TALE XI. EDWARD SHORE. Seem they grave or learned? Henry V. Act II, Scene 2. Better I were distract, So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs, And woes by strong imagination lose The knowledge of themselves. Lear, Act IV. Scene 6, TALE XI. EDWARD SHORE. GENIUS! thou gift of Heav'n! thou light divine! Or Want (sad guest!) will in thy presence come, Evil and strong, seducing passions prey On soaring minds, and win them from their way; Who then to Vice the subject spirits give, And in the service of the conqu'ror live; Like captive Samson making sport for all, Who fear'd their strength, and glory in their fall. Genius, with virtue, still may lack the aid Implored by humble minds and hearts afraid; May leave to timid souls the shield and sword The nobler powers that once exalted high When EDWARD SHORE had reach'd his twentieth year, He felt his bosom light, his conscience clear; Boast of these friends, to older men a guide, Proud of his parts, but gracious in his pride; He bore a gay good-nature in his face, Thus while admiring friends the youth beheld, His own disgust their forward hopes repell'd; For he unfix'd, unfixing, look'd around, And no employment but in seeking found; He gave his restless thoughts to views refined, And shrank from worldly cares with wounded mind. Rejecting trade, awhile he dwelt on laws, "But who could plead, if unapproved the cause?" A doubting, dismal tribe physicians seem'd; Divines o'er texts and disputations dream'd; War and its glory he perhaps could love, But there again he must the cause approve. Our hero thought no deed should gain applause, Where timid virtue found support in laws; He to all good would soar, would fly all sin, By the pure prompting of the will within; "Who needs a law that binds him not to steal," Ask'd the young teacher, "can he rightly feel? |