WHERE high the heavenly temple stands, He who for men in mercy stood, Though now ascended up on high, He knows the frailty of our frame. Our fellow-suffer yet retains, In every pang that rends the heart, With boldness, therefore, at the throne, Let us make all our sorrows known, And ask the aids of heavenly power, To help us in the evil hour. Sir William Jones. AN ODE. WHAT constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlement or laboured mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned; Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; With powers as far above dull brutes endued As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude; But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain, And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain : These constitute a State, And sovereign Law, that State's collected will, Sits Empress, crowning good, repressing ill; Smit by her sacred frown The fiend discretion like a vapour sinks, And e'en th' all dazzling crown Hides his faint rays, and at her bidding shrinks. Such was this heaven-loved isle, Than Lesbos fairer and the Cretan shore! No more shall Freedom smile? Shall Britons languish, and be men no more? Since all must life resign, Those sweet rewards which decorate the brave, 'Tis folly to decline, And steal inglorious to the silent grave. Burns. THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. My loved, my honoured, much respected friend, The lowly train in life's sequestered scene; November chill blaws loud wi' angry sugh; |