. After thofe ftbjeSIs were faffciently exhaufled, and the feverity of fate difplayed in the mqjl aff elding infances, the poets fought occafian to vary their complaints ; and the next tender fpecies of forrow that prefented itfelfwas the grief of abfent or neg- lefled lovers. And this indulgence might be in- deed allowed them ; but with this they were not con- tented. They had obtained a fmall corner in the province of love y and they took advantage from thence to over -run the whole territory. They fung * Heu nimis ex -vtre nunc tibi nomen erit. Cvjd. de morte Tibulli. its A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY, 5 its fpgils, triumphs, ovations, and rejoicings *, as well as the captivity and exequies that attended it . They gave the name of elegy to their pleafantries as well as lamentations, till at kfl, through their abundant fondnefs for the myrtle, they forgot that the cyprefs was their peculiar garland. In this it is probable they deviated from the origi- nal defign of elegy ; and it Jhould. feem, that any kind ofjubjecls treated in fuch a manner as to dif- fufe a p leaf fig melancholy, might far better deferve the name, than the facetious mirth and libertine' fefivity of the fwcoefsful votaries of love. But not to dwell too long upon an opinion which: may {am perhaps introduced to favour the follow -• ing performance, it may not be improper to examine into the ule and end of elegy. The mof important end of all poetry is to encourage virtue. Epic and tragedy chief y recommend the public virtues ; ele- gy is of a fpecies which illuf rates and endears the private. There is a truly virtuous pleafure connePt- ed with many penfve contemplations, which it isr the province and. excellency cf elegy to enforce.. - This, by prefenting fuiiable ideas, has dijeovered fw.eets in melancholy which we could, not fnd in mirth ; and has led us with fuccefs to the dufy urn, when we could draw no pleafure from the fparkling bowl. As paforal conveys an idea of fmplicity .and innocence, it is in particular the taf and merit of elegy to fhew the innocence and fimplicity of rural life to advantage ; and that in a way dif inli r * Dicite Io Pjenn, et Jo bis dicite Psean, Cyid. A3 from 6 A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY 1 . from paftoral, as much as the plain but judicious landlord may be imagined to furpafs his tenant both id dignity and underftanding. It Jhouldalfo tend to elevate the more tranquil virtues of humility, dilintereftednefs, fimplicity, and innocence : but then there is a degree of elegance and refinement no way ijiconfiftent with thefe rural virtues. ; and that raifes elegy above that merum rus, that un- poliihed ruficity, which has given our pafloral' writers their high sf reputation.. Wealth and fplen dour will' never want their pro- per weight : the danger is, left they ft jo aid too much preponderate ^ A kind of poetry therefore which throws its chief influence into the other fcale , that magnifies the fweets of liberty and independence , that endears the honeft delights of love and friendfhip that celebrates the glory of a good name after death, that ridicules the futile arrogance of birth, ^ that recommends the innocent, amufement of letters and inf (fifthly, prepares the mind jor that humanity it inculcates, fuch a kind of poetry may chance to pleafe ; and if it pleafe, f could feem to be of fer - vice. As to the ftyle of elegy,, it may be well enough determined from what has gone before. It ftoould imitate the voice and language of grief ; or if a metaphor of drefs be more agreedble, it Jhould be ftmple and dijfufe, and flowing as a mourner's veil. A verification therefore is dcfirable , which, by in- dulging a free and uncorft rained exprejfton , may admit of that fmplicity which elegy requires.. Heroic A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY. p- Heroic metre, with alternate rhyme, fcems well, enough adapted to this fpecies of poetry ; and, how- ever exceptionable upon other occafions, its irtcon- veniencies appear to lofe their weight in fhorter ele- gies ; and its advantages.feem to acquire an addi- tional importance. The world Ixis an admirable example of its beauty in a collection of elegies * not long face published ; the produCl of a gentleman of the mojl exaCl tafe, and whofe untimely death merits all the tears that elegy can feed. It is not impoffible that fome may think this metre too lax and profaic : others, that even a more dif- folitte variety of numbers may have fuperiour ad- vantages. And, in favour of thefe laji, might be- produced the example /Milton in his Lycidas, together with one or two recent and beautiful -imi- tations cf his verffication in that monody. But- this kind of argument, I am apt to think, muff, prove too much.; fince the writers 1 have in view feem capable enough of recommending any metre' they fhall chvfe ; though it mufi be owned alfo, that - the choice they make of any, is at the fame time-- the frongef prefumption in its favour. Perhaps it may be no great difficulty to compro- mife the difpute. There is no . one kind of metre that is. diftinguifhed by rhymes, but is liable to fome objection or other. Heroic verfe, where, every fe-- cond line is terminated by a rhyme, ( with which the judgment requires that the fenfe Jhould in fovie * N. B. This preface was written near twenty years ago. meafurs 3 A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY. me a fur e alfo terminate ) , is apt to render the ex- predion cither /canty or conjirained. And this is fometimes obfervablc in the writings of a poet late- ly deceafed ; though I believe no one ever threw Jo much fer.fe together with fo much eafe into a couplet as Mr Pope. But as an air of conftr-aint too often accompanies this metre , it feems by no means proper for a writer c/' elegy. The previous rhyme in Milton’s Lycidas is very frequently placed at fuch a diflance from the following , that it is often dropt by the memory (much better employed in attending to the fenti- ment ) before it be brought to join its partner : and this feems to be the great ejl objection to that, kind of verffi cation. But then the peculiar eafe and variety it admits of, are no doubt fujfcient to overbalance the objection, and to give it the pre- ference to any other, in an elegy of length. The chief exception to which ftanza of all kin die is liable, is, that it breaks the fenfe too regularly,. when it is ^continued through a long poem, Audi this may be perhaps the fault of P/Ir Waller’; excellent panegyric. But if this fault be lefs dif- fer nib le in f nailer ccrmpoftions, as Jfuppofe it: is, I flatter myfclf, that the advantages 1 have before Mentioned refuting from alternate rhyme (with which Jianza is, 1 think, connected), may, at leaf in fhorter elegies, be allowed to outre cigh its im- perfections A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY. 9 / Jhall fay but little of the different kinds of ele- gy. The melancholy of a lover is different , no doubt y from what we feel on other mixed occafons. The mind in which love and grief at once predominate , is foftened to an excels. Love-elegy therefore is more negligent of order and defgn, and, being ad- drefjed chiefly to the ladies, requires little more than tendernefs and perfpicuity .. Elegies that are form- ed upon promfeuous incidents , and addreffed to the world in general, inculcate fome fort of moral, and admit a different degree of re afoning, thought , and order . The author of the following elegies entered on his fubjedls occalionally, as particular incidents in life fuggefted, or difpof lions sf mind recommended them to his choice. If he deferibes a rural landf cape or unfolds the train of fent intents it infpired he fairly drew his picture from the fpot , and felt very ferfbly the affection he commu. icates . If he f peaks of his humble fhed, his forks and his fceces r he does not counterfeit the feene ; who having ( whs * ther through choice or neccffty, is not material) retired betimes to country -fdlitudes, and fought his happinefs in rural employments, has a right to con- fde'r himfelf as a real fhepherd. The forks, the meadows , and the grottoes , are his own, and the- embellifoment of his farm his file amufement.. Els the fentiments therefore were infpired by nature , and that in the earlier part of his life, he hopes they will retain a natural appearance ; dffufhg I *t leaf foms part of that amufement , which he freely acknowledges 10 A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY. acknowledges he received from the' compofltioti of them. There will appear perhaps a real inconfjlency til the moral tenour of the fever al elegies ; and the fubfequent ones may fometimes feem a recantation of the preceding. The reader will fcarcely impute this to overjight ; but will allow, that mens opi- nions as well as tempers vary ; that neither public nor private, active nor fpeculative life, are unex~ ceptionably happy, and confequently that any change cf opinion concerning them may afford an additional beauty to poetry, as it gives us a more fr iking rc- prefentation of life. If the author has hazarded, throughout , tne ufe ef Englijb or modern alhifons, he hopes it wilt not be imputed to an entire ignorance , or to the leaft difefteem of the ancient learning. He has kept the ancient plan and method in his eye, though he builds his edifee with the materials of his own na- tion. In other words, through a fondnefs for his native country, he has made ufe of the flowers it produced, though, in order to exhibit them to the greater advantage , he has endeavoured to weave his garland by the befl model he could find ; with what fuccefs, beyond his own amitfement , mufl be left to judges lefs partial to him than either his ac- quaintance or his friends. —If any of thofe Jbould be Jb candid as to approve the variety offubjccls he * has choj'en, and the tendernefs of J.entime nt he has endeavoured to imprefs, he begs the metre alfo may not be too fuddenly condemned. The public ear, ha- bituated. A Prefatory Essay on ELEGY, n bituated of late to a quicker meafure, may per- haps confider this as heavy and languid; but an objection of that kind may gradually lofe its force, if this meafure fijould be allowed to fuit the nature of elegy , If it fhould happen to be confider ed as an objec- tion with others, that there is too much of a moral cafl dijfufed through the whole ; it is replied , that he endeavoured to animate the poetry fo far as not to render this objection too obvious , or to rifle excluding the fafidonable reader ; at the fame time • never deviating from a fixed principle , that poetry without morality is but the bloiTom of a fruit-tree. Poetry is indeed like that fpecies of plants which 'may bear at once both fruits and blojfoms ; and the tree is by no means in perfection without the for- mer, however it may he embellifbed by the flowers which furround it. ELEGY 53 ELEGY L He arrives at his retirement in the country , and takes occafion to expatiate in praife of Jimplicity . To a friend. F O R rural virtues, and for native flcies, I bade Augusta’s venal Tons farewell.; Now, mid the trees, I fee my fmoke arife, Now hear the fountains bubbling round my celL O may that genius which fecures my reft, Preferve this villa for a friend that’s dear ! Ne’er may my vintage glad the fordid breaft ! Ne’er tinge the lip that dares be unfincere ! Far from thefe paths, ye faithlefs friends, depart ! Fly my plain board, abhor my hoftile name ! Hence ! the faint verfe that flows not from the heart. But mourns in labour’d ftrains the price of fame ! O lov’d flmplicity ! be thine the prize ! Afliduous art correct her page in vain ! His be the palm who, guiltlefs of difguifc, Contemns the pow’r, the dull refource to feign ! Still may the mourner, lavifh of his tears For lucre’s venal meed, invite my fcorn ! Still may the bard diflembling doubts and fears. For praife, for flatt’ry fighing, figh forlorn ! Vol. I. B Soft ELEGIES. Eleg. I. 14 Soft as the line of love-lick Hammond flows, Twas his fond heart effus’d the melting theme ; Ah ! never could Aonia’s hill difclofe So fair a fountain, or fo lov’d a ftream. Ye lovelefs bards ! intent with artful pains To form a figh, or to contrive a tear ! Forego your'Pindus, and on plains Survey Camilla’s charms, and grow lincere. But thou, my friend ! while in thy youthful foul Love’s gentle tyrant feats his awful throne. Write from thy bofom — let not art controul The ready pen that makes his edi, * 174 5. A H me ! what envious magic thins my fold.? What mutter’dfpell retards their late increafe? Such lefs’ning fleeces nmft the Twain behold, That e’er with Doric pipe eflays to plcafe. I faw my friends in ev’ning-circles meet; I took my vocal reed, and tun’d my lay I heard them fay my vocal reed was fweet ; Ah fool ! to credit what I heard them fay ! Ill-fated bard! that feeks his (kill to flow, Then courts the judgment of a friendly ear ! Not the poor veteran, that permits his foe To guide his doubtful flep, has more to fear. Nor cou’d my G miftake the critic’s laws. Till pious Friendfhip mark’d the pleafing way. Welcome fuch errour ! ever blefs’d the caufe ! Ev’n tho’ it led me boundkfs leagues aftray ! Couldft thou reprove me, when I nurs’d the flame On lift’ning Cher well’s ofler banks reclin’d ? While foe to fortune, unfeduc’d by fame, I Tooth’d the bias of a carelefs mind. * N, B, Written after the death of Mr Pope. Youth’s E L E G I E S. 3 ? Eleg. VIII. Youth’s gentle kindred, health and love, were met ; What tho’ in Alma’s guardian arms I play’d ? How fhall the mufe thofe vacant hours forget ?. Or deem that blifs by folid cares repaid l Thou know’ft how tranfport thrills the tender bread, Where love and fancy fix their op’ning reign j How nature fhines in livelier colours dreft, To blefs their union, and to grace their train. So firft when Phoebus met the Cyprian queen, And favour ’dRhodes beheld theirpaflion crown’d* Unufual fiow’rs enrich’d the painted green. And fwift fpontaneous rofes blufh’d around. Now fadly lorn, fromTwiTNAM’s widow’d bow’r,. The drooping mufcs take their cafual way ; And where they dop, a flood of tears they pour ; And where they weep, no more the fields are gay! Where is the dappled pink, the fprightly rofe ? The cowflip’s golden cup no more I fee : Dark and difcolour’d ev’ry fiow’r that blows, To form the garland. Elegy ! for thee ! — Enough of tears has wept the virtuous dead ; Ah might we now the pious rage controul ! Hufli’d be my grief ere ev’ry fmile be fled. Ere the deep fwelling figh fubvert the foul ! If 32 ELEGIES.. Eleg.VIII. If near fome trophy fpring a {tripling bay, Pleas’d we behold the graceful umbrage rile ; But foon too deep it works its baneful way, And low on earth the proftrate * ruin lies. * Alludes to what is reported of the bay-tree, that if it is planted too near the walls of an edifice, its roots will work their way underneath, till they dsftrey the foundation. ELEGY Eleg.IX. ELEGIES. 33 ELEGY IX. He defcribes his difinterejiednefs to a friend. I Ne’er mu ft tinge my lip with Celtic wines ; , The pomp of India muft I ne’er difplay ; Nor boaft the produce of Peruvian mines. Nor with Italian founds deceive the day. Down yonder brook my cryftal bev’rage flows ; My grateful fheep their annual fleeces bring ; Fair in my garden buds the damafk rofe. And from my grove I hear the throftle flng? My fellow-fwains ! avert your dazzled eyes ; In vain allur’d by glitt’ring fpoils they rove ; The fates ne’er meant them for the fhepherd’s prize. Yet gave them ample recompenfe in love.. They gave you vigour from your parent’s veins ; They gave you toils, but toils your ftnews brace; They gave you nymphs that own their amorouspains. And fhades, the refuge of the gentle race. To carve your loves, to paint your mutual flames, See ! polilli’d fair, the beech’s friendly rind ! To flng fort carols to your lovely dames, See vocal grotts and echoing vales aflign’d ! Wou’dft thou, my Strephon, Love’s delighted {lave! Tho’ fure the wreaths of chivalry to {hare. Forego the ribbon thy Matilda gave, And giving bade thee in remembrance wear ? Ill ELEGIES. Eleg. IX. 34 111 fare my peace, but ev’ry idle toy. If to my mind my Delia’s form it brings, Has truer worth, imparts lincerer joy, Than all that bears the radiant ft amp of kings. O my foul weeps, my breaft with anguifh bleeds, When love deplores the tyrant power of gain ! Difdaining riches as the futile weeds, I rife fuperiour, and the rich difdain. Oft from the dream, ftow-wandking down the glade, Penftve I hear the nuptial peal rebound ; *•* Some mifer weds,” I cry, “ :he captive maid, And fome fond lover lickens at the found.” Not Somerville, the mule’s friend of old, Tho’ now exalted to yon ambient Iky, So Ihunn’d a foul diftain’d wita earth and gold, So lov’d the pure, the generous breaft, as I. Scorn’d be the wretch that qui s his geniai bowl. His loves, his friendfhips, ev’a his felf, reftgns ; Perverts the facred inftimft of lis foul. And to a ducat’s dirty fpheie confines. But come, my friend, with tafte wi th fcience bleft> Ere age impair me, and ere gold allure ; Reftore thy dear idea to my bieaft:, The rich depofit fhail the Urine fecure. Let others toil to gain the fordd ore, The charms of independence let ws ling ; Blefs’d with thy friendfhip, carl w5fh for more? I’ll fpurn the boafted wealth cf * Lydia’s king. * C:cefus, ELEGY ELEGIES. J ELEGY X. To Fortune, fuggejiing bis motive for repining at her difpenfations . A S K not the caufe why this rebellious tongue Loads with frefli curfes thy detefted fway ; Aik not, thus branded in my fofteft fcng. Why hands the flatter’d name which all obey ? ’Tis not that in my fhade I lurk forlorn. Nor fee my roof on Parian columns rife ; That on this bi'eaft no mimic flat* is borne. Rever’d, ah ! more than thofe that light the fkies. ’Tis not that, on the turf ■ fupinely laid, I fing or pipe but to the flocks that graze ; And, all inglorious in the lonefome fhade, My finger ftiifens, and my voice decays. Not that my fancy mourns thy ftern command. When many an embryo dome is loft in air ; While guardian prudence checks my eager hand, And, ere the turf is broken, cries, “ Forbear. “ Forbear, vain youth ! be cautious, weigh thy gold, “ Nor let yon riling column more afpire ; Ah ! better dwell in ruins, than behold “ 1 hy fortunes mould ’ring, and thy domes entire. “ Honorio built, but dar’d my laws defy; lie planted, fcornful of my fage commands ; “ The peach’s vernal bud regal’d his eye, “ Fhe fruitage ripen’d for more frugal hands.” See ELEGIES. Eleg.X. 3 6 See the fmall ftream that pours its murm’ring tide O’er fome roughrock that wou’d its wealth difplay, Difplays it aught but penury and pride ? Ah ! conftrue wifely what fuch murmurs fay. How would fome flood, with ampler treafures bleft, Difdainful view the fcantling drops diftil ! How muft * Velino fliake his reedy creft ! How ev’ry cygnet mock the boaftive rill! Fortune, I yield ! and fee, I give the fign ; At noon the poor mechanic wanders home ; Colledls the fquare, the level, and the line, And with retorted eye forfakes the dome. Yes, I can patient view the {hadelefs plains ; Can unrepining leave the riflng wall ; Check the fond love of art that fir’d my veins, And my warm hopes in full purfuit recall. Defcend, ye florms ! deflroy my riflng pile ; Loos’d be the whirlwinds unremitting fway ; Contented I, although the gazer fmile To fee it fcai’ce furvive a winter’s day. Let fome dull dotard bafk in thy gay fhrine, As in the fun regales his wanton herd ; Guiltlefs of envy, why fhou’d I repine, That his rude voice, his grating reed’s preferr’d ? * A river in Italy, that falls an hundred yards perpen- dicular. Let El eg.!. ELEGIES. 37 Let him exult, with boundlefs wealth fupply’d, Mine and the fwain’s reluctant homage fhare ; But ah ! his tawdry fhepherdefs’s pride, Gods ! muft my Delia, miift my Delia bear ? Muft Delia’s foftnefs, elegance, and eafe. Submit to Marian’s drefs ? to Marian’s gold ? Muft Marian’s robe from diftant India pleafe? The fun pie fleece my Delia’s limbs infold ? “ Yet fure on Delia feems the ruflet fair- “ Ye glitt’ring daughters of difguife, adieu !” So talk the wife, who judge of fhape and air ; But will the rural thane decide fo true ? Ah ! what is native worth efteem’d of clowns ? ' fis thy falle glare, O Fortune ! thine they fee: Tis for my Delia’s fake I dread thy frowns, A nd my laft gafp fhall curfes breathe on thee. VoL.I. D ELEGY ELEGIES. Eleg. XI. He complains bow foon the pleafing novelty of life * is over. To Mr J . A H me, my friend ! it will not, will not lad 1 This fairy-fcene, that cheats our youthful eyes ! The charm diflolves ; th’ aereal mufic’s pad ; The banquet ceafes, and the vifion dies. Where are the fplendid forms, the rich perfumes. Where the gay tapers, where the ipacious dome ? Van ilh’d the codly pearls, the crimfon plumes, And Ave, delightlefs, left to wander home ! . Vain now are books, the fage*s wifdom vain ! What has the world to bribe our deps adray ? Ere reafon learns by dudy’d laws to reign, The weaken’d padions, felf-fubdu’d, obey. Scarce has the fun fev’n annual courfes roll’d, Scarce fhewn the whole that fortune can fupply ; Since not the mifer fo carefs’d his gold, As I, for what it gave, was heard to dgh. On the world’s dage I widi’d fome fprightly part ; To deck my native deece with tawdry lace ; ’Twas life, ’twas tade, and — oh ttty foolidi heart ! Subdantial joy was dx’d in pow’r and place. And Eleg. XI. ELEGIES. 3* A nd you, ye works of art ! allur’d mine eye, ' The breathing picture, and the living ftone : “ Tho’ gold, tho’ fplendour, heaven and fate deny. Yet might I call one Titian Broke my own !” Smit with the charms of fame, whofe lovely fpoil. The wreath, the garland, fire the poet’s pride, I trimm’d my lamp, confum’d the midnight-oil— But foon the paths of health and fame divide ! Oft too I pray’d, ’twas nature form’d the pray’r, To grace my native fcenes, my rural home ; To fee my trees exprefs their planter’s care, And gay, on Attic models, raife my dome. But now ’tis o’er, the dear delufion’s o’er ! A ftagnant breezelefs air becalms my foul „ A fond afpiring candidate no more, I fcorn the palm, before I reach the goal. O youth ! enchanting ftage, profufely blefs’d ! Blifs ev’n obtrufive courts the frolic rnind ; Of health neglectful, yet by health carefs’d 5 Carelefs of favour, yet fecure to find. Then glows the bread:, as op’ning rofes fair ; More free, more vivid than the linnet’s wing ; Honed: as light, tranfparent ev’n as air, Tender as buds, and lavifh as the fpring. Not all the force of manhood’s active might, Not all the craft to fubtle age adign’d, Not fcience fnall extort that dear delight, Which gay delufion gave the tender mind. D 2 Adieu 4 ° ELEGIES-. Eleg. XI, Adieu foft raptures ! transports void of care ! Parent of raptures, dear deceit, adieu ! And you, her daughters, pining with defpair, Why, why fo foon her fleeting fteps purfue ! Tedious again to curfe the drizling day! Again to trace the wint’ry trails of fnow.I Or, footh’d by vernal airs, again furvey The felf-fame hawthorns bud, and cow flips blow 1 O life ! how foon of ev’ry biifs forlorn ! We ftart falfe joys, and urge the devious race : A tender prey, that cheers our youthful morn, Then links untimely, and defrauds the chace. ELECT Meg. XII. E LE.GIES. 41 ELEGY XII. His recantation. N O more the mule obtrudes her thin difguife ; No more with awkward fallacy complains, IIow ev’ry fervour from my bofom Hies, And reafon in her lonefome palace reigns. Ere the chill winter of our days arrive. No more ihe paints the brealt from paflion free ; I feel, I feel one loit’ring wifh furvive — Ah need I, Flo rxo, name that wifh to thee ? The ftar of Venus u fliers in the day,. The firft, the lovelieft of the train that fhine ! The ftar of Venus lends her brighteft ray. When other ftars their friendly beams refign. Still in my breaft one loft defire remains, Pure as that ftar, from guilt, from int’reft free,. Has gende Delia tript acrofs the plains, And need I, Florio, name that wifh to thee l While, cloy’d to find the feenes of life the fame, I tune with carelefs hand my languid lays ; Some fecret impulfe wakes my former flame. And fires my ftrain with hope of brighter days. I flept not long beneath yon rural bow’rs ; And lo ! my crook with flow’rs adorn’d I fee :• Has gentle Delia bound my crook with flow’r?, And need I, Florio, name my hopes to thee ? » 3 ELEGY 4Z ELEGIES. Eleg. XIII. ELEGY XIII. To a friend , on feme fight occafon ef ranged from him „ H Eal th to my friend, and many a cheerful day Around his feat may peaceful fhades abide ! Smooth flow the minutes, fraught with fmiles, away, And, till they crown our union, gently glide. Ah me ! too fwiftly fleets our vernal bloom I Loft to our wonted friendfhip, loft to joy ! Soon may thy breaft the cordial wifh refume, Ere wint’ry doubt its tender warmth deftroy. Say, were it ours, by fortune’s wild command, By chance to meet beneath the torrid zone ; Wou’dft thou rejedt thy Damon’s plighted hand.? Wou’dft thou with fcorn thy once lov’d friend difown ? Life is that ftranger land, that alien clime : Shall kindred fouls forego their focial claim ? Launch’d in the vaft abyfs of fpace and time, Shall dark fufpicion quench the gen’rous flame? Myriads of fouls, that knew one parent mold. See fadly fever’d by the laws of chance ! Myriads, in time’s perennial lift inr oil’d, Forbid by fate to change one tranfient glance ! But ELEGIES. 43 Eleg. XIII; But we have met — where ills of every form, Where paflions rage, and* hurricanes defcend:. Say, IhaU we. nurfe the rage,, adid the. dorm ? And guide them to the bofom — of a friend? Yes, we have met — thro’ rapine, fraud, and wrong: Might our joint aid the paths of peace explore ! Why leave thy. friend amid the boid’rous throng, Ere death divide us, and we part no more ? For oh ! pale fxcknefs warns thy friend away 1 For me no more the vernal rofes bloom ! I fee flena fate his ebon wand difplay. And point the wither’d regions of the tomb. Then the keen anguifh from thine eyefhall dart. Sad as thou follow’d my untimely bier ; “ Fool that I was — if friends fo foon mud par-;; “ T.o let fufpicion intermix a fear.” ELEGY Declining an invitation to vifit foreign countries , he takes occafion to intimate the advantages of own. \\7 Hu e others loft to friendfhip, loft to love,. Wafte their beft minutes on a foreign ftrand. Be mine, with Britifh nymph or Twain to rove, And court the genius of my native land. Deluded youth ! that quits thefe verdant plains, To catch the follies of an alien foil ! To win the vice his genuine foul diidains, Return exultant,, and import the fpoil !. In vain he boafts of his detefted prize ; No more it blooms to Britifh climes convey’d. Cramp’d by the impulfe of ungenial fkies. See its frefh vigour in a moment fade ! Th’ exotic folly knows its native clime; An awkward ftranger, if we waft it o’er; Why then thefe toils, this coftly wafte of time,, To fpread foft poifon on our happy fhore ? I covet not the pride of foreign looms ; In fearch of foreign modes I fcorn to rove; Nor, for the worthlefs bird of brighter plumes,. Wou’d change the mean eft warbler of my grove.. No Elcg. XIV, ELEGIES. ^ No diftant clime fliall fervile airs impart, Or form thefe limbs with pliant eafe to play ; Trembling I view the Gaul’s illufive art, That heals my lov’d rufticity away. ’Tis long fince freedom fled th’ Hefperian clime ; Her citron groves, her flow’r -embroider’d Ihore 5 She faw the Britifli oak afpire fublime, And loft Campania’s olive charms no more. Let partial funs mature the weflern mine, To flied its luflre o’er th’ Iberian maid ; Mien, beauty, fhape, O native foil, are thine ; Thy peerlefs daughters afk no foreign aid. Let * Ceylon’s envy’d plant perfume the feas. Till torn to feafon the Batavian bowl ; Ours is the breafl: whofe genuine ardours pleafe, - Nor need, a drug to meliorate the foul. Let the proud foldan wound th’ Arcadian groves, Or with rude lips th’ Aonian fount profane ; The mufe no more by flow’ry Ladon roves, She feeks her Thomson on the Britifli plain. Tell not of realms by rutlilefs war difmay’d ; As haplefs realms that war’s oppreffion feel ! In vain may Austria boafh her Noric blade. If Austria bleed beneath her boafted Heel. Beneath her palm Idume vents her moan ; Piaptur’d flie once beheld its friendly lhade ! And hoary Memphis boafls her tombs alone. The mournful types of mighty pow’r decay’d ! * The. cinnamon. No. 43 ELEGY XIX. Written in fpring 1743. A Gain the lab’ring hind inverts the foil ; Again the merchant ploughs the tumid wave ; Another fpring renews the foldier’s toil, And finds me vacant in the rural cave.- As the foft lyre difplay’d my wonted loves, The penfive pleafure and the tender pain. The fordid Alpheus hurry ’d thro’ my groves; Yet dopt to vent the dictates- of difdaim He glanc’d contemptuous o’er my ruin’d fold ; He blam’d the graces of my fav’rite bow’r ; My bread, unfully’d by the lud of gold 1 ; My time, unlavilh’d in purfuit of pow’r. Yes, Alp pie us ! fly the purer paths of fate ; Abjure thefe fcenes from venal paflions free ; Know, in this grove, I vow’d perpetual hate, War, endlefs war, with lucre and with thee. Here nobly zealous, in my youthful hours, I drefs’d an altar to Thalia’s name : Here, as I crown’d the verdant fhrine with flow’rs Soft on my labours ftole the fmiling dame. Damon, fhe cry’d, if pleas’d with honed praife. Thou court fuccefs by virtue or by fong. Fly the falfe dictates of the venal race ; Fly the grofs accents of the venal tonaue. F 2 Swear 64 ELEGIES. Eleg.XlX. Swear that no lucre fhall tby zeal betray ; Swerve not thy foot with fortune’s vot’ries more ; Brand thou their lives, and brand their lifelefs day— The winning phantom urg’d me, and I fwore. Forth from the ruftic altar jfwift I ftray’d, “ Aid my firm purpofe, ye celeftial pow’rs ! Aid me to quell the fordid bread,” I laid ; And * threw my jav’lin tow’rds their hoftile tow’rs. “ Think not regretful I furvey the deed, Or added years no more the zeal allow ; Still, hill oblervant to the grove I fpeed, The fhrine embellifh, and repeat the vow. Sworn from his cradle Rome’s relentlefs foe, Such gen’rous hate the f Punic champion bore ; Thy lake, OThrasimene ! beheld it glow. And Canny’s walls, and Tr e b i a ’s crimfon fhore. But let gi'ave annals paint the warriour’s fame ; Fair ihine his arms, in hiftory enroll’d ; Whilft humbler lyres his civil worth proclaim, Flis nobler hate of avarice and gold. — • Now Punic pride its final eve furvey’d ; Its hoft.s exhaufted, and its fleets on fire ; Patient the vigors lurid frown obey’d, And faw th’ unwilling elephants retire. * The Roman ceremony in declaring war. •j- Hannibal, But Eie?. XIX. ELEGIES. 65 o But when their gold deprefs’d the yielding fcale. Their gold in pyramidic plenty pil’d. He faw th’ unutterable grief prevail ; He faw their tears, and, in his fury, finil’d. Think not, he cry’d, ye view the fmiles of eafe. Or this firm breaft difclaims a patriot’s pain ; I fmile, but from a foul eftrang’d to peace. Frantic with grief, delirious with difdain J * But were it cordial, this detefted fmile, Seems it lefs timely than the grief ye fhew ? O Ions of Carthage ! grant me to revile . The fordid, fource of your indecent wo ! . Whv weep ye now ! ye faw with tearlefs eye When your fleet pei'ifh’d on the Punic wave : Where lurk’d the coward tear, the lazy figh, WhenTYRE’s imperial ftate commenc’d aflave? ’Tis paft— -O Carthage ! vanquifh’d ! honour'd fhu.de ! Go, the mean forrows of thy fons deplore ; Had freedom fhar’d the vow to fortune paid. She ne’er, like fortune, had forfook thy fhore.’J He ceas’d —abafh’d the confcious audience hear;, Their pallid cheeks a crimfon blufh unfold • Yet o’er that virtuous blufh diftreams a tear. And falling moiftens their abandon’d gold *.■> * By the terms forced upon the Carthaginians by Scipio, they were to deliver up all the elephants^ and to pay ^ near two millions Sterling. * 3 E LEG! 66 E LEG IE S. Eleg. XX, E L E G Y XX, He compares his humble fortune with the difrefs of others ; and his fubjcdlion to Delia, with the in ferable fervitude of an African fave. W HY droops this heart, with fancy’d woes forlorn ? Why finks. my foul beneath, each wint’rv fky ? What live crouds, by ceafelefs labours worn, What myriads, wilh to be as blefs’d as I ! What tho’ my roofs devoid of pomp arife, Nor tempt the proud to quit his deftin’d way ? Nor coftly art my flow’ry dales difguife, Where only Ample friendfbip deigns to ftray ? See the wild fons of Lapland’s chill domain. That fcoop their couch beneath the drifted fnows 1 How void of hope they ken the frozen plain, Where the fharp eaft for ever, ever blows ! Slave tho’ I be, to Delia’s eyes a Have, My Delia’s eyes endear the bands I wear ; The ligh fhe caufes well becomes the brave, The pang Ihe caufes, ’tis ev’n blils to bear. See the poor native quit the Lybian Ihores, Ah * not in love’s delightful fetters bound! No radiant fmile his dying peace reftores, Nor love, nor fame, nor frienclfhip heals his wound. Let Eleg. XX. ELEGIES. 6 7 Let vacant bards difplay their boaftive woes, Shall I the mockery of grief difplay ? No, let the mufe his piercing pangs difclofe, "Who bleeds and weeps his fum of life away ! On the wild beach in mournful guife he ftood. Ere the fhrill boatfwain gave the hated lign He dropt a tear unfeen into the flood ; He hole one fecret moment, to repine. Yet the mufe liftenkl to the plaints he made ; Such moving plaints as nature could infpire ; To me the mufe his tender plea convey’d, But fmooth’d, and fuited to the founding lyre. • “ Why am I ravifh’d from my native ftrand ? What favage race protects this impious gain ? Shall foreign plagues, infeft this* teeming land, And more than fea-born monfters plough the main ? Here the dire locufts horrid fwarms prevail ;■ Here the blue alps with livid poifon fwell ; Here the dry dipfa writhes his flnuous mail ; Can we not here fecure from envy dwell 2 When the grim lion urg’d his cruel chace, When the Hern panther fought his midnight - prey, What fate referv’d me for this * Chriftian race ? O race more polifh’d, more fevere than they ! Yc * Spoke by a favage. a E L E G I E S t Eleg. XX. Ye nrouling wolves, purfue my lateft cries ! Thou hungry tyger, leave thy reeking den .! Ye Tandy waftes, in rapid eddies rife ! O tear me from the whips and fcorns of men ! Yet in their face fuperiour beauty glows ; Are fmiles.thc mien of rapine and of wrong ? Yet from their lip the voice of mercy flows, And ev’n religion dwells upon their tongue. Of blifsful haunts they tell, and brighter climes,. Where gentle minds convey’d by death repair, But ftain’d with blood, and crimfon’d o’er with » crimes, Say, fli all they merit what they paint fo fair ? No, carelefs', hopelefs of thofe fertile plains, Rich by our toils, and by our forrows gay, They ply our labours, and enhance our pains, And feign thefe diftant regions to repay. For them. our tuflcy elephant expires ; . For them we drain the mine’s embowel’d gold ; Where rove the brutal nations wild defires ? — Our limbs are purchas’d, and our life is fold ! Yet lhores there are, blefs’d fliores for us= remain,. And favour’d ifles with golden fruitage crown d> Where tufted flow’rets paint the verdant plain. Where ev’ry breeze fhall med ? cine ev’ry wound.- There the ftern tyrant that embitters life, Shall, vainly fuppjiant, fpread his alking hand ; There fhall we view the billow’s raging ftnfe, Aid the kind breafc, and waft his boat to land.” elegy Eleg. XXI. ELEGIES. * 6 9 ELEGY XXI. Taking a view of the country from his retirement , he is led to meditate on the character of the an- cient Britons. Written at the time of a rumoured tax upon luxury. 1746. T Hus Damon lung — What tho’ unknown to praife Unbrageous coverts hide my mufe and me ; Or mid the rural fhepherds flow my days, Amid the rural fhepherds I am free. To view fleek vaftals croud a ftately hall. Say fhould I grow myfelfi a folemn Have ? To find thy tints, O Titian ! grace my wall, Forego the flow’ry fields my fortune gave l Lord of my time my devious path I bend, Thro’ fringy woodland, or fmooth-ihaven lawn ^ Or penfile grove, or airy cliff afeend. And hail the feene by nature’s pencil drawn. Thanks be to fate— tho’ nor the racy vine, Nor fatt’ning olive clothe the fields I rove, Sequefter’d fhades, and gurgling founts are mine, And ev’ry filvan grott the mufes love. Here if my vifta point the mould’ring pile, Where hood and cowl devotion’s afpedl wore, I trace the tott’ring reliques with a fmile. To think the mental bondage is no more i Pleas’d, 7 ° ELEGIES. Eleg. XXI. Pleas’d, if the glowing landfcape wave with corn ; Or the tall oaks, my country’s bulwark, rife ; Pleas’d, if mine eye, o’er thoufand valleys borne, Difcern the Cambrian hills fupport the Ikies. And feePLiNLiMMON ! ev’n the youthful fight Scales the proud hill’s ethereal cliffs with pain ! Such Caer-caradoc ! thy ftupendous height, Whofe ample lhade obfcures th’ Iernian main. Bleak, joylefs regions ! where, by fcience fir’d A Some prying fage his lonely ftep may bend There, by the love of novel plants infpir’d, Invidious view the clamb’ring goats afcend.. Yet for thofe mountains, clad, with lading fnow, The free-born Briton left his greened mead;. Preceding fullen from his mightier foe, For here he faw fair liberty recede. Then if a chief perform’d a patriot’s part, Suftain’d her drooping fons, repell’d her foes,. Above or Periian luxe, or Attic art. The rode majeftic monument arofe, Progreffive. ages carofd • forth his fame ; Sires to his praife attun’d their childrens tongue The hoary droid fed the generous flame, - While in fuch drains the reverend wizard fung. “ Go forth, my fons ! — for what is vital breath, Your gods expell’d, your liberty reflgn’d ? Go, forth, my fons ! — for what is. inftant death T.o fouls fecure perennial joys to find ? For Eleg. XXI. ELEGIES. 7t For fcenes there are, unknown to war or pain. Where drops the balm that heals a tyrant’s wound ; Where patriots, bleft with boundlefs freedom, reign, With mifletoe’s myfterious garlands crown’d. Such are the names that grace your myftic fongs ; Your folemn woods refound their martial fire ; To you, my Tons, the ritual meed belongs, If in the caule you vanquifh, or expire. Hark ! from the facred oak that crowns the groves What awful voice my raptur’d bofom warms ! This is the favour’d moment heav’n approves, Sound the fhrill trump ; this inftant found to arms. Theirs was the fcience of a martial race, To fhape the lance, or decorate the fhield ; Ev’n the fair virgin ftain’d her native grace, To give new horrours to the tented field. Now, for fome cheek where guilty blufhes glow. For fome falfe Florimel’s impure difguife, The lifted youth, nor war’s loud fignal know. Nor virtue’s call, nor fame’s imperial prize. Then if foft concord lull’d their fears to fleep, Inert and ftlent flept the manly car ; But rufh’d horrific o’er the fearful fteep, If freedom’s awful clarion breath’d to war. Now the fleek courtier, indolent and vain, Thron’d in the fplendid carriage glides fupine; To taint his virtue with a foreign ftrain, Or at a fav’rite’s board his faith refign. Leave 72 ELEGIES. Eleg. XXL Leave then, O Luxury ! this happy foil ! Chal’e her, Britannia, to fome hoftile fhore! Or * fleece the baneful pefl: with annual fpoil, And let thy virtuous offspring weep no more ! * Alludes to a tax upon luxury, then in debate. ELEGY Elcg. XXII. ELEGIES. 73 ELEGY XXir. Written in the year , when the rights of Jc~ pulture were fo frequently violated. g AY, gentle fleep, that lov’ft the gloom of night, 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 filent moon had fcal’d the vaulted {kies, And anxious care refign’d my limbs to reft ; A hidden luftre ftruck my wondering eyes, And Sylvia flood before my couch confefl. Ah ! not the nymph fo blooming and fo gav, That led the dance beneath the feftive {hade ! But die that, in the morning of her day, In tomb’d beneath the grafs-green fod was laid. No more her eyes their wonted radiance call ; No more her breafl infpir’d the lover’s flame, No more her cheek the Pee ft an rofe furpafl ; Yet leem’d her lip’s ethereal fmile the fame. Nor fuch her hair as deck’d her living face ; Nor fuch her voice as charm’d the lifl’ning croud ; Nor fuch her drefs as heighten’d ev’ry grace ; Alas ! all vanifh’d for the mournful fhroud ! Vol.I. G Yet 74 ELEGIES. El eg. XXII, Yet feem’d her lip’s ethereal charm the fame ; That dear diftinetion every doubt remov’d; Per if h the lover, whole imperfect flame Forgets one feature of the nymph he lov’d. “ Damon,” fhe faid, “ mine hour allotted flies ; Oh ! do not wafte it with a fruitlefs tear ! Tho’ griev’d to fee thy Sylvia’s pale dilguife, Sufpend thy forrow, and attentive hear. So may thy mufe with virtuous fame be blefl ! So be thy love with mutual love repaid ! So may thy bones in facred lilence reft, Fall by the relics of fome happier maid ! Thou know’ll;, how ling’ring on a diftant fhore Difeafe invidious nipt my ftow’ry prime • x\nd oh ! what pangs my tender bofom tore, To think I ne’er mull view my native clime ! No friend was near to raife my drooping head ; No dear companion wept to fee me die ; Lodge me Avithin my native foil, I faid; Where my fond parents honour’d relics lie. Tho’ now debarred of each domeftic tear; Unknown, forgot, I meet the fatal blow ; There many a friend fhall grace my woful bier. And many a figh fhall rife, and tear fhall flow. 1 fpoke, nor fate forbore his trembling fpoil ; Some venal mourner lent his carelefs aid ; And foon they bore me to my native foil, Where my fond parents dear remains were laid. ’Twas Eleg. XXII. ELEGIES. 77 Twas then the youths, from ev’ry plain and grove Adorn’d with mournful verfe thy Sylvia’s bier ’Twas. then the nymphs their votive garlands wove And ftrew’d the fragrance of the youthful year But why alas ! the tender feene difplay ? Cou’d Damon’s foot the pious path decline ? Ah no ! ’twas Damon firft attun’d his lay, And fure no fonnet was fo dear as thine. Thus was I bofom’d in the peaceful grave ; My placid ghoffc no longer wept its doom ; When fa v age robbers every function brave. And with outrageous guilt defraud the tomb I Shall my poor corfe, from hoffile realms convey’d, Lofe the cheap portion of my native fands ? Or, in my kindred’s dear embraces laid. Mourn the vile ravage of barbarian hands ? Say, wou’d thy bread no death-like torture feel, To fee my limbs the felon’s gripe obey ? To fee them gafh’d beneath the daring heel ? To crouds a fpedtre, and to dogs a prey ? If Paean’s fons tliefe horrid rites require, If health’s fair fcience be by thefe refin’d, Let guilty convicts for their ufe expire, And let their breathlcfs corfe avail mankind. Yet hard it feems, when guilt’s lafi: fine is paid. To fee the victim’s corfe deny’d repofe ! Now, more fevere ! the poor offencelefs maid Dreads the dire outrage of inhuman foes. O G 2 Where 7 6 ELEGIES. Eleg. XXII. Where is the faith of ancient Pagans fled ? Where the fond care the wand’ring manes claim? Nature, inftin&ive, cries, Protect the dead. And facred be their afhes, and their fame ! A rife, dear youth ! ev’n now the danger calls ; Ev’n now the -villain fnuffs his wonted prey ; See ! fee ! I lead thee to yon facred walls— Oh ! fly to chafe thefe human wolves away.” ELEGY Beg. XXIII. ELEGIE S. 77 ELEGY XXIII. Reflexions fuggefled by his fit nation. DOrn near the feene for * Kenelm’s fate re- nown’d, I take my plaintive reed, and range the grove. And raile my lay, and bid the rocks refound The favage force of empire, and of love. Fad by the centre of yon various wild, "Where fpreading oaks embow’r a Gothic fane ; Ken dri da’s arts a brother’s youth beguil’d ; There nature urg’d her tendered: pleas in vain. Soft o’er his birth, and o’er his infant hours, Th’ ambitious maid cou'd every care employ ; Then with affiduous fondnefs cropt the flow’rs. To deck the cradle of the princely bov. But loon the bofom’s pleafmg calm is down ; Love fires her bread ; the fultry padions rife A favour’d lover feeks the Mercian throne, And views her ICenelm. with a rival's eyes. How kind were fortune, ah ! how jud .were fate, Wou’d fate or fortune Mercia’s heir remove I How fweet to revel on the couch of date ! To crown at once her lover and her love ! * Kenelm in the Saxon heptarchy was heir to the kingdom of Mercia; but being very young at his father’s death, was, by the artifices cf his flier and her lover, depiived of his crown and life together, * 7 ^ ELEGIES. Eleg. XXIII. See, gafnifh’d for the chace, the frav-dful maid To thefe lone hills direft his devious way ; The youth, all prone, the fifter guide obey’d, Ill-fated youth ! himfelf the deflin’d prey. But now, nor ihaggy hill, nor pathlefs plain, Forms the lone refuge of the lilvan game ; Since Lyttel ton has crown’d the fweet domain With fofter pleafures, and with fairer fame. Where the rough bowman urg’d his headlong deed. Immortal bards, a polifh’d race, retire ; And where hoarfe fcream’d the flrepent horn, fuc- The melting graces of no vulgar lyre. [ceed See Thomson, loit’ring near fome limpid well. For Br i T a i n ’ s friend the verdant wreath prepare! Or, ftudious of revolving feafons, tell How peerlefs Lucia made all feafons fair ! See ******* from civic garlands fly, And in thefe groves indulge his tuneful vein ! Or from yon fummit, with a guardian’s eye, Obferve how freedom’s hand attires the plain f Here Pope ! — ah never mud that tow’ring mind To his lov’d haunts, or dearer friend, return ! What art! what friendihips! oh! what fame refign’d! — In yonder glade I trace his mournful urn. Where is the bread can rage or hate retain, A nd thefe glad ftreams and finding lawns behold? Where is the bread: can hear the woodland drain. And think fair freedom well exchang’d for gold ! Thro’ 79 Eleg. XXIII. ELEGIES. Thro’ thefe foft fhades delighted let me ftray. While o’er my head forgotten funs defcend ! Thro’ thefe dear valleys bend my cafual way. Till fetting life a total ihade extend ! Here far from courts, and void of pompous cares, I’ll mufe how much I owe mine humbler fate ; Or fhrink to find how much ambition dares, To fhine in anguiih, and to grieve in ftate ! Canft thou, O fun ! that fpotlefs throne difclofe. Where her bold arm has left no fanguine ftain ? Where, fhew me where, the lineal fceptre glows. Pure as the Ample crook that rules the plain ? Tremendous pomp ! where hate, diftruft, and fear, In kindred bofoms folve the focial tie ; There not the parent’s fmile is half flncere, Nor void of art the confort’s melting eye. There with the friendly wifh, the kindly flame. No face is brighten’d, and no bofoms beat ; Youth, manhood, age, avow one fordid aim, And ev’n the beardlefs lip eflays deceit. There coward rumourswalk their murd’rous round ; The glance that more than rural blame inftills ; Whifpers that ting’d with friendfhip doubly wound. Pity that injures, and concern that kills. There anger whets, but love can ne’er engage ; Carefling brothers part but to revile ; There all men fmile, and prudence warns the wife, To dread the fatal ftroke of all that ftnile. There 8o ELEGIES. Eleg.XXlIL. There all are rivals ! lifter, fon, and lire. With horrid purpofe hug deftructive arms ; There foft-ey’d maids in murd’rous plots confpire. And fcorn the gentler mifchief of their charms. Let fervile minds one endlefs watch endure ; Day, night, nor hour, their anxious guard relign But lay me, fate ! on flow’ry bank, fecure, Tho’ my whole foul be, like my limbs, lupine. Yes, may my tongue difdain a vaiTal’s care ; My lyre refound no proftituted lay ; More warm to merit, more elate to wear The cap of freedom, than the crown of bays, Sooth’d by the murmurs of my pebbled flood, I with it not o’er golden fends to flow ; Cheer’d by the verdure of my fpiral wood, I fcorn the quarry, where no Ihrub can grow. No midnight pangs the fhepherd’s peace purfue *, His tongue, his hand, attempts no iecret wound He lings his Delia,- and if Ihe be true, His love at once and his ambition’s crown’d. ELEGY Eleg. XXIV. ELEGIES. 8 * ELEGY XXIV. He takes occafion from the fate of Eleanor, of Bretagne *, to fuggefi the imperfect pleafures of a fditary life. W] Hen beauty mourns, by fate’s injurious doom, V \ Hid from the cheerful glance of human eye; When nature’s pride inglorious waits the tomb. Hard is that heart which checks the riling figh. Fair Eleonora ! wou’d no gallant mind The caufe of love, the caufe of juftice own ? Matchlefs thy charms, and was no life relign’d To fee them fparkle from their native throne ? Or had fair freedom’s hand unveil’d thy charms, Well might fuch brows the regal gem relign; Thy radiant mien might fcorn the guilt of arms. Yet Albion’s awful empire yield to thine, O fliame of Britons ! in one fullen tow’r She wet with royal tears her daily cell ; She found keen anguilh ev’ry rofe devour ; They fprung, theylhone, they faded, and they fell. * Eleanor of Bretagne, the lawful hcirc'f of iheFngli/h crown, upon the death of Arthur, in the reign of King John. She was efleemed the beauty of her time j was imprifontd forty years (til! the time or' her death} in Briftol caflle. Thro’ 82 ELEGIES. Eleg.XXIV. Thro’ one dim lattice fring’d with ivy round, Succeflive funs a languid radiance threw ; To paint how fierce her angry guardian frown’d. To mark how faft her waning beauty flew. This age might bear ; then fated fancy palls. Nor warmly hopes what fplendour can fup ply ; Fond youth inceflant mourns, if rigid walls Reftrain its lift’ning ear, its curious eye. Believe me * * * * the pretence is vain ! This boafled calm that fmooths our early days, For never yet could youthful mind reftrain Th’ alternate pant for pleafure and for praife. Ev’n me, by fhady oak or limpid fpring, Ev’n me, the feenes of poliih’d life allure ; Some genius whifpers, “ Life is on the wing,. And hard his lot that languifhes obfeure. What tho’ thy riper mind admire no more — The Alining cincfture, and the broider’d fold Can pierce like lightning thro’ the figur’d ore. And melt to drofs the radiant forms of gold. Furs, ermines, rods may well attract thy fcorn ; The futile prefents of capricious pow’r ! But wit, but worth, the public fphere adorn. And who but envies then the focial hour ? Can virtue, carelefs of her pupil’s meed. Forget how * * * fuftains the Arepherd’s caufe ? Content in Aiades to tune a lonely reed. Nor join, the- founding paean of applaufe ? For Eleg. XXIV. ELEGIES. 83 For public haunts, impell’d by Britain’s weal. See Greenville quit the mufe’s fav’rite eafe ; And lhall not fwains admire his noble zeal ? Admiring praife, admiring ftrive to pleafe ? Life, fays the fiige, affords no bills fincere ; And courts and cells in vain our hopes renew : But ah ! where Greenville charms the lift’nino- o ear, ’Tis hard to think the cheerlefs maxim true. The groves may fmile ; the rivers gently glide ; Soft thro’ the vale refound the lonefome lay ; Ev’n thickets yield delight, if taffe prefide. But can they pleafe when Lyttelton’s away ? Pure as the fwain’s the breaft of * * * glows. Ah ! were the fhepherd’s phrafe like his refin’d ! But how improv’d the generous dictate flows Thro’ the clear medium of a polifh’d mind ! Happy the youths who warm with Britain’s love. Her inmoft with in * * * periods hear ! Happy that in the radiant circle move. Attendant orbs, where Lonsdale gilds the fphere ! While rural faith, and every polifh’d art, Each friendly charm in * * * confpire. From public fcenes all penfive muff you part; All joylefs to the greeneff fields retire ! Go, plaintive youth ! no more by fount or ffream. Like fome lone halcyon, focial pleafure fhun; Go dare the light, enjoy its cheerful beam, And hail the bright procefiion of the fun. Then, ELEGIES. Eleg. XXIV. 3* Then, cover’d by tliy ripen’d fhades, relume The filent walk ; no more by paffion toft : Then feek thy ruftic haunts; the dreary gloom. Where ev’ry art that colours life is loft.” — In vain ! the lift’ning mufe attends in vain ! Reflraints in hoftile bands her motions wait— — Yet will I grieve, and hidden all my ftrain. When injur’d beauty mourns the mufe’s fate. ELEGY Eleg, XXV. ■E LE GI E S. 85 ELEGY XXV. To Delia, 'with fame flowers ; complaining how much his benevolence ftffcrs on account of his humble fortune.. W rI a t e er could fculpture’s curious art employ, Whate’er the lavifh hand of wealth can fhow’r, Thefe would I give — and every gift enjoy That pleas’d my fair — but fate denies thepow’r. Blefs’d were my lot, to feed the fociai fires ! To learn the latent wifhes of a friend 1 To give the boon his native tafte admires, And, for my tranfport, on his frnile depend ! Blefs’d too is he whofe ev’ning -ramble Arrays Where droop the ions of indigence and care ! His little gifts their gladden’d eyes amaze, And win, at fmall expenfe, their fondeft pray’r ! And oh the joy ! to fhun the confcious light, lo fpare the modeft blufi ; to give unfeen ! Like fhow’rs that fall behind the veil of night, - Yet deeply tinge the finding vales with green. But happieft they, who drooping realms relieve ! ^ Whofe virtues in our cultur’d vales appear ! for whofe fad fate a thoufand fhepherds grieve, And fading fields allow the grief fincere. Vol. I. H To 86 ELEGIES. Eleg.XXV, To call loft worth from its oppreflive lhade ; To fix its equal fphere, and fee it fhine ; To hear it grateful own the generous aid ; This, this is tranfport — but muft ne’er be mine. Faint is my bounded blifs ; nor I refufe To range where daizies open, rivers roll ; While profe or fong the languid hours amufe, And loothe the fond impatience of my foul. A while I’ll weave the roofs of jaftnin bow’rs. And urge with trivial cares the lok’ring year ; A while I’ll prune my grove, protc And boaft her pni'ple dore ; Not all the vineyard’s rich fupplies Can l'oothe oar forrows more. He ! he is gone, whofe moral drain Could wit and mirth refine ; He ! he is gone, whofe focial vein Surpafs'd the pow’r of wine. Fail by the dreams he- deign’d to praife, In yon fequefter’d grove, To him a votive urn I raife ; To him, and friendly love. Yes there, my friend ! forlorn and fad, I grave your Thomson’s name ; And there, his lyre ; which fate forbade To found your growing fame. There fh-all my plaintive fong recount Dark themes of hopelefs wo ; And, fader than the dropping fount, I’ll teach mine eyes to flow. There leaves, in fpite of Autumn, green, Shall fliade the hallow’d ground ; And Spring will there again be feen, To call forth flowers around. Suit ODES, SONGS, 6c. 163 But no kind funs will bid me (hare, Once more, his focial hour ; Ah Spring ! thou never can ft repair This lofs to Daemon’s bow’r. JEMMY 1 64 ODES, SONGS, dm. J EMMY DAWS O N,. A Ballad ; written about the time of his execution, in the year 1745. C OME liften to my mournful tale, ■ Ye tencler^ hearts and lovers dear; Nor will you fcorn to heave a iigh, Nor need you blufh to fhed a tear. And thou, dear Kitty, peerlefs maid. Do thou a penfive ear incline ; For thou canft weep at every wo ; And pity every plaint but mine. , Young Dawson was a gallant boy, A brighter never trod the plain ; And well he lov’d one charming maid, And dearly was he lov’d again. One tender maid, Ihe lov’d him dear, Of gentle blood the damfel came ; And faultlefs was her beauteous form, . And fpotlefs was her virgin fame. But curfe on party’s hateful ftrife, That led the favour’d youth affray ; The day the rebel clans appear’d, O had he never feen that day ! Their ODES, S O N G S, 6c. 165 Their colours, and their falh he wore. And in the fatal drefs was found ; And now he mu ft that death endure. Which gives the brave the keeneft wound. How pale was then his true-love’s cheek, H When Jemmy’s fentence reach’d her ear ! For never yet did Alpine fnows So pale, or yet fo chill appear. With faltering voice, die weeping faid. Oh Dawson, monarch of my heart ! Think not thy death fhall end our loves, For thou and I will never part. Yet might fweet mercy dud a place, And bring relief to Jemmy’s woes ; O George, without a pray’r for thee. My orifon Ihould never clofe. The gracious prince that gave him life. Would crown a never-dying flame ; And every tender babe I bore Should learn to lifp the giver’s name. But though he Ihould be dragg’d in fcorn To yonder ignominious tree ; He fhall not want one conftant friend To fhare the cruel fate’s decree.. O i66 ODES, SONGS, dr. O then her mourning coach was call’d, The fledge mov’d flowly on before ; Though borne in a triumphal car, . She had not lov’d her fav’rite more. %e follow’d him, prepar’d to view The terrible beheds of law ; And the lafc fcene of Jemmy’s woes. With calm and ftedfaft eye fhe faw. . Diftorted was that blooming face, Which flie had fondly lov’d To long; And ftifled was that tuneful breath. Which in her praife had fweetly fang : And fever’d was that beauteous neck-. Round which her arms had fondly clos’d And mangled was that beauteous bread:. On which her love-fick head repos’d : And ravifh’d was that condant heart. She did to ev’ry heart prefer ; For tho’ it could its king forget, ’Twas true and loyal flill to her. Amid thofe unrelenting flames, She bore this condant heart to fee ; But when ’twas moulder’d into duft, Yet, yet, fhe cry ’id, I follow thee. My death, my death alone can fliew The pure, the lading love I bore ; Accept, O heav’n ! of woes like oursr, And let us, let us weep no more. .. Th ODES, SONG S, 6c. 167 The difmal fcene was o’er and paft. The lover’s mournful hearfe retir’d ; The maid drew back her languid head, And lighing forth his name, expir’d. Tho’ juftice ever mull prevail, The tear my Kitty fheds, is due; For feldoin lhall fhe hear a tale So fad, fo tender, yet fo true. A Padoral BALLAD Written in i Virg. Y E fhepherds To cheerful and gay, Whofe flocks never carelefsly roam $ Should Cory don’s happen to ftray, Oh ! call the poor wanderers home. Allow me to mufe and to flgh, Nor talk of the change that ye flnd ; None once was fo watchful as I : — I have left my dear Phyllis behind. Now I know what it is to have ftrove With the torture of doubt and deflre ; What it is to admire and to love. And to leave her we love and admire. Ah lead forth my flock in the morn, And the damps of each ev’ning repel ; Alas ! I am faint and forlorn : — I have bade my dear Phyllis farewell. Since ODES, SONGS, 16'j Since Phyllis vouchsaf’d me a look, I never once dreanx’d of my vine ; May I lofe both my pipe and my crook. If I knew of a kid that was mine. I priz’d ev’ry hour that went by, Beyond all that had pleas’d me before ; But now they are pad, and I flgh ; And I grieve that I priz’d them no more But why do I languifh in vain ? Why wander thus penlively here ? Oh ! why did I come from the plain, Where I fed on the fmiles of my dear ? They tell me, my favourite maid. The pride of that valley, is flown ; Alas ! where with her I have Array’d, I could wander with pleafure alone. When forc’d the fair nymph to forego, What anguifh I felt at my heart ! Yet I thought — but it might not be fo — ’Twas with pain that flie faw me depart. She gaz’d, as I flowly withdrew; My path I could hardly difcern ; So fweetly fhe bade me adieu, I thought that Axe bade me return. The pilgrim that journeys all day To viilt fome far diflrant flxrine. If he bear but a relic away. Is happy, nor heard to repine. Vol. T. P Thus O 13 E S, SONG S, frc. 170 Thus widely remov'd from the fair, Where my vows, my devotion, I owe, Soft hope is the relic I bear, And my folace where-ever I go. II. HOP E. M Y banks they are furnifh’d with bees, Whofe murmur invites one to deep -, Mv grottoes are lhaded with trees. And my Tills are white-over with fheep, I feldom have met witjk a lofs, Such health do my fountains beftow ; Mv fountains are border’d with mofs, Where the hare -bells and violets grow. Not a pine in my grove is there feen, But with tendrils of woodbine is bound : Not a beech’s more beautiful green, But a fweet-brier entwines it around. Not my fields, in the prime of the year. More charms than my cattle unfold : Not a brook drat is limpid and clear. But it glitters with fillies of gold. One would think {he might like to retire To the bow’r I have labour’d to rear; Not a fhrub that I heard her admire, . But I halted and planted it there. Oh how fudden the jefiamine drove With the lilac to render it gay ! Already it calls for my love, To prune the wild branches away. From ODES, SONGS, fa. 171 From the plains, from the woodlands and groves, What (trains of wild melody flow ? How the nightingales' warble their loves From thickets of rofes that blow ! And when her bright form lhall appear. Each bird fhall harmonioufly join In a concert fo foft and lb clear, As flie may not be fond towefigm I have found out a gift for my fair ; I have found where the wood-pigeons breed : But let me that-plunder forbear, She will lay ’twas a barbarous deed. For he ne’er could be true, fhe averr’d, Who could rob a poor bird of its young : And I lov’d her the more, when I heard . Such tenclernefs fall from her tongue. I have heard her with fweetnefs unfold How that pity was due to — a dove ; That it ever attended the bold, And fire call’d it the lifter of love. But her words fuch a pleafure convey, So much I her accents adore. Let her fpeak, and whatever fhe fay, Metliinks I fhould love her the more.. Can a bofom fo gentle remain Unmov’d, when her Corydon fighs ! Will a nymph that is fond of the plain, Thefe plains and this vallev defpife r P2 Dear #72 ODES, SO N G S, dc. Dear regions of filence and lhade ! Soft fcenes. of contentment and eafe ! Where I could have plealingly ftray’d. If aught in her abience could pleafe. But where does my Phyllida ftray ? And where are her grots and her bow’rs ? Are the groves and the valleys as gay. And the Ihepherds as gentle as ours ? The groves may perhaps be as fair. And the face of the valleys as line ; Ihe fwains may in manners compare. But their love is not equal to mine. III. SOLICITUDE. W HY will you my paffion reprove ? Why-term it a folly to grieve ? Ere I Ihew you the charms of my love. She is fairer than you can believe. With her mien Ihe enamours the brave; With her wit Ihe engages the free ; With her modefly pleafes the grave ; She is ev’ry way pleahng to me. O you that have been of her train. Come and join in my amorous lays; I could lay down my life for the fwain, That will ling but a fong in her praife. When he lings, may the nymphs of the town Come trooping, and lihcn the while ; Nay on him let not Phyllida frown ; But I cannot allow her to fmile. For ODES, SONGS, 6 c. 173 For when Pari del tries in the dance Any favour with Phyllis to find, O how, with one trivial glance. Might fhe ruin the peace of my mind ! In ringlets he drefles his hair. And his crook is befludded around ; And his pipe — oh may Phyllis beware Of a magic there is in the found. Tis his with mock paffion to glow ; ’Tis his in fmooth tales to unfold, “ Flow her face is as bright as the fnow. And her bofpm, be lure, is as cold ? How the nightingales labour the ftrain, With the notes of his charmer to vie ; How they vary their accents in vain, 3 R.epine at her triumphs, and die.” To the grove or the garden he fir ays. And pillages every iweet ; Then, fuiting tlxe wreath to his lays, He throws it at Phyllis’s feet. O Phyllis,” he whifpers, “ more fair, More fweet than the jeffamine’s flow’r ! What are pinks, in a morn, to compare ? What is. eglantine after a ihow’r ? Then the. lily no longer is white ; Then the rofe is depriv’d of its bloom ; . Then the violets die with defpite, And the woodbines give up their perfume.” P 3 Thus ODES, SONG S, dr. *74 Thus glide the foft numbers along, And he fancies no fhepherd his peer y ‘ Yet I never fhould envy the fong,_ Were not Phyllis to lend it an ear. Let his crook be with hyacinths bound, , So- Phyllis the trophy defpil'e ; Let his forehead with laurels be crown’d,. So they lhine not in Phyllis’s eyes. The language that flows from the heart Is a. ftranger to Pari del’s tongue ; -Yet may die beware of his art, . Or fureTmuft envy the Pong. IV. DlSAPPOl N THEN. T. Y E fliepherds, give ear to my lay, And take no more heed, of my fheep r They have nothing. to do, but to ftray ; I have nothing to do, but to weep. Yet do not my folly reprove ; She was fair— -and my pad ion begun ; She ftfiil’d — and I could not but love ; She is faithlefs — and l ain undone. Perhaps I was void of all thought ; Perhaps it was plain to fcrefee, , That a nymph fo complete would be fought By a fwain more engaging than me. Ah ! love ev.’ry hope can infpire ; r : . It banillics wifdom the while ; A nd the lip of the nymph w.e admire ■ Seems for ever adorn’d with a fmile. She ODES, SONGS, 6 c. 175* She is faithlefs, and I am undone ; Ye that witnefs the woes I endure, Let reafon inflrucl you to-flnm What it cannot inftrujft you to cure. Beware how ye loiter in vain Amid. nymphs of an higher degree : If is not for me to explain How fair and how fickle they be. Alas ! from, the day that we met, What hope of an end to my woes.h When I cannot endure to forget The glance that undid my repofe. Yet time may diminifh the pain : The flow’r, and the lhrub, and the tree Which I rear’d for her pleafure in vain,. In time may have comfort, for me. The fweets of a dew-fprinkled rofe, The found of a murmuring fir earn, The peace which from folitude flows. Henceforth fhall be Gorydon’s theme,. High tranfports. are fhewn to the light, But we are not to find them our own.;. Fate never bellow’d fuch delight,. As I with my Phyllis had known. 0 ye woods, fpread your branches apace To your deepefl recefles I fly ; 1 would hide with the beafls of the chace ; I would vanilh from every eye. Y’efc 3 7 6 ODES, SONGS,w.. Yet my reed {hall refound thro’ the grove With the fame fad complaint it begun ; How {lie fmil’d, and I could not but love; Was faithlefs, and J am undone ! LEV HUES L E V I T I E S; ^ *$• ^ ^ ^ 4 * ^ 4 * 4 $• ^ 4 4 * 4 4 * 4 * 4 *£ 3 * 4 'V *£ ^ 4 4 •?* A Decifion for the Indies A Wit by learning well refin’d, A beau, but of the rural kind. To Si via made pretences ; They both profefs’d an equal love : Yet hop’d, by different means, to move Her judgment, or her fenfes. Young fprightly Flirt, of blooming mien, Watch’d the beft minutes to be feen ; Went when his glafs advis’d him : While meagre Phil of books inquir’d ; A wight, for wit and parts admir’d ; And witty ladies priz’d him. Silvia LEVITIES; or. Silvia had wit, had fpirits too ; To hear the one, the other view, Sufpended held the fcales : Her wit, her youth too claim’d its fharft. Let none the preference declare. But turn up heads or tails. Stanzas to the Memory of an agreeable Lady, buried in Marriage to a Perfoiv undeferving her. ^rr^WAS always held, and ever will, -JL By fiage mankind, difcreeter T 7 anticipate a lefier. ill. Than undergo a greater. When mortals dread difeafes, pain;. And languishing conditions. Who don’t the leffer ills fuftain Or p hylic and phylicians ? Rather than lofe his whole eflate, He that but little wife is, Full gladly pays four parts in eight To taxes and excifes. Our merchants Spain has near undone For loll Blips not requiting ; This bears our noble K — to lliun TheTofs of blood — in fighting ! With PIECES of H U M O U II. l 79 With num’rous ills, in Engle life, The bachelor’s attended : Such to avoid, he takes a wife — And much the cafe is mended ! Poor Gratia, in her twentieth year, ' Forefeeing future wo, Chofe to attend a monkey here, Before an ape below. C O L E M I R A. A Culinary Eclogue. Ncc tantum Veneris , quantum Jiudiofa cuiinae. N Igiit’s fable clouds had half the globe o’er- fpread, And fllence reign’d, and folks were gone to bed : When love, which gentle lleep can ne’er infpire. Had feated Damon by the kitchen-lire. Pen Eve he lay, extended on the ground ; The little lares kept their vigils round ; The fawning cats compaffionate his cafe, And purr around, and gently lick his face. To all his ’plaints the fleeping curs reply, And with hoarfc fnorines imitate a fi?h. O o Suck ■hH i8o LEVITIES; or, Such gloomy fcenes with lovers’ minds agree. And folitude to them is heft fociety, Cou’d I (he cry’d) exprefs, how bright a grace Adorns thy morning-hands, and well-wafh’d face ; Thou wouldft, Cole mira, grant what I implore, And yield me love, or walli thy face no more. Ah ! who can fee, and feeing, not admire. When e’er Ihe lets the pot upon the fire ! Her hands out-fhine the fire, and redder things ; Her eyes are blacker than the pot fhe brings. But fure no chamber-damfel can compare, When in meridian luftre fhines my fair, When warm’d with dinner’s toil, in pearly rills, Adown her goodly cheek the fweat diitills. Oh ! how I long, how ardently defire, To view thofe rofy fingers flrike the lyre ! For late, when bees to change their climes began, How did I fee ’em thrum the frying-pan ! With her ! I fhould not envy G his queen, Tho’ fhe in royal grandeur deck’d be feen : Whilff rags, juft fever’d from my fair-one’s gown. In ruflet pomp, and greafy pride hang down. Ah ! how ic does my drooping heart rejoice, When in the hall I hear thy mellow voice ! How wou’d that voice exceed the village-bell ; Wou'dfi thou but fing, “I like thee palling well!” When PIECES of H IJ M O U R. i«i When from the hearth fire bade the pointers go, How foft, how eafy did her accents flow ! “ Get out, (flie cry’d,) when ftrangers come to fup, “ One ne’er can raife thofe fnoring. devils up.” Then, full of wrath, die kick’d each lazy brute, Alas ! I envy’d even that falute : ’Twas fure mifplac’d, — Shock faid, or feem’d to fay, He had as lief I had the kick as they. If die the my flic bellows take in hand, Who like the fair can that machine command ? 0 mayft thou ne’er by Alolus be feen, For he wou’d fure demand thee for his queen. But diou’d the dame this rougher aid refufe. And only gentler med’cines be of ufe ; With full-blown cheeks die ends the doubtful drife, Foments the infant dame, and puds it into life. Such arts as thefe exalt the drooping fire, But in my bread a fiercer dame inlpire : 1 burn ! I burn ! O ! give thy puffing o’er. And lwell thy cheeks, and pout thy lips no more ! With all her haughty looks, the time I’ve feen, When this proud damfel has more humble been, When with nice airs die hoid the pancake round, And dropt it, haplefs fair ! upon the ground. Vol. I. Look, i8z LEVITIES; or, Look' with what charming grace ! what win- ning tricks ! The artful charmer rubs the candlefticks ! So bright Hie makes the candlefticks Ihe handles, Oft have I faid, there was no need of candles. But thou, jmy fair ! who never wouldft approve, Or hear, the tender ftory of my love ; Or mind how burns my raging breaft, — a button— Perhaps art dreaming of— a breaft of mutton. Thus faid, and wept the fad defponding fwain, Revealing to the fable walls Ids' pain : But nymphs are free with thofe they fhou’d deny ; To thofe they love, more exquifttely coy ! Now chirping crickets raife their tinkling voice, j The lambent flames in languid ftreams arife, C And fmoke in azure folds evaporates and dies. ) The PIECES of HUMOUR. 183 The Rape of the Trap, A Ballad, 1737. , r_ T^WAS in a land of learning, 1 The mufes fav’rite city. Such pranks of late Were play’d by a rat, As — tempt one to be witty. All in a college- finely, Where books were in great plenty, This rat wou’d devour More fenfe in an. hour, Than I cou’d write — in twenty. Corporeal food, ’tis granted. Serves vermin lefs refin’d, Sir ; But this, a rat of tafte, All other rats furpafs’d ; And he prey’d on the food of the mind, Sir. His breakfaft, half the morning, He conftantly attended ; And when the bell rung For ev’ning-fong, His dinner fcarce was ended ! He 104 LEVITIES; or, He fpar’d not ev’n heroics, On which we poets pride us ; And wou’d make no more Of king Arthur’s *, by the (core, Than — all the world belxde does. In books of geo-graphy, He made the maps to flutter : A river or a fea W as to him a dilh of tea ; And a kingdom, bread and butter. But if fome mawkifh potion Might chance to over-dofe him, To check its rage, He took a page Of logic — to compofe him — A trap, in hafte and anger, Was bought, you need not doubt on't ; And fuch was the gin. Were a lion once got in. He cou’d not, I think, get out on’t. With cheefe, not books, ’twas baited. The faff — I’ll not belie it — Since none — I tell you that — Whether fcholar or rat, Minds books, when he has other diet. * By Black more. But PIECES of HUMOUR. 185 But more of trap and bait, Sir, Why Ihou’d I ling, or either ? Since the rat, who knew the Height, Came in the dead of night. And dragg’d ’em away together : Both trap and bait were vanilh’d, Thro’ a frafture in the flooring ; Which, tho’ fo trim It now may feem, Had then — a dozen or more in. Then anfwer this, ye fages ! Nor deem I mean to wrong ye,- Had the rat which thus did feize on The trap, lefs claim to reafon. Than many a fcull among ye ? Dan Prior’s mice, I own it, Were vermin of condition ; But this rat, who merely learn’d What rats alone concern’d. Was the greater politician. That England’s topfy-turvy. Is clear from thefe milhaps. Sir ; Since traps, we may determine. Will no longer take our vermin, Eut vermin * take our traps, Sir. * Written at the time of the Spanlfh depredations. Let iS6 LEVITIES; or. Let fophs, by rats infefted. Then truft in cats to catch ’em ; Left they grow as learn’d as we. In our ftudies ; where, d’ye fee, No mortal fits to watch ’em. Good luck betide our captains ; Good luck betide our cats, Sir; And grant that the one May quell the Spanifh Don, And t’other deftroy our rats, Sir. On certain PAST ORALS. CO rude and tunelefs are thy lays, The Aveary audience vow, ’Tis not th’ Arcadian Twain that lings, But ’tis his herds that low. On Mr C of Kidderminster’s Poetry. Why faith, dear friend, ’tis Kidderminster* fluff, And I do think you’ve meafur’d out enough. * Kidderminster, famous for a coarfe woollen manufacture. To PIECES of H U M O U R. 187 To the VIRTUOSOS. H Ail curious wights ! to whom fb fair The form of mortal flies is ! Who deem thofe grubs beyond compare, Which common fenfe defpifes. Whether o’er hill, morafs, or mound, You make your fportfman {allies; Or that your prey in gardens found Is urg’d thro’ walks and alleys. Y et in the fury of the chace, No Hope cou’d e’er retard you ; Blefs’d if one fly repay the race, Or painted wing reward you. Fierce as Camilla * o’er the plain Purfu’d the glitt’ring ftranger ; Still ey’d the purple’s pleafing ftain. And knew not fear nor danger. ’Tis you difpenfe the fav’rite meat To nature’s filmy people ; Know what conferves they chufe to eat. And what liqueurs to tipple. And if her brood of infetts dies, You fage afliftance lend her ; Can ftoop to pimp for am’rous flies, And help ’em to engender. Tis * See Virgil. LEVITIES; or, Tis you protedl their pregnant hour ; And when the birth’s at hand. Exerting your obftetric pow’r. Prevent a mothlefs land. . Yet oh ! howe’er your tow’ring view Above grofs objedls rifes, Whate’er refinements you purfue, Hear tvhat a friend advifes : A friend, vrho,. weigh’d with yours, mud prize Domitian’s idle paflion. That wrought the death of teafing flies. But ne’er their propagation. Let Fl avia’s eyes more deeply warm. Nor thus your hearts determine, To flight dame nature’s faireft form, And figh for nature’s vermin. And fpeak with fome refpedt of beaus, ... Nor more as triflers treat ’em : ’Tis better learn to fave one’s cloaths, Than cherifh moths, that eat ’em. The PIECES of H U M O U R. i8 9 The Extent of C O O K E K Y. Aliufque et idem . ^17 Hen Tom to Cambridge firft was font, A plain brown bob he wore ; Read much, and look'd as tho’ he meant To be a fop no more. See him to Lincoln’s-Inn repair, His refolution flag ; He cherifhes a length of hair, And tucks it in a bag. Nor Coke norSALKELD he regards, But gets into the houfe. And foon a judge’s rank rewards Elis pliant votes and bows. Adieu ye bobs ! ye bags give place f Full-bottoms come inftead ! Good L — d ! to lee the various ways Of dreffing— a calve’s-head ! The ipo LEVITIES; or, The Progress of A D V I C E. A Co m m o n Case. Suade, nam certum cjl. S Ays Richard to Thomas, (and feem’d half afraid), “ I am thinking to marry thy miflrefs’s maid : Now, becaufe Mrs Lucy to thee is well known, I will do’t if thou bidd’ft me, or let it alone. Nay don’t make a jeft on’t, ’tis no jell to me ; For 'iraith I’m in earned:, fo prithee be free. I have no fault to find with the girl fince I knew, her, But I’d have thy advice, e’er I tie myfelf to her.” ' Said Thomas to Richard, “ To fpeak my opi- nion, There is not fu.ch a bitch in King George’s dominion ; And I firmly, believe, if thou knew ’ft her as I do, Thou wou’dft chufe out a whipping-poft, firft to be ty’d to. She’s peevifh, fhe’s thievifh, fire’s ugly, flic’s old, And a liar, and a fool, and a flut, and a fcold.” Next day Rachard hafien’d to church and was wed, And, ere night, had inform’d her what Thomas had laid, A PIECES of H U M O U R. i 9I A BALLAD. Trahit fit a quemque voluptas. Rom Lincoln to London rode forth our young 'To bring down a wife whom the fwains might admire: But in fpite of whatever the mortal could fry, The goddefs objected the length of the way ! To give up the op’ra, the park, and the ball, For to view the hag’s horns in an old country-hall ; To have neither China nor India to fee ! Nor a lace-man to plague in a morning — not fhe ! To forfake the dear playhoufe, Quin, Garrick, and Clive, Who by dint of mere humour had kept her alive ; To forego the full box for his lonefome abode, O heav’ns ! fhe fhou’d faint, Ihe fhou’d die on the road ! To forget the gay fafhions and geftures of France, And to leave dear Augufte in the midft of the dance, And Harlequin too ! — ’twas in vain to require it ; And fire wonder’d how folks had the face to defire it. She might yield to refign the fweet lingers of Ruckholt, Where the citizen-matron feduces her cuckold ; fquire. But 1 92 LEVITIES; or, But Ranelagh foon wou’d her footdeps recall, And the mu fie, the lamps, and the glare of Vaux- liall. To be fure fhe could breathe no where elfe than in town. Thus die talk’d like a wit, and he look’d like a clown ; But the while honed Harry defpair’d to fucceed, A coach with a coronet trail’d her to Tweed. Slender’s Ghoft. Vid . Si-iakespe ar. B Eneath a church-yard yew, Decay’d and worn with age, At dufk of eve me thought I fpy’d Poor Slender’s gliod, that whimp’ring cry’d, O fweet, O fweet Anne Page ! Ye gentle bards f give ear ! Who talk of amorous rage. Who fpoil the lily, rob the rofe, Come learn of me to weep your woes : O fweet, O fweet Anne Page ! Why fhou’d fuch labour’d drains Your formal mufe engage ? I never dream’d of flame or dart, That fir’d my bread, or pierc’d my heart, But dgh’d, O fweet Anne Page 1 And PIECES of HUMOUR. J 93 And you ! whofe love-lick minds No med’cine can alfuage ! Accufe the leech’s art no more, But learn of Slender to deplore; O fweet, O fweet Anne Page! And ye ! whofe fouls are held Like linnets in a cage ! Who talk of fetters, links, and chains. Attend, and imitate my drains ! O fweet, O fweet Anne Page ! And you who boaft or grieve, What horrid wars ye wage ! Of wounds receiv’d from many an eye ; Yet mean as I do, when I figh O fweet, O fweet Anne Page ! Hence ev’ry fond conceit Of fhepherd or of fage ! Tis Slender’s voice, ’tis Slender’s way; Expreffes all you have to fay, O fweet, O fweet Anne Page ! The INVIDIOUS. Mart. O Fortune ! if my pray’r of old Was ne’er folicitous for gold, With better grace thou mayft allow My fuppliant wild, that afks it now. Vol. I. R, Yet 194 LEVITIES; of, Yet think not ! goddefs ! I require it For the fame end your clowns defire it. In a well-made effectual firing. Fain wou’d I fee Lividio fwing ! Hear him, from Tyburn’s height haranguing, But fuch a cur’s not worth one’s hanging. Give me, O goddefs ! ftore of pelf, Aiid he will tie the knot himfelf. The Price of an EQUIPAGE. Servmn fi potes> Ole , non habere ; Et regem potes , Qlc, non habere . Mart. I Alk’d a friend, amidft the throng, Whofe coach it was that trail’d along : “ The gilded coach there — don’t ye mind ? That, with the footmen ftuck behind.” O Sir ! fays he, what ! han’t ye feen it ? ’Tis Damon’s coach, and Damon in it. ’Tis odd methinks you have forgot Your friend, your neighbour, and — what not ! Your old acquaintance Damon ! — “ True ; But faith his equipage is new.” “ Blefs me,” faid I, “ where can it end ? What madnefs has poffefs’d my friend ? Four powder’d flaves, and thofe the talleft, Their ftomachs doubtlefs not the fmallefl ! Can PIECES of HUMOUR. i 9J Can Damon’s revenue maintain, In lace and food, fo large a train ? I know his land — each inch o’ ground — ’Tis not a mile to walk it round — If Damon’s whole eftate can bear To keep his lad, and one-horfe chair, I own ’tis pall my comprehcnfion.” Yes, Sir, but Damon has a penfion— Thus does a falfe ambition rule us, Thus pomp delude, and folly fool us ; To keep a race of flick’ring knaves, Me grows hirafelf the word; of (laves. Hint from V O I T U R E. E i Sol his annual journeys run, And when the radiant talk is done,. Gonfefs, thro’ all the globe, ’twou’d pofe him, To ; match the charms that Celia (hews him. And (laou’d he boaft he once had feen As juft a form, as bright a mien. Yet muft it full for ever pofe him, To match — what Celia never (hews him. R 2 I N* 196 LEVITIES; or. INSCRIPTION. To the memory Of A. L. Efquire, Juftice of the peace for this county : Who, in the whole courfe of his pilgrimage Thro’ a trifling ridiculous world. Maintaining his proper dignity, Not with handing the feoffs of ill-difpos’d perfons, And wits of the age. That ridicul’d his behaviour. Or cenfur’d his breeding ; Following the dictates of nature. Defiring to eafe the afflicted, Eager to fet the prifoners at liberty. Without having for his end The noife, or report fuch things generally caufe In the world, (As he was feen to perform them of none), But the foie relief and happinefs Of the party in diftrefs ; Himfelf refting eafy, When he cou’d render that fo ; Not griping, or pinching himfelf. To hoard up fuperfluities ; Not coveting to keep in his poffeffion What gives more difquietude, than pleafurej Hut charitably diffufing it To all round about him : Making PIECES of HUMOUR. 197 Making the moft forrowful countenance To fmile In his prefence ; Always beftowing more than he was afk’d. Always imparting before he was defir’d ; Not proceeding in this manner, Upon every trivial fuggeftion, But the moft mature and folemn deliberation ; With an incredible prefence and undauntednefs Of mind ; With an inimitable gravity and oeconomy Of face Bidding loud defiance To politenefs and the fafhion* Dar’d let a £ — 1_ To a FRIEND. H Ave you ne’er feen, my gentle ’fquire, The humours of your kitchen-fire ? Says Ned to Sal, “ I lead a fpade. Why don’t ye play ? — the girl’s afraid — Play fomething — any thing — but play — ’Tis but to pafs the time away — Plioo— how fhe ftands — biting her nails — As tho’ fhe play’d for half her vales — Sorting her cards, hagling and picking — We play for nothing, do us, chicken ? — R 3 That LEV I T I E S; or, V)8 That card will do — ’blood never doubt it, ’Tis not worth while to think about it.” Sal thought, and thought, and mifs’d her aim. And Ned, ne’er ftudying, won the game. Methinks, old friend, ’tis wondrous true. That verle is but a game at loo. While many a bard, that fhews fo clearly He writes for his amufement merely. Is known to fiudy, fret, and toil, And play for nothing all the while ; Or praife at moft ; for wreaths of yore Ne’er fignify’d a farthing more : Till having vainly toil’d to gain it, He fees your flying pen obtain it. Thro’ fragrant fcenes the trifler roves. And hallow’d haunts that Phoebus loves ; Where with ftrange heats his hofom glows, -And myftic flames the god beftows. Y ou now none other flame require, Than a good blazing parlour-fire ; Write verfes; — to defy the fcorners. In fhit-houfes and chimney-corners. Sal found her deep-laid fchemes were vain, The cards are cut — come deal again — No good comes on it when one lingers — I’ll play the cards come next my fingers — Fortune cou’d never let Ned loo her. When fhe had left it wholly to her. Well, now who wins ?. — why, ftiil the fame — For Sal has lofi another game. “ I’ve done;” (fire mutter’d), “ I was faying, It did not argufy my playing. f3ome PlECIS-w H-UMOUR. 199 Some folks will win, they cannot ckufe, But think ox' not think — fome muft lofe.. I may have won a game or fo— But then it was an age ago — It ne’er will be my lot again I won it of a baby then — Give me an ace of trumps and fee,. Our Ned will beat me with a three. ’Tis all by luck that things are carry ’d— He'll fuffer for it when he’s marry ’d.” Thus Sal, with tears in either eye ; While vi&or Ned fat titt’ring by. Thus I, long envying your fuccefs, And bent to write, and ftudy lefs, Sat down, and fcribbled in a trice, Juft what you fee— and you defpife. You who can frame a tuneful long. And hum it as you ride along ; And, trotting on the king’s highway. Snatch from the hedge a fprig of bay ; Accept this verfe, howe’er it flows, From one that is your friend in profe. What is this wreath, fo green ! fo fair ! Which many wifh, and few muft wear > Which fome mens indolence can gain, And fome mens vigils ne’er obtain ? For what muft Sal or poet fue, ^ Fre they engage with Ned or you ? r For luck in verfe, for luck at loo ' Ah no ! ’tis genius gives you fame, And Ned, thro’ fkill, fecures the game. A A Solemn clay of reft. ?• ) Caufes inquietude and pain ? This breath, which we no fooner find. Than in a moment ’tis refign’d ? Whofe momentary noife, when o’er. Is never, never heard of more ! And even monarchs, when it ends, Become offenfive to their friends ; Emit a putrid noifome fmell. To thofe thac lov’d ’em e'er fo well ! Pond’ring thefe things, within my heart. Surely, faid I — Life is a f— t ! PIECES. of HUMOUR, 201 The POET and the DUN. 1741. Thefe are mejfengers That feelingly perfuade me what I am. Shakespear. C Omes a dun in the morning, and raps at my door — “ I made bold to call — ’tis a twelvemonth and more — I’m forry, believe me, to trouble you thus, Sir, — But Job wou’d be paid, Sir, had Job been a mercer. 1 ' My friend, have but patience — “ Ay thefe are you? ways.” I have got but one fhjlling to ferve me two days — But Sir — prithee take it, and tell your attorney, If I han’t paid your bill, I have paid for your journey. W ell, now thou art gone, let me govern my paffion , And calmly coniider — confider ? vexation ! What whore that muft paint, and muft put on falfe locks, And counterfeit joy in the pangs of the pox ! What beggar’s wife’s nephew, now ftarv’d, and now beaten, Who, wanting to eat, fears himftlf fhall be eaten ! What porter, what turnfpit, can deem his cafe hard ; Or what dun boaft of patience that thinks of a bard ! Well, I’ll leave this poor trade, for no trade can be poorer, Turn fhoe-boy, or courtier, or pimp, or procurer j Get 202 LEVITIES; or,. Get love, and refpect, and good living, and pelf, And dun fome poor dog of a poet myfelf. One’s credit, however, of courfe will grow better ; Here enters the footman, and brings me a letter. “ Dear Sir ! I receiv’d your obliging epiftle, Your fame is fecure— -bid the critics go whittle. I read over with wonder the poem you font me. And I mutt fpeak your praifes, no foul fhall pre- , vent me. The audience, believe me, cry’d out, ev’rv line Was ttrong, was afFedting, was juft, was divine ; All pregnant, as gold is, with worth, weight, and beauty. And to hide fuch a genius was — far from your duty. I forefee that the court will be hugely delighted. Sir Richard, formuch lefs a genius, was knighted. Adieu, my good friend, and for high life prepare ye; I cou’d fay much more, but you’re modeft,I fpare ye.” Quite fir’d with the flatt’ry, I call for ray paper, And watte that, and health, and my time, and my taper : I fcribble till morn, when with wrath no ftnall ftore. Comes my old friend the mercer, and raps at my door. “ Ah ! friend, ’tis but idle to make fuch a pother. Fate, fate has ordain c! us to plague one another.!’ Written PIECES of H U M O U R. 203 ■Written at an Inn at Henley. T O thee, fair Freedom ! I retire From flattery, cards, and dice, and din ; Nor art thou found in manfions higher Than the low cott, or humble inn. Tis here with boundlefs pow’r I reign ; And ev’ry health which I begin, Converts dull port to bright champaigne; Such freedom crowns it at an inn. I fly from pomp, I fly from plate ! I fly from falfehood’s fpecious grin ! Freedom I love, and form I hate. And chufe my lodgings at an inn. Here, waiter ! take my fordid ore. Which lacqueys elfc might hope to win • It buys what courts have not in ftore ; It buys me freedom at an inn. Whoe’er has travell’d life’s dull round, Where-e’er his ftages may have been. May ligh to think he ftill has found The warmed: welcome at an inn. A 204 LEVITIES; or. A SIMILE. W HAT village but has fome time feen The clumfy Ihape, the frightful mien. Tremendous claws, and fbagged hair. Of that grim brute yclep’d a bear ? He from his dam, the learn ’d agree. Receiv’d the curious form you fee ; Who with her plaftic tongue alone. Produc’d a vifage —like her own. — And thus they hint, in myftic fafhion. The pow’rful force of education * — Perhaps yon croud of fwains is viewing. E’en now, the Arrange exploits of Bruin ; Who plays his antics, roars aloud ; The wonder of a gaping croud ! So have I known an awkward lad, Whofe birth has made a parifh glad. Forbid, for fear of fenfe, to roam, And taught by kind mamma at home, Who gives him many a well-try’d rule, With ways and means — to play the fool. In fenfe the fame, in ftature higher. He fliines, ere long, a rural fquire, * Pours forth unwitty jokes, and fwears, And bawls, and drinks, but chiefly flares. His tenants of luperiour fenfe Carouze, and laugh, at his expenfe ; And deem the paftime I’m relating, To be as pleafant as bear-baiting. * Of a feud matron’s education. The PIECES of HUMOUR. 205 The Charms of Precedence. A TALE. IR, will you pleafe to walk before ?” — No, pray. Sir — you are next the dooi\~ — “ Upon mine honour. I’ll not ftir — ” Sir, I’m at home, confkler, Sir— <( Excufe me, Sir, I’ll not go firft” — Well, if I muft be rude, I muft — But yet I wifh I cou’d evade it — ’Tis ftrangely clownifh, be perfuaded — Go forward, cits ! go forward, fquires ! Nor fcruple each what each admires. Life fquares not, friends, with your proceedings It flies, while you difplay your breeding ; Such breeding as one’s granam preaches, Or fome old dancing-mafler teaches. O for fome rude tumultuous fellow. Half crazy, or, at leaf!, half-mellow, To come behind you unawares. And fairly pufh you both down flairs ! But death’s at hand — let me advife ye. Go forward, friends ! or he’ll furprife ye. Befides, how infincere you are ! , Do ye not flatter, lie, forfwear. And daily cheat, and weekly pray. And all for this — to lead the way ? Such is my theme, which means to prove, That, tho’ we drink, or game, or love, As that or this is moft in fafhion, Precedence is our ruling paflxon. Vol. I. S When L E V I T I E S ; -206 or, When college-dudents take degrees, And pay the beadle’s endlefs fees, What moves that fcientilic body, But the firft cutting at a gawdy ? And whence fuch ilioals, in bare conditions, That ftarve and languifh as phyficians. Content to trudge the ftreets, and hare at The fat apothecary’s chariot ? But that, in Charlot’s chamber (fee Molier.e’s viedecin malgre lid) The leach, howe’er his fortunes vary, Still walks before the apothecary. Flavia in vain has wit and charms, And all that fhines, and all that warms ; In vain all human race adore her, For — Lady Mary ranks before her. O Cf.lia, gentle Celia ! tell us. You who are neither vain, nor jealous ! The fofteft bread, the mildeft mien ! Wou’d you not feel fome little fpleen. Nor bite your lip, nor furl your brow. If Fl or 1 mel, your equal now, Shou’d, one day, gain precedence of ye ? Firft ferv’d — tho’ in a dida of coffee ? Plac’d hrd, altho’ where you are found, You gain the eyes of all around ? Nam'd fird, tho’ not with half the fame. That waits my charming Celia’s name ? Hard fortune ! barely to inlpire Our fix’d edeem, and fond defire ! Barely, where-e’er you go, to prove The foyrce of univerfal love I ■ - Yet PIECES of H U M O U R. 207 Yet be content, obferving this. Honour’s the offspring of caprice : And worth, howe’er you have purfu’d it. Has now no pow-’r — but to exclude it. You’ll find vour general reputation A kind of fupplemental ftation. Poor Swift, with all his worth, cou’d ne’er^ He tells us, hope to rife a peer ; So, to fup ply it, wrote for fame : And well the wit fecur’d his aim. - A common patriot has a drift Not quite fo innocent as Swift : In Britain’s caufe he rants, he labours ; - “ He’s honeft, faith”— have patience, neighbours V For patriots may fometimcs deceive, May beg their friends reluctant leave, To ferve them in a higher fphere ; And drop their virtue, to get there. — As Lucian tells us, in his fafhion, H ow fouls put off each earthly paflion, - Ere on Elysiu m’s flow’ry. ftrand, Old Charon fuffer’d ’em to land ; So ere we meet a court’s cardies, No doubt our fouls muft change their d relies i And fouls there be, who, bound that w ay. Attire themfelves" ten times a-day. If then 1 ’tis rank which all men covet, And faints alike and finners love it ; If place, for which our courtiers throng So thick, that few can get along ; For which fuch fervile toils are feen, Who’s happier than a king ? — a queen. S 2 Howe’er 2o8 LEVITIES; or, Howe’er men aim at elevation, ’Tis properly a female pafiion : Women, and beaux, beyond all meafure Are charm’d witlj raftk’s ecftatic pleafure. Sir, if your drift I rightly fcan. You’d hint a beau were not a man : Say, women then are fond of places ; I wave all difputable cafes. A man perhaps would fomething linger. Were his lov’d rank to coft — a finger ; Or were an ear or toe the price on’t. He might delib’rate once or twice on’t ; Perhaps afk Ga taker’s advice on’t. And many, as their frame grows old, Wou’d hardly purchafe it with gold. But women wifh precedence ever ; ’Tis their whole life s fupreme endeavour ; It fires their youth with jealous rage, And firongly animates their age. Perhaps they would not fell outright. Or maim a limb — that was in fight ; Yet, on worfe terms, they fometimes chufe it ; Nor, ev’n in punifhments, refufe it. Pre-eminence in pain, you cry ! All fierce and pregnant with reply. But lend your patience, and your ear, An argument fhall make it clear. Bitt hold, an argument may fail, Befide my tide fays, a tale. Where Avon rolls her winding ftream, Avon, the Mufe’s fav’rite theme ! Avon, PIECES of H U M O U R. 209 Avon, that fills the farmers purfes, And decks with flow’rs both farms and verfes. She villts many a fertile vale Such was the fcene of this my tale. For ’tis in Ev ’sham’s vale, or near it. That folks with laughter tell, -and hear it. - The foil with annual plenty blefs’d Was by young Corydon poffefs’d. His youth alone I lay before ye. As moil material to my ftory : For ftrength and vigour too, he had ’em, And ’twere not much amifs, to add ’em. Thrice happy lout ! whofe wide domain Now green with grafs, now gilt with grain, In ruflet robes of clover deep. Or thinly veil’d, and white with fheep ; Now fragrant with the bean’s perfume, Now purpled with the pulfe’s bloom, Might well with bright allufion ftore me ; — But happier bards have been before me ! Amongft the various year’s increafe, The ftripling own’d a field of peafe ; Which, when at night he ceas’d his labours. Were haunted by fome female neighbours. Each morn difcover’d to his fight The fhameftd havock of the night ; Traces of this they left behind ’em. But no inftru&ions where to find ’em. . The devil’s works are plain and evil, But few or none have feen the devil. Old Noll, indeed, if we may credit The words of Echard, who has faid it, S 3 Contriv’d 210 LEVITIES; or, Contriv’d with Satan how to fool us: And bargain’d face to face to rule us ; But then old Noll was one in ten, And fought him more than other men. Our fliephcrd too, with like attention, May meet the female Bends we mention. He rofe one morn at break of clay. And near the field in ambufh lay : When lo ! a brace of girls appears. The third, a matron much in years. Smiling, amiaft the peafe, the finners Sat down to cull their future dinners ; And, caring little who might own ’em, Made free as tho’ themfelves had Town ’em. ’Tis worth a fage’s obfervation, How love can make a jeft of paffion. Anger had forc’d the twain from bed, His early dues to love unpaid ! And love, a god that keeps a pother, And will be paid one time or other, Now banifh’d anger out o’ door ; And claim’d the debt with-held before. If anger bid our youth revile, Love form’d his features to a fmile : And knowing well ’twas all grimace, To threaten with a fmiling face, He in few words exprefs’d his mind — And none would deem them much unkind. The am’rous youth, for their offence, Demanded inftant recompenfe : That recompenfe from each, which fhamc Forbids a bafhful mufe to name. Yet, PIECES of HUMOUR. 211 Yet, more this fentence to difcover, Tis what Bett # * grants her lover, When he, to make the ftrumpet willing. Has fpent his fortune— to a lhilling. Each Rood a while, as ’twere fufpended. And loath to do, what— each intended. At length, with foft pathetic fighs. The matron, bent with age, replies. ’Tis vain to drive — juflice, I know, And our ill ftars will have it fo- — But let my tears your wrath affuage. And fhew fome deference for age ! I from a diflant village came, Am old, G — knows, and fomething lame ; And if we yield, as yield we muff, Difpatch my crazy body firfl. Our fhepherd, like the Phrygian fwain, When circled round on Ida’s plain. With goddedes he flood fufpended, And Pallas’s grave fpeech was ended, Own’d what fhe alk’d might be his duty ; But paid the compliment to beauty. ODE 21-2 LEVITIE S; or, ODE To be performed by Dr Brettle, and a Chorus of Hales-owen Citizens. The Inftrumental Part, a Viol d’Amour, A I R by the Doc tor. A WAKE! I fay, awake, good people! And be for once alive and gay ; Come let’s be merry ; {fir the tipple; How can you deep, Whild I do play ? how can you deep, Checks the wild tumults of the youthful vein ; "While paffion’s lawlefs tides, at their command. Glide thro’ more ufeful trafls, and blefs the land. Happieft of thefe is he whofe matchlefs mind. By learning ftrengthen’d, and by tafle refin’d, In virtue’s caufe efiay’d its earliell pow’i's ; Chofe virtue’s paths, and ftrew’d her paths with fiow’rs. The firft alarm’d, if freedom Avaves her wings : The fitted: to adorn each art fhe brings : Lov’d by that prince whom ev’ry virtue fires ; Prais’d by that bard whom ev’ry mule inlpires : Blefs’d in the tuneful art, the focial flame ; In all that wins, in all that merits fame ! Twas youth’s perplexing ftage his doubts infpir’d, When great Alcides to a grove retir’d. Thro’ MORAL PIECES. 217 Thro’ the lone windings of a devious glade, Refign’d to thought, with ling’ring heps he flray’d; Blefs’d with a mind to tafte fincerer joys ; Arm’d with a heart each falfe one to defpife. Dubious he flray'd, with wav’ring thoughts pofTeft, Alternate pafilons ftruggling 1 har’d his breaft ; The various arts which human cares divide. In deep attention all his mind employ’d : Anxious, if fame an equal blifs fecur’d ; Or fllent eafe with fofter charms allur’d. "The ill van choir whofe numbers fweetly flow’d, The fount that murmur’d, and the flow’rs that blow’d ; The filver flood that in meanders led His glitt’ring ftreams along th’ enliven’d mead ; The Toothing breeze, and all thofe beauties join’d. Which, whilft they pleafe, effeminate the mind. In vain ! while diftant, on a iummit rais’d, Th’ imperial tow’rs of fame attractive blaz’d. While thus he trac’d thro’ fancy’s puzzling maze The fep’rate fweets of pleafure, and of praife j Sudden the wind a fragrant gale convey’d. And a new luftre gain’d upon the fliade. At once, before his wond’ring eyes were feen Two female forms, of more than mortal mien. Various their charms; and, in their drefs and face. Each feem’d to vie with fome peculiar grace. This, whofe attire lefs clogg’d with art appear’d, The Ample ftveets of innocence endear’d. Her fprightly bloom, her quick fagacious eye, Shew VI native merit mix’d with modefly. Her air diffus’d a mild yet awful ray. Severely fweet, and innocently gay. Vol. I, T Such 2iS M O R A. L PIECES. Such the chafte image of the martial maid, In artlefs folds of virgin white array’d ! She let no borrow’d rofe her cheeks adorn, Her blufhing cheeks, that fham’d the purple morn. Her charms nor had, nor wanted artful foils, Or ftudy’d geftures, or well-pradtis’d fmiles. She fcorn’d the toys which render beauty lefs ; She prov’d th’ engaging chaftity of drefs ; And while fhe chofe in native charms to fhine, Ev'n thus fhe feem’d, nay more than feem’d, divine- One modeft em raid clafp’d the robe Ihe wore. And in her hand th’ imperial fword Are bore. Sublime her height, majeftic was her pace, And match’d the awful honours of her face. The fhrubs, the flow’rs, that deck the verdant ground, Seem’d, where fhe trod, with riling luftre crown’d. Still her approach with ftronger influence warm’d ; She pleas’d, while diftant, but, when near, ihc charm’d. So ftrikes the gazer’s eye, the filver gleam That glitt’ring quivers o’er a diftant ftrcam : But from its banks we fee new beauties rife, And in its cryftal bofom trace the flcies. With other charms the rival vifion glow’d, And from her drefs her tinfel beauties flow’d. A flutt’ring robe her pamper’d fhape conceal’d. And feem'd to fhade the charms it bcft reveal’d. Its form contriv’d her faulty flze to grace ; Its hue to give frefh luftre to her face. Her plaited hair difguis’d with brilliants glar’d ; Her cheeks the ruby’s neighb’ring luftre fhar’d ; The MORAL. PIECES. 219 The gaudy topaz lent its gay fupplies, And ev’ry gem that ftrikes lefs curious eyes ; Expos’d her bread: with foreign fweets perfum’d ; And, round her brow, a rofeate garland bloom’d. Soft-fmiling, blufhing lips conceal’d her wiles; Yet ah ! the blulhes artful as the fmiles. Oft gazing on her ihade, th’ enraptur’d fair Decreed the fubftance well deferv’d her care : Her thoughts, to other’s charms malignly blind, Center’d in that, and were to that confin’d ; And if on other's, eyes a glance were thrown, ’Twas but to watch the influence of her own. Much like her guardian, fair Cythera’s queen. When for her warriour fhe refines her mien ; Or when, to blefs her Delian fav ’rite’s arms, The radiant fair invigorates her charms. Much like her pupil, Egypt’s fpordve dame, Her drefs expreflive, and her air the fame. When her gay bark o’er filver Cydnos roll’d, And all th’ emblazon’d dreamers wav'd in gold. Such fhone the vifion ; nor forbore to move, The fond contagious airs of lawlefs love. Each wanton eye deluding glances fir’d, And am’rous dimples on each cheek confpir’d. Lifelefs her gait, and flow, with feeming pain, ^ She dragg’d her loitering limbs along the plain ; f Yet made fome faint efforts, and firft approach’d f the fwain. So glaring draughts, with taudry luftre bright. Spring to the view, and rufh upon the fight : More flowly charms a Raphael’s chaffer air, Waits the calm fearch, and pays the fearcher’s care, T 2 Wrapt 220 MORAL PIECES. W; rapt in a pleas’d fufpenfe, the youth furvey’d The various charms of each attractive maid : Alternate each he view’d, and each admir’d. And found, alternate*, varying flames infpir d. Quick o’er their forms his eyes with pleafure ran, When flie, who firft approach’d him, firft began. “ Hither, dear boy, direCl thy wand’ring eyes ; ’Tis here the lovely vale of pleafure lies. Debate no more, to me thy life reilgn ; Each fweet which nature can diffufe is mine. For me the nymph diverfifles her pow’r. Springs in a tree, or blofloms in a flow’r ; To pleafe my ear, fhe tunes the linnet’s flrains ; To pleafe my eye, with lilies paints the plains ; To form my couch, in mofiy bCds flie grows j To gratify* my fmell, perfumes the rofe ; Reveals the fair, the fertile fcene you fee, And fwelis the vegetable world for me. Let the gull’d fool the toils of war purfue. Where bleed the many to enrich the few : Where chance from courage claims the boafted prize : Where, tho’ flie give, your country oft denies. Jnduflrious thou fhalt Cupid’s wars maintain, And ever gently fight his foft campaign. His darts alone fhalt wield, his wounds endure, Yet only fuffcr, to enjoy the cure. Yield but to me — a choir of nymphs fhall rife. And fire thy breaft, and blefs thy ravifh’d eyes. Their- beauteous cheeks a fairer rofe fhall wear, A brighter lily on their necks appear ; Where fondly thou thy favour’d head fhalt reft. Soft as the down that fwelis the cygnet’s neft ! While moral pieces. 221 While Philomel in each foft voice complains. And gently lulls thee with mellifluous drains ; Whilft, with each accent, fweeted odours flow ; And fpicy gums round ev’ry. bofom glow. Not the fam’d bird Arabian climes admire, Shall in fuch luxury of fweets expire. At doth let war’s victorious fons exclaim ; In vain ! for Pleafure is my real name : Nor envy thou the head with bays o’ergrown ; No, feek thou rofes to adorn thy own : For well each op’nifig fcene, that claims my care, Suits and deferves the beauteous crown I wear. Let others prune the vine ; the genial bowl Shall crown thy table, and enlarge thy foul. Let vulgar hands explore the brilliant mine, • So the gay produce glitter dill on thine. Indulgent Bacchus loads his lab ’ring tree, . And, guarding, gives its clud’ring fweets to me. For my lov’d train, Apollo’s piercing beam Darts thro’ the paflive glebe, and frames the gem. See in my caufe confenting gods employ’d, Nor flight thofe gods, their bleflings unenjoy’d ! For thee the poplar Avail its amber drain ; For thee, in clouded beauty, fpring the cane; Some codly tribute ev’ry clime fhall pay ; Some charming treafure ev’ry wind convey ; Each objeCt round fame pleafi’ng fcene fhall yield ; Art build thy dome, while nature decks thy field ; Of Corintpi’s order dull the AruCture rife ; The fpiring turrets glitter thro’ the fkies ; Thy codly robe fliall glow with Tyrian rays. ; Thy vafe fhall fparkle, and thy car fliall blaze ; T 3 Yet 222 MORAL PIECES. Yet thou, whatever pomp the fun difplay, Shalt own the am’rous night exceeds the day. When melting flutes, and fweetiy-founding lyres W ake the gay loves, and cite the young deflres ; Or, in th’ Ionian dance, fome fav’rite maid Improves the flame her fparkling eyes convey’d ; Think, can A thou quit a glowing Delia’s arms. To feed on virtue’s viflonary charms ? Or flight the joys which wit and youth engage. For the faint honour of a frozen fage ? I c And dull envy ev’n that hope deface. And, where you toil’d for glory, reap difgrace ? O ! think that beauty waits cn thy decree, And thy lov’d lovelieft charmer pleads with me. She, whole fofr Anile, or gentler glance to move, It ou vow’d the wild extremities of love ; In whofe endearments years, like moments, flew ; hor whole endearments millions feem’d too few j- She, five implores ; fhe bids thee feize the prime. And tread with her the flow’ry trails of time j Nor thus her lovely bloom of life beftow On lorne cold lover, or infulting foe. Think, if againft that tongue thou canA rebel. Where love yet dwelt, and reafon feem’d to dwell $ What Arong perAiafion arms her fofter flghs 1 What full conviction Iparkles in her eyes ! See nature fmiles, and birds fdute the fhade. Where breathing jafminfcreens the fleeping maid : And fuch her charms, as to the vain may prove. Ambition feeks more humble joys than love 1 Their bufy toil fliall ne’er invade thy reign, Nor feiences perplex thy lab ring brain : Or MORAL PIECES. 223 Or none, but what with equal Tweets invite ; Nor other arts, but to prolong delight : Sometimes thy fancy prune her tender wing, To praife a pendant, or to grace a ring ; To fix the drefs that fuits each varying mien ; To fhew where belt the clustering gems are Teen ; To figh Toft Strains along the vocal grove. And tell the charms, the Tweet effects of love ! Nor fear to find a coy difdainful mufe ; Nor think the filters will their aid refufe. Cool grots, and tinkling rills, or filent Shades, Soft feenes of leifure f Tuit th’ harmonious maids j And all the wife, and all the grave decree Some of that Tacred train ally’d to me. But if more fpecious eafe thy willies claim. And thy bread glow with faint defire of fame, Some fofter Tcience fhall thy thoughts amufe, And learning’s name a folemn found didufe r To thee all nature’s curious ftores I’ll bring;. Explain the beauties of an infect ’s wings ; The plant, which nature, lefs diifufely kind. Has to few climes with partial care confin’d ^ The fhell die fcatters with more carelefs air. And, in her frolics, feems fupremely fair ; The worth that dazzles in the tulip’s flains, Or lurks beneath a pebble’s various veins. „ Sleep’s downy god, averfe to war’s alarms. Shall o’er thy head diffufe his fofteft charms j Ere anxious thought thy dear repofe aflh.il. Or care, my mod deftru&ive fee, prevail. The wat’ry nymphs fhall tunc the vocal vales, And gentle zephyrs harmonize their gales, For 224 MORAL PIECE S. For thy repofe, inform, with rival joy, Their dreams to murmur, and their winds to figh. Thus fhalt thou fpend the lweetly-flowing day, Till loft jn blifs thou breathe thy foul away : Till ihe t’ Elyfian bow’rs of joy repair, Nor find my charming feenes exceeded there.” She ceas’d ; and on a lily ’d bank reclin’d, Her flowing robe wav’d wanton with the wind :• One tender hand her drooping head fuftains ; One points, expreffive, to the fiow’ry plains. Soon the fond youth perceiv’d her influence roll Deep in his breaft, to melt his manly foul : As when Favonius joins the folar blaze, And each fair fabric of the froft decays. Soon, to his breaft, the foft harangue convey’d Feefolves too partial to the fpecious maid. He figh’d,, he gaz’d, lo fweetlv finil’d the dame ; Yet fighing, gazing, feem’d to fcorn his flame ; And, oft as Virtue caught his wand’ring eye, A crimfon blufh condemn’d the riling ligh. ’Twas fuch the ling’ring Trojan’s fhame betray’d, When Maia’s fon the frown of Jove difplay’d : When wealth, fame, empire, cou’d no balance prove For the foft reign of Dido, and of love. Thus ill with arduous glory love confpires ; Soft tender flames with bold impetuous fires ! Some hov’ring doubts his anxious bofom mov’d? And virtue, zealous fair ! thofe doubts improv’d. “ Fly, fly, fond youth, the too indulgent maid. Nor err, by fuch fantaftic feenes betray’d. Tho’ in my path the rugged thorn be feen. And the dry turf difclofe a fainter green ; Tho’ MORAL PIECE S. 225 Tho’ no gay rofe, or flow’ry product ihine. The barren furface ftill conceals the mine. Each thorn that threatens, ev’n dae weed that grows In virtue’s path, Tuperiour Tweets beftows — Yet fhou’d thofe boafted fpecious toys allure. Whence cou’d fond floth the flatt’ring gifts pro- cure ? The various wealth that tempts thy fond defire, Tls I alone, her greatelt foe, acquire. I from old ocean rob the treafur’d {tore ; I thro’ each region, latent gems explore ; ’Twas I the rugged brilliant &rfl reveal’d, By numerous ftrata deep in earth conceal’d ; *Tis I the furface yet refine, and fhew The modeft gem’s intrinfic charms to glow. Nor fwells the grape, nor fpires its feeble tree, Without the firm fupports of indufiry. But grant we floth the fcene herfelf has drawn. The mofly grotto, and the flow’ry lawn ; Let Philomela tune th’ harmonious gale. And with each breeze eternal Tweets exhale ; Let gay Pomona flight the plains around, And chufe, for faireft fruits, the favour’d ground To blefs the fertile vale fliou’d virtue ceafe, Nor mofly grots, nor flow’ry lawns cou’d pleafe ; Nor gay Pomona’s lufcious gifts avail, The found harmonious, or the fpicy gale. 8eeft thou yon rocks in dreadful pomp arife, Wliofe rugged cliffs deform th’ encircling Ikies ? Thofe fields, whence PhoEB us all their moifture drains, And, too profufely fond, uifrobes the plains ? When 226 MORAL PIECES. When I vouchfafe to tread the barren foil, Thofe rocks feem lovely, and thofe deferts fmilfe.. The form thou view’ft, to ev’ry fcene Avith eafe Transfers its charms, and ev’ry fcene can pleafe.. When I have on thofe pathlefs wilds appear’d, And the lone wandTer with my prefence cheer’d ; Thofe cliffs the exile has with pleafure view’d. And call’d that defert blifsful folitude ! . Nor I alone to fuch extend my care : Fair-blooming Health lurveys her. altars there.. Brown exerci-fe will lead thee where fbe reigns. And with reflected luftre gild, the plains.. With her, in flow’r of youth, and beauty’s pride, Her offspring, calm content and: peace, refide. One ready off ’ring fuits each neighb’i'ing fhrine j And all obey their laws, who praclife mine. But health averfe from floth’s fmooth region flies And, in her abfence, pleafure droops and dies. Her bright companions, mirth, delight, repofe,. Smile where Ihe fmiles, and ficken when fhe goes. A galaxy of pow’rs ! whofe forms appear For ever beauteous, and for ever near. Nor will foft fleep to floth’s requeft incline. He from her couches flies unbid to mine. Vain is the fpai'kling botvl, the warbling drain, Th’ incentive fong, the labour’d viand vain ! Where flue relentlefs reigns without controul. And checks each gay excurfion of the foul : Un mov’d, tho’ beauty, deck’d in all its charms, Grace the rich couch, and fpread the foftefl: arms ; . Till MORAL PIECES. 217- Till joylefs indolence fuggeds defires ; Or drugs are fought to furnilh languid fires ; Such languid fires as on the vitals prey, Ear ren of blifs, but fertile of decay. As artful heats, apply’d to thirfty lands, Produce no flow’rs, and but debafe the finds. But let fair Health her cheering fmiles impart, IIow fweet is nature, how fuperlluous art ! ’Tis llie the fountain’s ready draught commends. And fmooths the flinty couch which fortune lends. And, when my hero from his toils retires, Fills his gay bofom with unufual fires, And, while no checks th’ unbounded joy reprove. Aids and refines the genuine lweets of love. His faireft profpect riling trophies frame : His fweeteft mufic is the voice of fame ; Pleafures to floth unknown ! llie never found How fair the profpect, or how fweet the found. See Fame’s gay ftru&ure from yon fummit charms, And fires the manly bread to arts or arms : Nor dread the deep afeent, by which you rife From grov’ling vales to tow’rs which reach the ikies. Love, dime, edeem, ’tis labour mud acquire ; The fmiling offspring of a rigid fire ! To fix the friend, your fervice mud be Ihewn ; All, ere they lov’d your merit, lov’d their own. That wond’ring Greece your portrait may ad- mire. That tuneful bards may firing for you their lyre, That 3iS MORAL PIECES. That books may praife, or coins record your name,. Such, fuch rewards ’tls toil alone can claim ! And the fame column which difplays to view The conqu’ror’s name, difplays the conqueft too. ’Twas flow Experience, tedious miftrefs ! taught All that e’er nobly fpoke, or bravely fought. ’Twas fhe the patriot, Ihe the bard refin’d. In arts that ferve, protect, or pleafe mankind. Not the vain vilions of inactive fchools ; Not fancy’s maxims, not opinion’s rules E’er form’d the man whole gen’rous warmth ex- tends T’ enrich his country, or to ferve his fiiends. On active worth the laurel war beftows : Peace rears her olive for induflrious brows ; Nor earth, uncultur’d, yields its kind fupplies : Nor heav’n its fhow’rs, without a facrifice. See far below fuch grov’ling fcenes of fhame. As lull to reft Ignavia’s flumb’ring dame. Her friends, from all the toils of fame fecure, Alas ! inglorious, greater toils endure. Doom’d all to mourn, who in her caufe engage, A youth enervate, and a painful age ! A fickly faplefs mafs, if reafon flies ; And, if Ihe linger, impotently wife ! A thoughtlefs train, who pamper’d, fleek, and gay* Invite old age, and revel youth away ; From life’s frelh vigour move the load of care, And idly place it where they leaft can bear. When to the mind, difeas’d, for aid they fly. What kind reflexion fliall the mind fupply ? When, MORAL PIECES. 229 When, with loft health, what fhou’d the lofs allay. Peace, peace is loft : a comfortlefs decay ! But to my friends, when youth, when pleafure flies, And earth’s dim beauties fade before their eyes, Thro’ death’s dark vifta flowery tracts are feen, Elyfian plains, and groves for ever green. If o’er their lives a refluent glance they caft. Theirs is the prefent who can praife the paft. Life has its blifs for thefe, when paft its bloom. As wither’d rpfes yield a late perfume. Serene, and fafe from pafiion’s ftormy rage, How calm they glide into the port of age ! Of the rude voyage lefs depriv’d than eas’d ; More tir’d than pain’d, and Weaken’d than difeas’d-. For health on age, ’tis temp’rance muft beftow; And peace from piety alone can flow-; And all the incenfe bounteous Jove requires. Has fweets for him who feeds the facred fires. — Sloth views the tow’rs of fame with envious eyes ; Dcfirous ftill, ftill impotent to rife. Oft, when refolv’d to gain thofe blifsful tow’rs. The penfive queen the dire afcent explores. Comes onward, wafted by the balmy trees, Some filvan mufic, or feme feented breeze : She turns her head, her own gay realm flie Ipies, And all the fliort-liv’d refolution dies. Thus fome fond infect's falt’ring pinions wave, Clafp’d in its fav’rite fweets, a lafting flave : And thus in vain thefe charming vifions pleafe The wretch of glory, and the flave of eafe : Doom’d ever in ignoble ftate to pine, Boaft her own feenes, and languifh after mine. Vol. I. U But 230 MORAL PIECES. But fliun her (hares : nor let the world exclaim, Thy birth, which was thy glory, prov’d thy fliame. With early hope thine infant a£tions fir’d ; Let manhood crown what infancy infpir’d. Let gen’rous toils reward with health thy days, Prolong thy prime, and eternize thy pi'aife. The bold exploit that charms th’ attefling age. To lateft times fliall gen’rous hearts engage ; And with that myrtle fliall thy fhrine be crown’d, With which, alive, thy graceful brows were bound: Till time fliall bid thy virtues freely bloom. And raife a temple where it found a tomb. Then in their feafts thy name fliall Grecians join ; Shall pour the fparkling juice to Jove’s and thine. Thine, us’d in war, fliall raife their native fire ; Thine, us’d in peace, their mutual faith infpire. Dulnefs perhaps thro’ want of fight may blame, And fplcen, with odious induffry, defame; And that the honours giv’n with wonder view. And this in fecret fadnefs own them due : Contempt and envy were by fate defign’d The rival tyrants which divide mankind ; Contempt, which none but who deferve can bear ; While envy’s wounds the fmiles of fame repair. For know, the gen’rous thine exploits fliall fire, Thine ev’rv friend it fuits thee to require. Lov’d by the gods, and, till their feats I fhew. Lov’d by the good their images below.” Ceafe, lovely maid, fair daughter of the fkies ! My guide ! my queen ! th’ ecftatic youth replies. In thee I trace a form delign’d for fway ; Which chiefs may court, and kings with pride obey-. And M ORAL PIECES. 2 3' i And by thy bright immortal friends I fwear. Thy fair idea lhall no toils impair. Lead me ! O lead me where whole hods of foes Thy form depretiate, and thy friends oppofc ! Welcome all toils th’ unequal fates deciee, While toils endear thy faithful charge to thee. Such be my cares, to bind th’ oppreflive hand', And crufh the fetters of an injur’d land : To fee the monfter’s noxious life refign’d, And tyrants quell’d, the monfters of mankind ! Nature lhall fmile to view the vanquifli’d brood, And none but envy riot unfubdu’d. In cloifter’d date let feliilh fages dwell, Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell ; And boaft their mazy labyrinth of rules, Far lefs the friends of virtue, than the fools : Yet fuch in vain thy fav’ring fmiles pretend; For he is thine, who provesTis country’s- friend; Thus when my life well-fpent the good enjoy. And the mean envious labour to deftroy ; When, ftrongly lur’d by fame’s contiguous, lhrine, I yet devote my choicer vows to thine ; If all my toils thy promis’d favour claim, G lead thy fav’rite thro’ the gates of fame ! He ceas’d his vows, and, with difdainful air, He turn’d to blaft the late exulting fair. But vanilh’d, fled to fome more friendly fhore, The confcious phantom’s beauty pleas’d no more's - Convinc'd, her fpurious charms of drefs and face Claim’d a quick conqueft, or a fure difgrace. Fantaftic pow’r ! whofe trandent charms allur’d. While errour’s mid: the reas’ning mind obfcur’d : U 2 Not 232 MORAL PIECES. Not fuch the vicftrefs, virtue’s conftant queen Endur’d the Left of truth, and dar’d be feen. Her bright’ning form and features feem’d to own, ’Twas all her wilh, her int’reft to be known : And, when his longing view the fair declin’d. Left a full image of her charms behind. Thus reigns the moon, with furtive fplendour crown’d. While glooms opprefs us, and thick lhades furround. But let the fource of light its beams difplay. Languid and faint the mimic flames decay, And all the lick’ning fplendour fades away. The moral pieces. 233 The Progress of TASTE A POEM on the Temper and Studies of the 'Author; and how great a Misfortune it is for a Man oi fmall Eftate to have much Taste. P Erhai’S feme cloud eclips’d the day, When thus I tun’d my penfive lay. “ The fhip is launch’d* — we catch the gale- On life’s extended ocean fail : ' For happinefs our courfe we bend. Our ardent cry, our general end ! Yet ah ! the feenes which tempt our care Are like the forms difpers’d in air, Still dancing near diforder’d eyes; And weakeft his, who beft deferies l Yet let me not my birth-right barter, (For wifhing is the poet’s charter-; All bards have leave to wifh what’s wanted Tho’ few e’er found their wilhes granted; U 3 Extenfivc 234 MORA L"P I E C E S. Extenfive field ! where poets pride them In Hinging all that is deny’d them.) For humble eafe, ye poW’rs ! I pray ; That plain warm fuit for ev’ry day ! And pleafure, and brocade, bellow ; To flaunt it — once a-month, or fo. The firft for conftant wear we want ; The firfl, ye pow’rs ! for ever grant ! But conftant wear the laft befpatters, And turns the tiffiie into tatters. Where-e’er my vagrant courfe I bend. Let me fecure one faithful friend. Let me, in public fcenes, requeft A friend of wit and tafte, well-dreft : And, if I muft not hope fuch favour, A friend of wit and tafte, however. Alas ! that wifdom ever fhuns To congregate her flatter’d fons ; "Whofe nervous forces, well combin’d. Would win the field, and fway mankind. The fool will fqueeze, from morn to night, To fix his follies full in fight; The note he ftrikes, the plume he Ihews, ^.ttradl whole flights of fops and beaus ; And kindred-fools, who ne’er had known him, Flock at the fign, carefs and own him. But ill-ftarr’d flnfe, nor gay nor loud, Steals foft, on tip-toe, thro’ the croud ; Conveys his meagre form between ; And Aides, like pervious air, unfeen : Contrails his known tenuity. As though ’twere ev’n a crime to be : N*or MORAL PIECES; 235 Nor ev’n permits his eyes to ftray, And win acquaintance in their way. In company, fo mean his air, You fcarce are confcious he is there : Till from fome nook, like fharpen’d Reel, Occurs his face’s thin profile. Still feeming, from the gazer’s eye, Like Venus, newly -bath’d, to fly. Yet while relu&ant he difplays His real gems before the blaze, The fool hath, in its centre, plac’d His tawdry flock of painted pafte. Difus’d to fpeak, he tries his Ikill ; Speaks coldly, and fucceeds but ill ; His penfive manner, dulnefs deem’d ; His modefty, referve efteem’d ; His wit unknown, his learning vain. He wins not one of all the train. And thofe who, mutually known, In friendfhip’s faireft lift had fhone, Lefs prone, than pebbles, to unite, Retire to {hades from public fight ; Grow favage, quit their focial nature ; And ftarve, to ftudy mutual fatire. But friends and fav ’rites, to chagrin them, Find counties, countries, feas, between them : Meet once a-year, then part, and then Retiring, with to meet again. Sick of the thought, let me provide Some human form to grace my fide ; At hand, where-e’er I fliap^ my courfe ; An ufeful, pliant, {talking horfe ! No 2 j6 MORAL PIECES. No gefture free from fome grimace ; No Team without its fhare of lace ; But, mark’d with gold, or filver either, Hint where his coat was piec’d together. His legs be lengthen’d, I advife, And dockings roll’d abridge his thighs. What tho’ Vandtck had other rules, What had Vandyck to do with fools? Be nothing wanting, but his mind ■ .Before, a folitaire ; behind, A twilled riband, like the track Which nature gives an afs’s back. Silent, as midnight ! pity ’t’were His wifdom’s fiender wealth to lhare ; And, whilll in flocks our fancies llray, To wilh the poor man’s lamb away. This form attra&ing ev’ry eye, I ftrole all unregarded by : This wards the jokes of ev’ry kind,. As an umbrella fun or wind ; Or, like a fpunge, abforbs the fallies, And pellilential fumes of malice ; Or like a fplendid ihield is fit To fcreen the templar’s random wit ; Or what fome gentler cit lets fall. As wool- packs quafh the leaden ball. . Allufions thefe of weaker force. And apter Hill the ftalking-horfe ! . O let me wander all unfeen, Beneath the fanftion of his mien ! As lilies foft, as rofes fair ! Empty as air-pumps drain’d of air ! With moral pieces. 237 With Ready eye and pace remark The fpeckled flock that haunts the park * ; Level my pen with wondrous heed At follies, flocking there to feed : And, as my fatire burfts amain, See feather’d fopp’ry drew the plain. But when I feek my rural grove, And fhare the peaceful haunts I love. Let none of this unhallow’d train My fweet fequefter’d paths profane. Oft may forne polifh’d virtuous friend To thefe foft-winding vales defcend ; And love with me inglorious things. And fcorn with me the pomp of kings : And check me, when my bofom burns For ftatues, paintings, coins, and urns. For I in Damon’s prav’r cou’d join. And Damon’s wilh might now be mine — But all difpers’d ! the wifh,. the prayer. Are driven to mix with common air. PART THE SECOND. H OW happy once was Damon’s lot. While yet romantic fchemes were not f Ere yet he fent his weakly eyes, To plan frail caflles in the Ikies ; Forfaking pleafures cheap and common. To court a blaze, dill flitting from one. Ah happy Damon ! thrice and more. Had tafte ne’er touch’d thy tranquil Ihore. Oh * St James’s. 238 MORAL PIECES; Oh days ! when to a girdle ty’d The couples gingled at his fide ; And Damon fwore he wou’d not barter The fportfman’s girdle for a garter ! Whoever came to kill an hour, Found eafy Damon in their pow’r ; Pure focial nature all his guide, “ Damon had not a grain of pride.” He wilh’d not to elude the fnares Which knav’ry plans, and craft prepares; Rut rather wealth to crown their wiles ; And win their univerfal fmiles : For who are cheerful, who at eafe, But they who cheat us as they pleafe ! He wink’d at many a grofs defign, The new-f all’n calf might countermine : Thus ev’ry fool allow’d his merit ; u Yes ! Damon had a gen’rous fpirit!”” A coxcomb’s jeft, however vile, Was fure, at leaf!, of Damon’s fmile : That coxcomb ne’er deny’d him fenfe ^ For why ? it prov’d his own pretence : All own’d, were modefty away,, Damon cou’d fhine as much as they. When wine and folly came in feafon, Damon ne’er Prove to fave his reafon^. Obnoxious to the mad uproar ; A fpy upon a hoftile fhore ! ’Twas this his company endear’d ; Mirth never came till he appear’d : His lodgings— ev’ry draw’r cou’d fhew ’em ; The flave was kick’d, who did not know ’em. Thus MORAL PIECES. 239 Thus Damon, Rudious of his eafe. And pleafing all whom mirth cou’d pleafe ; Defy’d the world, like idle Colley, To fhew a fofter word than folly. Since wifdom’s gorgon-lhield was known To Rare the gazer into Rone ; He chofe to truR in folly’s charm. To keep his breaR alive and warm. At length grave learning’s fober train Remark’d the trifler with difdain ; The fons of taRe contemn’d his ways. And rank’d him with the brutes that graze : While they to nobler heights afpir’d. And grew belov’d, eReem’d, admir’d. Hence with our youth, not void of fpirit, His old companions loR their merit : And ev’ry kind well-natur’d fot, Seem’d a dull play, without a plot ; Where ev’ry yawning gueR agrees, The willing creature Rrives to pleafe ; But temper never could amufe ; It barely led us to excufe ; Twas true, converfmg, they averr’d. All they had feen, or felt, or heard : Talents of weight ! for wights like thefe, The law might chufe for witnefles : But fure th’ atteRing dry narration 111 fuits a judge of converfation. * What were their freedoms ? mere excufes To vent ill manners, blows, and bruifes. * Boifterous mirth. Yet MORAL PIECES. Yet freedom, gallant freedom ! hailing. At form, at form, inceflant railing, Would they examine each offence. Its latent caufe, its known pretence, Punftilio ne’er was known to breed ’em. So lure as fond prolific freedom. Their courage ? but a loaded gun ; Machine the wife wou’d wifh to fhun ; Its guard unfafe, its lock an ill one, Where accident might fire and kill one. In fhort, difgufted out of meafure, Thro’ much contempt, and flender pleafure. His fenfe of dignity returns ; With native pride his bofom burns ; He feeks refpefl — but how to gain it i Wit, focial mirth, cou’d ne’er obtain it. Laughter, how kind foe’er it feem, Difcards, and diffipates efteem : The man who gravely bows, enjoys it ; But fhaking hands, at once, deftroys it. Precarious plant, which, frefh and gay. Shrinks at the touch, and fades away ! Come then referve ! yet from thy train Ranifh contempt, and cui's’d difdain. Teach me, he cry’d, thy magic art To a£l the decent diftant part : To hufband well my complaifance, Nor let ev’n wit too far advance ; But chufe calm reafon for my theme. In thefe her loyal realms fupreme ; And o’er her charms, with caution fhewn, Be ft ill a graceful umbrage thrown ; And MORAL PIECES. 241 And each abrupter period crown’d, With nods, and winks, and fmiles profound. Till refeu’d from the croud beneath. No more with pain to move or breathe* I rife with head elate, to lhare Salubrious draughts of purer air. Refpedl is won by grave pretence And illence, furer ev’n than lenfe — ’Tis hence the facred grandeur Iprings Of eaftern — and of other kings. Or whence this awe to virtue due. While virtue’s diftant as Peru ? Hie hieathlefs fword die guard difplays. Which round emits its dazzling rays : 'fhe {lately fort, the turrets tall. Portcullis ’d gate, and battled wall, Lefs fereens the body, than controuls, And wards contempt from royal fouls. The crowns they wear but check the eve, Before it fondly pierce too nigh ; I hat dazzled crouds may be employ’d Around the furface of — the void. O ! ’tis the ftatefman’s craft profound To fcatter his amufements round ; To tempt us from their confcious bread, Where full-fledg’d crimes enjoy their neft. Nor awes us every worth reveal’d So deeply, as each vice conceal’d. The lordly log, difpatch’d of yore, J hat the frog-people might adore, With guards to keep them at a di fiance, Had reign’d, nor wanted wit’s affiftance : V °i- !• X .Nar. 2 , 4.2 MORAL PIECES. Nay — had addrefies from his nation, In praife of log-adminiftration. PART THE THIRD. H E buoyant fhes of youth were o’er, And fame and finery pleas’d no more ; Productive of that gen’ral Rare, Which cool reflection ill can bear ! And, crouds commencing mere vexation. Retirement fent its invitation. Romantic fcenes of pendent hills, And verdant vales, and falling rills, And mofly banks the fields adorn, Where Damon, fimple fwain, was born. The dryads rear’d a fhady grove ; Where fuch as think, and fuch as love. Might fafely figh their fummer’s day, Or mufe their filent hours away. The oreads lik’d the climate well, And taught the level plain to fwell In verdant mounds, from whence the eye Might all their larger works defcry. The naiads pour’d their urns around. From nodding rocks o’er vales profound. They form’d their ftreams to pleafe the view. And bade them wind, as ferpents do : And having (hewn them where to ftray. Threw little pebbles in their way. Thefe Fancy, all-fagacious maid, Had at their feveral talks furvey’d : She moral piece s. 2"4B She law and fmil’d ; and oft would lead Our Damon’s foot o’er hill and mead ; There, with defcriptive linger, trace The genuine beauties of the place ; And when fhe all its charms had Ihewe, Prefcribe improvements of her own. See yonder hill, fo green, fo round, Its brow with ambient beeches crown’d- ! ’Twou’d well become thy gentle care To raife a dome to Venus there : Pleas’d would the nymphs thy zeal furvey ; And Venus, in their arms, repay. Twas fuch a fliade, and fuch a nook, In fuch a vale, near fuch a brook, From fuch a rocky fragment fpringing, That fam’d Apollo chofe to Eng. in.. There let an altar wrought with art Engage thy tuneful patron’s heart. How charming there to mufe and warble Beneath his buffc of breathing marble ! With laurel wreath, and mimic lyre, That crown a poet’s vail delire. Then, near it, fcoop the vaulted ceil Where mu lie’s- * charming maids may dwell ; Prone to indulge thy tender paflion, And make thee many an afilgnation. Deep in the grove’s obfeure retreat Be plac’d Minerva’s facred feat ; There let her awful turrets rife, (For wifdom flies from vulgar eyes) : There her calm dictates lhalt thou hear Dillinctly ftrike thy lift’ning ear : * The mufes, X 2 And 244 MORAL PIECES. And who would fhun the pleaftn? labour. To have Minerva for his neighbour ?” In Ihort, fo charm’d each wild fuggeftion, Its truth was little call’d in queRion : And Damon dream’d he faw the fawns. And nymphs, diftinftty ikirn the lawns : Now trac’d amid the trees, and then Loll in the circling fhades again. With leer oblique their lover viewing — And Cur id — panting — and purfuing — Fancy, enchanting fair, he cry’d. Re thou my goddefs ! thou my guide ! For thy bright vilions I defpife W hat foes may think, or friends advife. The feign’d concern, when folks furvey Expenfe, time. Rudy caR away *, The real fpleen, with which they fee : I pleafe rnyfelf, and follow thee. Thus glow’d his breaR by fancy warm’d ; And thus the fairy-landfcape charm’d. But moR he hop’d his conRant care blight win the favour of the fair ; And, wand’ring late thro’ yonder glade, He thus the foft defign betray’d. “Ye doves ! for whom I rear’d the grove, With melting lays falute my love ! My Delia with your notes detain, Or I have rear’d the grove in vain ! Ye ilow’rs ! which early fpring fupplies, Difplay at once your brighteR dyes ! That Ihe your op’ning charms may fee. Or what were elfe your charms to me ? Kind 24S moral pieces. Kind zephyr ! brufh each fragrant flow’r. And died its odours round my bow’r, Or ne’er again, O gentle wind ! Shall I, in thee, refrefhment find. Ye ftreams, if e’er your banks I lov d, If e’er your native founds improv d, May each foft murmur footh my fair ■, Or oh ’twill deepen my defpair ! Be fure, ye willows- ! you be feen Array’d in liveliest robes of green ; Or I will tear your flighted boughs, And let them fade around my brows. And thou, my grott ! whofe lonely bounds The melancholy pine furrounds ! May fhe admire thy peaceful gloom,.. Or thou fhalt prove her lover’s tomb.” And now the lofty domes were rear’d ; Loud laugh’d the fquires, the rabble ftar d. “ See, neighbours, what our Damon’s doing ! I think fome folks are fond of ruin ! I faw his fiieep at random ftray— But he has thrown his crook away — And builds fuch huts as, in foul weather. Are fit for fheep nor fhepherd neither.” Whence came the fober fwain rnifled ■ Why, Phoebus put it in his head. Phoebus befriends him, we are told ; And Phoebus coins bright tuns of gold. ’Twere prudent not to be io vain on't : I think he’ll never touch a grain on’t. And if, from Phoebus, and his mufe. Mere earthly lazinefs enfues ; X. 3 TEfc 246 MORAL PIECE -S. ’Tis plain, for aught that I can fay, The dev’l infpires, as well as they. So they — while fools of groiTer kind, Lefs Averting what our bard defign’d. Impute his Schemes to real evil ; That in thefe haunts he met the devil. He own’d, tho’ their advice was vain, It Suited wights who trod the plain : For dulneSs — tho’ he might abhor it — In them, he made allowance for it. Nor wonder’d, if beholding mottoes, And urns, and domes, and cells, and grottoes* Folks, little dreaming of the mufes, Were plagu’d to gueSs their proper ufes. Rut did the mufes haunt his cell ? Or in his dome did Ve nus dwell ? Did Pallas in his counfels Share ? The Delian god reward his pray’r ? Or did his zeal engage the fair ? When ail the Structures fhonc complete ; Not mu h convenient, wondrous neat ; Adorn’d with gilding, painting, planting, And the fair guefts alone were wanting ; Ah me ! (’twas Damon’s own confeffion)* Came Poverty, and took polSdlion. PART THE fourth: IT 7 HY droops my Damon, whilft he roves ' * Thro’ ornamented meads and groves ? Near columns, obeliiks, and Spires, Which ev’ry critic eye admires ? *Tis MORAL PIECES. 247 ’Tis Poverty, detefted maid. Sole tenant of their ample fhade ! ’Tis fhe that robs him of his eafe. And bids their very charms difpleafe. But now, by fancy long control’d, And with the Tons of tafte enroll’d, He deem’d it fhameful, to commence Firft minifter to common-fenfe : Far more elated, to purfue The lowed talk of dear vertu. And now behold his lofty foul, That whilom flew from pole to pole. Settle on forne elaborate iiow’r ; And, like a bee, the fweets devour ! Now, of a rofe enamour’d, prove The wild folicitudes of love ! Now, in a lily’s cup enfhrin’d, Forego the commerce of mankind ! As in thefe toils he wore away The calm remainder of his day ; Conducting fun, and fhade, and fhow’r. As molt might glad the new-born flow’r, So fate ordain’d — before his eye — - Starts up the long-fought butterfly ! While fl'utt’ring round, her plumes unfold Celeftial crimfon, dropt with gold. Adieu, ye bands of flow’rets fair ! The living beauty claims his care : For this he ftrips -nor bolt, nor chain, Cou’d Damon’s warm purfuit reftrain. See him o’er hill, morafs, or mound, Where-e’er the fpeckled game is found. TW 248 MORAL PIECES. Tho’ bent with age, with zeal purfue, And totter tow’rds the prey in view. Nor rock, nor ftream, his heps retard. Intent upon the blefs’d reward ! One vatTal fly repays the chace ! A wing, a film, rewards the race ! Rewards him, tho’ difeafe attend, And in a fatal furfeit end. So fierce Camilla fkimm’d the plain, Smit with the purple’s pleafing ftain. She ey’d intent the glitt 'ring flranger. And knew, alas ! nor fear, nor danger : Till deep within her panting heart, Malicious fate impell’d the dart ! How ftudious he what fav’rite food Regales dame nature’s tiny brood ! What junkets fat the filmy people ! And what liqueurs they chule to tipple ! Behold him, at fome crife, prefcribe, , And raife with drugs the fick’ning tribe ! Or haply, when their fpirits falter, Sprinkling my Lord of Cloyne’s tar-water.. When nature’s brood of infers dies, See how he pimps for am’rous flies ! See him the timely fuccour lend her. And help the wantons to engender ! Or fee him guard their pregnant hour Exert his foft obftetric pow’r ; And, lending each his lenient hand. With new-born, grubs enrich the land ! * O Wilks ! what poet’s loftieft lays Can match thy labours, and thy praife ? * Alluding to Mr Wilks’s very expenfive propofal*. Immortal MORAL PIECES. 249 Immortal Cage ! by fate decreed To guard the moth’s illuftrious breed ! Till flutt’ring fwartns on fwarms arife. And all our wardrobes teem with flies ! And muft we praife this tafte for toys ? Admire it then in girls and boys. Ye youths of fifteen years, or more, Refign your moths — the feafon’s o’er. ’Tis time more focial joys to prove; ’Twere now your nobler talk — to love. Let * * * *’ s e y es more deeply warm ; Nor, flighting nature’s faired form, The bias of your fouls determine Tow’rds the mean love of nature’s vermin. But ah ! how wondrous few have known, To give each ftage of life its own. *Tis the pretcxta’s utmoft bound, With radiant purple edg’d around, To pleafe the child, whofe glowing dyes Too long delight maturer eyes : And few, but with regret, afiume The plain-wrought labours of the loom. Ah ! let not me by fancy fleer. When life’s autumnal clouds appear ; Nor ev’n in learning’s long delays Confume my faireft, fruitlefs days : Like him, who Ihould in armour fpend The fums that armour Ihould defend. A while, ixa pleafure’s myrtle bow’r, We (hare her fmiles, and blcfs her pow'r ; But find at lafl, we vainly drive To fix the worft coquette alive. O 250 MORAL PIECES. O you ! that with affiduous flame Have long purfu’d the faithlefs dame j Forfakc her foft abodes awhile. And dare her frown, and flight her fmile. Nor fcorn, whatever wits may fav, d he foot-path road, the king’s highway. No more the fcrup’lous charmer teafe. But feek the roofs of honed: eafe ; The rival fair, no more purfu’d, Shall there with forward pace intrude ; Shall there her ev’ry art eflay, To win you to her flighted fway ; And grant your fcorn a glance more fair Than e’er fhe gave your funded: pray’r. But would you happinefs purfue ? Partake both eafe, and pleafure too ? Would you, thro’ all your days, difpenfe The joys of rcafon,.and of fenfe ?; Or give to life the mofl you can ? Let focial virtue fhape the plan. For does not to the virtuous deed A train of pleafing fweets fucceed ? Or, like the fweets of wild defire,. Did focial pleafures ever tire ? Yet, midft the group be fome preferr’d. Be fome abhorr’d — for Damon err’d : And fuch there are — of fair addrefs — As ’twere unfocial to carefs. O learn, by reafon’s equal rule. To lhun the praife of knave, or fool ; Then, tho’ you deem it better ftill To gain fome ruflic ’fqu ire’s good-will ; And MORAL PIECES. 251 And fouls, however mean or vile, Like features, brighten by a fmile ; Yet reafon holds it for a crime. The trivial bread Ihou’d lhare thy time : And virtue, with reluftant eyes, Beholds this human facrifice !' Thro’ deep referve, and air eredl. Mi Hake n Damon won refpect ; But cou’d the fpecious homage pafs With any creature, but an afs ? If confcious, they who fear’d the lkin, Wou’d fcorn the fluggifh brute within What awe-llruck flaves the tow’rs inclofe, Where Perfian monarchs eat, and doze ? What proftrate rev’rence all agree, To pay a prince they never fee ! Mere vaflals of a royal throne ! The fophi’s virtues muft be flrown, To make the reverence his own. As for Thalia — wouldft thou make her Thy bride without a portion ? — take her. She will with duteous care attend. And all thy penhve hours befriend ; Will fwell thy joys, will fhare thy pain ; With thee rejoice, with thee complain ; Will fmooth thy pillow, plait thy bow’rs. And bind thine aching head with flow’rs But be this previous maxim known, If thou canffc feed on love alone ; If blefs’d with her, thou canft fuftain Contempt, and poverty, and pain ; If 252 MORAL PIECES. If lb — then rifle all her graces — And fruitful be your fond embraces. Too foon, by caitiff- fpleen infpir’d. Sage Damon to his groves retir’d : The path difclaim’d by fober reafon ; Retirement claims a later feafon ; Ere active youth and warm deflres Have quite withdrawn their ling’ring fires. With the warm bofom, ill agree, Or limpid ftream, or fhady tree. Love lurks within the rofy bow’r. And claims the fpeculative hour ; Ambition finds his calm retreat, And bids his pulfe too fiercely beat ; Ev’n focial Friendfhip duns his ear, And cites him to the public fphere. Does he refifl: their genuine force ? His temper takes fome froward courfe ; Till paflion, mifdiredted, fighs For weeds, or fhells, or grubs, or flics ! Far happieft he, whofe early days Spent in the focial paths of praife. Leave, fairly printed on his mind, A train of virtuous deeds behind : From this rich fund, the mem’ry draws The lafling meed of felf-applaufe. Such fair ideas lend their aid To people the fequefler’d fliade. Such are the naiads, nymphs, and fawns, That haunt his floods, or cheer his lawns. If where his devious ramble ftrays. He virtue’s radiant form furveys ; She MORAL PIECES, She Teems no longer now to wear The rigid mien, the frown Tevere * ; To fliew him her remote abode ; To point the rocky arduous road : But from each flower his fields allow, She twines a garland for his brow. * Alluding to — the allegory in Ce sc j’s tablet. Vox.. I. Y 253 OECO- A RHAPSODY, addreiled to young Poets Infants ; omnes geluiis quicunque lacernis Sunt iibl, Nafones Virgiliofque vidcs. Mart T O you, ye bards ! whofe lavifh bread: requires This monitory lay, the drains belong; Nor think lome mifer vents his fapient {aw, Or fome dull cit, unfeeling of the charms That tempt profulion, lings ; while friendly zeal, To guard from fatal ills the tribe he loves, Infpires the meaneft of the mufe’s train i Like you I loath the groveling progeny, Whofe wily arts, by creeping time matur’d. Advance them high on pow’r’s tyrannic throne ; To lord it there in gorgeous ufelelTnefs, And fpurn fuccefslefs worth that pines below ! See the rich churl, amid the focial fons Of wine and wit, regaling ! hark he joins In the free jefb delighted ! feems to {hew A meliorated heart ! he laughs ! he lings ! Songs of gay import, madrigals of glee. And drunken anthems fet agape the board. Like M* ORAL PIECES. 2 55 lake * D emea, in the play, benign and niild. And pouring forth benevolence of foul. Till Micxo wonders; or, in Shake spear’s line, Obftrep’rous filence ; drowning Shal l o w ’s voice. And ft ar ding Falstaff, and his mad compeers. He owns ’t is prudence, ever and anon, To fmooth his careful brow; to let his purfe Ope to a fix-pence’s diameter ! He likes our ways; he owns the ways of wit Are ways of pleafance, and deferve repard. True, we are dainty good fociety; But w hat art thou ? alas ! confider well, Thou bane of focial pleafure, know thyfelf. Thy fell approach, like forrte iuvafive damp Breath’d thro’ the pores of earth from Stygian caves, Deftroys-the lamp of mirth ; the 'lamp which we Its flamens boaft to guard, we know not how : But at thy fight the fading flame aflalmes A ghaftly blue, and in a Bench expires. True, thou feem’ft chang’d; all fainted, all enfky’d ; The trembling tears that charge thy inching eyes, Say thou art honeft, and of gentle kind; But all is falfe ! an intermitting Ugh Condemns each hour, each 'moment giv’n to fmil.es, And deems thofe only loft thou doft not lofe. Ev’n for a demi-groat, this open’d foul, This boon companion, this elaftic breaft Re vibrates quick ; and fends the tuneful tongue To lavifh mufic on the rugged walls, Of fome dark dungeon. 1 if nee then caitiff', ffyj Touch not my glafs, nor drain my facred bowl, * In Terence’s Adelphi, Y 2 Monftcr, 256 MORAL PIECES. Monfter, mgrate ! beneath one common Iky Vv r Iiy fhouldrt thou breathe ? beneath one common roof Thou ne'er fhalt harbour ; nor my little boat Receive a foul with crimes to prefs it down. Go to thy bags, thou recreant ! hourly go. And gazing there, bid them be wit, be mirth. Be converfation. Not a face that fmiles Admit thy prefence ! not a foul that glows With focial purport, bid or ev’n or morn Invert thee happy ! but when life declines, May thy fure heirs ftand titt’ring round thy bed. And ufh’ring in their fav’rites, burrt thy locks. And fill their laps with gold ; till want and care With joy depart, and cry, “ We alk no more.” Ah never, never may th’ harmonious mind Endure the worldly ! poets ever kind, — Guilelefs, diftruftlefs, fcorn the treafur’d gold. And fpurn the mifer, fpurn his deity. Balanc’d with friendfhip, in the poet’s eye. The rival fcale of intereft kicks the beam. Than lightning fwifter. From his cavern kt ftore The fordid foul, with felf-applaufe, remarks The kind propenfity ; remarks and fmiles. And hies, with impious harte to. fpread the fnai'e. Him we deride, and in our comic feenes Contemn the niggard form Mol ie re has drawn. We loath with juiiice ; but alas the pain To bow the knee before this calf of gold. Implore his envious aid, and meet his frown ! But ’tis not Gomez, ’tis not he whofe heart Is crurted o’er with drofs, whofe callous mind Is fenfelefs as his gold, the flighted mufe Intenfely moral pie c e s. 257 Intenfely loaths. ’Tis fure no equal talk To pardon him, who lavifhes his wealth On racer, fox-hound, hawk, or fpaniel, all But human merit; who with gold e flays All, but the nobleft pleafure, to remove The wants of genius, and its fniiles enjoy. But vou, ye titled youths ! whofe nobler zeal Would* burnifh o’er your coronets with fame, Who liften pleas’d when poet tunes his lay, Permit him not, in diftant folitudes, - To pine, to languifh out the fleeting hours Of active youth ! then virtue pants for praife. That feafon unadorn’d, the carelefs bard Quits your worn threfhold, and like honeft GAy Contemns the niggard boon ye time fo ill. Your favours then, like trophies giv’n the tomb, Th' enfranchis’d fpirit foaring not perceives. Or fcorns perceiv’d ; and execrates, the fmile Which bade his vig’rous. bloom, to treacherous' hopes • And fervile cares a prey, expire in vain ! Two lawlefs pow’rs, engag’d by mutual hate In endlefs war, beneath their flags enroll The vaflal world. This avarice is nam’d. That luxury ; ’tis true their partial friends Affign them fofter names ; ufurpers both ! That fh'are by dint of arms the legal throne Of juft oeconomy ; yet both betray’d By fraudful minifters. The niggard chief Lift’ning to want, all faithlefs, and prepar d To join each moment in his rival’s train, His conduct models by the needlefs feats The flave infpires ; while luxury, a chief x 3 ° £ MORAL PIECE S. 258 Of ample!! faith, to plenty’s rule refigns His whole campaign. ’Tis Plenty’s flatt’ring founds Ingcofs his ear ; ’tis Plenty’s fmiling form Moves hill before his eye. Difcretion drives, But drives in vain, to banilh from the throne The perjur’d minion. He, fecure of truft, With latent malice to the hoftile camp .Day, night, and hour, his monarch’s wealth corw veys. Ye tow’ring minds ! ye fublimated fouls ! Who, carelefs of your fortunes, feal and fign,. Set, let, contract, acquit, with eafier mien Than fops take fmtff ! whofe oeconomic care Tour green-filk purfe ingrolics ! eafy, pleas’d,. To fee gold fparkle thro’ the fubtle folds ; Lovely, as when th’ Hefperian fruitage fmil’d. Amid the verd’rous grove ! who fondly hops Spontaneous harvefts ! harveflsall the year! Who fcatter wealth, as- tho’ the radiant crop Glitter’d on ev’ry bough ; and ev’ry bough Like that the Trojan gather’d, once avuls’d, Were by a fplendid fficcehor fupply’d Inftant, fpontaneous ! liften to my lays.. For ’tis not fools, whate’er proverbial phrafe Have long decreed, that quit with greateft eafe The treafur’d gold. Of words indeed profufe, Of gold tenacious, their torpefcent foul Clenches their coin, and what elefrral fire Shall folve the fro fly gripe, and bid it flow ? Tis genius, fancy, that to wild expenfe Of health ! of treafure ! flirnulates the foul : Thefe, with officious care, and fatal art, Improve MORAL PIECE S. 259 Improve the vinous flavour ; thefe the fmile Of Cloe foften ; thefe the glare of drefs Illume; the glitt’ring chariot gild anew. And add ftrange wifdom to the furs of pow’r., Alas ! that he, amid the race of men. That he, who, thinks of pureft gold with fcorn, Shou’cl with unfated. appetite demand, And vainly court the pleafure it procures f When fancy’s vivid fpark impels the ford To. fcorn quotidian fcenes, to fpurn the blifs Of vulgar minds, what noftrum fhall.compofe Its . fatal tenfion ? in wh at lonely vale Of balmy med’cine’s various-. field, afpires The bleft refrigerant ? Vain, ah vain the hope Of future peace,, this orgafin uncontrol’d ! Impatient, hence, of all, the frugal mind Requires ; to eat, to drink, to fleep, to fill A chefl: with gold, the fprightly bread demands Inceflant rapture ; life, a tedious load, Deny’d its continuity of joy. But whence obtain ? philofophy requires No lav.ifh coft; to crown, its utmoft pray’r Suffice the root-built cell, the fimple fleece, The juicy viand, and the cryftal ftream. . Ev’n mild ftupidity rewards her train With cheap contentment. Tafte alone requires Entire profufion ! Days, and nights, and hours Thy voice, hydropic fancy ! calls aloud For coftly draughts, inundant bowls of joy. Rivers of rich regalement ! feas of blifs ! Seas without lhore ! infinity of fweets ! And 260 MORAL PIECES; And yet, unlefs fage reafon join her hand ; In pleafure’s purchafe, pleafure is unfure : And. yet, nnlefs oeconomy’s confent Legitimate experife, . fome gracelefs mark. Some fymptorn ill-conceal’d, fhall, foon or late, Burft like a pimple from the vitious tide Of acid blood, proclaiming want’s difeafe, A mi dll the bloom of lliew. The fcanty ftream Slow-loitering in its channel, feems to vie With VAGA’s depth ; but fhould the fedgy pow’r Vain-glorious empty his penurious urn O’er the rough rock, how mull his felLow-ftreams Deride the tinklings of the boaftive rill ! I not afpire to mark the dubious path That leads to wealth, to poets mark’d in vain J But ere felf-flattery footh the vivid bread; With dreams of fortune near ally’d to fame. Reflect how few, who charm’d the lift’ning ear Of fatrap or of king, her fmiles enjoy’d ! Gonlider well, what meagre alms repay’d The great Maeonian, fire of tuneful long, And prototype of all that fear'd fublime, And left dull cares below ; what griefs imped’d The mode ft bard of learn’d Eliza’s reign To fwell with tears his Mu l la’s parent ftreim, . And mourn aloud the pang, “ to ride, to run, To fpend, to give, to want, to be undone.” Why fliou’d I tell of Cowley’s penfive mufe Belov’d in vain? too copious is my theme ! Which of your boafted race might hope reward Like loyal Butler, when the lib’ral Charles, The judge of wit, perus’d the fprightly page Triumphant MORAL PIECES. Triumphant o’er his foes ? Believe not hope. The poet’s parafite ; but learn alone To fpare the fcanty boon the fates decree. Poet and rich ! ’tis folecifm extreme ! ’Tis heighten’d contradiction ! in his frame, In ev’ry nerve and fibre of his foul, The latent feeds and principles of want Has nature wove, and fate confirm’d the clue. Nor yet defpair to fhun the ruder gripe Of penuiy ; with nice pi'ecifion learn A dollar’s value. Foremoft in the page That marks th’ expenfe of each revolving year, Place inattention. When the luft of praife, Or honour’s falfe idea, tempts thy foul To flight frugality, allure thine heart That danger’s near. This periihable coin Is no vain ore. It is thy liberty. It fetters mifers, but it muft alone Enfranchife thee. The world, the cit-like world Bids thee beware ; thy little craft efiay ; Nor, pidling with a tea-fpoon’s {lender form. See with foup-ladles devils gormandife. Oeconomy ! thou good old aunt ! whofe mien Furrow’d with age and care the wife adore. The wits contemn ! referving Hill thy ftores To cheer thy friends at lafl: ! why with the cit, Or booklefs churl, with each ignoble name, Each earthly nature, deign’ft thou to refide ? And fhun rung all, who by thy favours crown’d Might glad the world, to feek fame vulgar mind Infpiring pride, and lelfiflr fhapes of ill ? Why 262 MORAL PIECES. Yv hy with, the old, infirm, and impotent. And chikllels, love to dwell, yet leave the bread: Of youth, un warn ’d, unguided, uninform’d ? Of youth, to whom thy monitory voice Were doubly kind ? for fure to youthful eyes' (How fhort foe’er it prove) the road of life Appears protracted ; fair on either fide The loves, the graces play, on fortune’s child Profufely fabling ; well might youth effay- The frugal plan, the lucrative emplov, Source of their favour all the live-long dav. Put fate ahents not.. Age alone contracts His meagre palm, to clench the tempting bane Of all his peace, the glitt’ring feeds of care ! O that the mule’s voice might pierce the ear Of gen’rous youth ! for youth deferves her fong.„ Youth is fair virtue’s feafon, virtue -then Requires the pruner’s hand ; the fequent ftage/J It barely vegetates ; nor long the fpace Ere robb’d of warmth its arid trunk difplay Fell winter’s, total, reign. O lovely fource Of gen’rous foibles, youth ! when op’nirig minds Are honeftas. the light, lucid as air., . As foft’ring breezes kind, as linnets gay. Tender as hudsj and lavifh-as -the fpring ! Yet haplefs date of man ! his earlielf youth Cozens itfelf, his age defrauds mankind. Nor deem it ft range that rolling years abrade The locial bias. life’s- extenfive page What does- it but unfold -repeated proofs Of gold’s -omnipotence ? With patriots, friends; hie thing beneath its ray, enervate fome, And. MO R A L PIECE S. 263 And others dead, whole putrid name exhales A ngifome fee-nt, the bulky volume teems With kinfmen, brothers. Ions, moift’ning the Ihroud, Or honouring the grave, with fpecious grief Of fliort duration ; loon in fortune’s beams Alert, and won d ’ring at the tears they Hied. But who lhall fave by tame prolaic ft rain That glowing bread, where wit with youth confpires To fweeten luxury ? The fearful mufe .Shall yet proceed, tho’ by the fainted: gleam Of hope inspir’d, to warn the train Ihe loves. PART THE SECOND. I N fomie dark feal’on, when the mifty Ihow’r Oblcures the fun, and faddens all the Iky ; When linnets drop the wing, nor grove nor dream Invites thee forth, to fport thy drooping mufe; Seize the dull hour, nor with regret aldgn lo worldly prudence. She, nor nice nor coy, Accepts the tribute of a joylefs day ; She lmiles vveil-pleas’d, when wit and mirth recede. And not a grace, and not a mufe will hear. Then, from majeftk Maro’s awful drain. Or tow ’ring Homer, let thine eye defeend To trace, with patient indudry, the page Of income and expenfe. And oh ! beware, Thy bread, felf-flatt’ring, place no courtly lmile, * No golden promife of your faithlefs mufe. Nor latent mind which fortune’s hand may fhew, Amid 264 MORAL PIECES. Amid thy folid ft ore. The ftren’s fong Wrecks not the lift’ning failor, half l’o lure. See by what avenues, what devious paths, The foot of want, detefted, fteals along, And bars each fatal pafs. Some few Ihort hours Of punctual care, the refufe of thy year, On frugal fchemes employ’d, fhall give the mufe To fing intrepid many a cheerful day. But if too foon before the tepid gales Thy refolution melt ; and ardent vows In wary hours preferr’d or die forgot, Or feem the forc’d effedt of hazy fldes; Then, ere furprife, by whofe impetuous rage The mafiy fort, with which thy gentler breaft I not compare, is won, the fong proceeds. Know too by nature’s undiminifh’d law. Throughout her realms obey’d, the various parts Of deep creation, atoms, fyftems, all ! Attract and are attracted ; nor prevails the law Alone in matter ; foul alike with foul Afpires to join; nor yet in fouls alone. In each idea it imbibes, is found The kind propenfity. And when they meet, And grow familiar, various tho’ their tribe. Their temper vai'ious, vow perpetual faith : That,fliou’d the world’s disjointed frame once more To chaos yield the fway, amid the wreck Their union fhou’d furvive ; with Roman warmth, By facred hofpitable laws endear’d, Shou’d each idea recoiled! its friend. Here then we fix ; on this perennial bafe Erect thy fafety, and defy the ftorm. Let MORAL PIECES. 265 Let foft profudon’s fair idea join Her hand with poverty ; nor here delift, Till, o’er the groupe that forms their various train, Thou fing loud hymeneals. Let the pride Of outward fhew in lafting leagues combine With fhame thread-bare; the gay vermilion face Of ralh intemp ’ranee, be difcreetly pair’d With fallow hunger ; the licentious joy, With mean dependence ; ev’n the dear delight Of fculpture, paint, intaglios, books, and coins/ Thy bread:, fagacious prudence ! fhall connect With filth and beggary ; nor difdain to link With black infolvency. Thy foul alarm’d Shall limn the firen’s voice ; nor boldly dare To bid the foft enchantrefs fliare thy bread. With fuch a train of horrid fiends conjoin’d. Nor think, ye fordid race ! ye groveling minds ! I frame the fong for you ! for you, the mufe Cou'd other rules impart. The friendly drain For gentler bofoms plann’d, to yours wou’d prove The juice of lurid aconite, exceed Whatever Colchos bore, and in your bread Compafiion, love, and friendfhip. all dedroy ! It greatly diall avail, if e’er thy ftores Increafe apace, by periodic days Of annual payment, or thy patron’s boon, The lean reward of grofs unbounded praife 1 It -much avails, to feize the prefent hour. And, undeliberating, call around Thy hungry creditors ; their horrid rage When once appeas’d, the fmall remaining dore Shall rife in weight tenfold, in ludre rife. Vol. I. Z As 266 MOR A L PIECE S. As gold improv’d by many a fierce allay. ’Tis thus the frugal hufbandman directs His narrow fir earn, if o’er its wonted banks By fudden rains impell’d, it proudly fwell ; His timely hand thro’ better tradts conveys The quick-decreafing tide ; ere borne along Or thro’ the wild morafs, or cultur’d field, Or bladed grafs mature, or bari*en fands, It flow deftrudtive, or it flow in vain ! But happieft he who iandlifies expenfe By prefent pay ! who fubjects not his fame To tradefmens varlets, nor bequeaths his name, His honour’d name, to deck the vulgar page Of bafe mechanic, fordid, unfincere 1 There haply, while thy mufe fublimely foars Beyond this earthly fphere, in hear’n’s abodes, And dreams of nectar and ambrofial fweets. Thy growing debt Heals unregarded o’er The punctual record; till nor Phoebus felf — Nor fage Minerva’s art can aught avail To footh the ruthlefs dun’s detefted rage. Frantic and fell, with many a curfe profane He loads the gentle mufe ; then hurls thee down To want, remorle, captivity, and fliame. Each public place, the glitt’ring haunts of men, With horrour fly. Why loiter near thy bane ? — Why fondly linger on an hofliie more Difarm’d, defencelefs ? why require to tread The precipice ? or why alas to breathe A moment’s fpace, where ev’ry breeze is death ? Death to thy future peace ! Away, collect Thy diflipated mind.; contract thy train Of MORAL PIECES. 267 Of wild ideas o’er the flow’ry fields Of Ihew diffus'd, and fpeed to fafer dimes. Oeconomy prefents her glafs, accept The faithful mirrour ; powerful to difclofe A thoufand forms, unfeen by carelefs eyes, That plot thy fate. Temptation in a robe Of Tyrian dye, with every fweet perfum’d, Befets thy fenfe ; extortion follows dole Her wanton ftep ; and ruin brings the rear. Thefe and the reft fhall her myflerious glafs Embody to thy view ; like Veku-s, kind. When to her lab ’ring fon, the vengeful pow’jps That urg’d the falht*f liriUM, fhe difplay’d. He, not imprudent, at the fight declin’d T-h’ inequal conflict, and decreed to raife The Trojan welfare on fame happier fhorc. For here to drain thy fwelling purfe await A thoufand arts, a thoufand frauds attend, “ The cloud-wrought canes, the gorgeous fluff- boxes. The twinkling jewels, and the gold etwee, With all its bright inhabitants, fhall wafte Its melting ftores, and in the dreary void Leave not a doit behind.” Ere yet exhaufl Its flimfy folds offend thy penfive eye, Away ! embofom’d deep in diftant fhades, Nor fcen nor feeing, thou mayft vent thy fcom Of lace, embroid’ry, purple, gems, and gold ! T here of the farded fop, and effenc’d beau. Ferocious with a Stoic’s frown, difclofe Thy manly fcorn, averfe to tinfel pomp, And fluent thine harangue. But can thy foul Deny thy limbs the radiant grace of drefs, Z 2 Where 263 MORA L PIECES. Where drefs is merit ! where thy graver friend Shall wifh thee burnilh’d ! where the fprightly fair Demand embellilhment ! ev’n Delia’s eye, As in a garden, roves, of hues alone Inquirent, curious ? Fly the curs’d domain ; Thefe are the realms of luxury and fhew ; No claffic foil, away ! the bloomy fpring Attracts thee hence ; the waning autumn warns ; Fly to thy native fhades, and dread ev’n there, Left bufy fancy tempt thy narrow ftate Beyond its bounds. Obferve Florelio’s mien. Why treads my friend with melancholy ftep That beauteous lawn ? Why penfive ftrays his eye O’er ftatues, grottoes, urns, by critic art Proportion’d fair ? or from his lofty dome Bright glittering thro’ the grove, returns his eye TJnpleas’d, difconfolate ? And is it love, Difaftrous love, that robs the finifh’d feenes Of all their beauty? cent’ring all in her His foul adores ? or from a blacker caufe Springs this remorfeful gloom ? is confcious guilt The latent fource of more than love’s defpair ? It cannot be within that polifh’d breaft Where fcicnc'e dwells, that guilt fhou’d harbour there. No ! ’tis the fad furvey of prefent want, And paft -profufton ! Loft to him the fweets Of yon pavilion, fraught with ev’ry charm For other eyes ; or, if remaining, proofs Of criminal expenfe ! Sweet interchange Of river, valley, mountain, woods, and plains ! How gladfome once he rang’d your native turf. Your Ample feenes, how raptur’d ! ere expenfe • Had MORAL PIECES. 2 6 9 Had lav idl’d thoufand ornaments, and taught Convenience to perplex him, art to pall, Pomp to dejed, and beauty to difpleafe. Oh ! for a foul to all the glare of wealth. To fortune’s wide exhauftlels treafury. Nobly fuperiour ! but let caution guide The coy difpofal of the wealth we fcorn, And prudence be our almoner ! Alas ! The pilgrim wand-ring o’er fome diftant clime, Sworn foe of av’rice ! not difdains to learn Its coin’s imputed worth ; the deftin’d means To fmooth his paffage to the favour’d lhrine. Ah let not us, who tread this ftranger-world, Let none who fojourn on the realms of life, . Forget the land is mere ’nary ; nor walte- His fare, ere landed on no venal fhore. Let never bard confult Palladio’s rules; Let never bard, O Burlington ! fur-vey Thy learned art, in Chiswick’s dome difplay’d Dang’rous incentive ! nor with ling’ring eye Survey the window Venice calls her own. Better for him, with no ingrateful mufe, To ling a requiem to that gentle foul Who plann’d the fky-light, which to laviih bard Conveys alone the pure ethereal ray. For garrets him, and fqualid walls await, Unlefs, prefageful, from this friendly Brain, He glean advice, and Ihun the dribbler’s doom-. Z- 3 P ART M ORAL PIECES. 270 PART THE T H I R D. Y ET once again, and to thy doubtful fate The trembling mufe configns thee. Ere contempt, Or want’s empoifon’d arrow, ridicule. Transfix thy weak unguarded bread:, behold ! The poet’s roofs, the carelefs poet’s, his Who fcorns advice, fliall clofe my ferious lay. When Gulliver, now great, now little deem’cb The playrthing of companion, arriv’d Where learned bofoms their aereal fchemes Projected, dudious of the public weal ; Mid thefe, one fubtler artid he defery’d, Who cheriih’d in his dudy tenement The fpider’s web, injurious, to fupplant Fair Albion’s deeces ! Never, never may Our monarch on fuch fatal pur,pofe fmile, And irritate Minerva’s beggar’d fons. The Me lk sham weavers ! Here in every nook Their wefts they fpun ; here revell’d uncontrol’d, And, like the flags from Westminster’s high roof Dependent, here their flutt’ring textures wav’d. Such, fo adorn’d, the cell I mean to fing ! Cell ever fqualid ! where the fneerful maid Will not fatigue her hand ! broom never comes. That comes to all 1 o’er whofe ejuiefeent walls Arachne’s unmoleded care has drawn Curtains fubfujk, and fave th’ expenfe of art. Survey thofe walls, in fady texture clad, Where wand’ring fnails in many a flimy path. Free, 2 7 I MORAL PIECES. Free, unreffrain’d, their various journeys crawl; Peregrinations ftrange, and labyrinths Confus’d, inextricable ! fuch the clue Of Cretan Ariadne ne’er explain’d! Hooks ! angles ! crooks ! and involutions wild ! Mean time, thus filyer’cl with meanders gay In mimic pride the fnail-wrought tiffue fhines, Perchance of tabby, or of aretine, Not ill expreffive ! fuch the pow’r of fnails ! Behold his chair, whofe fraflur'd feat infirm An aged cufhion hides ! replete with duff The foliag’d velvet ; pleafing to the eye Of great Eliza’s reign, but now the fnarc Of weary gueft, that on the fpacious bed Sits down confiding. Ah ! difaftrous wight ! In evil hour and rafhly doft thou trufl The fraudful couch ! for til o’ in velvet cas’d, Thy fated thighs fhall kifs the dufty floor. The trav’ler thus, that o’er Hibernian plains Hath fhap’d his way, on beds profufe of flow’rs, Cowflip, or primrofe, or the circ’lar eye Of daifie fair, decrees to bafk fupine. And fee ! delighted, down he drops, fecure Of fweet refrefhment, eafe without annoy, Or lufcious noon-day nap. Ah much deceiv’d, Much fuff ’ring pilgrim ! thou nor noon-day nap, Nor fweet repofe lhalt find; the falfe moral's In quiv’ring undulations yields beneath Thy burden, in the miry gulf inclos’d ! And who would truft appearance ? caff thine eye Where ’mid machines of het’rogeneous form Plis coat depends ; alas ! his only coat, Eldeft 2*7 '2 MORAL PTE G E ST Eldcft of tilings ! and napleis, as an heath Of fmall extent by fleecy myraids graz’d. Not diff’rent have I feen in dreary vault Difplay’d, a coffin ; on each fable lide The texture unmolefted feems entire. Fraudful, when touch’d it glides to dull away ! • And leaves the wond’ring fwain to gape, to flare, And with expreffive fhrug, and piteous figh, , Declare the fatal force of rolling years, Or dire extent of frail mortality. This aged vefture, fcorn of gazing beaus, And formal cits, (themfelves too haply fcorn’d),' Both on its fleeve and on its fkirt, retains Full many a pin wide-fparkling : for, if e’er 'fheir well-known creft met his delighted eye, Tho’ wrapt in thought, commercing with the iky, He, gently ftooping, fcorn’d not to upraife, And on each fleeve, as confcious of their ufe. Indenting fix them ; nor, when arm’d with thefe, The cure of rents and feparations dire, ■ And chafms enormous, did he view difmay’d Hedge, bramble, thicket, bufh, portending fate To breeches, coat, and hofe ! had any wight Of vulgar fltill, the tender texture own’d ; But gave his mind to form a fonnet quaint Of Silvia’s fhoe-ftring, or of Cloe’s fan, Or fwcetly-fafliion’d tip of Celia’s ear, Alas ! by frequent ufe decays the force Qf mortal art ! the refractory robe Eludes the tailor’s art, deudes his own ; How potent once, in union quaint conjoin’d ! See near his bed (his bed too falfe-ly call’d The MORAL PIECE S. 273 . The place of reft, while it a bard fuftains ; Pale, meagre, mufe-rid wight ! who reads in vain Narcotic volumes o’er) his candleftick, Pvadiaht machine, when from the plaftic hand Of Mulciber, the may’r of Birmingham, The engine iflu’d ; now alas difguis’d By many an unftuous tide, that wand ’ring down Its fides congeal ; what he, perhaps, eftays With humour forc’d, and ill-diilembled fmile. Idly to liken to the poplar’s trunk, When o’er its bark the lucid amber, wound In many a pleating fold, incrufts the tree. Or fuits him more the winter’s candy’d thorn, When from each branch, anneal’d, the works of fro ft: Pervaftve, radiant icicles depend ? How fhall I ftng the various ill that waits The careful fonneteer ? or who can paint The fhifts enormous, that in vain he forms To patch his panelefs window ; to: cement His batter’d tea-pot, ill retentive vafe ? To war with ruin ? anxious to conceal Want’s fell appearance, of the real ill Nor foe, nor fearful. Ruin unforefeen Invades his chattels ; ruin will invade ; Will claim his whole invention to repair, Nor, of the gift, for tuneful ends defign’d. Allow one part to decorate his fong. While Ridicule, with ever-pointing hand Confcious of ev’ry fhifts, of ev’ry drift Indicative, his inmoft plot betrays, Points to the nook, which he his ftudv deems Pompous 274 MORAL PIECES. Pompous and vain ! for thus he might efleem Hie chefl, a wardrobe ; purfe, a treasury ; And fhews, to erown her fuU.diiplay, himfelf. One whom the pow’rs above, in place of health. And wonted vigour; of paternal cot, Or little farm ; of bag, or fcrip, or ftaff. Cup, difh, fpoon, plate, or worldly utenfd, A poet fram’d ; yet fram'd not to repine, And wifh the cobler’s loftieft fite his own ; Nor, partial as they feem, upbraid the fates,- Who to the humbler mechanifm, join’d Goods fo fuperiour, Inch exalted bills ! See with what feeming eafe, what labour’d peace He, haplefs hypocrite ! refines his nail, His chief amufement ! then how feign’d, how forc’d. That care-defying fonnet, which implies His debts dilcharg’d, and he of half a- crown In full pofilfiion, uncontefted right And property ! Yet ah ! whoe’er this wight Admiring view, if fueh there be, dill rull The vain pretence ; the fmiles that harbour grief, As lurks the ferpent deep in flow’rs enwreath’d. Forewarn’d, be frugal ; or with prudent rage Thy pen demoliih ; chufe the trullier flail, And bids thofe labours which the choice infpir’d. But if thou . view’ll a vulgar mind, a wight Of common fenfe, who feeks no brighter name, ■ Him envy, him admire, him, from thy breafl, . Prefcient of future dignities* falute Sheriff, or may’r, in comfortable furs ■' Enwrapt, fecure: nor yet the laureat’s crown la MORAL PIECES. ■/ j In thought exclude him ! He perchance fhall rife To nobler heights than forefight can decree. When fir’d with wrath, for his intrigues difplay’d In many an idle fong, Saturnian Jove V ow’d fure deft ruction to the tuneful race ; Appeas’d by fuppliant Ph oe b u s, “Bards,” he faid “ Henceforth of plenty, wealth, andpompjlebarr’d* But fed by frugal cares, might wear the bay Secure of thunder.” — Low the Delian bow’d, Nor at th’ invidious favour dar’d repine.. The 276 MORAL PIECES. The Ruined ABBEY; O R, The Effects of SUPER ST I T I O N A T length fair peace with olive crown’d re- gains Her lawful throne, and to the {acred haunts Of wood or fount the frighted mule returns. Happy the bard, who from his native hills. Soft-muling on a fummer’s eve, lurveys His azure ftream, with penlile woods inclos’d ! Or o’er the glady furface, with his friend, Or faithful fair, thro’ bord’ring willows green Wafts his linall frigate. Fearlefs he of Ihouts, Or taunts, the rhetoric of the wat’ry crew That ape confulion from the realms they rule ! Fearlefs of thefe; who lhafes the gentler voice Of peace and mulxc ; birds of fweeteit long Attune from native boughs their various lay. And cheer the foreft ; birds of brighter plume With bufy pinion fkim the glitt’ring wave, And tempt the fun ; ambitious to difplay Their feveral merits, while the vocal flute, Or number’d verfe, by female voice endear’d, Crowns his delight, and mollifies the feenc. If folitude his wand’ring fteps invite Te MORAL PIECES. 2 77 To fome more deep recefs, (for hours there are, When gay, when focial minds to friendfhip’s voice. Or beauty’s charm, her wild abodes prefer) ; How pleas’d he treads her venerable fhades. Her folemn courts ! the centre of the grove 1 The root-built cave, by far-extended rocks Around embofom’d, how it fooths the foul? If fcoop’d at firft by fuperflitious hands The l'ugged cell receiv’d alone the Ihoals Of bigot-minds, religion dwells not here. Yet virtue pleas’d, at intervals, retires : Yet here may Wifdom, as fhe walks the maze, Some ferious truths collect, the rules of life. And ferious truths of mightier weight than gold ! I afk not wealth ; but let me hoard with care, With frugal cunning, with a niggard’s art, A few fix’d principles ; in early life, Ere indolence impede the fearch, explor’d. Then like old Latimer, when age impairs My judgment’s eye, when quibbling fchools attack My grounded hope, or fubtler wits deride. Will I not blufh to fhun the vain debate. And this mine anfwer, “ Thus, ’twas thus I thought. “ My mind yet vigorous, and my foul entire ; * c Thus will I think, averfe to liflen more “To intricate difcufllon, prone to ftray, “ Perhaps my reafon may but ill defend “ My fettled faith ; my mind, with age impair’d, “ Too fure its own infirmities declare. “ But I am arm’d by caution, fludious youth, “ And early forefight ; now the winds may rife, “ The tempeft whiffle, and the billows roar ; “ My pinnace rides in port, defpoil’d and worn, Vol. I. A a “ Shatter’d 278 MORAL PIECES. e ‘ Shatter’d by time and ftorms, but while it fhuns “ Th’ unequal conflict, and declines the deep, ** Sees the ftrong veflel fluctuate lefs fecure.” Thus while he flrays, a thoufand rural fcenes Suggelt inftruftion, and inftructing pleafe. And fee, betwixt the grove’s extended arms, An abbey’s rude remains attract thy view. Gilt by the mid-day fun : with ling’ring ftep Produce thine axe, (for, aiming to deftroy Tree, branch, or fhade, for never fhall thy breaft Too long deliberate), with timorous hand Remove th’ obftructive bough ; nor yet refufe, Tho’ fighing to deftroy that fav’rite pine, Piais’d by thine hand, in its luxuriant prime Of beauty fair, that fcreens the vaft: remains. Aggriev’d, but conftant as the Roman fire. The rigid Manlius, when his conq’ring fon Bled by a parent’s voice ; the cruel meed Of virtuous ardour, timelefsly difplay’d ; Nor ceafe till, thro’ the gloomy road, the pili Gleam unobftrufted ; thither oft thine eye Shall fweetly wander ; thence returning, footh With penfive fcenes thy philofophic mind. Thefe were thy haunts, tby opulent abodes, O Superftition ! hence the dire clifeafe (Balanc’d with which the fam’d Athenian peffc Were a fhort head-ach, were the trivial pain Of tranfient indigeftion) feiz’d mankind. Long time fhe rag’d, and fcarce a fouthern gale Warm’d our chill air, unloaded with the threats Of tyrant Rome j but futile all, till fhe, Rome’s MORAL PIECES. 279 H Rome’s abler legate, magnify’d their pow’r. And in a thoufand- horrid forms attir’d. Where then was truth, to fanftify the page Of Britifh annals ? if a foe expir’d, The perjur'd monk fuborn’d infernal fhrieks. And fiends to fnatch at the departing foul With hellifn. emulation. If a friend. High o’er his roof exultant angels tune Their golden lyres, and waft him to the ikies. What then were vows, were oaths, were plighted faith ? The fovereigips* juft - , the fubjecls loyal pa ft To cherifh mutual good, annull’d and vain, By Roman magic, grew an idle fcroil, Ere the frail fanftion of the wax was cold. With thee, *Plantagenet, from civil broils The land a while refpir’d, and all was peace. Then Becket rofe, andfimpotent of mind, From regal courts with lawlefs fury march’d The church’s blood-ftain’d convifts, and forgave ; Bid murd’rous priefts the fov’reign frown contemn, And with unhallow’d j- crofier bruis’d the crown. Yet yielded not fupinely tame a prince Of Henry’s virtues; learn’d, courageous, wife, Of fair ambition.. Long his regal foul Firm and ereft the peevilh priefF exil’d. And brav’d the fury of revengeful Rome. In vain ! let one faint malady diffufe The penfive gloom which Superftition loves-, And fee him, dwindled to a recreant groom, Rein the proud palfrey, while the pried afeends L * Henry II. f Richard I. A a 2 Was 280 MORAL PIECES. Was Coe ur- de-li on blefs’d with whiter days? Hear the cowl'd zealots with united cries Urge the crufade ; and fee, of half his ftores Defpoil’d the wretch, whole wifer bofom chofe To blefs his friends, his race, his native land. Of ten fair funs that roll’d their annual race, Not one beheld him on his vacant throne : While haughty * Longchamf, ’mid his liv’ry’d files Of wanton vaflals, fpoil’d his faithful realm, Battling in foreign fields ; collecting wide A laurel harveft for a pillag’d land. Oh dear-bought trophies ! when a prince deferts His drooping realm, to pluck the barren fprays ! When faithlefs John ufurp’d the fully’d crown, What ample tyranny ! the groaning land Deem’d earth, deem’d heav’n its foe ! fix tedious years Our helplefs fathers in defpair obey’d The papal interdict ; and who obey’d, The fovereign plunder’d. O inglorious days! When the French tyrant, by the futile grant Of papal refeript, claim’d Britannia’s throne, Afid durft invade ; be fuch inglorious days Or hence forgot, or not recall’d in vain ! Scarce had the tortur’d ear dejeCted heard Rome’s loud anathema, but heartlefs, dead To ev’ry purpofe, men nor wifh’d to live, Nor dar’d to die. The poor laborious hind Heard the dire curfe, and from his trembling hand Fell the negleCted crook that rul’d the plain. * Bifhop of Ely, Lord Chancellor. Thence MORAL PIECES. 281 Thence journeying home, in ev’ry cloud he fees A vengeful angel, in whofe waving fcroll He reads damnation ; fees its fable train Of grim attendants, pencil’d by defpair! The weary pilgrim from remoter climes By painful heps arriv’d ; his home, his friends, His offspring left, to lavifh on the fhrine Of fome far-honour’d- faint his coftly ftores, Inverts his footftep y. fickens at the fight Of the barr’d fane, and filent fheds his tear. The wretch whofe hope by ftern oppreflion chas’d From ev’ry earthly blifs, ftill as it faw Triumphant wrong, took wing and flew to heav n, And refted there, now mourn’d his refuge loft And wonted peace. The facred fane was barr d. And the lone altar, where the mourners throng’d To fupplicate remiffion, fmok’d no more ; While the green weed, luxuriant round uprofe. Some from their death-bed, whofe delirious faith Thro’ ev’ry ftage of life to Rome’s decrees Obfecpiious, humbly hop’d to die in peace, Now faw the ghaftly king approach, begirt In tenfold terrours ; now expiring heard : The laft loud clarion found, and heav’n’s decree With unremitting vengeance bar the Ikies. Nor light the grief, by fuperftition weigh’d, That their difhonour’d corfe, flint from the verge Of hallow’d earth, or tutelary fane, Muft fleep with brutes their vafials, on the field ; Unneath fome path, in marie unexorciled ! No folemn bell extort a neighbour's tear ! A a 3 No - 282 moral pieces. No tongue of prieft pronounce their foul fecure ! Nor fondeft friend allure their peace obtain’d! The pried: ! alas fo boundlefs was the ill ! He, like the flock he pillag’d, pin’d forlorn * The vivid vermeil fled his fady cheek. And his big paunch, diftended with the fpoils Of half his hock ; emaciate, groan’d beneath Superiour pride, and mightier luft of pow’r! ’Twas now Rome’s, fondeft friend, whofe meapre O hand Told to the midnight lamp his holy beads With nice precifion, felt the deeper wound As his gull’d foul rever’d the conclave more. Whom did the ruin fpare l for wealth, for pow’r,. Birth, honour, virtue, enemy, and friend, Sunk helplefs in the dreary gulf involv’d^ And one capricious curfe envelop’d all ! Were kings fecure ? in tow’ring Rations born,. In hatt’ry nurs’d, inur’d to fcorn mankind, Or view dimmifh’d from their fite fublime ; As when a fhepherd, from the lofty brow Of fome proud cliff furveys his lefs’ning hock In fnowy groups diffufive, ftud the vale. Awhile the furious menace John return’d. And breath’d defiance loud. Alas ! too foon Allegiance fick’ning faw its fov’reign yield, An angry prey to fcruples not his own. The loyal foldier, girt around with ftrength. Who ftole from mirth and wine his. blooming years, And feiz’d the fauchion, refolute to guard His fovereign’s right, impalfy’d at the news, f inds the firm bias of his foul revers’d For moral r i e c e s. 283 For foul defertioft ; drops the lifted Reel, And quits fame’s noble harveft , to expire The death of monks, of forfeit and of doth ! At length fatigu’d' with wrongs, the feivile king Drain’d from his land its frnall remaining ftores To buy remiilion. But could thele obtain ? No! refolute in wrongs the pried; obdur’d; Till crawling bale to Rome s deputed Have Elis fame, his people, and his crown he gave. Mean monarch ! flighted, brav’d, abhorr d before f And now, appeas’d by delegated fway, The wilv pontiff fcorns not to recall His interdictions. Nov/ the fhcred doors Admit repentant multitudes, prepar’d To buy deceit ; admit obfequious tribes Of fatraps ! princes ! crawling to the fhrine Of fainted villany ! the pompous tomb Dazzling with gems and gold, or in a cloud Of incenfe wreath’d, amidft a drooping land That ligh’d for bread ! Tis thus the Indian clove O Difplays its verdant leaf, its crimfon flow’r, And iheds its odours ; while the flocks around Hungry and faint the barren fands explore In vain ! nor plant nor herb endears the foil ; Drain’d and exhauft to fwell its thirfty pores, And furnifh luxury — Yet, yet in vain Britannia drove; and whether artful Rome Car.efs’d or curs’d her, Superftition rag’d. And blinded, fetter’d, and defpoil’d the land. At length fome murd’rous monk, with pois’nous art Expell’d the life his brethren robb’d of peace. Nor 284 MORAL PIECE S. Nor yet furceas’d with John’s difaftrous fate Pontific fury ! Englifh wealth exhauft, The fequent reign * beheld the beggar’d fhore Grim with Italian ufurers; prepar’d To lend for griping unexampled hire, To lend — what Rome might pillage uncontrol’df. For now with more extenfive havoek rag’d Relentlefs Greg’ry, with a thoufand arts, And each l'apacious, born to drain the world! Nor fhall the mufe repeat, how oft he blew] The croife’s trumpet ; then for fums of gold AnnulTd the vow, and bade the falfe alarm Swell the grofs hoai'ds of Henry, or his own*. Nor fhall fhe tell, how pontiffs dar’d repeal The beff of charters ! dar’d abfolve the tie Of Britilh kings by legal oath reftrain’d. Nor can fhe dwell on argoffes of gold From Albion’s realm to fervile fhores convey’d, Wrung from her fons, and fpeeded by her kings ! Oh irkfome clays ! when wicked thrones combine With papal craft, to gull their native land! Such was our fate, while Rome’s director taught Of fubjedts, born to be their monarch’s prey. To toil for monks, for gluttony to toil, For'vacant gluttony ; extortion, fraud, For av’rice, envy, pride, revenge, and fhame ! O dodlrine breath’d from Stygian caves ! exhal’d From inmoft Erebus ! — Such Henry’s reign ! Urging his loyal realms reluctant hand To wield the peaceful fword, by John erewhile Forc’d from its fcabbard; and with burnilh’d lance Efiay the favage cure,, domeftic war ! * Henry III, -who cancell’d the Magna Charts, And MORAL PIECES. 285 And now fome nobler fpirits chas’d the mift Of general darknefs. Grosted * now adorn’d The mitred wreath he wore, with reafon’s fword Stagg’ring delufion’s frauds ; at length beneath Rome’s interdict expiring calm, relign’d No vulgar foul that dar’d to heav’n appeal ! But ah this fertile glebe, this fair domain Had well nigh ceded to the flothful hands Of monks libidinous; ere Edward's care The lavilh hand of death-bed fear reft rain’d. Yet was he clear of fuperftition’s taint ? He too, mifdeemful of his wholefome law, Ev’n he, expiring, gave his treafur’d gold To fatten monks on Salem’s diftant foil' Yes, the third Edward’s breaft, to papal fway So little prone, and fierce in honour’s cauie, Cou’d fuperftition quell ! before the tow rs Of haggard Paris, at the thunder’s voice He drops the fword, and figns ignoble peace ! But ft ill the night by Romifh art diffus d Collects her clouds, and with flow pace recedes. When by foft Bourdeau’s braver queen approv’d , Bold Wick l iff rofe : and while the bigot pow’r Amidft her native darknefs fculk’d fecure, The demon vanilh’d as he fpread the day . So from his bofom Cacus breath’d of old The pitchy cloud, and in a night of ftnoke. Secure a while his recreant life fuftain’d ; Till fam’d Alcides, o’er his fubtleft wiles Victorious, cheer’d the ravag’d nations round. Hail honour’d W ick liff ! enterprifing fage. ! * Bifhop of Lincoln, called Malleus Romanorum. A* 286 MORAL PIECES. An Epicurus in the caufe of truth ! For ’tis not radiant funs, the jovial hours Of youthful fpring, an ether all ferene, Nor all the verdure of Campania’s vales, Can chafe religious gloom ! Tis reafon, thought The light, the radiance that pervades the foul’ And fheds its beams on heav’n’s myfterious wav ! As yet this light but glimmer’d, and again Errour prevail’d; while kings by force uprais’d Let loofe the rage of bigots on their foes, And feek affedtion by the dreadful boon Of licens’d murder. Ev’n the kindeft prince The moil extended breaR, the royal Hal ! All unrelenting heard the Lollards cry BurR from the centre of remorfelefs flames ; Their fhrieks endur’d ! Oh Rain to martial praife When Cob ham, gen’rous. as the noble peer. That wears his honours, paid the fatal price Of virtue blooming ere the Rorms were laid ! l was dius, a t tei nate, truth s precarious flame Decay’d or flcurifh’d. With malignant eye The pontiff fuv Britannia’s golden fleece, Once all his own, invefl her worthier fons ! Her verdant valleys, and her fertile plains, Yellow with grain, abjure his hateful flvay ! E fay'd his utmoR art, and inly own’d No labours bore proportion to the prize. So when tne tempter view’d, with envious eye, The firft fair pattern of the female frame, AH nature’s beauties in one form difplay’d, And cent Ting there, in wild amaze he Rood ; Chen only envying heav’n’s. creative hand : Wiik’d: MORAL PIECES. 2S7 Wilh’d to his gloomy reign his envious arts Might. win this prize, and doubled ev’ry fnare. And vain were reafon, courage, learning, all, Till pow’r accede: till Tudor’s wild caprice Smile on their caufe ; Tudor, whofe tyrant reign With mental freedom crown’d, the bed of kings Might envious view, and ill prefer their own ! Then from its tow’fing height with horrid found Rulh’d the proud abbey. Then the vaulted roofs, Torn from their walls, difclos’d the wanton fcene Of monkifh clraftity ! Each angry friar Crawl’d from his bedded ftrumpet, mutt’ring low An ineffectual curie. The pervious nooks That, ages paft, convey’d the guileful prielt To play fome image on the gaping croud, Imbibe the novel day-light ; and expofe Obvious, the fraudful engin’ry of Rome, As tho’ this op’ning earth to nether realms Shou’d flaih meridian day, the hooded race Shudder abafh'd to find their cheats difplay'd ; And confcious of their guilt, and pleas’d to wave Its fearful meed, refign’d their fair domain. Nor yet fupine, nor void of rage, retir’d The pell gigantic ; whofe revengeful ftroke Ting’d the red annals of Maria’s reign. When from the tendered: bread:, each wayward prieft Cou’d banilli mercy, and implant a fiend ! When cruelty the fun’ral pyre uprear’d. And bound religion there, and fir’d the bafe ! When the fame blaze, which on each tortur’d limb Fed with luxuriant rage, in ev’ry face Triumphant 288 MORAL PIECES. Triumphant faith appear’d, and finding hope. O blefs’d Eliza ! from thy piercing beam Forth flew this hated fiend, the child of Rome ; Driv’n to the verge of Albion, linger’d there. Then with her James receding, caft behind One angry frown, and fought more fervile climes. Henceforth they ply’d the long-continu’d talk Of righteous havock, cov’ring diftant fields With the wrought remnants of the fliatter’d pile. Then Wolsey rofe, by nature form’d to feek Ambition’s trophies, by addrefs to win, By temper to enjoy — whofe humbler birth Taught the gay fcenes of pomp to dazzle more. While thro’ the land the muling pilgrim fees A trail of brighter green, and in the midft Appears a mouldering wall, with ivy crown’d ; Or Gothic turret, pride of ancient days ! Now but of ufe to grace a rural feene ; To bound our villas, and to glad the fons Of George’s reign, referv’d for fairer times ! LOVE MORAL PIECES. 289 LOVE AND HONOUR. Sed neque Me do rum filvee, ditijjima terra, Nec pulcber Ganges, atque auro turbidus Hcemus, Laudibus Angligenum content : non Bactra, nec Indi, Totaque turriferis Panchaia ptngins arenis . L ET the green olive glad Hefperian fhores ; Her tawny citron, and her orange-groves, Thefe let Iberia boaft ; but if in vain, To win the ftranger plant’s diffullve fmile. The Briton labours, yet our native minds, Our conftant bofoms, thefe the dazzled world May view with envy ; thefe Iberian dames Survey with fix’d efteem and fond defire. Haplefs Elvira ! thy difaftrous fate May well this truth explain ; nor ill adorn The Britifh lyre ; then chiefly, if the mufe. Nor vain nor partial, from the Ample guife Of ancient record catch the penlive lay ; And in lefs groveling accents give to fame. Elvira ! lovelieft maid ! th’ Iberian realm Could boaft no purer breaft, no fprightlier mind. No race more fplendent, and no form fo fair. Such was the chance of war, this peerleis maid In life’s luxuriant bloom, enrich’d the fpoil Of Britifh victors, vidt’ry’s nobleft pride ! She, file alone, amid the wailful train, Of captive maids, aflign’d to Henry’s care; Vol. I, B b Lord MORAL PIECES. 290 Lord of her life, her fortune, and her fame! He, gcn’rous youth, with no penurious hand, The tedious moments that unjoyous roll Where freedom’s cheerful radiance fames no more, Effay’d to foften ; confeious of the pang That beauty feels, to wafte its fleeting hours In fome dim fort, by foreign rule reftrain’d, Far from the haunts of men, or eye of day ! Sometimes, to cheat her bofom of its cares, Pier kind protestor number'd o’er the toils Llimfelf had worn : the frowns of angry feas, Or hoftile rage, or faithlefs friend, more fell Than ftorm or foe : if haply fhe might And Her cares diniiniih’d ; fruitlefs fond eflay ! Now to her lovely hand, with modeft awe The tender lute he gave : fhe not averfe Nor deflitute of fkill, with willing hand Call’d forth angelic drains ; the facred debt Of gratitude, fhe faid ; whofe juft commands Still might her hand with equal pride obey ! Nor to the melting founds the nymph refus’d Her vocal art ; harmonious, as the ftrain Of fome imprilon’d lark, who daily cheer’d By guardian cares, repays them with a fong : Nor droops, nor deems fweet liberty refign’d. The fong, not artlels, had flie fram’d to paint Difaftrous pafllon ; how, by tyrant laws Or idiot cuftom fway’d, fome foft-ey’d fair Lov’d only one ; nor dar’d their love reveal ! How the loft anguifli banifh’d from her cheek The damalk rofe full-blown; a fever came, And from her bofom forc’d the plaintive tale. Then, M O R A L PIECE S. 291 Then, fwift as light, he fought the love-lorn maid. But vainly fought her ; torn by fwifter fate To join the tenants of the myrtle ihade. Love’s mournful victims on the plains below. Sometimes, as fancy fpoke the pleaiing talk, She taught her artful needle to difplay The various pride of fpring : then fwift unfprung. Thickets of myrtle, eglantine, and rofe : There might you fee, on gentle toils intent, A train of bufy loves ; fome pluck the flow’r, Some twine the garland, fome with grave grimace Around a vacant warriour cah the wreath. ’Twas paint, ’twas life ! and fure to piercing eyes The warriour ’s face depictur’d IIenry s mi vl Now had the gen’rous chief with joy perus’d The royal fcroll, which to their native home, Their ancient rights, uninjur’d, unredeenfd, Reftor’d the captives. Forth with rapid hafte To glad his fair Elvira’s ear, he fprung; Fir’d by the blifs he panted to convey ; But fir’d in vain ! Ah ! what was his amaze. His fond diftrefs, when o’er her pallid face DejcCtion reign’d, and from her lifelefs hand Down drept the myrtle’s fair unfinifh’d flow’r S Speechlefs fhe flood ; at length with accents faint,. “ Weli may my native fhore,” fhe faid, “refound “ Thy monarch’s praife ; and ere Elvira prove “Of thine forgetful, flow'rs fhall ceafe to feel “ The f oft’ ring breeze, and nature change her “ laws.” And now the grateful edict wide alarm’d The Britifh hoft. Around the finding youths B b 2 Call’d 292 MORAL PIECES. Call’d to their native fccnre, with willing hafte Their fleet unmoor ; impatient of the love That weds each bofom to its native foil. The patriot paflion ! ftrong in ev’ry clime, How juftly theirs, who And no foreign fweets To- diflipate their loves, or match their own. Not lb Elvira ! ihe, difaftrous maid. Was doubly captive ! pow’r nor chance cou’dloofe i he i'ubtle bands ; lire lov’d her gen’rous foe. She, where her Henry dwelt, her Henry finil’d, Could term her native ihore ; her native fhore By him deferted, fome unfriendly ftrand, Strange, bleak, forlorn ! a defer t wafte and wild. '•he fleet careen’d, the wind propitious fill’d The fwelling fails, the glitt’ring tranfports wav’d Their pennants gay, and halcyons azure wing With flight aufpicious ikimm’d the placid main. On her lone couch in tears Elvira lay. And chid th’ officious wind, the tempting fea, And wilh’d a ftorm as mercilefs, as tore Her lab ’ring bofom. Fondly now Ihe ftrove To banifh paflion ; now the vaflal days, The captive moments that fo fmoothly pah, By many an art recall’d ; now from her lute With trembling fingers call’d the fav’rite founds Which Henry deign’d to praife; and now eflay’d With mimic chains of filken fillets wove To paint her captive ftate ; if any fraud Might to her love the pleafing fcenes prolong, And with the dear idea feaft the fold. But now the chief return’d ; prepar’d to launch On ocean’s willing breaft, and bid adieu To his fair pris’ner. She, foon as fhe heard His MORAL PIECES.. 2 ' 9 * His hated errand, now no more conceal’d The raging flame ; but with a fpreading blufh. And riling Ugh, the latent pang difclos’d. “ Yes, gen’rous youth ! I fee thy bolom glow With virtuous tranfport, that the talk is thine To folve my chains ; and to my weeping friends,. And every longing relative, reftore A fort-ey’d maid, a mild offencelefs prey ! But know,, my foldier, never youthful mind s Torn from the lavifh joys of wild expenfe By him he loath’d, and in a dungeon bound To languifli out his bloom, could match the pains This ill-ftarr d freedom gives my tortur’d mind. What call I freedom ? is it that thele limbs , From rigid bolts fecure, may wander far From him I love ? Alas, ere I may boaft That facred blefling, fome fuperiour pow’r To mortal kings, to fublunary thrones, Muft loofe my paflion, mu ft unchain my foul. Ev’n that I loath ; all liberty I loath ! But moft the joylefs privilege to gaze With cold indifference, where defert is love.. True, I was born an alien to thofe eyes I afk alone to pleafe ; my fortune’s crime ! Arid ah ! this flatter’d form, by drefs endear’d To Spanifh eyes, by drefs may thine oftend.. Whilft I, ill-fated maid ! ordain’d to ft rive With cuftom’s load, beneath its Weight expire. Yet H enry’s beauties knew in foreign garb To vancjuifh me ; his form, howe’er difguis’d, To me were fatal ! no fantaftic robe That e’er caprice invented, cuftom wore; 1 B b 3 Or 2 9 4 MORAL PIECES. Or folly fmil’d on, con’d eclipfe thy fway. Perhaps by birth decreed, by fortune plac’d Thy country’s foe, Elvira’s warmed plea Seems but the fubtler accent fraud infpires; My tenderefl glances, but the fpecious flow’rs That fhade the viper while Ihe plots her wound. And can the trembling candidate of love Awake thy fears ? and can a female bread: By ties of grateful duty bound, enfnare ? Is there no brighter mien, no iofter fiiiiLe For love to wear, to dark deceit unknown ? Heav’n learch my foul, and if thro’ all its cells Lurk the pernicious drop of pois’nous guile *, Full on my fencelcfs head its phial’d wrath May fate exhauft ; and for my happied hour Exalt the vengeance I prepare for thee ! Ah me ! nor Henry’s, nor his country’s foe. On thee I gaz’d, and reafon foon difpelj’d Dim crrour’s gloom, and to thy favour’d ifle Aflign’d its total merit, unredrain’d. Oh ! lovely region to the candid eye ! Twas there my fancy law the virtues dwell, The loves, the graces play ; and blefs’d the foil That nurtur’d thee ! for fure the virtues form’d Thy gen’rous bread: ; the loves, the graces plann’d Thy iliapely limbs. Relation, birth eday’d Their partial pow’r in vain : again I gaz’d, > And Albion’s ide appear’d, aniidft a tra For when my bones in grafs-green fods are laid ; For never may ye tafte more carelefs hours In knightly caflles, or in ladies bow’rs. O vain to feek delight in earthly thing ! But mo ft in courts where proud ambition tow’rs ; Deluded wight ! who weens fair peace can fpring Beneath the pompous dome of Kefar or of king. See in each fprite fome various bent appear ! Thefe rudely carol moft incondite lay ; Thofe faunfring on the green, with jocund leer Salute the ftranger palling on his way ; Some builden fragile tenements' of clay ; Some to the handing lake their courfes bend, With pebbles fmooth at duck and drake to play ; Thilk to the huxter’s fav’ry cottage tend, In paftry kings and queens th’ allotted mite to fpend. Here, as each feafon yields a different ftore. Each feafon’s ftores in order ranged been ; Apples with cabbage-net y-cover’d o’er, ' Galling full fore th’ unmoney’d wight, are feen ; And goofeb’rie clad in liv’ry red or green ; And here of lovely die, the cath’rine pear, Fine pear ! as lovely for thy juice, I ween : O may no wight e’er pennylefs come there^ Left fmit with ardent love he pine with hopelefs care ! See ! 312 MORAL PIECES. See ! cherries here, ere cherries yet abound. With thread fo white in tempting poiies ty’d, Scatt’ring like blooming maid their glances round, With pamper’d look draw little eyes afide ; And mull be bought, tho’ penury betide. The plum all azure and the nut all brown, And here each feafon, do thofe cakes abide. Whole honour’d names th’ inventive city own, Rend’ring thro’ Britain’s ille Salopia’s prail'es known *. Admir’d Salopia ! that with venial pride Eyes her bright form in Severn’s ambient wave> Fam’d for her loyal cares in perils try’d. Her daughters lovely, and her llriplings brave : Ah ! midll the reft, may flowers adorn his grave, Whofe art did firft thefe dulcet cates difplay ! A motive fair to learning’s imps he gave. Who cheerlefs o’er her darkling region llray ; ’Till reafon’s morn arife, and light them on their way. * Shrewsbury cakes. The End of the First Volume. % ■/