Thofe gay-fpent, feftive nights? thofe veering thoughts

now,

Loft between good and ill, that shar'd thy life?
All now are vanifh'd! Virtue fole furvives,
Immortal never-failing friend of man,
His guide to happinets on high. And fee!
'Tis come, the glorious morn! the fecond birth
Of heaven and earth! awak'ning nature hears
The new-creating word, and starts to life,
In ev'ry heighten'd form, from pain and death
For ever free. The great eternal fcheme,
Involving all, and in a perfect whole
Uniting as the profpeet wider fpreads,
To reafon's eye refin'd clears up apace.
Ye vainly wife! ye blind prefumptuous!
Confounded in the duft, adore that Pow'r
And Wildom oft arraign'd; fee now the cause
Why unaffuming worth in fecret liv'd,
And died neglected: why the good man's fhare
In life was gall and bitterness of foul:
Why the lone widow and her orphans pin'd
In ftarving folitude; while luxury,
In palaces, lay ftraining her low thought,
To form unreal wants: why heaven-born truth,
And moderation fair, wore the red marks
Of fuperftition's fcourge: why licens'd pain,
That cruel fpoiler, that embofom'd foe,
Embitter'd all our blifs. Ye good distress'd!
Ye noble few! who here unbending stand
Beneath life's preffure, yet bear up awhile,
And what your bounded view, which only faw
A little part, deem'd evil, is no more:
The ftorms of Wintry Time will quickly pass,
And one unbounded Spring encircle all.

$271. A Prayer in the Profpect of Death. BURNS.
THOU unknown Almighty Cause
Of all my hope and fear!

la whofe dread Prefence, ere an hour,
Perhaps I must appear!

If I have wander'd in those paths
Of life I ought to thun,

As Something loudly in my breaft
Remonftrates I have done;

Thou know'ft that Thou haft formed me
With paffions wild and strong;
And lift ning to their witching voice
Has often led me wrong.

Where human weakness has come short,
Or frailty ftept afide,

Do Thou, All-Good! for fuch Thou art,
In fhades of darkness hide.

Where with intention I have crr'd,
No other plea I have,

Bat, Thou art good; and goodness still
Delighteth to forgive.

$278. The Genealogy of Christ, as it is repre

To pour in virtue at th'attentive eye,
And waft the foul on wings of ecftaly;
For this the painter's art with nature vies,
And bids the vifionary faint arife:
Who views the facred forms in thought afpires,
Catches pure zeal, and as he gazes, fires;
Feels the fame ardour to his breaft convey'd;
Is what he fees, and emulates the fhade.

Thy ftrokes, great Artift, fo fublime appear,
They check our pleasure with an awful fear;
While thro' the mortal line the God you trace,
Author himfelf and Heir of Jeffe's race,
In raptures we admire thy bold design,
And, as the fubject, own the hand divine.
While thro' thy work the rifing day fhall stream,
So long shall laft thine honour, praife, and name.
And may thy labours to the Muse impart
Some emanation from her fifter art,
To animate the verfe, and bid it fhine
In colours eafy, bright, and ftrong as thine!
Supine on earth an awful figure lies,
While fofteft flumbers feem to feal his eyes;
The hoary fire Heaven's guardian care demands,
And at his feet the watchful angel stands..
The form auguft and large, the mien divine,
Betray the founder of Meffiah's line".
Lo! from his loins the promis'd stem ascend,
And high to Heaven its facred boughs extend:
Each limb productive of fome hero fprings,
And blooms luxuriant with a race of kings.
Th'eternal plant wide fpreads its arms around,
And with the mighty branch the mystic top is

crown'd.

And lo! the glories of th’illustrious line At their first dawn with ripen'd fplendours fhine, In David all exprefs'd; the good, the great, The king, the hero, and the man complete. Serene he fits, and fweeps the golden lyre, And blends the prophet's with the poet's fire. See with what art he strikes the vocal ftrings, The God, his theme, infpiring what he fings! Hark-or our cars delude us-from his tongue Sweet flows, or feems to flow, fome heavenly fong. Oh could thine art arreft the fleeting found, And paint the voice in magic numbers bound; Could the warm fun, as erft when Memnon play'd,

Wake with his rifing beam the vocal shade; Then might he draw th' attentive angels down, Bending to hear the lay, fo fweet, fo like their

own.

LOWTH.

A1

Tonce to raise our rev'rence and delight, To elevate the mind, and please the fight,

The rebel fubject and th' ungrateful fon.. Amid the royal race, fee Nathan ftand: Fervent he feems to speak, and lift his hand; * Jeffe,

His looks th' emotion of his foul disclose,
And eloquence from ev'ry gefture flows.
Such, and fo ftern he came, ordain'd to bring
Th' ungrateful mandate to the guilty King:
When, at his dreadful voice, a fudden fmart
Shot thro' the trembling monarch's confcious heart,
From his own lips condemn'd; fevere decree!
Had his God prov'd fo ftern a Judge as He
But man with frailty is allied by birth;
Confummate purity ne'er dwelt on earth:
Thro' all the foul tho' virtue holds the rein,
Beats at the heart, and fprings in ev'ry vein,
Yet ever from the clearest fource have ran
Some grofs alloy, fome tincture of the man.

}

But who is he, deep-mufing in his mind,
He feems to weigh in reafon's fcales mankind;
Fix'd contemplation holds his steady eyes-
I know the fage *, the wifeft of the wife.
Bleft with all man could with, or prince obtain,
Yet his great heart pronounc'd thofe bleffings vain.
And lo! bright glittering in his facred hands,
In miniature the glorious temple stands.
Effulgent frame! ftupendous to behold!
Gold the ftrong valves, the roof of burnish'd gold.
The wand'ring ark, in that bright dome enfhrin'd,
Spreads the strong light, eternal, unconfin'd!
Above th' unutterable glory plays,
Prefence divine! and the full-ftreaming rays
Pour thro' reluctant clouds intolerable blaze.
But ftern oppreffion rends Reboam's reign;
See the gay prince, injurious, proud, and vain!
Th' imperial fceptre totters in his hand,
And proud rebellion triumphs in the land.
Curs'd with corruption's ever-fruitful fpring,
A beardlefs Senate and a haughty King.
There Afia, good and great, the fceptre bears,
Juftice attends his peace, fuccefs his wars:
While virtue was his fword and Heavenhis fhield,
Without controul the warrior fwept the field;
Loaded with spoils, triumphant he return'd,
And half her fwarthy fons fad Ethiopia mourn'd.
But fince thy flagging piety decay'd,
·And barter'd God's defence for human aid;
See their fair laurels wither on thy brow,
Nor herbs nor healthful arts avail thee now,
Nor is Heaven chang'd, apoftate prince, but
thou.

No mean atonement does this lapfe require;
But fee the Son, you must forgive the Sire:
He +, the just prince-with evry virtue blefs'd
He reign'd, and goodnefs all the man poffefs'd;
Around his throne fair happiness and peace
Smooth'd ev'ry brow, and fmil'd in ev'ry face.
As when along the burning wafte he stray'd,
Where no pure ftreams in bubbling mazes play'd,
Where drought incumbent on the thirsty ground
Long fince had breath'd her fcorching blafts around,
The prophet calls, th' obedient floods repair
To the parch'd fields, for Jofaphat was there.
The new-fpring waves, in many a gurgling vein,
Trickle luxurious through the fucking plain;

* Solomon. + Jofaphat.

Fresh honours the reviving fields adorn,
And o'er the defert plenty pours her horn.
So, from the throne his influence he fheds,
And bids the virtues raife their languid heads?
Where'er he goes, attending Truth prevails,
Oppreffion flies, and Justice lifts her scales.
See, on his arm the royal eagle ftand,
Great type of conqueft and fupreme command;
Th' exulting bird diftinguish'd triumph brings,
And greets the Monarch with expanded wings.
Fierce Moab's fons prevent th'impending blow,
Rush on themfelves, and fall without the foe.
The pious hero vanquish'd Heaven by pray'r;
His faith an army, and his vows a war.
Thee too, Ozias, fates indulgent blefs'd,
And thy days fhone in faireft actions dress'd:
Till that raih hand, by fome blind frenzy fway'da
Unclean, the facred office durft invade.
Quick o'er thy limbs the fcurfy venom ran,
And hoary filth befprinkled all the man.

[fhrines.

Tranfmiffive worth adorns the pious § Son, The father's virtues with the father's throne.. Lo! there he ftands: he who the rage subdued Of Ammon's fons, and drench'd his sword in blood. And doft thou, Ahaz, Judah's fcourge, difgrace With thy base front the glories of thy race? See the vile King his iron fceptre bear. His only praise attends the pious || Heir; He, in whofe foul the virtues all confpire, The best good fon from the worst wicked fire And lo! in Hezekiah's golden reign, Long exil'd piety returns again; Again in genuine purity the thines, And with her prefence gilds the long-neglected Ill-ftarr'd docs proud Affyria's impious ** Lord Bid Heaven to arms, and vaunt his dreadful fword; His own vain threats th' infulting King o'erthrow, But breathe new courage on the gen'rous foe. Th'avenging Angel, by divine command, The fiery fword full-blazing in his hand, Leantdown from Heaven:amid the storm he rode March'd Pestilence before him; as he trod, Pale Defolation bath'd his steps in blood. Thick wrapt in night thro' the proud hoft he pass'd, Difpenfing death, and drove the furious blaft; Nor bade deftruction give her revels o'er Till the gorg'd fword was drunk with human gore. But what avails thee, pious prince, in vain Thy fceptre rescued, and th' Affyrian slain? Even now the foul maintains her latest ftrife, And death's chill grafp congeals the fount of life. Yet fee, kind Heaven renews thy brittle thread, And rolls full fifteen fummers o'er thy head; Lo! the receding fun repeats his way, And, like thy life, prolongs the falling day. Tho' nature her inverted courfe forego, The day forget to reft, the time to flow, Yet fhall Jehovah's fervants ftand secure, His meray fix'd, eternal shall endure; On them her ever-healing rays fhall fhine; Móre mild and bright, and fure, O fun! than thine.

"Nor vain the wish, while George the golden "fcale

With fteady prudence holds, and temp'rate fway. "And when his course of earthly honour's run, "With lenient hand fhall Frederic footh your care, "Rich in each princely quality, mature "In years, and happieft in nuptial choice. "Thence too arife new hopes; a playful troop "Circles his hearth, fweet pledges of that bed "Which Faith, and Joy, and thousand Virtues "guard.

"His be the care t'inform their ductile minds "With worthieft thoughts, and point the ways "of honour.

"How often thall he hear with fresh delight "Their earnest tales, or watch their rifing paffions "With timorous attention; then thall tell "Of justice, fortitude, and public weal; "And oft the while each rigid precept smooth With winning tokens of parental love!"

Thus my o'erweening heart the fecret stores
Of Britain's hope explor'd,while my ftrain'd fight
Purfued her fading hills, till wrapt in mist
They gently funk beneath the fwelling tide.
Nor ilept those thoughts, whene'er in other climes
I mark'd the crucl waste of fou! oppreflion,
Saw nobleft fpirits, and goodlieft faculties,
To vaflalage and loathfome fervice bound.
Then contcious preference rofe; then northward
My eye, to gratulate my natal foil.
[turn'd

How have I chid with froward cagernefs
Each veering blaft, that from my hand withheld

The well-known characters of fome lov'd friend,
Tho' diftant, not unmindful! Still I learn'd,
Delighted, what each patriot plan devis'd
Of arts, or glory, or diffufive commerce.
Nor wanted its endearment ev'ry tale
Of lightest import. But, oh heavy change!
What notices come now? Diftracted fcenes
Of helpiefs forrow, folemn fad accounts;
How fair Augufta watch'd the weary night,
Tending the bed of Auguifh; how great George
Wept with his infant progeny around;
How heav'd the orphan's and the widow's figh,

That follow'd Frederic to the filent tomb!

For well was Frederic lov'd, and well deferv'd. His voice was ever fweet, and on his steps Attended ever the alluring grace Of gentle lowlinefs and focial zeal. Him thall remember oft the labour'd hind, Relating to his mates each cafual act Of courteous bounty. Him th'artificer, Plying the varied woof in fullen fadness, Tho' wont to carrol many a ditty sweet. Soon too the mariner, who many moons Has counted, beating ftill the foamy furge, And treads at laft the with'd-for beach, thall ftand Appall'd at the fad tale, and foon shall steal Down his rough cheek th' involuntary tear. Be this our folace yet-all is not dead; The bright memorial lives: for his example Shall Hymen trim his torch, domeftic praife Be countenanc'd, and virtue fairer thew. 1a age fucceeding, when another George,

To ratify fome weighty ordinance
Of Britain's peers conven'd, thall pafs befide
Thofe hallow'd fpires, whofe gloomy vaults in-
close,

Shrouded in fleep, pale rows of scepter'd kings,
Oft to his fenfe the fweet paternal voice
And long-remember'd features shall return;
Then fhall his generous breaft be new inflam'd
To acts of highest worth and highest fame.

Thefe plaintive ftrains, from Albion far away
I lonely meditate at even tide;
Nor skill'd nor ftudious of the raptur'd lay;
But ftill rememb'ring oft the magic founds,
Well-meafur'd to the chime of Dorian lute,
Or paft'ral ftop, which erft I lov'd to hear
On Ifis' border'd mead, where dips by fits
The ftooping offer in her hafty stream.

Hail, Wolfey's fpacious Dome! hail, ever fam'd For faithful nurture, and truth's facred lore, Much honour'd parent! You my duteous zeal Accept, if haply in thy laureat wreath You deign to interweave this humble song.

EMILY.

$ 274. Death.
THE feftive roar of laughter, the warm glow
Of brifk-eyed joy,and friendship's genial bowl,
Wit's feafon'd converfe, and the liberal flow
Of unfufpicious youth, profufe of foul,
Delight not ever; from the boisterous scene

Of riot far, and Comus' wild uproar,
From folly's crowd, whofe vacant brow ferene
Was never knit to wifdom's frowning lore,
Permit me, ye time-hallow'd domes, ye piles

Of rude magnificence, your folemn reft,
Amid your fretted vaults and length'ning ifles
Lonely to wander; no unholy guest
That means to break, with sacrilegious tread,
The marble flumbers of your monumented dead.
Permit me, with fad mufings, that inspire

Blamelets to wake, and with the Orphean lyre, Unlabour'd numbers apt, your filence drear Of Hades, and ftern death, whofe iron fway Fitly attemper'd, footh the merciless ear

Great nature owns thro' all her wide domain; All that with oary fin cleave their smooth way. Through the green bosom of the fpawny main, And thofe that to the ftreaming æther spread,

In many a wheeling glide, their feathery fail;
And thofe that creep; and those that statelier tread,
That roam o'er foreft, hill, or browsy dale;
The victims cach of ruthlefs fate muft fall;
E'en God's own image, man, high paramount
of all.

And ye, the young, the giddy, and the gay,
That startle from the fleepful lid of light
The curtain'd rett, and with the diffonant bray
Of Bacchus, and loud jollity, affright
Yon radiant goddess, that now shoots among
Thefe many-window'd ifles her glimmering
beam;

Know, that or e'er its ftarr'd career along

Thrice fall hage roll her filver wheeled team,

Some