It chanc'd upon a luckless day, But short the triumphs of her reign! And bore her to a neighb'ring brook. The silver streams her wool refin'd, Her fleece in virgin whiteness shin'd. 7. Clean'd from pollution's every stain, She join'd her fellows on the plain ; And saw afar the stinking shore, But ne'er approach'd those dangers more. 8. The shepherd bless'd the kind event, And view'd his flock with sweet content. To market next he shap'd his way, And bought provisions for the day : But made for winter's rich supply A purchase from a farmer's sty. 9. The children round their parent crowd; And testify their mirth aloud. They saw the stranger with surprise, Familiar grown, he shar'd their joys; Shar'd too the porridge with the boys. 10. The females o'er his dress preside; They wash his face and scour his hide; But daily more a swine he grew, For all these housewives e'er could do. Con-tent'-ment, s. without a wish for more; full satisfaction in one's present state. 1. Am-bi"-ti-on, s. a thirst after greatness or fame; pride. 3. Me-di-ta-ti-on, s. deep thought. 5. In'-fi-nite, a. having no bounds or limits. 1. No glory I covet, no riches I want, Ambition is nothing to me; The one thing I beg of kind heaven to grant, 2. With passion unruffled, untainted with pride, By reason my life let me square: The wants of my nature are cheaply supplied; 3. The blessings which Providence freely has lent, I'll justly and gratefully prize; While sweet meditation and cheerful content 4. In the pleasures the great man's possessions display, Unenvied I'll challenge my part; For ev'ry fair object my eyes can survey, 5. How vainly, through infinite trouble and strife, ΑΝΟΝ. CHAP. XXVI. The Call of Gratitude. 2. Myr-tle, s. a fragrant or sweet-sr.lling kind of shrub. Her'-bage, s. herbs, grass, pasture. Sod, s. turf, or the surface of the land. 3. In-sen-si ble, a. senseless, void of sense. Gra"-ti-tude, s. gratefulness, thankfulness. 4. In-ces'-sant-ly, ad. without intermission, always. 1. How cheerful along the gay mead 2. The myrtles that shade the gay bowers, 3. Shall man, the great master of all, 4. The Lord, who such wonders could raise, CHAP. XXVII. On the Miseries of Human Life. 1. Li-cen'-ti-ous, a. (pro. li-sen-shus), not restrained by law, morality, or religion; unconfined. Proud, s. this word is here used substantively, signifying people who have too high an opinion of their own qualities, and too mean a one of those which belong to others. It is generally used as an adjective. Af'-flu-ence, s. abundance of wealth. Wan'-ton, a. unrestrained, dissolute, lustful, gay. Ri'-ot, s. wild and loose mirth. An uproar or serious tumult. Ri'-ot, v. to abandon one's-self to pleasure. To feast in a luxurious manner. To raise a sedition or uproar. 4. Ba'le-ful, a. full of anguish, pain, misery; very fatal, or destructive to health. 5. Sor'-did, a. foul, filthy, dirty, mean. Po"-ver-ty, s. want of money or necessaries of life. Re-mor'se, s. uneasiness, occasioned by a consciousness of guilt. (Pity, tenderness.) Tra"-gic, a. mournful, dreadful, sad, calamitous. 8. Ca-reer', s. course. Very swift motion. Ap-pal'-led, pret. astonished. Affrighted, terrified. Bliss, s. happiness, joy arising from the possession of some great and important good. 1. AH! little think the gay licentious proud, 2. Ah! little think they while they dance along, How many feel, that very moment, death, And all the sad variety of pain :* 3. How many sink in the devouring flood,† Or more devouring flame!‡ how many bleed, By shameful variance, betwixt man and man : 4. How many pine in want, and dungeon glooms; Shut from the common air, and common use Of their own limbs; how many drink the cup Of baleful grief, or eat the bitter bread Of misery: 5. Sore pierc'd by wint'ry winds, How many shrink into the sordid hut Of cheerless poverty; how many shake With all the fiercer tortures of the mind, Unbounded passion, madness, guilt, remorse; Whence tumbled headlong from the height of life, They furnish matter for the tragic muse :§ 6. Even in the vale where wisdom loves to dwell, With friendship, peace and contemplation join'd, How many, rack'd with honest passions, droop In deep retir'd distress: 7. How many stand Around the death-bed of their dearest friends. And point the parting anguish. 8. Thought fond man Of these, and all the thousand nameless ills, * Thomson, in these lines, pathetically enumerates the various trials of mankind, with the numerous distresses they are subject to, while in this present state of probation; and justly observes, what good effects might arise from a proper attention to, and observation of them. SA tragic writer, or a writer of dramatic serious actions, or dreadful events. poems which represent |